TIMELESS WOLLONGONG

For some 17 years I have been undertaking research into the people who died of tuberculosis and are buried at Waterfall Sanatorium Cemetery. Through this research I have found a number of veterans of World War I and one Boer War one buried in Waterfall General Cemetery.

It is no wonder so many servicemen caught the disease. Just look at the old photographs of our soldiers fighting in such appalling conditions, especially in the trenches where clothes and boots would be soaked in no time with little or no relief in sight. Also, think of the sailors aboard warships where they were confined in close quarters for long periods of time.

Looking into the veterans' service records of those who died, most were subject to bronchitis, influenza and pneumonia and those who suffered from asthma were struck with attacks while on active service.

It was only last year that I forwarded the findings of my research to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The research showed that these men died post war years between 1921 and 1942 as a result of their service. The department, after verifying the research, forwarded the names to the Office of Australian War Graves.

As Waterfall Cemetery borders on Garrawarra State Conservation Area, this cemetery has been closed since 1949 and nothing has been done in this area, resulting in the site being virtual bushland today.

Of all these men the majority died after they had been discharged from the army or navy, although two died while still in the navy. All the deaths were attributed to their service. Only a few of them served at Gallipoli, but most of them had fought on the Western Front in France and Belgium.

One of those servicemen was 26-year-old James Robert Etchells who enlisted in August 1915 and embarked four months later in December for active service. He was hospitalised with pneumonia shortly after arriving at the Dardanelles in the winter in February 1916. It was not until May 1916 that he was well enough to be sent to Alexandria in Egypt for more treatment. By August he was again admitted with pharyngitis and within weeks was diagnosed with influenza and sent to a hospital in France. In November 1917, after having been diagnosed with debility, he was admitted to hospital again and subsequently transferred to England and finally to Dartford Military Hospital in December 1917 where he stayed until March 1918. Even though he was only out of hospital for a short time he was readmitted again the following month. He left England in April 1919 on board the Armagh bound for Australia and disembarked at Sydney on May 20, 1919. He was discharged from the army on July 12, 1919, as his service was no longer required. He married his sweetheart on his return to Australia. Four years later in March 1923, James Etchells died at Waterfall Sanatorium aged just 33 years old and was buried in Waterfall General Cemetery.

An officer of the Australian War Graves has notified me that their names are being added to the Garden of Remembrance at Rookwood where their names will live for evermore.

All those returned servicemen who have been buried at Waterfall for more than 70 years have found peace as forgotten souls. It has been a satisfying journey for me to know that they served their country here in Australia and overseas and may they rest in peace with us in the Illawarra.

Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM. Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au