Gunner Thomas North
Service #: 1907
Summary
BACKGROUND
Thomas North was born in 1897, in Nowra, son of Henry Thomas & Louisa Frances North. He had 4 siblings- 3 brothers and one sister, all born in Nowra except the youngest born in 1903 in Murwillumbah. Two of his brothers, John & Alexander, also enlisted.
ATTESTATION
Thomas travelled to the Enoggera training camp, Brisbane from his home in Murwillumbah, on the 15th December 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Louisa, of Seven Oak, Murwillumbah. Thomas had spent 12 months in some form of military service (not clear enough to state exactly what)
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, Thomas North, 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
Thomas was 18 years 5 months old. He was 5ft 10 inches tall (1.78m), and weighed 145 lbs (66kgs). He had a fair complexion, bluish eyes and sandy coloured hair. Thomas was Presbyterian.
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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 with the 5th Light Horse Battalion, 13 reinforcements, then notation “transferred to 56th Batt”, with service number 1907
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO EGYPT
On the 3rd January, 1915, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyarra A55. Alongside his comrades, Thomas 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.
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 TAKEN ON STRENGTH 5TH LIGHT HORSE
After disembarking at Alexandria on 19 February 1916, Thomas was taken on strength with the 5th Light Horse at Maadi Camp near Cairo. The regiment was rebuilding after the Gallipoli campaign, training in the desert and carrying out defensive duties while the Australian forces underwent a major reorganisation. For the men, life consisted of drill, route marches, weapons training and caring for their horses under the harsh Egyptian sun.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH
This means a soldier was officially assigned to and accounted for in a specific military unit's nominal roll. It meant they were integrated into the unit for daily operations, including food, discipline, equipment, and frontline duties
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.
POSTED TO 56 BATTERY
TEL EL KEBIR- EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP MARCH 1916
On 27 March 1916 Thomas was posted to the 56th Battery at Tel el Kebir. This vast camp, situated in the desert northeast of Cairo, had become one of the principal training centres for the expanding Australian artillery. Here Thomas learned the skills required of a gunner—handling horses and limbers, moving ammunition, maintaining equipment and working as part of a gun crew. The Australian Imperial Force was rapidly expanding, and trained men were urgently needed for the artillery units being prepared for service on the Western Front. Now the formal training began.
They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in a training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons. Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.
After many months of continuous preparation in France, the men were 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 entered into the war, 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.
FRANCE JUNE 1916
On 20 June 1916 he left Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. The voyage across the Mediterranean ended at Marseilles on 30 June. Like thousands of Australians arriving that summer, Thomas was immediately struck by the contrast between Egypt's deserts and the green countryside of France. From Marseilles he travelled north by troop train towards the front, where the great Somme offensive had just begun.
JULY 1916 TRANSFERRED TO 55TH BATTERY
On 8 July 1916 he was transferred from the 56th Battery to the 55th Battery in the field. This placed him directly within the artillery supporting Australian infantry operations during one of the most demanding periods of the war. Throughout the second half of 1916 and into early 1917 the Australian artillery was heavily engaged on the Somme, firing barrages in support of attacks, countering German artillery and enduring enemy shellfire. Life for the gunners was exhausting and dangerous. The guns fired day and night, often from muddy and exposed positions, while ammunition had to be hauled forward under difficult conditions.
LEAVE IN ENGLAND FEBRUARY 1917
At some point Thomas was granted leave to England, a welcome break from the hardships of the Western Front. Leave was eagerly anticipated by every soldier. After months in the trenches and gun positions, men could enjoy a few days of relative comfort, visit friends or family, see the sights of London and recover physically and mentally from the strain of active service.
On 13 February 1917 Thomas rejoined his battery from leave. He returned at a significant moment in the war. The Germans were preparing their withdrawal to the formidable Hindenburg Line, and the Australian artillery would soon be heavily involved in supporting the Allied advance that followed. Refreshed by his time away, Thomas resumed his duties with the 55th Battery, once again becoming part of the immense artillery force upon which so much of the fighting on the Western Front depended.
After many months of continuous service with the artillery on the Western Front, Thomas's health began to suffer during the autumn of 1917. The year had been particularly demanding for Australian troops, who had endured the bitter fighting around Bullecourt, Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres. The constant exposure to rain, mud, cold weather and gun smoke took a heavy toll on many soldiers.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULLECOURT 11TH APRIL 1917
The First Battle of Bullecourt occurred on 11 April 1917, involving Australian and British forces attacking German positions in the Hindenburg Line, resulting in heavy Allied casualties and limited tactical success.
