The rededication service for AIF Private Michael Constantine and Australian Field Artillery Gunner Ronald Sherlock was held Wednesday (November 17), organised by the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group.

Through the hard work of member Graham Morrison, local historian Robyn Florance and the Commonwealth War Graves, the graves of Private Constantine and Gunner Sherlock were refurbished and rededicated.

Constantine and Sherlock are among 14 WWI diggers unmarked graves that have been discovered in Nowra General Cemetery, with work on them all being refurbished and rededicated.

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So far, nine graves have been refurbished and rededicated, with another four remaining, with one further grave also pending approval.

Interestingly, the rededication for Sherlock comes in the same year as the Australian Field Artillery celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Private Constantine served in the 22nd Battalion AIF, fighting alongside his mates at Noreuil and Bullecourt, where, over a 24-hour period, his battalion lost 16 officers and 422 other ranks of whom 50 per cent were killed or missing. He was the redeployed to Belgium, the battles around the strategic town of Ypres, fighting for control of the Menin Road and on toward Passchendaele before returning to the Somme and their final battle at Beaurevoir.

Artillerymen needed to be basically the 'Jack of all Trades' but most importantly - the masters of all - cross training in all facets of artillery were a key factor on the battlefield. Gunner Sherlock was trained as a signaller, a gunner both on a field gun and a howitzer and when required a driver, delivering the vital ammunition, feeding the forward gun batteries with all calibers of ammunition.

His brigade fought on the Somme, at battles such as Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Bapaume, Bullecourt and Noreuil Valley and the muddy battlefields of Belgium at Ypres, Passchendaele, Messines, Polygon Wood and Menin Road.

HMAS Albatross Commanding Officer, Captain Robyn Phillips laid a wreath at both graves and Chaplain Stephen Estherby conducted prayers, while young Albatross personnel also acted as the honour guard.

Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group chairman Rick Meehan and president Fred Campbell conducted the rededication services, with Mr Campbell outlining Constantine's service, while fellow KPVCVBG member and former Australian Field Artilleryman Darryl Kelly outlining Sherlock's service.

The moving ceremonies were also organised with the support of Murphy Family Funerals.

"Michael Constantine and Ronald Sherlock were both laid to rest with unnamed graves to reflect their service to their country," Mr Meehan said.

"They served this country in a time of war. Today we gather to correct that wrongdoing and rededicate these graves. We gather to pay due honour and say goodbye and thank you for ones that served their country.

"It was great to see so many proud veterans here today paying their respects to the fallen."

Mr Campbell thanked everyone involved in the special ceremony including thanking and acknowledging other ex-service organisations involved in making the service possible.

Unfortunately, despite lots of research, no local relatives were found for either man.

If you believe you could be related in some way Mrs Florance and Mr Morrison would love to hear from you.

The ceremonies concluded with the playing of the Last Post and the reciting of the Ode.

Private Michael Joseph Constantine (#6058) 22nd Battalion AIF, was born in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern.

In his teenage years he was living at home with his mother Louisa, in a modest family home in Vaughan Street, Lidcombe.

He came up through the Compulsory Military Training Scheme, where he served two years as a senior cadet in the 2nd Infantry.

A farmer by trade, Michael was 19 1/2 when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on August 8, 1916.

He undertook his initial training at the Liverpool Army Camp, on Sydney's western outskirts.

Michael was earmarked as a reinforcement for the 22nd Infantry Battalion, which was somewhat unusual for a NSW recruit, as the 22nd was a Victorian unit.

He set sail for England on the transport 'Argyllshire' on October 31, 1916.

Arriving in England at the height of the worst winter to hit Europe for the past 40 years was not for the faint hearted, but it did prepare him for what might lie ahead on the battlefields of France and Belgium.

With this phase of his training was complete he and his mates boarded a ship and ran the U Boat gauntlet across the English Channel to France. He was 'Taken on Strength' with the 22nd Battalion on March 31, 1917.

He fought alongside his mates a Noreuil, and during the disaster of Bullecourt, where, over a 24-hour period, his battalion lost 16 officers and 422 other ranks of whom 50 per cent were killed or missing.

Elements of the AIF, including the 22nd Battalion were redeployed to the battlefields of Belgium, where battles around the strategic town of Ypres, took its toll.

They helped fight for control of the Menin Road, and to seize and hold vital ground and key terrain of Broodseinde Ridge and on toward Passchendaele.

The allies were racing to beat the onset of the autumn and winter rains, which coupled with the fact that the artillery rounds, numbering in the hundreds of thousands fired since war began, had destroyed the centuries old drainage ducts and would soon turn the battlefields into a massive, stinking bog of water filled craters and thick stinking mud, that would consume men, animals and machines alike.

