FAMILY LIFE

Bernard Young was born c1890 in Nerang, Qld, son of Cornelius Charles Young & Elizabeth Ann (Price) Young. One of brothers, Frederick, enlisted and died at Gallipoli in May 1915, another, Alexander returned to Australia in 1919 and another, Ivor, signed up but had his enlistment cancelled as he was under-age.

Arriving on the Tweed in 1901 after mother Elizabeth Young fled her husband, Mr Young (second youngest) and his eight siblings found their place on River St, South Murwillumbah, before playing an integral part in the blossoming community.

Extract from granddaughter, Alice Jackson, notes

"They were a well-known family in the Tweed District and he had a great affection for the Tweed," Mrs Jackson said.

ATTESTATION

He was single labourer, living in Murwillumbah, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Enoggera on 6^TH December 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth, of South Murwillumbah. 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

PAGE 2

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, Bernard Young, 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

His medical showed he was 25 years old, 5ft 11 ½ inches tall (1.81m), weighed 161 lbs (73kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. Bernard was Church of England and had a scar on his right foot.  

PAGE 3

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

This is completed during the recruits training. 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 25 Infantry Battalion – 8^th Reinforcements with service No 3679

25TH INFANTRY BATTALION

The 25th Infantry Battalion, part of the 7th Brigade, 2nd Division of the Australian Imperial Force, was raised in March 1915 at Enoggera, Queensland. Their service is remembered for their resilience and contributions to key victories.

ENOGGERA TRAINING CAMP

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. By late 1915 the Australian Army was under enormous pressure to produce reinforcements for Gallipoli veterans and for the expanding AIF. The training was therefore intensive rather than lengthy. Bernard and the other recruits who took their oath on 27 November 1915 would have arrived at Enoggera as civilians from all walks of life—farm labourers, clerks, labourers, tradesmen and station hands—and the Army's first task was to turn them into soldiers.

At Enoggera, Bernard's day would have begun early, often before sunrise. Reveille would sound, followed by breakfast and a full day of instruction. The first lessons were basic military discipline. Recruits learned how to march, form ranks, salute officers, obey commands instantly and maintain their equipment. Much of their time was spent on the parade ground.

The Army placed enormous importance on drill. To a modern observer it can seem pointless, but drill taught men to move together, follow orders automatically and develop discipline. Officers believed that men who could maintain order on a parade ground were more likely to maintain order under fire.

Bernard would also have received extensive rifle training. The standard weapon was the .303 calibre Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle.

The recruits learned:

·      Rifle handling and safety.

·      Loading and unloading.

·      Aiming and sight adjustment.

·      Rapid-fire techniques.

·      Cleaning and maintenance.

·      Musketry exercises.

Many recruits came from rural backgrounds and were already familiar with firearms, but military marksmanship was a specialised skill requiring considerable practice.

Physical training was another major component. Bernard would have undertaken route marches carrying increasing amounts of equipment. These marches toughened the men physically and accustomed them to carrying heavy loads over long distances. They also helped identify recruits who were unlikely to withstand the rigours of active service.

Bayonet training was particularly emphasised in 1915. Instructors taught recruits how to attack enemy trenches using thrusts, parries and butt strokes. Much of this training took place against straw-filled dummies. The Army wanted men to develop aggression and confidence before facing combat.

Fieldcraft training was also introduced. Bernard would have learned:

·      Digging trenches.

·      Constructing defensive positions.

·      Use of cover and concealment.

·      Sending military messages.

·      Guard duties.

·      Camp sanitation.

Sanitation was considered critical. Disease had killed more soldiers than bullets in many previous wars, so recruits received instruction in cleanliness, water discipline and camp hygiene.

Because Bernard enlisted after the Gallipoli campaign, instructors could draw upon real battlefield experience. Many training staff were veterans who had returned from Gallipoli wounded or sick. Their lessons were often practical rather than theoretical, based on what they had actually experienced under fire.

