Private Francis George Wright
Service #: 538
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Francis George Wright was born in 1897, in Murwillumbah, according to ancestry.com., son of George & Mary Wright.
ATTESTATION
He was single, a tick inspector, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 17th February 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, George, of South Murwillumbah.
Francis had done 2 years compulsory training in area 12a. 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, Francis George Wright, 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 18 years 11 months old, 5ft 2 ½ inches tall (1.58m), weighed 118 lbs (53kgs), with a fresh complexion, grey eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. Francis was Church of England and had a scar on his right shin and another on his left shin.
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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. Francis was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 19th April 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 as a private into the 41st Battalion, B Coy with service No 538
41ST INFANTRY BATTALION
The 41st Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force was raised in Bells’ Paddock Camp, Brisbane in February 1916, drawing recruits from Queensland and northern New South Wales. It was part of the 11th Brigade in the 3rd Australian Division. The 41st Infantry Battalion is remembered for its resilience and dedication
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING CAMP- BELL’S PADDOCK
The recruits training was at Bell’s Paddock camp. Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men 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
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 SYDNEY TO ENGLAND MAY 1916
On the 16th May 1916 the men boarded the troop train bound or Sydney and, on the 18th May 1916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Demosthenes. Alongside his comrades, he 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.
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.
They disembarked art Plymouth on 20th July 1916 and were marched into the 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. 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.
HOSPITALISATION- INFLUENZA 27TH SEPTEMBER 1916
During this time Francis was admitted to the Military Hospital at Bangor on 27th September 1916 with influenza. 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.
FRANCE AND TRENCH WARFARE NOVEMBER 1916
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. FRANCE AND THE NEW RECRUITS NOVEMBER 1916
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 JANUARY 1917
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). Francis was taken on strength on the 5th January 1917.
TRENCH WARFARE
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.
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.
Between January and June 1917, the 41st Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force was stationed on the Western Front. They endured a harsh winter and rotated between frontline duties near Armentières in France and across the Lys River in Belgium. The battalion faced challenging conditions, including heavy rain, flooded trenches, and relentless shelling, which significantly reduced the size of their platoons.
Their experiences during this period were marked by routine tasks and preparation for the battles that would follow later in the year. 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.
WOUNDED IN ACTION 17TH JANUARY 1917
By January 1917 the 41st Battalion had already endured a hard first year on the Western Front. After arriving in France in late 1916, the battalion spent the winter in the muddy trenches of northern France and Flanders. Conditions were miserable. Men lived in waterlogged trenches, endured freezing temperatures, and were constantly exposed to artillery fire, snipers and trench raids. Even when no major battle was underway, casualties occurred almost daily.
Francis joined the battalion in France on 17 January 1917 at a time when the 41st Battalion was occupying trenches in the Armentières sector. This area was often regarded as a "quiet" front compared with places such as the Somme, but soldiers quickly learned that there was no truly quiet sector on the Western Front. Artillery shelling, machine-gun fire and sniper activity were constant threats. The battalion alternated between front-line trenches, support trenches and working parties repairing defences damaged by winter weather and enemy shellfire.
It was during this period, on the 17th January 1917, that Francis was wounded by a gunshot wound to the chest and upper extremities. Such wounds were often caused by rifle bullets, machine-gun fire or fragments from shells. A wound involving both the chest and arms was potentially very serious. The greatest immediate concerns would have been blood loss, damage to the lungs, infection and shock.
MEDICAL CHAIN
When Francis was hit, battalion stretcher-bearers would have reached him as quickly as circumstances allowed. These men worked under fire and carried basic medical supplies. They would have applied field dressings to stop bleeding and stabilised him before carrying him to a Regimental Aid Post, usually located in a dugout or ruined building just behind the front line.
At the Regimental Aid Post the battalion medical officer would have conducted an initial examination. If Francis had suffered a penetrating chest wound, the doctor would have checked for signs that the lung had been damaged. Medical staff would have cleaned the wound as thoroughly as possible and applied fresh dressings before arranging evacuation farther from the battlefield.
From there Francis would have passed through an Advanced Dressing Station and then a Casualty Clearing Station. By 1917 these facilities were remarkably efficient. Surgeons could perform emergency operations within hours of a man being wounded. If his chest wound was severe, surgeons may have removed bullet fragments, drained blood from the chest cavity or treated a collapsed lung. His arm wounds would have been cleaned, explored for fragments and bandaged.
