FAMILY LIFE

George Robert Choat was born c1878 in London, England.  He was married to Rosetta, with a son born in 1916.

APPLICATION

George was a farmer who travelled to Brisbane on 25^th January 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, Rosetta, of Gap Gate, Murwillumbah. George had served in the 8^th King’s Royal Irish Hussars for 12 years and left as his time had expired.

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

George also agreed to allot two fifths of the pay payable to him from time to time during his service to the support of his wife

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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, George Robert Choat, 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

George’s medical showed he was 37 years 7 months old, 5ft 6 ½ inches tall (1.69m), weighed 141lbs (64kgs), with a dark complexion, blue eyes & dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. George was Church of England and had 4 vaccination scars on his left arm & 2 on his right, a tattoo on both arms & a scar on his right shin.

 

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

. 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 4^th Pioneers – 2nd Reinforcements with service No 1846

4^TH PIONEER BATTALION

The 4th Pioneer Battalion was an Australian infantry and light engineer unit raised during World War I as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Formed in March 1916 in Egypt, the battalion was assigned to the 4th Division and served on the Western Front in France and Belgium until the end of the war in November 1918. Its service is remembered for its versatility and dedication under challenging conditions

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, but George had already been vaccinated before he enlisted. 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 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 day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO EGYPT APRIL 1916

On the 16^TH April the men boarded the troop train in Brisbane and on the 18^th April 1916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the RMS Mooltan. 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.

NEARLY MISSED THE BOAT

On the 5^th August George was believed to failed to board the ship but letters to his wife from Egypt had then been sighted indicating he was on the ship. He went to Melbourne to board the ship on 18^th April 1916

EGYPT MAY 1916

They disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on 18th May, 1916. When the 4th Pioneer Battalion arrived in Alexandria on 18 May 1916, it was part of the large movement of Australian troops from Egypt to the Western Front. Although the battalion remained in Egypt for only a little under three weeks, the period was far from idle.

After disembarking, the men moved through the vast Australian camps that had been established around Cairo and Alexandria following the Gallipoli evacuation. Here they underwent final inspections, drew additional equipment and clothing suitable for service in France, and received training designed to prepare them for conditions on the Western Front. Many soldiers had enlisted after Gallipoli and had never experienced active service, so there was considerable emphasis on musketry, field engineering and military discipline.

As a Pioneer Battalion, the 4th Pioneers received specialised instruction in engineering and labour tasks. The men practised trench construction, road-making, the use of picks, shovels and explosives, and the building of defensive works. Officers knew that the battalion would be expected to combine infantry duties with large-scale construction projects once it reached France.

The battalion also spent time reorganising after the voyage from Australia. Equipment had to be sorted, stores issued, records checked and administrative matters completed before embarkation for Europe. Many men also took the opportunity to visit Cairo or Alexandria when leave was available, seeing something of Egypt before departing for an entirely different theatre of war.

FRANCE JUNE 1916

In early June 1916 the battalion embarked for France, on the Ionian, arriving at Marseilles on the 6^th June 1916. From there the men travelled north by train through the French countryside, often receiving enthusiastic welcomes from local civilians as they passed through towns and villages.

Once in France, the 4th Pioneer Battalion underwent a further period of acclimatisation and training before being committed to the front. The Western Front was unlike anything most Australians had experienced. The battalion spent several weeks learning trench routines, familiarising itself with local conditions, and undertaking work behind the lines. Pioneer battalions were particularly valuable during this phase because they could be employed on construction projects while simultaneously gaining experience of front-line conditions.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH JULY 1916

When George was taken on strength on 22 July 1916 with the 41^st pioneers, he joined a battalion that had spent roughly six weeks settling into life in France. During that period the 4th Pioneers had been engaged in training, route marches, trench instruction and numerous engineering tasks. They were constructing and improving trenches, dugouts, communication trenches, roads and strongpoints in rear areas while gradually moving closer to the front. Such work was essential to the coming Somme offensive and provided invaluable experience for newly arrived troops.

