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Wife: Johanna Christina Tufrey. nee: Lamrock.
Died: 12th October 1940. Barraba, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:23488/1940
Mother: Annie Tufrey. nee: Collins.
Walter James Tufrey enlisted with B Company 33rd Battalion AIF on the 13th of November
1915 and was an original member of the Battalion and left Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on
the 4th of May 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 9th of July and was marched to the
9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp at Larks Hill. After only 2 weeks in camp Walter
was admitted to Hospital suffering from Mumps Orchitis and after
receiving treatment over the next 3 weeks he was transfered to the No:1 Auxiliary Hospital at
Haresfield on the 12th of August.
After being discharged from hospital, Walter proceeded overseas for France via Southampton on the
21st of November 1916 and after being Taken on in Strength in the field Walter was promoted to
Lance Corporal on the 8th of December and after nealy 5 months of action Walter was again promoted
to Lance Sergeant on the 30th of April 1917. His added responsibility put him in the front line
in preparation for the next big push at MESSINES where Walter was Wounded in Action
on the 7th of June 1917 where he received a Gun-Shot Wound to his
Face and Jaw and was treated in the field by the 9th Australian Field Ambulance.
7th June 1917
The 3rd Australian Divisions first major offencive was at Messines Ridge on the 7th June 1917.
The Australian 3rd Division was a part of the II Anzac Corps which was allotted to the first
assault. The 25th New Zealand, 3rd Australian Division with the 4th Australian Division in
reserve. The 4th Division were battle hardened troops who had fought many major battles.The 3rd
Australian Division were having problems getting to the "jump off" point. The day before the 9th
and 10th Infantry Brigades were bombarded by German Gas-Shells around Hill 63 and Plugstreet
Wood. Many of the Aussies were not wearing gas masks, but dispite this they pressed on even
though they received 500 casulties.
They made it to the "jump off" point but only just with some of the men from the 9th and 10th
going straight over the top without stopping. The mines went up and the attack commenced behind
a protective barrage. The II Anzac Corps were attacking on the right with their objective being
the southern shoulder of the ridge which included Messines, the Dover and St Yves areas as far
south to the east of Plugstreet Wood.
Major General Sir John MONASH's 3rd Division had to contend with a tricky 3 mile approach out of
Plugstreet Wood and after the German gas attack, but they were not detered. The 9th Infantry
Brigade under Brigadier General A JOBSON and the 10th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General
W R NICHOLL had just made the jumping off point but some of the men did not stop, going straight
into the assault from the approach march.
Their objective lay between St Yves and the Douve. The mines at Trench 127 and Trench 12 at
Factory Farm were laid to aid this task. The explosions erupted a few seconds before zero hour
and created craters of 200 feet in diameter, completely obliterating the German defence line as
the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades went over the top. The mine crates forced the 9th and 10th
Brigades to veer to the left and right which caused some confusion with the main assault. It is
testimony to the quality of training that every man knew the ground, tasks and objectives so well.
Private: 1804 John Carroll 33rd Battalion, rushed the
enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties
and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine
Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comraded who
had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he
dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the
Victoria Cross.
The German foward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting
battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men
were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken
during the offencive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on
beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme
Barn north of Douve.
The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before
the infantry had to become too involved.The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had mede little
impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received
many casulties from German artillery. (70% of all casulties during WW1 were from artillery).
By 9:00am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in dissaray, but there was a
major problem as the Australians received less casulties as anticipated and when ordered to dig
into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were
bug in around Seaforth Farm.
The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division
would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn)
were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Plugstreet
Wood was now behind them.
Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrarge to stop and counter attack
was shortnened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00pm this part of the
Oosttaverne Line was abandonded. At 10:45pm General Godley ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to
retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.
The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks looses
their lives.
| 33rd Battalion. AIF | 8 Officers | 382 Other ranks |
| 34th Battalion. AIF | 10 Officers | 378 Other ranks |
| 35th Battalion. AIF | 5 Officers | 431 Other ranks |
| 36th Battalion. AIF | 9 Officers | 421 Other ranks |
| 9th Machine Gun Company. AIF | 2 Officer | 17 Other ranks |
| 9th Light Trench Mortor Battery. | 1 Officer | 2 Other ranks |
Walter was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station for transfer to France and returned to England on board the Hospital Ship "St Andrew" on the 13th of June where he was admitted to the King's Cross Hospital, London on the 14th. Walter had an lengthy stay in and was transfered to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on the 14th of January 1918 and was granted a furlo from the 18th of January until the 1st of February where he was to report to the No: 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. Walter left England on board the HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the 4th of April and returned to Australia on the 13th of June and was discharged on the 23rd of October 1918 as Medically Unfit due to injuries to his left Mandible.
Walter was a married 26 year old Farmer from Rocky Creek, Caroda via Bingara, N.S.W upon enlistment. After Walter left for the war his wife Johanna moved. His parents James and Anne Tufney were married in 1889 at Barraba, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:7065/1889.
(Family Information; Rebecca Sarantzouklis.)
(Australian National Archives)
Under Construction 29/05/2008.
