FAMILY LIFE

Bede Higgins was born in Murwillumbah in 1898, son of John Bernard (“J B”) Higgins & Mary Alice (Cowan) Higgins. He was one of 8 children. His brother Dan also enlisted. His father is listed on the memorial at Banner St, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district and many members of the family lived and died in Murwillumbah and are buried in the local cemetery.

APPLICATION

Bede was single farmer, living in North Tumbulgum, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 23^rd February 1917 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother. Mary. His medical showed he was 21 years 1 month old, 5ft 11 inches tall (1.8m), weighed 138 lbs (62kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good. Bede was Roman Catholic. He was enlisted as a private into the 26^th Infantry Battalion – 20^th Reinforcements with service No 6918

26^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

The 26th was originally raised in April 1915 during World War I as part of the Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the 7th Brigade. The legacy of the 26th Infantry Battalion is deeply rooted in its remarkable contributions during both World Wars. It is remembered for its bravery and resilience in key battles

AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP

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

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 14^th June 1917 the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Hororata. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. After some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. 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. 

HOSPITALISATION ON SHIP- VENEREAL DISEASE

However, Bede was admitted to the ship’s hospital on 17^th June with venereal disease. Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. Bede was discharged 63 days later, on the 18^th August 1917. The unit disembarked at Liverpool on 26^th August

ROLLESTONE TRAINING CAMP

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the training camp at Rollestone, 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

FOVANT TRAINING CAMP

He only spent a short time at Rollestone then he was marched into Fovant training camp on 7^th November 1917

HOSPITALISED

On 10^th December 1917 he was hospitalised, no details, in and then sent to a convalescent camp on 22^nd December.  Here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

GOING HOME

There is no record of Bede joining his unit and the next record shows he returned to Australia on the Castle Crackow on 10^th March 1918 with bronchitis. He was discharged on 12^th May 1918.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Bede was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Bilambil First World War Honor Board.

HOME LIFE

Bede returned to Murwillumbah to live and died on 20^th July 1965, aged 66, at Murwillumbah and is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery Presbyterian: Columbarium

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