FAMILY LIFE

Vincent James Hogan was born 18^th November 1895 in Brisbane, son of John & Barbara (O’Flaherty) Hogan. He had an elder brother, Thomas Joseph, who enlisted in May 1916. John & Barbara are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

APPLICATION

He was single farmer, living in North Tumbulgum, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 16^th July 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Barbara. His medical showed he was 19 years 8 months old, 5ft 6 ¾ inches tall (1.71m), weighed 144 lbs. (65kgs), with a fresh complexion, brown eyes & black hair.  His eyesight was good. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Vincent “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, Vincent James Hogan 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.”  Vincent was Roman Catholic and had scars on his left shin.  He was enlisted as a private into the 31^st Infantry Battalion – A Coy with service number 221

31^st INFANTRY BATTALION

The 31st was raised in August 1915 as part of the 8th Brigade & it joined the 5th Australian Division in Egypt before heading to the Western Front in France in 1916. The 31st Infantry Battalion's legacy is marked by its resilience, bravery, and dedication to its missions. Its history is preserved through memorials and historical records, ensuring its contributions are remembered and honoured

ENOGGERA TRAINING CAMP

The 31st Battalion recruits all attended the training camp at Rifle Camp, Enoggera. 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

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

Some of the 31^st battalion’s companies, however, were also raised at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria. In early October, these two elements were united at Broadmeadows, and the battalion sailed from Melbourne on 9^th November 1915 on the HMAT Wandilla. 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. The arrived at the Suez on 7^th December 1915

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Egyptian 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. 

Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause.

HOSPITALISED TONSILITIS FEBRUARY 1916

The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt. During this time Vincent was admitted to the 8^th Field Ambulance in Serapeum on 12^th February 1916 with tonsilitis and

was discharged on 17^th February.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

The unit proceeded to France, destined for the Western Front, in June 1916. 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, 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 BATTLE OF FROMELLES JULY 1916

The 31st Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19 July 1916, having only entered the front-line trenches 3 days previously. The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 31st – it suffered 572 casualties, over half of its strength.

WOUNDED IN ACTION JULY 1916

HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND

Vincent was wounded in this action with a gunshot wound to the head & toe and was transferred to England on 22nd July being admitted to the Military Hospital in Edmonton.

NO 1 COMMAND POST PERHAM DOWNS SEPTEMBER 1916

On 30th September he was marched into No.1 Command Depot in Perham Downs which received men who are likely to be fit for duty within three weeks. 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.

1917- 1918

There are no records for Vincent for 1917. Vincent was given leave in England 21^st December 1917 and rejoined his unit on 11^th January. Between January and April 1918, the 31st Australian Infantry Battalion, part of the 8th Brigade within the 5th Division, was stationed on the Western Front in northern France. During this period, the battalion experienced a relatively quiet time compared to other Australian units, as the 5th Division was largely kept in reserve during the German Spring Offensive of 1918.

While not engaged in major battles, the 31st Battalion likely undertook routine duties such as maintaining defensive positions, conducting patrols, and preparing for future operations. These activities were essential for holding the line and supporting overall Allied efforts on the Western Front.

WOUNDED IN ACTION APRIL 1918

On the 17^th April 1918 he was wounded in action for the second time with gunshot wound to his face & shoulder. He was transferred to the 10^th General Hospital, England but the writing is very hard to read. He would have spent many months in hospital and in the command posts for convalescing.  He rejoined his unit on 1^st June 1918.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS 8^TH AUGUST 1918

Unlike some AIF battalions, the 31st had a relatively quiet time during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 as the 5th Division was largely kept in reserve. The Allies launched their own offensive with the battle of Amiens on 8 August, in which the 31st Battalion participated.

The opening attack of what would be come to be called the Hundred Days Offensive, the Battle of Amiens sees one of the most successful advances of World War I, with Allied troops securing more than eight miles in the conflict’s first fog-covered day, later called "the black day of the German Army" by General Erich Ludendorff. Catching the Germans by surprise, the Allies attack with the help of 2,000 guns, 1,900 planes and 500 tanks, causing large-scale German casualties and a fatal blow to morale.

It was subsequently involved in the operations that continued to press the retreating Germans through August and into September.

THE BATTLE OF ST QUENTIN CANAL SEPTEMBER 1918

The 31st fought its last major action of the war in September 1918 when the 5th and 3rd Australian Divisions, and two American divisions attacked the Hindenburg Line across the top of the 6-kilometre-long St Quentin Canal tunnel; the canal was a major obstacle in the German defensive scheme.

The Battle of St Quentin Canal was a pivotal engagement during World War I, forming part of the Hundred Days Offensive. It was fought along the Hindenburg Line, a heavily fortified German defensive position, with the goal of breaking through one of its strongest sections.

 The battle involved British, Australian, and American forces. The Germans had incorporated the St Quentin Canal into their defences, making it a formidable obstacle. Despite fierce resistance, the Allies successfully breached the Hindenburg Line, marking a significant turning point in the war. The battle resulted in heavy casualties, with thousands of soldiers lost on both sides. The victory convinced the German high command that their chances of winning the war were diminishing, contributing to the eventual Armistice. The 31st was resting and retraining out of the line when the war ended on 11 November 1918.

WARE ENDED

On 11^th 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.

HOSPITALISED NOVEMBER 1918

On 30^th November he was admitted to hospital but details illegible. He rejoined his unit on 14^th December 1918

FURLOUGH DECEMBER 1918

He went to Paris on leave on 28^th December, 1918 and returned to Hurdcott where he would have had various duties to keep him busy till he could return home. 

DISCIPLINED FEBRUARY 1919

During that time, on 22^nd February 1919, he went AWL from 2400 to 8.30am on 26^th February. He was admonished and forfeited 4 day’s pay. 

GOING HOME

He returned to Australia on the Trazos-Montes on 27^th May 1919 and was discharged on 19^th July.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Vincent was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.  

HOME LIFE

Vincent remained single and died on 29^th April 1976, aged 80. He is buried in Innisfail Cemetery, Portion 16 Cem Row 9 Cem Plot 6

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