Eugene Edward Sabadine, known as “Ted”, was born in 1893, in Ravenswood, Queensland.  He was my great uncle, the brother of my grandfather, Joseph Sabadine. Both of them served on the Western Front.  Sadly, only Joe returned. Ted lost his life on the 9th of July, 1917, and is buried in Belguim.  He was never to see Australia again, his mother nor his brothers or sister.  He was never to experience the joys of marriage or fatherhood nor to see how the Sabadine family grew. He, like so many soldiers, you were never to know the weariness of age. 

During his short life, he lived and worked in Townsville.  Ted was just 22 when he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces.  He fought at Messines in the 41st Australian Infantry Battalion and was killed by shrapnel, aged.  In the words of a fellow soldier, “In stature he was incline to be small and round shouldered with jet black hair and smiling eyes… He was one of those men who appreciated a good turn for he was ever ready to do whatever he could to help his fellow man.  He thought of others”.

Ted, I believe that you are the embodiment of the Anzac legend: spirited, courageous, a good mate; prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

From the front, my grandfather, Joe, wrote a letter to his wife Annie, when he heard that his brother had been killed. He told her he’d met the boys who were with Ted when he died, and that they showed him where he was buried. I can’t imagine how he must have felt to write that letter, or the thoughts that must have been swirling through his mind.  How must my grandfather have felt, standing over Ted’s grave? I’m sure he wept, said a prayer and his last goodbyes to Ted. When Joe returned to Australia at the end of the war he must have done so with a heavy heart,  knowing that was leaving his brother behind, buried  on foreign soil, 12 000 miles from home.

Ted, although your place of rest is so far from home, you are always in the hearts and minds of your brother Joe’s family.  His family has grown.  It’s one you would both be proud of.  We honour your life and your contribution, Son of Australia.

Angela Lathouras