Gunner George Thomson Baker
Service #: 1261
Summary
BACKGROUND
George Thomson Baker was born in Murwillumbah in 1896, son of George & Annie Baker. According to NSWBDM he was one of 7 children, with one brother and 5 sisters.
ATTESTATION
George travelled to Brisbane on the 19th September, 1915 complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his father, George, of the Bamboos, Murwillumbah. George had spent 5 years in senior cadets. 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
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, George Thomson Baker, 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
PAGE 3
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
George was 18 years 11 months old. He was 5 t 9 inches tall (1.75m) and weighed 9 stone 9 lbs (61kgs). He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. George was Presbyterian.
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. Robert was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 8th March 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 private with the 2nd Reserve Regiment Light Horse with service number 1261 (the 2nd Reserve Regiment Light Horse was a training and reinforcement unit based in Egypt. Its role was to receive newly arrived reinforcements from Australia, provide further training in desert warfare, horsemanship, weapons handling and military discipline, and then supply trained men to Light Horse regiments serving at the front.)
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
LIGHT HORSE TRAINING
The Light Horse Depot was a lively place — rows of tents and stables stretched across the paddocks, with constant movement as new recruits learned the routines of mounted service. For the Light Horsemen, horsemanship was essential. Many recruits already came from rural backgrounds and were experienced riders, but the army still needed to train them to work together as mounted troops.
They would have spent their first weeks learning the fundamentals of soldiering: drill, physical fitness, and discipline, before moving on to the skills that defined the mounted man. They were taught to ride with a military saddle, to control their horse at all paces, and to manoeuvre in close formation. Daily sessions included mounting and dismounting at speed, guiding the horse with knee and rein, and practising extended trots and canters across open ground.
They practised:
· mounted drill and manoeuvres
· riding in formation
· caring for horses in military conditions
· rapid mounting and dismounting
· scouting and reconnaissance work
· fighting on foot after leaving the horses behind with designated horse-holders
The Australian Light Horse was technically mounted infantry rather than cavalry. The men rode horses for mobility but usually fought dismounted with rifles. The instructors — many veterans of earlier campaigns — were firm but fair, ensuring each man could care for his mount as well as himself.
So, horsemanship was only one part of the training. They learned the use of the Lee-Enfield rifle both on foot and in the saddle, as well as the sword or bayonet for close work. They were trained to move quickly from mounted to dismounted action — the Light Horse fought on foot, using their horses mainly for mobility. Camp life also included route marches, stable duties, grooming and feeding routines, cleaning tack and gear, and long days of drill under the Australian sun.
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 OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO EGYPT SEPTEMBER 1916
On the 28TH September 1915 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 30th September, they embarked on the HMAT Argyllshire A8. Alongside his comrades, George 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.
SAILING WITH HORSES
When a light horsemen stepped aboard a ship, he was not only beginning his own long journey to war but also taking responsibility for a living companion — a horse. Unlike the infantrymen who embarked with little more than their rifles and kit, the Light Horsemen spent much of the voyage tending to the animals that could carry them through future battles.
Below decks, the ship had been fitted with rows of stalls. Each morning at first light, the men made their way down into the cramped, airless hold to feed, water, and clean up after the horses. The heat, smell, and flies could be overpowering, but the routine was strict and unrelenting: feed measured out carefully, water rationed, and the heavy work of mucking out stalls done daily to keep the animals healthy. When weather allowed, the horses were brought on deck to stretch their legs, led slowly around the ship, or lifted in slings to keep their muscles supple.
The rest of the day was divided between horse duty, parades, and training. On deck, the men drilled with their rifles, practised bayonet work, and kept up their physical fitness. The ship was crowded, hammocks and bunks jammed together, and meals were plain—bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—but the men kept themselves occupied with cards, writing letters, or impromptu concerts. Seasickness was common, especially in the early days, and many struggled with the reek of horseflesh combined with the rolling sea.
There were lighter moments, too. The men organised boxing matches and games, and the bond between soldier and horse grew stronger each day. Many of a light horseman came from country life and was used to handling horses; brushing down mounts or leading them carefully around the deck – it gave them a small sense of normality amid the voyage’s monotony.
The journey was not without loss. Some horses sickened and died despite the best efforts of their handlers and veterinary officers. Their bodies were solemnly hoisted up from the holds and buried at sea, a sight that reminded the men of the fragility of both beast and soldier in the campaign ahead.
