WWI SOLDIERS
PTE. LESLIE
ROCKS
PTE. PATRICK
BEDE ROCKS
In 1957/58 I was a pupil at South Strathfield Primary
School in Sydney. My parents moved
around a great deal and I attended a number of schools throughout New South
Wales, but I had fond memories of two teachers at South Strathfield Primary
that have stayed with me my entire life.
One was Mr. Rocks and the other was Mr. Allen whom I will talk more
about him in a blog around Anzac Day.
Leslie Rocks was what I thought to be an old man when
I was in 3rd or 4th class at South Strathfield Primary
School. He seemed to be more tolerant
and understanding of students like myself who were, to say the least,
struggling. He was also an artist. He would draw a circle in the boy’s autograph
books and with Indian ink (black), he would draw a picture of a hut and some
trees and often a little pond with ducks on it.
I have stolen that idea from him and often do the same thing for my
grandchildren, minus the Indian ink.
I remember that he was a First World War veteran and
because this Remembrance Day celebrates its 100th anniversary, I
decided to research Mr. Rocks’s war records.
On doing so I discovered that his brother Patrick Bede
Rocks also enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the same day, on 27th
July 1915 at Liverpool. Leslie Rocks was
26 years of age when he enlisted and Patrick was only 20 years of age. The two
brothers were born in Callinga, Cootamundra in the NSW Riverina area which is
an area I know quite well. When my
family moved from South Strathfield, we moved to Temora, just 54 kilometres
from Cootamundra. Cootamundra is known as
the birth place for Peter Sterling the famous Parramatta and Australia half
back of the 1980’s.
Both
brothers did service in France where Patrick was wounded on two occasions, of
which one also included the terrible experience of being gassed. He died on 7th January 1950, still
suffering the effects of his war service.
Mr. Rocks
went on to teach at South Strathfield High School, where from all reports he
was also well respected and liked by the students.
I was
pleased to see Leslie Rocks’s papers that he was a true Australian lad. He had been insolent to a Sgt. Turner and I
loved the term “was rewarded with five days CB”, (confined to barracks). Both Leslie and Patrick received the 1915
Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Much of the
information that is on these First World War records is hard to decipher. Regardless, I was proud to be taught by Mr.
Rocks. I have only thought of him in the
kindest and fondest memories. Sadly on 10th May 1973 he passed away.
I thank both
the Rocks brothers for their service in WWI and for helping to keep Australia
safe and moulding the Australian spirit.
All persons
enlisted were required to take an oath.
In Leslie Rocks’s records I found the following oath:
I, Leslie Rocks, swear that I will
well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial
Force from 26th July 1915 until the end of the War, and of four
months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed, or removed
therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and cause His Majesty’s
peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to
my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law.
LEST WE FORGET
This I
believe
Peter T.
Egge
