Clarrie Wallach
Encyclopedia
Clarrie "Doss" Wallach MC
(November 1889 – 22 April 1918) was an Australian representative
rugby union
forward and decorated World War I
military officer. He fought at Gallipoli and in France and died on the Western Front
. He was the second oldest of a number of brothers
who served during World War I
.
in Sydney where he played as a lock. He made eight state representative appearances for New South Wales
and appeared on five occasions between 1913 and 1914 for Australia
.
in the 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade
, of the 2nd Division raised in March 1915, disembarking in June 1915. After training in Egypt, the battalion landed at Anzac Cove
on 21 August 1915, and following that took part in the attack on Battle of Hill 60
.
Wallach wrote a letter home from Gallipoli which was published in the sporting paper The Referee. He described hearing of the deaths of his Eastern Suburbs clubmates Harold George
and Fred Thompson from William Tasker
another rugby contemporary who saw Gallipoli action and who like Wallach, would die on the Western Front."We arrived at Heliopolis about three weeks ago. We have been in some pretty solid work, but expect to go into the real stuff next week. All the rugby union men are well here, from the Major down to the privates. Twit Tasker
told me how Harold George
died the death of deaths - a hero's - never beaten till the whistle went". Clarrie he kept a diary at Gallipoli which is referred to by Carlyon for its glib style, e.g."Nothing of note, two skittled by shrapnel"
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On the Western Front
Wallach saw action at the Battle of Pozières
in August 1916. He named the trench he occupied at Pozieres
"Blancmange Trench" because it changed shape every time he visited it. In 1918 Wallach with the 19th battalion helped to repel the German Spring Offensive
, and it was during this time, on 7 April 1918, that Clarrie by now a Captain, would sustain mortal wounds in the very same action around Hangard Wood which saw his 2IC, Lieutenant Percy Storkey
earn a Victoria Cross
for his actions during the fighting.
, following seventy-five yards behind Wallach, took command. He pushed into undergrowth with eleven men trying to get behind the Germans. They successfully surprised an enemy position containing 80 to 100 men, driving them out, killing and wounding about 30 and capturing three officers, 50 men, and one machine gun.
Wallach had suffered a compound fracture of his left leg. Gas gangrene set in and doctors amputated the limb. His temperature soared to 105 degrees. He was given a blood transfusion to try to save the other leg but eventually it had to come off too. Wallach began to weaken: the shock was too great. He died on 22 April, aged twenty-eight. He is buried in the Etretat Churchyard Extension in Étretat
, France.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(November 1889 – 22 April 1918) was an Australian representative
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward and decorated World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
military officer. He fought at Gallipoli and in France and died on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. He was the second oldest of a number of brothers
Wallach Brothers
The Wallach brothers were a family of eight boys born to Henry and Mary Wallach of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia toward the end of the 19th century. Six of the brothers all saw active service in World War I. The fourth and eighth brothers, Clarrie and Neville were both top-grade rugby union...
who served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Rugby career
Wallach's club rugby career was with the Eastern Suburbs RUFCEastern Suburbs RUFC
The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club is a team in the Shute Shield and the Tooheys New cup, the premier club rugby union football competition in New South Wales....
in Sydney where he played as a lock. He made eight state representative appearances for New South Wales
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
and appeared on five occasions between 1913 and 1914 for Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
.
Military career
Wallach was commissioned as a LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade
5th Brigade (Australia)
5th Brigade is a brigade of the Australian Army. It is a Reserve combined arms formation based in New South Wales and forms part of the 2nd Division.-History:...
, of the 2nd Division raised in March 1915, disembarking in June 1915. After training in Egypt, the battalion landed at Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
on 21 August 1915, and following that took part in the attack on Battle of Hill 60
Battle of Hill 60 (Gallipoli)
The Battle of Hill 60 was the last major assault of the Battle of Gallipoli. It was launched on 21 August 1915 to coincide with the attack on Scimitar Hill made from the Suvla front by General Stopford's British IX Corps. Hill 60 was a low knoll at the northern end of the Sari Bair range which...
.
Wallach wrote a letter home from Gallipoli which was published in the sporting paper The Referee. He described hearing of the deaths of his Eastern Suburbs clubmates Harold George
Harold Wesley George
Harold Wesley George was an Australian representative rugby union prop forward who saw active service and fell in World War I.-Rugby career:...
and Fred Thompson from William Tasker
William Tasker
William George Tasker was an Australian World War I soldier who had been a national representative rugby union player making six Test appearances for the Wallabies.-Early life:...
another rugby contemporary who saw Gallipoli action and who like Wallach, would die on the Western Front."We arrived at Heliopolis about three weeks ago. We have been in some pretty solid work, but expect to go into the real stuff next week. All the rugby union men are well here, from the Major down to the privates. Twit Tasker
William Tasker
William George Tasker was an Australian World War I soldier who had been a national representative rugby union player making six Test appearances for the Wallabies.-Early life:...
told me how Harold George
Harold Wesley George
Harold Wesley George was an Australian representative rugby union prop forward who saw active service and fell in World War I.-Rugby career:...
died the death of deaths - a hero's - never beaten till the whistle went". Clarrie he kept a diary at Gallipoli which is referred to by Carlyon for its glib style, e.g."Nothing of note, two skittled by shrapnel"
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
Wallach saw action at the Battle of Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
in August 1916. He named the trench he occupied at Pozieres
Pozières
Pozières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D929 road, some northeast of Amiens between Albert and Bapaume, on the Pozières ridge.-Population:-History:...
"Blancmange Trench" because it changed shape every time he visited it. In 1918 Wallach with the 19th battalion helped to repel the German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
, and it was during this time, on 7 April 1918, that Clarrie by now a Captain, would sustain mortal wounds in the very same action around Hangard Wood which saw his 2IC, Lieutenant Percy Storkey
Percy Valentine Storkey
Percy Valentine Storkey VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
earn a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his actions during the fighting.
Death
The attack, supported by a barrage was to go in at 4.55am on 7 April, a cold and rainy night. Something went wrong on Wallach's front and no barrage fell ahead of him. He nonetheless led his men across 400 yards of open country toward the wood. German machine gunners untouched by shells, opened up. By the time the company reached the edge of the wood one man in four had been hit. Wallach fell with wounds to both knees. StorkeyPercy Valentine Storkey
Percy Valentine Storkey VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, following seventy-five yards behind Wallach, took command. He pushed into undergrowth with eleven men trying to get behind the Germans. They successfully surprised an enemy position containing 80 to 100 men, driving them out, killing and wounding about 30 and capturing three officers, 50 men, and one machine gun.
Wallach had suffered a compound fracture of his left leg. Gas gangrene set in and doctors amputated the limb. His temperature soared to 105 degrees. He was given a blood transfusion to try to save the other leg but eventually it had to come off too. Wallach began to weaken: the shock was too great. He died on 22 April, aged twenty-eight. He is buried in the Etretat Churchyard Extension in Étretat
Étretat
Étretat is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is a tourist and farming town situated c. 32 km northeast of Le Havre, at the junction of the D940, D11 and D139 roads. It's located on the coast of the Pays de Caux area.-The...
, France.