Legend of the Lamp - Harry Littlefair

The following transcription of LEGEND OF THE LAMP, made by Mélissa Martin for the Weston History and Heritage website, was taken from Pioneering Days of the Coalfields No.6, by Brian J. Andrews for the Coalfields Heritage Centre . Feb 2000, pp.16-21.  One photograph has been omitted and others substituted:

No.3 - LEGEND OF THE LAMP

The sign by the side of the roadway says “Welcome to Neath – home of the Miner's Lamp.” The Lamp referred to can be found in the public bar of the Neath Hotel and today's story is of this lamp.

Carried away by patriotic enthusiasm following Gallipoli, Harry Littlefair attempted to enlist, to do his bit, not once, but five times. Although disappointed, he never gave up hope that the next time he might be accepted.

His chance came at the end of August, 1915, as the urgent call went out for more men to enlist, if the Allies were to have any chance of winning the war. The stringent physical standards imposed for successful enlistment at the outbreak of the war, had been reduced considerably as regards height, chest measurement and teeth, making it much easier to gain enlistment.

The door was now open for Joseph Henry (Harry) Littlefair, a 24 year old miner, who lived with his parents in Harle Street, Weston.

Harry tried a sixth time and was accepted on August 30, 1915.

On the previous day, a Sunday, a big recruitment meeting was held in Weston's Olympia Hall. A procession, in which both the Weston Town Band and Maitland's Federal Band took part, marched from the railway level-crossing (as it was then) to the hall. The crowd was so large that the hall could not accommodate them.

It was an extremely enthusiastic meeting, high on emotions, and strong on patriotism. Meanwhile, at Cessnock a similarly enthusiastic meeting was taking place.

The outcome next day, Monday, August 30th, 1915, was an overwhelming number of volunteers from the coalfields all wanting to enlist. In all 74 volunteers turned up at Maitland's Drill Hall which served as the recruitment depot.

Unfortunately, many still failed the medical examination. One recruit was said to stand 6ft 7in in height (198cm). This of course, would have been Weston's John Dean, better known on the Coalfields as 'Long Jack Dean.'

Another recruit, the father of four sons who had all previous enlisted, was rejected, swore to find some way to enlist. Another, who had been accepted, refused when his best mate failed the medical – they were going together or not at all.

COALFIELD VOLUNTEERS

For your information the men accepted from...

Cessnock that day were...

From Abermain there was...

From Weston...

From Neath there were...

From Kurri Kurri there were...

whilst from Stanford Merthyr...

There was just Walter McKernon.

THE LEGEND

It followed from here that the legend of Harry Littlefair was born. For much of the information contained in this story I am indebted to David Dial, Hunter military historian, who made available a chapter of his soon to be published book “Coal Miner Digger.”

On a cold winter's day, with the day's work complete at the Neath Colliery, Harry strolled into the bar of the Neath Hotel for his usual pint of black beer, to share a yarn, before continuing on his way home to Weston.

But this day was different for Harry Littlefair – it was his last day at the colliery before going into army camp. Emotions got the better of him as he beckoned the landlady to him at the bar. Over a din of noise he said to her, “Put these upon the top shelf. I'll collect them when I return.”

Thus he handed over to her his small brass miner's lamp and a small brass oil container, symbols of his life as a coal miner.

Harry Littlefair was drafted into the 14th Reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion, sailing from Sydney aboard the 'RMS Osterly' on January 15, 1916, which transported the troops directly to England.

During the 84 years that have passed since Harry's lamp has looked down upon drinkers at the bar of the Neath Hotel, his legend has grown and been exaggerated through the story being passed down from father to son, recently even appearing in verse. However, this version of the story is based mostly upon the facts and a bit of oral history.

By the time Harry sailed from Sydney all of the Australian force had been evacuated from Gallipoli and the Dardenells. The legend claims Harry fought at Gallipoli, but through all of that campaign he was safely at home in Australia.

