FAMILY LIFE

Martin Mary Reynolds was born in Murwillumbah on 11 Oct 1896, the son of Patrick and Mary Aloysius Reynolds of Hospital Hill, Murwillumbah. Martin was the eldest of 5 children. His parents are on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ARRESTATION

Martin Reynolds enlisted in Enoggera on 28^th February 1916. He was single farm hand, eager to do his bit. His application showed his next of kin as his father, Patrick, of Murwillumbah. He advised that he had 4 years of compulsory training Area 12a with equipment returned and 6 months in the Light Horse

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, Martin Mary Reynolds, 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

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

His medical showed he was 19 years 4 months old, 5ft 6 ½ inches tall (1.69m), weighed 140 lbs (63kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good. Martin was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his left arm, visible above his elbow and 2 scars on his right foot.  

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. Martin was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 4^th September 1916. 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 as a private into the 47^th Infantry Battalion – 5^th Reinforcements with service No 2372

47TH INFANTRY BATTALION

The 47th Infantry Battalion was an Australian Army unit with a distinguished history during both World Wars. It was initially raised in February 1916 in Egypt as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following the Gallipoli campaign. It became part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Division. The 47th Infantry Battalion is remembered for its bravery and resilience.

RIFLE RANGE TRAINING 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 men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, Martin received his on 1^st March, 8^th March & 27^th March. 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

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 six shillings a day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS BRISBANE TO ENGLAND SEPTEMBER 1916

On the 19^TH September 1916, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT A49 Seang Choon. 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. In an attempt 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 only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board

ENGLAND

About a fortnight later 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.

CODFORD TRAINING CAMP

They disembarked in Plymouth England on 9 Dec 1916 after which he marched into the 12th Training Battalion at No 13 Camp, Codford. When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital. The battalion was sent to the great training areas on Salisbury Plain, the heart of Australian infantry training in Britain, where thousands of AIF reinforcements and newly arrived units were being moulded into fighting formations for the Western Front.

Life at Codford was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.

Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions. Specially constructed practice trenches on Salisbury Plain allowed officers and NCOs to rehearse attacks down to the smallest detail, ensuring that every man understood his role once the battalion went into action.

Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.

Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.

Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and by autumn the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.

By the end of continuous preparation in England, the Battalion was judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.

PROMOTED TO SUBSTANTIVE CORPORAL AND SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY

Here he was made a substantive corporal on 24^th January 1917 and thereafter attended a rifle course at the School of Musketry at Tidworth where he acquired a working knowledge of the Lewis Gun. (Substantive rank is that which is yours and for which you are paid. It basically means a confirmed rank and not an acting rank (paid or unpaid). An acting rank can be taken away by your CO for any reason if he deems that you are not suitable to hold it if he feels so inclined). The Lewis Gun was operated by a team of seven. The First Lewis Gunner carried the gun and a revolver, while the Second Gunner carried a bag containing spare parts, and the remaining five members of the team carried loaded pans of ammunition. On 22^nd March 1917 it was reported that Martin qualified First Class and has a fair working knowledge of the Lewis gun.

LEAVE IN LONDON MARCH 1917

On a personal note, Martin wrote to his parents on 7 Mar 1917 describing his first visit to London

“I have just arrived back from a very interesting holiday in London. My trip lasted only four days, but I had a really good time. Went to the Australian Headquarters on reaching the city, and were then dismissed. We visited Parliament House, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Drury Lane Theatre. On Sunday morning we went to Mass at Westminster Cathedral.”

He continued: “On Monday we spent the day “doing” the Tower of London. We only just had time to run over other places, but having heard so much about the Tower, I decided to do it properly. It would take too long to go into all the details regarding the Tower, it must suffice for me to say that the visit was most interesting, and I shall describe it fully on my return home which judging by opinion in England, will not be very long now.”

He also explained that the biggest shock he had in London was seeing women in public bars, standing up and calling for a beer, and in restaurants women were sitting back smoking and blowing great clouds into the air.

Around the same time Martin sent his sister, Mary, a piece of stone in a Warlock brand tobacco tin, writing that it was just a piece of an old Roman fort on Salisbury Plain. He explained that he thought she might like it for a curio, and signed the letter Mart.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 15^TH BATTALION

Martin embarked for Le Havre, France in May 1917 and was taken on strength with the 15th Bn in the 4th Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division of the AIF. The 15th Bn was relieved from its position on the Douve River near Messines in Belgium and moved to a camp near Ploegsteert. On 17 Jun the soldiers were marched out to La Trompe Cabaret camp. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the German 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.

WARNETON, BELGIUM JUNE 1917

The 4th Division occupied the front line near Warneton which was a significant location during World War I. It was near the site of the Battle of Messines, which took place from June 7 to June 14, 1917. This battle was a major British offensive on the Western Front, aiming to capture the Messines Ridge, a strategic high ground held by German forces. The operation involved extensive planning, including the detonation of massive mines beneath German positions, which caused devastating explosions and marked the start of the attack.

