BACKGROUND

Henry John Campbell was born in Rolland Plains, Port Macquarie in 1886, son of William & Rebecca Mary (Wilkins) Campbell. According to NSWBDM he was one of 10 children with 6 brothers & 3 sisters.  Two of his older brothers, Sidney & Bruce, enlisted and embarked on the same ship.

Henry’s father, William, was a pioneer of the Tweed. With his passing, William Campbell, late of "Rocklands," Tweed Heads, in 1930 came the breaking of another link with the pioneering past. The deceased gentleman, who was 83 years of age, was born in the Hunter River district, but portion, of his life was also, spent in the Macleay River district. He came to the Tweed with his family in 1900 and engaged in cane growing and dairying pursuits. Since 1916 he has lived in quiet retirement at Tweed Heads, his "Rocklands" estate on Cobaki Creek being worked by his sons. Henry’s uncle, Robert was also a pioneer of the Tweed. He 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 Mr. Campbell's work and guidance that it was placed on a successful foundation. Later Mr. Campbell 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., Mr. Campbell 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, Mr. Campbell, also filled the office of Assistant Returning Officer in charge of the Murwillumbah subdivision for many years.

ATTESTATION

Henry, together with his brothers Bruce & Sidney, travelled to Brisbane on the 3^rd November 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, Rebecca, of Rocklands, Tweed Heads. 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, Henry John 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

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

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MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Henry was 29 years 7 months old when he enlisted. He stood 5ft 8 inches (1.72M) and weighed 9st 4lbs (59kgs). He had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. Henry was Presbyterian

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training. 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 the 9^th Infantry battalion with service number 4748. His brothers, Bruce & Sidney, was also appointed to the same battalion

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, the brothers 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 MARCH 1916

On the 28^TH March 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT A73 Commonwealth. Alongside his comrades, Henry, alongside his brothers Sidney & Bruce, marched aboard, their boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

DAILY ROUTINE

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

MEALS

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

HEALTH & SANITATION

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

The ship arrived in late April. The men boarded the troop train taking them to one of the Egyptian training camps. When the train finally rattled into the siding near the camp, the soldiers found themselves staring at an extraordinary sight — the vast Pyramids looming on the horizon, their ancient stones glowing gold in the late afternoon sun. Rows of khaki tents stretched out across the sand, the dust curling in little eddies around the tent pegs.

This camp provided the final preparation for entrainment to Alexandria and the Western Front. The camps screened soldiers arriving in Egypt, checking for any illnesses such as measles which can break out when people are crowded together for long periods.

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.

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 Egypt, 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.  They would continue their training in England.

EGYPT TO ENGLAND

After completing their training in Egypt, the recruits marched to the embarkation port on the 29^th July 1916, where thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the Mediterranean Sea and then the English Channel. 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 to England 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.

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

On arrival at one of the English ports, they boarded the troop train for Perham Downs, one of the training camps on the Salisbury Plains. When the recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.

The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.

Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.

Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.

Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.

Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.

Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.

Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.

After many months of continuous preparation in England, 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 crossed to France, 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.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH AUGUST 1916

Whilst in the camp Bruce was taken on strength with the 9^th Battalion on the 9^th August 1916. 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.

PROCEEDING OVERSEAS TO FRANCE OCTOBER 1916

This is where Henry differed from his brothers who did not leave for France till 19^th November.  Henry left for France on the 8^th October1916. Thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the English Channel. Before departure, every man underwent a final medical inspection, was issued with ammunition, rations and any remaining equipment, and received instructions on what to do if the transport came under enemy attack.

The crossing to France was usually made in the early hours of darkness aboard a crowded troopship or cross-Channel steamer. Although the journey was relatively short, it was considered dangerous, as German submarines and mines posed a constant threat. Every soldier wore a lifebelt throughout the voyage, and troops remained alert in case they had to abandon ship. Fortunately, most crossings were completed safely, escorted by Royal Navy vessels.

