FAMILY LIFE

Born in the Tweed Valley c1896, Victor John Sweetnam (known as John) was the son of George & Esther Cecelia (Neylan) Sweetnam. George arrived in 1879 and cut cane for 14 years. He then selected land at Uki and farmed the land until he retired. George was the person who suggested they name the place "Uki," after the mountain of that name. George is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

John was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 17^th May 1917 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, George, of Murwillumbah. 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, Victor John Sweetnam, 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 21 years 6 months old, 5ft 8 ½ inches tall (1.73m), weighed 150 lbs (68 kgs), with a dark complexion, hazel eyes & dark hair. His eyesight was good and he was dentally fit. John was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his left knee.  

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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. John was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 10^TH July 1917. 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 Pioneer Battalion – 11^th Reinforcements with service No 4122

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

RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague. John received his on 24^th May, 31^st May & 5^th June. 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 five shillings a day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO ENGLAND AUGUST 1917

On the30TH July 1917 the men boarded the troop train heading for Sydney and on the  1^st August 1917, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Medic. 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.

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP

The arrived in Halifax on 21^st September and changed ships to the SS Orissa, and arrived in Liverpool, England on 3^rd October 1917. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp at Sutton Veney, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital. During an interim period, soldiers typically:

·      Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.

·      Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.

·      Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.

·      Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.

·      Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.

Then formal training began. Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.

Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions.

Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.

Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.

Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.

After many months of continuous preparation in England, the men were judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.

FRANCE DECEMBER 1917

John left England for France on 12^th December 1917. When reinforcements crossed from England to France, they did not usually go straight to their battalion. Instead, they entered a large reinforcement and training system behind the front.

They proceeded to an Australian Base Depot or Reinforcement Camp where they received further training in trench warfare, gas defence, bombing (grenades), Lewis gun work, and battlefield procedures. Equipment needed for current conditions was issued.

A soldier's day could include route marches, bayonet practice and

gas-mask drills. The were instructed in trench construction, were involved in live-fire exercises, practised weapon maintenance and underwent physical training

Many men also had their first experience of France during this period, seeing French villages, interacting with civilians, and adjusting to conditions before facing the front.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH – TRENCH WARFARE FEBRUARY 1918

They then waited for vacancies to occur in front-line battalions through casualties, sickness, leave, or transfers. They the marched forward in drafts to join their unit, at which point they were officially "Taken on Strength" (TOS).

John was taken on strength 18^th February 1918. The recruits 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

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

The 4th Pioneer Battalion (AIF) was not directly involved in front-line combat during the initial German Spring Offensive of March 1918, but they played a critical support role during and after the offensive, particularly in the reorganization and counterattack phases. As a pioneer unit, the 4th Pioneers were not front-line infantry but a specialized hybrid of engineers and soldiers.

Their main responsibilities during this period included:

·      Building and repairing trenches and dugouts

·      Constructing roads and bridges for supply and troop movement

·      Laying barbed wire and preparing defensive positions

·      Assisting in the evacuation of wounded and supplies under fire

LATE MARCH TO APRIL

After the initial German offensives (Operation Michael in March and Georgette in April), the division was redeployed to the Somme to reinforce defences. By late March and April, the 4th Pioneers were working under extreme pressure to strengthen the collapsing British lines.

DERNACOURT MARCH TO JULY 1918

The 4th Pioneer Battalion played a crucial role during the battles at Dernancourt in 1918, which were part of the German Spring Offensive. As a pioneer unit, their responsibilities included constructing defensive positions, maintaining roads and railways, and supporting infantry operations. They were involved in defensive actions around Dernancourt, showcasing their versatility by both engaging in combat and performing engineering tasks

THE BATTLE OF DERNACOURT MARCH AND APRIL 1918

The battle of Dernancourt in March and April 1918 was centred on the railway embankment at the small French town of Dernancourt.

