THE PICNIC TRAIN ATTACK

[Jeff Thorpe]

THE PICNIC TRAIN ATTACK

© Jeffrey Thorpe 17 September 2024

New Years Day is unique in Broken Hill’s annals
from the nineteen-fifteen incident on that day,
the episode too features in the country’s history channels
a not sought after imprint that will never go away.

Several hundred members of Manchester Unity Lodge
set out from Broken Hill for their annual picnic
at Silverton, an event none wished to dodge,
special train at their disposal to make the occasion tick.

Forty-one ore carriages carried the flock
on makeshift seats fitted for the excursion
departing for the fourteen-mile trip at ten o’clock
Silverton no doubt prepared for the incursion.

Soon after, the train came under fire
from two gunmen behind a mound near the track,
two on the train were killed and one in crossfire
five wounded as well in this unprompted attack.

The offenders were identified as two Turks,
Mulla Abdulla, a butcher and Gool Mahomad
an ice cream vendor, both possessed of quirks
anti British, and in wartime, surely disenchanted.

Police and militia set out, the pair to detain,
ensuing skirmish saw both Turks dead
one policeman wounded and a by-stander slain
the day had descended into one of dread.

The only enemy attack on Australian soil in World War One
marking Broken Hill for this unwanted accolade,
a senseless act in a battle no one won
like Gallipoli not much later, another inglorious escapade.

[alongtimegone]

A piece of history I hadn't known. Nicely written Jeff.

[Jeff Thorpe]

Thanks Wazza. Me neither until a recent visit to Broken Hill

Jeff