On arrival at one of the Channel ports, such as Le Havre, Rouen or Boulogne, 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. 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.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH WITH 49^TH BATTALION

Henry had taken a different path from his brothers Bruce and Sidney. While the three brothers had originally enlisted together in the 9th Battalion, Henry was transferred to the 49th Battalion on 20 October 1916, placing him with a battalion that had already experienced the terrible fighting of the Somme. By this time the 49th had been through Mouquet Farm and other hard fighting, and after a period in the quieter Ypres sector had returned south to the Somme area. Henry therefore joined the battalion at a particularly difficult stage of the war, as the men were beginning to endure the bitter winter of 1916–17. The battalion rotated between the front line, support positions and reserve areas, carrying out trench duties, working parties, patrols and the constant maintenance of positions that were badly affected by rain, mud, frost and shellfire. There was little comfort in the winter trenches, and even periods out of the front line were spent in rebuilding defences, carrying supplies and preparing for the next move forward.

APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL DEEMBER 1916

On 13 December 1916 Henry was appointed Lance Corporal. This was a

significant step for him and suggests that his conduct, experience or ability

had marked him out as suitable for a position of greater responsibility. A

Lance Corporal was still very much a fighting soldier, but he could be

placed in charge of a small group of men and was expected to help

maintain discipline, organise work and pass orders from the section or

platoon commander to the men. Henry had now been with the 49^th

Battalion for nearly two months and was gaining experience in the harsh

conditions of the Western Front.

Henry remained with the 49th Battalion through the remainder of December and into January. The winter was exceptionally demanding. The men continued their rotation through the trenches while the Germans remained in their established positions, and the wet, cold conditions made even ordinary duties exhausting. Trench maintenance was particularly important, with parapets and dugouts continually damaged by shelling and rain. Men were also required to carry ammunition, rations and other supplies forward, repair communications trenches and undertake working parties. Although there was no major battle during this period, the danger never disappeared, with artillery fire, snipers and patrols making life in the forward area hazardous.

HOSPITALISED JANUARY 1917- MEDICAL CHAIN

On 28 January 1917 Henry was admitted to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance suffering from a septic toe. What may sound like a relatively minor injury could become a serious problem in the conditions in which Henry was serving. Feet were constantly exposed to wet, mud and cold, and a small cut, blister or damaged toenail could quickly become infected. With inadequate opportunities to keep feet clean and dry, infection could spread rapidly. Henry was therefore removed from his battalion and placed under medical care so that the infection could be treated before it became more serious. The 1st Field Ambulance was part of the chain of medical care close behind the fighting line, where men were assessed and treated before being returned to duty or evacuated further to the rear.

REJOINED UNIT FEBRUARY 1917

Henry remained away from his battalion for several weeks while his foot recovered. By 25 February 1917 he had recovered sufficiently to rejoin his unit. His return came at an important moment because the German Army was beginning its withdrawal from the Somme battlefield to the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line. The 49th Battalion was involved in the advance that followed the German withdrawal. Rather than simply occupying abandoned trenches, the Australians had to move cautiously through ground that had been deliberately devastated by the retreating Germans, with roads, bridges, buildings and railway lines destroyed and booby traps left behind. The 49th continued to move forward, maintaining contact with the retreating enemy and preparing for the fighting that would soon develop around places such as Noreuil.

HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA APRIL 1917 MEDICAL CHAIN

Henry's return to the battalion was unfortunately short-lived. On 5 April 1917 he was admitted to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from influenza. In the crowded conditions of the Western Front, influenza and other respiratory illnesses could spread rapidly through units. Henry would have been taken out of the battalion's immediate environment and placed under medical observation because illness could quickly leave a soldier too weak to carry out his duties. The 4th Field Ambulance formed part of the medical evacuation system, providing treatment close to the front before men who required further attention were sent farther to the rear.

On 6 April Henry was transferred to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance. This indicates that his illness had not resolved immediately and that he was being moved through the medical system for continued treatment and observation. A Field Ambulance was not a hospital in the modern sense; it was a mobile medical unit responsible for receiving sick and wounded men, providing immediate treatment and arranging their evacuation when necessary. The 8th Australian Field Ambulance was one of the AIF's established medical units on the Western Front.

