FAMILY LIFE

William Robert Hearn Gossip was born in 1883 in Stroud, only son of James William & Mary Jean (McIntrye) Gossip. His mother died in the same year he was born and his father remarried Ada Stroud in 1889 and 5 more sons and 1 daughter were added to the family. William married Katie Aked in Murwillumbah in 1907

ATTESTATION

William was married surveyor, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 15^th February 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, Katie, of The Laurels, Wardrop St, South Murwillumbah

The Examining Medical Officer stated that William “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, William Robert Hearn, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

His medical showed he was 32 years 9 months old, 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m), weighed 112 lbs (50kgs), with a fresh complexion, blue eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good

William was Church of England and had 2 vaccination marks on his left shoulder & a mole on his right shoulder.  He was enlisted as a private into the 5/ 4 Pioneers with service No 2575.

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

William did not begin his training till later in the year. 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 men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit 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 would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches, and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

APPOINTED CORPORAL AUGUST 1916

When William was promoted to Corporal on 2 August 1916 during his training in Australia, it would have been a recognition of his leadership, reliability, and grasp of military discipline. Early in training, instructors kept a close eye on recruits who showed a natural ability to organise others, pick up drill movements quickly, or maintain discipline within the ranks.

A Corporal was a non-commissioned officer (NCO) — the first real step into leadership — and typically placed in charge of a small section of men. In the training environment, this meant supervising drills, ensuring recruits followed orders, maintaining equipment standards, and often acting as a link between the men and the sergeants or officers.

For a Pioneer Battalion, which combined infantry and engineering work, practical skills were particularly valued — men with trade backgrounds, experience with tools, or solid work habits often stood out. William’s promotion suggests he likely demonstrated competence, initiative, and the respect of his peers early in his military career.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO ENGLAND

On the 19^th September 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT A49 Seang Choo. Alongside his comrades, he 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, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, 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. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.

EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could on wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board

ENGLAND

On 19^th December 1916 the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead. They disembarked at Plymouth

HOSPITALISED DECEMBER 1916

William was admitted to Devonport Hospital when he disembarked with the notation “slight sick.” However, he remained in hospital until 2^nd January

DISCHARGE, CONVALESENCE AND TRAINING

After being discharged & classified B1A, the medical category indicated he was fit for light or base duties and training, but not yet ready for front-line service.

He was sent to Perham Downs on 3 January, was one of the major training and convalescent depots for the AIF on the Salisbury Plain. Men there did route marches, musketry, physical conditioning, and further instruction depending on their corps needs. Being B1A, he would likely have been doing progressive physical training to regain full fitness while still performing military training tasks.

By 6 January, his move to Wareham (No. 4 Command Depot) confirms that — Wareham was another AIF Command Depot dedicated to recovering or recently hospitalised soldiers. The depot system (Nos. 1–4 Command Depots) was where men went for staged recovery and retraining.

Between January and March 1917, William would have been involved in Rehabilitation and graded physical training at Wareham. He joined the other recruits- they had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training, and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.

Military training grounds, had soldiers exposed to harsh weather. The sanitary facilities in training camps were often rudimentary, and the spread of infections was common.

TRANSFER TO 69^TH BATTALION MARCH 1917

After recovering from illness and completing convalescent training in England, William was transferred to the 69th Battalion on 23 March 1917. The 69th was newly formed in England as part of the 6th Training Brigade, created for the proposed 6th Division of the Australian Imperial Force. The idea was that this division would join the five already fighting in France and Belgium.

When William joined, the battalion was based on the Salisbury Plain, where the AIF operated several large training and reinforcement depots. The 69th Battalion’s task was not yet combat, but to train and prepare drafts of reinforcements for the front-line units. The men underwent an exacting routine — musketry practice, bayonet fighting, trench construction, grenade training, gas drills, and physical conditioning — all designed to mirror the grim realities of the Western Front.

PROMOTED TO SERGEANT MARCH 1917

William’s leadership qualities again drew notice. Having already held rank during his training in Australia, he was promoted to Sergeant within the 69th Battalion on 23^rd March 1917. In that position he was responsible for overseeing the training of new soldiers, maintaining discipline, and ensuring the men under him were fit and capable. The role demanded both competence and character, as he was shaping the very reinforcements who would soon be sent to France to replace those lost in battle.

The 69th Battalion itself was part of a larger plan that was soon overtaken by the needs of the war. During 1917, the AIF suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt and Messines, and was already preparing for the enormous campaign at Ypres and Passchendaele. By mid-year, it became clear that Australia did not have enough men to maintain the existing divisions, let alone form a new one. As a result, the formation of the 6th Division was abandoned, and the 69th Battalion, along with the others in the 6th Training Brigade, became a reinforcement and holding unit.

