BACKGROUND

William John Ayre, was born on the 18^th December, 1885 in Sandgate, Qld, son of William Henry Ayre and Annie Bertha (Childs) Ayre. William Jnr married Winifred Kennelly on the 21 July 1916 in Queensland and Lizzie May Rous on the 3^rd November 1934 in Queensland, after the death of his first wife, who died in 1921, a resident of Tweed Heads. His brother, Alfred, also enlisted.

ATTESTATION

William travelled to Brisbane on the 12^th November 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a married man and gave his occupation as clerk. His next of kin was his wife, Winifred, of Tweed Heads. He had spent 6 months in the cadets in Brisbane

Item number 14 on the attestation states- for married men, widowers with children and soldiers who are the sole support of widowed mother- do you understand that no separation allowance will be issued in respect of your service beyond an amount which together with pay would reach 8 shillings per day

William also agreed to allot three fifths of the pay payable to him 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, William John Ayre, 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

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

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

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MEDICAL EXAMINATION

William was 29 years 11 months old. He was 5ft 2inches tall (1.57m) and weighed 120lbs (55kgs).  He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His eyesight was good. Henry had scar on both shins. He was Church of England

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. William was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on the 21 February 1916. 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 a private with B company, 41^st Battalion with service number 369

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 recruits 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 could take several months

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits 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 five shillings a day.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND MAY 1916

On the 16^th May 1916 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on 18^th May 1916 they embarked on the board the HMAT A64 Demosthenes. Alongside his comrades, William 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

About a fortnight later 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.

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP JULY 1916

The troops disembarked at Greymouth on the 20^th July 1916 and board the troop train to the Salisbury Plains. The entered one of the training camps there. 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.

When the recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.

The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.

Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.

Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.

Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.

Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.

Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.

If applicable

Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.

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.

24 NOVEMBER 1916 – PROCEEDED OVERSEAS TO FRANCE FROM SOUTHAMPTON

By the time William crossed the English Channel, he had completed several months of intensive training on Salisbury Plain with the 41st Battalion. The crossing from Southampton to France was usually made in crowded troop transports under cover of darkness because German submarines were active in the Channel. After landing, probably at Le Havre, the battalion entrained for northern France where it joined the British Expeditionary Force.

For William this was his first experience of the Western Front. Before being committed to the trenches, the battalion spent several weeks acclimatising to conditions behind the lines. The men were issued with winter clothing, steel helmets and trench equipment, practised gas drill repeatedly, learned trench routine from experienced units and carried out route marches and working parties. They also became familiar with artillery fire, the endless mud of northern France and the strict discipline required at the front.

During December the 41st Battalion gradually moved closer to the front line around the Armentières sector. Christmas 1916 was spent in the trenches, alternating between front-line duty, reserve positions and labouring tasks. Much of their work involved repairing trenches damaged by rain and shellfire, strengthening barbed wire defences, carrying ammunition, timber, rations and engineering stores forward under cover of darkness. It was a miserable winter with freezing temperatures, waterlogged trenches and constant enemy shelling, but it provided valuable experience before the major battles of 1917.

4 FEBRUARY 1917 – CHARGED WITH HAVING A RIFLE WITH A LOADED MAGAZINE IN BILLETS

While resting in billets behind the lines, William was charged with "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline" for having a loaded magazine fitted to his rifle. This was considered a serious breach of regulations. Although soldiers often carried loaded rifles in the trenches, weapons in billets were expected to be made safe to prevent accidental discharges which could wound or kill fellow soldiers. His punishment of forfeiting ten days' pay was intended as a reminder of the importance of safety rather than an indication of serious criminal behaviour.

During this period the 41st Battalion was alternating between trench duty, reserve positions and intensive training. Winter conditions remained dreadful, with continual rain, mud and bitter cold. Between front-line tours the men cleaned equipment, repaired trenches, laid duckboards and barbed wire, attended bombing and bayonet practice, undertook route marches and rehearsed platoon attacks. German artillery and snipers ensured that even supposedly "quiet" sectors remained dangerous, while nightly patrols ventured into No Man's Land to gather intelligence and repair damaged wire. These months prepared the battalion for the offensive operations that would begin later in the year.

