Private John Leslie Baxter
Service #: 1006
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
John Leslie Baxter was not born at all. In fact, he enlisted under an assumed name and it was not till 1933 that this came to light when he applied for war service leave gratuity.
JOSEPH LEO FLANAGAN
His correct name was Joseph Leo Flanagan & according to www.findagrve.com & www.ancientfaces.com he was born 4th February 1896 in North Yalgogrin. New South Wales. There is no birth registration for that name in the 1890’s. He was the son of Christopher John Flanagan & Mary Terese (Hough) Flanagan. He was one of 7 children & two of his brothers, Richard & Patrick enlisted and Richard died in Belgium in 1917
I have no knowledge of his background. The only link to Murwillumbah is a pension granted in 1918 to Baxter at Uki and his friend, Ernest Ginger
STATUTORY DECLARATION
A stat dec dated 14 June 1933 certified that John Leslie Baxter’s correct name was Joseph Leo Flanagan. He was living at Macksville at this time
ATTESTATION
John (Joseph?) was single carpenter, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 23rd February 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his friend, Ernest Ginger, of Murwillumbah (records show there is an Ernest Ginger living in Murwillumbah at that time).
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
PAGE 2
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, John Leslie Baxter, 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 21 years 1 month old, 5ft 7 ½ inches tall (1.71m), weighed 132 lbs (60 kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good but he required dental treatment. John was Roman Catholic and had a scar on his left lower arm, 2 scars on his left shin & one on his right shin.
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. John was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 10th May, 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, with service No 1006”
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
RIFE RANGE, ENOGGERA, AUSTRALIAN 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, 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 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 six shillings a day
VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO ENGLAND MAY 1916
On the 16th May 1916 the men caught the troop train from Brisbane for Sydney and 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.
DISCIPLINED
On 22nd June John was disciplined for “breaking away from quarters” which meant he left their designated sleeping, mess, or cabin area without authorization, which was treated as a breach of discipline punishable by forfeiture of pay, confinement, or extra duty. John forfeited 20 day’s pay
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP OCTOBER 1916
They disembarked at Plymouth on and were marched into the 11th Battalion 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.
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. Specially constructed practice trenches on Salisbury Plain allowed officers and NCOs to rehearse attacks down to the smallest detail, ensuring that every man understood his role once the battalion went into action.
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 by autumn the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.
TRANSFER TO 13TH BATTALION TRAINING CAMP OCTOBER 1916
On 13th October the recruits were marched to the 13th training battalion training camp for specialised training such as gas warfare training where they were trained in the use of PH-type gas helmets and box respirators & drills in gas chambers using low concentrations of chlorine or phosgene to acclimate soldiers. Close-combat techniques using bayonets was also a necessary skill — aggressive training with thrusts, parries, and charges were held. Tactical training included understanding platoon and company movements & signals training (flags, lamps, runners).
TRANSFER BACK TO 11TH TRAINING CAMP OCTOBER 1916
The recruits were sent back to the 11th training camp to put these skills to use. After many months of continuous preparation in England, the Battalion was 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 MUMPS OCTOBER 1916
John was admitted to the military hospital at Parkhouse on 8 December 1916 suffering from mumps, a common infectious disease that frequently swept through crowded military camps. Although rarely life-threatening, the illness could leave a soldier weak for several weeks and often delayed his deployment overseas.
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
TRENCH WARFARE
After training in Australia and Britain, the original 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.
FRANCE JANUARY 1917
Having recovered, John finally proceeded to France with the 41st Battalion on 12 January 1917, crossing the English Channel from Folkestone aboard Princess Clementine. Like thousands of Australian reinforcements arriving on the Western Front, he entered a vastly different world from the training camps of England. The battalion was then serving in the Armentières sector, where new arrivals underwent a rapid introduction to trench warfare. During the early months of 1917 the 41st Battalion rotated between front-line trenches, support positions and working parties, carrying out patrols, repairing defences, laying wire and enduring constant shellfire. Although not engaged in a major offensive at this stage, casualties occurred regularly from artillery bombardments, snipers and trench raids.
