Reg’s duty the ultimate sacrifice

THE dedication of the first trees on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue on this day a century ago coincided with the start of 100 days of Allied victories leading to the armistice on November 11, 1918.

In partnership with the Friends of Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, the Mercury and Sunday Tasmanian present “100 days of heroes”, a daily feature telling the story of 100 of the more than 500 Tasmanians commemorated on the avenue.

Tree number 500 was planted for Gunner Albert Reginald “Reg” Escott of Sandy Bay, a son of Walter and Sarah Escott who was 19 when he enlisted in August 1915. His brother Les also joined up.

The family lived at 65 Princes St, Sandy Bay, and Reg was an accounts

Ms Gray, who is the Friends’ group’s secretary and public relations officer, said the avenue had always been a place where her family could pay their respects to the fallen brothers.

Tree No. 412 is dedicated to Victor and No. 416 to Charles.

“No one could visit graves, and the avenue has sort of become a surrogate grave place for many clerk at Henry Jones IXL. He had attended the Battery Point State School and spent three years in the cadets as a youth. He also served in the local militia.

Reg, pictured, embarked with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade and underwent training in Egypt. Wounded in action in France in June 1917, he remained on duty until granted leave in the UK.

On August 8, 1918, aged 22, he was killed in action near Framervilles in France and is buried at Heath Cemetery in the Somme region. His tree on the avenue was planted in February 1919, near the Crossroads. He is also remembered on honour boards at the Hobart Town Hall and at St George’s Church.