General Service whistle with 1916 Anzac Day medallion: Captain Athol Frederick Burrett, 3 Battalion AIF

Standard nickle-plated brass tube-bodied whistle with intergal suspension loop, double window and lead fipple. The barrel is impressed 'THE CITY / WHISTLE / PATENT'. A plaited leather lanyard is attached to the suspension loop via a slip knot, and has a sliding knot incorporate into it about half way up.

Also attached to the loop is a small brass medallion, 20 mm in diameter, commemorating the 1916 Anzac Day March through London. The obverse bears the words 'ANZAC / APRIL 25 / 1915', with a border of wreathed leaves, with a King's crown to the base. The reverse is plain, except for a hand-engraved legend: 'CAP.N A.F. BURRETT / 25*4*15'.

Whistle issued to and used by Athol Frederick 'Joe' Burrett, a bank clerk of Corowa, NSW, born Grenfell, on 21 June 1894, who enlisted on 28 August 1914 with C Company, 3 Battalion, AIF upon its formation. With previous militia experience with 41 Infantry Battalion (Lithgow Rifles), Burrett (service number 568) was quickly promoted to Sergeant, on 1 September. His unit embarked for overseas service aboard the ‘Euripides’, leaving Sydney on 20 October 1914.

After training in Egypt at Mena Camp, the majority of 3 Battalion embarked for Gallipoli aboard the 'Derflinger' on 5 April 15 for Lemnos (where they practiced landing techniques) before landing at Gallipoli from about 5:30 am on the 25 April – the entire battalion had been landed by 8:30 am. It wasn’t until they were relieved on 29 April by the RMLI and 'proceeded to a rendezvous on the beach. Here we were enabled, at last, to get some idea of our losses. The Battalion stood as follows: killed 3 officers, 36 other ranks; wounded 13 officers, 180 other ranks and 69 other ranks missing.' One of those wounded was Sergeant Burrett, on 27 April. He was evacuated to Cairo on 1 May and had recovered enough to rejoin 3 Battalion three weeks later. By 12 June he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and platoon commander. He was active and prominent in the attack on Lone Pine on 6 August, noting that ‘during the preliminary bombardment I stood close to Dr Bean and Colonel EE Browne, later killed at Lone Pine.’ Of the whistle he stated in 1960 that ‘I blew it in the Lone Pine charge. I was a 2/Lieut at the time and was one of the timekeepers in charge of my platoon.’ CEW Bean notes that Burrett was injured at Goldenstedt’s Post on 8 August, but remained with his battalion for another two weeks before being evacuated to Alexandria with seriously septic arms and legs on 26 August . He rejoined 3 Battalion at Mudros on 11 October – they had been embarked from Gallipoli on the night of 14/15 September, and after a month’s training and rest, returned on 30 October. Burrett was promoted to Lieutenant on 14 November – his battalion spent the remainder of its time at Gallipoli holding and maintaining positions before the evacuation; the last party of 3 Battalion men (Commanding Officer Howell-Price and 12 other ranks) left the peninsula at 2:50 am on the morning on 20 December.

Burrett was made acting adjutant of 3 Battalion on 12 December, a position confirmed as full Adjutant upon his promotion to captain on 12 March 1916. His battalion embarked for France from Alexandria on 23 March 16 aboard the transport ‘Grampian’, disembarking on 28 March. After helping settle his men into life on the Western front, Captain Burrett took leave in London from 31 May, but did not return to his unit until 23 August, after suffering a period in hospital. By that time 3 Battalion had fought at Pozieres with heavy casualties. They were moved to Belgian for the Ypres campaigns in late 1916 and on 2 December Burrett was promoted to major. Between 7 April and 16 June 1917, he attended the Aldershot Senior Officers School. An assessment from Aldershot from Brigadier General Kentish of Burrett’s performance includes the comments: “A very good fighting soldier type with plenty of common sense. Has an unusually varied experience and knowledge of modern fighting.” Kentish considered that Burrett was rather young to take on command, but with experience would make excellent second-in-command. Burrett rejoined his unit on 4 July. He was transferred to the First Division Reinforcements Camp “during operations” on 13 to 25 September 19 17 before rejoining his battalion, and attended a Musketry Course at Tilques between 14 and 24 February 1918 and returned to 3 Battalion on 10 March after 10 days Paris leave.
Burrett was mentioned in Haig’s despatches of 7 April 1918 for his work s 3 Battalion Adjutant, and recommended for a Distinguished Service Order which was awarded on 4 April for ‘general good work and devotion to duty as a Company Commander and later as Senior Major from 22 September 1917 to 24 February 1918’. It was noted that Burrett ‘when in the line set a splendid example of coolness and bravery, and his energy and administrative ability at all times have proved of great assistant to his Commanding Officer.’ After 3 Battalion’s involvement in the 8 August Offensive, Burrett was detached to attend the 4th Army Gas School from 2 to 8 September; and as a 1914 enlistee, he was favoured with Special Leave and embarked for Australia from Taranto, Italy on 8 October – his appointment was terminated on 3 February 1919. In his post-war career, he served as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Somers when Governor of Victoria and died on 29 January 1965.