FAMILY LIFE

Charles Arthur McIlrath was born c1887 in Lorquon, Victoria, son of Isaac & Sarah McIlrath. The family had been a resident of the Tweed district for many years. His father, Isaac, had played a large part in the development of the town and district, particularly as a founding alderman of the Murwillumbah Municipal Council, and was Mayor in 1905. Isaac was the founder of the first butter factory on the Tweed. His brother, Herbert, had enlisted 25th August 1914

APPLICATION

Charles was single, and an engineer eager to do his bit. He travelled to Liverpool on the 22^nd June 1915, to enlist, stating his next of kin as his mother, Sarah, of Murwillumbah and he was Presbyterian. Charles was 28 years old and had served a 5-year apprenticeship with the Colonial Sugar Company in Sydney.  

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, Charles Arthur McIlrath, 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 5ft 3 inches tall (1.6M), weighed 134lbs (60kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good.

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 into the 2nd Infantry Battalion, with service No 2711

LIVERPOOL TRAINING CAMP

His training began soon after enlistment. Liverpool Military Camp was the main centre in New South Wales to provide basic military training. Conditions at the camp were generally poor throughout the war. 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.

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 only took 6 weeks

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 five shillings a day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO EGYPT AUGUST 1915

His unit boarded the troop train bound for Sydney on the 7 August 1915 and embarked the HMAT Runic on 9^th August 1915. 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

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.

During an interim period, soldiers typically:

·      Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.

·      Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.

·      Received equipment and uniforms: Egypt's heat made the heavy wool uniforms uncomfortable. As a result, lighter clothing was often issued or obtained locally. Soldiers frequently wore:

ü Khaki cotton shirts without the tunic

ü Lightweight drill uniforms made from cotton

ü Shorts on some occasions, particularly in camp

ü Pith helmets or sun helmets for fatigue duties and work in the sun, although the slouch hat remained the iconic Australian headgear

·      Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.

·      Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.

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.

GALLIPOLI NOVEMBER 1915

After completing this training period in Egypt, he was transported across the Mediterranean to the peninsula and joined the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. The Light Horse at Gallipoli served as dismounted infantry, leaving their horses behind in Egypt.

From 4 November until the evacuation in December 1915, Charles would have spent his time in the trenches around the Anzac sector. Although the great offensives of August had ended, the period was far from quiet. The regiment occupied front-line trenches, carried out patrols, repaired trenches and dugouts, improved defensive works, endured shellfire and sniper activity, and prepared for the eventual withdrawal.

BACK TO EGYPT DECEMBER 1915

The unit disembarked at Alexandria from Huntsgreen on 28 December 1915 reflecting the successful evacuation of Gallipoli. The transport Huntsgreen carried troops from the peninsula back to Egypt. Like thousands of other Anzacs, Charles had survived one of the most difficult campaigns of the war.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP DECEMBER 1915 TO MARCH 1916

Now they had to train for the Western Front. Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the weather, and the damp cold came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.

Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions.

Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.

Large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover were undertaken.  These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.

After many months of continuous preparation, the men were judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.

WESTERN FRONT APRIL 1916

When their training ended, they headed for France.  On 22nd March 1916, the 2nd sailed for France and disembarked on 28th March at Marseilles and the Western Front. After being landed in Marseilles, they proceeded north by railway to staging areas near Hazebrouck. Shortly afterwards, on 7 April, the units of I Anzac Corps were assigned to a "quiet" sector of the line near Armentieres to gain experience of trench warfare.

TRENCH WARFARE

The soldiers now 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. 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.

ARMENTIERES APRIL 1916

Armentières remained a relatively quiet sector on the Western Front during World War I. It was primarily used as a training ground for newly arrived troops, including Australians and New Zealanders, to acclimate to trench warfare. While not a site of major battles that year, the area still experienced occasional skirmishes, artillery fire, and gas attacks. Soldiers stationed there gained valuable experience before being deployed to more active fronts

Due to concerns about a German attack, almost immediately the Australians set to work to improve the defences around their position. It had been hoped by the high command to initially keep the Australian presence a secret in order to gain some advantage from it, however, on 23 April it became apparent that the Germans had become aware of their arrival when a signal lamp flashed a message in Morse code from the trench opposite the 2nd Battalion's position stating, "Australians go home". To this, the Australians, despite orders against responding, replied matter-of-factly, "Why?

BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY 1916

The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozières in the Somme valley in July 1916. The battalion entered the line on the night of 19^th July as the 1st was sent forward to relieve the British 68th Brigade along with the 3rd Brigade; just after midnight the 2nd Battalion, after an approach march over which they had endured gas attack, arrived at its position opposite the south-western side of the village. This was the first protracted battle for Australian troops on the Western Front. By mid-July 1916 British attacks on the Somme had brought the front line close to the German occupied village of Pozieres high on the crest of Thiepval Ridge. For the British to advance Pozieres had to be captured. Three Australian divisions of the First Anzac Corps were assigned to the Western Front to help achieve this objective. Less than one third of the Australian reinforcements had fought at Gallipoli; they were largely inexperienced and ill-prepared to deal with the deadly onslaught of the battle-hardened machine that was the German Imperial Army.

It was at Pozieres that Australian soldiers were exposed to the full horrors of the Western Front. They were subjected to incessant German artillery attacks and devastating machine-gun fire, plus intense frontal assaults, all of which took an overwhelming physical and mental toll. During the operations around Pozières, the battalion lost 10 officers and 500 men killed or wounded. Later the battalion fought at Ypres, in Flanders, (Belgium) before returning to the Somme for winter.

BATTLE OF MOQUET FARM AUGUST 1916

After this, they were sent to Pernois for rest and re-organisation, and after being brought back up to about two-thirds strength the 2nd Battalion's next involvement in the fighting came around Mouquet Farm when they were briefly put into the line on 18th & 19th August to provide reinforcement, before being quickly relieved a few days later.

Three Australian divisions launched nine attacks on the farm between 8 August and 3 September, suffering over 11,000 casualties. Despite fierce fighting, the Australians were unable to fully capture and hold the farm, as German forces used underground tunnels and cellars to maintain their defences. The British advance eventually bypassed the farm, leaving it an isolated outpost until it was finally captured on 26 September 1916.

SEPTEMBER 1916

In early September, the Corps was transferred from the Somme region to Ypres, in Belgium, swapping with the Canadians for a rest. Taking up a position north of the Ypres–Commines canal, the battalions of the 1st Division were placed in the centre of the line between those of the 4th, on the right to the south, and the 2nd on the left, to the north. The sector was a relatively quiet one, although not without its dangers due to constant mortar attacks, sniping, and the need to maintain patrols in no man's land. Nevertheless, duties in this time were focused mainly upon maintaining a defensive presence in the line and rebuilding the defences. In addition, several small-scale raids were also undertaken to draw some attention away from the fighting that was occurring on the Somme.

EARLY OCTOBER 1916

On 6 October, in concert with three parties from the 1st Battalion, the 2nd carried out a minor raid on a German position to the north-east of a position known as "The Bluff" to gain intelligence. After encountering a German patrol, they were forced to abandon their attempt, however, a short time later, one of their own patrols captured a German soldier from the 414th Infantry Regiment in no man's land. The next week, on 12 October, just after 6:00 pm a small party moved out into no man's land to raid another German position near The Bluff. After being spotted, they were subjected to several grenade attacks, forcing them to retire. Their covering force was already in position, however, and so several of the attacking force joined them and together, at 6:30 pm, after a box barrage by the artillery had cut the wire in front of the German position, they entered it.

Killing seven Germans, they overcame the enemy resistance and brought back two defenders as prisoners. On the way back, several of their own wounded became lost, although all except one of these men were later recovered. The other man, one of the officers, was later found to have died of his wounds. In total the raid had cost the battalion two killed and seven wounded

LATE OCTOBER

In late October, the 2nd Battalion was positioned in the front lines of the Flers–Gueudecourt sector. This area was a focal point of the ongoing Somme offensive, characterized by muddy trenches and relentless artillery bombardments. The battalion's activities included holding defensive positions, conducting patrols, and preparing for upcoming operations

WOUNDED IN ACTION 31^ST OCTOBER

Charles was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was admitted to the 36^th Clearing Station

