Albany cousins embark on Gallipoli pilgrimage to locate burial places of great uncles for 110th Anzac Day

Albany cousins Maitland Osborn and Doug Wright have set off on a pilgrimage to Gallipoli to find the World War I burial places two of their great uncles lay in, and follow in the footsteps of their grandfather who survived to return home. Arriving in time for the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings and guided by a historian from Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours, the pair hope to find the final resting places of Francis Ronald McJannet and John Blacklock McJannet, both killed in action in 1915. Mr Osborn said he was prepared for the “very emotional time” of locating two of his maternal great uncles, whose bodies were never repatriated home and are believed to be buried in mass graves. “The impact on our families was huge,” he said. “I don’t think our grandmother ever got over losing her brothers to the horrors of war. “This left an indelible impression on our mothers and as children we were made well aware of the family sacrifices. “We will visit their marked graves and I will say g’day to them from all of the family who loved them and missed them very much, and also reflect on their missing offspring that never became part of our family.” Privates Francis and John served with the 11th Battalion AIF and 10th Light Horse Battalion respectively, alongside their eldest brother Frederick, who served with the 11th Battalion. John, 21, was killed at the famous charge at the Nek in August, 1915, Francis was reported as missing in action in April and Frederick sent home badly wounded and gassed in September. Mr Osborn said Granny McJannet received the telegrams informing her of the fate of her sons very close together and “went grey overnight”. “(Frederick) never really recovered and didn’t amount to much,” he said. “The McJannet line finished with Gallipoli.” The cousin’s grandfather, Harry Wyborn Leake from Kellerberrin, was fortunate enough to serve in both World Wars, work his way up to the rank of Lance-Sgt and return home in mostly one piece. Serving with the 16th Infantry Battalion, Sgt Leake charged onto the beach on the first day of the Gallipoli landing. According to his diary, held treasured by Mr Osborn, he was shot through his head, his abdomen, his hat and wounded by shrapnel down the side of his face. After convalescing, he went back to Gallipoli where he served on the Western Front, telling Pte John Simpson — remembered for using a donkey to transport wounded men — to “keep his head down”. He finished the war as a lieutenant, despite again being badly wounded and fighting a year-long battle against the Spanish flu. “I never heard my grandfather talk about the war,” Mr Osborn said. “He passed away when I was 10 years old. “I remember him as a very quiet gentle man, and I have inherited a lot of books on the war from him, so I know he had a very keen interest in it. “He always marched on Anzac Day.”