A Dubbo author is helping to mark the approaching 100th anniversary of the Armistice of World War I (WWI) with the release of a book on his grandfather who received the Military Medal for valour under fire.
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Solicitor Peter Bartley will release Trenches to the Tracks this month to honour the war and railway service of the late Edward Charles (Ted) Bartley.
Ted Bartley was awarded the Military Medal for valour under fire in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt in WWI and retired after 41 years of service as a railway man.
The new book was printed in Dubbo by the Colour Copy Shop and local war expert Graeme Hosken contributed to the editing of the military aspects of the book.
It will be launched by the federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce at the Australian Rail Monument in Werris Creek on September 30.
Ted Bartley was raised at Howell near Inverell and started at Werris Creek in 1939 as the chief train controller. He retired in 1955 as assistant district superintendent and died in Werris Creek in 1976.
The WWI veteran saw 1344 days of overseas service and fought for two-and-a-half years on the Western Front in France and Belgium. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Amiens in 1918.
“Pop was an inspirational man whose life was the epitome of self-sacrifice and duty to his community” his grandson said.
“Upon his return from the war my grandfather devoted his life to Legacy, the RSL and the ideals of Anzac Day. He was truly a great man.”
Mr Bartley took five years to research and write the book.
“It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it,” he said.
The foreword to the book has been written by former Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam War veteran and rail enthusiast Tim Fischer.
“It is difficult to imagine the very real hardship and cold calm bravery required of Ted Bartley going out 14 times through heavy shelling in No Man’s Land to fix breaks in the telephone wires,” Mr Fischer writes.
The former Deputy Prime Minister praised Ted Bartley for his “great service” to his country in war and as a railway man “always with devotion to his family and his faith”.
The book will be sold at the Dubbo Book Connection in Macquarie Street.
Mr Bartley will be signing Trenches to the Tracks at the store on October 12.
