FAMILY LIFE

Hersee John Stewart was born on the 6th April 1888 in Bungawalbyn, Lismore, son of William John Stewart and Mary Jane (Bulley) Stewart. He was twin to Merion (Stewart) Johnson and was one of 15 children. Three of his brothers also enlisted.  One brother died at the Battle of the Somme.

In 1906, as part of the Brays Creek Land Tenure in the Parish of Tyalgum, William, and his son Hersee (Hersey) settled on Lot 14PT, a selection of 221 acres which included part of the Old Casino Track. The remaining members of the family remained at Bungawalbyn, while William and Hersee set up camp and erected a permanent slab hut on the bank of Brays Creek. In time all the family was re-united. They then concentrated on developing and working their dairy farm at Tyalgum. His parents are buried in Tyalgum cemetery

ATTESTATION

Hersee enlisted 4th October 1917 at Brisbane, being recruited as a private in the 28th reinforcements, 15th Infantry Battalion. He was 29 years 5 months old, single and a farmer. His next of kin was his father, William, of Tyalgum.  He was 5ft 6 inches tall (1.68m) and weighed 145lbs (66kgs) with a dark complexion, grey eyes & dark hair. He had 2 vaccination marks on his left arm, a scar on his right shoulder, a scar on his left elbow and scars on both feet. He was dentally fit and Church of England.

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Hersee “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, Hersee John Stewart, 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.” 

4^TH OCTOBER TO 29^TH OCTOBER 1917

By late 1917, the AIF in Australia was under huge pressure to get reinforcements overseas quickly, especially after the heavy losses at Passchendaele in September–October so Hersee’s introduction to army life did not include any training in Australia before heading overseas.

Paper work (4–6 October)
Hersee would have paperwork processed: allocation of service number, next-of-kin registration, pay details, and an initial issue of uniform and kit.

Brief Stay at a Local Depot or Barracks
Instead of a full training camp stint (normally 10–12 weeks), he probably went to a local depot—likely the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds depot if he enlisted in Queensland, or another small holding facility.
Here, he would have:

·      Learned basic drill and discipline.

·      Been shown how to wear and maintain his kit.

·      Received lectures on hygiene, conduct, and AIF regulations.

·      Had vaccinations, dental checks, and possibly further medical inoculations.

Equipment Issue & Embarkation Readiness
Because he was going overseas as part of a reinforcement draft, he would be issued most of his kit in Australia and some on arrival in England.
This period also included:

·      Fitting of uniforms and boots.

·      Issuing of rifle and bayonet for familiarisation (not full weapons training).

·      Marching drill practice to ensure he could handle shipboard and camp formations.

Embarkation Leave
It was common for soldiers in “rush” drafts to be given a few days’ leave before embarkation. Hersee may have been sent home for final farewells

Movement to the Port of Departure
The final days before 29 October would have been spent at the embarkation depot near the port. Here the focus was on:

·      Kit inspection and adjustments.

·      Instruction on shipboard conduct.

·      Assignment to a specific troopship and mess group

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On 29^th October his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on 31^st October they embarked on the Euripides.  Alongside his comrades, he 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.

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. 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 England, 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.

APPROACHING ENGLAND

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. For most, it was their first sight of a foreign country, and 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.

HOSPITALISED MUMPS NOVEMBER 1917

Like many soldiers, Hersee contacted mumps whilst at sea. This was a common disease as it is highly contagious, especially on a ship full of men, many from the country, who did not have a lot of contact with people, suddenly thrown in with thousands.  He was admitted to the ship’s hospital on 29^TH November. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Hersee would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing. Hersee was discharged 9th December 1917

CODFORD TRAINING CAMP

The unit disembarked at Devonport in the south of England on Boxing Day.

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Training Camp at Codford, 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. Training would normally last about 3 months.

EMBARKATION FOR FRANCE
Hersee left England on 15 April 1918, sailing across the Channel to France. Disembarking at Le Havre, he was moved by train to the Base Depot at Étaples, arriving on 17 April. Étaples was a huge transit and training camp, where soldiers were “hardened up” before moving to their units. Here, Hersee likely received refresher training under conditions closer to the front, with emphasis on bayonet work, live grenade throwing, gas drills, and night manoeuvres.

JOINING HIS UNIT
On 27 April 1918, Hersee was taken on strength with the 15th Battalion in the field. By then the battalion was holding sections of the front line in France during the German Spring Offensive, meaning he would have joined them at a critical and demanding stage of the war.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

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.

APRIL 1917 GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

When Hersee was taken on strength with the 15th Battalion on 27 April 1918, the unit was in the thick of operations on the Western Front. The previous month had seen the German Spring Offensive sweep through parts of the Somme, and the 15th Battalion — part of the 4th Brigade, 4th Australian Division — had been heavily engaged in defensive fighting. By late April, the worst of the German advance had been checked, and the Australians were holding positions around the Somme Valley, particularly in the area near Hébuterne and Villers-Bretonneux, which had only just been recaptured from German hands.

