FAMILYLIFE

Edward George (known as George) Paxton was born on 1^st August, 1891 in Milton, son of George & Dorothy (Gardner) Paxton.  He was the eldest of 4 boys and his brother Harry enlisted in May 1916. His father died in 1895

APPLICATION

George was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Kiama on 24^th July 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Dorothy Paxton, of Nobbys Creek. His medical showed he was 25 years 11 months old, 5ft 3 ½ inches tall (1.6m), weighed 130 lbs (58kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair. He was Church of England. George was enlisted as a private into the 30^th Infantry Battalion – 10^th Reinforcements with service No 4147. 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 Paxton, 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.” 

LIVERPOOL TRAINING CAMP

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 7^th October 916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Ceramic. 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.

DISCIPLINED OCTOBER 1916

Whilst on the Ceramic George was charged with being absent without leave for 6 hours at one of the ports on 20^th October. He was admonished by his superior officer & forfeited 1 day’s pay. Later, at another port on 31^st October, he was again charged but this time there were 3 charges-

1.    Absent without leave from 2 parades on 1^st November

2.    Disregarding His Majesties uniform and wearing civilian attire in order to get a drink

3.    Being drunk on deck.

He forfeited 8 day’s pay which totalled 2pounds 5shillings together with his earlier fine. He also had 8 day’s detention

HURDCOTT TRAINING CAMP

They disembarked at Plymouth on 2^nd November 1916. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the training camp at Hurdcott, 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.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

George was taken on strength with the 30th on 13th February 1917 in France. 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.

HOSPITALISED FEBRUARY SCABIES

He was admitted to hospital on 23^rd February with scabies. With soldiers fighting in close proximity in the trenches, usually in unsanitary conditions, disease spread quickly and scabies, which is a very itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite (bug), is very contagious

In WW1 The treatment of scabies consisted of a 4-day process. On the first day the patient was thoroughly rubbed with soft soap for fifteen minutes. He then entered a warm bath where he lay for twenty minutes; during the last five minutes the infected sites were gently scrubbed with a soft brush. This procedure was designed to open up the burrows and expose the acari and ova. Steam or shower baths could not accomplish this satisfactorily and were therefore unsuitable. After drying, a liberal quantity of sulphur ointment  was rubbed over the whole body below the neck, special attention being paid to the hands, feet, and penis. This inunction was repeated on the second and third days. On the fourth day, but not before, the patient was given a second bath and supplied with clean clothing and bedding. Such articles as socks, wrist straps, gloves, and the string of identification discs also required disinfection

BATTLE OF BULLECOURT APRIL 1917

George rejoined his unit on 12^th April, 1917. His unit were then engaged in the Battle of Bullecourt. Four experienced Australian divisions of ANZAC Corps were part of the British 5th Army under Sir Hubert Gough. The general wanted to attack at Bullecourt to support an important offensive by the adjoining British 3rd Army to the north and the French Army further to the south. Relatively young, Gough was an energetic commander. However, his aggressive spirit coupled with poor planning resulted in heavy losses. His attack launched at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 was a disaster. Despite this a further attack across the same ground was ordered for 3 May. The Australians broke into and took part of the Hindenburg Line but no important strategic advantage was ever gained; in the two battles the AIF lost 10,000 men.

Rather than wait until he had sufficient artillery resources Gough decided to employ a dozen tanks to lead the troops through the enemy’s barbed-wire. An attack set for 10 April was suddenly abandoned when the tanks did not arrive. It went ahead the next morning with disastrous results. Exposed to murderous machine-gun and artillery fire the Australians were forced back to their own lines while tanks stood burning on the battlefield. The Australians had 3,000 men killed or wounded; many survivors remained bitter about such a futile waste.

