FAMILY LIFE

Arthur Bonser was born c1890 in Bundanoon, New South Wales. He married Idalia Sergeant in Murwillumbah in 1910.  They had a son, Sydney, born 1910 and a daughter, Sylvia, born in 1914.  Arthur was engaged in dairying and banana growing. As a sportsman he had the distinction of being a Tweed representative footballer for 20 years and, as a rake, was ranked as among the best north of Sydney. He retired from the game in 1927. He was also a member of the Murwillumbah Fire Brigade for two years, until he resigned to enlist. Arthur’s name is on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

APPLICATION

He was a labourer and travelled to Brisbane on 7^th March 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, Idalia, of South Murwillumbah.  His medical showed he was 26 years 2 months old, 5ft 5 inches tall (1.65m), weighed 159 lbs (72kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. Arthur was Church of England and had 3 vaccination marks on his left arm, a scar on his right knee and another on his left knee.  The Examining Medical Officer stated that Arthur “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, Arthur Bonser, 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 41^st Battalion, B Coy with service No 603

41^ST 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

ENOGGERA TRAINING CAMP

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, 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.

DISCIPLINED

While on board on 22^nd June Arthur committed the crime of breaking away from quarters and forfeited 18 day’s pay.

DURRINGTON 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

TRENCH WARFARE

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.

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. Arthur joined his unit on 24^th November 1916

HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE

On 14^th January 1917 Arthur was admitted to the 51^st General Hospital, Rouen with venereal disease. The sense of adventure, the loneliness, and the loss of family life that overwhelmed many of the overseas volunteers during the First World War often found them on leave in large cities or small towns where alcohol and women were plentiful, and a lack of available prophylaxis allowed the spread of diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis to reach epidemic levels. Historians claim that the average incidence rate for this disease in the AIF was around 12 per cent

Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Special hospitals for VD patients were set up and often regarded as deterrent. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. These long and uncomfortable stays in VD hospitals often averaged between 50 and 60 days, with most patients recovering and returning to the front. Arthur was released after 36 days and rejoined his unit on 24th March 1917.

BATTLE OF MESSINES 7TH JUNE 1917

Compared to some AIF battalions, the 41st's experience of the battles in Belgium during 1917 was relatively straightforward. It had a supporting role at Messines on 7 June. The British tactical objective was to capture the German defences on the ridge, which ran from Ploegsteert Wood in the south, through Messines and Wytschaete to Mt Sorrel, depriving the German 4th Army of the high ground. The ridge gave commanding views of the British defences and back areas of Ypres to the north, from which the allies intended to conduct the Northern Operation, an advance to Passchendaele Ridge and then the capture of the Belgian coast up to the Dutch frontier. The battle began with the detonation of nineteen mines beneath the German front position, which devastated it and left large craters. A creeping barrage, 700 yd (640 m) deep, began and protected the  troops as they secured the ridge with support from tanks, cavalry patrols and aircraft. The effect of the  mines, barrages and bombardments was improved by advances in artillery survey, flash spotting and centralised control of artillery from the Second Army headquarters. The attacks from 8 to 14 June advanced the front line beyond the former German Sehnenstellung (Chord Position, the Oost Taverne Line to the British). 

HOSPITALISATION AUGUST 1917

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. Arthur was hospitalised on 30^th August and rejoined his unit on 30^th September with the notation “wounds”.

HOSPITALISATION 1917- 1918 INFLUENZA/BRONCHITIS

Sadly, Arthur spent the rest of 1917 & January 1918 in hospitals in France, mostly with influenza/ bronchitis. This was a dangerous disease to have in an area with a lot of people who would continue to spread the infection. Many people died with this disease which could cause trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, seizures and/or severe weakness or muscle pain. There was no effective medical treatment for influenza or bronchitis. The Army Nurse Corps was critical for soldier’s care. Symptom management by skilled supportive nursing care was the best predictor of positive patient outcomes and decreases in mortality rates. This care consisted of duties such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, fever control, providing hydration, rest, dressing changes, open-air therapy, bed baths, clean bedding, feeding, back and chest rubs with camphorated sweet oil, and cleaning the ward.

