FAMILY LIFE

George Leslie Thomson was born in 13th April, 1896, son of George & Annie Maria (Turner) Thomson. He had 2 brothers and one sister, and his elder brother, Alexander also enlisted. His mother is listed on the Banner St Memorial in Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

He was single stock rider, living in Chillingham, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 19^th August 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, George, of North Arm.

The Examining Medical Officer stated that George “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, George Leslie Thomson, 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.” 

His medical showed he was 19 years 4 months old, 5ft 5 inches tall (1.65m), weighed 120 lbs (54kgs), with a fresh complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. George was Presbyterian.  He was enlisted as a private into the 26^th Infantry Battalion – 8^th Reinforcements with service No 3547. He was later transferred to the 31^st Battalion

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 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

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 3rd January 1916, the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyarra. Alongside his comrades, George 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.

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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

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.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt/England, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. For most, it was their first sight of a foreign country, and the reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

After disembarking from the Kyarra, George spent a period in Egypt where the 31st Battalion was engaged in further training. Their camp was set up in the sprawling tent lines around Tel-el-Kebir, a vast training area in the desert that had been used since British occupation in the 19th century. Days began early, with reveille often sounded before sunrise to take advantage of the cooler hours.

Training routines were rigorous and aimed at turning volunteers into disciplined infantrymen ready for the Western Front. Mornings were filled with drill, musketry practice on the rifle ranges, and bayonet fighting exercises, while afternoons might involve long route marches under the desert sun, carrying full packs and weapons. The men practiced entrenching work, digging, and reinforcing firing positions in the hard-packed sand, and learning how to live and fight from improvised defences. Field manoeuvres, mock attacks on trench systems, and instruction in grenade-throwing and Lewis gun operation rounded out their preparation.

Discipline was enforced through strict routines — equipment had to be kept in spotless order for daily inspections, and any lapse was noted. Off-duty hours were spent in canteens, playing cards, writing letters home, or occasionally visiting nearby towns such as Cairo or Ismailia when leave was granted. Dust storms could sweep through the camp without warning, coating everything in fine sand and making the heat even more oppressive. Yet despite the discomforts, the time in Egypt allowed the battalion to bond, learn the skills of trench warfare, and adapt to army life before facing the grim reality of the Western Front.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 31ST BATTALION APRIL 1916

On 8 April 1916, George was officially transferred and taken on strength by the 31st Battalion. The battalion sailed for France in June,

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans 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.

ARMENTIERES

They entering the trenches for the first time in the “nursery sector” near Armentières on the Lys River. This was an area where newly arrived units could gain experience under comparatively less intense conditions than on the Somme, but “quiet” was a relative term. The trenches here were typically waterlogged, with duckboards laid along the floors, and separated from the German lines by as little as 60 metres. The sector saw constant low-level activity—sniper fire, artillery harassment, and small-scale trench raids designed to capture prisoners or gather intelligence. Rifle grenades and trench mortars were a frequent hazard, making every day dangerous.

For the men of the 31st, this period involved night-time wiring parties to repair or strengthen barbed wire entanglements, carrying rations and ammunition to the front, and maintaining the trench system under threat of enemy fire. The work was physically exhausting and mentally wearing, with little respite even when rotated to support lines or billets in nearby villages.

WOUNDED IN ACTION, MISSING IN ACTION

It was in this environment, during one of these tense July days, that the grenade explosion on 10 July 1916 wounded George severely, causing the loss of his left eye. Amidst the confusion, he was reported missing in action, but it was later confirmed that he had been taken prisoner by German forces and transported behind the lines.

PRISONER OF WAR

George was interned at Festungs Lazarett, Kaiserin Augusta Schuls, Köln, Germany, a fortress hospital where Allied prisoners of war were treated for their injuries. The conditions, while better than in some prison camps, still reflected the shortages of wartime Germany, with limited food and basic medical supplies.

