Gunner Colin Lindsay Campbell
Service #: 488
Summary
BACKGROUND
Colin Lindsay Campbell was born in Kempsey, on the 15th May 1891, son of Robert & Mary Campbell. He was one of nine children with 7 sisters & 2 brothers. Colin is the cousin of Bruce, Sidney & Henry Campbell who all enlisted together
Colin’s father, Robert, came to the Tweed from Macleay district, in 1898, and took up land at Tygalgah. After a short period, he was appointed secretary of Tweed River Agricultural Society, which position he held for many years. The society was then in its infancy, and it was largely through Robert’s work and guidance that it was placed on a successful foundation.
Later Robert was appointed town clerk of Murwillumbah and he occupied that office when the disastrous fire occurred in the town in 1907. He also held the position of municipal clerk of works, being the first to occupy that office, and carried out the duties entailed in conjunction with those of town clerk. When the Tweed River Co-operative Butter Company was formed and the factory taken over from Prescott's Ltd., Robert received the appointment of secretary, and for some years continued to carry out the duties of town clerk in addition. He was secretary of the butter company until the amalgamation with Norco Ltd., when he retired. Despite the tremendous demand on his time and energies, Robert, also filled the office of Assistant Returning Officer in charge of the Murwillumbah subdivision for many years.
Colin travelled to Holsworthy on the 6th October 1914 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 father, Robert, 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
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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, Colin Lindsay Campbell, 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
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MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Colin was 23 years 6 months old when he enlisted. He stood at 5ft 9inches tall and weighed 142lbs (4kgs). He had a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His eyesight was good. Colin was Church of England
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. Colin was in Holsworthy training camp when this was completed on the 1sr December 1914. 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 a private with C squadron 7th Light Horse Regiment with service number 488
HOLSWORTHY TRAINING CAMP
In 1914, training at Holsworthy Camp (then heavily integrated with the broader Liverpool Military Area) was highly rudimentary, intensely muddy, and deeply defined by the logistics of managing thousands of raw horses alongside eager but untrained men. Because Australia mobilized so quickly after the outbreak of the war, the camp infrastructure was barely established, leading to notoriously harsh living conditions.
LIVING CONDITIONS: THE MUDDY CANVAS TOWN
Recruits like Trooper Campbell lived in crowded, circular bell tents pitched directly on open ground. Up to eight men slept in a single tent with their feet pointing toward the central pole like spokes on a wheel.
THE "LIVERPOOL MUD"
Heavy rains turned the unsealed training grounds into a vast swamp of thick mud, creating an environment that soldiers frequently complained about in letters home
LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
In late 1914, the site lacked permanent buildings, proper drainage, and adequate sanitation. The Australian War Memorial notes that conditions were so poor they were later compared unfavourably to the adjacent German internment camp, prompting a Royal Commission investigation in 1915.
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
HORSEMANSHIP AND STABLE DUTY
The Remounts: While many rural volunteers were expert bush riders, others were city recruits who had to be taught basic horsemanship. 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
WALERS
Thousands of "Waler" horses arrived untrained, requiring breaking in and conditioning at the Holsworthy remount depots.
Endless Labor: A light horseman's day was dominated by stable duty rather than combat training. Troopers spent hours grooming horses, mucking out makeshift picket lines, hauling water, and cleaning leather tack.
Branding: Every horse selected for service was branded with a government hide brand and a hoof brand to mark them for the AIF before deployment.
MILITARY DRILL & WEAPONS TRAINING
Mounted Infantry Tactics: The Light Horse were trained strictly as mounted infantry, not cavalry. This meant their horses were used for rapid mobility, but they were trained to dismount to fight on foot.
WEAPONS AND GEAR:
In late 1914, troopers drilled constantly with the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) .303 rifle and bayonets. They practiced riding in formation while managing a heavy load of gear, as everything a trooper needed to survive had to be carried by him or his horse.
Inexperienced Leadership: Because the AIF was entirely new, many of the NCOs and officers instructing the men were either citizen militia volunteers or older veterans from the Boer War trying to rapidly enforce basic military command structures.
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
On the 19th December 1914 his unit embarked on the HMAT A31 Ajana. Alongside his comrades, Colin 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 horse regiment, 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.
EGYPT JANUARY 1915
After the long voyage, the Australian Light Horsemen began their military preparation in Egypt, where the men undertook intensive training in horsemanship, riding, musketry, drill and field manoeuvres. For a mounted regiment, much of their time was also devoted to becoming accustomed to working with their horses under military conditions and developing the skills required for campaigning.
