Private Robert Wycliffe Jay
Service #: 471
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Robert Wycliffe Jay was born in 1890 in Singleton, son of Robert Flower Jay & Sarah Elizabeth Jay. He was one of 9 children. Robert married Dora Marie Price in Murwillumbah on 4th September 1915. The Jay family were Murwillumbah residents with Robert’s father dying in 1933, 3 weeks before his 95th birthday. He became a general storekeeper in South Murwillumbah in 1903, retiring in 1913
Robert was single storekeeper eager to do his bit. He travelled to Holdsworthy on 6th October, 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, Dora, of Cudgen. His medical showed he was 22 years 4 months old, 5ft 2 ½ inches tall (1.58m), weighed 103 lbs (46kgs), with a fresh complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good
The Examining Medical Officer stated that Robert “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, Robert Wycliffe Jay, 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.” Robert was Church of England. He was enlisted as a private into the 35th Battalion, B Company with service No 471
TRAINING IN RUTHERFORD CAMP, MAITLAND
Rutherford Camp had huts and parade grounds and was used to train many NSW-based recruits. 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.
Training Timeline
· Late 1915 to April 1916: Recruits (like Jay) did basic and battalion-level training at Rutherford.
· March–April 1916: Final preparations and embarkation drills at Liverpool Camp which served as a staging and transit area.
On the 1st May, 1916 the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Benalla. 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.
LARKHILL CAMP, SAILSBURY PLAINS TRAINING JULY 1916
The Benalla arrived in Plymouth, England, on 9 July 1916. The journey took about 10 weeks, with likely stops at Fremantle (WA), possibly Cape Town, and Sierra Leone, depending on the route taken (common for troopships of the time to avoid submarine zones). The AIF Training Camps on Salisbury Plain were the main base for Australian soldiers arriving in Britain in mid-1916.
The 35th Battalion trained in cold, wet conditions at Larkhill Camp, one of the established tent camps on the Plain. Training involved trench warfare techniques, bayonet drills, live fire exercises, gas mask use, and coordination with British units.
Camp Conditions & Layout
· Accommodation: Tents or wooden huts, often cold, damp, and muddy — especially in the British summer/autumn.
· Weather: Wet, overcast conditions were common, and many Australians found the climate miserable compared to home.
· Facilities: Parade grounds, rifle ranges, gas training areas, bayonet fighting pits, and mock trench systems were built to simulate battlefield conditions
Training Activities (July–November 1916)
· Weapons Training
· Use and maintenance of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle.
· Grenade throwing (often live grenades).
· Lewis Gun handling and section tactics
The AIF Training Camps on Salisbury Plain were the main base for Australian soldiers arriving in Britain in mid-1916.
The 35th Battalion trained in cold, wet conditions at Larkhill Camp, one of the established tent camps on the Plain. Training involved trench warfare techniques, bayonet drills, live fire exercises, gas mask use, and coordination with British units.
· Accommodation: Tents or wooden huts, often cold, damp, and muddy — especially in the British summer/autumn.
· Weather: Wet, overcast conditions were common, and many Australians found the climate miserable compared to home.
· Facilities: Parade grounds, rifle ranges, gas training areas, bayonet fighting pits, and mock trench systems were built to simulate battlefield conditions
Training Activities
· Weapons Training
· Use and maintenance of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle.
· Grenade throwing (often live grenades).
· Lewis Gun handling and section tactics
Trench Warfare Drills
· Building and occupying practice trenches.
· Night operations and trench raids.
· Rotations simulating life under shellfire and gas attack.
Gas Warfare Training
Use of PH-type gas helmets and box respirators.
Drills in gas chambers using low concentrations of chlorine or phosgene to acclimate soldiers.
Bayonet Fighting
· Close-combat techniques using bayonets — aggressive training with thrusts, parries, and charges.
Bombing (Grenade) School
· Use of Mills bombs and defensive bombing techniques in dugouts or trench corners.
Live Fire Exercises
· Section-level manoeuvres with live ammunition — dangerous but essential for battlefield realism
Tactical Training
· Understanding platoon and company movements.
· Signals training (flags, lamps, runners).
· Leadership exercises for NCOs and junior officers.
Daily Life
· Days began early with reveille at dawn, PT, then drills.
· Route marches in full kit were common — often 10–15 miles across the chalky countryside.
· Evenings often included lectures or maintenance.
· Pay parades, church services, and mail from home offered some morale boosts.
· The cold, wet conditions were physically hard, and sickness was common (influenza, bronchitis, trench foot-like conditions).
Training at Larkhill was tough, realistic, and intense. It forged untested Australian recruits like Private Jay into soldiers ready for the horrors of trench warfare on the Western Front. While some men found it exhausting and bleak, it undoubtedly helped save lives once they reached the trenches of the Western Front
WESTERN FRONT & NURSERY SECTOR
Deployment to France November 1916
The 35th Battalion proceeded to France in late November 1916, crossing the English Channel. They likely staged briefly at the AIF Base Depot at Étaples before moving north by train and on foot to Armentières. Their first posting on the Western Front was in the Armentières sector, which was considered a "nursery sector" to introduce new units to trench warfare.
Situated in northern France, close to the Belgian border, south of Ypres. The town of Armentières was held by the Allies and sat just behind the front line. The sector stretched across flat farmland, crisscrossed with drainage ditches, poplar trees, and narrow roads. The area was known as a “nursery sector” — a relatively quieter part of the front. Used by British and Dominion forces (like the Australians) to acclimate newly arrived units to the realities of trench warfare. There were still casualties from snipers, shelling, and patrol clashes, but it was less active than the Somme or Ypres areas.
