By John Telfer
Hector Markey was a hero of the first World War distinguishing himself as a stretcher bearer on the slopes of Gallipoli and later, amid the mud and carnage in the trenches on the Western Front. He had the unique honour of being mentioned in despatches twice by the Commander in Chief, General Douglas Haigh in October 1916, and again, just six months later, in September 1917. Here is Hector’s unique story.
Hector Markey was born on 12th March 1896 at Hay in the Riverina district of New South Wales. He was a son of Jane and Edwin Markey of Hay, one of seven sons and two daughters, where his father Edward started a boot repair business at Crusher Camp and later, at Kurrajong Avenue in Hay. Hector received his early education in Hay where he spent three years with the school cadet unit and after school, worked in labouring jobs before moving to Melbourne for a short period of 10 months, as a Warehouse labourer and driver. He did enlist in the Army reserve with the Australian Medical Corps prior to the outbreak of war in 1915.
Hector, being an adventurous young man, was quick to enlist in the newly formed 1st Australian Expeditionary Force and, after a short period of training, embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT “Ajana” on 4th June 1915, with the 6th Field Ambulance. After a short time at Alexandra, Egypt, Hector was sent to Gallipoli to assist in the campaign as a stretcher bearer.
After landing at Gallipoli Hector was promoted to Corporal on 28th November 1915, and spent time with the No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital at East Murdros and at Lemnos. These places played a critical role in the Gallipoli campaign. Murdros, with its close proximity to the Dardanelles was selected as the allies’ supply base, and as a hospital for the injured from Gallipoli. After the evacuation from Gallipoli in December 1915, Hector was soon promoted to Staff Sergeant and was awarded a Mentioned in Despatches on 4th October 1916. This is what was said:
“This N.C.O. has shown a very marked devotion to duty as Sergeant
Clerk in this Unit from 1/3/1916 to 4/9/1916 and has never spared
himself but has always responded to every call made on him. He was
recommended for distinction by the former O.C. on account of his
gallant conduct as a messenger (when a private) on Gallipoli.”
Hector spent the next two years with the 6th Field Ambulance in France in the Somme campaign where he once again distinguished himself in the field and gained the rather unique honour, of being awarded a second Mentioned in Despatches which said:
“Distinguished service in the field and devotion to duty during
the period from midnight February 26th to midnight September
20th 1917”.
It was at this time that a possibly battle -weary Hector, who incidentally caught up with his brother Arnold in France, who had been awarded a Military Medal. In a letter to a Nurse Stewart of Hay, on 3rd November 1916, Hector described the desolation of a French village by German artillery that possibly brought on feelings of futility and war weariness. It may have been the reason for his attraction to the newly formed Australian Flying Corps, so when the Corps were looking for volunteers to train as pilots, Hector applied and was duly accepted.
On 21st March 1918, Hector was posted to No 1 Wing of the Australian Flying Corps from the 6th Australian Field Ambulance for pilot training, retaining his rank of Staff Sergeant. On 25th March 1918, he proceeded to the AFC Depot at Wendover and after his initial flying training, he was posted to No 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford and appointed a Cadet Pilot. Finally, he completed his training on 7th February 1919 and was promoted to Second Lieutenant pilot, and posted to the 5th Training Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps, where he served as Adjutant by replacing Lieutenant Cameron. He served until 15th December 1919, before his embarkment aboard HMAT “Nestor” back to Australia, and finally discharged from the service in March 1920, and although he never flew in combat, he finished the war with a very impressive service record. At this time Hector was asked by Raymond Parer, a noted war pilot, to co-pilot him in an air race from London to Australia, but due to administration blunders, was unable to accompany Parer and had to return by sea travel.
After the war, Hector returned to Melbourne and worked as a labourer before taking up a Soldier Settlement block in 1924, with his brother Stan at “Gogoldrie” in the Mallee, but it turned out to be a total failure. He then returned to Leeton to work at a farm and it was here that he met the love of his life in Kathleen Parkes. When the Parkes family moved to Brisbane in Queensland, Hector followed and later married Kathleen in Brisbane on 6th September 1930, and later moved to Yangan to purchase a farm that they called “Gleneden”
In 1940 when World War 2 broke out volunteers were called to form a garrison at Singapore to help stop the Japanese advance. Hector immediately volunteered and was selected to go, so he leased the farm and moved his family to Warwick. However, luckily, nothing eventuated as Singapore fell in 1941, so, Hector worked with some of his old Flying Corps mates at a Royal Australian Air Force recruiting team located in Creek Street Brisbane, selecting many candidates for training. As many young men came forward to enlist Hector was asked to spot any potential aircrew and because of his ability to do this, was highly commended. He managed to enlist many men from the Warwick district who went on fly in the European campaign.
Hector never let the physical and psychological effects of the war slow down his life as after the war, Hector became very active in politics, mainly agricultural, and eventually became a member of the Country Party. He was Chairman of the Warwick Electorate campaign, and was on the Executive of the Queensland Country Party, attending many State Conferences. He also never forgot his old Flying Corps days and proudly represented the “old brigade” at reunions. He was guest speaker at the second annual reunion to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the formation of the RAAF on 6th April 1950, as well as attending the 50th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing dinner, held at Warwick’s Horse and Jockey Hotel on 24th April 1965.
Hector Markey was a true hero in the Anzac tradition. He was a very honourable man, very reserved, and with high moral values. He never spoke very much about the war to his family, but his war record showed that he was at the forefront of the horrors of Gallipoli and the Western Front in which he received deserved honours for his bravery and dedication.
Sadly, in 1967, at the age of 71, Hector was taken to Warwick Hospital to have his appendix removed but died from complications on 20th October 1967. He now lies at rest in the Soldiers Section of the Warwick War Cemetery.
