FAMILY LIFE

John Vincent McEachran was born in Murwillumbah in 1898, son of John Duncan McEachran & Margaret (Bell) McEachran. He was one of 6 children, all born in and around Murwillumbah & the Tweed. The family settled near Tumbulgum and raised cane & maize.

APPLICATION

He was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 28^th August 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, John, of Murwillumbah. He had spent 3 years with the Light Horse, Murwillumbah.

His medical showed he was 25 years 10 months old, 5ft 7 inches tall (1.7m), weighed 148 lbs (67kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good and he was dentally fit. The Examining Medical Officer stated that John “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, John Vincent McEachran, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

He was Presbyterian and had 3 vaccination scars on his left arm, a scar on his right elbow and another on his right temple.  He was enlisted as a private into the 3^rd Machine Gum Company – 10^th Reinforcements with service 604

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 received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit 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

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

SEYMOUR TRAINING CAMP, VICTORIA

John only spent a few weeks in Enoggera then was transferred to the Seymour training camp in Victoria for specialised training in machine guns to prepare them for the technical and tactical demands of their role. They learned weapon familiarisation & handle the machine guns. Machine guns were operated by teams (usually 6–8 men). Each crew member was trained for specific roles:

·      No. 1: Gunner (fired the weapon).

·      No. 2: Assistant gunner (handled ammunition and cooling).

·      Others: Carried spare parts, ammo, tripods, and helped reposition the gun.

They learnt marksmanship & range estimation; field tactics & battlefield use amongst many others lessons to be ready to use the machine gun on the battlefield

HOME LEAVE

He was given home leave from 3^rd October to 6^th October 1916

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 17^th January 1917 the recruits left Melbourne, sailing upon the HMAT Omrah. 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-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. 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. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

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. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

BELTON PARK, GRANTHAM MACHINE GUN TRAINING CAMP

They disembarked at Plymouth on 27^th March 1917 and was marched into the machine gun training camp at Belton Park. This was part of their advanced training before heading to the Western Front. Training at Belton Park was intensive and specialized, focusing on:

Vickers Machine Gun:

·      Detailed instruction on the weapon’s mechanics, care, and use in combat.

·      Crew drills, firing drills, stripping and assembling the gun.

Live Fire Practice:

·      Conducted on nearby firing ranges.

·      Included both direct and indirect fire training.

Tactics & Coordination:

·      Learning how to support infantry, defend trenches, and deliver enfilade fire.

·      Coordinating machine gun fire with artillery and infantry movements.

Map Reading & Signals:

·      Using maps for indirect fire and targeting.

·      Training in field signals and basic communication.

Physical Training & Discipline:

·      Marching, endurance, and trench drills

TAKEN ON STRENGTH

On 16^th June 1917 he was taken on strength with the 10^th Machine Gun Company in France

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

Ordinary soldiers found themselves fighting the German in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel.

Machine gun crews were often positioned in or just behind the front-line trenches, especially during defensive operations. Their purpose was to:

·      Repel enemy attacks with direct fire.

·      Sweep no man's land during enemy advances.

·      Support infantry during assaults.

However, due to their vulnerability and the importance of keeping the guns functional, machine guns were not always placed in the most exposed front positions unless tactically required. The were frequently stationed in support or reserve trenches, machine guns were used to:

·      Provide enfilade fire across the front.

·      Cover flanks of attacking or defending units.

·      Act as a mobile reserve to reinforce weak points.

BETWEEN JUNE AND NOVEMBER 1917

Between June and November 1917, the 10th Australian Machine Gun Company was actively engaged on the Western Front, providing critical machine gun support during several major battles of the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele) in Belgium. During this period, the 10th Machine Gun Company participated in several significant battles:

·      Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September – 3 October 1917): Provided suppressive fire to support infantry advances and counter enemy attacks.

·      Battle of Broodseinde (4 October 1917): Played a crucial role in the successful assault by delivering concentrated machine gun fire against German positions.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

On 4^th October John was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left thigh/leg. He was lying in no man’s land for some before being brought in, suffering terribly from blood loss.

HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND

He was admitted to a hospital in Rouen but on 17^th November he sailed for Britain and on 19th November he was admitted to an English hospital.

CONVALESCENCE SUTTON VENEY FEBRUARY 1918

He spent many months there and was transferred to Sutton Veney Command depot for convalescence. Normally, men would be retrained to return to their unit but John was not able to do so

RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA MARCH 1918

On 12^th March John returned to Australia on the Kenilworth Castle. He was discharged 26^th June 1918

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

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