FAMILY LIFE

Edward Blundell was born in 1879 in Staffordshire. He, his wife, Louisa, & their 4 children were living in Murwillumbah when he decided to enlist.

ATTESTATION

Edward travelled to Brisbane on the 31^st January 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Staffordshire, England, was, 37 years and 9 months old and a married man with 4 children. He gave his occupation as painter. His next of kin was his mother, Louisa, of Murwillumbah. Edward also agreed to allot three fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during his service to the support of his wife

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following

“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Edward Blundell, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

His medical showed he was 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m), weighed 124 lbs (56kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. Edward was Church of England and had a scar on his left shin & 5 vaccine scars.  

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description

I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training.

The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 31^st Infantry Battalion – 6^th Reinforcements with service No 2876a

31^ST INFANTRY BATTALION

The 31st Infantry Battalion, part of the 8th Brigade, 5th Division of the Australian Imperial Force, was raised in August 1915. The battalion served in several key campaigns during World War I

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

INNOCULATONS

Australians were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a week.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

The battalion sailed on 14^th April 1916 on the HMAT Ceramic. Alongside his comrades, Edward marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

DAILY ROUTINE

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

MEALS

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. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

HEALTH & SANITATION

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt to keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The 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

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.

EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board.

ENGLAND

On the 16^th June 1916 the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead. They disembarked at Plymouth

OVERSEAS TRAINING CAMP

They had already completed very 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

HOSPITALISATION AUGUST MYALGIA

During this time Edward was admitted to Fargo Hospital with Lumbar Myalgia on 31^st August. Pain that is often severe is the most prominent among the symptoms of myalgia. The onset is usually sudden and lingers for a few days to several weeks depending on the intensity and the cause of the pain. The pain is also associated with stiffness and spasm. The most common cause of myalgia is tension or stress that results from an injury or excessive use of the affected muscle. Edward was engaging in actions with which he was unfamiliar, lifting heavy objects and generally anxious about what was happening and what would happen. Rest is one of the best treatments for this condition and Edward remained in hospital till 1^st September

OVERSEAS SERVICE -TRENCH WARFARE

He then proceeded to France in September 1916 to be taken on strength with the 31^st Battalion, which in mid-1916 had proceeded to France, destined for the Western front from Egypt. 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- GAS ATTACK

The 31st Battalion had 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 but defended the front line, just fighting the Germans in a daily grind in the trenches.

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 was not 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 not 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.”

Caring for mustard victims differed from caring for chlorine or phosgene casualties. Once evacuated, chlorine and phosgene victims received oxygen and bed rest until they were healthy enough to return to the front. However, soldiers exposed to mustard gas, especially in high concentrations or for long periods of time, needed to bathe with hot soap and water to remove the chemical from their skin. If it was not scrubbed off within 30 minutes of exposure, blistering occurred. Portable shower units with specially trained medics helped minimize its blistering effect. These consisted of a “bath truck that was provided with a hot water boiler and a number of fold-down shower heads.”

After the troops showered, the chemical corps issued them new uniforms in exchange for their contaminated clothing. These discarded clothes were then decontaminated and reissued to other exposed soldiers. Because mustard gas induced eye injuries, casualties had their eyes washed as quickly as possible to minimize the duration of acute conjunctivitis, which generally lasted several weeks. Soldiers’ care became increasingly difficult in the last year of the war with the increased frequency of gas attacks. Also, mustard gas damaged the lungs more severely than either chlorine or phosgene did, and these lesions were much more difficult to treat. The recuperation time from mustard gas exposure—46 days—was like that of phosgene.

REJOINED UNIT OCTOBER 1916

There is no record of when Edward was gassed except on 14^th October he rejoined his unit from hospital.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME NOVEMBER 1916

On 3 November 1916, Edward Blundell and the men of the 31st Battalion were serving in the front-line trenches around Gueudecourt on the Somme. The battalion had returned to the line on 31 October and remained there until 4 November, occupying positions near a strongpoint known as Fabrique Farm.

This period formed part of the closing stages of the long and costly Battle of the Somme, specifically the operations associated with the Battle of Le Transloy. By early November the battlefield had become a sea of mud, shell holes and shattered trenches. Heavy rain had turned much of the ground into a quagmire, making movement extremely difficult. Although there were no large-scale Australian assaults on 3 November itself, the front around Gueudecourt remained under constant artillery fire, sniper activity and machine-gun fire. Casualties occurred daily from shelling, trench raids and patrol clashes

The 31st Battalion's role was to hold and defend the recently captured positions near Gueudecourt while preparations continued for further Allied attacks. The Germans were determined to regain lost ground and subjected the Australian trenches to frequent bombardments. Men spent much of their time repairing damaged trenches, improving dugouts, carrying supplies through the mud and standing watch against enemy attacks. Conditions were miserable, with cold weather, waterlogged trenches and continual shellfire placing enormous strain on the troops.

WOUNDED IN ACTION NOVEMBER 1916

On 3^rd November 1916 he was again wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his neck & right arm (severe).  The battalion had already endured the terrible fighting at Fromelles in July and had returned to the line during the later stages of the Somme campaign. By late October and early November, the 31st Battalion, part of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division, was holding trenches around Gueudecourt and an area known as Fabrique Farm.