The timing of Bernard's enlistment also meant Christmas 1915 fell during his training period. While there would likely have been some relaxation of routine for Christmas Day, most recruits continued training. The Army was urgently preparing reinforcement drafts for overseas service.

When Bernard embarked from Brisbane on 3 January 1916, he was not yet a fully trained infantryman by later-war standards. Rather, he had mastered the fundamentals of soldiering. The Army expected much of his advanced training to occur after arrival in Egypt.

Bernard's six weeks at Enoggera as a whirlwind introduction to military life. During that short period, he learned military discipline, rifle handling, drill, bayonet fighting, route marching and fieldcraft. He arrived as a civilian in late November and, by the time he boarded his troopship in early January, he was already beginning to think and act like a soldier of the AIF, though much of his hardest training still lay ahead in the deserts of Egypt.

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 BRISBANE TO EGYPT

On the 3 January 1916, the regiment left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAR Kyarra. Over 1000 men from several units embarked on this vessel. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time away from home. However, 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.

TRANSFER TO 2^ND PIONEER BATTALION- EGYPT MARCH 1916

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

They arrived in Egypt in March 1916 and on the 15^th March, Bernard was transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion at Moascar, Egypt. They then wee marched into their training camp. 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.

Over many tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began an intensive period of training in preparation for deployment to the front. These camps were shared by other Australian and New Zealand forces, creating a large and active training environment.

Daily life followed a strict military routine. Reveille was sounded around 5:30 am, followed by physical training, which included route marches and endurance work in the desert conditions. After breakfast, the men began structured morning sessions focusing on drill, bayonet practice, and rifle handling. Training resumed after lunch, often with practical field exercises such as digging trenches, constructing defences, and simulating attacks on mock enemy positions. The day ended with roll call, personal time, and lights out around 9:00 pm.

The training itself covered a wide range of military skills. Soldiers learned close-order drill, musketry (rifle shooting), bayonet fighting, and basic tactics. Musketry was particularly important: the men practised with their Lee-Enfield rifles on firing ranges, learning how to load, aim, fire rapidly, and judge distances accurately. Bayonet training was also emphasized, with troops practising thrusts, parries, and charges on straw-filled dummies to build aggression and confidence.

Physical fitness was a high priority. Route marches of 10 to 15 kilometres in full kit were a regular part of the schedule to build stamina and discipline. Troops also received instruction in field engineering—learning how to dig trenches, build parapets and revetments, and position barbed wire obstacles effectively.

Other important areas of training included basic first aid, battlefield communication (such as flag and lamp signalling), and map reading.

Sanitation and hygiene were stressed throughout the training period. Soldiers were taught how to prevent disease by maintaining clean clothing and equipment, constructing latrines, and purifying drinking water. This was crucial in the Egyptian climate, where illness could spread rapidly.

Although the training was demanding, there were occasional opportunities for leave. Many soldiers visited the bazaars, cafés, and sights of Cairo, or made trips to the pyramids near Mena. Morale was generally high, though the men understood active service was approaching.

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.

After many months of continuous preparation in France, 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 entered into the war, 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.

TRANSFERRED TO 2^ND PIONEER BATTALION MARCH 1916

Whilst in the training camp Bernard was transferred to the 2^nd Pioneer Battalion

FRANCE AND TRENCH WARFARE JUNE 1916

After the camp, the recruits joined their unit. 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

JULY 1916

After arriving on the Wester Front the 2nd battalion was assigned to support the 2nd Division in upcoming battles. It began construction of defensive positions and logistical infrastructure for the Western Front. The battalion was positioned near the Somme, preparing for its first major engagement. It assisted in digging trenches, laying barbed wire defences, and reinforcing strongpoints.

THE BATTLE OF MOQUET FARM JULY & AUGUST 1916

His unit took part in the Battle of Moquet Farm in July & August 1916. The 2nd Pioneer Battalion played a significant role in the Battle of Mouquet Farm (August–September 1916), which was part of the larger Battle of the Somme. This battle was marked by intense trench warfare and repeated assaults on heavily fortified German positions.