REVERTED TO ACTING SERGEANT AUGUST 1917

William’s rank changed slightly as administrative adjustments were made — he reverted from Sergeant to Acting Sergeant on 13 August 1917, continuing in a leadership role until 18 September 1917.

TRANSFERRED TO 25^TH BATTALION SEPTEMBER 1917- CORPORAL AND SERVICE NUMBER AMENDMENT

On that date, as part of the redistribution of trained men, he was transferred to the 25th Battalion, a Queensland unit then serving with distinction on the Western Front. William was made Corporal on 19th September 1917 and his service number had an A added to is becoming 2575A

Though the 69th Battalion never went into battle as a unit, its contribution was vital. It provided the trained and disciplined reinforcements that kept the Australian divisions in the field. William’s months with the 69th were a period of steady responsibility and preparation, honing his leadership skills and readiness for the realities of active service that awaited him in France.

HURDCOTT TRAINING

Soldiers going to France underwent a short period of further training and conditioning at the base depots

This included familiarisation with trench warfare tactics & use of gas masks and bayonets. They went on route marches to build stamina & battlefield discipline was reinforced. They were also updated on enemy tactics or new weapons (e.g. gas alerts)

Medical Checks & Paperwork

Troops were also given medical inspections, final checks of records, and issued any missing kit or equipment before joining the battalion. Training became wholly focused on the prevailing conditions of trench warfare, and on the Allied position of taking the offensive. The skills required for open warfare and the defensive were gradually lost during the period 1915-1917, a not insignificant cause of casualties and tactical defeat in places in early 1918. Training and learning were rapidly reorganised and the British Army became a highly proficient, mobile, force capable of “all arms” battles in 1918.
BELGIUM OCTOBER 1917

William arrived in Belgium on 15^th October 1917 & taken on strength on 20^th October 1917 joining the unit in the Ypres sector of Belgium. The battalion, part of the 2nd Division, had just come through the brutal fighting of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. Although the main attacks had ceased, the front remained extremely dangerous, with continuous enemy shellfire, mud, and gas bombardments.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

25^TH BATTALION

Zonnebeke, east of Ypres was an area that had been reduced to a wasteland of shattered trees, flooded trenches, and broken ground. The men were exhausted, many suffering from the effects of cold, mud, and gas. Even when not attacking, the daily routine was hazardous: fatigue parties were constantly required to carry ammunition, repair duckboard tracks, build strongpoints, and bring up rations to the forward positions under heavy shellfire.

Conditions at Zonnebeke were appalling. The battlefield was little more than a sea of mud, waterlogged by months of shellfire and autumn rain. Duckboard tracks were the only way to move between positions, and these were frequent targets for German artillery. Gas shells were a constant threat — the low-lying ground trapped the poisonous vapours, meaning even a single burst could fill the trenches and shell holes for hours. Fatigue parties often worked at night, trudging through knee-deep mud, heads bowed under the weight of supplies, their faces hidden behind damp gas masks, always aware that one stray shell could end everything in an instant.

KILLED IN ACTION 29^TH OCTOBER 1917

It was while performing one of these essential duties that William lost his life. On 29 October 1917, only nine days after joining his battalion, he was killed instantly when an enemy gas shell exploded on him. Records note that he was with a fatigue party at the time — a reminder that even the most routine of tasks in that shattered landscape carried deadly risk. Gas shells, which combined high explosive with poison gas such as phosgene or mustard, were widely used around Ypres at that time; their effects were horrific, and exposure often fatal.

BURIAL

William was buried close to where he fell. His service — from early leadership in Australia, through his time training others in England, to his final days amid the mud and ruin of Passchendaele — reflects the story of many Australian soldiers who gave everything in the final, costly stages of the war in Belgium.

William has no known grave. His body was never recovered from the devastated ground around Zonnebeke, and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium, among the thousands of men whose resting places remain unknown. Beneath his name are the simple, enduring words: “Known Unto God.”

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial, Brisbane M.W.S. & S.B. Roll of Honour (Original), Brisbane Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Roll of Honor, East Brisbane Bowling Club Roll of Honour, & East Brisbane War Memorial

His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour  in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 104 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War

PENSION

His widow, Kate, was granted a pension of 2 pound a fortnight from 16^th January 1918

WILL

His will, dated 2^nd July 1917 left everything to his wife, Katie

---

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.

We do not have any additional documents or pictures related to this individual.