Dernancourt was a desperate battle in which the fate of the strategic rail junction city of Amiens was at stake. The Germans had earlier that month taken advantage of the release of thousands of their troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce their Armies on the Western Front.

This occurred as a result of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk that had ended Russia’s role in the First World War. With these extra troops the Germans launched Operation Michael, and other smaller operations, in an almighty effort to end the war on their terms prior to the Allies receiving fresh American reinforcements.

The Germans had rolled westward since the commencement of Operation Michael recapturing territory previously lost to the Allied armies. If the Germans had continued in their successful march westwards, and rolled up the Australian defences near Dernancourt and broken through to capture Amiens, they would have been in a position to strike a decisive blow.

In the ensuing battle about 4,000 members of the under-strength 12th and 13th Brigades of the Australian 4th Division attempted to stop an almost irresistible force of four near complete German Divisions totalling 25,000 men. Though eventually outflanked by the massive German force, the two brigades succeeded in stemming the German tide, with a loss of 1,100 casualties.

Perhaps the culmination of the battle at Dernancourt was the 2½ hour barrage of high explosive and gas shells that fell on the Australian troops early on 5 April causing destruction and death. Those who were not killed outright or wounded suffered from the unrelenting nature of the barrage.

The battles at Dernancourt were among the fiercest faced by Australian troops during World War I, and the 4th Pioneer Battalion's contributions were vital in halting the German advance

BETWEEN BATTLES

Between battles, battalions engaged in a variety of critical activities to recover, prepare, and maintain their effectiveness. Some of the key activities included rest & recovery, continuing their training, maintaining their weapons & uniforms, building & reinforcing the trenches & dugouts & barbed wire defences

They also conducted patrols and reconnaissance to gather intelligence on enemy movements and maintain control over no-man's-land & engaged in activities like writing letters, playing games, and sharing stories to bond as a unit and maintain their spirits. This downtime between battles was essential for ensuring that battalions could perform effectively when called back into action.

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918

After the German advance stalled, the 4th Pioneer Battalion supported the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, beginning with the Battle of Amiens (8 August 1918). They continued critical engineering work alongside advancing troops, including rebuilding infrastructure as territory was retaken.

On the night of 7 August 1918, Gunner J.R. Armitage lay in readiness for the attack the next day. In his diary, he wrote:

It was utterly still. Vehicles made no sound on the marshy ground ... The silence played on our nerves a bit. As we got our guns into position you could hear drivers whispering to their horses and men muttering curses under their breath, and still the silence persisted, broken only by the whine of a stray rifle bullet or a long range shell passing high overhead ... we could feel that hundreds of groups of men were doing the same thing - preparing for the heaviest barrage ever launched.

The Attack

At 4.20 am the next day:

all hell broke loose and we heard nothing more. The world was enveloped in sound and flame, and our ears just couldn't cope. The ground shook.

A mass of assembled Allied forces, including Australians, launched an offensive to push through the German front lines to victory. It was to involve the 1st French and 4th British armies, but was led by combined Australian and Canadian forces.

There was a mist, which helped the element of surprise, and through it moved the joint forces of a line of tanks and infantry. The crucial work of the heavy artillery held off fire from German guns, so that troops could get across the land.

Setting out from the positions of Villers-Bretonneux and Hamel, the Australian troops in two hours had accomplished all their objectives, and the Canadian troops that had begun the attack alongside them had advanced several kilometres. In just over 3 hours, the enemy's front line had been overrun.

In total, the Allied forces captured 29,144 prisoners, 338 guns, and liberated 116 towns and villages. Ludendorff called 8 August "the black day of the German army".

When Sapper Harold Grant heard of the advance he wrote:

Great news ... Australians caught Fritz napping.

Many German weapons were captured in the advance. However, the advance was achieved at a high cost, with 21,243 Allied casualties, one-quarter of who were killed.

