When duty called, Vic Culph set sail for war

MY grandfather, Vic Culph, was like so many others who fought at Gallipoli and never talked about it.

The horrors of what happened with so many lives lost, particularly family and friends from the North East, had a profound impact on him.

It has only been in recent years as the Anzac legend grows with more public recognition that family members have delved into his war service.

Sadly my grandfather died in 1963 when I was just 10 years old.

I remember him for the camping trips we went on, his keen interest in the outdoors and his great mastery of fly fishing.

He had a love of all sports and although handicapped by his war injuries, he won many golf championships.

Fly fishermen competed near Myrtleford annually back in the 1970s for the Vic Culph fly casting shield.

Family members have pieced together information about his war service with extracts from the Wangaratta Chronicle relating to many from the region who enlisted.

He lived in the Milawa district and young men from many families went to “do their duty”.

Vic and his cousin, “Curly” Tom Culph, along with George Cross, embarked together on the ship HMAT A58 Kabinga and were members of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, 5th reinforcement.

The ship left Melbourne on May 8, 1915, and was captured by the German Navy light cruiser, SMS Emden, in the Bay of Bengal.

But the Kabinga was released when the Emden beached on the Cocos Islands.

Subsequently the Emden was sunk by the HMAS Sydney, with another Culph family member, Henry (Harry), serving as a stoker.

As mounted troops, the Light Horse was considered unsuitable for work in Gallipoli.

Therefore they volunteered to operate as infantry and thus they were sent there with the 9th Light Horse Regiment landing on May 20, 1915.

The regiment was deployed on primarily defensive activities at Russel’s Top and Rhododendron Spur throughout the stay at Gallipoli.

Its members participated in the ill-fated charge at Hill 60 on August 27, 1915, where most of the regiment was either killed or wounded.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment left the peninsula on December 20 that year.

A letter dated August 18 was sent from Gallipoli by Vic Culph to his sister Ada Farrell, the wife of Oxley blacksmith Dominic Farrell.

It gave particulars of the accident to his cousin Tom which ultimately proved fatal.

They were on duty together on an observation post even though it was not their turn, but offered so two others could go for a swim.

At the expiration of their shift, they were stepping down off the parapet. A bullet from a sniper hit Tom on the right side at the back of his head and came out near his right eye.

He fell into Vic’s arms and was supported down into the trench where five or six mates came to help. Stretcher bearers arrived and Tom was carried with all haste to the doctors.

A doctor said his brain was not touched and there was slight hope for his recovery.

Vic was one of those to carry Tom to a barge which took him to a hospital ship.

But Vic had to return to the trenches and wrote he was “in a sad frame of mind”, but was cheered the following evening when told there was still hope of recovery when the ship left.

Tom died on the hospital ship on August 14 off the coast of Gallipoli and was buried at sea.

Vic was shot in the leg resulting in a major injury at the Battle of Hill 60.

He was transported by hospital ship to England and spent months in hospital where he had celebrated his 21st birthday.

After many months, he recuperated in Scotland where he was repatriated.

A public meeting was held at the Milawa Library Hall on June 14, 1916, to make arrangements to give him a reception on his return home.

It was reported in a newspaper clipping that a strong committee was appointed to arrange a concert and dance.

A decision was made that all returning soldiers would receive the same reception.

He made significant contributions to the area and had one term as a Wangaratta councillor.

After the war, he worked and travelled as an AMP agent.

His knowledge of the North East area and his contacts were instrumental in being able to set up the Volunteer Air Observers Corp .

It had outposts to track all planes flying across the area. This operation was successful in getting instant help to a plane which made an emergency landing at Smoko near Bright.

The VAOC operated in rooms above the Commonwealth Bank in Wangaratta.

Volunteers tracked all planes on a table which had a map of the North East region.

Movement was checked as each report came in from the outposts. My mother, Betty, helped with the tracing of planes.

Vic was instrumental in founding Legacy in Wangaratta with fishing mate Bill Law senior.