Private William Pollock
Service #: 4119
Summary
HOME LIFE
William Pollock (his name was not registered with the second name, Alexander) was born in 1894 in Murwillumbah, son of William & Grialda Pollock and brother to 4 sisters & one brother, Robert who enlisted in October 1914. William’s father was a pioneer resident of the Tweed, having arrived with his parents as an infant in 1870. He was one of the children who attended the school at Murwillumbah when it first opened.
At the age of 19 he married Miss Grialda Hall and settled at Eungella, where he engaged in dairying and timber-getting until his wife died in 1914. His wife is buried in Murwillumbah Cemetery as his himself, his brother & one of his sisters. His mother is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district
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, William Alexander Pollock, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical showed he was 5ft 10 inches tall (1.78m), weighed 155 lbs (70kgs), with a dark complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good and he was dentally fit. William was Presbyterian
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
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
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
He 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 to 10th reinforcements, 31st Battalion with service No 4119”
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men 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 would 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 ENGLAND
On the 21st of October 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Boona. Alongside his comrades, William marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
Sleeping & Living Arrangements
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
Daily Routine
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
Meals
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
Health & Sanitation
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
The Voyage Experience
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt 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, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, 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. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
Two weeks later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP- HURDCOTT
They disembarked at Plymouth on 10th January 1917 and were marched into Hurdcott training camp. When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital. 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: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
· Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.
· Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.
Then formal training began. Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.
Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions.
Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.
Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.
Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.
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.
FRANCE JULY 1917
On the 2nd July they left England and landed in Le Havre, France on the 3rd.
MORE TRAINING
When William arrived at Le Havre, he did not immediately join the 31st Battalion. This was entirely normal. Reinforcements arriving in France first passed through the large Australian reinforcement and training system based around Étaples and other depot camps. Here they underwent further training designed specifically for conditions on the Western Front.
The training in France was very different from that undertaken in Australia or England. New arrivals learned trench routine, gas precautions, grenade throwing, wiring, trench raids, battlefield navigation and how to operate under artillery fire. They were also introduced to the realities of the Western Front, where enormous artillery bombardments dominated every aspect of military life.
During July 1917 the 31st Battalion was serving in Belgium as part of the Australian preparations for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres, commonly known as Passchendaele. The battalion spent periods in reserve, training and undertaking trench duties while reinforcements such as William were gradually fed into the ranks to replace casualties.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH JULY 1918- THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES
When William was finally taken on strength of the battalion on 31 July 1917, he joined on a significant day. That very date marked the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres. British and Empire forces launched a major offensive aimed at breaking through German positions east of Ypres. For the next several months the battlefield would become one of mud, shell craters and almost unimaginable destruction.
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
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1917
During August and September, the 31st Battalion participated in the series of Australian attacks around Ypres. The Australians fought at Menin Road, Polygon Wood and other actions that gradually pushed the Germans back. Casualties remained heavy, and newly arrived reinforcements like William quickly found themselves exposed to some of the fiercest fighting of the war.
BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD 20TH TO 25TH SEPTEMBER 1917
The battalion was moved to Belgium again, where they joined the battle at Menin Road. This was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action
BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD 1917 SEPTEMBER 26TH - OCTOBER 3RD
Polygon Wood was the second of three battles between 20 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
REPORTED MISSING 26TH SEPTEMBER 1917
On 26 September 1917 William was reported missing.
The date immediately suggests his disappearance occurred during the Battle of Polygon Wood, one of the most successful Australian operations of the war. The 31st Battalion took part in the attack as Australian forces advanced against heavily defended German positions.
During such attacks men could disappear for many reasons. Some were killed and could not immediately be located. Others were wounded and stranded in shell holes. Many were captured during confused fighting in woods, trenches and strongpoints where visibility was poor and front lines shifted rapidly.
For weeks William's family would have endured the uncertainty associated with a "missing" notification. The Army often had no immediate way of determining whether a soldier had been killed, wounded or captured.
PRISONER OF WAR OCTOBER 1917
The answer finally arrived on 23 October 1917 when the War Office reported that William was a prisoner of war held at Limburg.
