FAMILY LIFE

Henry Frederick Leon Howard Deards was born 31 December 1889 in Dungog, son of Arthur & Clara (Leevey) Deards. He was a twin to Florence Deards, and the eldest of 7 other siblings. The Deards family settled in Murwillumbah in 1910 and resided at Terragon and Doon Doon. Many of the many of the family are buried in Murwillumbah cemetery.  His brother, Arthur, enlisted in the AIF on 15^th September 1915, aged 21 years 11 months (No. 5 Depot Battalion). He died in the Brisbane General Hospital, Queensland from pneumonia after contracting measles while in the training camp. He died in November and is buried in Murwillumbah cemetery.

ATTESTATION

Henry enlisted 23 September 1916 at Brisbane as a private in the 11^th reinforcements 31^st Battalion. He was a 26 year old farmer, married with two young children. His next of king was his wife, Amy Muriel (McEwen) Deards, of Murwillumbah. Henry was 5ft 8in (1.72m) and weighed 139lbs (63kgs) with a dark complexion, green eyes & brown eyes. He had a scar on his left knee and was Church of England

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Henry “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, Henry Frederick Leon Howard, 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 enlisted as a private into the 31^st Infantry Battalion –11^th Reinforcements with service No 4289

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at 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.

Then training began. Firstly, 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 in France and Belgium.

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, was soon tested in the harsh reality of the front line. 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.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

Henry embarked the Kyarra at Brisbane on 17^th November 1916.  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.

ADMISSION TO SHIP’S HOSPITAL DECEMBER 1916

Henry was sick during the voyage, being admitted to the ship’s hospital on 20 December 1916 and discharged on Christmas Day.

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP-PARKHOUSE JANUARY 1917

The recruits arrived in Plymouth on 30 January 1917. Henry and his unit were marched into the 8^th training depot on arrival. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind.

Training involved trench warfare techniques, bayonet drills, live fire exercises, gas mask use, and coordination with British units.

Their accommodation was tents or wooden huts, often cold, damp, and muddy — especially in the British summer/autumn. The weather was very different from Australia-wet, overcast conditions were common, and many Australians found the climate miserable compared to home.

The parade grounds, rifle ranges, gas training areas, bayonet fighting pits, and mock trench systems were built to simulate battlefield conditions. The training included the use and maintenance of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle, grenade throwing (often live grenades) & Lewis Gun handling and section tactics

Regular drilling included building and occupying practice trenches, night operations and trench raids & rotations simulating life under shellfire and gas attack.

Gas Warfare Training was very important and they were trained in the use of PH-type gas helmets and box respirators & drills in gas chambers using low concentrations of chlorine or phosgene to acclimate soldiers.

Close-combat techniques using bayonets — aggressive training with thrusts, parries, and charges were held

Tactical training included understanding platoon and company movements & signals training (flags, lamps, runners).

The recruits’ daily life began early with reveille at dawn, PT, then drills. Route marches in full kit were common — often 10–15 miles across the chalky countryside. Evenings often included lectures or maintenance. Pay parades, church services, and mail from home offered some morale boosts however the cold, wet conditions were physically hard, and sickness was common (influenza, bronchitis, trench foot-like conditions).

Use of Mills bombs and defensive bombing techniques in dugouts or trench corners was carried & section-level manoeuvres with live ammunition — dangerous but essential for battlefield realism

Training at Larkhill was tough, realistic, and intense. It forged untested Australian recruits into soldiers ready for the horrors of trench warfare on the Western Front. While some men found it exhausting and bleak, it undoubtedly helped save lives once they reached the trenches of the Western Front. Training would normally last 3 months.

ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL MARCH 1917

During this period Henry was again sick on 14^th March and was admitted to Parkhouse Hospital. No details recorded

FRENCH TRAINING CAMP MAY 1917

On 22 May 1917 the unit proceeded to France and on 26 May they arrived at the last training camp at Etaples. Troops held at the base were "toughened up" while waiting dispatch to the front. Under atrocious conditions both raw recruits from England and battle-weary veterans were subjected to intensive training in gas warfare, bayonet drill, and long sessions of marching at the double across the dunes.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

ATTCHED TO 15^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

On 11 June he marched out to Le Havre and was transferred to the 15^th Battalion on 15^th June. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans 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. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

JUNE 1917 – POSITIONING FOR THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

In June 1917, the 15th Battalion was stationed in the Ypres sector of Belgium, preparing for the forthcoming Battle of Messines. This period involved extensive training, trench construction, and reconnaissance missions to familiarize the troops with the terrain and fortifications. The battalion also conducted routine patrols to gather intelligence and maintain security in the area.

JULY 1917 – THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

The Battle of Messines commenced on June 7, 1917, and continued into early July. The 15th Battalion participated in this significant offensive, which aimed to capture the Messines Ridge and secure the southern flank of the Ypres Salient. The operation involved intense artillery bombardments, infantry assaults, and the use of newly developed tunnelling techniques. The battalion's role included attacking enemy positions, consolidating captured ground, and repelling counterattacks. The battle was marked by heavy casualties on both sides, but the Allies achieved their objectives, significantly weakening the German defensive line.

AUGUST 1917 – PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE

Following the success at Messines, the 15th Battalion was involved in preparations for the upcoming Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres. This period was characterized by continued training, logistical coordination, and the establishment of supply lines to support the anticipated offensive. The battalion also participated in minor engagements and held defensive positions to maintain pressure on the enemy and prevent them from reinforcing their lines.

KILLED IN ACTION MESSINES AUGUST 1917

On August 18, 1917, during these preparatory operations,  Henry was killed in action. His death occurred amidst the challenging conditions of trench warfare, characterized by constant shellfire, mud-filled trenches, and the ever-present threat of enemy attacks. His body was never recovered

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Henry was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and Henry has been memorialised at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Messines, Flanders, Belgium. His name is located at panel 75 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. His name is on the Holy Trinity Anglican Church First World War Memorials Uki.

His personal effects, consisting of his wallet, photos and a note book, a silk handkerchief, a silver locket, and a lock of hair as well as 2 discs were forwarded to his wife, Amy, who was the sole beneficiary of his will. Amy received a widow’s pension of 2 pound a fortnight, and 1 pound 15 shillings for the children

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.