Warneton itself was a focus for operations by the 3rd Australian Division later in June 1917. The village was part of a strong German defensive line, featuring concrete pillboxes and barbed wire. Australian forces worked to advance the British front line closer to the Warneton Line, enduring harsh conditions and heavy German fire. Their efforts included raids and small attacks to weaken German outpost

LA BASSE VILLE, BELGIUM JULY

La Basse Ville, a small hamlet in Belgium, was a focal point of military action during July 1917, as part of World War I. The Allies played a significant role in this area, engaging in operations to disrupt German defences’ and create diversions for larger offensives like the Battle of Pilckem Ridge.

Multiple attacks were launched on La Basse Ville throughout June and July 1917. These were met with fierce resistance, as the Germans considered the area strategically vital. Initial attempts to capture the hamlet were repulsed, but the allies persisted, eventually taking La Basse Ville briefly before being forced to withdraw due to counterattacks.

HOSPITALISATION TRENCH FEVER

Martin was treated at the 4th Field Ambulance with trench fever. (A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.)

Trench fever was one of the most common diseases affecting soldiers on the Western Front, and although it was rarely fatal, it could make a man seriously ill and unfit for duty for weeks or even months.

Today we know that trench fever is caused by the bacterium Bartonella quintana, which is spread by body lice. During the First World War, however, doctors did not initially understand exactly what caused the disease. They knew it was associated with the filthy, overcrowded conditions in which soldiers lived, particularly in the trenches.

The disease was especially common because soldiers often went for long periods without being able to bathe or change their clothing. Body lice thrived in the seams of uniforms and undergarments, feeding on human blood and spreading rapidly from man to man. Even soldiers who were otherwise healthy could become infected.

The symptoms usually appeared suddenly and could be quite alarming. A soldier suffering from trench fever might experience:

·      A sudden high fever.

·      Severe headaches.

·      Dizziness.

·      Extreme exhaustion and weakness.

·      Pain behind the eyes.

·      Muscle aches.

·      Intense pain in the back and legs, particularly the shins, which became one of the disease's most recognisable symptoms.

·      Loss of appetite.

·      General malaise and inability to perform military duties.

Many men described the leg pain as so severe that walking became difficult. The fever often came in cycles, subsiding and then returning days later, which is why trench fever was sometimes called "five-day fever."

When a soldier reported sick with symptoms suggestive of trench fever, he was usually evacuated from the front line and admitted to a Field Ambulance or Casualty Clearing Station for observation. Because doctors had no antibiotics, treatment was largely supportive.

A soldier like Martin would likely have received:

·      Complete bed rest.

·      Plenty of fluids to combat dehydration.

·      Nutritious food when able to eat.

·      Aspirin or similar medicines to reduce fever and relieve pain.

·      Warm blankets and nursing care.

·      Monitoring for complications or secondary infections.

An important part of treatment involved eliminating lice. Clothing would often be removed and passed through disinfecting or steam sterilisation equipment. Soldiers might be bathed and issued with clean clothing to prevent reinfestation.

Recovery varied considerably. Some men improved after a few weeks and returned to duty, while others experienced recurring attacks for months. The lingering weakness could be almost as troublesome as the fever itself. Even after leaving hospital, many soldiers spent time in convalescent depots rebuilding their strength before returning to their units.

HOSPITALISATION & CONVALESCENCE-FRANCE

He was transferred to the 11th General Hospital at Dannes (on the coast of the English Channel) on 3^rd August, then to the 6th Convalescent Depot at Etaples, France on 13^th August.  Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917

He did not return to the 15th Bn until 27 Aug, by which time his unit was in the trenches in the rain near Messines. Martin rejoined the Battalion in the field on 1 September 1917.

THE BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD

The Battle of Polygon Wood was the I ANZAC Corp component of a larger British and dominion operation staged as part of the third battle of Ypres. This operation was the second of the ‘Plumer battles,’ a series of well planned, limited advances supported by large volumes of artillery, masterminded by the British General Herbert Plumer. The name ‘Polygon Wood’ derived from a young plantation forest that lay along I ANZAC’s axis of advance. The attack was scheduled to begin on 26 Sep 1917 but was almost derailed by an enemy attack on the British Corps to the south. In addition, Australian troops of the 15th Brigade, preparing for their attack a day earlier, took part in fending off the enemy; their advance the next day began.

Consequently, although the British and dominion advance began on schedule on 26 Sep, with the 4th and 5th Division on the left and right respectively, taking the lead in the I ANZAC sector, it began with some uncertainty as to their security. The infantry advanced behind a heavy artillery barrage – the noise of this was compared to a roaring bushfire – and the enemy launched several counter-attacks. The battle cost 5,770 Australian casualties, including Martin Reynolds.

KILLED IN ACTION 27^TH SEPTEMBER 1917

The records indicate that he was killed in action on 27 Sep 1917, with no known grave, at age 20. Along with 136 other Australians with unknown graves from the Battle of Polygon Wood, his Commemoration details are marked on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel 17 in Belgium. In 1936 the City of Ypres presented the Australian War Memorial in Canberra with two medieval stone lions which now stand at the entrance of the AWM in memory of those who fought in the Ypres campaign.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Martin was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial Number 77, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

EFFECTS, SCROLL, PLAQUE AND VICTORY MEDAL

Martin’s effects were returned to his father on 28^th May 1918 and consisted of his two wallets, photos & religious medals. His father died in 1919 so his mother received his Memorial Scroll on 18^th August 1921, his Memorial Plaque on 10^th November 1922 & his Victory medal on 7^th December 1922

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