FAMILY LIFE

Alleyne Shepherd Loder, known as Len, was born 15th June 1885, at Tumbulgum, son of Arthur Alleyne Loder & Ada Alice (Beetham) Loder. He was the eldest of three boys. His father was a long-term resident of the Tweed and was prominently identified with the dairying industry.  He was married to Violet Ethel (McCrone) Loder and they had 2 children. He had purchased a small country store at Uki in 1914 which eventually became the biggest store between Newcastle & Brisbane. But Len felt he had to do his bit for the war effort.  Alleyne’s father, Arthur, was prominently identified with the North Coast dairy business. His mother is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

 APPLICATION

He travelled to Brisbane on 12^th December 1916 to complete his medical and application. He was 31 years 6 months old and a storekeeper with his wife, Violet, as his next of kin. His medical showed he was 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m), weighed 185 lbs (84kgs), with a fresh complexion, grey eyes & light brown hair. His eye sight was good. He was Roman Catholic and had 2 vaccination scars on his left arm.  Len was dentally fit. He was enlisted as a private into the 25^th Infantry Battalion – 19^th to 20^th Reinforcements with service No 6828

 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. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

 Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then 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 would take several months

 VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 14^th June 1917, the regiment left Sydney sailing upon the HMAT Hororata. 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.

 ROLLESTON TRAINING CAMP

They disembarked in Liverpool 26^th August 1917.From there they were marched into the training camp at Rolleston. 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.

 APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL

On 29^th November 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal

 TRENCH WARFARE

On 27^th December 1917 he proceeded to France, where he reverted to Private. In that time the 25^th Battalion rotated through the line and took part in many more battles in France and Belgium. 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

THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULLECOURT 3^rd MAY 1917

The 25^th was involved in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. Despite the failure of the first attack on 11 April 1917, a few weeks later General Gough once again tried to break the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. On 3 May 1917 the 2nd Australian Division attacked with the British alongside. Although the brigade on the right faltered under deadly machine-gun fire, the 6th Brigade got into the enemy’s trenches and, despite heavy shellfire and counter attacks, bravely held on. The 1st Division relieved the 2nd, and soon the 5th Division took its turn. Finally, after more than a week, the Germans gave up these blood-soaked fields. Then the depleted Australian battalions were withdrawn to recover. The furious fighting, which in the end only advanced the line a kilometre or so, had been at the heavy cost of another 7,000 Australian casualties. 'The Second Bullecourt (battle) was, in some ways, the stoutest achievement of the Australian soldier in France'.

THE BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD, (20-25 SEPTEMBER 1917)

They then were engaged in the Battle of Menin Road, which was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action

THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE RIDGE 4 OCTOBER 1917

Their last battle for 1917 was the Battle of Broodseinde which was fought on 4 October 1917 near Ypres. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allied devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. Preparations were made by the Germans for local withdrawals and planning began for a greater withdrawal, which would entail the abandonment by the Germans of the Belgian coast, one of the strategic aims of the Flanders Offensive

THE GERMAN SPRIG OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

After wintering in Belgium, in early 1918 the 25th Battalion moved south to Somme as the Australian divisions were transferred there to help blunt the German spring offensive in March and April, undertaking a defensive action around Villers-Bretonneux as the Allies fought to defend the vital railhead of Amiens. The German Spring Offensive was a series of German attacks on the Western Front during World War I, launched between March 21 and July 18, 1918. It was Germany's last major attempt to secure victory before the arrival of significant American forces. The offensive consisted of four operations: Michael, Georgette, Gneisenau, and Blücher-Yorck.

The main goal was to break through Allied lines, outflank British forces, and force the Allies into a peace settlement. Initially, the Germans made significant territorial gains, achieving the deepest advances on the Western Front since 19143. However, logistical challenges, overextension, and fierce Allied resistance eventually stalled the offensive. By mid-summer, the Germans were exhausted and vulnerable to the Allied counteroffensive, which ultimately led to their defeat

MORLANCOURT APRIL 918

In April 1918, they took part in the fighting during the German Spring Offensive, in which the 25th Battalion fought a series of long-running skirmishes against German troops in and around the village of Morlancourt. Soldiers advanced to fill a gap in the Allied line north of the River Somme. The Australians successfully repelled German counterattacks, stabilizing the front.

