FAMILY LIFE

William Thomas Ross was born c1886 at Murwillumbah according to his attestation.

APPLICATION

He was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 8^th January 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his brother, Alexander Ross, of Crystal Creek. His medical showed he was 29 years 4 months old, 5ft 2 inches tall (1.57m), weighed 100 lbs (45 kgs), with a dark complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. William was Church of England and had a scar on his right leg.  

The Examining Medical Officer stated that William “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, William Thomas Ross, 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 31st Infantry Battalion – 8^th Reinforcements with service No 3007 and 3007A

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

All 31st Battalion recruits 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

On the 14^th April 1916, 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. They disembarked at Port Said on 16^th May 1916.

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP

In mid 1916 the 31^st proceeded to France. William embarked on the HMT Franconia at Alexandria on 5^th June and disembarked at Plymouth on 16^th June 1916. The new recruits had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English 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

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

On 6^th September they left England for France and taken on strength on 22^nd September, 1916. Here, they found themselves fighting in trenches. 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

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. Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 31st played no major offensive role for the rest of the year.

DETATCHED TO 8^TH BATTALION HEADQUARTERS NOVEMBER 1916

On the 15^th November 1916 William was detached to the 8^th Battalion Headquarters. At BHQ soldiers played various operational, administrative, and communication roles to support the battalion's functioning. BHQ was the nerve center of a battalion, usually located a short distance behind the front lines (often in a dugout, trench shelter, or a captured structure). William may have been doing anything from being a runner (carried written or verbal messages when other communication methods failed) to being a guard or sentry or possibly, with his background as a labourer, maintaining the HQ area, reinforcing dugouts, laying communication cables, or helping with trench works nearby.

LEAVE FRANCE OCTOBER 1917

William was given leave in France from 10^th October to 20^th October. 1917.

BATTLE OF YPRES NOVEMBER 1917

The 8th played a significant role in the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele), which lasted from 31 July to 10 November 1917. This campaign aimed to break through German lines in Flanders, Belgium, and capture the strategic ridge around Passchendaele.

This was the main battle the 8th Battalion fought in during the Ypres campaign. They were near Zonnebeke, east of Ypres. Their objective was to capture the Broodseinde Ridge, a vital high ground held by the Germans.

The attack began at 5:30 am under a creeping artillery barrage. The 8th Battalion advanced behind the barrage, pushing forward under machine gun and artillery fire. The Australians caught the Germans by surprise, as German troops were forming up for their own counter-attack. The battalion achieved all its objectives, capturing German pillboxes, trenches, and prisoners.

The battlefield had turned into a quagmire due to heavy rain and relentless shelling. Soldiers had to wade through deep mud and water, often sinking waist-deep. Dead and wounded were difficult to evacuate; horses and carts often got bogged. Disease, cold, exhaustion, and stress were rampant. The Third Battle of Ypres ended in mid-November, with horrendous losses and limited strategic gain.

OCTOBER 1917 TO MARCH 1918

In late October, the 8th Battalion was withdrawn from the front lines. They were moved to rest areas in Belgium and northern France. Activities included

·      Rest and recuperation

·      Burial of the dead

·      Reorganisation and integration of reinforcements

·      Training: musketry, bayonet practice, platoon tactics

DECEMBER 1917 – WINTER TRENCH ROTATIONS

The battalion returned to the front in Flanders but the situation was relatively static. They took part in trench rotations near the Warneton–Ploegsteert sector, sometimes referred to as "the quiet front". Duties included

·      Holding the line

·      Night patrols and wiring parties

·      Digging and maintaining trenches in freezing mud and water

Exposure to trench foot, frostbite, and illness increased.

JANUARY – FEBRUARY 1918 – QUIET SECTOR, ONGOING ROTATIONs

The 8th Battalion continued rotating between front-line trenches, support positions, and rest camps in northern France.

These months were marked by harsh winter conditions, but few major engagements. Activities included

·      Repairing trenches

·      Sending out patrols

·      Defensive readiness in case of German raids

·      Continued training behind the lines (map reading, Lewis gun use, bombing, etc.)

·      Likely contributed to working parties and local raids

MARCH 1918 – GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE BEGINS

In mid-March, the 8th Battalion and the 1st Division were moved south to the Somme region in anticipation of a major German attack.

On 21 March 1918, Germany launched Operation Michael, their Spring Offensive.

APRIL 1918

In April 1918, the 8th Battalion AIF was heavily involved in the defence of the Somme region, particularly during the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux — a critical part of halting the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael), which had begun in March.

Early April 1918

The 8th Battalion was positioned near the village of Hébuterne and Albert, north-east of Amiens, conducting defensive duties. Their work included:

·      Strengthening trenches and wire

·      Patrolling No Man’s Land

·      Repelling small-scale German advances

·      Supporting working parties and field engineering

Mid-April: German Pressure Builds

By mid-April, the battalion was moved closer to the Villers-Bretonneux sector, as it became clear the Germans would try to push through there. Villers-Bretonneux was seen as the gateway to Amiens.

