Private John Banney
Service #: 5305
Summary
BACKGROUND
John Banney (Jack) was born in Sydney in 1875, son of Patrick & Margaret (McCann) Banney. According to Findagrave.com he had 4 brothers & 3 sisters. He married Bridget Sheehan in Grafton in 1897. They had a son in 1901. His mother is buried in Murwillumbah Old cemetery.
Jack travelled to Warwick, Qld on the 14th January 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a married man and gave his occupation as timber getter. His next of kin was his wife, Bridget, of Murwillumbah. The town was changed at some time to read Grafton
Item number 14 on the attestation states- for married men, widowers with children and soldiers who are the sole support of widowed mother- do you understand that no separation allowance will be issued in respect of your service beyond an amount which together with pay would reach 8 shillings per day
Jack also agreed to allot three fifths of the pay payable to him from time to time during his service to the support of his wife. 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
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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, John Banney, 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
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
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MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Jack was 41 years 9 months. He stood 5 feet 7 ¾ inches tall (1.72m) and weighed 136lbs (61 kgs). He had fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He had a scar on is left buttock and his eye sight was very good. John was Roman Catholic
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. Jack was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 26th July 1916. 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 a private in the 14th reinforcements, 26 Battalion with service number 5305
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 training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits 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 could take several months
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 FROM BRISBANE TO ENGLAND AUGUST 1916
On the 8th August 1916, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Itonus. Alongside his comrades, Jack marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
DAILY ROUTINE
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
MEALS
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. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
HEALTH & SANITATION
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt to keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The 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
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship
MENINGITIS OCTOBER 1916
Like thousands of other Australian reinforcements, Jack expected a lengthy voyage to England before beginning further military training. However, his journey took a dramatic and potentially life-threatening turn while the transport was making its way through the Atlantic. During the voyage Jack contracted cerebrospinal meningitis, a serious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. At a time when antibiotics did not yet exist, meningitis was a feared disease with a high mortality rate, particularly in the crowded conditions of military camps and troopships.
By the time the Itonus reached Dakar in French West Africa on 16 October 1916, Jack was sufficiently ill to be removed from the ship and admitted for treatment. Military doctors of the period were familiar with meningitis and could recognise it through its characteristic symptoms of severe headache, fever, neck stiffness and extreme weakness. Although medical treatment was limited by modern standards, careful nursing, bed rest, isolation and specialised anti-meningococcal serum gave some patients a fighting chance of recovery. Fortunately, Jack responded well to treatment and gradually regained his strength.
After only a few days his condition improved sufficiently for him to continue his journey. On 22 October 1916 he embarked aboard the Clan McGilvary, and the following day the British Consul reported that he was leaving for England "very much better". Although this was encouraging news, Jack's ordeal was far from over. The effects of meningitis often lingered long after the immediate danger had passed, and many sufferers required months of recuperation before they were considered fit for military duty.
SECURITY
Jack returned to the rhythm of ship life. By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
About a fortnight later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England.
ENGLAND AND HOSPITALISATION NOVEMBER 1916 TO MARCH 1917
Upon arriving at Plymouth on 2 November 1916, Jack was admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital. What followed was a lengthy period of treatment, observation and convalescence that lasted throughout the winter of 1916–17. Doctors monitored his recovery closely, assessing not only whether the infection had been overcome but also whether he had suffered any lasting effects that might prevent him from serving overseas. The fact that he remained under medical care for more than four months demonstrates the seriousness of his illness and the caution exercised by military authorities before returning him to duty.
At last, on 10 March 1917, Jack was discharged from hospital and sent to Perham Downs on Salisbury Plain, one of the principal Australian training camps in England. His return to military life was short-lived, however. Following a medical inspection he was declared unfit for duty, indicating that the after-effects of his illness were still causing concern. Although the records provide no details, it appears he returned to medical supervision while doctors continued to assess his condition and recovery.
ROLLESTONE TRAINING CAMP APRIL 1917
By 9 April 1917 Jack had improved sufficiently to be released from hospital care once more. The following day he proceeded to Rollestone Camp, another important Australian training establishment on Salisbury Plain.
When he and other recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.
The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.
Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.
Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.
Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.
Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.
Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.
If applicable
Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.
After months of continuous preparation in England, John and the other 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 crossed to France, 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.