By 13 April Henry had been evacuated farther from the fighting to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen, where his condition was recorded as myalgia, meaning muscular pain and aching. This was consistent with the lingering effects of an influenza-like illness and helps explain why Henry was moved through several levels of medical care rather than being sent straight back to his battalion. At Rouen he could receive more extensive medical attention and, importantly, be kept away from the front until he was sufficiently recovered. Rouen was a major medical centre for the British Expeditionary Force, with large general hospitals receiving Australian soldiers evacuated from the fighting areas.

CONVALESENCE APRIL 1917

On 17 April Henry was transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot. This was an important stage in his recovery. A convalescent depot was designed for men who were no longer seriously ill but were not yet fit enough to return directly to their units. Henry would have been given time to regain his strength, with light physical exercise and military routine gradually reintroduced. Men at these depots could also receive further medical supervision while preparing themselves for active service again. The system prevented soldiers from being returned to the front too quickly after illness. Similar records show men recovering at Rouen hospitals being transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot before eventually being returned to their units.

On 22 April Henry was transferred from the 2nd Convalescent Depot to the 11th Convalescent Depot. The move did not mean that he had become ill again; rather, it was part of the normal progression through the convalescent system. The 11th Convalescent Depot was at Buchy, and it provided another stage of recovery and rehabilitation for soldiers who were approaching fitness for active service. Henry would have continued with graded exercise and military training, rebuilding his strength after the influenza and myalgia that had kept him away from his battalion. Convalescent depots also helped keep men occupied and under military discipline while they waited to be declared fit for service.

By 8 May Henry had completed this period of recovery and was discharged from the convalescent system to Base. This meant that he was considered sufficiently recovered to leave the medical establishment, but he had not yet physically returned to the 49th Battalion. He now entered the administrative and reinforcement system through which recovered soldiers were reunited with their units.

On 12 May Henry was recorded as marching in to Etaples. Etaples was one of the major Australian and British base areas in France and contained hospitals, training establishments and reinforcement depots. Soldiers passing through Etaples were processed, medically checked and organised into groups before being sent forward to their battalions. Henry's stay there was therefore part of the final stage of getting him back to active service after his illness.

REJOINED UNIT MAY 1917

On 17 May 1917 Henry finally rejoined the 49th Battalion. His return brought to an end a difficult six-week medical journey that had begun with influenza and progressed through the 4th and 8th Australian Field Ambulances, the 9th General Hospital at Rouen and two convalescent depots. He had lost valuable time with his battalion, but by May he was once again fit enough to return to his comrades. The 49th was now preparing for the next major phase of its 1917 campaign, with the battalion soon to be involved in the fighting in Flanders

BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917

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.

WOUNDED IN ACTION IN BATTLE- CONCUSSION

On 7 June 1917, Henry was wounded in action while serving with the 49th Battalion during the Battle of Messines in Belgium. The battle began in the early hours of the morning when nineteen enormous mines were detonated beneath the German positions on Messines Ridge. The explosions were followed by a massive artillery barrage and the advance of the Australian infantry. The 49th Battalion was heavily involved in the fighting as the 13th Brigade pushed forward against the German positions. Henry was wounded during this action, although his service record does not give details of the exact nature of his injury at the time.

On 11 June, Henry was admitted to the 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance with concussion. After being wounded on the battlefield, he would first have been taken away from the immediate danger of the front line and examined at a medical post before being moved through the field ambulance system. Treatment for concussion would have involved rest, observation and careful monitoring, particularly because head injuries were difficult to assess in the conditions of the Western Front. Henry remained under medical care for several days while his battalion continued its operations in the Messines area.

REJOINED UNIT JUNE 1917

By 20 June 1917, Henry had recovered sufficiently to rejoin the 49th Battalion. The battalion remained in the Ypres sector for some time after Messines, rotating between the front line and positions farther back. When in reserve, the men were occupied with training, fatigues, repairing trenches, carrying supplies and ammunition, and preparing for their next period in the line. The fighting around Ypres was not simply a matter of major attacks; much of a soldier's time was spent enduring artillery fire, sentry duty, patrols and the exhausting work necessary to maintain the trench system. As the summer progressed, the 49th Battalion was again drawn into the fighting around Ypres.