The name "Limburg" actually referred to a large prisoner processing and transit camp located at Limburg an der Lahn in western Germany. Most Allied prisoners passed through Limburg at some stage. Following registration, many were transferred to permanent camps or labour detachments elsewhere in Germany.
The journey into captivity itself could be extremely difficult. Newly captured prisoners were often marched behind German lines, searched, interrogated and deprived of much of their equipment. Many arrived exhausted, hungry and wounded.
Upon reaching Limburg, William would have been registered, photographed and issued a prisoner number. The German authorities notified the International Red Cross, which in turn informed British authorities and eventually the soldier's family.
CONDITIONS IN GERMAN PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMPS VARIED CONSIDERABLY THROUGHOUT THE WAR.
In the early years conditions were generally harsh but manageable. By 1917, however, Germany was suffering severe shortages caused by the Allied naval blockade. Food became the greatest problem facing prisoners.
A typical German ration might consist of:
· black bread;
· thin vegetable soup;
· occasional small quantities of meat;
· ersatz coffee or tea substitutes.
The rations were inadequate for maintaining health, particularly for men accustomed to the heavy diet required by active soldiers.
What prevented many Allied prisoners from starving were food parcels sent through the International Red Cross. These parcels often contained:
· tinned meat;
· biscuits;
· chocolate;
· jam;
· tea;
· sugar;
· condensed milk.
For many prisoners the arrival of Red Cross parcels meant the difference between survival and malnutrition.
Accommodation usually consisted of large wooden barracks crowded with hundreds of men. Heating was often poor, particularly during winter. Lice and other vermin were constant problems. Prisoners spent long periods with little to occupy them beyond reading, sports, educational classes and camp duties.
One of the greatest challenges was boredom and uncertainty. Unlike front-line soldiers, prisoners had little control over their lives. Many spent years behind barbed wire wondering whether the war would ever end.
Some prisoners were assigned to labour detachments. Under international conventions enlisted men could be employed on non-military work such as farming, forestry, mining or factory labour. Conditions varied enormously depending on the location and the attitude of guards. Some labour camps were relatively tolerable, while others were exhausting and harsh.
The psychological strain could be considerable. Men worried about families at home, feared being forgotten, and watched the war continue without them. Yet prisoner communities often developed strong bonds. Concerts, sporting competitions, lectures and educational programs became important ways of maintaining morale.
William remained a prisoner for well over a year. During that time, he witnessed Germany's gradual decline. Food shortages worsened during 1918, civilian hardship increased and morale throughout the German Empire deteriorated.
ARMISTICE 11TH NOVEMBER 1918
When the Armistice came on 11 November 1918, freedom did not arrive immediately. Millions of soldiers and prisoners had to be moved across a shattered Europe. Former prisoners first underwent medical examinations, administrative processing and transportation arrangements before repatriation could occur.
RETURNED TO ENGLAND JANUARY 1919
Thus, William did not reach England until 7 January 1919, almost two and a half months after the war ended. His arrival in England marked the end of a very different wartime experience from many of his comrades. While others had spent 1918 advancing through the final campaigns on the Western Front, William had spent those same months behind barbed wire in Germany. He survived not only the battle in which he was captured but also more than fifteen months of captivity, shortages, uncertainty and confinement. For many former prisoners, returning to Allied soil in 1919 was every bit as emotional as returning home from the battlefield itself.
What is particularly striking about William's record is that he experienced two very different wars: a few short months amid the mud and shellfire of Passchendaele, followed by a much longer struggle of endurance as a prisoner of war. Both demanded courage, but of very different kinds
LEAVE IN THE UK
After the hardships of Passchendaele and more than fifteen months as a prisoner of war, the final year of William Pollock's military service is one of the happier stories to emerge from an AIF record.
When he arrived back in England on 7 January 1919, he was one of thousands of former prisoners being processed through reception depots and medical facilities. The contrast with his life in Germany must have been extraordinary. After months of shortages, confinement and uncertainty, he once again enjoyed freedom of movement, regular food and the companionship of fellow Australians awaiting repatriation.
William was granted leave on the 9th January, just two days after his arrival. His leave was extended to the 19th February 1919
DISCIPLINED WHILE ON LEAVE
William went AWL on the day he was supposed to return from his leave, 19th February to 26th February, 1919. He forfeited 12 days’ pay. However, they extended his leave to 26th February.