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

He rejoined his unit on 26^th January 1918 and was granted leave in England from 9^th February to 20^th February 1918. When the German Army launched its last great offensive in March 1918, the battalion played a role in blunting the drive towards the vital railway junction of Amiens. The German Spring Offensive was a series of German attacks on the Western Front during World War I, launched between March 21 and July 18, 1918. It was Germany's last major attempt to secure victory before the arrival of significant American forces.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

Arthur was one of the casualties of this battle with a gunshot wound to his right arm on the 28^th March.  There is a “slight” problem with the records which now show Arthur being transferred to the General Military Hospital in Colchester, England with a gunshot wound, severe, to his left shoulder.

DISCIPLINED & COMMAND POST

Arthur returned to the hospital on 16^th May drunk, and forfeited 2 day’s pay.  He was given furlough on 20^th May to 3^rd June and reported to command post at Sutton Veney. He was classified B1, which meant he was able to march 5 miles, see to shoot with glasses, and hear well. 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. On 26^th June he was transferred to Longbridge Deverill, which is a village and civil parish about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. From mid-1917, those ill or injured that were deemed fit enough to resume active service were then sent from the Command Depots to the Overseas Training Brigade to harden them up for life back in the trenches.

THE HUNDED DAY OFFENSIVE

On 10^th July 1918 he proceeded to France and rejoined his unit on 14^th July 1918. The Allies launched their own offensive on 8 August 1918, and the 41st played an active role both in the initial attack and the long advance that followed throughout August and into September. The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of Allied attacks between 8 August and 11 November 1918 that ultimately led to the end of World War I. It began with the Battle of Amiens, where British, French, and Canadian forces launched a surprise assault that shattered German defences.

Following this success, the Allies continued their rapid advance, forcing German troops to retreat from their positions along the Hindenburg Line. The offensive saw coordinated attacks across the Western Front, with British, French, American, and Belgian forces pushing the Germans back.

THE BATTLE OF ST QUENTIN CANAL

The 41st participated in its last major action of the war between 29 September and 2 October 1918 as part of the Australian-American operation that breached the formidable defences of the Hindenburg Line along the St Quentin Canal. The Battle of St Quentin Canal (September 29 – October 10, 1918) was a pivotal engagement during World War I, forming part of the Hundred Days Offensive. It was fought along the Hindenburg Line, a heavily fortified German defensive position, with the goal of breaking through one of its strongest sections.

 

The battle involved British, Australian, and American forces under the command of General Sir Henry Rawlinson. The Australian Corps, led by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, played a key role, alongside American divisions. The Germans had incorporated the St Quentin Canal into their defences, making it a formidable obstacle.

Despite fierce resistance, the Allies successfully breached the Hindenburg Line, marking a significant turning point in the war. The battle resulted in heavy casualties, with thousands of soldiers lost on both sides. The victory convinced the German high command that their chances of winning the war were diminishing, contributing to the eventual Armistice

GETTING HOME

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.  Arthur returned home per the Nestor on 20^th May 1919.  He was discharged on the July 1919. 

AFTER THE WAR

Arthur lived in Murwillumbah after the war and moved to Carool in 1920 where he was a dairy farmer & a cane grower. Arthur died on 4^th October 1931 at Marrickville. He had been ill for some time because of nervous troubles arising from his war service. He was given a full military funeral and is buried in
Murwillumbah Old Cemetery.  At the cemetery a salute of three rounds was fired. Representatives from Carool Banana Growers, Murwillumbah Fire Brigade, Tweed Rugby Club & Tweed District Council attended

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Wall of Remembrance (Southern Villages Memorial), Bundanoon. 

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