Battle of the Yser
Ploegsteert, Toronto Avenue Cemetery
A career so brilliant – John Piggott and James Antcliff
Those who lie in Toronto Avenue died in mopping–up operations and attacks on the days after the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. In a grave apart, to the right of the Great Cross, lies Captain Francis Piggott, 36th Battalion, of Cremorne, Sydney. His family’s sense of loss is summed up by the epitaph on his headstone:
A career so brilliant laid aside for the call to arms. Loved by all
Like so many, Piggott was killed by a shell. After 7 June the battalions of the 3rd Division became involved south–east of Mesen in operations described by Charles Bean as ‘Holding the Gains at Messines’. On the night of 10 June, 200 men of the 36th Battalion formed up for an attack on a section of enemy line towards La Potterie Farm south of the little Douvebeek River between Ploegsteert Wood and Mesen. There they were caught by a German bombardment. Bean described how many of the men under the command of Major Walter Wells, 36th Battalion, were ‘killed, wounded or scattered’. Piggott, according to Major Thomas McPherson, was one of the dead:
He was killed instantly so he was not called on to suffer. He was a friend of mine and sadly missed in the battalion. He was a splendid officer and had done great work since we came to France. He was a great favourite with his men, always shared their hardships and dangers and guarded their interest. Poor old Piggott we often talk about him. We could ill afford to loose a man of his character.
Major T McPherson, 36th Battalion, Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau,
www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/1DRL428/00028/1DRL428-00028-2160112.pdf
Headstone of Captain Francis Piggott, 36th Battalion (New South Wales), Toronto Avenue Cemetery. [DVA]
Headstone of Private James Antcliff, 36th Battalion (New South Wales), Toronto Avenue Cemetery. [DVA]
From the inscription on his headstone Captain Piggott’s family clearly thought that war had cut short a promising life. In Row B, Grave 11, lies Private James Antcliff, 36th Battalion, of Newcastle, New South Wales, aged 23. For her son’s headstone Jeanie Antcliff, his mother, requested these words:
In memory of the dearly loved son of Mrs J Antcliff, NSW.
After James’ death his bible, pencil case, photo case and ‘metal union badge’, for he had worked in the Newcastle steel works as an ironmoulder, were returned to his mother. His mates remembered him as a powerfully built man, sunburnt, tall and athletic. For his Honour Roll Circular, kept at the Australian War Memorial, his mother wanted it remembered that her son had been the 100 yards champion league swimmer of the Northern Rivers District of New South Wales in 1915 and 1916. In August 1916, James Antcliff left Australia for the Western Front and his swimming career came to an end.
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© 2008 Department of Veterans' Affairs and Board of Studies NSW :: Last update - November 2008