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 LIGHT HORSEMEN
By mid-October the ship had arrived on the Suez. 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
The Egyptian training camps were often one of the most memorable periods of a Light Horseman's service. Imagine a soldier arriving after weeks at sea and stepping into a landscape utterly unlike Queensland. The air was dry and dusty, the sunlight harsh, and everywhere there was sand. The camps themselves were enormous. Thousands upon thousands of canvas tents spread across the desert, housing Australians, New Zealanders, British troops, and support units. At Mena Camp, many soldiers could look up from their tents and see the great pyramids standing on the horizon, a sight that seemed almost unbelievable to men who had grown up on Australian farms and in country towns.
A typical day began before sunrise. Bugles sounded reveille while the desert air was still cool. Men hurried from their tents to wash, dress, and prepare for morning parade. Breakfast was usually simple but filling, after which the serious work of training began. For Light Horsemen, horses were at the centre of everything. A trooper's first responsibility was often not himself but his horse. Animals had to be watered, fed, groomed and inspected before any military exercises could commence. Saddlery and harness required constant cleaning and repair, and every man was expected to know his mount thoroughly.
Training occupied most daylight hours. Troopers practised riding in formation, learning how to manoeuvre large groups of horses efficiently across open country. They rehearsed scouting and reconnaissance duties, signalling procedures, and the rapid dismounting drills that allowed Light Horsemen to fight as infantry. Contrary to what many people imagine, the Light Horse usually rode to battle but fought on foot. Men therefore spent many hours on rifle ranges perfecting their marksmanship. Bayonet fighting, entrenching, route marching and field exercises were all part of the daily routine.
The desert itself was an instructor. Sand found its way into everything. It settled in blankets, clothing, food, rifles and water bottles. Flies were relentless, gathering around meals and following the men wherever they went. During the day temperatures could become oppressive, yet after sunset the desert could turn surprisingly cold. Many soldiers found themselves wrapped in blankets at night after sweating through the heat of the afternoon.
The camps were also places of constant movement and activity. Reinforcements arrived regularly from Australia, while units departed for Gallipoli, returned from the peninsula, or moved to other parts of Egypt. New arrivals often encountered veterans whose uniforms bore the marks of hard campaigning. These experienced men became valuable teachers, passing on practical advice that no drill manual could provide. Young recruits listened carefully to stories of Gallipoli, learning what combat really meant from men who had already faced it.
When training ended for the day, soldiers often sought entertainment wherever they could find it. Sporting competitions were popular, particularly boxing, cricket and football. Concert parties and impromptu musical performances helped relieve boredom. Letters were written home, journals were kept, and friendships were formed that would endure throughout the war.
Leave in Cairo was an adventure in itself. For many Australians it was the first truly foreign city they had ever seen. The crowded streets, the noise of the markets, the calls to prayer from mosque minarets, and the mixture of languages and cultures made a powerful impression. Soldiers wandered through bazaars packed with merchants selling carpets, brassware, spices and souvenirs. Some visited the pyramids and the Sphinx, marvelling at monuments that were already ancient when the Roman Empire was young. Others enjoyed cafés, theatres and restaurants, while some were drawn into the less respectable districts that military authorities continually warned them to avoid.
Despite these opportunities, camp life was not always pleasant. Illness was common, particularly among men adjusting to unfamiliar food, water and climate. Dysentery and various fevers circulated through the crowded camps. Dust storms could sweep through without warning, filling tents with sand and leaving equipment coated in grit. Water was precious and had to be carefully managed. The routine could become monotonous, and many men grew impatient to join their regiments and see active service.
Yet in hindsight, those months in Egypt were invaluable. The camps transformed civilians into soldiers and horsemen into effective members of a mounted regiment. By the time a soldier left Egypt to join his unit, he would have been fitter, more disciplined and far better prepared for the demands that lay ahead. The long hours of riding, drilling, shooting and caring for horses under the Egyptian sun laid the foundation for the service he would later give with the Light Horse.
