BACKGROUND

Edward Bryans was born the 3^rd June 1897 in Mitchell, Queensland, son of James and Jessie Emily (Durham) Bryans. His name was registered as Edward James Bryans. According to QLD BDM he had one sister, Jane.

ATTESTATION

Edward travelled to Brisbane on the 21^st October 1914 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. J Bryans, of Wharf St, Murwillumbah

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Edward Bryans, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

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MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Edward was 20 years 4 months old when he enlisted. He was 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighed 139lbs (64kgs). He had a fair complexion, brownish eyes and reddish hair. His eyesight was good. Edward was Church of England

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training. Edward was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 31^st October 1914. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him a private with the 15^th Battalion with service number 418

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.

VOYAGE FROM MELBOURNE TO EGYPT DECEMBER 1914

His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914. Alongside his comrades, Edward marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

DAILY ROUTINE

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

MEALS

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

HEALTH & SANITATION

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

The ship would have arrived in Egypt in late January 1915. The men boarded the troop train taking them to one of the Egyptian training camps. When the train finally rattled into the siding near the camp, the soldiers found themselves staring at an extraordinary sight — the vast Pyramids looming on the horizon, their ancient stones glowing gold in the late afternoon sun. Rows of khaki tents stretched out across the sand, the dust curling in little eddies around the tent pegs.

During an interim period, soldiers typically:

·      Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.

·      Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.

·      Received equipment and uniforms: Egypt's heat made the heavy wool uniforms uncomfortable. As a result, lighter clothing was often issued or obtained locally. Soldiers frequently wore:

ü Khaki cotton shirts without the tunic

ü Lightweight drill uniforms made from cotton

ü Shorts on some occasions, particularly in camp

ü Pith helmets or sun helmets for fatigue duties and work in the sun, although the slouch hat remained the iconic Australian headgear

·      Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.

·      Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open. Then formal training began

Life at the camp was nothing like the camp back home. Here, the desert heat was intense even in the early hours, and the days began with the bugler’s call well before sunrise. The men formed up on the sandy parade ground, rifles over their shoulders, boots sinking into the powdery surface as they marched in formation. Drill sessions were longer and harder than anything they had experienced in Australia — endless turns, wheeling movements, and column changes designed to make the battalion move as a single, disciplined unit.

Weapons training was constant. Each man practised rapid loading and firing with his Lee–Enfield until the action felt like second nature. Bayonet drills took on a fierce intensity: lunging, parrying, and withdrawing in perfect rhythm under the watchful eye of the instructors. There was musketry practice at the range, too, where the sound of rifle fire cracked sharply across the desert, the targets standing out as black specks against the glaring sand.

Route marches tested endurance. Fully equipped with packs, rifles, and webbing, the men marched for miles through the heat haze, learning to pace themselves and conserve water. Sand found its way into every seam of clothing, into boots and rifles, and the men soon understood that maintaining their kit — keeping it clean and in working order — could mean the difference between life and death.

There was also instruction in trench construction and maintenance. Under the relentless sun, the recruits helped dig and reinforce shallow practice trenches, learning how to build firing steps, drainage channels, and parapets. Though the work was exhausting, it gave the men an idea of the conditions they would soon face on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Evenings brought some relief. After the day’s training, Francis and his mates might head into Cairo, where the narrow lanes bustled with traders calling their wares and the air was rich with the smell of cooking fires, sweet pastries, and tobacco smoke. The muezzin’s call to prayer echoed over the rooftops, mingling with the laughter of soldiers from across the Empire. On rest days, they visited the Pyramids and posed for photographs, the Sphinx silent and inscrutable behind them.

Yet even in those moments of wonder, the reality of war was never far away. Each man knew their time was coming when they had to face the brutal realities of desert warfare

JOINED UNIT

After several months of intensive training in Egypt following his arrival in late January 1915, Edward was ready for active service. The 15th Battalion was stationed around the great training camps near Cairo, where the men continued route marches across the desert, rifle and bayonet practice, trench construction, field exercises and physical conditioning. Officers worked tirelessly to mould the volunteers into an efficient fighting force while the soldiers gradually adapted to the harsh climate, dust, heat and military discipline. By April 1915 there was a growing awareness throughout the camp that a major operation was imminent.

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN APRIL 1915

On 12 April 1915 Edward embarked with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) for the Dardanelles campaign. The convoy sailed from Alexandria, joining a vast armada carrying Australian, New Zealand, British and French troops towards the Gallipoli Peninsula. During the voyage the men cleaned their equipment, received final briefings, practised landing procedures and prepared themselves mentally for what lay ahead. Although spirits were generally high, few could have imagined the fierce fighting that awaited them.

The 15th Battalion landed at Gallipoli during the evening of 25 April 1915 after the initial assault. Instead of an easy advance, Edward found himself climbing steep, scrub-covered ridges under constant Turkish rifle and artillery fire. The battalion was immediately committed to strengthening the fragile Anzac perimeter, digging trenches, carrying ammunition, transporting water and rations, and reinforcing exhausted units already holding the line. Every task was performed under enemy observation, making even routine duties dangerous.