By late July the battalion had largely completed its period of introduction to the Western Front and was becoming an established part of the Australian forces in France. George therefore joined the unit just as it was transitioning from training and acclimatisation into the demanding operational work that would characterise Pioneer service for the remainder of the war. He would soon find himself engaged in the exhausting combination of soldiering and engineering for which the Pioneer battalions became renowned—digging trenches, repairing roads under shellfire, constructing defensive positions and, when necessary, fighting alongside the infantry.

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 POZIERES LATE JULY- SEPTEMBER 1916

Their stay within the nursery sector was short, as the 4th Division was sent to the Somme shortly afterwards to replace the 2nd Division around Pozieres, arriving in late July – early August. They subsequently took part in the defence of the heights during the final phase of the Battle of Pozieres. The battle commenced on 23 July 1916 and finished on 3 September 1916 and was the first protracted battle for Australian troops on the Western Front. It was at Pozieres that Australian soldiers were exposed to the full horrors of the Western Front. They were subjected to incessant German artillery attacks and devastating machine-gun fire, plus intense frontal assaults, all of which took an overwhelming physical and mental toll.

WOUNDED IN ACTION, HOSPITALISATION & CONVALESENCE

One of the casualties of this battle was George, who, on the 7^th August 1916, was wounded in action with a gunshot wound hand (mild). He was admitted to the 8^th Stationary Hospital and marched into the Boulogne convalescence camp. Here 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. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1916

George rejoined is unit on 26^th August.

 

The Battle of Pozieres would be the 4th’s first major battle of the war and the battalion took part – albeit in a support role only and never in their infantry role– in most of the major battles that involved Australian troops in 1917.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULLECOURT 11 APRIL 1917

Their next major battle was the First Battle of Bullecourt which was part of the British Fifth Army's efforts to breach the Hindenburg Line in support of the larger Battle of Arras. Australian troops from the 4th Division, alongside British forces, launched an attack without adequate artillery support, relying on tanks to clear barbed wire. However, the tanks failed, and the infantry faced devastating German machine-gun and artillery fire. Despite breaking into the German trenches, the Australians were cut off and forced to retreat. The battle resulted in over 3,000 Australian casualties, including more than 1,100 taken prisoner, and is remembered as a costly failure.

WILL MADE

On 3^rd June 1917 George made a will leaving all his possessions to his wife, Rosetta.

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES 7 TO 14 JUNE 1917

The next one was the Battle of Messines which was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.

The resultant explosion, the largest ever in the world to that date, was clearly felt and heard in London. The Battle for Messines was the first time the new reinforcements were subjected to Phosgene Gas.

This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES 31 JULY TO 10 NOVEMBER 1917

A few weeks later they were involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele, which takes place in Ypres, Belgium, as British forces, with help from the French and the use of tanks, launch an attack to wrest control of Ypres from the Germans. Attacks and counterattacks ensue for four months in the rain and mud, with Canadian forces brought in to help relieve the troops but little ground being won. In the end, it is considered a victory for the Allies, with but one that costs both sides more than 550,000 casualties. Despite the immense cost, the Allies managed to capture Passchendaele, marking the end of the offensive

LEAVE GRANTED

On 11^th August 1917 George was given leave and returned on 23^rd August 1917.

DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION

He rejoined the battle and on 27^th September he was hit by a high explosive shell which hit his chest, abdomen, left buttock, right arm & left leg with fractured ankle.  George died of his wound on 28^th September 1917 at the 2^nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial & the Dungay Public School WWI Roll of Honour. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial Number 145 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

BURIAL

He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, Flanders, Belgium, plot 25m row B, grave G.

PENSION ALLOCATED

George allotted 3 shillings per fortnight from 12^th December 1916 to go to his wife.

EFFECTS, SCROLL, PLAQUE AND VICTORY MEDAL

George’s effects were returned to his wife on 26^th September 1918 and consisted of his wallet, photos & letters. The memorial scroll & plaque were forwarded to his wife on 14th September 1922 and his Victory medal was sent to her on 27 February 1923

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