9 MAY 1917 – AWL FROM FATIGUE PARTY

William was absent without leave from a fatigue party between 6 and 9 May and was awarded twenty-eight days' Field Punishment No. 2 together with forfeiture of twelve days' pay.

A fatigue party was one of the least popular duties in the army. Rather than fighting, soldiers carried out the heavy manual labour that kept the front functioning. William's duties could have included carrying ammunition, food, water, duckboards, timber, coils of barbed wire, sandbags and engineering materials to the front line, often at night and under enemy observation. Other fatigue work involved digging communication trenches, repairing roads, unloading railway wagons, burying signal cables or recovering damaged equipment from forward areas. The work was exhausting and frequently carried out within range of German artillery.

Field Punishment No. 2 did not involve flogging, as is sometimes believed. Instead, William would have been subjected to hard labour and other restrictions while remaining with his unit. The punishment was designed to maintain discipline during active operations.

Following his punishment, William returned to normal duties as the 41st Battalion prepared for its first major offensive. Throughout May the battalion undertook intensive rehearsals behind the lines, studying detailed maps and constructing replica German trenches on which they practised their assault formations. They rehearsed following creeping artillery barrages, consolidating captured positions and dealing with enemy counter-attacks. These preparations culminated in the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, where the 41st Battalion successfully captured its objectives with comparatively light casualties. The victory greatly increased the confidence of many soldiers who had never before taken part in a major assault

BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917

The battle for Messines 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.

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 primary objective of this battle was to secure the strategically important Wytschaete Messines Ridge, the high ground south of Ypres which in turn would benefit the allies to launch a larger campaign east of Ypres. The Australian involvement came under Lieutenant General Sir. Alexander Godley’s II Anzac Corps, which included the 3rd Australian Division. This Battle was launched on 7 Jun 1917 and exemplified tactical success through careful planning and firepower. The Battle of Messines was a meticulously planned operation aimed at capturing the Messines Ridge in Belgium.

On the June 17, 1917, the Australians were withdrawn from the Battle of the Somme to the battle for 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.

8 SEPTEMBER 1917 – CONTRAVENTION OF G.R.O. NO. 1599

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to say with certainty what General Routine Order (G.R.O.) No. 1599 covered. Thousands of General Routine Orders were issued during the war and many were temporary instructions applying to matters such as leave, saluting, movement after dark, sanitation, equipment, security, lighting restrictions, smoking near ammunition, helmet regulations or conduct in the field. Since William's punishment was only forfeiture of one day's pay, it was almost certainly a relatively minor breach of standing orders rather than a serious offence.

By September the 41st Battalion was once again preparing for major operations in Belgium as part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The battalion occupied trenches near Ypres, endured constant shellfire and carried out nightly patrols while waiting for its next attack. Every man was issued with gas helmets and carried large quantities of ammunition, bombs and engineering tools. Heavy rain had already transformed the battlefield into a sea of mud where movement was slow and exhausting.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES KNOWN AS BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, (JULY 31–NOVEMBER 6, 1917),

This battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, Passchendaele was ostensibly an Allied victory, but it was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the following year. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on opposing sides attacked and counterattacked across sodden, porridgelike mud, in an open gray landscape almost empty of buildings or natural cover, all under the relentless harrowing rain of exploding shells, flying shrapnel, and machine-gun fire. Few gains were made. 