In September, Henry and the 49th Battalion were involved in the preparations for the Battle of Polygon Wood. The battalion moved towards the Westhoek Ridge and, during the night of 25 September, moved into its assembly positions for the attack.

BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD 1917 SEPTEMBER 26^TH - OCTOBER 3^RD

Polygon Wood was the second of three battles between 26^th September and 4 October 1917 in which ‘step by step’ or ‘bite and hold’ tactics were used to batter down the formidable German defensive positions. After an opening bombardment the infantry would advance for a prescribed distance behind a ‘creeping’ barrage of shells. This barrage would keep the Germans in their ‘pillboxes’ until British soldiers were almost upon them. The enemy positions would then be captured consolidated and protected from counter-attack by artillery. Artillery would be brought forward and the next ‘bite’ attempted. In this way the British aimed to work their way from their start lines near Ypres to the heights of the ridge ten kilometres away at Passchendaele village. Charles Bean, the Australian Official Historian described the opening barrage on 26 September as the most perfect that ever protected Australian troops and that it rolled ahead of the troops roaring ‘like a Gippsland bushfire’. The battle cost 5,770 Australian casualties

At dawn on 26 September, the 49th advanced across the shattered ground of Polygon Wood behind a heavy artillery barrage. The objective was reached and the men then had the difficult task of consolidating their newly won positions while German artillery continued to fall around them. The fighting in this sector was particularly severe, and many members of the 49th Battalion were killed or wounded.

Henry survived the fighting and continued with the battalion as the Third Battle of Ypres moved towards its climax. In October, the 49th Battalion was involved in the operations around Passchendaele, where the battlefield had become a terrible landscape of mud, shell holes and water. Movement was slow and exhausting, and the men were exposed not only to German artillery and machine-gun fire but also to the appalling conditions underfoot.

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

LEAVE IN ENGLAND OCTOBER 1917

On 6 October 1917, Henry was granted leave to England. After months of continuous service in the trenches and the recent fighting around Polygon Wood and Ypres, the leave would have provided him with a much-needed period away from the front. He travelled away from the battle zone to England, where he could rest and recover before returning to France.

REJOINED UNIT OCTOBER- BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE CONTINUING

Henry rejoined the 49th Battalion on 27 October 1917. By this time the battalion was still engaged in the final stages of the Third Battle of Ypres. The 49th had already endured the fighting at Polygon Wood and was now operating in the Passchendaele area, where the combination of artillery bombardment, rain and devastated ground made every movement difficult. The battalion's work involved periods in or near the front line, carrying out patrols and working parties, improving defensive positions and enduring the constant threat of shellfire.

Once the fighting in Flanders began to ease, the 49th Battalion moved into a period of rest and reorganisation. The men were still very much on active service, but the emphasis shifted from major attacks to training, maintaining the trenches, working parties and preparing for whatever operations might come next. The winter of 1917–18 was spent largely in the Flanders area, with the battalion moving between forward positions and billets and carrying out the routine but exhausting work of trench warfare. The winter was particularly harsh, and the men faced cold, wet conditions as well as the ever-present danger from German artillery.

THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE 1918

During the opening months of 1918, Henry remained with the 49th Battalion as the German Army prepared for its great Spring Offensive. The Australians were increasingly aware that a major German attack was coming, and the battalion spent much of this period manning and improving defensive positions. When the German offensive finally began in March, the situation changed dramatically. The 49th Battalion was rushed south with other Australian formations towards the Somme, as the German advance threatened the vital city of Amiens. The men were moved rapidly, often with little opportunity for proper rest, and were committed to the defence of the approaches to Amiens.

SPRING OFFENSIVE SOMME VALLEY 1918

Following the collapse of Tsarist Russia in late 1917, the Germans were able to transfer large amounts of equipment and manpower from the Eastern Front to the Western Front and subsequently launched their Spring Offensive in March. Falling on the southern flanks of the sector held by the British Third and Fifth Armies, the offensive initially succeeded in driving the Allies back and in late March, as the Germans closed in on the vital railhead around Amiens, the five Australian divisions, which had been grouped together as part of the Australian Corps, were transferred to the Somme to help blunt the attack.