Conditions on Gallipoli were extremely primitive. Water was scarce, food was monotonous, flies covered every meal, and the men endured continual shellfire, sniping and bombing attacks. Sleep came only in brief periods, often in cramped trenches cut into rocky hillsides. Despite these hardships, Edward and his comrades gradually established an effective defensive system while carrying out frequent patrols into no-man's-land and helping improve the maze of trenches protecting the Anzac position.

SICKNESS MAY 1915

Only a few weeks after arriving, Edward became ill. On 9 May 1915 he was admitted to the 1st Field Ambulance, probably suffering from sickness brought on by the harsh conditions at Gallipoli. A Field Ambulance was not a vehicle but a mobile medical unit established close behind the fighting. Here doctors and orderlies examined wounded and sick soldiers, cleaned wounds, treated infections and stabilised patients before deciding whether they could return to duty or required evacuation. Illness at Gallipoli was common, with exhaustion, poor nutrition, contaminated water and inadequate sanitation combining to weaken many otherwise healthy soldiers. Fortunately, Edward recovered sufficiently to resume his duties with the battalion.

May to June 1915

Edward returned to the front just as the battalion continued its exhausting routine of trench warfare. During May and June, the 15th Battalion occupied front-line trenches around Quinn's Post and neighbouring sectors, where fierce sniping, bombing duels and constant artillery fire made every day hazardous. The soldiers strengthened defensive works, repaired damage caused by shellfire during the night, carried supplies forward after dark and maintained an unbroken watch over enemy positions. Casualties occurred almost daily from bullets, shell fragments and disease.

WOUNDED IN ACTION JUNE 1915

On 17 June 1915 Edward's luck ran out when he was wounded by a bullet in the forearm. Although not life-threatening, even a comparatively minor gunshot wound could be extremely painful and carried a significant risk of infection. After receiving first aid at the Regimental Aid Post, he was passed through the casualty evacuation chain, where his wound was cleaned, dressed and monitored while medical officers assessed whether he was fit to return to duty.

His treatment continued until, on 14 July 1915, he embarked from hospital to return to the Dardanelles. Once considered sufficiently recovered, he rejoined his battalion on 19 July. His return came at a critical period as preparations were underway for the August Offensive, the largest Allied attempt to break the deadlock on Gallipoli. Throughout late July and early August, the battalion rehearsed attacks, improved communication trenches, stockpiled ammunition and supplies, and prepared assault positions. Every movement was carried out with great secrecy while the men waited for the signal to attack.

THE BATTLE OF LONE PINE AUGUST 1915

During the August battles the 15th Battalion participated in desperate fighting around Lone Pine, one of the most famous actions undertaken by the Australian Imperial Force during the campaign. The Battle of Lone Pine was a fierce four-day engagement during the Gallipoli campaign, fought from 6 to 10 August 1915, where Australian forces captured Ottoman trenches in a diversionary attack.

OVERVIEW AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT

The Battle of Lone Pine, also known as the Battle of Bloody Ridge, was part of the August Offensive during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I. It involved the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) attacking Ottoman positions to divert attention from the main Allied assaults on the Sari Bair Range, including Chunuk Bair and Hill 971.The battlefield was named after a solitary Aleppo pine that stood on the ridge, giving the area its distinctive name. Lone Pine was strategically important because it overlooked the ANZAC rear areas and could have allowed the Ottomans to disrupt Allied reinforcements and supplies 

COURSE OF THE BATTLE

The attack began at 5:30 PM on 6 August 1915, preceded by an Australian artillery bombardment of Ottoman trenches Department of Veterans' Affairs+1. The Australians charged across no-man’s-land, taking advantage of the late afternoon sun to blind the defenders. They quickly captured the main Turkish trench within 20 minutes, but the battle then escalated into intense hand-to-hand combat over the next four days. Many Ottoman trenches were roofed with timber, forcing Australian soldiers to break through or fight in communication trenches. Underground fighting in tunnels and the use of grenades, bayonets, and knives made the battle exceptionally brutal 
Reinforcements were brought in through passages dug across no-man’s-land, allowing the Australians to hold their positions against repeated Ottoman counterattacks. By 10 August, the Australians had secured the trenches, but the wider August Offensive ultimately failed, resulting in a stalemate that lasted until the evacuation of Allied troops in December 1915

LEGACY

The Lone Pine battlefield remains a symbol of ANZAC courage and sacrifice. Seeds from the original Lone Pine tree were brought back to Australia, and descendants of these trees are now used for commemorative purposes across the country. An Australian cemetery also stands at the site, honouring those who fought and died in the battle 
The Battle of Lone Pine exemplifies the ferocity and human cost of trench warfare during the Gallipoli campaign, highlighting both the tactical challenges and the valour of the soldiers involved.

