Private Henry John Andrew Doig
Service #: 847
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Henry John Andrew (Harry) Doig was born on 10th October 1875 in the Tweed Shire, son of Henry Doig & Emily Ester (Dinsey) Doig. Harry’s father died the same year he was born and his mother remarried in 1880. He gained 2 step siblings from this marriage. The Dinsey family are well known in Murwillumbah and many of them are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district. According to Harry’s application he was married but stated his wife’s whereabouts were not known.
APPLICATION
Harry travelled to Brisbane on 27t September 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his wife, last heard of at Tweed Heads. He then named his step sister, Emily Harrison, of John St, Toowong, Queensland as his next of kin. His medical showed he was 36 years 11 months old, 5ft 9 ¾ inches tall (1.74m), weighed 11 stone 11 lbs (73kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. The Examining Medical Officer stated that Henry “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, Henry John Andrew Doig, 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.”
Harry was Presbyterian. He was enlisted as a private into the 41st Battalion, D Coy with service No 847
RIFLE RANGE TRAINING CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
On the 18th 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.
They disembarked art Plymouth on 20th July 1916 and were marched into the English training camp. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but, over many more tough months, 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. Harry embarked for France on 24th November 1916
HOSPITALISATION MUMPS DECEMBER 1916
On 7th December 1916 Harry was hospitalised with mumps. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing. Harry did not return to his unit until the 29th December 1916
JANUARY TO JUNE 1917
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 Belgium2. 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.
THE BATTLE OF MESSINES JULY 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).
DISOBEYNG ORDERS
On 21ST July 1917 Harry neglected to obey a company order in that he was absent from roll call. His punishment was 2 days of Field Punishment No 2. In Field Punishment Number Two, the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment.
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.
OCTOBER 1917
The 41st captured its objectives at Broodseinde on 4 October near Ypres with little difficulty. Belgium remained the focus of the 41st Battalion's activities for the five months after its action in October 1917 as it was rotated between service in the rear areas and the front line. 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. Preparations were made by the Germans for local withdrawals and planning began for a greater withdrawal, which would entail the abandonment by the Germans of the Belgian coast, one of the strategic aims of the Flanders Offensive.
WOUNDED IN ACTION
One of the casualties of this battle was Harry who received a gunshot wound to his left leg. He spent many months in hospital then went to the command camp where 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.
REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER AND LEAVE IN PARIS JANUARY 1918
He rejoined his unit on 28th December 1917 and was given leave in Paris from 9th January 1918 to 17th January 1918
HOSPITALIATION VENERAL DISEASE FEBRUARY 1918
On 20th February 1918 he was hospitalised 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. Harry was discharged from the 51st General Hospital after 43 days on 3rd April 1918.
JULY TO OCTOBER 1918
Harry rejoined his unit on 9th July 1918. He was given leave in England on the 17th August till 8th September 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 BATTLE OF ST QUENTIN CANAL
29TH SEPTEMBER TO 2ND OCTOBER 1918
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 41st Battalion played a significant role in the Battle of St Quentin Canal, which took place from September 29 to October 2, 1918. This battle was part of the Allied offensive to breach the Hindenburg Line, a critical German defensive position during World War I. The 41st Battalion, as part of the Australian-American operation, contributed to the successful crossing of the canal and the breaking of the German defenses2.
This operation marked one of the final major actions of the war for the 41st Battalion, showcasing their resilience and strategic importance
HOSPITALISATION LUMBAGO OCTOBER 1918
Harry was admitted to hospital with lumbago on the 22nd October. Lumbago refers to lower back discomfort due to various causes. Life in the trenches was hard on soldiers’ backs caused heavy artillery, poor bedding, bad posture, and lack of exercise. In 1918 lumbago was treated with hot fomentations (a towel or similar dipped in very hot water and applied to the back area), and a woollen bandage sprinkled with sulphur on the tender parts. He rejoined his unit on 7th November 1918
RETURN TO AUSTRALIA
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.
RETURNED HOME
Harry returned to Australia on the Somalia on 1st March 1919 and was discharged 8th April 1919.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Harry was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. Harry died in May 1944, aged 68 at Tyalgum. Mr. J Hogg of Tyalgum Returned Services Association placed a wreath of Flanders poppies on the casket and Harry was buried in the Old Tyalgum Cemetery
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Old Tyalgum Cemetery
