Private Frederick James Buttenshaw
Service #: 3228
Summary
BACKGROUND
Frederick James Buttenshaw was born in 1893 in Camden, son of George Henry & Selina Forman (Cross) Buttenshaw. According to NSW BDM Frederick was one of 6 children with one sister & five brothers. Both his parents and both grandparents on his father’s side are buried in Murwillumbah Old Cemetery.
Frederick travelled to Lismore on the 29th September 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as carter. His next of kin was his father, George, of Murwillumbah
Item 11 asks-Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in His Majesty’s Army, the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Territorial Forces, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and is not now serving, state cause of discharge. Frederick stated he had spent 2 years in cadets and the equipment was old
During WWI, Australia’s home militia was known as the Citizen Forces. Under the Universal Service Scheme, military training was compulsory for young men. While strictly confined to homeland defence, the militia served as the backbone of early deployments and a vital training ground for the oversea
Enacted in 1911, it mandated military training for males aged 12 to 26. This included Junior Cadets (12–14), Senior Cadets (14–18), and the Home Defence Militia (18–26).
No Overseas Service: By law, members of the Citizen Forces could not be deployed to fight overseas. To fight in Europe or the Middle East, militiamen had to volunteer to join the separate Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Up to 50,000 militiamen enlisted in the AIF during the war.
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, Frederick James Buttenshaw, 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
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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MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Frederick was 23 years 7 months old when he enlisted. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall (1.65m) and weighed 10 stone 6 lbs (66kgs). He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and black hair. His eyesight was good but his teeth needed treatment. Frederick was Church of England
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. Frederick was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 1st December 1917. 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 a private with the 7th reinforcements, 41st Battalion with service number 3228
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 recruits 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 five shillings a day.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND
On the 5th February 1917 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 7th February, they embarked on the HMAT Wiltshire A18. Alongside his comrades, Frederick 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.
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP
The ship arrived in England on the 11th April 1917. When the recruits arrived in England, they boarded the troop train for the Durrington, one of the training camps on the Salisbury Plains. 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.
When the recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.
The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.
Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.
Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.
Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.
Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.
Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.
Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.
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.
ENGLAND TO FRANCE AUGUST 1917
After completing their training in England, the recruits marched to Folkstone embarkation port on the 6th August 1917, where thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the English Channel. Before departure, every man underwent a final medical inspection, was issued with ammunition, rations and any remaining equipment, and received instructions on what to do if the transport came under enemy attack.
The crossing to France was usually made in the early hours of darkness aboard a crowded troopship or cross-Channel steamer. Although the journey was relatively short, it was considered dangerous, as German submarines and mines posed a constant threat. Every soldier wore a lifebelt throughout the voyage, and troops remained alert in case they had to abandon ship. Fortunately, most crossings were completed safely, escorted by Royal Navy vessels.
On arrival at one of the Channel ports, such as Le Havre, Rouen or Boulogne, the men would have stepped onto French soil for the first time. Rather than proceeding directly to the front, they were sent to the Australian Base Depot, where reinforcements were organised, equipped and held until required by their units. Here the men exchanged some of their British-issued equipment for stores more suited to service on the Western Front, completed further medical inspections and undertook additional training designed to familiarise reinforcements with the latest trench warfare tactics.
From the Base Depot, the recruits would have travelled by troop train through the French countryside towards the rear areas behind the front line. The trains were often slow, crowded and uncomfortable, but they provided many soldiers with their first glimpse of war-torn France. Villages showed signs of shell damage, roads were busy with military traffic, and columns of troops, horses and artillery moved constantly towards the front.
Before joining their battalion, the recruits would have spent several days at the Australian Reinforcement Camp, where experienced officers and non-commissioned officers instructed newly arrived soldiers in current battlefield conditions. They practised trench routines, the use of gas masks, grenade throwing, wiring, patrolling and the latest infantry tactics. The distant rumble of artillery could often be heard, reminding every reinforcement that the front line was now only a short distance away.
Finally, they were marched forward to their battalion, usually under the cover of darkness. Meeting men who had already endured months or even years of fighting, they quickly learned that his training had prepared them for the realities of the Western Front. The smell of mud, cordite and damp sandbags, the constant thunder of artillery and the ever-present danger from enemy shellfire and snipers marked the beginning of their active service in France.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH AUGUST 1917
On the 21st August Frederick was finally taken on strength with the 41st Battalion. This means a soldier was officially assigned to and accounted for in a specific military unit's nominal roll. It meant they were integrated into the unit for daily operations, including food, discipline, equipment, and frontline duties. He arrived as a reinforcement just as the battalion was engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.
THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES KNOWN AS BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, (JULY 31–NOVEMBER 6, 1917),
This battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, Passchendaele was ostensibly an Allied victory, but it was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the following year. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on opposing sides attacked and counterattacked across sodden, porridgelike mud, in an open gray landscape almost empty of buildings or natural cover, all under the relentless harrowing rain of exploding shells, flying shrapnel, and machine-gun fire. Few gains were made.
The Third Battle of Ypres is remembered for its immense human cost and the resilience of those who fought in it
The men were living in conditions unlike anything they had experienced before. Heavy rain had transformed the battlefield into a sea of mud where shell holes filled with water, duckboard tracks disappeared beneath the mire, and every movement was exhausting. Supplies often had to be carried forward by hand, while German artillery continually shelled the approaches to the front line.
Throughout late August and September, the 41st Battalion alternated between occupying the front line, supporting neighbouring units and spending short periods in reserve. Even when out of the trenches there was little opportunity for rest. The men repaired trenches, strengthened defensive positions, carried ammunition and rations to the front, buried the dead and trained in preparation for further attacks. The constant dampness, poor sanitation and lack of dry clothing took a heavy toll on their health. It was during this demanding period that Frederick gained his first experience of the hardships of trench warfare.
By October the battalion was involved in the opening stages of the Battle of Passchendaele. The ground had become even worse, with deep mud making it almost impossible to move men, guns or supplies. Standing for days in waterlogged trenches and shell holes left many soldiers suffering from exposure-related injuries.
TRENCH FEET OCTOBER 1917- MEDICAL CHAIN
On 16 October 1917, Frederick reported sick and was admitted to No. 7 Field Ambulance suffering from trench feet. Despite its name, a Field Ambulance was a mobile medical unit positioned close behind the fighting where doctors assessed and treated sick and wounded soldiers before deciding whether they could return to duty or required evacuation. Frederick's feet would have been swollen, painfully cold, numb and discoloured after prolonged exposure to wet and freezing conditions. Medical staff carefully cleaned and dried his feet, removed his soaked socks and boots, wrapped the affected areas in warm dressings and kept him at rest. He would have been given nourishing food, clean clothing and close observation, as untreated trench foot could quickly develop into severe infection or even gangrene
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND OCTOBER 1917
It soon became clear that Frederick's condition required more specialised treatment than could be provided near the front, and on 24 October he was evacuated across the English Channel to England. The following day he was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital at Camberwell, one of the largest military hospitals established to care for wounded and sick soldiers returning from France. Here doctors confirmed the diagnosis of trench feet and continued his treatment. Recovery was often slow. The damaged tissues needed time to heal naturally, and patients were encouraged to remain off their feet while circulation gradually returned. Massage, gentle exercises, warm, dry conditions and careful nursing all formed part of the treatment, with every effort made to prevent infection.
CONVALESING DECEMBER 1917
By 10 December 1917 Frederick had improved sufficiently to be transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Auxiliary hospitals cared for men who no longer required intensive hospital treatment but were not yet fit to return to active service. Life here was far more comfortable than in France. Soldiers enjoyed proper beds, regular meals and lighter duties while continuing their rehabilitation under medical supervision.
On 14 December Frederick was discharged to No. 3 Convalescent Depot, where recovering soldiers rebuilt their strength through graduated exercise, route marches and physical training. The following day he was medically classified as B1A1, indicating that although he was not yet ready for front-line service, he was considered fit for further military training and likely to return to active duty after completing his recovery.
OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE FEBRUARY 1918
Over the following weeks Frederick steadily regained his fitness. On 9 February 1918 he marched into an Overseas Training Brigade, where reinforcements refreshed their infantry skills before returning to France. Training concentrated on musketry, bombing, bayonet fighting, fieldcraft and the latest trench warfare tactics, ensuring that every soldier was fully prepared to rejoin the Australian Corps during a critical stage of the war.
REJOINED UNIT MARCH 1916
Having successfully completed his retraining, Frederick proceeded overseas once more on 4 March 1918, crossing the English Channel to France. Two days later, on 6 March, he rejoined the front. He returned at a crucial moment, for within weeks the German Army would launch its massive Spring Offensive, beginning one of the most demanding periods of fighting experienced by the Australian Imperial Force. After months spent recovering from the debilitating effects of trench foot, Frederick was once again ready to take his place alongside the men of the 41st Battalion as they prepared to meet the next great challenge of the war.
