FAMILY LIFE

William Edward Bruce was born on the 11^th October, 1893 in Sutton Forest, son of William & Mary Jane Bruce. He was brother to 8 siblings, including John, who enlisted in November 1915 & Robert, who enlisted in 1916. His parents had brought the family to the Byron/Tweed area of the North Coast when the region was being opened in the late 1880’s. Good land could be obtained easily and it was an ideal place to bring up a family of nine, including five young boys. William leased the property known as Fernhill in South Murwillumbah in 1913 and successfully farmed it for 20 years. He was also one of the first mail contractors. The family lived in Church St Murwillumbah. Both parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

William travelled to Brisbane on 1^stJuly 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Sutton Forest, was 21 years 9 months old, and a single man. He gave his occupation as State School Teacher. His next of kin was his father, William, of 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

PAGE 2

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

On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Willaim Edward Bruce, 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.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

His medical showed he was 5ft 6 ½ inches tall (169m), weighed 142 lbs (65kgs), with a dark complexion, grey eyes & black hair.  His eyesight was good. 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.”  He was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his left knee.  

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.

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 9th Infantry Battalion– 13^th Reinforcements with service No 4140

9^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

The 9th Infantry Battalion, also known as the "Fighting Ninth," has a proud history within the Australian Army. Its origins trace back to 1867, when it was formed as part of the Queensland Volunteer Rifle Corps. Over time, it evolved into the 9th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. It symbolizes courage, dedication, and service to Australia

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 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

Australians 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: 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.

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

On the 3^rd January 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyarra. Alongside his comrades, William 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.

EGYPT FEBRUARY 1916 – TRAINING CAMP

After embarking from Brisbane aboard HMAT Kyarra on 3 January 1916, William Edward Bruce spent several weeks at sea before arriving in Egypt, then the principal training and reinforcement base for the Australian Imperial Force. Following the Gallipoli evacuation, vast camps had been established around Cairo and the Suez Canal to absorb the thousands of reinforcements arriving from Australia and to prepare them for service overseas.

William was sent into one of these sprawling tented camps, most likely at Tel-el-Kebir or Zeitoun, where newly arrived soldiers underwent further military training before being allocated to active units. The camps stretched across the desert and housed thousands of Australian troops. Conditions could be harsh, with blowing sand, extreme temperatures and strict military discipline replacing civilian life.

Training was intensive and designed to prepare the reinforcements for the realities of modern warfare. William spent long days undertaking route marches across the desert, musketry practice, bayonet fighting, trench construction, field exercises and physical conditioning. He learned battlefield discipline, signalling, bombing practice and the routines of life in the field. Officers and NCOs worked to transform the new arrivals into soldiers capable of replacing the heavy losses suffered by the battalions already serving overseas.

The camps also served another important purpose. During early 1916 the AIF underwent a major reorganisation and expansion. Experienced Gallipoli veterans mixed with newly arrived reinforcements like William, passing on valuable knowledge gained during the fighting on the peninsula. The training increasingly focused on the methods required for the war in France, including trench warfare, grenade fighting, wiring parties and large-scale coordinated attacks.

Life in camp was not entirely devoted to military instruction. The men attended parades, fatigues and equipment inspections while also adjusting to the unfamiliar sights of Egypt. Many soldiers remembered the pyramids, camel caravans and bustling streets of Cairo, although opportunities for leave were balanced by strict military regulations intended to keep the troops fit for service.

For William, these months in Egypt represented the final stage of preparation before joining the war in earnest. The training camps transformed him from a Queensland recruit into a soldier ready for active service, equipping him with the skills and endurance needed for the far more dangerous battlefields that awaited him in France with the 9th Battalion

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE APRIL 1916

The recruits 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

APRIL – JUNE 1916: ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION IN FRANCE

The 9th Battalion arrived in northern France, settling into the "nursery" sector near Armentières, which was a quieter part of the front. These months were spent getting used to trench warfare conditions on the Western Front, conducting patrols, trench raids, and fatigue duties & participating in training and improving trench defences. There were intermittent casualties from enemy shelling and sniping

HOSPITALISATION MUMPS MAY 1916

On 10^th May 1916 William was admitted to the Isolation Hospital in Etaples with mumps. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Soldiers would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing

CONVALESCENCE AND TRAINING

On 13^th June he was admitted to the 1^st Australian Base Depot. 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.

