FAMILY LIFE

William Price was born in 1895 in Murwillumbah, son of Daniel Bernard & Mary Price. He was one of 7 children, all born in Murwillumbah. His parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

APPLICATION

He was single butcher, living with his parents in Gray St, South Murwillumbah. He travelled to Brisbane on 19^th February 1915 for his medical which showed he was 23 years 2 months old, 5ft 6 inches tall (1.68m), weighed 155 lbs (70kgs), with a fresh complexion, grey eyes & fair hair. The Examining Medical Officer stated that William “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, William Price, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

He was Roman Catholic and had 3 vaccination scars on his left arm.  His application stated his next of kin as his father, Daniel B Price, of South Murwillumbah. He was enlisted as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion – 7^th Infantry with service No 206

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.

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

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 their training began. Firstly, a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service.

It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas

The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months. During this training period William was absent without leave was fined 2 shillings & six pence.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

 On the 29 June 1915, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Aeneas. 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.

GALLIPOLI SEPTEMBER 1915 TO DECEMBER 1915

After arriving in Egypt the 25th 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. The battalion spent time training, regrouping, and preparing for its next deployment to the Western Front. This period was significant for the 25th Battalion, as it marked a time of transition and preparation for their role in the ongoing conflict. By December 1915, it was clear that the Gallipoli campaign was failing, and the decision was made to evacuate.

EGYPT JANUARY TO MARCH 1916

The 25th Battalion was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915. The battalion then sailed to Egypt in early 1916. They spent several months in Egypt—specifically in the region around Mena and Cairo—where the men engaged in various activities related to training, rest, and preparation for future operations. New recruits joined the battalion as reinforcements. These new soldiers, often drafted from Australia, underwent basic training in Egypt before being integrated into the unit. The training included a focus on advanced infantry tactics, field exercises, and weapons proficiency. Some training was also focused on adapting to the different terrain and methods of warfare they would face in France and Belgium

FRANCE MARCH 1916

In mid-1916, after returning to Egypt the AIF was reorganised and expanded, and the 25th Battalion was returned to the 2nd Division, with which it subsequently served on the Western Front after being transferred to Europe. The 25th landed in France on 19th March 1916

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

The recruits 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.

BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY- SEPTEMBER 1916

In mid-1916, after returning to Egypt the AIF was reorganised and expanded, and the 25th Battalion was returned to the 2nd Division, with which it subsequently served on the Western Front after being transferred to Europe. Its first significant battle there came at Pozières on 28 July 1916 where the battalion suffered heavily during a night-time attack on the heights, losing 12 officers and 350 other ranks killed or wounded, many of whom were caught in thick wire obstacles that had been left intact by the pre-attack artillery bombardment. A follow-up attack on 4 August added more casualties, bringing the total loss for the 25th in its first battle on the Western Front to 785

MOUQUET FARM (AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 1916)

Following Pozières, the battalion took part in attacks on Mouquet Farm, a strongly fortified German position nearby.

These assaults were part of the continued push by the Allies during the Somme offensive. These two battles formed the bulk of the 25th Battalion’s combat in 1916. The rest of the year involved periods of rest, rebuilding, and rotating in and out of the front lines in Flanders and northern France

ALBERT- BAPAUME ROAD LATE 1916

After this, the 25th Battalion spent a brief period around Ypres, where they undertook a series of raids, before returning to the Somme in the last part of 1916 where they undertook further attacks throughout November to extend their observation of the Albert–Bapaume Road. The Albert–Bapaume Road was a key location during the Battle of the Somme in World War I, which lasted from July to November 1916. This road connected the towns of Albert and Bapaume in northern France and was a critical supply route for the British forces.

By November 1916, the battle had become a gruelling war of attrition, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The area around the road saw intense fighting as British and Allied forces attempted to push back the German defences. Despite some territorial gains, the offensive ended in stalemate, with the front lines only moving a few miles. The battle is remembered for its high human cost and the introduction of new military technologies, such as tanks

HOSPITALISATION TRENCH FOOT

On 27^th November 1916 William got trench foot. This problem was prominent in trenches that were dug in land that was at, or near, sea level, where the water table was just beneath the surface.  The soldiers would hit water after a couple of feet and the trenches would flood. After long periods standing in soaking wet socks and boots, trench foot would start to set in. The men’s feet would swell and go numb and then the skin would start to turn red or blue. Untreated feet often became gangrenous and the condition could lead to nerve damage, tissue loss and ultimately the need for amputation.

HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND

On 27th November 1916 William was sent to England from Le Havre on the Asturias and was admitted to the Bath War Hospital. His father was advised of his condition on 7^th December.

 

FURLOUGH & REPATRIATION FEBRUARY 1917

On 19^th February 1917 he was discharged from 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital for furlough and repatriation and was attached to Perham Downs which received men who are likely to be fit for duty within three weeks. 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. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE MARCH 1917

However, on 6 March 1917 he was admitted to the 1^st Dermatological Australian Hospital with VD where he spent 34 days.  On 9^th April 1917 he was discharged from 1^st Australia Hospital to depot 20. These camps held men are likely to be unfit for duty for a period longer than three months, and were being prepared to return to Australia.

GOING HOME

On 22^nd November 1917 he arrived home per the Pakeha. On 27^th November he was given a pension on 1 pound 10 shillings a fortnight from 23^rd November. At this time, he was living in Gray St, Brisbane.

REAPPLIED

On 29^th January 1918 William again completed an application om Brisbane. The only change to the previous one was he now weighed 178lbs (80kgs).

NEW SERVICE NUMBER

He was not allocated any unit and his service no was now Q22514.

DESERTER

On the 7^th March 1918 a warrant was issued attesting that No Q22514 Private William Price engaged to service in the Australian Imperial Force under the Defence Act 1903-1915 failed to report to the said corps on 30^th January 1918. I hereby direct that he be apprehended and conveyed to the Victoria Barracks to be dealt with according to law. His service record shows period of service in each rank as 29/1/18- 30/1/18 and the word deserter on the page.

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