LOST LOVE
Alfred Henry Stopher - 29th Battalion

“Dig faster!”

A shell screams overhead, disappearing beneath the snow before erupting in a shower of detritus. I cover my head as the cold mud rains down on me.

My hands tremble, the cold numbing my fingertips and making the handle of my spade difficult to hold. I turn around; looking back along the black scar we have cut through the white landscape.

I rub my hands together and return to work, the cold earth still stubborn beneath my blade.

“Come on lads, we need to get this cable down.”

There is a whistle as another shell materialises out of the pitch black sky, erupting in a shower of ice and dirt.

I pray.

Our Captain paces anxiously ahead, his eyes fixed on something on the horizon I cannot make out. We are some distance back from the line but still not out of the reach of the deadly German artillery.

This was meant to be easy, this was meant to be quick, but the weather has other ideas.

Another shell screams and then I hear bells. Church bells. I see Annie. She's dressed in white. She's more beautiful than I ever imagined. Darkness. I love her.

Born in England in 1893, Alfred Henry Stopher emigrated to Australia in 1913 to work as a labourer on the Victorian railroads. Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 13th July 1915 , he was sent to camp at Broadmeadows before being moved to Seymour , where he qualified as a signaller. He listed his father, James Stopher of London , England , as his next of kin.

Whilst in camp Alfred married his sweetheart, Annie Plunkett of Footscray, changing his will and enlistment papers to make her his next of kin. But the new couple didn't get to spend much time together as Stopher was soon on his way to the Middle East on board the troop transport ship Ascanius, a member of the 29th Battalion. He arrived at his destination on December 7th 1915 .

After spending months training in the desert and taking part in canal defence duties, the battalion embarked for France in mid June of 1916, with Stopher travelling on the transport Tunisian. After arriving in Marseilles they entrained to northern France and proceeded to billets at Morbecque before moving to Estaires.

After taking part in some minor operations at Bois Grenier in early July, Stopher and his battalion took part in the major attack at Fromelles, remaining in the area until August before leaving for Houplines and then Strazeele.

In October 1916 Stopher went absent without leave for a day and upon his return was sentenced to ten days field punishment (No. 2) as a result. Following this incident he moved with the battalion to Bailleul and then to Ribemont, before going absent without leave again in December; this time overstaying his leave for just under three days. Given his past indiscretion, and the fact that this time he was on active duty when committing the crime, he was sentenced to 28 days field punishment (No. 1).

After serving his punishment, Stopher went with his battalion to Dernancourt and then Fricourt, participating in attacks near Bapaume in early 1917, where he was killed in action by shellfire on 12th February while laying a communications cable.

Due to the heavy snow and the extent of his injuries, Stopher's body was only discovered three days later, whereupon it was buried in a shell hole twenty yards north of Les Bouefs-Gueudecourt Road, south east of Gueudecourt, three miles north of Combles. He was subsequently re-buried at Bancourt Military Cemetery (British) in France, Grave 5 D 14.

Research notes:

1) Annie Stopher had remarried by 1922, becoming Mrs Kowarzik (her new husband having seen WW1 service with the 59th BN).

Photos:

1) Bancourt cemetery photo by Robert Pike.

2) Australian War Memorial photo by Damian Madden.