A diary entry reads-"This morning a fleet of gunboats is bombarding the coast and we are in the midst of them ... Aeroplanes were called in to help. There are more battleships here than I thought the English had. Bombardment is an awful thing. There are a lot of wounded coming from shore”

They were immediately sent into action; they were split up into companies and sent to reinforce other Australian units engaged with the Turks on second ridge. It is believed the Bambery brothers were sent to 400 Plateau, in the region of Lone Pine, which is where both were killed in the fighting over the following days.

A dairy entry reads- “there are plenty wounded. I have carried some dead uns past too. The shrapnel from the Turks is flying over as I write. The Turks bombarded us all day. We lost a few men. Shrapnel has done a lot of damage to us. There are a hell of a lot of killed and wounded ...”

The battalion suffered heavy casualties while capturing and defending Turkish trenches in savage hand-to-hand fighting. Those who survived endured weeks of counter-attacks, relentless shellfire and exhausting work repairing shattered trenches and burying the dead. Even after the major offensive failed, the battalion remained on Gallipoli, continuing the weary routine of trench warfare as disease spread through the overcrowded positions.

DYSENTERY OCTOBER 1915

By early October Edward had become another victim of the unhealthy conditions. On 4 October 1915 he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital suffering from dysentery.

A Stationary Hospital was a 200–400 bed hospital established just behind the front or at a major base like Mudros. It was larger than a Casualty Clearing Station but smaller than a General Hospital. Patients who needed several weeks of treatment—such as dysentery cases like Edward—were commonly sent there before moving to a convalescent camp

Dysentery was one of the most debilitating illnesses of the Gallipoli campaign. Spread through contaminated food and water and encouraged by swarms of flies, it caused severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever and extreme weakness. Many soldiers lost considerable weight and were physically incapable of remaining in the trenches. At No. 3 Canadian General Hospital Edward would have been placed on bed rest, carefully rehydrated and given the limited treatments then available while nurses attempted to restore his strength.

As his condition improved, Edward was discharged on 11 October to the Convalescent Camp at Lowlands on the island of Mudros. Mudros Harbour on the Greek island of Lemnos served as the principal Allied base for the Gallipoli campaign. The Lowlands Camp provided recovering soldiers with proper food, clean bedding, fresh clothing and an opportunity to regain their strength away from the constant shellfire and insanitary conditions of the peninsula. Although still under military discipline, life there was far more comfortable than the front line, and many men recovered sufficiently to return to active service.

Edward's recovery was not yet complete. On 23 October he was admitted once more from the convalescent camp for further treatment, suggesting that his dysentery had either persisted or returned, as was common with the disease. Medical staff continued to monitor his condition until he was finally declared fit for active service.

REJOINED UNIT NOVEMBER 1915

On the 6 November 1915 Edward rejoined the 15th Battalion on Gallipoli. By this stage the campaign had reached its final months. The hopes of a decisive breakthrough had vanished, and the battalion's duties centred on holding the line, repairing trenches, maintaining defences and concealing preparations for what would eventually become the successful evacuation of the Anzac positions. Although Edward could not have known it at the time, his return placed him among the men who would participate in the closing chapter of one of Australia's defining military campaigns.

EVACUATED NOVEMBER 1915

Edward spent only a few weeks back with the battalion before being evacuated with the force. On 25 November 1915 he embarked aboard the transport Ionian and sailed from Anzac Cove to Alexandria, Egypt, arriving on 2 December 1915. By this stage the Allied command had already decided that the Gallipoli campaign could not succeed. Rather than wait for the final evacuation in December, many men who were sick, wounded or otherwise surplus to requirements were quietly withdrawn over several weeks. Edward was one of these men.

Because he left Gallipoli on 25 November, he avoided the terrible blizzard that struck the peninsula on 27–28 November 1915. Hundreds of men suffered frostbite and exposure after days of torrential rain, flooding, snow and freezing temperatures. Had Edward remained with the battalion for just a few more days, he would almost certainly have endured one of the worst weather events of the entire campaign.

Once in Alexandria he was admitted to the Australian Base Depot. This was an administrative organisation responsible for receiving soldiers returning from Gallipoli, recording their arrival, providing fresh clothing and equipment, arranging medical inspections, and posting men either to hospitals, training camps or back to their units.

Edward remained in Egypt while the remainder of the 15th Battalion continued holding the Anzac trenches until the famous evacuation of 19–20 December 1915, when the last Australian troops slipped away without the Turks realising they had gone. The successful evacuation is regarded as one of the finest-planned operations of the war.

Following the evacuation, the battalion assembled in Egypt where the exhausted men rested, refitted and absorbed hundreds of reinforcements. Medical officers dealt with the effects of Gallipoli—wounds, dysentery, enteric fever and malnutrition—while new uniforms, rifles and equipment replaced those worn out during the campaign. The soldiers also undertook renewed training in preparation for service on the Western Front.

Edward's record shows that on 16 January 1916 he was admitted to the Australian Base after returning from the Anzac Force, and on 20 January 1916 he was transferred back to the 15th Battalion.