In mid-January 1918, the AIF was again on the move south, returning to the Somme.

With the collapse of Russia, the Germans forces numbering some 70 full divisions, were able to be redeployed and thrown against the British and French forces in the west. If not stopped, the Germans were poised to win the war!

In April 1918, the incessant wet and cold took its toll on Private Constantine, as he succumbed to the dreaded 'trench foot'.

The condition was serious enough to warrant evacuation to England where specialist treatment was available.

While in hospital he also came down with influenza, which within mere months, would reap its toll across the world as the Spanish Flu pandemic.

It didn't stop Michael however, from taking some self-appointed leave, which met the wrath from the authorities.

Michael crossed back over to France on September 22, 1918 and was able to re-join his battalion for what was to be their final battle around the village of Beaurevoir. It would cost the 22nd Battalion - 22 killed and a further 65 wounded.

On October 5, 1918, the 22nd Battalion marched out of the front line for what would be their last time with an Armistice called five weeks later.

Private Michael Constantine survived the war but would have to wait a further 10 months for passage home.

He was finally discharged on December 11, 1919 and like so many, he blended back into Australian society and tried to pick up the pieces as best he could.

For his service to his country Michael was awarded -

1914-1918 British War Medal.

1914-1919 Victory Medal.

He passed away in Nowra on April 20, 1972, aged 70.

Gunner Ronald Henry Sherlock (#17171) Royal Australian Artillery, was born in the Sydney suburb of Croydon.

An electrician by trade, he resided with his mother, Ada, at Creer Street in Randwick.

Ronald was no stranger to military life, as he was a member of the Australian Field Artillery as a militiaman for 18 months, before joining the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), on November 15, 1915.

His initial service was confusing to say the least, as he was shunted from infantry draft to infantry reinforcement draft, until finally the authorities realised that his Militia service would serve them best and he was allocated to the 6th Reinforcements, for the soon to be formed 5th Field Artillery Brigade (5 FAB).

He sailed from Sydney on His Majesty's Australian Transport 'Borda' on June 5, 1916. The 'Borda' sailed first to Suez, then Alexandria and on to Southampton via Marseilles, where it arrived in July 1916.

The artillerymen aboard were bound for the training grounds of Salisbury Plains, where they honed their skills in the art of gunnery, where speed and most of all accuracy was key.

In February 1917, the gunners were ready for war on the Western Front but their final destination was one of where they, as individuals, were needed most.

For Ron Sherlock, it was as a driver for the 2nd Division Ammunition Column (2 DAC), they were the men tasked with the vital mission of feeding the forward gun batteries with all calibers of ammunition.

The vital supply lines, especially those supplying the guns were key targets for the enemy gunners, who had the roads and tracks zeroed in to mere yards.

For Ron and his fellow gunners, their cross training in all facets of artillery were a key factor on the battlefield, for the artillery had a critical badge of honour - as they had one of the highest casualty rates next to that of the infantry.

Ron was called upon to be trained as a signaller, a gunner both on a field gun and a howitzer and when required, back to delivering the vital ammunition.

Artillerymen needed to be basically the 'Jack of all Trades' but most importantly - the masters of all.

The Battle Honour of Artillery is and always will be 'UBIQUE' - which means Everywhere.

Ron's brigade fought on the Somme with battles such as Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Bapaume, Bullecourt and Noreuil Valley - etched in their souls.

On the muddy battlefields of Belgium where names such as Ypres, Passchendaele, Messines, Polygon Wood and Menin Road would haunt them for life.

Sherlock was a typical soldier; he worked hard and did his job well.

He got into trouble at times and in fact decided to give himself some well-deserved leave on a number of occasions, which saw him undergo detention, confinement to barracks and fines. But that was part of soldiering.

He also took the risk of battle and in November 1917, while fighting in Belgium, he was wounded in the left leg.

The wound was serious enough to warrant his evacuation to England for specialist treatment.

He returned to France in April 1918 and serving on the gun line firstly with 105 Howitzer Battery and later 15 Field Battery and would remain on the front line until wars end, before returning to Australia in July 1919.

This year 2021, marks the 150th anniversary of the Australian Field Artillery and Ron along with tens and tens of thousands of Australian Artillerymen and women, who have served the corps in both peace and war and continue to serve, have contributed so much to that 150-year journey and the Battle Honour - UBIQUE.

For his service to his country Ronald was awarded -

1914-1918 British War Medal.

1914-1919 Victory Medal.

He passed away in Nowra on April 13, 1966, aged 72.

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