During the early months of 1915, the situation in Egypt changed rapidly as the campaign at Gallipoli developed. The Light Horse regiments, originally intended to serve as mounted troops, were called upon to provide reinforcements for the fighting on Gallipoli. In May, the 7th Light Horse was sent to the Dardanelles, where the men fought as infantry rather than with their horses. The regiment suffered heavily during the fighting that followed, and further men were required to replace casualties and strengthen its ranks.
TAKEN IN STRENGTH 7TH LIGHT HORSE JULY 1915
Colin's own service record is less straightforward than that of the main body of the regiment. Although he had sailed from Australia with the 7th Light Horse, there is no indication in the surviving entries that he accompanied the regiment when it first went to Gallipoli in May. Instead, his record next places him at Alexandria, where on 9 July 1915 he was taken on strength of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. 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
This suggests that, during the intervening months, Colin had been separated from the regiment while still in the Egyptian theatre, although the available entries do not establish exactly where he was or what duties he was undertaking during that period.
DARDENELLES JULY 1915
By July, the 7th Light Horse was already established on Gallipoli and had experienced several weeks of arduous campaigning. Colin was now formally attached to the regiment at Alexandria and was immediately included in the movement towards the Dardanelles. On 9 July he embarked from Alexandria for the Dardanelles, beginning the next stage of his service with the 7th Light Horse.
By this stage the regiment had already been on Gallipoli for several weeks, having landed without their horses in May to serve as infantry. Colin therefore arrived at a very different Gallipoli from the one the men had first encountered. The 7th Light Horse was being used as a dismounted fighting force, occupying trenches, carrying out patrols and providing men for the defence of the Anzac positions. Life on the peninsula was extremely demanding. The men were exposed constantly to Turkish rifle and machine-gun fire, artillery bombardment, heat, dust, poor sanitation and a shortage of fresh water, while living in trenches and dugouts that offered little protection from the elements.
During July the 7th Light Horse continued to hold positions around the Anzac perimeter, with its squadrons being used in different parts of the line. The regiment was frequently involved in trench duties, working parties and patrols, and the men had to remain constantly alert for Turkish attacks and bombing raids. Although there were periods when the fighting was quieter, there was little opportunity for real rest. The men were also becoming increasingly affected by exhaustion and illness, which was a growing problem throughout the Anzac force.
The situation intensified in August when the Allies launched their major offensive in an attempt to break out of the restricted Anzac position and capture the high ground dominating the peninsula. The 7th Light Horse was involved in the fighting during this period, with men being moved between positions and used to reinforce threatened areas. The battles around Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and the approaches to Hill 60 placed enormous demands on the troops, and the 7th Light Horse continued its role in the trenches and defensive positions rather than making a mounted charge.
By the end of August and into early September, the character of the campaign had changed. The great August offensive had failed to achieve its main objectives and the fighting settled into a grim routine of trench warfare. The 7th Light Horse continued to rotate through positions around the Anzac area, including the Lone Pine sector and other exposed trenches. The men spent their days and nights strengthening trenches, repairing defensive works, carrying ammunition and supplies, manning firing positions and enduring intermittent Turkish shelling and rifle fire. The health of the troops was deteriorating badly after months on the peninsula. Men were becoming thin and exhausted, and diseases associated with overcrowding, poor sanitation, contaminated food and water were increasingly common. Contemporary accounts of the 7th Light Horse describe the regiment as continuing to perform its duties despite the severe physical strain placed upon the men.
HOSPITALISED SEPTEMBER 1915 MEDICAL CHAIN
For Colin, this demanding period ended on 16 September 1915 when his service record recorded him as sick and being sent to hospital on the Gallipoli Peninsula. After more than two months in the difficult conditions of the Dardanelles, his health had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer remain with his unit. He was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with debility, beginning a period of medical treatment that would ultimately take him away from Gallipoli
The 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station provided the first stage of treatment for men who had become too sick to remain with their units. In Colin's case, the diagnosis of debility reflected the physical exhaustion and deterioration that could follow prolonged exposure to the harsh conditions of the peninsula. After initial treatment, Colin was evacuated from Gallipoli and on 21 September disembarked from the hospital ship HMAS Somali at Malta. There, on 27 September, he was admitted to St Patrick's Hospital suffering from enteritis, an inflammation of the intestines which commonly caused abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever and considerable weakness. Treatment at the time was largely supportive, with rest, fluids and a carefully controlled diet, while medical staff monitored the patient for dehydration and complications. For a soldier already weakened by months of campaigning, an intestinal illness could be particularly serious.
