Correspondence concerning Capt James Steadman Hurrey MiD, 8th Battalion

30/10/1884-1965 Engineer by trade. Enlisted in Qld on Jan 1 1915 but home base seems to have been Camberwell, Melbourne.

Hi Evan, Those are lovely letters. Thank you for sharing them with me. James was one of five children. His brother Herbert Grindell Hurrey also served (and was quite a good Aussie Rules player https://alchetron.com/Herbert-Hurrey-1276958-W). James married Vera Isabel Young in 1909 and they had two children: Charles Grindell Hurrey (b 1912) and Barbara Hurrey (b. 1920). James died in March 1965 in Victoria and was cremated 15 March. He is interred in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery. I didn’t donate the medals unfortunately. But there are many Hurrey family members quite active in the genealogy scene. Regards,Lucy Hurrey – UQ PhD student c2017

But off NAA?

MC recommendation, 31/7/1916 (Pozieres) – declined..

Mentioned in Dispatches Recommendation (approved)

Correspondence from Capt Gerald Evans MC, MiD, 8th Battalion AIF WWI 2/1916 to 20/9/191711-6-1916: Gerald to his mother:I am going to get this letter posted in England, Captain Hurrey, my Corp Commander is going onleave tomorrow. Enclosed is a one franc note, somewhat worse for wear. Each little town seems tohave a note issue.

Oct 10th 1916: Gerald to his motherCaptain Hurrey who was in the same Company as I for a long time has gone to England sick, he wasalways very decent to me - Dickson is now a Captain, all the fellows who went to new battalions gottheir promotion quickly, I was just due for mine but lately five original officers of this battalion havecome back, so suppose I will be in the cold, these officers have been away 16 months, & most ofthem have seen practically no fighting, I will have to wait for another Pozieres, they are the stunts tomake promotion. However I am quite content to bump? along as I am - Hope the next time I writewill be from London.

October 1917?: John Evans (father) probably to Pte F Evans (51st Bn)Our dear Gerald’s death has aroused a wave of kindly sympathy. Last night we received a letterfrom Captain Hurrey with whose company Gerald fought at Pozieres. He has a great affection andadmiration for Gerald. They were both wounded there. Captain Hurrey & he were in a shell holewounded. Hurrey thought he was done for and Gerald would leave him, but Gerald went back forhim.I heard of Captain Hurrey before saying that Gerald Evans had saved his life twice. I pray that thegood God will guard you and that you will soon come back safe sound.Your loving FatherJohn Evans

Full correspondence, pictures and related artifacts available on RSL Virtual War Memorial.https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/232126

Domain Camp Melbourne 28/9/17

Dear Mr. and Mrs. EvansI was inexpressibly grieved to read the announcement in yesterday’s paper of Jerry’s death from wounds.

He joined my Company D. Coy 8th Bn, in March 1916 and in a short time I had formed a high opinion of him as a man and and an officer, which subsequently became a deep attachment, so intimately were we associated in our lives, in the fighting at Fleurbaix, Messines, Pozierers, Martinpuich and Ypres. It was from the later place that I left the Bn in October 1916 and was invalided to Australia. I had one regret that I was leaving Jerry and Lt. Jack Blackman behind.

On service one conceives and an attachment for some men which is deeper than any feeling I know.

Jerry was a grand man, and on the occasion of the attack on Pozieres we spent 12 hours in the Chalk Pit. The Bosche had seen us enter there, and that 12 hours I shall not forget. I had been slightly wounded, and very badly shaken just reaching that point. Jerry was wounded in the side and I felt hopless almost quite sure he would go away, but to his everlasting credit he returned after having his would dressed.

D Cpy. 8th Bn. Completed the campture of Pozieres. We took 3 Ml guns and 59 prisoners. We were 600 yds in advance of the furtherest strong point and 1000 yds in advance of our line.

We followed our own barrage so closely that we got to between the German strong points unseen, and into K. Trench before the Bosche had chance to use his M. gunds. The attack took place just before day-break, and when day broke we saw 1000 Bosches between us and our line. Our fire decimated them. Jerry used one of their own M. guns, and as my orders were no prisoners on account of our isolated position, the 59 men we took actually got through the fire to us.

I can not speak highly enough of Jerry’s courage and behaviour, then or at any other time. I recommended him to the C.O. for his M.C. He/either got it then or later on for leading a raid. We were always given the tough jobs but the C.O. took all the honors.

The test of a man is to know what his men think of him and Jerry was, to use the boys’ own phrase betokening the hall mark, “A dinkum bloke.” Believe me that is the highest tribute a man can be paid.

I cannot write; what I wished to say seems not to be here. Any time any of you are in Melbourne and would like to see me, the above address with find me.

I am, Yours sincerely J.S. Hurrey, Capt.

Pg 1: Original Hurrey letter, 28/9/1917

Pg 2: Original Hurrey letter, 28/9/1917

Pg 3: Original Hurrey letter, 28/9/1917

Pg 4: Original Hurrey letter, 28/9/1917

Awarded for service at Pozieres 27-28/7/1916, MiD, was originally recommendation for a MC. Capt Hurrey was wounded in this engagement and fought along side Gearld Evans