HOSPITALISED BOULOGNE
After initial treatment Francis was evacuated to Boulogne. The port city became one of the principal medical centres of the British Expeditionary Force. Thousands of wounded soldiers passed through its hospitals every month. Here he would have received more comprehensive treatment, including surgical care if required. Doctors were increasingly aware that infection posed one of the greatest dangers to wounded soldiers. Antiseptic solutions would have been used to clean his wounds repeatedly, dressings changed regularly, and his condition closely monitored.
EVACUATED ENGAND FEBRUARY 1917
Because his injuries required a lengthy recovery, Francis was selected for evacuation to England. The crossing of the English Channel was often uncomfortable for wounded men, but it offered access to larger hospitals and a safer environment for convalescence.
On 8 February 1917 Francis was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital in Norwich. This was one of Britain's largest military hospitals. Originally built as a county asylum, it had been converted for military use during the war and contained thousands of beds. The hospital specialised in treating large numbers of wounded soldiers returning from France.
At Norfolk War Hospital Francis would have come under the care of specialist surgeons and physicians. By this stage the immediate danger had probably passed, and treatment would have focused on healing damaged tissue, preventing infection and restoring movement to his injured arms. X-rays were increasingly used during the war to locate bullets and shell fragments, so it is quite possible that he underwent radiographic examinations. Daily dressing changes, careful observation and gradual physical rehabilitation would have formed part of his treatment.
Military hospitals also paid increasing attention to nutrition and rest. Patients received regular meals designed to rebuild strength after blood loss and trauma. Nurses from the military nursing services played a vital role, carrying out wound care, monitoring temperatures and assisting recovering soldiers.
TRANSFER TO 1ST AUXILIARY HOSPITAL WAKEFIELD MARCH 1917
By early March his condition had improved sufficiently for transfer to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital at Wakefield on 5 March 1917. Auxiliary hospitals were generally smaller and quieter than the large military hospitals. Many were established in country houses, schools and other large buildings. They served as convalescent facilities where men could continue recovering once major surgery and intensive treatment were no longer required.
At Wakefield, Francis's days would have been far less regimented than in a major hospital. Treatment likely centred on continued wound care, physiotherapy and rebuilding strength. If his arms had been affected, he may have undertaken exercises designed to restore movement and muscle function. Occupational activities were often encouraged to help recovering soldiers regain dexterity and confidence.
While Francis recovered in England, the 41st Battalion remained in the trenches in France. During the following months it would participate in the advance that followed the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and later fight in the bloody Battle of Messines in June 1917. Had Francis not been wounded, he would almost certainly have shared in those operations
His evacuation through the medical chain—from the battlefield, to Boulogne, to the Norfolk War Hospital and finally to the Auxiliary Hospital at Wakefield—illustrates the remarkable wartime medical system that had developed by 1917. A wound to the chest that might have proved fatal in earlier wars could now be treated through rapid evacuation, skilled surgery and prolonged rehabilitation, giving soldiers like Francis a far greater chance of survival and eventual return to duty.
FURLOUGH AND COMMAND DEPOT
He was given furlough from 10th March to 26th March and then marched into command posts. 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.
TRANSFER TO 63RD BATTALION 6TH MAY 1917
TRANSFER BACK TO 41ST 17TH SEPTEMBER 1917
After several months recovering from his wounds, Francis was evidently considered fit enough to begin the process of returning to active service. On 6 May 1917 he was transferred to the 63rd Battalion. This does not mean he was permanently leaving the 41st Battalion. Rather, the 63rd Battalion was one of the training battalions maintained in England for the Australian Imperial Force.
The Australian training system in England was reorganised in 1917. Rather than sending recovered men directly back to their old units, they were often posted to a training battalion where their fitness, military skills and readiness for front-line service could be assessed. The 63rd Battalion was one such depot battalion.
COMMAND DEPOT WINDMILL HILL
Francis would have travelled to the command depot at Windmill Hill on the Salisbury Plain. This vast military training area in southern England was the principal training ground for Australian troops in Britain. Life at Windmill Hill was quite different from hospital life. After months as a patient, Francis would once again have been living as a soldier. His days would likely have included route marches to rebuild stamina, musketry and rifle practice and bayonet training. He would have done physical training and drill, undergone medical inspections to assess whether his wounds had fully healed and taken refresher courses on trench warfare and battlefield tactics.
The medical officers would have paid particular attention to his chest wound. A man might appear healthy but still suffer reduced lung capacity, pain, or weakness from old wounds. The Army wanted to ensure he could withstand the physical demands of front-line service before sending him back to France.
BOUND FOR FRANCE SEPTEMBER 1917
By September 1917 Francis had passed these assessments and was considered fit for overseas service. On 5 September he embarked for France as part of a reinforcement draft intended for the Australian 3rd Division. This is where the service record can be slightly confusing.
