A Part of Buderim's History

Buderim’s First ANZAC

by Helene Cronin

With the outbreak of WWI in 1914, men and women from Buderim Mountain were quick to enlist.

Sidney Lewis McIntyre, aged 30, farmer, was the first to heed the call from Buderim Mountain, enlisting on the 5th of October, 1914. He was born at Jaspers Brush, NSW and served with the 9^th Battalion, gaining the MC and MM.

Lieut. McIntyre has had 2½ years continuous service. He has constantly discharged the duties of Quartermaster in a most praiseworthy manner. Often under the most trying conditions the work of this Officer has been of invaluable assistance to the Battalion. His constant devotion to duty and sterling qualities are deserving of the highest mention.

The 9^th Battalion was one of the first units raised in the AIF for WWI. It was raised in Queensland and after some early training sailed for Egypt arriving early in December 1914. As part of the 3^rd Brigade it was the covering force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915, and so was the first ashore at around 4.30am. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead. It served at ANZAC until the evacuation in December 1915. After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. In March 1916, it sailed to France and deployed to the Somme. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozieres in July 1916.

On 21 January, 1917, Sidney’s younger brother Cecil Gladstone McIntyre, farmer of Gympie, was killed in action at Armentieres, France aged 23.

Later the 9^th battalion fought at Ypres, in Belgium before returning to the Somme in winter. In 1918 the battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive in March and April, before participating in the great Allied offensive of 1918 that eventually brought about an end to the war. Captain McIntyre returned to Australia on the 2^nd December, 1918.

Captain McIntyre was just one of 73 men and women from Buderim Mountain who enlisted during the Great War of 1914-1918. Eighteen of the men who volunteered for active service with the AIF were medically unfit and so 53 men and 2 women were sent off to fight for King and Country.

Many of these were sons and daughters of Buderim’s first settlers, who before the war worked on farms, in the Sawmill and the Buderim – Palmwoods Tramway. Their ages ranged from 18 to 45.

Take time out to visit the Eric Joseph Foote War Memorial Sanctuary, dedicated to Eric Joseph Trestrail Foote who was killed in action on 3^rd September, 1916, at Moquet Farm, Pozieres, France. The Sanctuary exists as a memorial to Eric the Soldier and to all those who gave their lives in War.

Lest We Forget.