Private David Wilson
Service #: 146 (1914-1915,) 2409 (1916-1918)
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
David Wilson, known as Dick, was born 10th December 1879 at Foxground, near Kiama, son of Andrew Wilson & Susan (Muldoon) Wilson. According to NSWBDM he had 3 brothers & 2 sisters. In 1904, after his father Andrew’s death at the age of 70, Dick travelled to the North Coast, where he set up his home. He settled on the land and prospered, displaying the same grit and determination his father had possessed. His mother remained living at Foxground.
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
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, David Wilson, 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 5ft 7 inches tall (1.7m), weighed 11stone 4 lbs (71kgs), with a fair complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. David was Presbyterian
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
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
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. David’s certificate was completed at Enoggera on 8th December 1914. 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 to the 5th Light Horse Regiment with
Service number 146
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
Australians 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 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. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.
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 week.
LIGHT HORSEMEN TRAINING
For the Light Horsemen, horsemanship was essential. Many recruits already came from rural backgrounds and were experienced riders, but the army still needed to train them to work together as mounted troops. They practised:
· mounted drill and manoeuvres
· riding in formation
· caring for horses in military conditions
· rapid mounting and dismounting
· scouting and reconnaissance work
· fighting on foot after leaving the horses behind with designated horse-holders
The Australian Light Horse was technically mounted infantry rather than cavalry. The men rode horses for mobility but usually fought dismounted with rifles.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO EGYPT
Departing Sydney
On the 19th December 1914 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 21st December 1914, they embarked on the HMAT Persic A34. Alongside his comrades, David 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.
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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.
SAILING WITH HORSES
When David stepped aboard the Persic he was not only beginning his own long journey to war but also taking responsibility for a living companion — his horse. Unlike the infantrymen who embarked with little more than their rifles and kit, the Light Horsemen spent much of the voyage tending to the animals that would carry them through future battles.
Below decks, the Persic had been fitted with rows of stalls. Each morning at first light, David and his comrades made their way down into the cramped, airless hold to feed, water, and clean up after their horses. The heat, smell, and flies could be overpowering, but the routine was strict and unrelenting: feed measured out carefully, water rationed, and the heavy work of mucking out stalls done daily to keep the animals healthy. When weather allowed, the horses were brought on deck to stretch their legs, led slowly around the ship, or lifted in slings to keep their muscles supple.
The rest of the day was divided between horse duty, parades, and training. On deck, the men drilled with their rifles, practised bayonet work, and kept up their physical fitness. The ship was crowded, hammocks and bunks jammed together, and meals were plain—bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—but the men kept themselves occupied with cards, writing letters, or impromptu concerts. Seasickness was common, especially in the early days, and many struggled with the reek of horseflesh combined with the rolling sea.
There were lighter moments, too. The men organised boxing matches and games, and the bond between soldier and horse grew stronger each day. Alexander, like many of his regiment, came from country life and was used to handling horses; brushing down his mount or leading it carefully around the deck gave him a small sense of normality amid the voyage’s monotony.
The journey was not without loss. Some horses sickened and died despite the best efforts of their handlers and veterinary officers. Their bodies were solemnly hoisted up from the holds and buried at sea, a sight that reminded the men of the fragility of both beast and soldier in the campaign ahead.
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 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.
APPROACHING EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.
EGYPT FEBRUARY 1915
Troop convoys from Australia to Egypt usually took between five and six weeks, depending on weather and routing, so Dick most likely arrived in Egypt in late January or early February 1915. The Australian Light Horse regiments concentrated around Cairo, particularly at the great camp complex at Mena, near the pyramids of Giza.
MENA TRAINING CAMP
At Mena Camp Dick would have entered a world unlike anything he had known in Australia. Thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops filled the desert camps beneath the ancient pyramids.
They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. Conditions were harsh and often criticized by the Australian troops training there. Temperatures during the day could be extremely hot. The area was dusty and sandy, with frequent sandstorms. These made daily life and drills difficult and unpleasant
Soldiers lived in canvas tents with minimal protection from the elements. There was little shade or comfort. Latrines and hygiene facilities were basic and sometimes inadequate. Flies and other insects were a constant problem. Rations were repetitive and not always sufficient in quantity or quality. Complaints about the food were common. Despite the conditions, training was rigorous—drills, route marches, musketry, and entrenching were conducted daily. 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.
The 5th Light Horse Regiment trained intensively in mounted warfare, route marching, musketry and field manoeuvres across the desert sands. The men learned to care for their horses in harsh conditions, often rising before dawn to feed, water and groom them before beginning training. Although the Light Horse had been raised as mounted infantry, events soon overtook their original role.