Colin remained in Malta while he recovered. On 23 October he embarked for England, joining the stream of sick and wounded Australian soldiers who were being transferred from the Mediterranean to British hospitals. After the exhausting months on Gallipoli, the move to England offered him access to more extensive hospital care and a period in which his health could be properly assessed and restored. On 30 October he was admitted to the 2nd London General Hospital at St Mark's Lodge, Chelsea, where he remained on the wounded and sick list.
RETURN TO EGYPT MARCH 1916
Colin's illness therefore took him away from the 7th Light Horse for many months. While his regiment remained on Gallipoli until the evacuation of the peninsula in December 1915, Colin was recovering first in Malta and then in England. He did not return to Egypt until 1 March 1916, when he was taken on strength of the 2nd Reserve Regiment at Maadi. His return marked the beginning of the next stage of Colin's service, although it would be some time before he was reunited with his original regiment.
The 7th Light Horse had itself undergone enormous changes during Colin's absence. The regiment had fought through the Gallipoli campaign as dismounted troops, suffered casualties and illness, and was evacuated from the peninsula in December. When the survivors returned to Egypt, they were reunited with horses and began reorganising and preparing for the next phase of the war. Colin, meanwhile, had to rebuild his health before he could return to active service.
Colin returned to Egypt from England on 1 March 1916 after his long period of illness and hospital treatment.
POSTED TO 10TH LIGHT HORSE FEBRUARY 1916
Just a few days earlier, on 27 February, Colin had been taken on strength of the 7th Light Horse Regiment, but his record shows that he was posted to the 10th Light Horse Regiment, 13th Battery. This meant that, although his parent regiment remained the 7th Light Horse, he was temporarily serving with another Light Horse formation. Such postings could occur as the AIF reorganised its men and redistributed experienced soldiers where they were required, particularly as units were being strengthened and prepared for the next phase of the war.
During March and the following weeks Colin was therefore back in the military environment of Egypt, undergoing the preparation necessary before returning to active service. The Light Horse regiments were now being reorganised following the Gallipoli campaign, with their horses again forming an important part of their training. The men undertook riding, musketry, drill and field exercises, while also becoming accustomed to the conditions of the Egyptian theatre. Colin had already endured Gallipoli and a lengthy period of illness, so this return to active military training represented an important step in rebuilding his fitness and readiness for further service.
On 27 March 1916 Colin was recorded as taken on strength of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. However, his subsequent movements show that he was not destined to remain with the regiment in Egypt. The Australian Light Horse was at this time being reorganised for service in the Middle East, while the Australian Imperial Force was also expanding its commitment to the Western Front. Colin was selected to proceed towards the British Expeditionary Force in France.
EGYPT TO FRANCE 1916
On 5 June 1916 he proceeded from Alexandria to join the BEF. Colin marched to Alexandria embarkation port, where thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Before departure, every man underwent a final medical inspection, was issued with ammunition, rations and received equipment and uniforms: this included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
The crossing from Alexandria to Marseilles generally took five to seven days. The crossing to France was usually made in the early hours of darkness aboard a crowded troopship. The journey was considered dangerous, as German submarines and mines posed a constant threat.
Troops travelled in large transport ships or converted passenger liners. Protection usually included:
· Royal Navy destroyers, particularly in waters where submarines were known to operate.
· Patrol vessels and trawlers that swept routes and watched for submarines.
· Sailing in convoys whenever practical, especially from 1917 onwards when the convoy system became widespread.
· Travelling at zig-zag courses to make it more difficult for submarines to calculate a torpedo attack.
· Strict blackout conditions at night, with no lights visible from the ship.
The soldiers themselves were well aware of the submarine danger. Throughout the voyage they regularly took part in lifeboat and emergency boat drills. Every man was allocated a lifeboat station and instructed what to do if the alarm sounded. Lifebelts were often kept close at hand, and in dangerous waters the men sometimes slept fully dressed so they could reach the boat deck quickly if the ship was torpedoed.
Although most crossings were uneventful, the danger was very real. Several troopships carrying Australian soldiers were attacked during the war. One of the best-known examples was the Southland, torpedoed in the Aegean Sea on 2 September 1915 while carrying Australians from Gallipoli to Lemnos. Although she remained afloat, many men became casualties during the evacuation. Later in the war, ships crossing the Mediterranean continued to face the constant threat of U-boat attack.
FRANCE JUNE 1916
After crossing the Mediterranean and travelling through the French transport system, Colin disembarked at Marseilles on 13 June 1916. On arrival, the men would have stepped onto French soil for the first time. Rather than proceeding directly to the front, they were sent to the Australian Base Depot, where reinforcements were organised, equipped and held until required by their units. Here the men exchanged some of their British-issued equipment for stores more suited to service on the Western Front, completed further medical inspections and undertook additional training designed to familiarise reinforcements with the latest trench warfare tactics.