MARCH 1916 TAKEN ON STRENGTH
From 1 March 1916, George was taken on strength of the 2nd Reserve Regiment Light Horse at Maadi. During the following month he would have continued the intensive training given to Light Horse reinforcements. Maadi was one of the principal Australian camps near Cairo, and George's days would have been occupied with mounted training, horsemanship, rifle practice, route marches, physical conditioning and military instruction. During this period the AIF was being reorganised after the Gallipoli evacuation, and many men were being assessed for transfer to units where reinforcements were urgently needed. As a result, George was selected for service with the artillery rather than the Light Horse.
TRANSFERRED TO 15TH FIELD ARTILLRY BRIGADE APRIL 1916
On 1 April 1916 George transferred to the 15th Field Artillery Brigade at Tel el Kebir as a gunner. This was a significant change in role. At Tel el Kebir he had to learn the specialised skills required of artillerymen, including gun drill, ammunition handling, range estimation, care of equipment and working as part of a gun crew. The brigade was preparing for service on the Western Front, and training was rigorous as officers and NCOs transformed former infantry and Light Horsemen into competent artillery soldiers. George would have spent long hours on the parade ground and gun lines learning the operation of the brigade's 18-pounder field guns.
MUSTERED AS A DRIVER MAY 1916
On 19 May 1916 George was mustered as a driver. In artillery units a driver was responsible for the teams of horses that pulled guns, limbers and ammunition wagons. His duties now centred on horse management, harnessing, stable duties, feeding, grooming and controlling teams under all conditions. Drivers required considerable skill, as artillery depended entirely upon horse transport to move guns and ammunition. George would have undergone further instruction in handling six-horse teams and manoeuvring heavy equipment across difficult ground.
FRANCE JUNE 1916
On 7 June 1916 George embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, travelling via Alexandria and across the Mediterranean to Marseilles. After disembarking he would have travelled by troop train through France to the artillery reinforcement and training areas behind the front. During the weeks before joining his unit he received further training in Western Front conditions, became familiar with local procedures, equipment and transport arrangements, and prepared for active service in a combat zone. Life in the camp was demanding and often unpopular. Soldiers underwent intensive training designed to prepare them for trench warfare, including rifle practice, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, gas-mask drills and battlefield exercises. Much of this training took place in the notorious "Bull Ring," where instructors enforced strict discipline and expected high standards from men who were often only days away from entering combat. Despite the hardships, the training was intended to ensure that every man reaching the front possessed the skills needed to survive and fight effectively in the harsh conditions of the Western Front.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH 25TH FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE JULY 1916
Taken on strength of the 25th Field Artillery Brigade on 14 July 1916, George entered a period of active service on the Western Front. During the latter half of 1916 the Australian artillery was heavily engaged supporting infantry operations during the Battle of the Somme. As a driver, George's work was vital but often dangerous. He was responsible for bringing guns forward, transporting ammunition, moving supplies and caring for horses in all weather conditions. Much of this work was carried out at night to avoid enemy observation and shellfire.
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME
The Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) was a major World War I offensive by British and French forces against Germany, resulting in over one million casualties and exemplifying the deadly nature of trench warfare.
Overview
The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, was fought along the upper reaches of the Somme River in northern France from 1 July to 18 November 1916. It was a joint operation by the British Empire and French Republic against the German Empire, intended to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun and achieve a decisive breakthrough on the Western Front. The battle involved more than three million soldiers, with over one million killed or wounded, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history
Strategic Context
The offensive was planned during the Chantilly Conference in December 1915, where the Allies agreed on coordinated attacks against the Central Powers in 1916. Initially, the French were to lead the Somme offensive, supported by the British Fourth Army. However, the German attack at Verdun in February 1916 forced the French to divert many divisions, leaving the British to take the principal role. The British forces included a mix of pre-war regulars, Territorial Force units, and Kitchener’s Army volunteers
THE FIRST DAY
The first day, 1 July 1916, became infamous for its catastrophic losses. After a week-long artillery bombardment, 11 British divisions attacked a 15-mile front north of the Somme, while five French divisions advanced on an 8-mile front to the south. The British suffered 57,000 casualties, including 19,000 killed, marking the bloodiest day in British military history The French casualties were lower due to attacking weaker German defenses and having more heavy artillery
Course of the Battle
Despite the initial bombardment, the Allies failed to achieve a rapid breakthrough. The battle became a prolonged struggle of attrition, with both sides entrenched and heavily fortified. The British and French forces gradually advanced, capturing key positions such as Ovillers, Thiepval, and Fricourt, but progress was slow and costly. The campaign lasted five months, with intermittent offensives and heavy artillery bombardments, reflecting the brutal stalemate of trench warfare.