The 3rd Division contained the 9th, 10th and 11th Brigades. The 41st Battalion belonged to the 11th Brigade. Reinforcements were often sent to a division rather than directly to a battalion because casualties were constantly occurring and manpower requirements changed from week to week.
When Francis landed in France, he would have gone first to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Étaples, one of the great reinforcement centres behind the British lines. There he would have been processed, equipped if necessary, and held until instructions arrived regarding where he was needed.
The fact that he was taken on strength by the 41st Battalion on 17 September strongly suggests that, despite travelling as a reinforcement for the 3rd Division generally, the Army ultimately returned him to his original battalion.
In practical terms, the Army was saying:
"Francis has recovered from his wounds, completed retraining in England, arrived in France, and is now once again a member of the 41st Battalion."
The timing is significant because the 41st Battalion was then involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, often called Passchendaele. Only days before Francis rejoined, the battalion had fought in the costly Battle of Polygon Wood preparations and was preparing for further operations in the Ypres sector.
When Francis arrived back, he would have found a very different battalion from the one he had left seven months earlier. Many of the men he had known in January were likely dead, wounded, sick, or transferred. New reinforcements had arrived. Officers and NCOs had changed. The battalion itself had been through the grinding fighting around Messines and was preparing for yet more battles in the mud of Flanders.
For Francis personally, 17 September 1917 marks the end of a remarkable journey:
· Front-line service in France.
· Serious wounds to the chest and arms.
· Treatment in Boulogne.
· Evacuation to England.
· Months of hospitalisation and recovery.
· Retraining on Salisbury Plain.
· Return across the Channel.
· Rejoining the 41st Battalion in the field.
Many wounded men never completed that journey. The fact that Francis did speaks to both the effectiveness of the medical system and his own determination to recover and return to his mates in the battalion.
THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE 4 OCTOBER 1917
The 41st captured its objectives at Broodseinde on 4 October with little difficulty. The Battle of Broodseinde was fought on 4 October 1917 near Ypres. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allied devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders, and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. The battalion captured its objectives with relative ease, compared to other units that faced heavy resistance. The Australian divisions were shelled heavily before the attack, with one-seventh of their troops becoming casualties before the battle even started. The Australians encountered German troops advancing towards them, as the Germans had planned an attack on the same morning. The Australian forces gained all their objectives, but suffered 6,500 casualties due to intense fighting and German pillboxes.
WOUNDED IN ACTION SECOND OCCASION -CONCUSSION
Francis had been back with the 41st Battalion for only a short time when he found himself caught up in one of the most significant Australian actions of the war—the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917. This battle formed part of the wider Passchendaele campaign in Belgium and was one of the rare occasions on the Western Front when a meticulously planned attack achieved almost all of its objectives.
The result was devastating for the Germans. Australian artillery and infantry fire tore through the enemy formations, and the Australians pushed forward to capture their objectives. Nevertheless, the battlefield remained incredibly dangerous. German artillery responded fiercely throughout the day, shelling the newly captured positions with high explosives and shrapnel.
It was during this fighting that Francis suffered concussion. Today we would recognise this as a traumatic brain injury, but in 1917 military doctors had only a limited understanding of such injuries. Concussion was often caused by the blast wave from exploding artillery shells. A soldier did not have to be physically struck by shrapnel to suffer serious effects. The force of a nearby explosion could leave a man dazed, confused, unconscious, suffering headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea and memory problems.
Francis may have been knocked to the ground by an exploding shell or buried by flying earth and debris. Men frequently described feeling as though they had been struck by a giant hammer, even when there was no visible wound. Some recovered within days, while others experienced symptoms for months or years.
MEDICAL CHAIN
Following his injury, Francis would have been evacuated through the familiar medical chain. Medical officers would have observed him carefully for signs of a fractured skull or intracranial bleeding. Unlike modern medicine, there were no CT scans or advanced neurological tests. Doctors relied on observation—checking whether a patient remained conscious, whether his pupils reacted normally to light, whether he could walk steadily and whether symptoms worsened.
REJOINED UNIT OCTOBER 1917
Because he rejoined his battalion on 11 October 1917, only a week after the battle, it appears his concussion was judged to be relatively mild. Even so, it is likely he spent several days resting at a casualty station or hospital away from the front line, where he would have been kept under observation until symptoms subsided sufficiently for a return to duty.