CLEARING STATIONS

A Clearing Station was a key part of the military medical evacuation chain used by soldiers. It was set up a few miles behind the front lines, often near railways or roads and positioned far enough to be relatively safe from artillery, but close enough for rapid access

The were staffed by:

·      Army doctors and surgeons

·      Nurses (including Australian Army Nursing Service nurses)

·      Orderlies and stretcher bearers

Soldiers were often treated here and the sent to hospitals for long term care

HOSPITALISATION ETAPLES

From there he was admitted to the 23^rd General Hospital on Etaples

HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND

On 5^th November 1916 he embarked for England and the 3^rd General Hospital where he stayed until he was discharged 2^nd December 1916.

COMMAND POSTS

In 1915 as the numbers of Australians and New Zealanders being discharged from hospitals in the United Kingdom began to rise it became essential to establish a depot for them to report to for convalescence and retraining before returning to active service. Charles was admitted to No 2 command post in Weymouth which received men who are likely to be unfit for duty for a period longer than three months. By 13^th January 1917 he was transferred to No 4 command post Wareham which received men who will be fit for duty in periods ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months. During his convalescing, his training carried on intensively - the tactics and technologies of the war developed very rapidly and he needed to be up to date with the newest weapons and strategies in place.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 61^ST BATTALION MARCH 1917

While at Wareham, on 23^rd March 1917, he was taken on strength with the 61^st Battalion. It appears he did not leave this command post

REJOINED 2^ND BATTALION AUGUST 1917

He was transferred back to the 2^nd Battalion on 11^th August and marched into the Overseas Training Camp in Perham Downs. Perham Downs Training Camp was a major military training facility located on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Troops stayed there anywhere from several weeks to a few months depending on their readiness and the situation at the front.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH NOVEMBER 1917

Charles was again taken on strength on 24th November 1917. In November 1917, the 2nd Battalion was engaged in operations on the Western Front during World War I. Following the intense battles of the Third Battle of Ypres, which concluded in early November, the battalion was involved in holding and consolidating positions in the Ypres sector of Belgium.

The battalion's activities during this period included manning front-line trenches, conducting patrols, and maintaining defensive positions amidst challenging conditions characterized by cold weather, waterlogged trenches, and the aftermath of heavy artillery bombardments. These operations were crucial in securing the gains made during the earlier offensives and in preparing for future actions

TRANSFERRED TO 25^TH INFANTRY BATTALION DECEMBER 1917

On the 8^th December 1917 he was transferred to the 25^th Infantry Battalion. When Charles transferred to the 25th Battalion on 8 December 1917, the battalion was holding positions in the Ypres Salient in Belgium following the terrible fighting around Passchendaele. The men spent the winter of 1917–18 in the mud and bitter cold of Flanders, rotating between the front line, support trenches and reserve positions. Much of their time was occupied repairing trenches damaged by shellfire, laying duckboards across waterlogged ground, carrying supplies forward at night and enduring frequent artillery bombardments. Disease, exposure and exhaustion were constant companions even when major battles were not underway.

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

The German Spring Offensive began in March 1918 and transformed the situation. The 25th Battalion was rushed south to assist in stemming the German advance towards Amiens. During these critical weeks Charles and his comrades were heavily engaged in defensive operations, digging new positions, occupying hastily prepared trenches and taking part in a series of fierce actions designed to halt the enemy's momentum. The battalion endured long marches, little rest and almost continuous danger as the Australian divisions helped stabilise the front.

APRIL AND MAY 1918 VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

By April and May,1918 the battalion was involved in the hard fighting around Villers-Bretonneux and the defence of the Amiens sector. Although not every day was spent in direct combat, the battalion remained constantly employed in patrol work, trench improvement, wiring parties, carrying ammunition and preparing for expected attacks. Casualties continued to mount from shellfire, machine-gun fire and sniping.

JUNE 1918

During June 1918 the Allies were gradually regaining the initiative. The 25th Battalion occupied positions east of Amiens and participated in aggressive patrolling and limited attacks intended to harass the Germans and improve Australian positions before the larger offensives that would follow later in the year. Leadership losses were frequent, particularly among junior officers and non-commissioned officers who led men during patrols and assaults.