Having returned to France on 4 March 1918, Frederick completed the journey to the Australian reinforcement camps before rejoining the 41st Battalion in the front line on 6 March. He arrived at one of the most critical moments of the war. The German High Command was preparing a massive offensive designed to break the Allied armies before large numbers of American troops could reach the battlefield. Every available Australian battalion was strengthening defensive positions, rehearsing counter-attacks and preparing for what everyone sensed would be a major enemy assault.
On 21 March 1918 the German Spring Offensive erupted with a tremendous artillery bombardment followed by mass infantry attacks.
SPRING OFFENSIVE SOMME VALLEY 1918
Following the collapse of Tsarist Russia in late 1917, the Germans were able to transfer large amounts of equipment and manpower from the Eastern Front to the Western Front and subsequently launched their Spring Offensive in March. Falling on the southern flanks of the sector held by the British Third and Fifth Armies, the offensive initially succeeded in driving the Allies back and in late March, as the Germans closed in on the vital railhead around Amiens, the five Australian divisions, which had been grouped together as part of the Australian Corps, were transferred to the Somme to help blunt the attack.
Although the 41st Battalion was not struck in the opening assault, it was quickly moved to threatened sectors where the Australians helped stem the German advance. Throughout March and April, the battalion occupied defensive positions, dug new trenches, strengthened strongpoints and endured frequent shelling while remaining ready to launch counter-attacks whenever required. The pace of operations was relentless, with little opportunity for rest as the Australians played a vital role in preventing the Germans from reaching the vital railway centre of Amiens.
WOUNDED IN ACTION – GASSED- MAY 1918 MEDICAL CHAIN
By May the fighting had settled into a series of local attacks, patrols and artillery duels. On 26 May 1918 Frederick became another casualty of the battlefield when he was overcome by poison gas. Gas attacks had become a common feature of the Western Front, with German artillery firing shells filled with chemicals such as phosgene or mustard gas. Soldiers had only seconds to fit their respirators correctly. Even when a respirator prevented a fatal dose, the gas often irritated the eyes, throat and lungs, leaving men coughing violently, struggling to breathe and temporarily blinded by streaming eyes.
Frederick was first taken to No. 1 Field Ambulance, where medical officers removed him from further exposure and assessed the severity of his injuries. His contaminated clothing would have been removed, if necessary, his eyes washed with sterile solution and his breathing closely monitored. He was encouraged to rest quietly, as physical exertion increased the effect of poisonous gases on damaged lungs. Oxygen therapy, warm drinks and careful nursing were among the few treatments available, while doctors watched for the delayed effects that often developed many hours after exposure.
Because gas casualties could deteriorate rapidly, Frederick was transferred to the 49th Casualty Clearing Station. These units were equipped with operating theatres, X-ray facilities and experienced medical staff capable of treating seriously wounded and dangerously ill soldiers. Although there was no antidote for poison gas, the doctors concentrated on easing breathing difficulties, preventing infection and allowing the lungs time to recover. Fortunately, Frederick's condition gradually improved, sparing him from the permanent lung damage that many gas victims endured.
By 12 July 1918 he had recovered sufficiently to be transferred to the Australian convalescent facilities at Abbeville. There he continued rebuilding his strength through rest, good nutrition and carefully supervised exercise. Weeks spent away from the noise and danger of the front allowed his lungs to recover while medical officers assessed his fitness for further service.
On 29 July Frederick was posted to the Australian Convalescent Depot at Abbeville. The depot acted as the final stage in a soldier's recovery before he returned to active duty. Daily life consisted of physical training, route marches, sporting activities and military refresher courses designed to restore both fitness and confidence after illness or injury. Doctors examined each man regularly to ensure he was capable of returning to front-line conditions.
On 27 August Frederick left the Convalescent Depot for the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Rouelles, near the important port of Le Havre. The Base Depot acted as a holding and administrative centre where recovered soldiers received new equipment, completed medical inspections and awaited posting back to their battalions. It also ensured that reinforcements reached units requiring additional manpower.
REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1918
Just three days later, on 30 August 1918, Frederick once again marched to the front to rejoin the 41st Battalion. His return coincided with the opening stages of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. Following the stunning victory at Amiens earlier in the month, the Australian Corps was advancing steadily against a retreating German Army. Frederick rejoined his mates at a time when the Allies had seized the initiative, but the fighting remained fierce, and the weeks ahead would prove to be among the most successful—and costly—of the Australian Imperial Force's service on the Western Front.