MAY AND JUNE 1918

Through May and June, the battalion rotated between front-line duty, support positions, and rest areas. Much of this time was spent in trench holding, repairing defences, digging communication trenches, and patrolling no-man’s land. The conditions were still hazardous — sniping, artillery fire, and occasional gas shelling were constant threats — but the front was relatively stable compared to the furious fighting of March and April.

BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918

By mid-July, preparations were underway for a major Allied counter-offensive. The 15th Battalion shifted to training and rehearsals, working closely with artillery and other infantry units in set-piece attack practice. This culminated in the Battle of Amiens (8–11 August 1918), where the Australian Corps spearheaded an advance eastward from Villers-Bretonneux. The 15th Battalion played a supporting role in the initial stages, moving forward after the leading brigades to consolidate captured ground and assist in mopping-up operations. This battle marked a turning point in the war — a rapid Allied advance began, forcing the Germans into a steady retreat.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE SOMME AUGUST 1918

Following Amiens, the battalion pressed the advance through August into September, taking part in the Second Battle of the Somme (1918). They fought in the push through Lihons and into the heavily defended approaches to the Hindenburg Line. This was intense, close-quarters fighting through open fields, shell holes, and ruined villages, often under heavy machine-gun fire.

BATTLE OF ST QUENTIN CANAL SEPTEMBER 1918

By late September, the 15th Battalion was engaged in the lead-up to the Battle of St Quentin Canal, one of the decisive blows against the Hindenburg Line. In the days before the main assault, the battalion was involved in forward movement and probing attacks to capture key outposts and observation points.

WOUNDED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 1918

It was during these operations, on 18th September 1918, that Hersee was wounded by a gunshot to the forearm severe — likely the result of German defensive fire as his unit worked to secure ground in preparation for the massive assault that would begin only days later. According to their war dairy “they were fighting in the Jeancourt area, a small town in the north of France, near the German border. According to the war diary “the weather was unsettled during the morning but cleared about 4pm”

Following the injury, he was immediately admitted to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, a frontline medical unit tasked with providing emergency treatment and stabilizing wounded soldiers before evacuation.

HOSPITALISATION

On 19 September, Hersee was transferred to the 1st Stationary Hospital at Rouen, one of the largest and busiest military hospitals behind the Western Front. Here, soldiers received more advanced surgical care, wound management, and initial convalescence. Conditions in such hospitals were often crowded due to the volume of casualties, but medical staff worked tirelessly to reduce infection and promote healing. Given the nature of his injury, Hersee would likely have undergone wound cleaning, possible debridement (removal of damaged tissue), and bandaging, with careful monitoring for signs of infection.

EVACUATION TO ENGLAND SEPTEMBER 1918

On 21 September, he embarked on the Carisbrook Castle for transport to England. The ship was part of the medical evacuation fleet, equipped to provide care during the voyage, which could be difficult for recovering patients due to seasickness and cramped conditions.

Upon arrival in England, Hersee was admitted on 22 September to the Alexandra Hospital at Cashmere, a facility dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of wounded Australian soldiers. This hospital would have provided more specialized care, including physiotherapy to aid recovery of arm function, pain management, and psychological support.

CONVALESENCE OCTOBER 1918

By 17 October, he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Auxiliary hospitals in England typically handled longer-term convalescence, allowing soldiers to regain strength and begin limited physical activity before returning to duty or further rehabilitation.

On 19 October, Hersee was granted furlough until 20 November, providing him a period of rest away from the hospital environment, likely with family or in a convalescent home.

REHABILITATION CENTRE NOVEMBER 1918

After his furlough, he was posted to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdford, which served as a rehabilitation and training centre.

WAR ENDED

On 11^th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia.

OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE NOVEMBER 1918 TO JANUARY 1919

Between 30 November 1918 and January 1919, while posted to the Overseas Training Brigade, Hersee would have been involved in activities typical for soldiers in that formation during the final months of the war and the early post-war period.

The Overseas Training Brigade was responsible for:

·      Rehabilitation and retraining: Helping recovering soldiers regain fitness and military skills after wounds or illness. This included physical conditioning, drills, and weapon training adapted to their capabilities.

·      Preparation for return to civilian life: As the war was ending (Armistice was on 11 November 1918), the brigade shifted focus to preparing troops for repatriation and transition back to civilian life.

·      Administrative processing: Managing records, pay, and travel arrangements for soldiers awaiting embarkation to Australia.

·      Maintaining discipline and morale: Organizing lectures, sports, educational programs, and social events to keep soldiers occupied during the wait.

Hersee likely participated in light physical training and medical assessments to confirm his readiness for the journey home.

GOING HOME FEBRUARY 1919

After months of healing, convalescing & furlough Hersee prepared to return to Australia. He embarked on 20^th February 1919 on the Orsova, arrived home on 6^th March and was discharged 29^th March 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Hersee was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Tyalgum Great War Roll of Honour

HOME LIFE

He married Ethel Frankham in 1919, who died shortly after giving birth to their first daughter. He remarried in 1929 and he and Lorna Eileen (Brown) Stewart had 4 children. He died 29^th April 1959 aged 71 at Murwillumbah and is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery, with his wives, children & many siblings & their family. 

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