They occupied front-line trenches on rotation with other battalions in the 9th Brigade. They conducted working parties, repaired trenches, laid barbed wire, and dug communication lines & carried out night patrols into No Man’s Land — dangerous work that introduced men to the proximity of the enemy. They suffered minor casualties from shelling and snipers even in this quieter sector. Orders were strict — any signs of lax discipline could lead to a court-martial. Men had to maintain rifles and gas masks, follow orders quickly, and keep uniform standards high even in mud. The constant strain of shellfire, lice, cold, and interrupted sleep began to wear on soldiers quickly.
As a private in B Company, Robert would have been involved in:
· Trench holding (standing sentry, manning parapets, observing enemy lines).
· Night work (bringing up supplies, wiring parties, patrols).
· Ration details, equipment carrying, and working parties (fatigue duty).
This was his baptism of fire, preparing him for far more intense battles to come — such as Messines in June 1917.
TRENCH WARFARE
The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans 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.
BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917
The Battle of Messines (7–14 June 1917) was the first major offensive for the 35th Battalion, and for many like Private Jay, it was their first large-scale battle on the Western Front. It was also a major Australian victory — meticulously planned, devastating in its effect, and deeply costly in lives.
Before the battle:
The Allies had spent over a year tunnelling beneath German positions, laying 19 massive mines. On 7 June at 3:10 a.m., these were detonated beneath the ridge — the largest man-made explosion in history at the time. The blast killed thousands of German defenders instantly and shattered their front lines
The 35th was part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division, under Major General John Monash. They were on the left flank of the 3rd Division, advancing near the Douve River and the village of St Yves.
The assault
Immediately after the mine detonation, Australian troops advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage. The 35th moved forward in waves, crossing No Man’s Land under cover of the barrage.
Their objectives were:
· Capture German front-line and support trenches
· Secure positions on or near Messines Ridge
· Consolidate gains for follow-up waves
The 35th faced Machine gun fire from surviving pillboxes, German artillery counter-barrages & some hand-to-hand fighting in trench systems and dugouts. But the surprise and scale of the mine explosions had devastated German defences, and the attack was successful.
Aftermath
Over the next 2–3 days, the battalion dug in, repelled counterattacks, withstood shellfire & worked to link trenches and bring up supplies and wounded. The 35th Battalion lost over 400 men killed or wounded at Messines — a heavy toll. It was their first major test in battle and they fought with distinction, gaining valuable experience and a solid reputation.
BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE OCTOBER 1917
The 35th next big battle was the Battle of Passchendaele. The 35th Battalion’s involvement particularly their part in the Battle of Passchendaele Ridge (also called Third Battle of Ypres) was during October 1917. This was one of the most harrowing episodes in the battalion's war history — and for Robert this would have been a brutal test of endurance and survival.
The aim was to break through German defences and capture the high ground of Passchendaele Ridge. By October, earlier gains had bogged down in deep mud, constant rain, and German resistance. The battlefield had become a shell-blasted swamp. The 35th was part of the 9th Brigade, ordered to attack toward Passchendaele village as part of a general push.
Their job was to follow behind the 34th Battalion, pass through them after they took the first objective, and continue the advance.
The battlefield was a quagmire: no solid ground, water-filled shell holes, and slimy mud waist-deep in places. Weapons jammed, boots were sucked off in mud, and stretcher-bearers could barely move. The creeping barrage — which troops usually followed for protection — was ineffective because the guns were stuck or misaligned in the bog.
Launched at 5:25 a.m. on 12 October, under rain and intense machine gun fire. The 34th Battalion was cut down almost immediately and could not reach its objective. The 35th followed and ran into the same disaster — machine guns swept no man's land, and the mud made any forward movement almost impossible. Despite gallantry, the men were unable to advance more than a few dozen metres.
The attack failed completely — very few gains were made across the entire front. The 35th Battalion suffered 508 casualties — nearly half its strength, one of the worst days in its history. Men were lost to Machine-gun fire, shellfire, drowning in mud & being left wounded in no man’s land, unreachable by stretcher bearers
It came to symbolise the horror and futility of trench warfare. Despite its cost, Passchendaele Ridge was eventually captured, but at the price of 38,000 Australian casualties in just weeks. The 35th Battalion was withdrawn and rebuilt after the October attack
JOINED THE 3RD DIVISION CONCERT TROUPE- “THE COOEES”- DECEMBER 1917
On 16th December 1917 Robert was detached to join the 3rd Division concert troupe. He became part of a small but important group within the AIF that played a vital morale-boosting role behind the lines during the most gruelling phases of the war. Their job was to perform concerts, skits, plays, musical shows, and vaudeville-style acts for troops resting behind the lines.
Robert would likely have had a musical, theatrical, or comedic skill — perhaps singing, playing an instrument, acting, or writing performances. His duties would have included:
· Performing in live shows for troops across France and Belgium
· Rehearsing routines while on rest rotations
· Travelling between camps to perform — sometimes near the front
· Helping set up props, lighting, costumes, or make-up
These troupes were an essential part of wartime culture, remembered fondly by veterans for lifting spirits.
LEAVE IN PARIS AUGUST 1918
Robert was given leave in Paris from 12th to 26th August 1918
The end of the war was in sight and on 11th 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 many months before they were headed back to Australia.
STILL PERFORMING
After the Armistice, the troupe continued performing for occupying forces and repatriating troops.
GOING HOME
Robert returned home on 12th June 1919 and disembarked on 10th August 1919. On 11th August 1919 Robert signed the medical report of an invalid stating “I am not suffering from any disability due to or aggravated by war service and feel fit & well” His discharge was recommended and he was discharged on 25th September 1919.
For his service Robert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
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