Following the great victory at Amiens earlier that month, the Germans had been forced into a fighting withdrawal towards their formidable Hindenburg defensive system. There was little time to settle back into battalion life. The men were constantly on the move, advancing through villages and shattered countryside, overcoming stubborn German rearguard positions and capturing trenches, machine-gun posts and strongpoints. Although morale was high after months of Allied success, every advance was fiercely contested and casualties remained heavy.
THE HUNDRED DAY OFFENSIVE (OPERATION MICHAEL)
MARCH TO JULY 1918
In March 1918, the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia ended its role in the First World War by signing the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with the Central Powers.
This had a significant impact on the war in Western Europe, giving rise to the German Spring Offensive, also known as the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ (the Kaiser’s battle).
The Russians had been beaten by the Germans in a number of battles early in the war, but they had also inflicted substantial defeats on the Ottomans, Germans troops and Austrian-Hungarian forces.
With the signing of the treaty, however, the Germans ‘freed up’ their forces on the Eastern Front, reinforced their army on the Western Front, and raised it to 206 Divisions.
In response, the Allies raised 172 Divisions on the Western Front, including a growing number of Americans, which provided sufficient impetus for the Germans to mount their Spring Offensive.
Erich Ludendorff, the commander of the German Army on the Western Front, believed if Germany did not act, the Allies would achieve ascendancy.
The Germans were aware the balance of power was shifting and, while they held a superiority in numbers, this would soon change if they did not strike a decisive blow.
The German offensive was spearheaded by Operation Michael and supported by operations Georgette, Gneisenau and Blücher-Yorck, supported by smaller operations to deal with battlefield contingencies.
Operation Michael began with a devastating barrage of nearly 10,000 artillery pieces and mortars. The attacks were spearheaded by path-finding ‘Stormtroopers’, followed by immense numbers of infantry.
The German attack worried Australia’s diggers as much as those in high command, with soldiers bitter about the German successes.
Barwick though was aware this was the German’s ‘last throw of the dice’ and he was supremely confident the Australians would check the German advance.
Operation Michael seemed a success in terms of captured territory, prisoners and equipment, but it did not deliver an over-arching strategic blow to the Allies.
It did not destroy the British Army nor drive a wedge between the British and French forces.
Michael, along with the other German Spring Offensive operations, failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the Allies to their knees.
After the Spring Offensive finished in July 1918, the initiative crossed to the Allies who — with the addition of American troops — brought Germany to its knees in a number of subsequent battles. Germany surrendered less than six months after the last operation in its Spring Offensive
During the first week of September, the 41st Battalion took part in the fighting around the approaches to Mont St Quentin and Péronne. The Australians were pushing relentlessly against determined German resistance, with every ridge, trench and village defended by machine-gun fire and artillery. The battalion advanced under shellfire across broken ground, often attacking well-prepared enemy positions before immediately consolidating their gains against expected counter-attacks.
THE BATTLE OF MONT ST QUENTIN SEPTEMBER 1918
The Australians, few in number, were unable to hold the summit of Mont St Quentin when German reserves counter-attacked but held on just below the summit until next morning when Australian reinforcements recaptured the summit. The same day, 1 September 1918, saw Australian forces break into Péronne and take most of the town. The next day it completely fell into Australian hands. On those three days, without tanks or protective barrage, the Australians, at a cost of 3000 casualties, dealt a stunning blow to five German divisions and caused a general German withdrawal eastwards to the Hindenburg Line.
WOUNDED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 1918 MEDICAL CHAIN
Only eight days after returning to his battalion, Frederick's luck deserted him once again. On 7 September 1918 he was struck by a gunshot wound to his back during these bitter engagements. The wound was serious enough to require immediate evacuation from the battlefield. His comrades and the battalion stretcher-bearers carried him to the Regimental Aid Post before he was transferred to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance. Here the medical officers examined the wound, controlled the bleeding, cleaned away dirt and fragments of clothing and applied sterile dressings to reduce the risk of infection. Morphine would almost certainly have been administered to relieve his pain before arrangements were made for further evacuation.
From the Field Ambulance Frederick was transferred on 9 September to a Casualty Clearing Station. Located safely behind the front, these units functioned as fully equipped surgical hospitals where experienced surgeons assessed casualties requiring urgent operations. X-rays were increasingly used to locate bullets or bone damage, while wounds were carefully cleaned and dead tissue removed to reduce the ever-present danger of infection. By 1918 military surgeons had become highly skilled in treating gunshot wounds, and prompt surgery greatly improved a soldier's chance of survival.
