Peter Casserly
Encyclopedia
Peter Casserly was, at age 107, the last surviving member of the 1st AIF
serving in France
in the First World War
. At the time of the death, he was believed to be the oldest living Australia
n male, and his marriage to Monica Delgrado was also believed to be Australia's longest.
. His Irish-born father had moved to Western Australia in search of gold, but ended up working for the railways and on the wharves, barely earning enough to put food on the table for his 11 children.
Casserly attended the Christian Brothers College in Perth until he left school at 13 to become a blacksmith's apprentice, and was working at the blacksmith's when World War I commenced. In 1917, he was working as a fireman for the West Australian Railways
when he saw an advertisement by the Australian army for experienced railwaymen to serve in France, and he enlisted on Saint Patrick's Day
.
before leaving for France. When his troop carrier, the Ascanius, was moored off Fremantle
, he was refused permission to say goodbye to his mother, so he sent her a message in a bottle, which was found and sent to her.
On arrival in France, he was sent to the Somme
, where he served as an armed guard with the 2nd Transport Unit. The trains to and from the battlefront were subject to frequent bombardment from the Germans
. Casserly served with the 2nd, 5th and 16th Railway Transport Units in Belgium
and France. He also served as a sapper
supporting Australian and British
forces fighting in Ypres
, Armentières
and Amiens
.
Casserly was court-martial
led on 18 May 1918 on a charge of "When on active service, using violence to his superior officer in that he 'in the field' on 5 May 1918 violently assaulted Sgt A.G. Riddie". He was found guilty of the charge and was sentenced to 12 months 'IHL' ('In Hard Labour'). He was admitted to No. 1 Military Prison in France on 5 June 1918. On 15 October 1918, the remainder of his sentence was suspended, and he rejoined his unit.
After the ceasefire, Casserly was involved in cleaning up until his discharge on 11 September 1919. After the war he made a decision never to serve in the armed forces again. He only attended two Anzac Day
marches in his life - in 1917 and in 2004 when he was driven as the guest of honour.
bravery award for saving a man from drowning.
In 1923, Casserly married Philippine-born Monica Delgardo. The couple had two sons, Eddie and Peter Jr. Their marriage lasted for 80 years, ending in 2004 when Monica died; is believed to be Australia's longest nuptial union. The couple lived for many years in the White Gum Valley near Perth in a home that Casserly built. After they both turned 100 the couple moved into the Craigville Gardens in Melville, Western Australia
.
He was awarded the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal
in 1999, and was part of a contingent of surviving veterans to tour the Western Front in 1993. Although fifty Australian servicemen received the Légion d'honneur
, Casserly did not because of the previously mentioned court-martial. John Howard
presented him with a Centenary Medal
in 2001 in honour of the 100th anniversary of Australian Federation.
Casserly died in Perth on 24 June 2005. He was survived by his son, Peter, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
When asked about the secret to a long life, he replied: "Keep on breathing, I suppose."
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First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
serving in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the First World War
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...
. At the time of the death, he was believed to be the oldest living Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n male, and his marriage to Monica Delgrado was also believed to be Australia's longest.
Early years 1898-1917
Casserly was born in Perth, Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. His Irish-born father had moved to Western Australia in search of gold, but ended up working for the railways and on the wharves, barely earning enough to put food on the table for his 11 children.
Casserly attended the Christian Brothers College in Perth until he left school at 13 to become a blacksmith's apprentice, and was working at the blacksmith's when World War I commenced. In 1917, he was working as a fireman for the West Australian Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
when he saw an advertisement by the Australian army for experienced railwaymen to serve in France, and he enlisted on Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
.
World War I service 1917-1919
Casserly was sent to a training camp in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
before leaving for France. When his troop carrier, the Ascanius, was moored off Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, he was refused permission to say goodbye to his mother, so he sent her a message in a bottle, which was found and sent to her.
On arrival in France, he was sent to the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, where he served as an armed guard with the 2nd Transport Unit. The trains to and from the battlefront were subject to frequent bombardment from the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Casserly served with the 2nd, 5th and 16th Railway Transport Units in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France. He also served as a sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
supporting Australian and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces fighting in Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, Armentières
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
and Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
.
Casserly was court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
led on 18 May 1918 on a charge of "When on active service, using violence to his superior officer in that he 'in the field' on 5 May 1918 violently assaulted Sgt A.G. Riddie". He was found guilty of the charge and was sentenced to 12 months 'IHL' ('In Hard Labour'). He was admitted to No. 1 Military Prison in France on 5 June 1918. On 15 October 1918, the remainder of his sentence was suspended, and he rejoined his unit.
After the ceasefire, Casserly was involved in cleaning up until his discharge on 11 September 1919. After the war he made a decision never to serve in the armed forces again. He only attended two Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
marches in his life - in 1917 and in 2004 when he was driven as the guest of honour.
1919-2005
After the war, Casserly returned to Fremantle where he worked as a wharf labourer, timber worker, seaman, and fisherman. He started his own timber yard, then established a cray fishing service. Casserly won a Royal Humane SocietyRoyal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
bravery award for saving a man from drowning.
In 1923, Casserly married Philippine-born Monica Delgardo. The couple had two sons, Eddie and Peter Jr. Their marriage lasted for 80 years, ending in 2004 when Monica died; is believed to be Australia's longest nuptial union. The couple lived for many years in the White Gum Valley near Perth in a home that Casserly built. After they both turned 100 the couple moved into the Craigville Gardens in Melville, Western Australia
Melville, Western Australia
Melville is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the likewise named City of Melville....
.
He was awarded the 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal
80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal
The 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal was a commemorative medal made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice marking the end of World War I...
in 1999, and was part of a contingent of surviving veterans to tour the Western Front in 1993. Although fifty Australian servicemen received the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, Casserly did not because of the previously mentioned court-martial. John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
presented him with a Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
in 2001 in honour of the 100th anniversary of Australian Federation.
Casserly died in Perth on 24 June 2005. He was survived by his son, Peter, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
When asked about the secret to a long life, he replied: "Keep on breathing, I suppose."
Honours and awards
- British War MedalBritish War MedalThe British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
- Victory Medal
- 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance MedalThe 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal was a commemorative medal made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice marking the end of World War I...
(awarded 21 April 1999) - Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
(awarded 1 January 2002)
External links
- obituary, 25 June 2005, Sydney Morning Herald
- Media release, 24 June 2005, De-Anne Kelly, Minister for Veteran Affairs