When Francis returned to the 41st Battalion, he re-entered a formation that had suffered heavily throughout the Passchendaele campaign. The battalion remained in the Ypres sector during some of the worst weather conditions experienced by any army during the war. Rain turned the battlefield into a vast sea of mud. Duckboard tracks were often the only means of movement. Men struggled to carry ammunition, food and supplies through waist-deep bogs, while artillery fire constantly churned the ground into an even greater quagmire.
The weeks following Broodseinde were therefore not a period of rest. Even when not actively attacking, Francis and his comrades spent long periods repairing trenches, carrying supplies, improving defensive positions and enduring enemy shellfire. The onset of winter added cold, wet conditions that made life miserable and encouraged the spread of illness.
HOSPITALISATION DECEMBER 1917
Against this backdrop, Francis was admitted to hospital on 29 December 1917. Unfortunately, as is often the case with service records, no reason was recorded. The brevity of his absence, however, provides some clues.
Since he rejoined the battalion on 1 January 1918—just three days later—it was almost certainly not a serious wound or major illness. Had he suffered anything severe, he would likely have spent weeks or months away from the unit. A short hospital stay of this nature was commonly associated with minor ailments such as influenza, bronchitis, sore throat, fever, digestive complaints, exhaustion, trench-related skin conditions, or the lingering effects of exposure to cold and wet weather.
Another possibility is that he was suffering after-effects of his earlier concussion. Headaches, dizziness and periods of fatigue were not uncommon following blast injuries, though military records did not always connect such symptoms to a previous concussion.
Whatever the cause, the fact that Francis returned on New Year's Day 1918 suggests that medical staff regarded the condition as minor and temporary. After a brief period of treatment and observation, he was considered fit enough to resume duty.
As 1918 began, Francis had already endured a remarkable series of hardships. He had survived a gunshot wound to the chest and arms, months of hospitalisation in England, retraining on Salisbury Plain, a return to the front line, and a second wound at Broodseinde. Yet he was still serving with the 41st Battalion as the war entered its final and most dangerous year. Neither Francis nor his comrades could know that within a few months they would face the great German Spring Offensive and some of the fiercest fighting the Australian Corps would experience during the entire war.
GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918
When the German Army launched its last great offensive in March 1918, the battalion was rushed south to France and played a role in blunting the drive towards the vital railway junction of Amiens.
Provided machine gun and rifle fire support to slow German advances. Francis & the 41st assisted in defending Amiens, a critical supply hub for the Allies. They engaged in trench warfare and counterattacks against German forces and withstood German bombardments targeting their positions. They played a role in repelling multiple German assaults on the Somme front.
WOUNDED IN ACTION 3RD OCCASION
Francis's third wounding came during one of the most dangerous periods of the entire war for the Australian Imperial Force.
On 30 March 1918 the German Army was in the midst of its great Spring Offensive, known as Operation Michael. Beginning on 21 March, the Germans had launched a massive assault intended to win the war before large numbers of American troops could arrive. British and Commonwealth forces were driven back across much of the old Somme battlefield, and emergency reinforcements were rushed south to stem the advance.
The 41st Battalion was among the Australian units hurriedly moved into the battle zone. During the last days of March, the battalion was involved in desperate defensive fighting around the Somme. Unlike the carefully planned attacks of Passchendaele, these actions were fluid and chaotic. Units were often thrown into unfamiliar positions with little preparation. Men dug hurried defensive trenches, established strongpoints, and fought to prevent the Germans from breaking through.
It was during this fighting on 30 March that Francis received his third wound—a gunshot wound to the back. A wound to the back could vary enormously in severity. Medical officers would immediately have been concerned about damage to the spine, kidneys, lungs or major blood vessels. The fact that Francis survived and was evacuated relatively quickly suggests the bullet fortunately missed his spinal column and other vital organs, though it may still have caused considerable tissue damage and blood loss.
MEDICAL CHAIN
As had happened after his first wound, Francis would have been collected by stretcher-bearers under difficult battlefield conditions. The Spring Offensive battlefields were crowded with troops, artillery, transport and streams of wounded men moving to the rear. After receiving emergency treatment at a Regimental Aid Post, he would have progressed through dressing stations and casualty clearing facilities before being selected for evacuation to England.
EVACUATION TO ENGLAND APRIL 1918
On 4 April 1918 Francis arrived in England and was admitted to the General Military Hospital at Edmonton, in north London.
The hospital at Edmonton was one of Britain's major military medical facilities. By 1918 its staff had treated thousands of battle casualties from France and Belgium. Upon admission Francis would have undergone a thorough examination. Surgeons would have explored the wound, searching for bullet fragments and assessing damage to muscles and internal organs. X-rays would almost certainly have been used if there was any possibility that fragments remained embedded.