OVERVIEW
The First Battle of Bullecourt was part of the Battle of Arras on the Western Front during World War I. It took place on 11 April 1917, with the 4th Australian Division and the 62nd British Division ordered to attack the German-held village of Bullecourt, a key position in the Hindenburg Line. The operation aimed to support the British Third Army to the north and the French Army to the south
PLANNING AND EXECUTION
The attack was initially
scheduled for 10 April, but was postponed because the twelve
tanks intended to crush the German barbed wire failed to arrive on time.
Despite this, the British 62nd Division advanced, unaware of the delay, and
suffered early casualties in what became known as the "Buckshee
Battle" The main assault began at 4:30 am on 11 April, with
Australian brigades advancing under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire
The Australians managed to infiltrate the German front line and seize
part of the second line, achieving a feat considered nearly impossible without
artillery support However, communication breakdowns and the failure of
most tanks left them exposed on both flanks, cut off from reinforcements,
and vulnerable to German counter-attacks
CASUALTIES AND OUTCOME
The battle ended in failure for the Allies within hours. Australian forces suffered approximately 3,000–3,700 casualties, including 1,100 prisoners, while German casualties were significantly lower. The tanks largely failed to provide the intended support, with only one reaching the front line and the rest breaking down or being destroyed. Survivors expressed bitterness and distrust toward both the tanks and the British command
Significance
Although the Australians demonstrated remarkable courage and persistence, the First Battle of Bullecourt highlighted poor planning, inadequate artillery support, and coordination failures within the British command. Strategically, the battle did not achieve significant gains, but it set the stage for the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917, which involved further attempts to capture the village. The engagement also contributed to a growing distrust between Australian troops and British commanders during the war
In May they joined the Second Battle of Bullecourt (part of the Battle of the Somme), where they were used mainly in a support role during the initial attack, being held back as part of the 2nd Division's reserve. During the attack, a company from the 26th was detached to help bolster the 5th Brigade, and later it was thrust into the line to help defend the gains after a German counterattack fell on the 6th Brigade's left flank.
Despite the failure of a first attack on 11 April 1917, a few weeks later General Gough once again tried to break the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. On 3 May 1917 the 2nd Australian Division attacked with the British alongside. Although the brigade on the right faltered under deadly machine-gun fire, the 6th Brigade got into the enemy’s trenches and, despite heavy shellfire and counter attacks, bravely held on.
The 1st Division relieved the 2nd, and soon the 5th Division took its turn. Finally, after more than a week, the Germans gave up these blood-soaked fields. Then the depleted Australian battalions were withdrawn to recover. The furious fighting, which in the end only advanced the line a kilometre or so, had been at the heavy cost of another 7,000 Australian casualties.
'The Second Bullecourt battle was, in some ways, the stoutest achievement of the Australian soldier in France'.
The battle for Messines was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.
The resultant explosion, the largest ever in the world to that date, was clearly felt and heard in London. The Battle for Messines was the first time the new reinforcements were subjected to Phosgene Gas. This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines.
This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines
The primary objective of this battle was to secure the strategically important Wytschaete Messines Ridge, the high ground south of Ypres which in turn would benefit the allies to launch a larger campaign east of Ypres. The Australian involvement came under Lieutenant General Sir. Alexander Godley’s II Anzac Corps, which included the 3rd Australian Division. This Battle was launched on 7 Jun 1917 and exemplified tactical success through careful planning and firepower. The Battle of Messines was a meticulously planned operation aimed at capturing the Messines Ridge in Belgium.
On the June 17, 1917, the Australians were withdrawn from the Battle of the Somme to the battle for Messines which was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.
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
ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL OCTOBER 1917 LARYNGITIS
On 7 October 1917 Thomas was admitted to hospital sick and the following day was transferred to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne suffering from laryngitis. Although often regarded as a minor ailment, laryngitis could be debilitating, causing severe inflammation of the throat, loss of voice, fever and difficulty swallowing. Conditions at the front were ideal for respiratory illnesses. Men lived in damp dugouts, endured exposure to the elements and were frequently subjected to gas, smoke and dust from the guns. At Boulogne, one of the principal medical centres of the British Expeditionary Force, Thomas received treatment away from the dangers of the front line.
CONVALESCENT DEPOT OCTOBER 1917
By 19 October he had recovered sufficiently to leave hospital and was transferred to the 7th Convalescent Depot. These depots were designed to bridge the gap between hospital and active service, allowing recovering soldiers to regain their strength through light duties, exercise and medical supervision before returning to their units.
ADMITTED TO 10TH CONVALESCENT DEPOT
BRONCHITIS OCTOBER 1917
Unfortunately, his recovery was not straightforward. On 30 October 1917 he was admitted to the 10th Convalescent Depot suffering from bronchitis. The illness often followed infections such as laryngitis and could leave soldiers weakened for weeks. The damp climate of northern France and Belgium, combined with the physical strain of military service, frequently contributed to recurring respiratory complaints.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the air passages that carry air from the windpipe into the lungs. The inflammation causes swelling of the airways and increased production of mucus, making breathing difficult and triggering persistent coughing. Symptoms typically included a harsh cough, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, fatigue and the production of phlegm.