THE BATTLE OF DERNACOURT MARCH AND APRIL 1918

The battle of Dernancourt in March and April 1918 was centred on the railway embankment at the small French town of Dernancourt.

Dernancourt was a desperate battle in which the fate of the strategic rail junction city of Amiens was at stake. The Germans had earlier that month taken advantage of the release of thousands of their troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce their Armies on the Western Front.

This occurred as a result of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk that had ended Russia’s role in the First World War. With these extra troops the Germans launched Operation Michael, and other smaller operations, in an almighty effort to end the war on their terms prior to the Allies receiving fresh American reinforcements.

The Germans had rolled westward since the commencement of Operation Michael recapturing territory previously lost to the Allied armies. If the Germans had continued in their successful march westwards, and rolled up the Australian defences near Dernancourt and broken through to capture Amiens, they would have been in a position to strike a decisive blow.

In the ensuing battle about 4,000 members of the under-strength 12th and 13th Brigades of the Australian 4th Division attempted to stop an almost irresistible force of four near complete German Divisions totalling 25,000 men. Though eventually outflanked by the massive German force, the two brigades succeeded in stemming the German tide, with a loss of 1,100 casualties.

Perhaps the culmination of the battle at Dernancourt was the 2½ hour barrage of high explosive and gas shells that fell on the Australian troops early on 5 April causing destruction and death. Those who were not killed outright or wounded suffered from the unrelenting nature of the barrage.

At the beginning of April, the 49th Battalion took part in the desperate fighting around Dernancourt on the River Ancre. On 5 April 1918, the Germans launched a major attack against the Australian positions. The 49th helped repel the attack and later took part in a critical counter-attack. The fighting was severe, and the battalion suffered heavy casualties. Later that month, the battalion was involved in the operations around Villers-Bretonneux, although the 49th was held in reserve during the main assault which successfully recaptured the town.

MAY TO AUGUST 1918

After the German offensive had been halted, Henry and the 49th Battalion experienced a period of relative quiet compared with the desperate fighting of March and April. The battalion remained active, however, and the men were involved in trench duties, patrols, training and what became known as 'peaceful penetration', a series of small advances and raids designed to keep pressure on the German forces. The Australians were preparing for the Allied counter-offensive that would eventually become the Hundred Days Offensive.

In July, the battalion continued its preparations for the renewed Allied advance. The men were increasingly trained for open warfare rather than the traditional trench attacks that had characterised earlier years of the war. This was important because the Allies were now planning to break through the German positions and keep moving rather than simply capture a trench and consolidate it. The 49th was therefore preparing for a very different style of warfare.

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.

For a reinforcement, being taken on strength did not necessarily mean he immediately went into a major assault. Reinforcements generally spent time becoming acquainted with their company, learning trench routines, carrying out fatigues, and filling the gaps left by casualties

The 49th Battalion was among the Australian units involved in the advance and took part in the fighting that followed the initial breakthrough. The attack was remarkably successful, forcing the Germans into retreat and beginning the series of victories that would eventually bring the war to an end. The 49th remained involved in the advance through August before being withdrawn from the front for a period of rest and reorganisation.

In September, the 49th Battalion returned to operations for what would become its final major action of the war. On 18 September, the battalion formed part of the reserve for the attack against the German Hindenburg outpost line. The operation was part of the wider Allied effort to break through the German defensive system in Picardy. By this stage the Australian Corps had been heavily depleted after months of continuous fighting, and following the September operations the Australian units were withdrawn from the front for rest and reorganisation.

THE HINDENBURG LINE SEPTEMBER 1918

The Hindenburg Line- the last and strongest of the German army's defence - consisted of three well-defended trench systems, established in 1917. Throughout September 1918, Australian forces had helped the British army to secure positions from which an attack on the Hindenburg Line could be launched. Planning began for a major attack at the end of the month. It was hoped that this attack would finally break the power of the German army.