From the Base Depot, the recruits would have travelled by troop train through the French countryside towards the rear areas behind the front line. The trains were often slow, crowded and uncomfortable, but they provided many soldiers with their first glimpse of war-torn France.
Many were struck by the contrast between the peaceful farms and villages they passed and the devastation that awaited them closer to the front. On arrival they entered one of the large reinforcement camps, where they completed further training, received their final equipment and waited to be posted to their battalions in the field. For most, it was only a matter of days before they joined experienced comrades and began life on the Western Front.
Many had never seen vineyards, centuries-old churches, stone farmhouses or snow. Some men wrote home saying that travelling through southern and central France was the most beautiful train journey they had ever experienced. Then, as the train neared the front, the scenery changed dramatically. Green fields gave way to shattered woods, abandoned villages and endless shell holes, providing a sobering glimpse of what lay ahead.
Villages showed signs of shell damage, roads were busy with military traffic, and columns of troops, horses and artillery moved constantly towards the front.
Before joining their battalion, the recruits would have spent several days at the Australian Reinforcement Camp, where experienced officers and non-commissioned officers instructed newly arrived soldiers in current battlefield conditions. They practised trench routines, the use of gas masks, grenade throwing, wiring, patrolling and the latest infantry tactics. The distant rumble of artillery could often be heard, reminding every reinforcement that the front line was now only a short distance away.
Finally, they were marched forward to their battalion, usually under the cover of darkness. Meeting men who had already endured months or even years of fighting, they quickly learned that his training had prepared them for the realities of the Western Front. The smell of mud, cordite and damp sandbags, the constant thunder of artillery and the ever-present danger from enemy shellfire and snipers marked the beginning of their active service in France.
His arrival in France brought him into an entirely different theatre of war. The Western Front was a vast system of trenches, artillery positions, supply roads, camps and medical stations stretching across northern France and Belgium. Colin would have moved through the rear areas before being directed towards the fighting front, where Australian troops were heavily committed during the great Somme offensive of 1916.
JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST- BATTLES
The months of June, July and August were among the most intense of the entire war for the Australian troops. The British offensive on the Somme began on 1 July, and Australian divisions were soon heavily involved. The fighting at Fromelles, Pozières and Mouquet Farm resulted in enormous casualties. Even men who were not immediately involved in an attack were exposed to the constant danger of artillery bombardment, rifle and machine-gun fire, trench raids and the hazards of life in crowded and often unsanitary trenches.
THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES 19TH JULY 1916
The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was a bloody initiation for Australian soldiers to warfare on the Western Front. Soldiers of the newly arrived 5th Australian Division, together with the British 61st Division, were ordered to attack strongly fortified German front line positions near the Aubers Ridge in French Flanders. The attack was intended as a feint to hold German reserves from moving south to the Somme where a large Allied offensive had begun on 1 July. The feint was a disastrous failure. Australian and British soldiers assaulted over open ground in broad daylight and under direct observation and heavy fire from the German lines. Over 5,500 Australians became casualties. Almost 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. This is believed to be the greatest loss by a single division in 24 hours during the entire First World War. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australia’s history.
BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY AND AUGUST 1916
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.
SUMMER INTO WINTER 1916
As the summer progressed, Colin would have experienced the relentless routine of the Western Front — periods in the front line followed by movement into support or reserve positions, working parties, carrying supplies and ammunition, repairing trenches and attempting to obtain rest whenever the operational situation allowed. The fighting around the Somme continued into the autumn, while worsening weather brought rain, mud and deteriorating trenches. By November and December, the men were operating in increasingly cold and miserable conditions.
WOUNDED IN ACTION DECEMBER 1916 MEDICAL CHAIN
On 21 December 1916 Colin was wounded by gunshot, suffering wounds to his left thigh and left forearm. He was removed from the fighting line and passed through the usual evacuation chain, first being treated through the Field Ambulance and then transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station. The Field Ambulance provided immediate medical attention and transported wounded men away from the front, while the Casualty Clearing Station provided more substantial treatment and prepared seriously wounded men for evacuation farther to the rear.
On 22 December Colin was transferred to Ambulance Train No. 3, which carried wounded soldiers from the casualty clearing stations towards the larger medical centres. On 23 December he was admitted to be Amiens an important centre for the treatment and evacuation of wounded troops.
On 31 December he was embarked at Le Havre aboard the hospital ship HMAT Warialda, bound for England. His journey from Gallipoli to Malta, England and then France had already taken him through several very different stages of the war, and now his gunshot wounds to the thigh and forearm would begin another period of hospital treatment and recovery in England.