GALLIPOLI MAY 1915
When the Gallipoli campaign began in April 1915, the terrain proved impossible for mounted operations, and the Light Horsemen were sent to the peninsula without their horses. The 5th Light Horse Regiment landed at Gallipoli in May 1915 and entered the trenches as ordinary infantry. Conditions were appalling: cramped trenches, constant flies, lack of water, disease and continual Turkish shellfire and sniping.
Life in the trenches at Gallipoli was harsh, exhausting, and often miserable. The soldiers lived in narrow, dusty trenches cut into the rocky slopes above Anzac Cove. These trenches offered little protection from the elements or the enemy and were often cramped, infested with lice, and filled with flies attracted by unburied bodies and rotting waste.
During the dry months, the men endured intense heat, choking dust, and water shortages. In winter, the trenches became waterlogged and freezing cold, with many soldiers suffering from trench foot, frostbite, or exposure. Sleeping space was limited, and men often rested in dugouts carved into the trench walls, trying to avoid falling debris or the occasional sniper bullet.
Food was basic and monotonous—mostly bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—and fresh water was strictly rationed. Hygiene was nearly impossible to maintain, leading to widespread disease, especially dysentery and enteric fever. Latrines were crude, and flies swarmed constantly, spreading infection.
Despite these conditions, the men showed remarkable resilience. They endured regular shelling, sniper fire, and night raids, always under the threat of death. Morale fluctuated, but camaraderie, humour, and the shared hardship of trench life helped many soldiers cope.
WOUNDED IN ACTION BATTLE OF GULLY RAVINE JUNE 1915
On 28 June 1915 Dick was severely wounded during one of the major actions fought by the regiment. That date coincides with the attack known as the Battle of Gully Ravine, a British offensive launched at Cape Helles to capture Turkish trench systems dominating the ravines and ridges overlooking the battlefield. Elements of the Australian Light Horse, including men from the 5th Light Horse Regiment, were heavily involved supporting the attacks and holding advanced trench positions during this fierce fighting. The battle was marked by intense rifle and machine-gun fire, artillery bombardments and savage close-quarter trench combat. Casualties were severe.
EVACUATED TO EGYPT JULY 1915
Although Dick was badly wounded on 28 June, he does not appear to have been evacuated immediately to Egypt. This delay was very common at Gallipoli. Casualty clearing arrangements were overwhelmed, and wounded men often spent days at beach dressing stations or aboard hospital ships awaiting transport. He was eventually evacuated aboard the hospital ship Minnewaska, leaving Gallipoli on 2 July 1915 for Egypt.
ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL CAIRO JULY 1915
Upon arrival in Cairo, Dick was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Gezira. The hospital occupied the former Gezira Palace Hotel on an island in the Nile and had been rapidly converted into a huge military hospital. Wards overflowed with wounded from Gallipoli suffering from gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, dysentery and disease. Nurses and doctors worked under enormous pressure as convoys of casualties arrived from the peninsula almost daily.
CONVALESCENCE MENA
Once Dick’s condition stabilised, he was transferred to No. 2 Convalescent Hospital at Mena. This was a step-down facility where recovering soldiers regained strength before either returning to duty or being sent home. Compared with the crowded wards at Gezira, Mena offered lighter duties, rest and cleaner desert air. Men recovering there could often see the pyramids rising above the camp lines, a surreal contrast to the trenches they had left behind.
CONVALESENCE HELOUAN
Dick was later transferred again to the convalescent camp at Helouan, south of Cairo. Helouan was famous for its dry climate and mineral springs, and the Australian authorities used it as a recovery centre for men weakened by wounds or illness. Soldiers there often underwent gradual physical rehabilitation, medical observation and light exercise to rebuild their health after the hardships of Gallipoli.
RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA AUGUST 1915
Despite these efforts, Dick’s wounds were evidently serious enough for the authorities to decide he should return to Australia. He embarked from Suez aboard the transport Euripides on 27 August 1915. For many Gallipoli veterans, the voyage home was a mixture of relief and disappointment — relief at escaping the horrors of the peninsula, but frustration at leaving comrades behind while the war continued. Dick’s story, however, was far from over, as he would later make the remarkable decision to enlist again in 1916.
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
ATTESTATION
Dick travelled to Brisbane on 7th June 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document. He was now 34 years 6 months old and a still single man. He gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Susan Wilson, of Foxground and he had spent 21 months in the AIF
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, David Wilson, 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 5ft 8 inches tall (1.72m), weighed 168 lbs (76kgs), with a fair complexion, brown eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good. Dick was Presbyterian
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
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
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Dick’s certificate was dated 31st August 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 to 4th reinforcements, 42nd Battalion with service No 2409
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
Even with his previous experience, Dick was treated as a new recruit 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, ( Dick would already have had this done in 1914) 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
Australians 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 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 week.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO ENGLAND
On the 21st October 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Boonah A36. Alongside his comrades, he marched aboard, Dick’s boots ringing on the gangway. He had already done this once but 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
On the 10th January 1917 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. His service number was no 2409
After arriving in England and marching into the training battalion on 10 January 1917, Dick’s record notes that he “reverted to Private from V.O. Corporal.” “V.O.” usually meant “Vice Ordinary” or sometimes a temporary or acting appointment connected with voyage duties during transport overseas. Men were occasionally given temporary rank aboard troopships to help supervise fatigue duties, guards or administration during the voyage. Because these were not always substantive promotions, they sometimes disappear from the formal record except for the reversion entry when the soldier entered camp in England. That is likely why no earlier promotion to Corporal appears in his file.
