Lance Corporal Edward Prospre Bryen
Service #: 3195
Summary
BACKGROUND
Edward Prospre Bryen, known as Pros, was born in 1895 in Berry, son of Alexander & Mary Veale (Glanville) Bryen (known as Marie). According to NSWBDM he was one of 6 children with 4 sisters and one brother. Both his parents are buried in Murwillumbah cemetery. His cousin, Spencer, also enlisted.
Pros travelled to Brisbane on the 13th November 1916 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, Marie, of Murwillumbah
Item 11 asks-Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in His Majesty’s Army, the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Territorial Forces, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and is not now serving, state cause of discharge. Pros advised he had spent 4 years in the Citizen Forces Light Horse and had returned his equipment
CITIZENS FORCES
During WWI, Australia’s home militia was known as the Citizen Forces. Under the Universal Service Scheme, military training was compulsory for young men. While strictly confined to homeland defence, the militia served as the backbone of early deployments and a vital training ground for the oversea
Enacted in 1911, it mandated military training for males aged 12 to 26. This included Junior Cadets (12–14), Senior Cadets (14–18), and the Home Defence Militia (18–26). [1]
No Overseas Service: By law, members of the Citizen Forces could not be deployed to fight overseas. To fight in Europe or the Middle East, militiamen had to volunteer to join the separate Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Up to 50,000 militiamen enlisted in the AIF during the war.
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, Edward Prospre Bryen,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
Pros was 21 years 4 months old when he enlisted. He stood 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.78m) and weighed 152 lbs(68kgs). He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His eyesight was good and he required dental treatment. This was completed when he was in Enoggera Training Camp. Pros 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. Pros 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 as a private in the 25th reinforcements, 18th Light Horse Battalion with service number 3195
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 SYDNEY TO EGYPT 1917
On the 1st February his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and the unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Karmala on 3 February 1917. Alongside his comrades, Pros 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 & MOASCAR TRAINING CAMP MARCH 1917
On the 11th March 1917 the troops disembarked at Suez. They were marched into the Moascar Training camp. During World War I, this camp provided the final preparation for entrainment to Alexandria and the Western Front. The isolation camps screened soldiers arriving in Egypt as reinforcements for two weeks, checking for any illnesses such as measles which can break out when people are crowded together for long periods. Ismailia is a city in north-eastern Egypt, situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal.
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.
Then further 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 any in Australia. 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.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH MAY 1917
While in the camp Edward was taken on strength with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment on the 1st May 1917. 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
Having officially joined the 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Moascar, Pros became part of a veteran regiment that had already fought at Gallipoli, Romani, Magdhaba, Rafa and the costly Second Battle of Gaza only days before his arrival. The regiment had been withdrawn from the front to rest, reorganise and absorb reinforcements such as Pros after suffering casualties during the failed assault on Gaza.
MAY TO SEPTEMBER 1917
For the next four months Pros settled into the demanding routine of life in the Egyptian desert. Every day revolved around his horse. Before dawn he would feed, water and groom his mount before beginning hours of riding practice, mounted manoeuvres, weapons training and patrol exercises. Horse care was regarded as every bit as important as military skill, and a Light Horseman quickly learned that his own survival depended upon the health of his animal.
The regiment spent long days perfecting mounted movement across open desert, practising rapid dismounts before engaging the enemy on foot, signalling with flags and lamps, scouting, map reading and fieldcraft. Frequent route marches hardened both men and horses against the exhausting heat, dust and scarcity of water. Rifle and bayonet practice remained constant, while Lewis gun teams refined their fire and movement drills.
The quieter period also allowed equipment to be repaired, saddlery replaced and horses conditioned after months of campaigning. Although temporarily away from the fighting, everyone understood that another major offensive against the Turkish forces was being planned, and the regiment trained with increasing intensity in preparation for returning to Palestine.
4 SEPTEMBER 1917 – IMPERIAL SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION, MARAKEB, ZEITOUN
Selection for the Imperial School of Instruction was a compliment. Pros had demonstrated the reliability and ability expected of a capable trooper, and the Army invested in further developing his military skills.
At the school near Zeitoun he would have received intensive instruction from experienced British and Australian instructors. Subjects commonly taught included advanced musketry, leadership of small mounted parties, reconnaissance, scouting, map reading, military sketching, judging distances, signalling, field engineering, trench construction, camouflage and the latest tactical lessons learned from two years of fighting in Sinai and Palestine.
Particular emphasis was placed upon patrol leadership. Officers and selected non-commissioned officers needed men capable of independently leading mounted patrols many kilometres ahead of the main force, locating enemy positions, reporting accurately and making sound decisions without direct supervision.