Bernard and the 2^nd would have dug trenches and fortifications under heavy artillery fire. They assisted in repairing roads and supply routes for advancing troops and fought alongside 2nd Division infantry units in direct assaults. They suffered heavy casualties due to German machine gun fire and counterattacks, facing constant artillery bombardment and gas attacks. They operated in muddy, cratered terrain, making movement difficult. The battle was costly for Australian forces, with thousands of casualties as they attempted to capture and hold the farm. Despite repeated attacks, the Germans retained control until September 1916, when they withdrew to the Hindenburg Line

WOUNDED IN ACTION AUGUST 1916

The 2nd Pioneer Battalion had arrived in France in March 1916. Pioneer battalions were a relatively new concept in the AIF. They were essentially infantrymen with additional engineering and construction responsibilities. The Army needed men who could dig trenches, build roads, lay duckboards, construct strongpoints, repair communication trenches and carry out major labour projects close to the fighting.

Despite this engineering role, pioneers were soldiers first and often worked in extremely dangerous locations. They frequently came under shellfire while building roads and trenches, and when required they could fight alongside infantry battalions.

During July and August 1916, the 2nd Pioneer Battalion was deeply involved in the Somme campaign around Pozières. The Australians were attempting to capture and hold the high ground around the village while under constant German bombardment. The pioneers had one of the hardest jobs on the battlefield.

While infantry battalions might be withdrawn after an attack, the pioneers often moved forward immediately afterwards. Their tasks included:

·      Digging new trenches in captured ground.

·      Repairing trenches destroyed by shellfire.

·      Constructing communication trenches.

·      Building roads for artillery and supply wagons.

·      Carrying engineering stores forward.

·      Recovering wounded men and battlefield equipment.

Much of this work took place at night, but German artillery operated around the clock.

It was in this environment that Bernard received his shrapnel wound to the left ankle on 5 August 1916. German artillery was firing enormous quantities of shells onto Australian positions. Many casualties occurred not during attacks but while men were digging, carrying supplies or undertaking construction work.

Bernard may well have been engaged in one of these pioneer tasks when the shell exploded nearby. The shrapnel fragment that struck his ankle probably caused more damage than the brief service record entry suggests. The ankle is a complicated joint. Shell fragments often shattered bone, damaged tendons and introduced dirt and debris deep into the wound.

MEDICAL CHAIN

After treatment in France, Bernard was evacuated to England on 14 August and admitted to the General Military Hospital at Colchester.

There doctors would have assessed whether the injury was likely to heal sufficiently for active service. In many cases ankle wounds proved frustratingly slow to recover. Even after the wound itself healed, soldiers often experienced:

·      Chronic pain.

·      Swelling after exercise.

·      Reduced flexibility.

·      Difficulty marching long distances.

·      Weakness when carrying heavy loads.

For a Pioneer Battalion soldier, those limitations were especially significant. Pioneer work was physically demanding. Men were expected to dig, lift, carry timber and engineering materials, and often work for long hours under difficult conditions.

The fact that Bernard remained in England for approximately two months before being invalided home suggests that medical authorities gave him every opportunity to recover. They clearly hoped he might become fit enough to return to duty.

RETURNED HOME OCTOBER 1916

Eventually, however, the medical boards concluded that he was unlikely to regain the fitness required for service on the Western Front. Consequently, he was returned to Australia aboard the hospital ship Karoola on 16 October 1916.

It is worth emphasising that Bernard was not simply "wounded while serving with the Pioneers." He was wounded while undertaking the vital and hazardous work that enabled the Australian divisions to hold and consolidate their hard-won positions around Pozières. The roads, trenches and defences built by men like Bernard were essential to every Australian operation on the Somme, and they paid a heavy price for that work. He was discharged 7^th December 1916.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial.

PENSION

He was granted pension of 3 pounds per fortnight on 8^th March 1917

---

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

We do not have any additional documents or pictures related to this individual.