Like many fellow Coasties, Trish Skehan of Empire Bay found herself at a loose end in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown.
A chance offer from a workmate opened up a new world of writing for Skehan and her book Secrets of Anzac Ridge, has been published just in time to celebrate Anzac Day this year.
“My colleague Jane asked if I would like to read her uncle’s unpublished war diary,” Skehan said.
The uncle, Jim Armitage, signed up for war service with seven mates from Sydney Grammar School the same day and all eight survived the war.
“I found Jim’s writing fascinating, often reminding myself that he was just a teenager,” Skehan said.
“These boys had to mature quickly.
“Jane’s uncle, James (Jim) Armitage, enlisted on his 18th birthday in May 1917.
“Assigned to 3rd Division Field Artillery under Sir John Monash, Jim diarised travelling via Egypt, then training in England before landing in Flanders, fighting in battles including Messines, Ypres, Peronne, Amiens and Montbrehain.
“The boys soon became part of the Anzac legend.”
Skehan said many had heard of Anzac Ridge at Gallipoli, but most people never heard of the second Anzac Ridge, located near Steenwerck in Flanders.
“On this Anzac Ridge important victories were secured for the Allies in WWI: Passchendaele, Polygon Wood and Hellfire Corner,” she said.
“I’d never heard of Steenwerck either, but internet searching produced thousands of references in Trove, our national Archives.
“Amazing stories of life beyond the trenches emerged.
“Besides dramatic battlefield glimpses, Jim wrote of escapades, their two-up games, and caring for horses hauling the heavy guns on limbers.
“The mysteries of Circular Quay, a secret bridge over the Somme, life in the estaminets (inns), the meaning of songs Tipperary and Mademoiselle from Armentieres; hilarious and horrific anecdotes from soldiers, doctors, nurses and civilians, plus stories of love and loss abound in the pages.
“Being fluent in French, Jim sold his division’s war horses, before contracting Spanish flu, surviving by herbs collected from the old woman who billeted them.
“When presented with a medal by the French Consul-General in 1998, he quipped; ‘You’re 80 years too late’.”
Jim Armitage died in Brentwood Village, Kincumber, shortly after his 100th birthday, with his writings forming the basis of Skehan’s book.
Anzac Day. The Secret of Anzac Ridge: Flanders 1917, is published by Hachette and available in all the bookstores, as well as K-Mart and BigW.
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