DISCIPLINED JANUARY 1916

On the 23^rd January 1916 Edward was disciplined for using obscene language when order to duty and was awards 4 days CB (confined to barracks) by the CO. Serving CB is highly restrictive and physically demanding, especially within an infantry battalion:

·      Confinement to the Lines: The soldier cannot leave the base or their designated unit lines. They are completely restricted from taking local leave or going out on weekends.

·      Loss of Privileges: Access to the boozer (base canteen/bar), phones, and general leisure activities is stripped away.

·      Extra Duties and Fatigues: Infantry soldiers will be put to work doing heavy labour, base maintenance, cleaning, or administrative fatigue duties outside of normal working hours.

·      Punishment Parades: The soldier must attend multiple "musters" or check-in parades throughout the day (sometimes as early as 0600 and as late as 2200) in full uniform to ensure they are remaining where they are supposed to be.

During the following weeks the battalion trained in the Tel el Kebir area of Egypt as the Australian Imperial Force underwent a major reorganisation.

DISCIPLINED FEBRUARY 1916

Edward was absent from the 6.30am parade on the 23^rd December 1916 and was awarded 1 day confined to barracks.

Experienced Gallipoli veterans like Edward became particularly valuable, helping to train the large numbers of reinforcements who had recently arrived from Australia.

DISCIPLINED MARCH 1916

This time Edward absenting himself without leave whilst on fatigue. He was awarded 3 days CB. Being on fatigue meant a soldier was assigned to non-combat manual labour tasks, such as digging trenches, cleaning camps, or hauling supplies.

By June 1916, Edward was about to experience a completely different war. Gallipoli had been fought over steep ridges and narrow trenches overlooking the sea. France would be a landscape of endless mud, shell holes, shattered villages, barbed wire and massive artillery bombardments.

FRANCE JUNE 1916

On 1 June 1916, Edward left Egypt with the 15th Battalion aboard the transport HMT Sylvania, proceeding to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. The voyage across the Mediterranean was far shorter than the one from Australia, but there was still the danger of German submarines. During the journey the men cleaned their rifles and equipment, completed parades and lectures, and discussed the stories filtering back from the Western Front. Most had survived Gallipoli, but few appreciated just how different the fighting in France would prove to be.

The battalion landed at Marseilles on 8 June 1916. Instead of entering battle immediately, the Australians began a long journey by troop train through the French countryside towards northern France. The soldiers marvelled at vineyards, fertile farmland and prosperous towns, a striking contrast to the deserts of Egypt. Eventually they reached the so-called "nursery sector" around Armentières, where experienced British troops introduced the Australians to trench warfare on the Western Front. Here Edward learned new techniques for fighting in deep trench systems protected by extensive belts of barbed wire. He took part in trench patrols, wiring parties under cover of darkness, carrying rations and ammunition, repairing parapets damaged by shellfire and enduring the almost constant danger from enemy snipers and artillery. Although considered a relatively quiet sector, casualties occurred regularly and it provided valuable experience before the battalion entered the far more savage fighting on the Somme.

During July the battalion was gradually moved south towards the Somme, where the great British offensive had begun on 1 July. Long route marches, crowded troop trains and nights spent in reserve camps brought Edward ever closer to the front. The roads were congested with infantry, artillery, cavalry, ammunition columns and ambulance wagons, while the thunder of the guns grew louder each day.

PROMOTED TO LANCE CORPORAL JULY 1916

On 22 July 1916, just before the battalion entered the Battle of Pozières, Edward was appointed Lance Corporal in the field, a promotion recognising his experience, leadership and reliability. As a Lance Corporal he would have been responsible for a small section of men, supervising their work in the trenches and leading them during patrols or attacks.

Only one day later, on 23 July, the 15th Battalion attacked at Pozières, beginning one of the bloodiest chapters in Australian military history. During the following weeks Edward fought through the battles of Pozières and Mouquet Farm, where the battalion repeatedly attacked heavily fortified German positions under devastating artillery fire. Villages had been reduced to rubble, the landscape churned into mud and shell holes, and casualties were appalling. Charles Bean later wrote that the Pozières Ridge was "more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth." The 15th Battalion suffered severe losses while helping capture and hold the ridge before continuing attacks towards Mouquet Farm.

BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY AND AUGUST 1917

The Battle of Pozières took place during the Battle of the Somme. Australian forces played a crucial role, capturing the village of Pozières and enduring relentless German artillery bombardments, losing as many men in a few weeks as they did over eight months on Gallipoli. Less than one third of the Australian reinforcements had fought at Gallipoli; they were largely inexperienced and ill-prepared to deal with the deadly onslaught of the battle-hardened machine that was the German Imperial Army.

The battle was marked by intense fighting, with Australian divisions suffering heavy casualties—over 23,000 men, including 6,800 killed or dying of wounds. Despite the losses, the Australians secured the high ground, which was vital for further Allied operations. On 29 July 1916 official Australian war correspondent Charles Bean recorded in his diary: “Pozieres Ridge is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”

BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1916

When the replacements arrived in the trenches the battle-weary veterans took one look at them and pitied them, they were so fresh faced and as one said, “they looked just like normal men” something they had not seen for some time.

