Private Arthur John Gossip
Service #: 3708
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
John Arthur (known as Arthur) Gossip was born in 1883 in Stroud, son of John Robert Hearn & Emily (McIntyre) Gossip. He was brother to 5 siblings, one of whom, his brother Harold also enlisted and returned to Australia in 1920. Another brother, Lieutenant James Gossip, 1st Australian Pioneers, had died of wounds only six weeks before on 25 August 1918, aged 32. His father had died in 1907, and his mother in 1910
APPLICATION
He was single farmer, living in Murwillumbah, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Enoggera, with his brother Harold, on 31 August 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his sister, Mary Frances Burrows, of Tyalgum as both his parents were deceased. He had been apprenticed to EH Johnson, surveyors of Murwillumbah. His medical, conducted at the Clearing Hospital, Enoggera on 27 August, showed he was 32 years 5 months old, 5ft 5 inches tall (1.65m), weighed 152 lbs (69kgs), with a good complexion, hazel eyes & light brown hair. His eyesight was good. He had 4 vaccination marks on his arm. He was Presbyterian. Arthur was enlisted as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion – 8th Reinforcements with service No 3708
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.
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. During this time Arthur had another vaccination on 29th November.
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.
On the 3 Jan 1916, together with his brother, the regiment left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyara. 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. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. It was a foretaste of what was to come.
They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Training Camp at Codford, 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. Training would normally last 3 months.
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE
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. Arthur joined the 25th on 13th July 1916. 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.
The 25th Battalion (Australia) played a significant role in the Battle of Pozières, one of the key engagements during the Somme Offensive. The battle took place from 23 July to early September 1916. Pozieres was in the Somme Valley, France. It was a heavily fortified village held by the German Army. The 25th entered the battle in late July 1916, after the initial assault by the 1st Division. The unit participated in renewed attacks in early August, facing relentless German artillery bombardments and counter-attacks.
The Battalion suffered very heavy casualties, particularly during the fighting around the Windmill and German second line. The battlefield was described by survivors as a "slaughterhouse", with many men killed or wounded due to constant shellfire but the battalion’s persistence helped to consolidate key positions in and around the ruins of Pozières. The 25th Battalion's actions contributed to the eventual capture of the Pozières Heights, an important tactical advantage. 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.
WOUNDED IN ACTION GUNSHOT WOUND & MISSING IN ACTION
On 29 July Arthur was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the thigh. He was also reported missing but consequently found he had been admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen.
On 15th November 1916 his sister, his next of kin, wrote to the Officer in Charge, Base Records, stating she had been told by them he was missing from 29th July but she had received a post card from him dated 15th August stating he was well. She also states she received postcards from him on 17th & 24th September. She received a reply dated 16th November advising they will investigate.
COMMAND DEPOT HURDCOTT NOVEMBER 1916
The records now show he was discharged from the hospital, bullet wound left arm, severe, and sailed to England on 29 November to join No 3 Command Depot in Hurdcott which dealt with the soldiers deemed able to return to duty. Here he would convalesce but continue with 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. On 19th February 1917 he was marched into No.4 Command Depot in Wareham which receives men who will be fit for duty in periods ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months.
DISCIPLINED MARCH 1917
On 2nd March 1917 he was charged with being AWL from 3.30pm 2nd March to 4.30pm 3rd March. He was awarded Field Punishment Number Two, 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 also forfeited 4 day’s pay.
COMMAND POST THEN HOSPITALISATION MUMPS APRIL 1917
On 17th March he was returned to No 3-command depot in Wareham and on 17th April he was admitted to Parkhouse Hospital with mumps.
TRANSFER TO 69TH BATTALION
On 1st May 1917 he was transferred to the 69th Battalion
TRANSFERRED BACK TO 25TH BATTALION SEPTEMBER 1917
He was transferred back on 18th September. On 14th October he rejoined his unit in France.
Due to the huge loss of personnel, the 25th were rested after these battles. Between battles, battalions engaged in a variety of critical activities to recover, prepare, and maintain their effectiveness. Some of the key activities included rest & recovery, continuing their training, maintaining their weapons & uniforms, building & reinforcing the trenches & dugouts & barbed wire defences
They also conducted patrols and reconnaissance to gather intelligence on enemy movements and maintain control over no-man's-land & engaged in activities like writing letters, playing games, and sharing stories to bond as a unit and maintain their spirits. This downtime between battles was essential for ensuring that battalions could perform effectively when called back into action. For the 25th, they were in the Marseille isolation camp, where they would also be screened for any diseases and continue their drilling & training before returning to the front.
THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE 21ST MARCH TO 18TH JULY 1918
BATTLE OF VILLERS BRETONEUX 24-25 APRIL 1918
After wintering in Belgium, in early 1918 the 25th Battalion moved south to Somme, France 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 25th Battalion was rushed to the front to help plug gaps created by German breakthroughs. They played a supporting role in the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, a pivotal engagement during World War I. This battle took place as part of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front. German forces had captured the town of Villers-Bretonneux, which was strategically significant due to its proximity to the vital transport hub of Amiens.
The Australian forces, including the 25th Battalion as part of the 2nd Division, were instrumental in the counterattack to recapture the town. The operation was a well-coordinated night assault, and the Australians successfully reclaimed Villers-Bretonneux, halting the German advance. This victory was a turning point in the campaign and is remembered as a testament to the bravery and determination of the Australian troops
WOUNDED IN ACTION- GASSED MAY 1918
On 23rd May 1918 Arthur was wounded in action- gassed. An eye witness describes what happens in a gas attack- “[T]he next thing we heard was this sizzling—you know, I mean you could hear this damn stuff coming on—and then saw this awful cloud coming over. A great yellow, greenish-yellow, cloud. It wasn’t very high; about I would say it wasn’t more than 20 feet up. Nobody knew what to think. But immediately it got there we knew what to think, I mean we knew what it was. Well then of course you immediately began to choke, then word came: whatever you do don’t go down. You see if you got to the bottom of the trench you got the full blast of it because it was heavy stuff, it went down.”
HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND MAY 1918
He was then sent to England on the 29th May 1918 and admitted to Colchester Military Hospital.
HURDCOTT COMMAND POST
He then spent many months convalescing and retraining at Hurdcott and pm 12th September he rejoined his unit.
THE BEAUREVOIR LINE OCTOBER 1918
In October they engaged in what was to be their final action- The Beaurevoir Line which 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 Australians were to seize the village of Beaurevoir.
WOUNDED IN ACTION AND DIED OF WOUNDS OCTOBER 1918
Arthur was one of the casualties of this action- on 3rd October he received a shell wound to his chest, penetrating and died of his wound, on 5th October 1918 at the 53rd Clearing Hospital
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. Arthur is buried Tincourt New British Cemetery, Tincourt, Picardie, France, plot 6, row F. grave 42. He was buried on 6th October by Reverend McClymont, the Presbyterian chaplain. His name is located at panel 104 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. His effects, consisting of kit store, book 13, safety razor and blades in a case & one pencil were forwarded to his sister Mary per Barunga on 21st June 1918. Further effects of wallet, disc, gold ring, letters, cards & metal cigarette case were forwarded to Mary on the Somerset and received be her on 13th June 1919.
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Tincourt Cememtery Picardie