The course also strengthened discipline and confidence, qualities which would later make Pros a suitable candidate for promotion during the closing months of the war.
16 September 1917 – Rejoined Unit at Fulchari
After completing his course, Pros rejoined the regiment near Fulchari, where preparations for General Allenby's autumn offensive were entering their final stages.
The weeks that followed were filled with constant activity despite the absence of major fighting. Mounted patrols reconnoitred Turkish positions, engineers improved tracks across the desert, supply dumps were established, horses were carefully conditioned and every man rehearsed the coming advance. Great attention was paid to secrecy, as Allied commanders hoped to convince the Turks that another direct attack against Gaza was imminent while secretly preparing a wide turning movement through Beersheba.
On 31 October 1917 the offensive finally began with the Battle of Beersheba.
BATTLE OF BEERSHEBA OCTOBER 1917
British attack on Beersheba
The British 20 Corps launched an attack on Beersheba at dawn on 31 October 1917.By late afternoon the corps had made little headway toward the town and its vital wells. Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel, commanding the Desert Mounted Corps, ordered the 4th Light Horse Brigade forward to attempt to secure the position.
Australian Light Horse charge
Brigadier General William Grant responded by ordering light horsemen of the 4th and 12th Regiments to charge at the unwired Turkish trenches. The light horsemen did not carry swords or lances, so they held their bayonets in their hands and used them as "swords".
The momentum of the surprise attack carried them through the Turkish defences.
Fall of Beersheba
The light horsemen took less than an hour to overrun the Turkish trenches and enter Beersheba.
Thirty-eight Turkish and German officers and about 700 other ranks were taken prisoner, and a supply of water was secured.
The Australians suffered 67 casualties. Two officers and 29 other ranks were killed, and 8 officers and 28 other ranks wounded.
The fall of Beersheba opened the way to outflank the Gaza—Beersheba Line. On 6 November, after severe fighting, Turkish forces began to withdraw from Gaza further into Palestine.
While the famous charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade captured public attention, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment fought hard in support of the wider operation before taking part in the relentless advance northwards.
Over the following weeks Pros would have experienced almost continuous movement as the regiment participated in operations around Tel el Khuweilfe, pursued the retreating Turkish army through southern Palestine and helped open the road towards Jerusalem. These rapid advances demanded exhausting rides, frequent dismounted fighting, long nights in the saddle and constant care of weary horses, often under difficult weather and supply conditions.
THE BATTLE OF MEGIDDO 19TH TO 25TH SEPTEMBER 1918
The Battle of Megiddo was fought between 19 and 25 September 1918, on the Plain of Sharon, in front of Tulkarm, Tabsor and Arara in the Judean Hills as well as on the Esdralon Plain at Nazareth, Afulah, Beisan, Jenin and Samakh. Its name, which has been described as "perhaps misleading" since very limited fighting took place near Tel Megiddo, was chosen by British commander Edmund Allenby for its biblical and symbolic resonance.
The battle was the final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. The contending forces were the Allied Egyptian Expeditionary Force, of three corps including one of mounted troops, and the Ottoman Yildirim Army Group which numbered three armies, each the strength of barely an Allied corps. The series of battles took place in what was then the central and northern parts of Ottoman Palestine and parts of present-day Israel, Syria and Jordan. After forces of the Arab Revolt attacked the Ottoman lines of communication, distracting the Ottomans, British and Indian infantry divisions attacked and broke through the Ottoman defensive lines in the sector adjacent to the coast in the set-piece Battle of Sharon. The Desert Mounted Corps rode through the breach and almost encircled the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth armies still fighting in the Judean Hills. The subsidiary Battle of Nablus was fought virtually simultaneously in the Judean Hills in front of Nablus and at crossings of the Jordan River. The Ottoman Fourth Army was subsequently attacked in the Hills of Moab at Es Salt and Amman.
These battles resulted in many tens of thousands of prisoners and many miles of territory being captured by the Allies. Following the battles, Daraa was captured on 27 September, Damascus on 1 October and operations at Haritan, north of Aleppo, were still in progress when the Armistice of Mudros was signed ending hostilities between the Allies and Ottomans.
10 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER 1918 – HOSPITALISATION
Only weeks after the great victory at Megiddo and the rapid advance through Palestine and Transjordan, Pros became ill and entered the medical system.
His records simply list a succession of medical units:
· Field Ambulance (A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Field ambulances were crucial mobile medical units in World War I, responsible for the immediate care and evacuation of wounded soldiers from the front lines. When it was at full strength a Field Ambulance was composed of 10 officers and 224 men. The theoretical capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many would need to deal with very much greater numbers.)