Following the capture of Pozières and the German lines at the windmill east of the village in late July and early August 1916, the three Australian divisions of I Anzac Corps attacked northwards along the Pozières Heights towards the site known as Mouquet Farm.
Between 8 August and 3 September 1916, the Australians launched nine separate attacks to capture the heavily defended German position which lay half way between Pozières and Thiepval, with the aim of driving a wedge behind the salient held by the Germans.
Although the Australians managed to occupy the farm several times, they were forced back each time due to fierce German counterattacks. The site was still in enemy hands by the time Anzac Corps was withdrawn from the Somme on 5 September.
The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions suffered around 11,000 casualties in the fighting. After moving past the stronghold in a broader offensive, the British managed to capture the now isolated outpost three weeks later.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES

Edward's award of a Mention in Despatches, published in the London Gazette No. 29890 and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 103 of 29 June 1917, almost certainly recognised his conduct during these Somme operations. Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 13 November 1916 covered the fighting from the Somme offensive, particularly the actions around Pozières and Mouquet Farm during July, August and September 1916. Since Edward had only recently arrived in France and had been promoted immediately before the battle, it is highly likely his distinguished and gallant service occurred during these operations. Although the citation does not specify the exact deed, a Mention in Despatches was awarded only to soldiers whose courage, devotion to duty or leadership had been brought to the attention of the Commander-in-Chief by their superior officers. It was a significant honour and reflected the respect Edward had earned under the most difficult conditions

WINTER 1916

Following the Somme battles, the exhausted battalion spent the autumn and winter of 1916 alternating between front-line trenches, reserve positions and short periods of rest. The weather steadily deteriorated as rain turned trenches into quagmires of mud. Edward endured freezing temperatures, flooded dugouts, nightly working parties repairing trenches and laying barbed wire, frequent enemy shelling and constant patrols into no-man's-land. Despite these hardships, the battalion maintained pressure on the German lines while preparing for the campaigns of 1917.

WOUNDED IN ACTION FEBRUIRY 1917 SECOND OCCASION

On 1 February 1917, Edward was wounded in action for the second time, suffering burns to his shoulder and knees. These injuries were probably caused by the explosion of an artillery shell, trench mortar bomb or rifle grenade, which could ignite clothing or inflict severe flash burns from the intense heat of the explosion. After receiving immediate treatment at the Regimental Aid Post, he was evacuated through the medical chain to No. 1 Australian General Hospital. There his burns would have been carefully cleaned to prevent infection, dressed with antiseptic bandages and monitored while doctors assessed the extent of the damage. Burns were extremely painful injuries, and treatment often involved frequent dressing changes and prolonged rest while new skin gradually formed.

Two days later, on 3 February 1917, Edward was transferred to No. 12 Stationary Hospital for further treatment and recovery. Stationary Hospitals were larger medical facilities established behind the front, providing more comprehensive care than Casualty Clearing Stations. Here he remained under medical supervision until his wounds had healed sufficiently for him to return to duty.

INFLUENZA FEBRUARY 1917

Before he had fully regained his strength, Edward was struck by another common wartime illness. On 28 February 1917 he was admitted to the 4th Field Ambulance suffering from influenza. Crowded camps, cold weather, poor living conditions and the physical strain of military service made influenza widespread among the troops. Symptoms included fever, chills, headaches, aching muscles, sore throat and overwhelming fatigue. Fortunately, Edward's illness appears to have been relatively mild, and after treatment consisting of bed rest, warmth, nourishing food and careful observation, he was discharged and returned to duty later the same day, once again taking his place with the 15th Battalion as it prepared for the major battles that lay ahead in 1917.

During the winter of 1916–1917 the Germans withdrew to the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line, forcing the Allied armies to advance through devastated countryside. Villages, roads and farmland had been deliberately destroyed during the German retreat, leaving behind shattered buildings, poisoned wells, felled orchards and countless booby traps. The 15th Battalion followed cautiously, repairing roads and trenches while preparing for the next major offensive.

On 11 April 1917, during the opening stages of the First Battle of Bullecourt, Edward was again wounded in action.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULLECOURT 11^TH APRIL 1917

The First Battle of Bullecourt occurred on 11 April 1917, involving Australian and British forces attacking German positions in the Hindenburg Line, resulting in heavy Allied casualties and limited tactical success.