It was during this period that William met Lena Mulgrew, an eighteen-year-old munition worker from Glasgow.
The role of munition workers during the war cannot be understated. Women such as Lena had become vital to Britain's war effort, filling positions previously held by men who had joined the armed forces. They worked long hours in dangerous factories producing shells, cartridges and explosives. Many suffered health problems from exposure to chemicals, while others endured the constant anxiety of factory accidents. By 1919 they were recognised as having made a significant contribution to victory.
For William and Lena, the months after the Armistice offered opportunities that had been impossible during the war years. Britain was celebrating peace, soldiers were returning home, and countless wartime romances blossomed into marriages.
MARRIAGE FEBRUARY 1919
On the 24th February 1919 William married Lena Mulgrew, aged 18, a munition worker from Glasgow, at 21 Hope St, Glasgow under the warrant of the Sherrif of Lancashire.
The fact that the marriage was conducted under the warrant of the Sheriff of Lancashire reflects the legal requirements applying to servicemen and women who often lived outside their home districts and whose military status required additional documentation. Such arrangements were quite common among soldiers awaiting discharge or repatriation.
For William, the wedding must have marked a remarkable turning point. Less than eighteen months earlier he had disappeared into the chaos of the Battle of Polygon Wood and entered captivity. Now he was beginning a new life with a young wife and looking forward to returning home.
Following their marriage, William remained in Britain for several months while the enormous machinery of demobilisation slowly worked through the millions of men serving overseas. Shipping remained scarce, and returning soldiers often faced lengthy waits before transport became available.
Those intervening months were likely among the most settled he had experienced since before the war. He was no longer a prisoner, no longer facing enemy fire, and no longer living under military discipline to the same extent. Instead, he was a newly married man planning a future.
GOING HOME
On 8 August 1919 William and Lena finally boarded the transport Katoomba for Australia.
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
Unlike the troopship voyage that had taken him away from Australia years earlier, this journey was very different. He was no longer an eager reinforcement heading towards an uncertain future. Instead, he was a veteran returning home with a wife by his side.
The voyage itself would have carried a sense of optimism. The war was over, the danger had passed, and the passengers were looking toward civilian life. Many returning soldiers spent the long weeks at sea discussing plans for employment, farms, businesses and family life. Newly married couples such as William and Lena were beginning entirely new chapters of their lives.
When the Katoomba reached Australia on 25 September 1919, William was returning to a country that had changed considerably during his absence. He had left as a young reinforcement in 1916 and returned as a husband and veteran. Australia had lost more than 60,000 men during the war, and communities across the country were adjusting to peace while welcoming home those who had survived.
The months between September and December were devoted largely to demobilisation procedures. Soldiers underwent medical examinations, completed paperwork, settled pay accounts and attended to various administrative requirements before their military obligations formally ended.
DISCHARGED DECEMBER 1919
Finally, on 20 December 1919, William was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force.
His discharge closed a chapter that had taken him from Australia to England, France, Belgium and Germany before eventually bringing him home again. His service had included front-line fighting on the Western Front, capture during one of Australia's major battles, more than a year as a prisoner of war, and then a wartime romance that culminated in marriage.
For William, the most important outcome of the war may not have been military at all. Amid the upheaval and suffering, he met Lena, married her in Scotland and brought her halfway around the world to begin a new life together in Australia. After years in which so much of his life had been dictated by armies, camps, battles and barbed wire, the final entries in his service record are refreshingly ordinary. They speak not of wounds, hospitals or prison camps, but of marriage, homecoming and the promise of peace. For a man who had endured the uncertainty of captivity, arriving home with a new wife at his side must have seemed a very fortunate ending indeed.
For his service William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
MARRIAGE
According to NSWBDM, William and Lena had 2 daughters, Jessie born in 1920 and Margaret born in 1925, both born in Murwillumbah
DEATH AND BURIAL
William died on 22nd June 1946, and is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery, Presbyterian section E10
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
Buried Location
Murwillumbah General Cemetery, Presbyterian section E10