REJOINED UNIT JUNE 1916

He rejoined his unit on 29^th June 1916. His unit had just fought in the Battle of Pozieres. It was at Pozieres that Australian soldiers were exposed to the full horrors of the Western Front. They were subjected to incessant German artillery attacks and devastating machine-gun fire, plus intense frontal assaults, all of which took an overwhelming physical and mental toll

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 1916: AFTERMATH AND RECOVERY

After the fighting at Pozières, the 9th Battalion was withdrawn from the front line to rest and reorganize. During this time, they received reinforcements, conducted training, and were rotated in and out of the front in various sectors of northern France. The battalion likely participated in routine trench holding, fatigue duties, and further small-scale engagements

BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM SEPTEMBER 1916

In September 1916, the 9th Battalion was still heavily involved in the Somme campaign in France, particularly in the bitter fighting around Pozières and Mouquet Farm. The battalion had already suffered severe casualties during the Battle of Pozières in July and August, but the fighting continued as the Australians attempted to push the German line further north towards the formidable stronghold at Thiepval.

During the opening days of September, the Australians launched further attacks around Mouquet Farm, one of the strongest German positions on the Somme. Although the farm itself had largely been reduced to rubble, deep underground cellars and fortified trenches allowed German defenders to survive repeated bombardments and resist attack after attack. Australian units endured constant shellfire, machine-gun fire and counterattacks while trying to capture the position. The fighting became some of the costliest experienced by the AIF during 1916.

The battlefield conditions were appalling. Heavy rain combined with months of shelling had turned the ground into a churned sea of mud and shell holes. Trenches frequently collapsed, movement was exhausting and carrying supplies or evacuating wounded men became a major ordeal. Weapons clogged with mud and many soldiers endured days in exposed positions under continual bombardment.

By early September, Australian divisions were exhausted after weeks of fighting. On 3 September further attacks were made against the defences around Mouquet Farm. Although some objectives were captured, the farm itself continued to resist. Shortly afterwards the Australian divisions began to be relieved and withdrawn from this sector after suffering enormous losses. The fighting around Mouquet Farm alone cost the Australian divisions more than 11,000 casualties.

For William, September 1916 would have been spent amidst some of the harshest conditions of the war. The battalion was engaged in trench warfare, carrying parties, working parties, patrols and front-line duties in a landscape devastated by months of artillery fire. Even when not directly attacking, the men lived under constant danger from German shelling and sniper fire. The Somme battlefield left a lasting impression on those who survived it, and the experiences of September 1916 became part of the long and costly struggle that defined the 9th Battalion's service on the Western Front.

YPRES SEPTEMBER 1916

In September 1916 the battalion was moved to Belgium where they served in and out of the front lines near Ypres. There, they were involved in training, trench repairs and maintenance as well as patrols and occasional raids

SOMME OCTOBER to JANUARY 1917

In early October 1916 they returned to the Somme just in time to spend the bitterly cold winter of 1916-1917 in the trenches. It was a challenging period for the battalion, as they faced bitter cold and the relentless demands of trench warfare.

FEBRUARY 1917

In February 1917 the battalion was involved in operations aimed at pressuring German forces and preparing for upcoming offensives. The battalion was stationed in the trenches near Flers, a sector that had seen intense fighting during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Their responsibilities included manning the front lines, conducting patrols, and maintaining trench systems under challenging winter conditions.

WOUNDED IN ACTION HINDENBURG LINE FEBRUARY 1917

On 25 February 1917, William was severely wounded in action while serving with the 9th Battalion during the Allied pursuit of German forces withdrawing towards the Hindenburg Line. Following months of fighting on the Somme, the Germans had begun a planned withdrawal to a shorter and more heavily fortified defensive system. As the Australians advanced through the devastated battlefield, they encountered determined German rear-guard resistance, including artillery fire, machine-gun posts and sniper positions.