OVERVIEW

The First Battle of Bullecourt was part of the Battle of Arras on the Western Front during World War I. It took place on 11 April 1917, with the 4th Australian Division and the 62nd British Division ordered to attack the German-held village of Bullecourt, a key position in the Hindenburg Line. The operation aimed to support the British Third Army to the north and the French Army to the south 

PLANNING AND EXECUTION

The attack was initially scheduled for 10 April, but was postponed because the twelve tanks intended to crush the German barbed wire failed to arrive on time. Despite this, the British 62nd Division advanced, unaware of the delay, and suffered early casualties in what became known as the "Buckshee Battle"  The main assault began at 4:30 am on 11 April, with Australian brigades advancing under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire 
The Australians managed to infiltrate the German front line and seize part of the second line, achieving a feat considered nearly impossible without artillery support  However, communication breakdowns and the failure of most tanks left them exposed on both flanks, cut off from reinforcements, and vulnerable to German counter-attacks 

CASUALTIES AND OUTCOME

The battle ended in failure for the Allies within hours. Australian forces suffered approximately 3,000–3,700 casualties, including 1,100 prisoners, while German casualties were significantly lower. The tanks largely failed to provide the intended support, with only one reaching the front line and the rest breaking down or being destroyed. Survivors expressed bitterness and distrust toward both the tanks and the British command 

SIGNIFICANCE

Although the Australians demonstrated remarkable courage and persistence, the First Battle of Bullecourt highlighted poor planning, inadequate artillery support, and coordination failures within the British command. Strategically, the battle did not achieve significant gains, but it set the stage for the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917, which involved further attempts to capture the village. The engagement also contributed to a growing distrust between Australian troops and British commanders during the war

His injuries were evidently slight, as his record notes that he remained on duty. The Battle of Bullecourt was one of the costliest operations fought by the Australian divisions. The attack was intended to breach the Hindenburg Line with the support of British tanks, but many of the tanks broke down before reaching the German wire. Australian infantry found themselves attacking heavily defended trenches without adequate artillery support. German machine-gun fire swept the battlefield while barbed wire and deep defensive positions slowed every advance. Although wounded, Edward continued serving with his company, a testament to both his determination and the desperate need for experienced non-commissioned officers during the battle.

POW OR NOT APRIL 1917

The fighting around Bullecourt produced widespread confusion. Units became scattered, communication broke down and many soldiers were either killed, wounded or surrounded. On 23 April 1917, a War Branch enquiry recorded Edward as missing on 11 April. Such entries were common after major battles. Headquarters often had incomplete information, and until casualty returns were reconciled a soldier's whereabouts might remain uncertain. In Edward's case, he had never actually disappeared; he had remained with his battalion, and the record was later corrected.

By 29 August 1917, another War Branch enquiry listed him as a possible Prisoner of War. This was not because Edward had been captured, but because officials in London were still attempting to reconcile conflicting casualty reports dating back to Bullecourt. It was common for administrative investigations to continue for months after major engagements, particularly where men had initially been reported as missing. Once further information reached the authorities from battalion records and eyewitness accounts, Edward's status was correctly confirmed, allowing him to continue serving with the battalion.

APPOINTED CORPORAL APRIL 1917

Edward was appointed corporal on the 23^rd April 1917

Throughout the summer of 1917 the 15th Battalion moved north into Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. The offensive aimed to drive the Germans from the ridges east of Ypres, but relentless rain transformed the battlefield into a sea of mud. Roads disappeared beneath shell holes filled with water, guns became bogged, and even carrying wounded men to safety became an exhausting struggle.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES KNOWN AS BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, (JULY 31–NOVEMBER 6, 1917),

This battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, Passchendaele was ostensibly an Allied victory, but it was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the following year. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on opposing sides attacked and counterattacked across sodden, porridgelike mud, in an open gray landscape almost empty of buildings or natural cover, all under the relentless harrowing rain of exploding shells, flying shrapnel, and machine-gun fire. Few gains were made. 

The Third Battle of Ypres is remembered for its immense human cost and the resilience of those who fought in it

On 26 September 1917, during the Battle of Polygon Wood, Edward was wounded for the fourth time, receiving a shell wound to his left side. Polygon Wood formed part of a carefully planned Australian attack along the Menin Road Ridge. Unlike earlier offensives, this battle was well prepared, with artillery, infantry and logistics working closely together. Even so, the Germans defended every position fiercely, and shells burst continuously across the battlefield. A shell wound to the side was often caused by flying fragments of steel rather than a direct hit. Such wounds could produce deep lacerations, severe bruising and heavy bleeding, while carrying the constant danger of infection.

BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD 1917 SEPTEMBER 26^TH - OCTOBER 3^RD

Polygon Wood was the second of three battles between 26^th September and 4 October 1917 in which ‘step by step’ or ‘bite and hold’ tactics were used to batter down the formidable German defensive positions. After an opening bombardment the infantry would advance for a prescribed distance behind a ‘creeping’ barrage of shells. This barrage would keep the Germans in their ‘pillboxes’ until British soldiers were almost upon them. The enemy positions would then be captured consolidated and protected from counter-attack by artillery. Artillery would be brought forward and the next ‘bite’ attempted. In this way the British aimed to work their way from their start lines near Ypres to the heights of the ridge ten kilometres away at Passchendaele village. Charles Bean, the Australian Official Historian described the opening barrage on 26 September as the most perfect that ever protected Australian troops and that it rolled ahead of the troops roaring ‘like a Gippsland bushfire’. The battle cost 5,770 Australian casualties

Edward would first have received treatment at the Regimental Aid Post, where his wound was dressed and bleeding controlled. Stretcher bearers then carried him through muddy communication trenches to an Advanced Dressing Station, before he was transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station. There doctors examined him more thoroughly, removed shell fragments where possible and stabilised his condition before evacuation to a larger hospital.