HOSPITAL ENGLAND
After being evacuated from France at the end of December 1916, Colin arrived in England and on 1 January 1917 was admitted to the Alexandra Hospital at Cosham. His gunshot wounds to the left thigh and left forearm required continued treatment and careful nursing. A wound to the thigh could be particularly troublesome because of the amount of muscle and tissue involved, and the medical staff would have concentrated on cleaning and dressing the wounds, controlling infection, managing pain and allowing the damaged tissues to heal. The forearm wound would similarly have required regular dressings and observation to ensure that infection did not develop and that movement and function could eventually be restored. After the immediate danger had passed, recovery was often a slow process, with patients gradually encouraged to regain strength and mobility rather than being returned immediately to military duties.
CONVALESCENCE FEBRUARY 1917
Colin remained in England
while his wounds continued to heal. On 16 February 1917 he was sent to
Weymouth, Dorset, where Australian soldiers who were recovering from wounds or
illness were accommodated within the command-depot system. Weymouth was an important
centre for Australian convalescent soldiers. The men there were no longer
hospital patients requiring constant acute treatment, but they were not yet
considered fit for normal military service. They were monitored, given time to
regain their strength and, where appropriate, undertook light duties and
physical exercises designed to restore their fitness. Medical boards also
assessed men to determine whether they were likely to return to active service,
require further treatment or be considered medically unfit for further general
service. Monte Video Camp was one of the facilities associated with this
convalescent and medical system at Weymouth.
SKIN GRAFT MARCH 1917
For Colin, however, recovery was proving to be a lengthy process. The gunshot wounds sustained in December had caused significant damage, and the fact that he remained within the medical and convalescent system for many months indicates that his injuries were not considered sufficiently healed for him to return to active service. On 27 March 1917 his record places him at Monte Video Camp Hospital, Weymouth. This was a hospital associated with the Australian command-depot system at Weymouth
The reference to a skin graft is particularly significant. By this stage the original gunshot wounds may have healed sufficiently for the remaining damaged or missing skin to become the main problem. Skin grafting involved taking a thin layer of healthy skin from another part of the patient's body and placing it over an area where the skin had been lost or could not heal properly. The graft had to be carefully positioned and protected while new blood supply developed between the graft and the underlying tissue. During this period Colin would have needed further dressings, rest and restricted activity, followed by gradual rehabilitation as the graft strengthened. The treatment could be a slow process, particularly where a wound had originally been deep or contaminated.
The months that followed were therefore not simply a matter of Colin waiting around at camp. He was recovering from a serious battlefield wound and undergoing continued medical supervision and rehabilitation. The Australian command depots at Weymouth dealt with men who were medically unfit for immediate return to the front, including men awaiting further treatment, reassessment or eventual repatriation. Records from the period show that Monte Video Camp Hospital treated Australian soldiers requiring continuing medical attention, while the command depot dealt with men awaiting their next posting or return to Australia
RETURNING HOME SEPTEMBER 1917
By the middle of 1917 it had become clear that Colin would not be returning to the Western Front. His wounds had kept him away from active service for many months, and the need for further treatment, including the skin graft, indicated that he had suffered injuries that prevented a return to the strenuous conditions of frontline service. He remained within the British and Australian medical system while arrangements were made for his return home.
On 29 September 1917, after more than a year away from Australia and following his service in Egypt, Gallipoli and France, Colin finally embarked for Australia aboard the HMAT Demosthenes. The Demosthenes was one of the transports used to bring Australian invalided and returning personnel home from Britain. Records confirm that the ship made a voyage from England to Australia during this period, carrying Australian personnel returning from the war
DISCHARGE NOVEMBER 1917
Colin's return marked the end of his active overseas service. After all he had endured — the Gallipoli campaign, serious illness, recovery in Malta and England, service with the Light Horse and then the Western Front, followed by gunshot wounds to his left thigh and forearm and months of treatment — he was finally home. On 1 November 1917 Colin was formally discharged from the Australian Imperial Force. His discharge was the administrative conclusion to a remarkable and difficult period of military service that had begun when he embarked from Australia with the 7th Light Horse in December 1914.
For his service Colin was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
PENSION
Colin was granted a pension of 3 pound a fortnight from 1st November 1917
AFTER THE WAR
Colin married Roberta Elizabeth Campbell in Murwillumbah in 1921. They had a daughter, Joan, in 1922
DEATH AND BURIAL
Colin died on the 8th November 1946 in Kempsey. He is buried at Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Holland Park, Plot, Columbarium 5, Section 1
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
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Holland Park, Plot, Columbarium 5, Section 1
