2nd Lieutenant Victor Leslie Saltau, 5th Battalion, AIF
Australian War MemorialVic Saltau was born on 26 July 1888 to John and Isabella Saltau of Warrnambool, Victoria. He grew up there, completing his education at the local college. He later moved with his parents to South Melbourne. In 1910 he married Lydia Cora Warner in Melbourne, and they later had two daughters, Cora and Vera. It was said that Vic Saltau “had two hobbies, his Sunday school work and military work.” He was a member of the Montague mission and a Sunday school teacher at the branch of the Dorcas Street Presbyterian Church. He was also a colour sergeant in the citizens’ militia, transferring to the Commonwealth forces with the introduction of universal military training.
Despite having a very young family, Victor Saltau was anxious to serve in the Australian Imperial Forces from its formation in 1914. He went to enlist with one of his younger brothers, Brian, within days of the outbreak of war. Brian was “barely 18” at the time, and put his age up to 21. Both brothers were accepted, and posted to the newly formed 5th Battalion.
Vic Saltau was posted to the 5th Battalion with the rank of sergeant, and left for active service overseas two months later. Shortly after his arrival in Egypt, he was posted quartermaster sergeant, and he and his brother began training in the desert.
On 25 April 1915, the 5th Battalion took part in the landing on Gallipoli as part of the second wave. By the following day, Private Brian Saltau had been shot in the chest and shoulder, and was evacuated to hospital in Egypt. Vic Saltau was able to prove himself an able soldier, and received his commission in the field three days after the landing, becoming a 2nd lieutenant.
In early May 1915, the 5th Battalion left Anzac Cove and was sent south to Cape Helles to take part in the attack on Krithia. Advancing in open sight of the enemy, the 5th Battalion lost almost a third of its strength, capturing little ground in return. As he charged across the open ground, Victor Saltau was shot in the abdomen. He was taken to a nearby casualty clearing station, where he died of his wounds shortly afterwards.
Another member of the 5th Battalion later recalled, “About 12 miles from Gaba Tepe we had a charge of about 100 yards at the Turks; that was where Vic Saltau got killed, and a lot more of our gallant boys. It was a terrible picture. We attacked about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and it was just on dark when we started to dig new trenches. We hadn’t done much, when the Turks started to throw up star shells, which illuminated the whole place, and we had to stop digging … I am speaking of what my friends and I went through. They who fell died for their country.”
Victor Saltau was buried in the Lancashire Landing Cemetery at Cape Helles, where he lies today under the simple epitaph “The beloved husband of Lydia C. Saltau and father of Cora and Lydia.” He was 27 years old.
Two years later, his brother Brian Saltau was also killed in action.
Their names are listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1663915