The following day, 27 September, Edward arrived at No. 1 Canadian General Hospital at Étaples. This large hospital complex on the French coast specialised in treating wounded soldiers evacuated from the Ypres Salient. There he received more comprehensive medical treatment, including surgical cleaning of the wound to remove dirt, clothing fibres and shell fragments, followed by regular dressing changes to prevent infection. Pain relief, rest and careful nursing greatly improved his chances of recovery.

On 4 October 1917, while still recovering, his name appeared on the official casualty list as Wounded in Action for the fourth occasion. On the same day he was transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot, where soldiers who no longer required hospital treatment gradually regained their strength through rest, good food and light duties.

Two days later, on 6 October, Edward was transferred again, this time to No. 11 Convalescent Depot. These depots acted as stepping stones between hospital and the front. Men undertook physical exercise, medical inspections and military training while doctors assessed their fitness to return to active service. Although his wound had healed sufficiently to leave hospital, he still required several weeks to rebuild his strength before facing the demands of front-line service once more.

By 30 October 1917, Edward had been medically cleared and marched out through the reinforcement system at Le Havre, one of the principal British base ports in France. There he was issued with replacement clothing and equipment if required, completed administrative formalities and waited with other recovered soldiers to be posted back to their units. Reinforcements usually travelled by rail to reinforcement camps before moving forward under cover of darkness to rejoin their battalions.

Finally, on 13 November 1917, Edward rejoined the 15th Battalion. The battalion had just emerged from the bitter fighting around Passchendaele and was exhausted after months of continuous operations in some of the worst conditions experienced during the war. Edward resumed his duties alongside comrades who had themselves endured relentless shellfire, freezing rain and deep mud. His return once again demonstrated the extraordinary resilience that had characterised his entire military service. By now he had survived Gallipoli, the Somme, Bullecourt and Polygon Wood, had been wounded on four separate occasions, Mentioned in Despatches for gallantry, and yet continued to answer the call to duty.

12 DECEMBER 1917 – 4TH FIELD AMBULANCE – PUO

PUO stands for Pyrexia (Fever) of Unknown Origin. It simply meant that he had a significant fever but the doctors could not immediately identify the cause. It was a common diagnosis while awaiting observation or further examination.

At a Field Ambulance he would have been examined by a medical officer, had his temperature monitored several times a day, been kept in bed with blankets and fluids and received nourishing food and perhaps quinine or aspirin depending on his symptoms and been evacuated further back if the fever failed to settle.

15 DECEMBER 1917 – 9TH GENERAL HOSPITAL, ROUEN

His illness was serious enough to warrant transfer to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, one of the major Australian and British base hospitals. There he would have undergone more thorough examination, with doctors trying to determine whether he had influenza, trench fever, pneumonia, malaria, typhoid, or another infection. Many soldiers recovered before an exact diagnosis could be made, so the original PUO diagnosis often remained on the record.

27 December 1917 – 2nd Command Depot

By Christmas he had recovered sufficiently to leave hospital and was transferred to No. 2 Command Depot. Command Depots were essentially convalescent and administrative centres. Soldiers regained their strength through light physical training, route marches, medical inspections and gradual return to military routine. Then they were assessed for fitness for active service.

3 January 1918 – Class "A" to B/D

Being placed in Class A meant he was now considered fit for full military duty. The notation B/D almost certainly refers to the Base Depot, where recovered men waited for movement orders.

5 January 1918 – A.I.B.D. – Marched In

He marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot after discharge from hospital. The depot at Étaples functioned as the great clearing house for Australian infantry. Men refreshed their equipment, received pay, undertook refresher training and waited until drafts were required at the front.

13 JANUARY 1918 – MARCHED OUT TO UNIT VIA LE HAVRE

He left the Base Depot and travelled towards the front.

18 JANUARY 1918 – REJOINED UNIT IN THE FIELD

By January 1918 the BEF was enduring one of the coldest winters of the war. His battalion was probably repairing trenches damaged during the autumn fighting; constructing dugouts and strong points; laying barbed wire and carrying rations and ammunition. They were conducting trench patrols and training in new defensive tactics in anticipation of another German offensive. Although there were fewer large battles during the winter, life remained dangerous because of shellfire, snipers and raids.

30 JANUARY 1918 – DETACHED TO 12TH TRAINING BATTALION

This tells us a great deal about him.

Instead of remaining with his battalion, he was selected for duty with the 12th Training Battalion. This was a mark of confidence. Experienced NCOs were desperately needed to train the thousands of reinforcements arriving from Australia.

