FAMILY LIFE

Herbert William Fackerell (Bert) was born in Murwillumbah c1894, the fourth child of Edward Fackerell & Phyllis Caroline Marion (Hawkes) Fackerell. His father was a prominent businessman in the area. Edward owned a farm at Dungay; opened a cordial factory in 1902 and purchased the Imperial Hotel in 1911. He was also very active in the community serving as an Alderman from 1903 to 1905 and was involved in a range of other community organisations. Herbert had five siblings. His brother, Humphrey enlisted in 1915 and was killed in action on 4^th September 1918

In June 1915, the Great War had been raging for nearly a year. At the time, Bert was living in Murwillumbah, working as a farmer. The news of a German U-boat being responsible for the sinking of the civilian ship Lusitania and the death of her 1200 passengers was published in a Sydney newspaper. These deaths were published alongside a report involving German atrocities in Belgium. The news of the heavy losses sustained at Gallipoli were also starting to reach Australia. Bert felt he had to do his bit

ATTESTATION

Bert enlisted on 14^th June 1915 at Liverpool. He was a single farmer. His next of kin was father, Edward, of the Imperial Hotel, Murwillumbah (which he owned). He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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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, Herbert William Fackerell, 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

He was 21 years 11 months old. Bert was 5ft 5 ¾ inches tall (1.68m) and weighed 136lbs (62kgs) with a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. He was Church of England.

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies 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. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

The commanding officer 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 as a private in the 3^rd reinforcements 17^th Infantry Battalion with service number 1929

COOTAMUNDRA TRAINING CAMP

As was the case with men from the 17^th Infantry their training camp was in Cootamundra. 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 their 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 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 could 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 six shillings a day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO EGYPT AUGUST 1915

Bert embarked for overseas on the 9^th August 1915 on the HMAT Runic bound for Egypt under his commanding officer, Captain C.E. Cooke. 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.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP OCTOBER 1915

But they were in the Army and more training was in front of them. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months 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 be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause. Training would normally up to last 3 months.

TRANSFER TO 2^ND PIONEER BATTALION MARCH 1916

On 13^th March 1916 Bert was transferred to the 2^nd Pioneer Battalion. Pioneer battalions were unique in that they combined infantry combat skills with light engineering capabilities, such as constructing trenches, defensive positions, and maintaining roads and railways.

FRANCE MARCH 1916

On 19^th March he proceeded to join the BEF (British Expeditionary Forces) from Alexandria and disembarked 26^th March in Marseilles.

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.

HOSPITALISATION APRIL 1916

On 4^th April he rejoined is unit from hospital but no details recorded.  BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE JULY TO NOVEMBER 1917

Bert was involved in the 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.

WOUNDED IN ACTION NOVEMBER 1916

Bert received a gunshot wound to the left thigh & right arm, severe. HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND

On the 11^th November a telegram was sent to his father advising Bert was in the Kitchener Hospital, Brighton and had been removed from seriously ill list. Telegram to father 8^th December 1916 advising his condition was improving. On 8^th January 1917 he was removed from the seriously ill list.

COMMAND DEPOT APRIL 1917

On 7^th April he was marched into a training camp for convalescence but also for drilling and training until he was posted to rejoin their unit in the field- the tactics and technologies of the war developed very rapidly and Bert would have to keep up to date.

PROMOTED TO GUNNER NOVEMBER 1917

On the 13^th November he was promoted to Gunner & transferred to artillery details Heytesbury, another training camp. During World War I, Heytesbury in Wiltshire, England, served as a significant training and recuperation site for Australian troops. The camp's location on Salisbury Plain provided ample space for artillery drills and manoeuvres, essential for preparing troops for the conditions they would face on the Western Front.

DISCIPLINED DECEMBER 1917

Whilst there, on the 23^rd December, he created a disturbance after lights out and was award 14 days confined to barracks

ATTACHED TO 10^TH FAB FEBRUARY 1918

On the 3^rd February 1918 he proceeded overseas to Rouelles, France where he was temporarily attached to the 10^th FAB

BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND NOVEMBER 1918

Between February and November 1918, the 10th Field Artillery Brigade played a crucial role on the Western Front during the final stages of World War I. As part of the 4th Division Artillery, the brigade provided essential artillery support in several key offensives that contributed to the Allied victor

KEY ENGAGEMENTS AND OPERATIONS

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE (MARCH–APRIL 1918):

In early 1918, the 10th FAB was engaged in defensive operations to counter the German Spring Offensive. Their artillery units provided critical support to halt the German advance, particularly during intense fighting around Villers-Bretonneux in April.

BATTLE OF HAMEL (4 JULY 1918):

The brigade participated in the Battle of Hamel, a meticulously planned attack that became a model for future operations. The 10th FAB's precise artillery bombardments were instrumental in the swift capture of objectives with minimal casualties

BATTLE OF AMIENS (8–11 AUGUST 1918):

During the Battle of Amiens, the 10th FAB supported the 4th Division's advance by delivering effective artillery fire that helped break through German lines. This battle marked the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive, leading to the eventual end of the war.birtwistlewiki.com.au

ADVANCE TO THE HINDENBURG LINE (SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 1918): The brigade continued to support offensive operations as Allied forces pushed towards the Hindenburg Line. Their artillery fire facilitated the capture of key positions, contributing to the weakening of German defences.

HOSPITALISATION HERNIA NOVEMBER 1918

He was admitted to 567 Field Ambulance with a hernia in his left thigh. A hernia is when tissues or organs bulge through a weak point in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall. Bert was evacuated to England

WAR ENDED 11^th NOVEMBER 1918

The armistice that ended the First World War on the Western Front was signed between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918. The guns fell silent at 11:00 a.m. that day.

RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 1919

Bert returned to Australia on the Morvada on 25^th February and was discharged on the 30^th May 1919. The return of soldiers created problems for the Australian Government that were never fully rectified. The main issues were:

·      lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home

·      special care needs of sick and wounded personnel

·      lack of trained personnel to care for them

Bert had to wait several months until he was able to board a ship for home. Soldiers were entertained with sports and concerts, as had been the case during the war. Many worked in an administrative capacity and were thus busy with their regular duties while they waited to go home. Soldiers were also given 14 days leave before embarkation. Many of them took the opportunity to explore Britain.

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

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Bert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour and Dungay Public School WW1 Honor Roll

HOME LIFE

Bert married Violet Jamieson in 1920 and according to NSWBDM, they had a daughter in 1924. Bert died in Murwillumbah on 6^th April 1926 due to Dengue Fever. He is buried in Murwillumbah Old Cemetery

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