FAMILY LIFE

John Thomas Sanders was born in 1890 in Wallsend, son of Thomas & Grace Ann Sanders. He was one of 6 children.

APPLICATION

He was single contractor, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Enoggera on 23^rd August 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father Thomas, of Murwillumbah. He been apprenticed to a baker for 3 years.

His medical showed he was 25 years 4 months old, 5ft 4 inches tall (1.62m), weighed 124 lbs (56kgs), with a fair complexion, hazel eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good. John was Methodist and had a scar on the outside of his left leg.

The Examining Medical Officer stated that John “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, John Thomas Sanders, 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.” 

He was enlisted as a private into the 31^st Infantry Battalion – B Company with service No 451

TRAINING AT RIIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

The 31st Battalion was raised as part of the 8th Brigade at Enoggera, on the outskirts of Brisbane, in August 1915 and the 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

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

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. Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. 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. They disembarked on the Suez on 7^th December 1915

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

The 31st joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt. 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.  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.

MENA TRAINING CAMP, EGYPT

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.

Conditions were harsh and often criticized by the Australian troops training there. Temperatures during the day could be extremely hot. The area was dusty and sandy, with frequent sandstorms. These made daily life and drills difficult and unpleasant

Soldiers lived in canvas tents with minimal protection from the elements. There was little shade or comfort. Latrines and hygiene facilities were basic and sometimes inadequate. Flies and other insects were a constant problem. Rations were repetitive and not always sufficient in quantity or quality. Complaints about the food were common. Despite the conditions, training was rigorous—drills, route marches, musketry, and entrenching were conducted daily. 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. The camp was a place of tough acclimatization, designed to prepare the men for combat in Gallipoli. It was physically uncomfortable, with limited resources, but it played a critical role in transitioning a civilian army into one ready for war

ADMITTED TO FIELD AMBULANCE – CAMEL BITE JANUARY 1916

On the 28th January 1916 John was bitten on his forearm by a camel. He was admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance in Serapeum. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL POISONED FOREARM & FRACTURED FOREARM- FEBRUARY 1916

On 15th February he was transferred to the hospital in Ismailia with a poisoned forearm and then to No1 Auxiliary Hospital in Ghezireh with a fractured forearm.

CONVALESCENT CAMP HELIOPOLIS APRIL 1916

On the 16th April he was admitted to a camp in Heliopolis where 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.

REJOINED UNIT MAY 1916

On 9th May he rejoined his unit who were preparing to sail to France.

WESTERN FRONT TRENCH WARFARE JUNE 1916

They sailed on 16th June 1916 and arrived in Marseilles on 23rd June.

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.

JUNE 1916

The 31st moved into the so-called “nursery” sector near Armentières, a quieter part of the Western Front used to introduce newly arrived units to trench warfare. This area was under the command of the 5th Division, to which the 31st Battalion belonged.

Activities:

·      Trench Familiarization: The battalion was rotated in and out of the front lines to learn trench routines, such as sentry duty, working parties, and raiding preparation.

·      Working Parties & Fatigue Duties: Men were often assigned to night-time labour, improving trenches, laying duckboards, repairing barbed wire, and building strongpoints under cover of darkness.

·      Training: When out of the line, the battalion conducted physical training, weapons handling, and field exercises.

·      Exposure to Enemy Fire: Though considered a "quiet" sector, they still endured occasional shelling, sniping, and trench raids.

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. They were near the village of Fromelles, northern France. The attack was intended as a diversion to prevent German reinforcements moving south to the Somme, where the British were engaged in a major offensive.

Sequence of Events:

·      18 July: The battalion moved into the assembly trenches in preparation for the attack.

·      6:00 PM, 19 July: The attack began after a prolonged artillery bombardment.

The 31st Battalion crossed No Man’s Land under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. Some men reached the German first line, but the gains were short-lived and unsustainable without support or reinforcements.

The Germans counter-attacked with overwhelming strength. Many Australians were cut off and killed or captured. The attack failed with catastrophic casualties. The 31st Battalion suffered heavy losses:

approximately 572 casualties out of about 992 men engaged. This included killed, wounded, and missing — nearly 60% of the battalion.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

John was one of those casualties with gunshot wound to his right elbow, which fractured is ulna (elbow to wrist)

HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND JULY 1916

He was admitted to the 1st General North Hospital in Newcastle on Tyne, England on 23rd July

CODFORD COMMAND POST OCTOBER 1916

on 16th October 1916 was marched into Codford command depot where he would again 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. There is no record of where John was from October 1916 to November 1917 so I assume he was still in the command post camp

DISCIPLINED NOVEMBER 1917

While at the camp in Codford, on 10th November 1917 he neglected illegible bounds. He was awarded 5 days confined to camp. On 15th March 1918 he rejoined his unit. 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. It was subsequently involved in the operations that continued to press the retreating Germans through August and into September.

OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE November 1917

On 14^th November he was marched into the training brigade to retrain him to return to his unit. Activities included

·      Physical conditioning and route marches.

·      Weapons training, including musketry, bayonet fighting, and use of grenades.

·      Trench warfare training, including construction, tactics, and movement.

·      Drill and discipline, polishing military routines.

Occasionally, gas mask training and mock trench raids

REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1918

On 13^th March 1918 he rejoined the 31^st battalion

MARCH 1918 TO NOVEMBER 1918

Between March 1918 and November 1918, the 31st Battalion (Australian Imperial Force) was heavily involved in some of the most intense and decisive phases of fighting on the Western Front, especially as the war moved into its final phase — the Allied counter-offensives that ultimately led to victory. In this period, the battalion went from defending against the major German spring offensive to participating in the Allied advance that broke the Hindenburg Line and led to the end of the war.

MARCH–APRIL 1918: RESPONDING TO THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE

The German Spring Offensive began in late March 1918, and the 31st was quickly moved to reinforce the front near Villers-Bretonneux, close to Amiens, to halt the German advance.

The battalion was involved in holding defensive positions, digging trenches, and manning outposts during this critical phase

MAY–JUNE 1918: TRENCH WARFARE & PATROLS

This period was relatively static. The 31st held front-line and support trenches near the Somme. There were patrols, raids, and artillery duels, but no major battles.

The Australians maintained aggressive patrolling to keep pressure on the Germans.

JULY–AUGUST 1918: THE TURNING POINT – BATTLE OF AMIENS

On 8 August 1918, the 31st took part in the Battle of Amiens, a massive, surprise Allied offensive involving tanks, aircraft, and coordinated infantry-artillery tactics. This battle marked the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive and the collapse of German resistance. The 31st advanced successfully with minimal casualties — morale was high.

AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 1918: THE ADVANCE CONTINUES

The battalion pushed forward through former German lines.

Key actions included battles at Peronne (late August–early September), Mont St Quentin – though the 2nd Division took the lead, 5th Division supported the continuing advance & Epehy and the Outpost Line of the Hindenburg defences. The fighting became more mobile, with fewer trenches and more open warfare.

LATE SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 1918: BATTLE OF THE HINDENBURG LINE

The 31st helped breach the Hindenburg Line, particularly in operations around Bellicourt and Nauroy. These battles involved coordinated attacks with tanks and artillery. Casualties were heavy, but success here broke the backbone of German defences

OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 1918: FINAL OPERATIONS AND REST

After the Hindenburg Line was broken, the 31st took part in advancing through broken German rear areas.

As German resistance collapsed, the AIF was eventually withdrawn from frontline operations in early October for rest and reorganisation.

WAR ENDED

The 31st Battalion spent the final weeks of the war out of the line, training and preparing for possible further action, but the Armistice came on 11 November 1918. 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

DETATCHED TO 6^TH DIVISION-BOXING

On 16th November 1918 he was detached to the 5th division on a Boxing Transfer. During World Wars I boxing bouts were organized among the troops to provide a form of recreation, to boost morale and to relieve tension.  Obviously, John must have done some experience in boxing and he spent several months in this pastime.

DEPOT HQ AFTER WAR ENDED

When the war ended soldiers would be on duties such as with Depot HQs which had shifted from training and deployment centres to processing, medical, administrative, and demobilisation hubs, ensuring a smooth return to civilian life for thousands of Australian soldiers. Their role was vital in transitioning from war to peace and laying the groundwork for veterans' support in the 1920s.

Depot HQ coordinated the gradual disbandment of wartime units and repatriation, and medical processing.

LEAVE IN PARIS DECEMBER 1918

John was given leave in Paris from 23^rd December to 8^th January 1919, then returned to Depot HQ

LEAVE IN LONDON JANUARY 1919
He was given leave in London from 17^th January to 3^rd February 1919 then back to Depot HQ

GOING HOME APRIL 1919

he returned to Australia on the Derbyshire on 29^th April 1919. He was discharged 21^st June 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

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

HOME LIFE

John died in Casino on 12 December, 1966, aged 76 & is buried in
Casino Lawn Cemetery

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