FIRST ATTACK 18^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 18 September 1918, a preliminary attack was launched when Lieutenant General Sir John Monash's troops reached the first part of the Hindenburg Line. At 5.20 am, Monash's troops, supported by huge artillery barrages, attacked the heavily fortified German defences and machine-gun posts. Using only eight tanks (as well as dummy tanks to distract the Germans), they broke through German positions and took 4,300 prisoners. Although there were 1,000 dead or wounded, this cost was fairly slim compared to the losses of the German forces.

THE SECOND ATTACK 29^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 29 September, the line was finally broken. Australian and US troops spearheaded this battle, given the task of breaking defences in the centre. They attacked a strongly defended sector at Bellicourt with tanks, artillery, and aircraft working in concert. Advances were made, but it was a struggle between the two forces. The fighting lasted four days and resulted in heavy losses.

Gunner J.R. Armitage wrote:

“As we went over the ridge, we found ourselves in the midst of the most wonderful and impressive battle field scene imaginable. It was a scene never to be forgotten with infantry, tanks, guns, everything in action in a sort of inferno of smoke and shell bursts.”

THIRD ATTACK OCTOBER 1918

Eventually, the Allies broke through the third and final stage of the Hindenburg Line, and the Germans were forced to fall back.

In this attack, troops captured the entrance to the St Quentin canal tunnel. 

The 49th Battalion would not return to major combat before the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

LEAVE IN ENGLAND OCTOBER 1918

On 17 October 1918, Henry was again granted leave to the United Kingdom. This came during the final weeks of the war, when the 49th Battalion was no longer engaged in major fighting. Henry would have been able to spend this period away from the battlefield while the Allied armies continued their advance and the German forces were being pushed steadily back.

REJOINED UNIT NOVEMBER 1918

Henry rejoined his unit on 2 November 1918. By then the end of the war was very close. The 49th Battalion was no longer required to take part in another major battle, and the men were occupied with routine duties, training, administration and reorganisation while the final events of the war unfolded.

WAR ENDED 11^TH NOVEMBER 1918

On 11 November 1918, the Armistice came into effect and the fighting finally stopped. For Henry, after more than two years of service with the 49th Battalion and the experience of Messines, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele and the great battles of 1918, the danger of being killed or wounded in battle was finally over.

WAITING TO GO HOME

After the Armistice, Henry remained with the battalion while the Australian forces began the long process of demobilisation and repatriation. The men could not simply be sent home immediately. Units had to be reorganised, records checked, personnel classified and transport arrangements made.

On 10 February 1919, Henry was moved through the Australian General Base Depot and proceeded from Le Havre in France to England, disembarking at Weymouth. The movement marked another stage in the process of bringing the Australian soldiers home. On 11 February he was at Hurdcott, one of the Australian military establishments in Wiltshire used during the repatriation and demobilisation period.

DISCIPINARY ACTION MARCH 1919

Henry's return home was then delayed by an unfortunate disciplinary matter. He was recorded as absent without leave from 11.59 pm on 2 March 1919 until 11.00 am on 21 March 1919. The absence lasted considerably longer than an ordinary overstayed leave period, and when Henry was dealt with for the offence, he was ordered to forfeit 28 days' pay. By this stage the war had been over for several months, but the AIF remained subject to military discipline until soldiers were formally discharged.

RETURNING HOME APRIL 1919

On 18 April 1919, Henry finally left England for Australia aboard the transport ship HT Commonwealth. The voyage home was very different from the troopship journeys that had taken Australian soldiers towards the war. There was no longer a battalion preparing for battle, but rather large numbers of servicemen returning after years overseas. Henry eventually reached Australia, disembarking on 12 June 1919.

DISCHARGE JULY 1919

After his return, Henry's military service was formally brought to an end. On 28 July 1919, after completing the necessary repatriation arrangements, Henry was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force. His long wartime journey, which had taken him through the Western Front, through wounds and hospital treatment, through some of the major battles fought by the 49th Battalion, and finally through the difficult months of demobilisation, was now over. He had survived the war and returned to Australia, bringing home the experiences of a soldier who had spent years serving with the 49th Battalion.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Henry was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Port Macquarie Cenotaph

MARRIAGE

Henry married Sarah L Bryen in Murwillumbah in 1923

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