LETTER TO RED CROSS OCTOBER 1916

George wrote to the Red Cross in October 1916 as follows: "I have much pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know I am a Prisoner of War. I have been wounded but I am nearly alright, except I have lost one of my eyes. I would be very thankful if you would send me a parcel and a pair of boots size 7, as I need a pair badly."

LETTER TO RED CROSS UNDATED

He also wrote (undated and no address) “I would be please if you would give the Australian Red Cross my address and sign ten shillings a month to them for parcels. I would also deem it a great favour if you let my people know where I am. I have been wounded but am getting along well now. Hoping you receive this card safely”

PRISONER EXCHANGE DECEMBER 1916

He remained in Germany until 19 December 1916, when he was transferred to neutral Switzerland under prisoner exchange agreements that allowed severely wounded soldiers to recover in neutral territory.

CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION APRIL 1917

The British Army ran an educational scheme for soldiers, including POWs who had been repatriated. The aim was to help men catch up on basic education, literacy, and numeracy, or even prepare them for post-war life. These courses were available in Switzerland. George sat and passed the Third Class Certificate of Education under the British Army’s educational scheme, administered by the Inspector of Army Schools for the London and Woolwich District. The “Third Class Certificate of Education” was typically an entry-level exam under the Inspector of Army Schools scheme, testing basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Passing it was a way of demonstrating that he met certain educational standards.

REPATRIATED TO ENGLAND SEPTEMBER 1917

From Switzerland, George was eventually repatriated to England, arriving in September 1917. On 12 September 1917, he was admitted to No. 1 London General Hospital, where his treatment focused on recovering from the wounds sustained at Armentières, including the loss of his left eye. The hospital, located in Camberwell, was one of the largest in Britain and catered specifically to military cases, with dedicated wards for eye injuries and reconstructive surgery.

His stay there may have involved multiple operations to clean and close wounds, fit an artificial eye, and restore as much function and comfort as possible. Rehabilitation at this stage was a slow process. Wounded men learned to adapt to their impairments, and medical staff placed emphasis on building strength and mobility. For eye injuries, this often included balance training and depth-perception exercises.

FURLOUGH SEPTEMBER 1917
George was granted a short furlough from 21 September to 5 October, a welcome period of rest and recovery after his time as a prisoner of war. He spent this time regaining strength, and preparing for the next stage of his service before reporting to Weymouth.

CONVALESENCE WEYMOUTH OCTOBER 1917

Once well enough to leave hospital, George was posted to the Australian Auxiliary Hospital (AAH) in Weymouth. These facilities were designed for convalescence rather than acute care. Here, the focus was on rest, lighter medical supervision, and preparing soldiers either for return to duty or, in the case of men like George whose injuries made further service impossible, for discharge and repatriation.

Life in the AAHs was far less regimented than in the army camps. Men could take part in light duties, such as clerical work or helping with hospital maintenance, and were encouraged to join occupational therapy programs—woodworking, leatherwork, or gardening—both to pass the time and to give them skills they might use once home. Recreational outings were sometimes arranged to nearby towns, and soldiers could receive visitors if they had family in Britain.

LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL JANUARY 1918

On 21 January 1918, George was marched into Longbridge Deverill, a British Army holding area in Wiltshire. Here he spent his days regaining strength after his time as a prisoner of war, undergoing light training and drills, and completing the necessary administrative and medical checks before repatriation. Life was quiet but purposeful, giving him time to recover and reflect.

GOING HOME MARCH 1918

Once preparations were complete, he embarked for home, and the long voyage aboard the Euripides took him steadily toward Australia. Onboard, George settled into the routines of ship life—meals, exercise on deck, and moments of conversation or quiet reading with fellow soldiers. The journey offered both rest and reflection, a final stage in his long return from the front, before he finally arrived back in Australia on 21 March 1918.

FOR HIS SERVICE

George was discharged 24^th May 1918. For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

HOME LIFE

Findagrave.com has an inscription with the words “In loving memory of my dear husband and our father “but I cannot find any further details. George died 10^th May 1945 and is buried in Murwillumbah General Cemetery, Presbyterian, C-57

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