FAMILY LIFE

Frank Albert McLeod was born in Murwillumbah in 1894 son of Robert & Annie Eliza (Laver) McLeod. He was one of 6 children. The McLeod family had lived in Dungay for many years and Frank’s mother, Annie, is listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

APPLICATION

Frank was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 24^th January 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Annie, of Dungay Creek. He had attended 2 years compulsory training out of the Murwillumbah area.

His medical showed he was 22 years 2 months old, 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m), weighed 113 lbs (51kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Frank “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, Frank Albert McLeod, 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 Presbyterian and had a hernia scar on his abdomen.  He was enlisted as a private into the 41st Infantry Battalion – 1^st Reinforcements with service No 1067

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

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the 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.

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.

SALISBURY PLAINS TRAINING CAMP

They disembarked art Plymouth on 20^th July 1916 and were marched into the English training camp at Salisbury Plains. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but, over many more tough months, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. The area was known for its harsh weather and muddy conditions, which were seen as useful preparation for trench warfare. 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

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 41^st BATTALION

During the camp, on 7^th August 1916, Frank was taken on strength with the 41^st Battalion

DISCIPLINED 22^ND AUGUST 1916

Frank went AWL from 6am on 22^nd August to 5pm. He was awarded 7 days confined to camp and 1 day’s pay

FRANCE & 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.

HOSPITALISED DECEMBER 1916

On 8^th December 1916 Frank was admitted to hospital, no details and rejoined his unit on 31^st 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 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 JANUARY 1917

As a result of these actions Frank was wounded with a gunshot wound to his left knee.

INVALIDED TO ENGLAND

Frank was admitted to the 1^st London General Hospital on 28^th January 1917.

REST CAMP

Frank would have spent many months in hospital then would be transferred to a command depot. 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. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained. He rejoined his unit on 19^th June 1917

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.

HOSPITALISATION AUGUST 1917

Frank was admitted to hospital, no details, on 3^rd August and rejoined his unit on 10^th August

THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE OCTOBER 1917 TO MARCH 1918

The 41^st 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.

THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH TO AUGUST 1918

When the German Spring Offensive began in March, Australian units, including the 41st Battalion, were rushed south to help hold the line.

The 41st Battalion, as part of the 11th Brigade, 3rd Division, AIF, was heavily involved in resisting the German advances in this period.

By May, the 41st was helping to hold the line and repel further German attacks. The area was still under threat from artillery bombardments and raids, but the German momentum had largely stalled. The battalion was involved in trench holding duties, patrolling no man's land, reinforcing defensive positions and occasional localised engagements and counter-raids.

GERMAN USE OF GAS

During the continued phases of the German Spring Offensive, the Germans made frequent use of chemical weapons—a tactic they had pioneered earlier in the war. In May 1918, the Germans used gas shells more than cylinders due to their effectiveness and mobility. Soldiers often suffered temporary blindness, lung damage and debilitating skin burns

WOUNDED IN ACTION- SECOND OCCASION- MAY 1918- GASSED

Frank was wounded in action on 29^th May being gassed, severe. From his records from November in hospital he had caustic burns. The likely culprit for this was mustard gas.

MUSTARD GAS

Mustard gas was one of the most feared chemical weapons of World War I. It caused severe chemical burns, blindness, and respiratory damage, and it often lingered in soil and clothing for days. Because it was a vesicant (blister agent), it damaged skin, eyes, and lungs on contact.

HOSPITALISATION IN ENGLAND

Frank was invalided to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton on 1st June 1918. Treatment for gas wounds included the skin being treated with Calamine lotion, Zinc oxide creams or Cod liver oil dressings or boric acid ointment. Infected burns were treated with antiseptic solutions (like iodine or hydrogen peroxide). Eyes were flushed with saline solution or boric acid wash and bandages used for temporary light sensitivity or corneal burns.

Frank spent many months in hospital and then in the command depots for rest.

WAR ENDED

The end of the war was in sight and 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.

GOING HOME

Frank returned to Australia on the Orsova disembarking 20^th February 1919 and was discharged on 13^th April, 1919

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Dungay Public School Honour Rol WWI

HOME LIFE

Robert died 26th November 1961, aged 66 and is buried in Murwillumbah Catholic Cemetery, Row 32, Plot 33

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