The Third Battle of Ypres is remembered for its immense human cost and the resilience of those who fought in it

On 20 September the battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Road, helping secure important objectives before being relieved. After only a brief rest it immediately began preparing for the next attack, the Battle of Polygon Wood, scheduled for 26 September. The pace of operations left the men physically exhausted, with little opportunity for proper rest before returning to the line

BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD 20^TH TO 25^TH SEPTEMBER 1917

The battalion was moved to Belgium again, where they joined the battle at Menin Road. This was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action

26 SEPTEMBER – 2 NOVEMBER 1917 – INFLUENZA- MEDICAL CHAIN

On 26 September, the very day the Battle of Polygon Wood commenced, William was admitted sick to the 18th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from influenza. Although he escaped the battle itself, influenza could be a debilitating illness, particularly in the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of the Western Front.

After initial treatment at the Casualty Clearing Station, he was transferred on 1 October to the 1st General Hospital at Étaples, one of the largest British medical complexes in France.

CLEARING STATIONS

A Clearing Station was a key part of the military medical evacuation chain used by soldiers. It was set up a few miles behind the front lines, often near railways or roads and positioned far enough to be relatively safe from artillery, but close enough for rapid access

The were staffed by:

·      Army doctors and surgeons

·      Nurses (including Australian Army Nursing Service nurses)

·      Orderlies and stretcher bearers

Soldiers were often treated here and the sent to hospitals for long term care

As his illness continued, he was moved again on 3 October to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen, another major base hospital where patients could receive longer-term care in cleaner surroundings away from the front.

His doctors evidently considered that a full recovery would require an extended period away from France. On 14 October he was evacuated across the English Channel aboard a hospital ship to England. Two days later he was admitted to Hursley Park War Hospital near Winchester, a large military hospital that specialised in treating sick and wounded soldiers returning from France.

There William remained under medical care for more than two weeks. Treatment for influenza consisted mainly of complete bed rest, warmth, good nutrition and careful nursing, as no effective antiviral medicines existed. The danger lay in complications such as pneumonia, which could prove fatal.

DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 1917

Fortunately, William recovered steadily and on 2 November 1917 he was discharged from hospital. Although fit enough to leave the ward, he would almost certainly have been sent to a convalescent depot before being considered ready to return to active service, allowing his strength to return after several weeks of illness. Meanwhile, the 41st Battalion continued fighting through the costly battles of Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and the Passchendaele campaign without him

After being discharged from Hursley Park War Hospital on 2 November 1917, William entered the familiar but often confusing system of convalescent depots and training establishments that many soldiers passed through after illness.

The movements between Dartford, Weymouth, Dartford again, Sutton Veny and Longbridge Deverell were all part of the army's process of rebuilding a man's health and fitness. William was no longer considered sick enough for hospital, but neither was he fit enough to return immediately to the trenches. He would have undergone medical inspections, graduated physical training, route marches, musketry practice and other exercises designed to restore his stamina after influenza. By late November he had progressed sufficiently to be posted to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverell on Salisbury Plain, where returned soldiers were brought up to date with the latest battlefield tactics before returning to France.

3 JANUARY 1918 – RETURNED OVERSEAS

William left England via Southampton on 3 January 1918 and reached France a few days later. Before rejoining the 41st Battalion on 11 January, he would have passed through the Australian Base Depot at Étaples or one of the reinforcement camps where soldiers were processed, equipped and allocated to their units.

11 JANUARY TO 27 JANUARY 1918

When William rejoined the 41st Battalion, the unit was occupying sectors in Belgium near Messines and Ploegsteert. Winter conditions were appalling. Trenches were flooded, roads churned into mud and movement was exhausting. The battalion alternated between front-line service, reserve positions and working parties. The men repaired trenches, maintained duckboard tracks, strengthened wire entanglements and endured frequent shelling.

The battalion was also rebuilding after the heavy casualties suffered during the Passchendaele fighting of 1917. Reinforcements such as William were badly needed. However, his service record suggests he soon became unwell again, which may explain the notation concerning rejoining the battalion while sick.

27 JANUARY TO 9 FEBRUARY 1918

The opening weeks of 1918 were comparatively quiet in terms of major battles but not in terms of hardship. Cold weather, poor sanitation and overcrowded billets encouraged the spread of respiratory and infectious diseases. The 41st Battalion continued trench rotations and training while intelligence reports increasingly suggested that Germany was preparing a major offensive before large numbers of American troops arrived.