It was during these operations that William received a severe gunshot wound to his left thigh. Such wounds could be particularly dangerous, as they often involved extensive muscle damage, shattered bone or injury to major blood vessels. Even when not immediately fatal, severe leg wounds frequently required lengthy periods of hospitalisation and rehabilitation before a soldier could return to active service.

After receiving first aid near the battlefield, William was evacuated through the army's medical chain. He would have passed through regimental aid posts and casualty clearing stations, where medical staff worked to control bleeding, prevent infection and stabilise wounded men for further treatment. Once his condition was considered sufficiently stable, arrangements were made for his transfer to England.

EVACUATED TO ENGLAND MARCH 1917

On 4 March 1917 he embarked aboard the Hospital Ship Warilda for the journey across the English Channel. The Warilda regularly carried wounded Australian and British soldiers from France to England, where more extensive medical facilities were available. The crossing marked the beginning of a long period of recovery away from the front line.

Upon arrival in England, William spent several months in military hospitals undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. Although the surviving records provide few details of his medical care, a severe thigh wound would have required careful monitoring to prevent infection and restore mobility. Doctors and nurses would have supervised his recovery, while physiotherapy and graduated exercise helped rebuild strength in the injured limb. For many wounded soldiers, learning to walk normally again could be almost as challenging as surviving the initial injury.

COMMAND DEPOT WAREHAM

As his condition improved, William was transferred to the Command Depot at Wareham in Dorset. Command Depots were established to receive soldiers recovering from wounds or illness and prepare them for a return to active service. Here men underwent medical assessments, physical training and military refresher courses while their fitness was gradually rebuilt. The depot acted as a bridge between hospital life and a return to operational duty.

REJOINED UNIT JULY 1917

After more than four months away from his battalion, William was finally declared fit for overseas service and rejoined the 9th Battalion on 7 July 1917. His return demonstrated both the effectiveness of the military medical system and his own determination to recover from a serious wound. Having survived one of the most dangerous periods of the war and endured months of treatment and rehabilitation, he once again took his place among his comrades on the Western Front, where the battalion was preparing for the major operations that would culminate in the fighting around Ypres later that year.

PROMOTED TO LANCE CORPORAL

During this time in Wareham, on 15^th June, he was appointed Lance Corporal

PROMOTED TO TEMPORARY CORPORAL JULY 1917

On 12^th July he was then promoted to temporary corporal. A Temporary Corporal was a soldier who held the rank and duties of a Corporal on a non-permanent basis.

PROMOTED TO CORPORAL JULY 1917

On 16^th July he was appointed Corporal

AUGUST TO NOVEMBER 1917

THE BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD 20^TH TO 25^TH SEPTEMBER 1917

The 9th returned to Belgium in September; the battalion fought in various major battles. The Battle of Menin Road was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action

THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE 4^TH OCTOBER 1917

They engaged in the battle of Broodseinde, the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allied devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. Preparations were made by the Germans for local withdrawals and planning began for a greater withdrawal, which would entail the abandonment by the Germans of the Belgian coast, one of the strategic aims of the Flanders Offensive

THE BATTLE OF POELCAPPELLE 9^th OCTOBER 1917

5 days they also participated in the battle of Poelcappelle. Also called the first battle of Passchendaele, the battle of Poelcappelle was launched on 9 October with the ridge upon which Passchendaele stood as its objective. Like earlier battles in the Ypres offensive, the aim of the Poelcappelle attack was to secure a series of objectives in turn, protected by a heavy artillery barrage; the troops involved would be drawn from the 49th and 66th British, and 2nd Australian Divisions. Rain, however, had begun to deluge an already poorly drained battlefield, and adequate numbers of guns were unable to be brought within range. The infantry's advance also wallowed in the mud. The Australians were able to secure some of their objectives for a short time, but, with little artillery support and both flanks open, they were forced to withdraw. The 2nd Australian Division sustained 1,250 casualties in the battle.

