Private Oliver Octavius Farrell
Service #: 328
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Oliver Octavius Farrell was on c1895 in The Nobby, Snowy Mountains, son of Christopher & Emily Farrell. His parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district
Oliver travelled to Brisbane from his home in Murwillumbah on 27th November 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in the Snowy Mountains, was 20 years and 10 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Emily of Murwillumbah. His previous service was 9 months in senior cadets.
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
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, Oliver Octavius Farrell, 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
SO, HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical showed he was 5ft 6 inches tall (1.68m), weighed 138 lbs (63kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & light brown hair. His eyesight was good. Oliver was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his inside right leg.
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 was completed at Seymour, Victoria, on the 14th June 1916, during Oliver’s training. 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
He was enlisted as a private into the 3rd Machine Gun Company, 4th reinforcements with service No 328.
The 3rd Machine Gun Company was formed on March 12, 1916, in Egypt. It was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade and later served on the Western Front during World War I. The company played a crucial role in providing fire support to infantry units, using the reliable Vickers Medium Machine Gun. The 3rd Machine Gun Company exemplified bravery and resilience, making a lasting impact on the war effort. The 3rd Machine Gun Company was an infantry support unit of the Australian Army. The battalion's unit colour patch was a black and gold oval, which was usually worn above the crossed guns badge of the Machine Gun Corps. The battalion was equipped with Vickers medium machine guns are water-cooled .303 British (7.7 mm) machine guns produced by Vickers Limited.
SEYMOUR TRAINING CAMP
Oliver underwent training at Seymour Camp in Victoria, one of Australia's principal military training centres during the First World War. The camp was a bustling military community where thousands of recruits were prepared for overseas service. Here he learned the specialised skills required of a machine-gunner, a role that demanded technical knowledge, physical endurance, and teamwork.
Training was rigorous and often conducted over long hours. Recruits became proficient in the operation of the Vickers machine gun, the standard heavy machine gun of the Australian Imperial Force. They learned how to strip, clean, maintain, and reassemble the weapon, as well as how to diagnose and rectify stoppages under battlefield conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on reliability, as the Vickers was expected to fire continuously for extended periods during combat.
The men also undertook musketry, route marches, physical training, field exercises, trench construction, signalling, and military discipline. Machine-gun crews trained as teams, with each man assigned specific duties such as gunner, loader, ammunition carrier, range-taker, or observer. They practised moving guns and ammunition across rough ground and establishing firing positions from which they could support infantry attacks or defend against enemy advances.
A machine-gun company required far more than simply operating the weapon itself. Soldiers were trained in range estimation, map reading, indirect fire techniques, and the calculation of firing data. They learned how to create interlocking fields of fire and how to employ their guns to sweep enemy trenches, roads, and likely avenues of attack.
By the time his training was complete, he had become part of a highly specialised branch of the AIF. Machine-gunners were entrusted with some of the most powerful weapons available to the infantry and would play a vital role in every major Australian operation on the Western Front.
One interesting fact you might like to include is that a Vickers gun could fire 450 to 600 rounds per minute, and the crews trained relentlessly because a single mistake in loading, cooling, or maintenance could render a gun useless at a critical moment. The AIF regarded trained machine-gunners as specialists rather than ordinary infantrymen, which is why their training at places like Seymour was more extensive than that given to many recruits. Training would 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 six shillings a day
On the 16th August 1916, the recruits left Melbourne, sailing upon the HMAT Orontes. Alongside his comrades, Oliver 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.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, 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. 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. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.
GRANTHAM TRAINING CAMP
They disembarked at Plymouth on 16th October 1916. They were marched into the English training camp at Grantham, which specialised in machine gun use. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the training camp 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.
These men would have had training in the use of the Vickers medium machine gun which was operated by a three-man crew but typically required more men to move and operate it: one fired, one fed the ammunition, the others helped to carry the weapon, its ammunition, and spare parts. They 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
DISCIPLINED DECEMBER 1916 AND JANUARY 1917
During this time Oliver was disciplined twice. The first was for being AWL from 9.30pm on 25th December 1916 to 9.30pm on 27th December. He was awarded 14 days confined to barracks, which meant he was permitted to perform his usual duties, during working hours, but was required to report every hour, on the hour, from 6am start of work, at lunch time and between cessation of work and 10pm. It included morning & evening periods of drill on the parade ground and reporting in different forms of dress at different times. He also forfeited 3 days’ pay.
The second occasion occurred on 29th January 1917 when he was absent without leave from 9.30pm to 9.30pm on 30th January, and for breaking out of isolation camp. He was awarded 24 hours detention for the first offence and 72 hours detention for the second. He forfeited 7 days’ pay.
TRENCH WARFARE
On the 17th March 1917 he proceeded to France and the soldiers 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 LAGNICOURT MARCH- APRIL 1917
Lagnicourt, in northern France, was the scene of fierce fighting in March and April 1917. When the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in March and the British and dominion forces advanced rapidly in their wake but as they neared the Hindenburg Line they were confronted by well-prepared rearguard forces, which were only removed after difficult fights. Closing with the Hindenburg Line, the British lost no time in launching a major offensive around Arras. This left their line weak in several places, including Lagnicourt. Aware of this weakness, the Germans launched a counter-stroke in the Lagnicourt area at dawn on 15 April, utilising 23 battalions. Their aim was not to permanently recapture the territory, but merely to hold it for a day and capture or destroy all the equipment and supplies they found there. They rapidly occupied Lagnicourt and captured several batteries of the 1st Australian Division's artillery. A vigorous counter-attack by four Australian battalions just after 7 am recaptured the village and most of the guns, and forced a premature German withdrawal.
MISSING IN ACTION 20TH APRIL 1917
On 20th April 1917 Oliver was listed as missing in action during the Battle of Lagnicourt.
As soon as possible after a battle a court of Inquiry was held to determine what had happen to all ranks within the battalion. All soldiers were then listed and what happen was ascertained to the best of the knowledge of the men involved. This was not always possible to confirm those missing unless they were seen by a survivor to be killed or wounded. In many cases those listed as missing and were not on the hospital or PoW reports from the Redcross or from the Enemy either German or Turkish were declared dead. The actual date of death was not always to be discovered as a battle may be over several days, or even weeks
In the court of enquiry held for Oliver statements were taken from several soldiers. Pte Bracey stated at 3.45am on April1 5th the Germans camo over and surrounded No 3 section, to which Farrell belonged. All but 7 men of the section were captured, together with 3 guns. Bracey was in No 4 section, some 300 yards away and witnessed the occurrence. He also stated the Lt. Martin was one of those who escaped and who would be able to give further information.
Gunner J Laird advised the following “about a mile on the right of Beaumetz we were standing to at daybreak. We were surprised and surrounded by the Germans and a great number of the corps were taken prisoner, amongst them being Farrell”
PRISONER OF WAR
It was then confirmed on the 2nd June, from the German List of Prisoners, he was a prisoner of war, confined in Limburg, Germany. He was repatriated to England on 18th December 1918.
GETTING HOME
On 11th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait several months before they were headed back to Australia.
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
HOME LIFE
He was granted leave until he returned to Australia and on the 22nd January 1919, he married Gladys Evans, at St Christopher’s Nottingham. He and Gladys returned on the Konigen Luise, arriving 8th February, 1920. He was discharged on 9th April 1920.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Oliver was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
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
We do not know the burial location of this individual