9 FEBRUARY 1918 – HOSPITALISED

No details are recorded, but whatever illness affected William ultimately developed into trench fever, the diagnosis recorded when he was invalided to England on 25 March.

Trench fever was one of the most common illnesses of the Western Front. Spread by body lice, it produced severe fever, headaches, muscle pain and profound exhaustion. Although rarely fatal, it could incapacitate a soldier for months and often recurred.

FEBRUARY TO MARCH 1918 – WHAT WAS THE 41ST BATTALION DOING?

While William was absent, the 41st Battalion was preparing for one of the most dangerous periods of the war.

On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched the massive Spring Offensive, known as Operation Michael. The Australian divisions were rushed south from Belgium to help stop the German advance toward Amiens.

The 41st Battalion became involved in desperate defensive fighting around the Somme region. The battalion marched long distances, occupied emergency defensive positions and fought a series of actions designed to halt the German breakthrough. Conditions were chaotic, with units being moved rapidly from one threatened sector to another. The Australians played a critical role in stopping the offensive during March and April.

Fortunately for William, he was already being evacuated and missed some of the most intense fighting of the war.

25 MARCH 1918 – INVALIDED TO ENGLAND WITH TRENCH FEVER

William was admitted to No. 1 Military Hospital, Canterbury, suffering from trench fever. His evacuation indicates that his illness was considered serious enough to require lengthy treatment away from the front.

He remained under medical care until transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 5 April. Auxiliary hospitals generally handled patients who no longer required intensive treatment but were not yet fit for active service.

APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1918

The repeated movements between Dartford, Longbridge Deverell and Hurdcott show that William spent many months recovering and rebuilding his fitness.

This lengthy period suggests either a stubborn case of trench fever or lingering weakness following the illness. Men recovering from trench fever often suffered recurring symptoms and fatigue for many months.

At Longbridge Deverell and Hurdcott he would have undergone physical conditioning, route marches, rifle practice, bayonet training and tactical instruction. By mid-1918 the army was also teaching new open warfare tactics that had developed during the German offensives.

6 SEPTEMBER 1918 – RETURNED TO FRANCE

William crossed from Folkestone to France and entered the reinforcement system once more.

6 SEPTEMBER TO 26 SEPTEMBER 1918

Before reaching the battalion, he would have passed through the Australian Base Depot and reinforcement camps where soldiers were medically examined, re-equipped and allocated to units requiring replacements.

Meanwhile, the 41st Battalion was participating in the great Hundred Days Offensive, the campaign that ultimately defeated Germany. The battalion had fought at Hamel in July and around Amiens in August and was advancing steadily eastward against retreating German forces.

When William rejoined on 26 September, he returned to a battalion engaged in continuous offensive operations rather than static trench warfare.

8 OCTOBER 1918 – SICK WITH BRONCHITIS

William entered a Casualty Clearing Station and was then admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital, Abbeville. The 3rd Australian General Hospital was located there for much of the war.

Bronchitis was extremely common during the cold and wet autumn of 1918. Soldiers who had already suffered influenza or trench fever were often particularly susceptible.

OCTOBER 1918 TO JANUARY 1919

William spent the final weeks of the war away from the front. While the 41st Battalion continued advancing through northern France and Belgium until the Armistice of 11 November 1918, he remained under medical treatment.

His transfer from St Denis to England on 3 January 1919 and admission to the County of Middlesex War Hospital for debility indicates that he had not fully recovered his strength. "Debility" was a common medical term covering general weakness, exhaustion and loss of physical condition following illness.

GOING HOME & DISCHARGE MAY & JULY 1919

William embarked for Australia aboard HMAT Port Denison on 19 May 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 3 July 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

DEATH AND BURIAL

William died on the 8 Nov 1966 (aged 80) in Brisbane, and is memorialised at Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium

Holland Park, Plot Columbarium 12, Section 16

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.