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHAENDELE 12^TH OCTOBER 1917

3 days later they join in the battle of Passchendaele. After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'.

NOVEMBER 1917

The battalion continued to be engaged in the final phase of the Passchendaele offensive. They were involved in consolidation of gains and defending the newly captured positions against German counterattacks. After the capture of Passchendaele village on November 6, 1917, the Australian units, including the 9th Battalion, faced strong counterattacks and suffered heavy casualties.

By the end of November, the 1st Australian Division (including the 9th Battalion) was withdrawn from the front line to rest and refit after months of sustained fighting.

HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE NOVEMBER 1917

On 27^th November William was admitted to the 3^rd General Hospital, Le Havre with venereal disease. The sense of adventure, the loneliness, and the loss of family life that overwhelmed many of the overseas volunteers during the First World War often found them on leave in large cities or small towns where alcohol and women were plentiful, and a lack of available prophylaxis allowed the spread of diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis to reach epidemic levels. Historians claim that the average incidence rate for this disease in the AIF was around 12 per cent

Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Special hospitals for VD patients were set up and often regarded as deterrent. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. These long and uncomfortable stays in VD hospitals often averaged between 50 and 60 days, with most patients recovering and returning to the front. William was discharged 38 days later

REJOINED UNIT JANUARY 1918

He rejoined his unit on 28^th January 1918

MESSINE RIDGE EARLY 1918

The battalion remained in Flanders in the Messines sector of the front into early 1918. the area around Messines Ridge in Belgium remained a significant part of the Western Front during World War I. Following the successful Allied capture of the ridge in June 1917, the region became a defensive position for the Allies. Australian troops, including the 3rd and 4th Divisions, were stationed there during the winter of 1917–1918, enduring harsh conditions such as freezing temperatures, mud, and constant shellfire.

The area saw continued skirmishes and artillery exchanges as both sides prepared for larger offensives. The Germans launched their Spring Offensive in March 1918, which shifted the focus of fighting away from Messines to other parts of the front.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF THE SOMME 21^ST MARCH 1918

Following the launch of the German spring offensive beginning on 21 March 1918, all five Australians divisions were despatched south to the Somme front. In March 1918, the Second Battle of the Somme unfolded as part of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during World War I. The battle, also known as Operation Michael, began on 21 March 1918 and lasted until 5 April 1918. It was a massive German assault aimed at breaking through the Allied lines before American reinforcements could arrive in significant numbers.

The offensive targeted the British-held sector of the Somme, with the Germans achieving the largest territorial gains since the early stages of the war. However, despite initial successes, the Allies managed to regroup and halt the German advance near Amiens. The battle marked a turning point, as the German forces exhausted their resources without achieving a decisive victory.

THE BATTLE OF HAZEBROUK 12^TH TO 15^TH APRIL

In mid-April, however, the 9th Battalion along with other units of the 1st Australian Division, was rushed back to northern France to help contain an enemy breakthrough aimed at the vital town of Hazebrouck. The Battle of Hazebrouck was part of the German Spring Offensive during World War I, specifically within the Battle of the Lys. Hazebrouck, a key railway hub in northern France, was vital for Allied supply lines.

The German forces launched a major attack, breaking through weakly defended sections of the British line, particularly where Portuguese divisions were stationed. The British and Commonwealth troops, including the 1st Australian Division, were ordered to hold their ground despite being low on reserves. The battle saw fierce fighting, with Australian and British forces successfully defending Hazebrouck and preventing a German breakthrough

The battle was significant in halting the German advance towards the Channel ports, ensuring continued Allied supply routes. It is sometimes referred to as a "forgotten battle" despite its importance in the broader conflict. There they remained until August 1918

WOUNDED IN ACTION APRIL 1918

On 28 April 1918, William was wounded in action for the second time while serving with the 9th Battalion on the Western Front. Having already recovered from a severe gunshot wound to his left thigh suffered the previous year, William had returned to his battalion and resumed active service. However, during the fierce fighting of the spring of 1918, he was again struck by enemy fire, this time receiving a gunshot wound to his back.

