Did you know that during WWI approximately ten per cent of The Hills Shire population left to join the war?
At that time, The Hills was a small farming community of about 5000, made up of poultry and fruit farms, dirt roads, and a few corner shops.
About 560 soldiers left the Shire to fight in the war, leaving behind their families, their old lives, and their legacy, which continues to this day.
The generous and selfless spirit of these men and women who left for the war lives on in The Hills today. This is evident in the hundreds of volunteers who are committed to serving and giving back to the community.
Hills Wartime Heros
The stories of Hill's wartime heroes have been traced, recorded, and compiled by library volunteers and residents passionate about preserving the history of The Hills. Below are some stories of residents who left for the war, some who returned home to The Hills, and some who never returned.
James (Jim) Josiah Agnew
Jim was one of five children who grew up on an orchard and poultry farm in Kellyville, located on Windsor Road and President Avenue. In 1915, Jim and three of his Kellyville mates – Patrick Rocks, Leslie Rocks, and Ben Bryant – enlisted to become WWI soldiers, and after training, they left Sydney for the war. Jim was a Lewis machine gunner and night scout involved in battles in northern France and Belgium and saw action defending the Suez Canal and Alexandria.
Jim Agnew 1915
Jim wrote many letters to his family in Kellyville, specifically to his mother and sister Millie. He was concerned for his mother, who had to manage the farm after his father died in 1916. He also mentioned he had met other soldiers from Kellyville whilst fighting.
26 October 1916: Dear Millie… Before this card reaches you, we will have been in some big fighting, and I hope all the Kellyville boys come out of it safely. Goodbye Mill, from Jim xx
2 November 1917: To Jim from Mum and Millie with love. Keep this in your pocket until you return and I hope that will be soon and peace restored. Your loving Mother xxx
In 1919, while he was in England, he met and married Kathleen Shinner, and together they returned to The Hills. He was discharged from the Army in 1920 when he was deemed medically unfit due to the effects of mustard gas poisoning, from which he never fully recovered.
He resumed working on the orchard in 1923 when he bought land at Maroota and grew citrus and passion fruit. Although his ill health often saw him admitted to military hospitals in Sydney, he became a successful farmer. He passed away at age 77 in 1962, survived by his widow Kathleen, five sons, and three daughters.
James Turnbull Grieve
James was born in Kellyville in 1893 and enlisted in the Army in February 1915. He saw action in Egypt and Gallipoli, where he was killed only six months after he joined the Army.
James Turnbull Grieve
On the day he died he wrote a letter to his parents back in Kellyville. The letter was written at Gallipoli on 27 August 1915.
Dear Mum and Dad
… we left Lemnos at about 6 o'clock on Thursday afternoon on the 19th and arrived at the Dardanelles at about midnight the same night. It took us till nearly daylight to unload our Battalion and all our gear and ammunition, and it was the hardest bit of work I have done since I joined the Army... At two o'clock on Sunday morning we were all roused out of bed and told that we had to make a charge ... a good number of our boys were bowled right out … It was marvellous how I came out without a scratch, but I expect it was my luck … After the charge I got into a trench which about 60 of our Batt were in and there we had to stop for almost 35 hours … We were in such a cramped position … and I would have given all I possessed in this world for a real good drink of water … I never wish to have the same experience again. Since coming out of the trench we have only been sapping and digging trenches … it isn't too bad … Well Mum and all back home I hope this note finds you all well and that you do not think I am forgetful for not writing sooner … Remember me to all at Kellyville and tell Ag to give my best love to all the girls down at the Palace … From your ever loving son.
(From the Australian War Memorial Collection PR91/079)
The Bryant Brothers
Three brothers Henry, Ben, and George Bryant all enlisted to fight in the Army. Henry and Ben both enlisted in 1915 to the 17th Battalion alongside their friend Jim Agnew, and George enlisted in 1916. Henry was killed on 26 July 1916 at Pozieres, Somme Sector France and his death was witnessed by his friend Jim who wrote home about it.
Henry Bryant
Both Ben and George saw action in France, and both returned to Australia in 1919 after suffering wounds.
