FAMILY LIFE

Roy Phipps was born 5 July 1893 in Murwillumbah, the only child of Thomas Wellington & Lillian May Phipps.  He was a telephonist in the Murwillumbah Post officer when he decided to enlist on 5^th January 1915

APPLICATION

He was single, 18 years old and eager to do his bit. He enlisted in Murwillumbah and his medical showed he was 5ft 4 inches tall (1.62m), weighed 161 lbs (73kgs), with a fair complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. He was Church of England. His application had his next of kin as his mother, who used her second Christian name, May, of Lismore Rd, Murwillumbah. He was enlisted as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion with service No 204

25^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

Formed as part of the Australian Imperial Force for overseas service during the First World War, the 25th Battalion was formed at Enoggera in March 1915 from volunteers from Northern New South Wales & Queensland, and was assigned to the 7th Brigade. It had an authorised strength of 1,023 men.

ENOGGERA TRAINING CAMP

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.

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 would take several months

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

The unit embarked at Brisbane, aboard HMAT Aeneas on 29 June 1915. On the 3 January 1916, the regiment left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAR Kyarra. 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.

EGYPT

After arriving in Egypt the unit was assigned to the newly formed Australian 2nd Division, but it was later detached to the New Zealand and Australian Division with whom the 25th Battalion briefly served as reinforcements at Gallipoli in the latter part of the campaign. Arriving in September, the battalion's involvement was limited to mainly defensive operations, and it remained on the peninsula for only a couple of months before the Allied evacuation in December

LETTER TO HOME

On Saturday 8^th January 1916 the Tweed Daily published a letter from Roy Phipps, late of the Murwillumbah Post Office staff, writing from Amac to Mr. Claude Phipps, of the Tweed Daily staff

“Nearly two months on the Peninsula and still going strong. I’ve had several very narrow shaves, but we are quite used to the shrapnel now, and take very little notice of it. The Turks have a large
bomb” here that is about the size of a man’s head and it has a long stick attached to it. This bomb is fire out of a mortar and if you are warned in time, you can the blighter coming, but you haven’t much chance of dodging it. I had a near shave with this bomb- it burst a few yards away from me and smothered me in dust. We are all quite well & anxious to get to work with the bayonets. This waiting game gets on your nerves. It’s the worst part of campaigning- the same thing day after giving Jacko hell, then twenty fours on fatigue. The winter is setting and the weather is getting very cold, especially when we get a blizzard from the north. I don’t think I’ve felt it so cold in my life.

Yesterday was Cup Day and the boys were anxious to know the result of it- there’s been a bit of side betting on it even in Gallipoli. We’ve had a few luxuries here lately in the way of tucker: we get issued with flour now and make pancakes and bully beef rissole etc

HOSPITALISED CAIRO MARCH 1916

His parents were advised that on 14^th March 1916 was admitted to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital Cairo with varicose veins, & flat feet mild and further advised that on 1^st April 1916 Roy was still in hospital. He did not rejoin his unit as he was found to be medically unfit due to this complaint and was given light duties.

DISCIPLINED MAY 1917

On the 17^th May he was absent from the 9.30am parade and remained absent until apprehended in Cairo by the Anzac Provost Corps at 4.15pm. He was award 7 days Field Punishment No 2 where the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. He forfeited 1 day’s pay

 

HOSPITALISEED VENEREAL DISEASE JULY 1916

On 31st July he sailed to England & was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford with VD and remained there for 13 days. He was sent to Perham Downs, one of the training camps for men who had been out of the line for some time, to bring him up to date with new technology and tactics, as both were changing as the war continued. It was one of four Australian command depots in the UK dealing with soldiers who had been discharged from Hospital and needed training before being sent back to France.

DISCIPLINED SEPTEMBER 1917

Roy remained on light duties in England and was absent again from 3pm on 17^th September till 4pm on 21^St September.  He was confined to camp for 7 days & lost 5 days pay.

DISCIPLINED NOVEMBER 1917

Roy then went to Wareham training camp, which had been set up to receive the overflow from other AIF depots, caused by the influx from the fighting on the Somme. He went AWL again from the Tattoo time on 4^th November to 2pm on 6^th November.  He was confined to camp and lost 3 days pay this time.  

