FAMILY LIFE

Wilfred Johnson was born in 1894 in Condong, son of Eliza Johnson.

APPLICATION

He was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 24^th January 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his uncle, John Matthew Johnson, of Condong. He had spent 2 ½ years in compulsory military service. His medical showed he was 21 years 6 months old, 5ft 8 inches tall (1.72m), weighed 145 lbs (66 kgs), with a medium complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good. Wilfred was Church of England and had a scar on his right leg & a mole on his chest.  The Examining Medical Officer stated that Wilfred “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, Wilfred Johnson, 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.” 

He was enlisted as a private into the 41st Infantry Battalion – 8^th infantry brigade with service No 328

RIFLE RANGE TRAINING CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 18^th May 1916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Demosthenes. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.

DISCIPLINED AUGUST 1916

During this time Wilfred was charged with being AWL from 12pm on 10^th August 1916 to 6.30am on the 12^th. He forfeited 5 day’s pay & 14 days confined to barracks.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH TRAINING

After training in Australia and Britain, the 41st Battalion arrived in France on 25 November 1916. It entered the front line for the first time on Christmas Eve and spent the bleak winter of 1916-17 alternating between service in the front line, and training and labouring in the rear areas. 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

HOSPITALISATION JANUARY 1917

On 11^th January 1917 he was admitted to hospital, no details but rejoined the unit on 1^st February.

FEBRUARY TO JUNE 1917

Between February and June 1917, the 41st Battalion was actively engaged on the Western Front during World War I. This period was marked by significant operations and engagements. In addition to direct combat, the battalion was involved in engineering tasks such as constructing and maintaining supply lines, repairing infrastructure, and providing logistical support to ensure the mobility and effectiveness of the Australian forces.

SECOND BATTLE OF BULLECOURT (3–17 MAY 1917):

The 41st Battalion participated in this battle, which was part of the larger Arras Offensive. The battalion's role involved attacking well-defended German positions, facing heavy resistance, and suffering significant casualties.

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917

The 41st Battalion played a crucial role in this battle, which was a significant Allied victory. The battalion's objectives included capturing German positions and consolidating newly gained territory.

WOUNDED IN ACTION- GASSED JUNE 1917

On 7 June and Wilfred was gassed on 10^th June 1917. 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.” Luckily for Wilfred he was not exposed too much to the gas and rejoined his unit on 17^th June after hospital care

WARNETON

At the end of June 1917, the 11th Brigade was ordered to establish a new front-line west of Warneton, in full view of the Germans. Work carried on night and day under heavy shellfire and the period became known to the battalion as "the 18 days". It was some of the battalion's more "routine" tasks that proved its most trying experiences. The start of August found the 41st holding ground captured by two of its sister battalions in a feint attack on 31 July. Enduring continual rain, flooded trenches and heavy shelling many of the battalion's platoons dwindled from 35 men to less than ten.

THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE OCTOBER 1917

The 41^st captured its objectives at Broodseinde on 4 October with little difficulty. The 41st Battalion was part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. On October 4, 1917, the battalion advanced to a key crossroads position just south of Tyne Cot. They quickly established themselves, providing deadly fire across the countryside ahead of the new Australian position. The battalion's objectives included capturing German positions and consolidating newly gained territory. Their role was crucial in the success of the operation, contributing to the overall Allied advance.

APPOINTED LANCE CORPORAL

On that day Wilfred was appointed Lance Corporal.

OCTOBER 1917 TO FEBRUARY 1918

Belgium remained the focus of the 41st Battalion's activities for the five months after its action in October 1917 as it was rotated between service in the rear areas and the front line.

Front-Line Service: The battalion held positions in the Ypres sector, engaging in routine trench warfare, which included patrolling, maintaining defensive positions, and responding to enemy actions.

Rear-Area Assignments: During rotations, the battalion was stationed in rear areas where they underwent training, received reinforcements, and prepared for future operations.

The battalion faced challenging environmental conditions, including wet and muddy terrain, which made trench construction and maintenance difficult. These conditions contributed to the hardships experienced by the soldiers during this period

To maintain operational effectiveness, the battalion received reinforcements and conducted training exercises aimed at improving combat readiness. This preparation was essential for the upcoming operations in 1918. The activities of the 41st Battalion during this period were crucial in maintaining the stability of the front lines in the Ypres sector. Their efforts contributed to the overall Allied strategy of holding key positions and preparing for future offensives.

LEAVE IN SCOTLAND FEBRUARY 1918

Wilfred was given leave in Scotland in February 1918 but was admitted to the 2^nd General Scottish Hospital in Edinburgh, no details.

DISCIPLINED AWL MARCH TO APRIL 1918

He again went AWL in London from 7.30am on 22^nd March to 9am 5^th April. He forfeited 28 day’s pay and was counselled by a senior officer. He rejoined the unit on 18^th April 1918.

APRIL TO NOVEMBER 1918

Between April and November 1918, the 41st played a significant role on the Western Front during World War I. This period was marked by intense combat, strategic offensives, and notable engagements.

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE (MARCH 1918):

The German Army launched a series of offensives in March 1918, aiming to break the stalemate on the Western Front. The 41st Battalion was moved south to France to bolster the defence against these attacks. They played a crucial role in blunting the German drive towards the vital railway junction of Amiens

ALLIED COUNTER-OFFENSIVE (AUGUST 1918):

In August 1918, the Allies launched a counter-offensive, beginning with the Battle of Amiens on August 8. The 41st Battalion participated actively in this offensive, advancing through German positions and contributing to the overall success

HINDENBURG LINE ASSAULT (SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 1918):

Between September 29 and October 2, 1918, the 41st Battalion took part in the assault on the Hindenburg Line along the St Quentin Canal. This operation was part of the broader Allied efforts to breach the formidable German defences

During periods when not engaged in frontline combat, the 41st Battalion was rotated between front-line service and rear-area positions. In these rear areas, they underwent training, received reinforcements, and prepared for future operations.

WAR ENDED

On 11^th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (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.

LEAVE IN ENGLAND JANUARY 1919

Wilfred was granted leave in England on 17^th January 1919. He returned on 13^th February. There were many duties to perform in the aftermath of the war but Wilfred still had months before he could return home.

DISCIPLINED AWL FEBRUARY 1919

He again went AWL on 6^th February to 8^th February where he was admonished by the senior officer & forfeited 2 day’s pay.  

RETURNED HOME

Wilfred finally returned home on 6^th July 1919 on the Nestor and was discharged on 20^th August.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Wilfred 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

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