HOSPITALISED BRONCHITIS JUNE 1917

On 1^st June George was admitted to hospital with tuberculosis, but the condition was changed to bronchitis on the 9^th June. A persistent cough that lasts one to three weeks is the main symptom of bronchitis. It is caused by viruses & bacteria, and, again, easily caught in the trenches. Rest & relaxation was the best method to help soldiers get over this and George remained in hospital until 24^th June.

CONVALESCENT CAMP

He then convalesced at Rouen. 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.

DISCIPLINED JULY 1917

On 12^th July he was again under 3 charges:

·      Being absent from the tattoo roll on 2^nd July until apprehended by MPs on 3^rd July at 5.30am

·      Altering his pass

·      Being out of bounds.

His punishment was severe- he received field punishment No 2 for 20 days & one day’s pay. In Field Punishment Number Two, 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.  

DISCIPLINED AUGUST 1917

He was again disciplined for overstaying his pass from 9.30pm to 12 midnight on 1^st August and for drunkenness. He was deprived on 20 day’s pay

BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD SEPTEMBR & OCTOBER 1917

He rejoined his unit on 31^st August 1917. They were active in France and in October joined the Battle of Polygon Wood, which was the second of three battles between 20 September and 4 October 1917 in which ‘step by step’ or ‘bite and hold’ tactics were used to batter down the formidable German defensive positions. After an opening bombardment the infantry would advance for a prescribed distance behind a ‘creeping’ barrage of shells. This barrage would keep the Germans in their ‘pillboxes’ until British soldiers were almost upon them. The enemy positions would then be captured consolidated and protected from counter-attack by artillery. Artillery would be brought forward and the next ‘bite’ attempted. In this way the British aimed to work their way from their start lines near Ypres to the heights of the ridge ten kilometres away at Passchendaele village. Charles Bean, the Australian Official Historian described the opening barrage on 26 September as the most perfect that ever protected Australian troops and that it rolled ahead of the troops roaring ‘like a Gippsland bushfire’.

DISCIPLINED OCTOBER

On 16^th October 1917 George was accused of being in illegal possession of an illegible bag. He was marched into detention on 15^th November awaiting court martial but the case was dismissed as having insufficient evidence.

COURT MARTIAL MAY 1918

On 2^nd May 1918 a Field General Court Martial in the field was held, its president being Major B. A Wark of 32^nd Battalion. There were five charges

1.    Absent without leave on 28^th August 1917 until apprehended by military police on 31^st December 1917

2.    When in lawful custody escaping on 17^th January 1918

3.    Absent without leave from 17^th January until apprehended on 1^st February 1918

4.    When in lawful custody escaping on 14^th March 1918

5.    Absent without leave from 14^th March until apprehended 17^th March

George was found guilt of all charges and sentenced to 2 years in prison with hard labour. This was confirmed by Major General Sir Joseph Hobbs

GETTING HOME

George was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubbs but was transferred to Tidworth camp on 26^th June 1919 in preparation for his return home.

AWL AGAIN

Even there, he went awl on the 3^rd July and forfeited 6 day’s pay and 72 hours detention.

RETURNING HOME- JUMPED SHIP FREMANTLE

George returned to Australia, via Fremantle on 23^rd July 1919. When the ship left Fremantle George was not on board. He was discharged 26^th September 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

George received the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

HOME LIFE

George stated he was a single man but according to findagrave.com he had a daughter & a son by 1916, although I cannot confirm if he was married to Angelina Davis, who is his wife on that website. He had two more sons in 1922 & 1925. In March 1928 Trove advises that George appeared before Mr. W. C. Geikie, P.M in Murwillumbah Police Court with having maliciously set fire to a dwelling house at Tumbulgum, a person, (his wife) being an occupant of the dwelling at the time. On the application of the police, defendant was remanded for eight days

On a second charge, of having been found drunk at Tumbulgum, defendant was fined 10/- in default of three days’ hard labour

George died 15^th August 1950 in Brisbane and is buried Lutwyche Cemetery, Kedron, Plot ANZ-8-3-64

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