BELLENGLISE SEPTEMBER 1918

The battalion's final actions were fought around Bellenglise, along the St Quentin Canal, in mid-September 1918 in support of the 4th Division's final assault on the Hindenburg Line. In September 1918, the 4th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force was part of the 4th Australian Division, which played a significant role in the Battle of the Hindenburg Outpost Line near Bellenglise. This battle was a key part of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, which ultimately led to the end of World War I.

THE HINDENBURG LINE SEPTEMBER 1918

The Hindenburg Line- the last and strongest of the German army's defence - consisted of three well-defended trench systems, established in 1917. Throughout September 1918, Australian forces had helped the British army to secure positions from which an attack on the Hindenburg Line could be launched. Planning began for a major attack at the end of the month. It was hoped that this attack would finally break the power of the German army.

FIRST ATTACK 18^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 18 September 1918, a preliminary attack was launched when Lieutenant General Sir John Monash's troops reached the first part of the Hindenburg Line. At 5.20 am, Monash's troops, supported by huge artillery barrages, attacked the heavily fortified German defences and machine-gun posts. Using only eight tanks (as well as dummy tanks to distract the Germans), they broke through German positions and took 4,300 prisoners. Although there were 1,000 dead or wounded, this cost was fairly slim compared to the losses of the German forces.

THE SECOND ATTACK 29^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 29 September, the line was finally broken. Australian and US troops spearheaded this battle, given the task of breaking defences in the centre. They attacked a strongly defended sector at Bellicourt with tanks, artillery, and aircraft working in concert. Advances were made, but it was a struggle between the two forces. The fighting lasted four days and resulted in heavy losses.

Gunner J.R. Armitage wrote:

“As we went over the ridge we found ourselves in the midst of the most wonderful and impressive battle field scene imaginable. It was a scene never to be forgotten with infantry, tanks, guns, everything in action in a sort of inferno of smoke and shell bursts.”

THIRD ATTACK OCTOBER 1918

Eventually, the Allies broke through the third and final stage of the Hindenburg Line, and the Germans were forced to fall back.

In this attack, troops captured the entrance to the St Quentin canal tunnel. 

The 4th Battalion was involved in operations between September 18 and 24, 1918, where they successfully breached German defences along the Hindenburg Line. This marked the culmination of the 4th Division's efforts during the war. The site of their achievements is commemorated by the 4th Division Memorial at Bellenglise, which stands as a tribute to their bravery and sacrifice

HOSPITALISATION INFLUENZA NOVEMBER 1918

John caught influenza and was admitted to the 12^th General Hospital in Rouen on 17^th November 1918. This was a dangerous disease to have in an area with a lot of people who would continue to spread the infection. Many people died with this disease which could cause trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, seizures and/or severe weakness or muscle pain. There was no effective medical treatment for Influenza. The Army Nurse Corps was critical for soldier’s care. Symptom management by skilled supportive nursing care was the best predictor of positive patient outcomes and decreases in mortality rates. This care consisted of duties such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, fever control, providing hydration, rest, dressing changes, open-air therapy, bed baths, clean bedding, feeding, back and chest rubs with camphorated sweet oil, and cleaning the ward.

DIED OF DISEASE NOVEMBER 1918

Unfortunately, John developed broncho pneumonia and died of the disease on 28^th November 1918.

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 Murwillumbah War Memorial. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

PERSONAL EFFECTS, SCROLL, VICTORY MEDAL, HIS WILL

John’s effects were returned to his father and consisted of a rosary (broken), 1 metal ring, 2 religious medallions, 1 devotional book, 1 notebook, 1 fountain pen, 1 leather wallet, post cards & photos.  His memorial scroll was received by his father 30^th June 1932 & his Victory Medal on 31^st May 1923. He had made a will before enlisting which was held by his solicitor, Mr Sweet, of Murwillumbah, which left his estate to his father, George.

BURIAL

John is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Haute-Normandie, France.

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