In April, 1916, Harry Littlefair was claimed by the Weston's Grand United Order of Oddfellows as one of their own, as they unveiled a Roll of Honour, listing him among their 50 members, who had offered their 'services to the Empire.' At that time only one had been killed, soon to be followed by Harry Littlefair and many others.

After undergoing further training in England it was then over to France, where Harry was wounded by a bomb explosion.

Early in August, 1916, Harry's parents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Littlefair, of Hebburn-Newtown, received a telegram, which read, “Regret to report Private J.H.Littlefair is dangerously ill from a gunshot wound in the chest. Will furnish progress reports when received.” News came through a week later that he had been removed from the dangerously ill list.

However, he was back to England for a long hospitalisation, where it was decided it would be best to send him home to Australia.

Having travelled half way around the world to fight, he was not going to be sent home, informing the Army's Medical Board that “I've got a lot of mates over there (in France) and I'm going back to them.”

Reinforcements were desperately needed at the front at that time. As was the case back at home, when he had repeatedly attempted to enlist, the battle scarred 'coal miner digger' got his way and rejoined his old battalion.

The 3rd Battalion, along with the rest of the First Division, had been rushed north to 'stop the rot.' The Germans had broken through the British lines, forcing the British to retreat.

A FINE SOLDIER

A letter to Harry Littlefair's mother, from one of his mates, tells the next part of the story. ...

“We arrived at Strazeele. When Fritz renewed the attack on our position the next day, Harry fell into a slight error, and he became a little careless. He thought we had only the 'Pork and Beans' (the Portuguese) in front of us.

“It was here that Harry was shot through the head. It was a mistake for Harry to come back to France. He had a hole in his chest (from his first wound) so big that you could put your hand in it. The piece of shell that had (previously) wounded him weighted ¾lb, and it was removed from below his ribs.

“He wanted to be back with us, you know, and at the back of his mind, I believe, was the thought that if he went back home, with a hole in his chest, he would not be much good again. He was a fine soldier.”

Lance-Corporal Harry Littlefair was killed in the last year of the war, on April 15, 1918, at the battle of Lys, which took place near the village of Strazeele.

CHAPLAIN'S CONDOLENCES

In another letter, written to Harry's mother, by the 3rd Battalion's chaplain, told her that her son...

“had made the supreme sacrifice, while bravely doing his duty with his company, during enemy attacks on our lines.

“His company was one of the most affected by these attacks, which were delivered again and again, during the course of the day, and they nobly held them off, but inflicted heavy casualties upon themselves.

“Lance-Corporal Littlefair was killed as the result of a machine-gun bullet fired during the attack, and I glad that I can give you the complete assurance, that he did not linger after he was fatally shot. He passed instantly to his rest, and the closer keeping of God.

“He was buried by his comrades close to where he fell, as it was not possible, owing to the nature of the fighting, to carry our lads far beyond the posts in which they died. I was only able to reach some of those who fell, not by any means all of them.

“My heart goes out to you in your sorrow. It must be a great grief to a mother to lose her son when he is so far from home, but there is no question that these lads in fighting, and suffering, are doing the highest which can be imagined at the present time.

“I only hope that mothers are meeting their losses with the same splendid courage, with which our men are meeting the dangers, and difficulties of the field.

“Your son was thought of much by everyone who knew him in the battalion, and he was always one to be relied upon to do his duty faithfully, conscientiously, and well, both in the field and out of it.”

Harry Littlefair's remains were not exhumed after the war for proper burial, and his name is listed among the 16,000 names of diggers with no known graves.

For many years, on the anniversary of his death (April 15), Harry's mining mates assembled at the Neath Hotel, where they lit his small lamp, and whilst it flickered overhead, drank a toast to his memory.

Today, Harry Littlefair's antiquated miner's lamp and oil container, still look down from above the bar.

Many times the hotel's license has changed hands, and each time the little tokens have been solemnly handed over to the new landlord.

Transcribed for the Weston History and Heritage website by Mélissa Martin