For soldiers on the Western Front, bronchitis was especially common. Men spent long periods exposed to cold, wet weather, mud, rain and damp dugouts. They often endured inadequate shelter, poor ventilation and physical exhaustion. Gas attacks, smoke from artillery bombardments and the dust of the battlefield could also irritate the lungs and make respiratory illnesses more likely. Many soldiers developed bronchitis after prolonged exposure to these harsh conditions.
Doctors would have been particularly concerned about preventing the illness from developing into pneumonia, which was far more dangerous and could be fatal. Treatment in 1917 was largely supportive, as antibiotics did not yet exist. Thomas's treatment would likely have included:
· Complete bed rest, often for several weeks.
· Warm, well-ventilated hospital wards.
· Nutritious meals to rebuild strength.
· Plenty of fluids to help loosen mucus.
· Expectorant medicines designed to ease coughing and clear the lungs.
· Steam inhalations or medicated vapours to relieve congestion.
· Monitoring of temperature, breathing and chest symptoms.
· Gradual return to activity once the cough and fever subsided.
ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL LEFT CLAVICLE FRACTURE NOVEMBER 1917
Thomas remained away from his battery for some time and then suffered a further setback. On 30 November 1917 he was admitted to the 25th General Hospital with a fractured left clavicle sustained in an accident. A broken collarbone was a painful injury that usually required the arm and shoulder to be immobilised for several weeks. While the records do not reveal how the accident occurred, such injuries were not uncommon in artillery units, where men worked among heavy guns, ammunition wagons, horses and transport vehicles under often hazardous conditions.
DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 1918
The fracture kept Thomas in hospital throughout the winter of 1917–18. Only on 15 February 1918 was he considered fit enough to be discharged from hospital and transferred to the Base Depot. Rather than returning immediately to the front, soldiers were normally sent to a Base Depot where they awaited medical clearance, further assessment and eventual allocation back to their unit. After more than four months away from active service through illness and injury, Thomas had finally completed the long journey through the military medical system and was beginning the process of returning to duty with the Australian artillery in France.
DISCIPLINED FEBRUARY 1918
Shortly after leaving hospital, Thomas ran into disciplinary trouble. On 16 February 1918 he absented himself without leave for a day while attached to the Base Depot. The offence was treated as relatively minor, and he was punished by the loss of seven days' pay together with a short period of detention under military supervision before returning to duty.
REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1918
After his brief period at the Base Depot following discharge from hospital, Thomas was marched into the Australian General Base Depot on 20 February 1918 from hospital. The depot acted as a holding and administrative centre for men awaiting return to their units. Following medical clearance and processing, he was eventually sent forward and on 19 March 1918 rejoined the 55th Battery in the field.
GREAT SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918
Thomas returned to his battery at a critical stage of the war. Just two days later, on 21 March, the Germans launched their great Spring Offensive, known as Operation Michael. The Australian artillery was heavily engaged in supporting the defence against the German advance, firing almost continuously to help stem the attacks. During the following months the 55th Battery moved frequently, occupying successive gun positions and providing support wherever pressure was greatest. The work was exhausting. Gun crews endured long hours, enemy shelling, shortages of sleep and the constant physical labour required to keep the guns supplied with ammunition.
THE GREAT SPRING 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
LEAVE IN UK JULY 1918
By mid-1918 the Allied armies had regained the initiative, and Thomas was granted leave to the United Kingdom on 13 July. Such leave was a welcome respite after months of intense fighting and strain. Soldiers crossing to England could enjoy a brief period away from the front, often spending time sightseeing, visiting friends or simply enjoying the comforts unavailable in France.
REJOINED UNIT JULY 1918
On 31 July 1918 Thomas returned from leave and rejoined the 55th Battery. At that time the Australian Corps was preparing for what would become a series of major offensives that ultimately helped bring the war to an end. During August and September the battery supported the advance that began at Amiens and continued through the breaking of German defensive positions along the Somme
THE BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918
On the night of 7 August 1918, Gunner J.R. Armitage lay in readiness for the attack the next day. In his diary, he wrote:
It was utterly still. Vehicles made no sound on the marshy ground ... The silence played on our nerves a bit. As we got our guns into position you could hear drivers whispering to their horses and men muttering curses under their breath, and still the silence persisted, broken only by the whine of a stray rifle bullet or a long range shell passing high overhead ... we could feel that hundreds of groups of men were doing the same thing - preparing for the heaviest barrage ever launched.