EVACUATED TO ENGLAND

Although the details of his evacuation are sparse, the seriousness of the wound is reflected in what followed. After receiving treatment in France, William was evacuated to England on 8 May 1918. The decision to transfer a wounded soldier across the Channel was generally reserved for men whose recovery would be lengthy or who required specialist care unavailable closer to the front. By this stage of the war the medical evacuation system was highly efficient, and William would have passed through dressing stations, casualty clearing stations and base hospitals before making the journey to England.

Once there, he entered what would become a long period of hospitalisation and recovery. Gunshot wounds to the back could be particularly troublesome, involving damage to muscles, ribs, nerves or internal organs, and even when not immediately life-threatening they often required months of treatment. William spent many weeks under the care of doctors and nurses while his wounds gradually healed. During this period, he would have undergone repeated examinations, dressings and medical assessments to determine whether he might eventually be fit enough to resume military duties.

CONVALESCENCE AT WEYMOUTH

As his condition improved, William was transferred from hospital to convalescent facilities in Weymouth on the southern coast of England. Weymouth became home to thousands of recovering Australian soldiers during the war. Here the emphasis shifted from medical treatment to rehabilitation. Men undertook light exercise, physiotherapy and graduated training designed to restore strength and mobility. The seaside environment was considered beneficial to recovery, and many wounded soldiers spent months rebuilding their health while awaiting medical boards.

INVALIDED HOME OCTOBER 1918

Despite these efforts, it gradually became clear that William's wounds and their lingering effects would prevent him from returning to active service. Having already survived one severe wound and now facing the consequences of a second, military authorities determined that he was no longer fit for further duty overseas. The decision was therefore made to invalidate him to Australia.

For William, this marked the end of his wartime service. After more than two years overseas and enduring the hardships of the Western Front, he prepared to leave England and begin the long voyage home. On 9 October 1918 he arrived back in Australia, bringing to a close a remarkable period of service that had seen him train in Egypt, fight on the Somme, survive multiple wounds and endure many months of hospitalisation and rehabilitation.

Although he returned home before the war ended, the physical cost of his service remained. Like many veterans invalided home in the final year of the war, William carried with him the lasting effects of wounds received in the service of his country. His return to Australia was not the triumphant homecoming of an unscathed soldier, but the conclusion of a difficult journey marked by courage, sacrifice and resilience in the face of repeated injury.

CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION

Badges Hat                    Badges Collar (2)                    Bags kit universal

Bags kit sea                   Braces (pair)                            Brush, shaving

Brush, tooth                  Breeches M.S (Military service)

Cap comforter (warm cap)                                           Comb, hair

Disc identity with cord                                                  Drawers (2 pairs)

Great Coat                     Hat, Khaki fur                          Hat, white

Holdall                           Housewife (compact sewing kit)

Jackets Cardigan           Jackets S.D (service dress)

Leggings 1 pair             Laces, leather 1 pair

Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions

Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)

Razor                              Shirts, flannel (2)                   Socks, 3 pairs

Singlets (2)

Strap chin                      Soap piece                               Suit, working

Towels, hand (2)

Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged

FOR HIS SERVICE

William was discharged on 30^th October as medically unfit. For his service he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Hereford House Reunion Club Roll of Honour, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers Who Served Abroad Honour Roll, & Bundanoon Wall of Remembrance

AFTER THE WAR

All three brothers were lucky enough to return to Australia although John was invalided back in 1917 after having one of his legs amputated. He spent the rest of his life in Murwillumbah. After the war most of the family remained in the Mullumbimby or Murwillumbah area. William married Dulcie Beatrice Verton in 1926.

ENLISTED IN WORLD WAR 11

On 21 April 1942 William enlisted at Urunga, His posting was not listed nor was his discharge date

DEATH

He died 2^nd November 1947 in Bellingen and is buried in Bellingen Cemetery

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