24–25 APRIL 1918: SECOND BATTLE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

On 24 April, the Germans launched a major attack, capturing part of Villers-Bretonneux with the use of tanks—a rare occurrence for the Germans. That night, in a brilliantly executed counter-attack, the 8th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Brigade, helped retake the town in a coordinated night assault. The 8^th attacked south of the railway line in coordination with the 5th Battalion. They advanced under cover of darkness without a preliminary barrage (to retain surprise), engaged in fierce hand-to-hand fighting in the outskirts and woodlands around the town & successfully recaptured key positions by the morning of 25 April

After the Counter attack

The 8th Battalion held their new positions under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. They were eventually relieved after suffering significant casualties. The victory was a major morale boost and a turning point in stopping the German advance on Amiens

MAY 1918 HOLDING THE LINE

In May 1918, the 8th remained in the Villers-Bretonneux sector on the Somme front, continuing defensive and front-line duties following their crucial role in recapturing the town from the Germans in April

HOLDING THE LINE NEAR VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

After the successful night counterattack of 24–25 April, the 8th Battalion stayed in the front-line and support trenches near Villers-Bretonneux throughout May. Their tasks included:

·      Maintaining and improving trenches

·      Repairing barbed wire entanglements

·      Conducting patrols and observation posts

·      Repelling German artillery and occasional infantry probes

The area remained very active and dangerous, despite the lack of large-scale attacks. The battalion reported regular German shelling, sniper fire, and the use of gas shells.

Casualties continued at a steady rate due to these ongoing dangers.

WOUNDED IN ACTION GASSED MAY 1918

One of those casualties was William, who, on the 17^th May 1918 was gassed. An eye witness describes what happens in a gas attack- “[T]he next thing we heard was this sizzling—you know, I mean you could hear this damn stuff coming on—and then saw this awful cloud coming over. A great yellow, greenish-yellow, cloud. It wasn’t very high; about I would say it wasn’t more than 20 feet up. Nobody knew what to think. But immediately it got there we knew what to think, I mean we knew what it was. Well then of course you immediately began to choke, then word came: whatever you do don’t go down. You see if you got to the bottom of the trench, you got the full blast of it because it was heavy stuff, it went down.”

GASSED YX

The notation on his record states Gassed YX. “Gassed” refers to a soldier being exposed to chemical weapons (e.g. mustard gas, phosgene, chlorine) used by the enemy. The term usually meant temporary or lasting injury from gas exposure — which could affect eyes, lungs, skin, or cause internal damage. Gassed YX” in a WWI record means the soldier was gassed in action, but not fatally.

They were likely evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) or Field Ambulance, and may have been sent to a base hospital in France or England, depending on severity. The “YX” component is a clerical/administrative shorthand, possibly indicating the nature or severity (light/moderate).

CASULTY CLEARING STATION

William was admitted to the Clearing Station first. A Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in World War I played a critical role in treating gassed soldiers. Located a few miles behind the front lines, CCSs were semi-permanent medical facilities set up near railways to receive, triage, and stabilize wounded men before sending them to base hospitals if necessary.

Immediate Assessment and Triage

On arrival, gassed soldiers were examined quickly to determine:

·      Type of gas exposure (e.g. chlorine, phosgene, mustard)

·      Severity of symptoms (e.g. coughing, vomiting, blindness, burns, respiratory distress)

·      Likelihood of survival or need for evacuation

Soldiers were prioritised for treatment based on severity—mildly affected might stay; severe cases were sent to base hospitals.

Treatment varied by gas type, but typically included:

Chlorine or Phosgene Gas:

·      Oxygen therapy (if available)

·      Warmth and rest

·      Inhalations of steam or antiseptic vapours

·      Monitoring for delayed lung damage, which was common with phosgene

Mustard Gas:

·      Stripping and washing the patient immediately — mustard gas soaked into clothing and skin

·      Treatment of skin burns with ointments or dressings

·      Eye irrigation if eyes were affected

·      Isolation from others due to risk of gas residue transfer

If a soldier was badly affected, they were sent by ambulance train to a base hospital in France (e.g. at Étaples, Boulogne, Rouen) or evacuated to England.

HOSPITALISED TO ENGLAND MAY 1918

William was invalided to England on 26th May and then marched into a command post.

COMMAND POSTS

A Command Depot was a military rehabilitation and re-training centre for soldiers who were no longer sick or wounded enough to stay in hospital, but not yet fit enough to return to active duty.

Key Purposes:

·      Medical recovery: Continued healing and observation under light medical care.

·      Physical reconditioning: Route marches, drills, sports, and gym exercises to rebuild stamina.

·      Fitness assessment: Medical boards decided if the man would:

·      Return to his battalion if possible

·      Be assigned to a home service unit if unable to return to duty

·      Be permanently discharged

Soldiers would be marched into different depots depending how sick they were.

William was marched into Deverill on 16^th July 1918.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1918

On 12th August he rejoined his 8^th Battalion.

DETACHED TO BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AGAIN AUGUST1918 TO MAY 1919

William would have done the duties he had been doing when he was with them in November 1916 until the war ended then more clerical work dealing with the paperwork

WAR ENDED

The end of the war was in sight and 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.

GOING HOME

William returned to Australia on 22^nd May 1919 on the Durham. He disembarked on 21^st July 1919 and was discharged 6^th September 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

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

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