This was not a period of major sweeping advances. Instead, the battalion was engaged in the grim trench warfare that followed the great Somme offensives. The weather had deteriorated badly. Continuous rain had transformed the battlefield into a sea of mud, making movement exhausting and dangerous. Men spent their days repairing shattered trenches, carrying supplies through shell-torn ground, maintaining wiring, standing sentry duty, and enduring constant German shellfire and sniping. Even routine tasks could result in casualties.

Between 31 October and 4 November 1916, the 31st Battalion occupied the front line at Gueudecourt near Fabrique Farm. During these days the Germans subjected Australian positions to frequent artillery bombardments, while both sides carried out patrols and raids. Casualties were suffered almost daily from shellfire, trench mortars, machine-gun fire and snipers. A number of 31st Battalion men were killed on 1 and 3 November, showing how dangerous the sector remained even outside a major attack.

Edward was wounded just two days before the larger Australian attacks around Flers and Gueudecourt began on 5 November. The area was already being heavily shelled as both sides prepared for further operations. Conditions were described by many soldiers as some of the worst of the war to that point. Men struggled through knee-deep mud, duckboards disappeared beneath water, and shell holes filled with slime and debris.

So when Edward was wounded on 3 November, he was most likely taking part in the daily work of holding the front line around Gueudecourt—enduring bombardments, maintaining trenches and defences, carrying supplies, or standing watch against German activity. Although not a major battle date for the 31st Battalion, it was part of the relentless attritional fighting of the Somme, where soldiers could be wounded or killed at any moment without a formal attack even taking place.

HOSPITALISED ENGLAND NOVEMBER 1916

Edward was evacuated through the Australian and British medical system in France before being sent across the English Channel. On 12 November 1916 he was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol, one of the largest military hospitals in Britain. Here he received specialist treatment, nursing care and a period of recovery away from the front line. The hospital occupied a number of buildings throughout Bristol and was staffed by military doctors, nurses and civilian volunteers who cared for thousands of wounded soldiers arriving from France and Belgium.

For Edward, the move to Bristol would have marked the first opportunity in many weeks to rest in relative safety. His wounds would have been assessed and treated, dressings changed regularly, and his progress carefully monitored. Depending on the nature of his injuries, he may have undergone surgery, physiotherapy, or a programme of gradual rehabilitation designed to restore his strength. As the weeks passed and his condition improved, medical authorities determined that he no longer required hospital treatment but was not yet fit enough to return to active service.

MARCHED INTO PERHAM DOWNS JANUARY 1917

Consequently, on 2 January 1917 Edward was marched into No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Command Depots served as rehabilitation and reconditioning centres for soldiers recovering from wounds or illness. Rather than remaining in hospital, men were sent there to rebuild their physical fitness through carefully supervised exercise, route marches, drill and training. Medical officers continued to monitor their health while assessing whether they were fit to return to duty overseas, required further treatment, or should be considered for return to Australia.

Life at Perham Downs was very different from the trenches of France. Edward would have lived in camp conditions among hundreds of other recovering soldiers, following a routine that balanced rest with gradually increasing physical activity. The aim was to restore him to military efficiency while ensuring that his wounds had healed sufficiently to withstand the demands of active service. His time there represented an important stage in his recovery, bridging the gap between hospital treatment and a possible return to the front.

TRANSFERRED TO WAREHAM

From there he was transferred to No.4 Command Depot, Wareham which received men who will be fit for duty in periods ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months.

HOSPITALISATION DEAFNESS FEBRUARY 1917

On 8th February he left Folkstone on the SS Invicta to rejoin his unit. On 17th March he was admitted to a French hospital with deafness. Soldiers were exposed to up to 185 dB of sustained noise from new, high-energy weapons, which caused ‘labyrinthine concussion’. He rejoined the unit on 8th April 1917. From here the records get very hard to follow, with little details. On 18th May he was marched into 5th division base depot but back in hospital on 16th June. On 22nd June he again marches into 5th division base depot but back in hospital 14th July with deafness.  On 22nd July he is marched into 4th division base depot then received a medical discharge

GOING HOME

Edward was discharged on 15^th February 1918 with chronic otitis myalgia. He returned home to Australia on 18th October 1917 per the Beltana

CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION

Badges Hat                    Badges Collar (2)                    Bags kit universal

Bags kit sea                   Braces (pair)                            Brush, shaving

Brush, tooth                  Breeches M.S (Military service)

Cap comforter (warm cap)                                           Comb, hair

Disc identity with cord                                                  Drawers (2 pairs)

Great Coat                     Hat, Khaki fur                          Hat, white

Holdall                           Housewife (compact sewing kit)

Jackets Cardigan           Jackets S.D (service dress)

Leggings 1 pair             Laces, leather 1 pair

Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions

Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)

Razor                              Shirts, flannel (2)                   Socks, 3 pairs

Singlets (2)

Strap chin                      Soap piece                               Suit, working

Towels, hand (2)

Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the

Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour and the Dungay Public School WWI Honour Roll.

AFTER THE WAR

On 4^th April 1918 Edward was living in Clayfield, Qld and applied for pensions for his wife, Louisa, his son, Edward, & daughters, Kitty, Iris & Phillis. They were all rejected on the grounds that Edward’s incapacity, if any, is not the result of employment in connection to warlike operations.

Edward died on 28th October 1959, aged 80, in Brisbane and is buried at Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, plot 21-19-27. He has a monument at Queensland Garden of Remembrance, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane City, plot, Wall 7 Row C

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