On 11 September Frederick reached No. 1 Australian General Hospital at Rouen, one of the principal Australian hospitals in France. Here he received specialist nursing care while surgeons monitored his recovery. Although the immediate danger had passed, it became apparent that his injuries would require a lengthy period of convalescence away from the front.
Two days later, on 13 September, Frederick was evacuated to England aboard a hospital ship crossing the English Channel. Despite the short voyage, these vessels operated as floating hospitals with doctors, nursing sisters and orderlies providing continuous care to wounded men during the crossing.
On 14 September he was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital at Cardiff. Established in converted public buildings and military facilities, the hospital cared for thousands of wounded soldiers from the Western Front. Here Frederick benefited from modern surgical treatment, regular dressings, nutritious meals and skilled nursing care as his back wound gradually healed. As with so many wounded Australians, recovery demanded patience. Weeks of rest were followed by gentle exercise and physiotherapy to restore strength and movement before he could be considered fit for further military service.
By 23 October Frederick had recovered sufficiently to be discharged from hospital and ordered to report to No. 2 Australian Convalescent Depot at Weymouth. The depot acted as a rehabilitation centre where recovering soldiers rebuilt their physical fitness through carefully supervised exercise, route marches and military training. Medical officers closely assessed each man's progress before deciding whether he should return to active service or be recommended for repatriation.
On 28 October Frederick marched into the Australian Administrative Headquarters in London, completing the administrative formalities associated with his recovery. By this stage the war was rapidly drawing to a close. Although the Armistice was only weeks away, the medical authorities concluded that his wounds made him unsuitable for further front-line duty.
GOING HOME NOVEMBER 1918
On 20 November 1918 Frederick embarked for Australia aboard the transport Suevic as an invalid. The voyage home lasted more than two months and, although considerably more comfortable than the troopship journey that had brought him overseas, much of the time was spent continuing his recovery under the supervision of the ship's medical staff. Regular medical inspections, good food and fresh sea air helped restore the health of many wounded soldiers as they slowly left the battlefields of Europe behind. For Frederick, the voyage also offered time to reflect on an extraordinary period of service in which he had endured the mud of Passchendaele, trench foot, a poison gas attack and finally a gunshot wound during the victorious Hundred Days Offensive.
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
Arriving back in Australia did not automatically end a soldier's military service. Frederick was still a serving member of the Australian Imperial Force and remained under military authority while doctors assessed the long-term effects of his wounds. He underwent medical examinations, completed the necessary paperwork and was granted leave to spend time with family while his discharge was being processed.
DISCHARGE FEBRUARY 1920
The delay between his arrival home and his discharge on 7 February 1919 was entirely normal. Thousands of returning soldiers passed through the same demobilisation system as the Army carefully assessed their fitness, calculated their pay and allowances, and ensured all administrative requirements had been completed before formally ending their service.
WAR SERVICE LEAVE GRATUITY MAY 1919
Several months later, on 14 May 1919, Frederick's application for the War Service Leave Gratuity was approved. This was a special financial payment introduced by the Australian Government to compensate members of the AIF for the leave they had been unable to take while serving overseas. Because soldiers on active service often had little or no opportunity for annual leave, the gratuity recognised this lost entitlement and provided them with additional financial assistance as they resumed civilian life. For many returned men it proved a welcome contribution while they sought employment, re-established themselves with their families and adjusted to life after the hardships of war.
Frederick's service record is remarkable because he experienced four different kinds of casualty—trench foot, poison gas, a gunshot wound, and ultimately invaliding home. Many soldiers suffered one of those; relatively few endured all four and still survived the war. It makes Frederick's story one of quiet resilience rather than one centred on a single dramatic event, and I think that's what makes it so compelling.
For his service Frederick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the St Clement's Church of England of Billinudgel Great War Honour Roll, Mullumbimby
AFTER THE WAR
Frederick married Eva Carthy in Murwillumbah in 1920. They had a daughter, Joy, in 1921
DEATH AND BURIAL
Frederick died in 1977 in Sydney. He is buried at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville, Plot Rose Gardens, Garden O6, Position 289
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
St Clement's Church of England of Billinudgel Great War Honour Roll, Mullumbimby
Buried Location
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville, Plot Rose Gardens, Garden O6, Position 289