4 FEBRUARY 1918 – PERMANENT CADRE, 12TH TRAINING BATTALION, CODFORD

Being attached to the permanent cadre meant he had become one of the professional instructors. At Codford Camp on Salisbury Plain he would have spent his days:

·      drilling recruits;

·      teaching rifle shooting;

·      bayonet fighting;

·      Lewis gun handling;

·      bombing practice;

·      fieldcraft;

·      trench routine;

·      discipline and leadership.

Many young Australians remembered these experienced corporals and sergeants as the men who prepared them for France.

20–27 FEBRUARY 1918 – NO. 1 GAS SCHOOL, CHISELDON

This is another indication that he was regarded as a capable instructor.

He attended a specialist gas defence course and qualified Second Class.

The course covered identification of German poison gases and fitting and testing respirators. He learnt about gas alarms and anti-gas discipline and learnt about decontamination of clothing and equipment and construction of gas-proof shelters. There were practical exercises inside gas chambers using tear gas or chlorine. On returning to Codford he would have been responsible for teaching these skills to every reinforcement passing through the battalion.

23 JUNE 1918 – SICK TO BRIGADE CLEARING HOSPITAL, CODFORD – INFLUENZA

By mid-1918 influenza was sweeping through British camps months before the great worldwide pandemic reached its height. Fortunately, his illness appears to have been relatively mild.

27 JUNE 1918 – MARCHED IN FROM BRIGADE CLEARING HOSPITAL

Recovered and returned to duty.

2 AUGUST 1918 – PROCEED OVERSEAS TO FRANCE

Although Australia had voted against conscription and was desperately short of experienced soldiers, the AIF was now sending many instructors back to France because casualties from the German Spring Offensive had created an urgent shortage of seasoned NCOs. His experience made him more valuable at the front than remaining in England.

4 AUGUST 1918 – MARCHED IN FROM ENGLAND AT LE HAVRE

He landed in France only four days before one of the greatest Allied offensives of the war.

7 AUGUST 1918 – MARCHED OUT TO UNIT

He travelled forward through the reinforcement system to rejoin his battalion. He arrived at a remarkable moment. Preparations were underway for the Battle of Amiens, which opened on 8 August 1918—the battle that Erich Ludendorff later called the "Black Day of the German Army." So, despite months spent training reinforcements in England, he returned to active service just as the Allied Hundred Days Offensive was beginning.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918

On the night of 7 August 1918, Gunner J.R. Armitage lay in readiness for the attack the next day. In his diary, he wrote:

It was utterly still. Vehicles made no sound on the marshy ground ... The silence played on our nerves a bit. As we got our guns into position you could hear drivers whispering to their horses and men muttering curses under their breath, and still the silence persisted, broken only by the whine of a stray rifle bullet or a long range shell passing high overhead ... we could feel that hundreds of groups of men were doing the same thing - preparing for the heaviest barrage ever launched.

The Attack

At 4.20 am the next day:

all hell broke loose and we heard nothing more. The world was enveloped in sound and flame, and our ears just couldn't cope. The ground shook.

A mass of assembled Allied forces, including Australians, launched an offensive to push through the German front lines to victory. It was to involve the 1st French and 4th British armies, but was led by combined Australian and Canadian forces.

There was a mist, which helped the element of surprise, and through it moved the joint forces of a line of tanks and infantry. The crucial work of the heavy artillery held off fire from German guns, so that troops could get across the land.

Setting out from the positions of Villers-Bretonneux and Hamel, the Australian troops in two hours had accomplished all their objectives, and the Canadian troops that had begun the attack alongside them had advanced several kilometres. In just over 3 hours, the enemy's front line had been overrun.

In total, the Allied forces captured 29,144 prisoners, 338 guns, and liberated 116 towns and villages. Ludendorff called 8 August "the black day of the German army".

When Sapper Harold Grant heard of the advance he wrote:

Great news ... Australians caught Fritz napping.

Many German weapons were captured in the advance. However, the advance was achieved at a high cost, with 21,243 Allied casualties, one-quarter of who were killed.

14 SEPTEMBER 1918 – EMBARKATION ROLL AT TARANTO

This is clue that he had probably become medically unfit or was selected for return to Australia under one of the repatriation schemes. Rather than sailing from England, he embarked at Taranto, Italy, where transport ships collected Australian troops from the Mediterranean before sailing home.

24 SEPTEMBER 1918 – SAILED ON HT DEVON

The voyage home usually took around seven to eight weeks.

A typical route was Taranto through the Mediterranean with stops at Port Said & the Suez Canal through the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, onto Fremantle, Adelaide or Melbourne & Sydney (depending on the transport schedule)

24 January 1919 – Discharged

Although he reached Australia months earlier, discharge was rarely immediate. The delay was perfectly normal because he had to:

·      report to his military district;

·      undergo a final medical examination;

·      return all government equipment;

·      settle military accounts and deferred pay;

·      receive his discharge certificate;

·      have any pension or medical claims processed.

Only after completing this administrative process was he formally discharged from the AIF.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Edward was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Nanango War Memorial