It was spared the fighting for Villers-Bretonneux over the following weeks, but was involved in the attack around Morlancourt (10 June) where the Australians launched a successful assault, capturing German trenches and strengthening the Allied line.

THE BATTLE OF HAMEL 4^TH JULY 1918

The Battle of Hamel was a successful attack by Australian Army and US Army infantry, supported by British tanks, against German positions in and around the town of Le Hamel, in northern France, during World War I. The attack was planned and commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash, commander of the Australian Corps, and took place on 4 July 1918.

Many of the tactics employed, such as the use of combined arms, illustrated the evolution of military tactics, from the massed attacks mounted earlier in the war. All the Allies' objectives were achieved within 93 minutes, just three minutes longer than Monash's calculated battle time. This battle took place before the Allies launched their Hundred Days Offensive around Amiens in August.

THE HUNDRED DAY OFENSIVE 8 AUGUST 1918

The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of massive Allied offensives that ended the First World War.  This offensive was a series of Allied attacks between 8 August and 11 November 1918 that ultimately led to the end of World War I. It began with the Battle of Amiens, where British, French, and Canadian forces launched a surprise assault that shattered German defences.

Following this success, the Allies continued their rapid advance, forcing German troops to retreat from their positions along the Hindenburg Line. The offensive saw coordinated attacks across the Western Front, with British, French, American, and Belgian forces pushing the Germans back.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS 8^TH TO 12^TH AUGUST 1918

Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Western Front, the Allies pushed the Imperial German Army back, undoing its gains from the German spring offensive (21 March – 18 July). This battle sees one of the most successful advances of World War I, with Allied troops securing more than eight miles in the conflict’s first fog-covered day, later called "the black day of the German Army" by General Erich Ludendorff. Catching the Germans by surprise, the Allies attack with the help of 2,000 guns, 1,900 planes and 500 tanks, causing large-scale German casualties and a fatal blow to morale.

THE BEAUREVOIR LINE OCTOBER 1918

Exhausted by the fighting earlier in the year, its final action came in early October 1918 against the Beaurevoir Line. The Beaurevoir Line was the last of a series of German defensive lines known collectively by the Allies as the Hindenburg Line. It was approximately eight kilometres to the rear of the main Hindenburg Line and consisted of thick barbed wire entanglements and well-sited machine and anti-tank gun bunkers. The bulk of the trenches, however, were only partly dug. 

The original attack on the Hindenburg Line launched on 29 September had been intended to smash right through the Beaurevoir Line as well, but had not succeeded in this objective. The order was to breakthrough the Beaurevoir Line on 3 October 1918. The Australians were to seize the village of Beaurevoir, and the British Montbrehain. The Australian attack was a success, but was stopped short of the village due to insecure flanks.

The British captured Montbrehain, but were unable to retain it. After an ill-fated attempt to capture Beaurevoir on 4 October, the 6th Australian Brigade was launched against Montbrehain the next morning. The village was secure by the end of the day, but came at the expense 430 casualties - a cost regarded as excessively high for such a limited objective. The action at Montbrehain was the last battle fought by Australian infantry during the war

HOSPITALISED NOVEMBER 1918 INFLUENZA/BRONCHITIS

In October 1918 he was given leave in England. Len contacted influenza on 6^th November 1918, which developed in bronchitis and he admitted to 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital, then the 2nd Southern General Hospital in Bristol for 2 months. On 15^th January 1919 he was again granted furlough. On 5^th February he reported to No 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veney.

WAR ENDED AND GETTING HOME

By this time the war was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. The return of soldiers created problems for the Australian Government that were never fully rectified. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait several months before they were headed back to Australia. Len returned to Australia on 30^th April 1919 and was discharged on 7^th June 1919. 

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

---

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.