The Attack
At 4.20 am the next day:
all hell broke loose and we heard nothing more. The world was enveloped in sound and flame, and our ears just couldn't cope. The ground shook.
A mass of assembled Allied forces, including Australians, launched an offensive to push through the German front lines to victory. It was to involve the 1st French and 4th British armies, but was led by combined Australian and Canadian forces.
There was a mist, which helped the element of surprise, and through it moved the joint forces of a line of tanks and infantry. The crucial work of the heavy artillery held off fire from German guns, so that troops could get across the land.
Setting out from the positions of Villers-Bretonneux and Hamel, the Australian troops in two hours had accomplished all their objectives, and the Canadian troops that had begun the attack alongside them had advanced several kilometres. In just over 3 hours, the enemy's front line had been overrun.
In total, the Allied forces captured 29,144 prisoners, 338 guns, and liberated 116 towns and villages. Ludendorff called 8 August "the black day of the German army".
When Sapper Harold Grant heard of the advance he wrote:
Great news ... Australians caught Fritz napping.
Many German weapons were captured in the advance. However, the advance was achieved at a high cost, with 21,243 Allied casualties, one-quarter of who were killed.
WOUNDED IN ACTION- GASSED OCTOBER 1918
On 21 October 1918 Thomas became a casualty when he was gassed during active operations. By this stage of the war the Allied armies were pursuing the retreating Germans during what became known as the Advance to Victory. Although the great set-piece battles had largely passed, artillery duels and gas shelling remained common. Gas was frequently used to harass gun batteries, contaminate positions and disrupt artillery fire. The exact action in which Thomas was gassed is not recorded, but it almost certainly occurred during these final operations as the Australian Corps pressed eastwards.
ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL ETRETAT
The following day he was admitted to the 1st General Hospital at Étretat on the Normandy coast. Men suffering from gas exposure were carefully monitored, as symptoms could worsen after an apparent initial recovery. Treatment depended upon the type and severity of the gas involved but generally included removal from the contaminated area, rest, fresh air, oxygen where available, cleansing of the eyes and skin, treatment of respiratory irritation and careful nursing to prevent pneumonia and other complications. Many victims suffered persistent coughing, inflamed eyes and breathing difficulties for weeks after exposure.
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.
ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL LE HAVRE
Thomas remained in hospital as the war drew to its conclusion. On 11 November 1918 the Armistice ended hostilities, but thousands of soldiers were still receiving treatment for wounds and illness. On 17 November he was transferred to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Le Havre. Such hospitals treated a range of skin complaints and lingering effects of gas exposure, many of which affected the skin, eyes and respiratory system. His continued treatment suggests that he had not fully recovered from the effects of the gassing.
1918-1919
Thomas spent the entire winter of 1918–19 under medical care. Only on 15 February 1919 was he finally discharged from hospital and transferred to the Australian General Base Depot. With the war over, the focus had shifted from combat operations to repatriation and returning soldiers home to Australia.
PREPARING TO GO HOME MARCH 1919
On 6 March 1919 he was detached from the 55th Battery and transferred to the Australian Base Reception Camp, No. 3 Camp. This effectively marked the end of his connection with the battery in which he had served for most of the war. The camp processed men awaiting embarkation, undertaking medical examinations, documentation and the many administrative requirements involved in demobilisation.
After several months of waiting his turn for a passage home, Thomas marched out for England on 6 June 1919. Crossing the Channel, he disembarked at Southampton the following day and was marched into No. 2 Group, one of the large Australian depots responsible for accommodating troops awaiting transport to Australia.
GOING HOME AUGUST 1919
Finally, on 1 August 1919, Thomas embarked aboard the transport Argyllshire for the long voyage home. For many returning soldiers this journey was a mixture of relief, anticipation and reflection after years spent overseas.
HOSPITALISED SCABIES
During the voyage, however, Thomas was admitted to the ship's hospital on 31 August suffering from scabies, a contagious skin condition caused by mites. Although unpleasant and irritating, it was generally not considered serious and was commonly treated through medicated washes, ointments and isolation measures designed to prevent its spread among passengers.
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
The Argyllshire reached Melbourne on 22 September 1919, bringing Thomas back to Australia after more than three years overseas. Following final medical examinations, leave and discharge procedures, his military service officially came to an end on 16 November 1919 when he was discharged owing to the termination of his enlistment.
Thomas had travelled a remarkable path during the war. Beginning his service with the Light Horse in Egypt, he transferred to the artillery and served through some of the most demanding years of the Western Front campaign. He endured illness, injury, disciplinary troubles, gas poisoning and lengthy hospitalisation, yet remained in service until the war was won and finally returned home to resume civilian life after more than four years in uniform.
For his service Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
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