Treatment would have involved repeated cleaning of the wound, regular dressing changes and careful monitoring for infection. Although antibiotics did not yet exist, British military medicine had become highly skilled at preventing infection through surgical debridement—the removal of damaged and contaminated tissue. This technique saved countless lives.
FURLOUGH MAY 1918
The fact that Francis remained in England for a month indicates that his recovery was progressing well. By early May he had improved sufficiently to be granted furlough from 4 May until 18 May.
For many soldiers, furlough was one of the most welcome entries in their service records. After months of hospital wards, treatment rooms and military routine, Francis would have enjoyed a period of relative freedom. Depending on his circumstances, he may have spent the leave visiting friends or relatives, sightseeing, or simply enjoying civilian comforts unavailable near the front. For a man who had now been wounded three times, the opportunity to sleep in a proper bed, eat regular meals and escape military discipline for a short period would have been immensely valuable. At the end of his leave Francis reported to the command depot at Hurdcott on Salisbury Plain.
HURDCOTT COMMAND DEPOT MAY 1918
Hurdcott was another major Australian training and command centre. By this stage of the war, it functioned as a holding and training depot for men recovering from wounds and illness. The staff there would determine whether Francis was fit enough to return to active service. The training was not intended to turn him into a new recruit again. Rather, it was designed to rebuild his physical fitness and assess the lasting effects of his wounds. Route marches, physical training, weapons instruction and medical examinations all formed part of the process.
The fact that Francis did not immediately return to the 41st Battalion is significant. After three wounds, military authorities would have been cautious. They needed to be satisfied that he could once again withstand the demands of trench warfare before sending him back to France.
ATTACHED TO 2ND TRAINING BRIGADE JUNE 1918
On 22 June 1918 Francis returned across the Channel. However, instead of going directly to the 41st Battalion, he was attached to the 2nd Training Brigade. This was a common practice. Returning soldiers often spent time with reinforcement and training organisations in France before being sent forward. The 2nd Training Brigade acted as a final staging area where reinforcements could receive updates on current battlefield conditions, tactics and procedures.
The Western Front of mid-1918 was very different from the one Francis had left in March. New tactics involving tanks, aircraft and coordinated artillery had evolved rapidly. Training brigades ensured returning men were familiar with these developments before re-entering combat.
REJOINED UNIT HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA OCTOBER 1918
Eventually Francis rejoined the 41st Battalion, which by then was participating in the great Allied offensives that would ultimately bring the war to an end. Then, just weeks before the Armistice, another setback occurred.
On 24 October 1918 Francis was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza. This was not necessarily a minor illness. The influenza pandemic that swept the world in 1918 was already beginning to affect military forces. Camps, troop ships and crowded billets provided ideal conditions for the disease to spread. Soldiers frequently developed high fevers, severe aches, exhaustion and respiratory complications. In some cases, the illness proved fatal.
Fortunately, Francis appears to have suffered a relatively mild attack. His stay in hospital lasted only about a week before he returned to the battalion on 1 November 1918. Nevertheless, it must have been frustrating timing. The Allied armies were advancing rapidly and the end of the war was visibly approaching. After surviving three battle wounds and countless dangers, Francis found himself temporarily sidelined by illness only ten days before the Armistice. By the time he rejoined the 41st Battalion on 1 November 1918, Francis was a veteran who had survived experiences that would have ended the military career of many other soldiers. Just ten days later, on 11 November 1918, the guns finally fell silent. Francis had endured the war almost to its very last moment.
Francis would certainly rank among the tougher and more resilient soldiers. Not because he was never wounded, but because he was wounded repeatedly and somehow kept finding his way back to the battalion. That takes a particular kind of endurance, both physical and mental.
And from a historian's perspective, he's gold. His record allows you to tell the story of the Australian medical system, the hospitals of France and England, Salisbury Plain training depots, Passchendaele, the German Spring Offensive, and the influenza epidemic—all through the experiences of one ordinary soldier from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. That is the sort of service record that can bring an entire period of history to life.
On 11th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia.
GOING HOME
Francis returned to Australia per the Orca on 19th February, disembarking at Sydney on 3th April 1919. He was discharged on 25th May 1919.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection
for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)- Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Francis was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
HOME LIFE
Francis married Florence Ethel Griffin in 1920 in Murwillumbah. According to NSWBDM they had two daughters, Phyllis in 1922 and Joyce in 1924.
DEATH
Francis died in 1969 in Murwillumbah
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
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Buried Location
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