CASUALTIES AND OUTCOME
By the end of the battle, the Allies had suffered over 600,000 casualties (British 420,000; French 194,000), while German losses exceeded 440,000 The battle did not achieve a decisive breakthrough, but it inflicted significant losses on the German army and demonstrated the devastating effectiveness of modern weapons, including machine guns, artillery, and barbed wire The Somme became a symbol of the futility and human cost of World War I trench warfare.
SIGNIFICANCE
The Battle of the Somme highlighted the deadly potential of mechanized and industrialized warfare, reshaped military tactics, and had a profound psychological impact on soldiers and civilians alike. It also underscored the importance of artillery preparation, combined operations, and the challenges of breaking entrenched defensive lines For Britain, the Somme remains a defining episode of the First World War, remembered for both heroism and tragedy.
The brigade supported Australian operations around Pozières, Mouquet Farm and later the winter positions that followed the Somme fighting.
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.
1916- 1917 TRANSFER TO 14TH FIELD ARTILLER BRIGADE JANUARY 1917
Through the latter months of 1916 and into January 1917, George endured the harsh realities of artillery service in France. The winter was particularly severe, with freezing temperatures, mud, snow and exhausted horses making transport duties difficult. Despite being some distance behind the front-line trenches, artillery positions were frequently shelled, and drivers often travelled roads targeted by enemy artillery. By this stage George would have become an experienced artillery driver, capable of handling horse teams under demanding battlefield conditions. His experience led to his transfer on 25 January 1917 to the 14th Field Artillery Brigade, where he was taken on strength and posted to the 54th Battery to continue his service on the Western Front.
REMUSTERED AS GUNNER – WOUNDED IN ACTION THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES JULY AND AUGUST 1917
Following many months of demanding service with the artillery on the Western Front, George's war took a dramatic turn in the summer of 1917. On 25 July 1917 he was remustered as a gunner, returning to the role for which artillerymen were originally trained. Only a few days later, on 3 August 1917, he became a casualty during the opening stages of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. The Australian artillery was heavily engaged supporting operations around the Ypres Salient, and George suffered a gunshot wound to his left upper arm.
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
MEDICAL CHAIN
After receiving first aid near the battlefield, he passed through the evacuation chain and was transported across the English Channel to Britain. On 8 August 1917 he embarked aboard the hospital ship St Patrick and was admitted to a military hospital in Birmingham. Such a journey was often long and uncomfortable, but reaching England meant access to more extensive medical treatment away from the dangers of the front. Doctors treated the wound, monitored his recovery and assessed whether he would be fit for future service.
DISCIPLINED AUGUST 1917
While recovering, George encountered a minor disciplinary issue. On 14 August 1917 he was awarded seven days' barrack detention and forfeited two days' pay for overstaying furlough. Such offences were not uncommon among soldiers recovering in Britain, where leave and convalescence sometimes led to men returning late to their units or hospitals. The punishment was relatively light and had no lasting effect on his career
As his condition improved, George was transferred through a series of medical facilities. He moved from the general hospital to an auxiliary hospital and later spent time convalescing at Weymouth. These institutions were designed to help wounded soldiers regain strength before returning to duty. Treatment was followed by physiotherapy, exercise and gradual military training intended to restore fitness after injury.
By September 1917, George was sufficiently recovered to be transferred to the Australian Details Camp at Bulford on Salisbury Plain. Bulford served as a holding and training centre where men returning from hospitals underwent further medical examinations, refresher training and administrative processing before returning to France. There he reconditioned physically and refreshed the artillery skills that had inevitably declined during months of recovery.
George eventually returned to the Western Front and resumed service with his artillery unit. For many months he carried out the demanding duties of an artilleryman amid the continuing battles of 1918. During the great German Spring Offensive and the Allied counter-offensives that followed, artillery support was critical. Gun crews worked tirelessly moving guns, firing barrages, transporting ammunition and supporting advancing infantry.
HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA JULY 1918
In July 1918, George was again removed from duty, this time through illness rather than wounds. On 6 July 1918 he was admitted to a Lines of Communication Hospital suffering from influenza. Influenza was widespread among troops and could incapacitate soldiers for weeks. After treatment he was discharged back to his unit on 27 July, only to be readmitted a few days later on 31 July, indicating that his recovery had either been incomplete or that his symptoms had returned. After further treatment he finally rejoined his unit on 21 August 1918.
WOUNDED IN ACTION 2ND OCCASION SEPTEMBER 1918
Only a month later George once again found himself in the midst of intense fighting. During the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately brought about Germany's defeat, he was wounded for a second time on 23 September 1918. This occasion saw him suffer a gunshot wound to the scalp. Although a head wound naturally sounded alarming, the fact that he was admitted to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station and returned relatively quickly suggests the injury was less severe than it might have been. By 28 September he had rejoined the 14th Field Artillery Brigade from hospital.
THE HUNDRED DAY OFFENSIVE (OPERATION MICHAEL)
MARCH TO JULY 1918
In March 1918, the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia ended its role in the First World War by signing the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with the Central Powers.
This had a significant impact on the war in Western Europe, giving rise to the German Spring Offensive, also known as the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ (the Kaiser’s battle).
The Russians had been beaten by the Germans in a number of battles early in the war, but they had also inflicted substantial defeats on the Ottomans, Germans troops and Austrian-Hungarian forces.
With the signing of the treaty, however, the Germans ‘freed up’ their forces on the Eastern Front, reinforced their army on the Western Front, and raised it to 206 Divisions.
In response, the Allies raised 172 Divisions on the Western Front, including a growing number of Americans, which provided sufficient impetus for the Germans to mount their Spring Offensive.
Erich Ludendorff, the commander of the German Army on the Western Front, believed if Germany did not act, the Allies would achieve ascendancy.
The Germans were aware the balance of power was shifting and, while they held a superiority in numbers, this would soon change if they did not strike a decisive blow.
The German offensive was spearheaded by Operation Michael and supported by operations Georgette, Gneisenau and Blücher-Yorck, supported by smaller operations to deal with battlefield contingencies.
Operation Michael began with a devastating barrage of nearly 10,000 artillery pieces and mortars. The attacks were spearheaded by path-finding ‘Stormtroopers’, followed by immense numbers of infantry.
The German attack worried Australia’s diggers as much as those in high command, with soldiers bitter about the German successes.
Barwick though was aware this was the German’s ‘last throw of the dice’ and he was supremely confident the Australians would check the German advance.
Operation Michael seemed a success in terms of captured territory, prisoners and equipment, but it did not deliver an over-arching strategic blow to the Allies.
It did not destroy the British Army nor drive a wedge between the British and French forces.
Michael, along with the other German Spring Offensive operations, failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the Allies to their knees.
After the Spring Offensive finished in July 1918, the initiative crossed to the Allies who — with the addition of American troops — brought Germany to its knees in a number of subsequent battles.
Germany surrendered less than six months after the last operation in its Spring Offensive
WAR ENDED 11th NOVEMBER 1918
The armistice that ended the First World War on the Western Front was signed between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918.
PREPARING TO GO HOME
With the Armistice signed on 11 November 1918, George remained with the occupation and administrative forces while the vast task of demobilising the Australian Imperial Force commenced. On 31 January 1919 he proceeded to England from the Australian General Base Depot, beginning the lengthy process that would eventually return him home.
While awaiting repatriation he was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital in February 1919 for treatment relating to his tonsils. Even after the fighting had ceased, military authorities were keen to address lingering health issues before men embarked for Australia.
GOING HOME MAY 1919
Once declared fit for travel, George finally boarded the transport Montezuma on 25 May 1919 for the long voyage home.
DISCHARGE JULY 1919
The journey marked the end of more than four years of military service that had taken him from Australia to Egypt, from the deserts of the Middle East to the muddy battlefields of France and Belgium. He had served as both a driver and gunner in the Australian artillery, endured wounds on two separate occasions, survived illness and spent lengthy periods in military hospitals. After arriving back in Australia, George was formally discharged by the 2nd Military District on 18 July 1919, bringing his wartime service to a close and allowing him to return to civilian life after a demanding and eventful war.
For his service George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
DEATH AND BURIAL
George died in 1977 in Murwillumbah (aged 80–81) and is buried in
Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery, Murwillumbah, Plot Section 3/228
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
We do not know the burial location of this individual