· Welsh Field Ambulance
· Army doctors and surgeons
· Nurses (including Australian Army Nursing Service nurses)
· Orderlies and stretcher bearers
Soldiers were often treated here and the sent to hospitals for long term care)
· 31st General Hospital, Abbassia
· Boulac Convalescent Depot
Without a diagnosis it is impossible to know the exact illness, but by October 1918 disease was claiming almost as many men as enemy action. Malaria, influenza, dysentery, enteric infections and exhaustion were all widespread following months of rapid campaigning.
The medical chain suggests his illness required careful observation rather than emergency surgery. The Field Ambulance would have examined him close to the front before transferring him to the Welsh Field Ambulance for further treatment. When his condition failed to improve sufficiently, he was evacuated to the well-equipped 66th Casualty Clearing Station, where doctors could undertake more detailed examinations. From there he travelled by hospital train to the large 31st General Hospital at Abbassia near Cairo, where specialist treatment, better nutrition and prolonged nursing care were available.
Once his condition stabilised, Pros spent almost two weeks recovering at the convalescent depot at Boulac. Here recovering soldiers gradually rebuilt their strength through light duties, improved diet and supervised exercise before being declared fit for service again. Only after doctors were satisfied that he had fully recovered was he returned to Moascar Camp and finally back to his regiment on 22 November.
22 NOVEMBER – 27 DECEMBER 1918 WAR ENDED
By the time Pros returned, the war against the Ottoman Empire had effectively ended with the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918. The excitement of campaigning had given way to the equally important work of occupation.
The 2nd Light Horse Regiment now found itself policing former Turkish territory, supervising the surrender of isolated enemy detachments, guarding stores, escorting prisoners, protecting railways and maintaining law and order while military authorities established control across Palestine.
Large numbers of horses required continual care after the long campaign, while saddlery, weapons and transport all needed repair. Administrative duties increased enormously as casualty lists were finalised, decorations processed and preparations made for the eventual return home. Soldiers attended inspections, parades, educational lectures and sporting competitions designed to occupy men during the long wait for demobilisation. Everyone knew the fighting was over, but nobody knew exactly when they would be sailing for Australia.
27 DECEMBER 1918 – 4 JANUARY 1919 – HOSPITAL
Pros again entered hospital, this time passing through the 34th Casualty Clearing Station before quickly returning to duty.
The brief admission suggests a relatively minor illness or recurrence of his earlier complaint. Winter in Palestine brought cold nights and wet weather, and respiratory illnesses, influenza and gastric complaints remained common among troops living under canvas. After several days of treatment and observation he was declared fit and rejoined his regiment.
15 JANUARY 1919 – APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL
Although promotion came late in the war, it was far from unusual.
Many experienced non-commissioned officers had already been discharged, transferred or were awaiting repatriation. The regiment still needed dependable leaders to supervise fatigue parties, stable lines, mounted patrols, guards and daily administration while the occupation continued.
Pros had now accumulated considerable experience. He had completed specialist instruction at the Imperial School of Instruction, served through the major Palestine campaigns and demonstrated reliability over nearly two years with the regiment. His appointment as Acting Lance Corporal recognised those qualities and entrusted him with responsibility for a small group of troopers. Acting rank also allowed the regiment to maintain its leadership structure while men steadily departed for Australia.
18 MARCH 1919 – RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA ABOARD ULMARRA
When Pros finally boarded the transport Ulmarra, he left behind nearly three years of service in Egypt and Palestine. Like many Light Horsemen, he had endured months of exhausting desert training, shared in the victorious advance that destroyed the Turkish armies, survived illness that removed him from the closing weeks of the campaign and remained to help maintain peace after the fighting had ceased.
His journey home marked the end of a remarkable chapter. He returned not only as a seasoned mounted soldier but also as an Acting Lance Corporal whose experience, training and steady service had earned the confidence of his commanders. After years spent caring for his horse, crossing deserts, patrolling enemy country and serving in one of Australia's most famous mounted regiments, Pros was finally heading home to begin the next stage of his life.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection
for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)- Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged
For his service Pros was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour. He was discharged on 25th May 1919
WORLD WAR II
Pros enlisted on the 20th June 1942 with the 1 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps part time duty service number N441216 and was discharged 21st June 1944. He was still a single farmer, living in Boat Harbour and his next of kin was his mother, Marie
DEATH
Pros died in 1985 in the Ballina district.
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
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Buried Location
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