FRANCE JUNE 1917
Following his recovery and completion of training in England, Jack proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 19 June 1917. Crossing the English Channel was often an anxious experience, as German submarines posed a constant threat to troop transports. After arriving in France on 20 June, he entered the reinforcement system behind the front lines. During the following weeks he underwent further training designed specifically for conditions on the Western Front. Reinforcements were familiarised with trench warfare, gas precautions, battlefield procedures and the latest tactical developments before being considered ready for service with a fighting battalion. The Australian Corps was heavily engaged in operations around the Messines sector at the time, and fresh reinforcements were urgently needed to replace casualties.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH JULY 1917
On 7 July 1917 Jack finally proceeded forward to join the 26th Battalion, and two days later he was officially taken on strength. This means a soldier was officially assigned to and accounted for in a specific military unit's nominal roll. It meant they were integrated into the unit for daily operations, including food, discipline, equipment, and frontline duties
JULY – SEPTEMBER 1917
For the next two months he experienced the realities of life on the Western Front. The battalion alternated between front-line trenches, support positions and periods of rest behind the lines. Daily life involved carrying supplies, repairing trenches, standing sentry duty, enduring artillery bombardments and coping with mud, rain and the ever-present danger posed by enemy snipers and shellfire.
During September 1917 the Australian divisions participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, commonly known as Passchendaele. On 20 September the Australians attacked during the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, one of the most successful operations of the campaign
BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD 20TH TO 25TH SEPTEMBER 1917
The battalion was moved to Belgium again, where they joined the battle at Menin Road. This 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
WOUNDED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 1917
It was during this action, or the associated fighting in the Ypres sector, on the 20th September 1917, that Jack was wounded. His records indicate a shell wound, initially recorded as affecting the mouth in Belgium, although later records refer to a wound to the leg. Such discrepancies were not uncommon. Casualty information was often recorded hurriedly under difficult battlefield conditions, and details could vary as a soldier passed through several medical facilities. It is possible that Jack suffered multiple wounds from shell fragments, or that the location of the injury was incorrectly recorded in one of the early reports.
MEDICAL CHAIN
After being wounded, Jack was evacuated through the well-established medical chain. He was first admitted to the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station on 20 September, where doctors stabilised his condition and carried out emergency treatment. The following day he was transferred to the 35th General Hospital at Boulogne, one of the major medical centres on the French coast. There his wounds would have been thoroughly cleaned and examined. By 1917 military surgeons had learned that prompt removal of dirt and damaged tissue was essential in preventing the infections that had claimed so many lives earlier in the war.
On 24 September Jack was evacuated to England aboard a hospital ship, probably the Pieter de Coninck. The next day he was admitted to a war hospital at Napsbury. Treatment for shell wounds generally involved surgical cleaning of the wound, removal of shell fragments where possible, regular dressing changes and a lengthy period of rest while healing took place. Depending on the severity of the injury, physiotherapy and exercises might also be prescribed to restore movement and strength. Although his wound was not fatal, it was evidently serious enough to require prolonged treatment and recovery.
On 3 October 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital. Auxiliary hospitals were intended for patients who no longer required intensive treatment but still needed convalescence before returning to duty. Here Jack continued his recovery and was assessed by military doctors to determine whether he could resume active service.
FURLOUGH AND ASSESSMENT WEYMOUTH OCTOBER 1917
By the end of October, he had improved sufficiently to be granted furlough from 31 October until 14 November. Such leave allowed soldiers to spend time away from hospitals and camps, often visiting friends or simply enjoying a brief respite from military life. On completion of his furlough, he reported to Weymouth. This important embarkation and reception centre on England's south coast served as a gathering point for soldiers awaiting medical assessment, reassignment or return overseas. From 18 November he was processed through the military medical system following his leave and remained at Weymouth while doctors continued to evaluate the effects of his wounds and his overall fitness for service.
PREPARING TO COME HOME
As the weeks passed it became increasingly apparent that Jack's injuries had left him unfit for further active duty. Throughout late 1917 he remained under medical supervision, attending examinations and awaiting a final decision regarding his future. On 20 December 1917 he was transferred to administrative headquarters for discharge proceedings under King's Regulation A54, the provision covering soldiers who were medically unfit for further service. During the following weeks he completed the various medical, administrative and transport arrangements required before repatriation to Australia could take place.
GOING HOME FEBRUARY 1918
At last, in early 1918, Jack embarked for home. After more than eighteen months overseas, a period marked by a serious bout of meningitis, lengthy hospitalisation, service on the Western Front and wounds received during the Ypres fighting, he arrived in Melbourne on 13 February 1918 before continuing by coastal steamer to Sydney.
DISCHARGED MARCH 1918
Following final medical assessments and discharge formalities, Jack was officially discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 21 March 1918 as medically unfit for further military service.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection
for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)- Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged
Although his active service in France lasted only a few months, Jack's war had been a difficult one. He survived a potentially fatal illness during his voyage overseas, endured many months in military hospitals, reached the Western Front during one of the war's most intense campaigns and was wounded during the fighting around Ypres. His return to Australia marked the end of a military career cut short not by lack of courage, but by the lasting effects of illness and wounds suffered in the service of his country.
For his service Jack was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
DEATH AND BURIAL
Jack died in Brisbane on the 22nd July 1950, aged 74-75 and is buried in Toowong Cemetery, Plot 7A-217-15A
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
Toowong Cemetery, PLOT 7A-217-15A