THE ATTACK ON MESSINE RIDGE JUNE 1917
On 6 June 1917 John was wounded in action. Unfortunately, the surviving records do not specify the nature of his wound, but the date is significant. The 41st Battalion was preparing for the great attack on Messines Ridge, launched during the night of 6–7 June 1917. In the days immediately preceding the assault, Australian positions were subjected to heavy enemy shelling and intense activity as troops assembled for the offensive. It is likely that John was wounded during these preparations or in the opening stages of the battle itself.
Following treatment and recovery, he was attached to the 3rd Division's Amalgamated Training Battalion. These training battalions acted as holding and reinforcement units, where soldiers returning from wounds or illness were retrained, assessed for fitness and prepared for return to their combat units. On 11 June 1917 he marched out from the training battalion to rejoin his unit, indicating that he had recovered sufficiently for active service.
DISCIPLINED JUNE 1917
On 23RD June 1917, while on active duty, John broke away from quarters and was awarded forfeiture on 20 day’s pay @ 6 shillings per day
REJOINED UNIT
John returned to the battalion during one of the most demanding periods of the war. Throughout the summer of 1917 the 41st Battalion was heavily involved in operations in Belgium associated with the Third Battle of Ypres. The constant artillery fire, muddy conditions, lack of sleep and the strain of living under continual danger placed enormous pressure on the men.
HOSPITALISED SHELL SHOCK AND DAH AUGUST 1917
By 10 August 1917 the accumulated effects of front-line service had become too much. John was transferred to England suffering from shell shock and D.A.H. (Disordered Action of the Heart), a condition frequently associated with physical exhaustion, stress and the psychological effects of prolonged combat. Soldiers afflicted with D.A.H. often experienced rapid heartbeat, breathlessness, fatigue and weakness, while shell shock could produce a range of nervous symptoms including anxiety, tremors, insomnia and an inability to continue military duties.
SHELL SHOCK
Shell shock was a term to describe the post-traumatic stress soldiers suffered during the war. Its symptoms included insomnia, the inability to walk or talk, and panic attacks. At the beginning of the war, shell shock was relatively rare. However, as the war progressed, the number of cases grew, and doctors were not able to identify the exact cause of the disorder. There was speculation that the explosion of bombs caused shockwaves in soldiers’ brains. Also, it was believed that carbon monoxide from the explosions damaged the brain tissue. Patients showing signs of shell shock were regarded as cowards, but as the number of shell shock cases increased, people tried to figure out a solution to the problem. The answer was to prescribe the affected soldier a few days’ rest and their officers were directed to discuss the issue with them, talking about both the war and their families back home. In severe cases, sufferers were sent to casualty clearing stations for many weeks. If they still did not recover, they would undergo several more rounds of observation until they were ready for battle again.
NO 2 CONVALESCENT DEPOT AUGUST 1917
The following day, 11 August, he marched into No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth after arriving from Le Havre. There he joined many other soldiers undergoing medical assessment and treatment. Despite these efforts, military authorities eventually concluded that he was no longer fit for active service.
OFFENCE OCTOBER 1917
While in Weymouth, John went AWL from midnight on 11th October 1917 till apprehended by MPs on at 6.30pm on 17th October 1917. He was awarded 7 days 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. He was in custody awaiting trial. He forfeited 14 day’s pay.
HOME
Joseph embarked on the SS Berrima on 31st October 1917 bound for Australia, diagnosed with shell shock neurosis, a term used to cover a range of psychological and nervous disorders arising from war service.
He was discharged 2nd February 1918
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
PENSION
John was granted a pension of 3 pound per fortnight from 3rd February 1918.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
AFTER THE WAR
Joseph married Margaret Moore in Narrandera in 1921. They had three sons, one of whom died in the Korean War in 1951.
WORLD WAR II
John enlisted in WWII and was a corporal in the 6 Australian Signallers. DEATH
John died on 25th May 1975 in Sydney and is buried at Penrith General Cemetery, Catholic Monumental section-row s-23
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
Penrith General Cemetery, Catholic Monumental section-row s-23
