FAMILY LIFE

Philip Leo O’Neill was born in 1898 at Murwillumbah, son of Philip & Catherine (O’Donnell) O’Neill. He was one of 6 children. His parents moved to the Tweed in the 1880’s, living at Stott’s Creek.

APPLICATION

Philip was single farmer, living in Stott’s Creek, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 7th November 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Kate, of Stott’s Creek. Philip was living in an area which was exempt from compulsory training.

He took his medical examination at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera, which showed he was 18 years old, 5ft 6 inches tall (1.68m), weighed 125 lbs (56 kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Philip “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, Philip O’Neill, 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.” 

Philip was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his right thumb.  He was enlisted as a private into the 31^st Infantry Battalion – 12^th Reinforcements with service No 4575

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

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. 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.

HOME LEAVE

His application dd 22nd November 1916 for home leave for 5 days to visit scattered relatives & parents was approved.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 23^rd December 1916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Demosthenes. 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.

HOSPITALISATION – MUMPS MARCH 1917

They disembarked at Plymouth on 3^rd March 1917.  Unfortunately, because of crowding on the ship, Philip caught mumps while on board and was hospitalised immediately. Mumps is a contagious viral illness. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing. He was discharged on 14^th March

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP

On 17^th March he was marched into the training camp at Hurdcott.

Training would take several months. They 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.

Military training grounds, had soldiers exposed to harsh weather. The sanitary facilities in training camps were often rudimentary, and the spread of infections was common.

WESTERN FRONT- TRENCH WARFARE

On 11^th November he was to march in to join his unit, but took sick, no details, but on 11^th December 1917 he was taken on strength and proceeded to France via Southampton. 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. However, 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.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918

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. It 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 Australian Corps, led by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, played a key role, alongside American divisions. 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

APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL

On 21^st October 1918 Philip was appointed Lance Corporal.

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 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.

DUTIES IN FRANCE

After the Armistice on 11 November 1918, Australian soldiers in France did not immediately return home. Instead, they remained in France and Belgium for weeks or even months performing a wide range of duties. These duties included

·      Many soldiers helped repair roads, railways, and bridges damaged during the war.

·      They cleared battlefields of debris, barbed wire, and unexploded ordnance.

·       Some worked on reinterring bodies in formal war cemeteries under the Imperial War Graves Commission.

·      Units still followed military discipline: parades, inspections, drills.

·      Continued training exercises, including physical training and military education.

·      Participated in victory parades and ceremonies.

GOING HOME

Philip returned to Australia on 16^th October 1919 on the HMAT Main and was discharged on 23^rd November 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

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

HOME LIFE

He returned to Stott’s Creek & married Catherine Barry in 1936. He was a member of Tumbulgum Sub Branch in 1947, as a letter from the secretary of that club had written to the AIF about a badge 

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