TRENCH WARFARE

He spent many months in the training camp and rejoined his unit in France on 14^th April 1917.  Roy now found himself 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

His unit took part in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. As part of the final throes of the British Army's Arras offensive, a renewed attempt was made to secure the fortified village of Bullecourt in the period 3-17 May. The village was attacked at 3.45 am on 3 May 1917. The Australians penetrated the German line but met determined opposition which frustrated the envelopment plan. Drawing more and more forces in, renewed efforts on 7 May succeeded in linking British and Australian forces, but inspired a series of ferocious and costly German counter-attacks over the next week and a half. Following the repulse of the counter-attack of 15 May, the Germans withdrew from the remnants of the village. Although the locality was of little or no strategic importance, the actions were nevertheless extremely costly: AIF casualties totalled 7,482 from three Australian Divisions.

WOUNDED IN ACTION 5^TH MAY 1917- HOSPITAL & REST CAMP

Roy was among those casualties and received gunshot wounds to the arm & buttocks on the 5^th May. His parents were advised that on 29^th May 1917 Roy was admitted to the 1^st London General Hospital. On 9^th June he was granted furlough from 9^th June to 23^rd June and to report to Camberwell Training Depot.  He then went to Perham Downs again and was classified A3 which meant he was a returned Expeditionary Force man, ready except for physical condition.

HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE JULY 1917

In July he was admitted to Bulford Hospital again with VD and he then caught bronchitis and was admitted to Tidwell Military hospital on 15^th July.

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

He returned to Perham Downs for up-to-date training and on 25 November he rejoined his unit. 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.

HOSPITALISATION SEPTIC FOOT MARCH 1918

On 21^st March he was admitted to the Australian Field Ambulance with a septic foot. This is known as trench foot which was a medical condition that affected soldiers who spent prolonged periods of time in the wet, muddy, and unsanitary conditions of the trenches. The disease was caused by a combination of cold, wet conditions, poor circulation, and bacterial infection. The symptoms of trench foot were extremely painful and debilitating. Soldiers would initially experience numbness, tingling, and a burning sensation in their feet, along with swelling, blisters, and redness.

He rejoined his unit on 23^rd April

HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE MAY 1918

On 4^th May he was admitted to hospital with VD again. He again rejoined his unit on 28^th May and they were involved in minor actions

THIRD BATTLE OF MORLANCOURT 10TH JUNE 1918

In April 1918, the unit took part in the fighting during the German Spring Offensive, in which it fought a series of long-running skirmishes against German troops in and around the village of Morlancourt. The 7th Brigade, which included the 25th Infantry Battalion, was actively involved in the attacks on Morlancourt during 1918, as part of the Allied efforts to push back German forces on the Western Front. These attacks were part of a series of operations aimed at regaining control of key positions near the Somme River.

The Third Battle of Morlancourt saw the 7th Brigade, including the 25th Battalion, carry out a successful dusk assault on the Morlancourt Spur. This position provided critical observation over the village of Sailly-Laurette. The attack was well-coordinated, with diversionary demonstrations on the flanks to confuse the enemy. The Australians secured all their objectives, capturing a significant number of German prisoners and inflicting heavy casualties. This victory was part of the broader Allied strategy to regain momentum after the German Spring Offensive and demonstrated the effectiveness of Australian troops in offensive operations.

WOUNDED IN ACTION JUNE 1918 SECOND OCCASION

HOSPITAL, REST CAMP & DISCIPLINED

Roy was wounded in action with gunshot wounds to his left forearm involving his flexion muscle. This was the second occasion Roy had been wounded. His parents were advised that on 17^th June 1918 he was admitted to Frensham Hill Military Hospital. He was again discharged to Wareham Training Camp where he was AWL from 29^th to 31^st July.  He was awarded 2 days confined to camp.

GOING HOME

By this time, he had been reclassified as B2- he was able to walk 5 miles, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes but his flexion muscle injury meant he was not able to rejoin his unit and he returned to Australia on the Runic 23^rd September 1918. He was discharged 17^th March 1919 as medically unit.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Roy was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Wardell and District First World War Honour Roll

HOME LIFE

Roy married Constance Gascoigne in Sydney in 1925. He died on 12^th May 1971 in Croydon and is buried in  St Peter's Anglican Cemetery, Richmond

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