PROMOTED TO CORPORAL JUNE 1918

It was in this environment that Charles was promoted to Corporal on 26 June 1918 following the death of the previous holder of the rank. Such battlefield promotions were common during this period because casualties among experienced NCOs were high. The promotion reflected both the loss suffered by the battalion and the confidence his superiors had in Charles' ability to lead men under difficult conditions. As a corporal he would now have been responsible for a section of soldiers, overseeing their discipline, welfare and effectiveness in combat while continuing to share the same dangers as the men under his command.

THE BATTLE OF HAMEL 4^TH JULY 1918

The Battle of Hamel during World War One was a major milestone in Australian military history and cemented the reputation of commander General John Monash.

At precisely 3.10am, the guns thundered into life and the soldiers rose, lit up cigarettes and followed the booming artillery barrage into battle, their objective a French village named Le Hamel.

As dawn loomed it was all over. The village had fallen, casualties were mercifully light (by World War One standards) and victory was complete.

In his detailed planning, Australian commander Lieutenant General John Monash calculated this would take 90 minutes. It actually took 93.

By mid-1918, the allies had much going in their favour. The massive German March offensive was running out of steam and the blockade of Germany was starting to bite. Supplies, even food, were running low.

American forces were arriving in big numbers and there were ample stocks of food and munitions.

In May, Monash was chosen to lead a united Australian Corps, comprising five divisions with around 120,000 troops. Previously Australian divisions were allocated to British corps according to need.

Monash promptly got on with planning for Hamel, his first battle for a united Australian Corps. For the Western Front, this wasn't a huge deal, just advancing two kilometres on a 6.5-kilometre frontage.

Monash planned meticulously, writing later that a modern battle was akin to an orchestral composition, with every unit entering at precisely the proper moment to play its part in the general harmony.

What Monash planned was a progenitor of a modern-day combined arms operation, featuring infantry, armour, artillery and aircraft, all working together.

The Australian Army recognises this heritage - Darwin-based 1st Brigade's major biennial warfighting exercise is called Hamel.

Monash saw the benefits of emerging technology.

The diggers had a low opinion of British tanks, which performed poorly the previous year at Bullecourt.

Monash believed they could be useful and the Australian Corps was assigned 60 of the latest Mark V models and before going into action, tanks and infantry practised together, the soldiers developing much needed confidence in the machines and their crews.

Hamel had another feature - Americans. Hamel was to be their first action, with the diggers mentoring these newcomers on the battlefield.

It was for precisely that reason that Monash picked July 4 - American Independence Day.

Initially about 1000 were to participate but US commander General John Pershing objected, insisting that most and then all be withdrawn.

Monash drew the line - either the Americans were in or he would cancel the attack.

They were in and at 3.10am, more than 600 guns deluged German positions with high explosives and poison gas. Infantry followed close behind the artillery barrage with the tanks close behind, ready to be called forward to crush wire or obliterate strong points.

With no preliminary bombardment to alert defenders, surprise was complete.

In many places, German soldiers fought hard. Sergeants Thomas Axford and Henry Dalziel were awarded the Victoria Cross for heroism in attacking German positions.

But the result was never in doubt. German losses were substantial, around 2000 including 1600 prisoners captured, along with 200 machine guns and trench mortars.

Compared with earlier battles, Australian casualties were light - about 1400 dead and wounded, while 45 of the accompanying Americans were killed.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

One of those wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the head was Charles.

HOSPITALISED ENGLAND

On 5^th July he was transferred to England to the 3^rd Australian General Hospital. He was then transferred to No. 2 command depot in Dartford. 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.

WAR ENDED 11^TH NOVEMBER 1918

He was unable to return to his unit as he was still recuperating from his wound and on 11 November, an armistice came into effect, and as hostilities came to an end, the battalion's personnel were slowly repatriated back to Australia for demobilisation and discharge.

GOING HOME

He returned to Australia 10 December 1918 on the Somali and was discharged 14 April 1919 due to medical unfitness.

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 Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

HOME LIFE

He died 10 Jun 1972 in Newtown, aged 85 and is buried in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, plot East Terrace 3 Wall 4

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