Stories I have been told.

Early Memories.

I can remember our Grandmother telling me stories of Poppa and his involvement in the war. He, his brother James and Uncle George Hartwig , all fighting in France.

I heard my father often tell the story that Pop had said that they issued new troops moving forward to the front two pairs of underpants. Apparently because when they got there they always “shit themselves”.

The best story was of Pop stopping to take a leak against a wall and his mates walking ahead. They were all their way to the Drum and a shell landed and killed them. If he had not stopped he would have been killed. This is the stuff of our family legend. Our grandfather, probably drunk, probably on his way to a brothel, stopped for a pee and missed being killed.

The real story, according to his daughter Claire was slightly different. Her version said that Bernie was heading off on leave to England. He and five of his mates were on their way to the railway station. His mates decided they wanted to go to the toilet before leaving. Despite their calls for him to come with them, Bernie decided to walk on slowly. There was a loud explosion and the toilet block was blown to bits. Bernie went on and caught the train. He toured England, Wales and Ireland before returning to France.

Bernard was born on March, 14th, 1895, at Hergott Springs (now Maree) in South Australia. A Pisces under the Western stars or a Goat in the Chinese Zodiac.

Burnard Devlin

Louisa Devlin (nee Hartwig).

He was the third child of Burnard and Louisa Devlin. Their first child, Ruth died young, his older brother James, was born in 1873.

The two boys were very close. James was a quiet, thoughtful chap, while Bernie was very outgoing and loved the outdoors. His early years were spent at McDonald's Station near Hergott Springs.




In 1903 the family moved to Dutton. Later they settled at Moppa a village on the outskirts of Nurioopta.

Bernie attended the Ebeneezer School and excelled in German Grammar.

Bernie was a saddler by trade. He may or may not have finished his apprenticeship with Krieg Saddlery in Nuriootpa.

Krieg Saddlery Nuriootpa.

George Hartwig

George Hartwig.

Uncle George Hartwig, service number 86, joined the 27th Battalion as an ambulance driver. He enlisted on the 5th December, 1914. George was born in 1871. At 43 years of age he was one of the older men to enlist.

By May 1915 he was in the Middle East stationed at Alexandria and Mudros. He was part of the Gallipoli campaign in as much as he was an Ambulance Driver unloading the wounded on the island of Mudros.

By March 1916 he was in France. He was just in time for the battles of the Somme, Fromelles and Pozieres.

James Devlin

James Devlin

James, a baker by trade, joined in 1916. He was assigned to the 31st Battalion and served in Flanders on the front line.

The favourite son.

According to Bernie's daughter, Claire Surman, he joined the 27th Battalion before turning 21. While there is no record of this, the story is that his parents came down to Adelaide and pulled him off the boat.

Claire continues her story, she tells of Bernie's parents bribing him with a horse and a rifle. They hoped to dissuade their favourite son from joining up. As Claire tells it, Bernie was the favourite, although she was quite disdainful of the concept.

However, despite the pleadings of his parents, Bernie enlisted on October, 1916. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion Pioneers. Claire recalls her father telling her of the moment he stood alone on the deck of the HMAT Beang See watching as Adelaide faded into the horizon, he had the sinking feeling that he should have listened to his parents.


He felt very afraid.