The following day, 11 January 1917, Dick was appointed “EDP Cpl.” This referred to an Extra Duty Pay Corporal — essentially a temporary appointment carrying additional responsibilities and pay within the training establishment. Such men often supervised working parties, camp discipline, stores or training details. Given Dick’s Gallipoli experience, the army clearly considered him reliable and capable of leadership among the newer reinforcements arriving from Australia.
TRAINING CAMP ENGLAND
From Plymouth, Dick would almost certainly have been sent by train to one of the Australian training depots on Salisbury Plain, probably at camps such as Perham Downs, Sutton Veny, Rollestone or Durrington. These camps formed the great reinforcement system that prepared Australian soldiers for service on the Western Front. Although Dick was already an experienced Gallipoli veteran, the army still required returning men to undergo refresher training because warfare in France had changed dramatically since 1915.
Training in England now focused heavily on trench warfare and survival on the Western Front. Dick would have practised bombing attacks with grenades, Lewis gun drills, gas-mask exercises, trench raiding and fighting under artillery bombardment conditions. The Australian camps also trained men to cope with mud, freezing temperatures and the highly organised trench systems they would encounter in France and Belgium. Veteran soldiers like Dick were often highly respected by younger reinforcements, especially those who had survived Gallipoli.
The camps on Salisbury Plain during the winter of 1916–1917 were notoriously harsh. Endless mud, freezing rain and snow made conditions miserable. Soldiers lived in huts or tents, rose early for parade and route marches, and spent long days drilling across the windswept downs. Illness remained common, particularly influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia.
HOSPITALISED FARGO HOSPITAL FEBRUARY 1917- NO DETAILS
Life in the English camps remained demanding. On 18 February 1917 Dick was admitted to Fargo Hospital sick, although the nature of the illness was not recorded. Fargo Hospital on Salisbury Plain treated huge numbers of Australian soldiers suffering from influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, rheumatism and exhaustion caused by the bitter English winter and constant training schedule. Even minor illnesses could temporarily remove a soldier from duty because commanders were anxious to avoid epidemics spreading through the crowded camps.
ACTING CORPORAL MARCH 1917 REVERT TO PRIVATE MARCH 1917
Interestingly, while this was occurring, Dick’s leadership abilities continued to be recognised. On 9 March 1917 he was appointed Acting Corporal, though only days later, on 17 March, he reverted once more to Private. These frequent temporary promotions and reversions were very common within training units. Appointments often depended on immediate staffing needs rather than formal rank progression. A man might supervise a draft one week and then return to ordinary duties the next once permanent NCOs became available.
ACTING LANCE SERGEANT BACK TO PRIVATE APRIL AND MAY 1917
By 5 April 1917 Dick had recovered and marched into the 11th Training Battalion from hospital. The following day he was again appointed Acting Corporal, suggesting his superiors continued to value his experience and leadership. On 27 April he was promoted further to Acting Lance Sergeant, a significant responsibility within the training battalion. As an acting lance sergeant he may have overseen sections of recruits, conducted drill instruction and helped maintain discipline among men preparing for France.
However, on 4 May 1917 Dick again reverted to Private from his appointment as Acting Lance Sergeant (EDP Corporal). This was likely administrative rather than disciplinary. Soldiers holding temporary camp appointments commonly relinquished them when transferred overseas, since acting rank within training establishments usually did not carry into operational units at the front.
FRANCE AND TRENCH WARFARE
Only days later, on 9 May 1917, Dick finally proceeded overseas to France. After crossing the English Channel, he marched into the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Étaples on 10 May 1917. Étaples, on the French coast, was one of the great reinforcement centres of the British Expeditionary Force. Thousands of troops passed through the sprawling camp system there before moving to front-line units. Conditions at Étaples were tough and highly disciplined. Men underwent final battlefield preparation including gas training, musketry refreshers and route marches before being sent forward to the trenches. The camp was also within range of German aircraft, and air raids occasionally struck the crowded depot areas.
For Dick, arriving in France marked the beginning of an entirely new phase of the war. Gallipoli had been brutal enough, but the Western Front of 1917 was even more industrialised and deadly, dominated by artillery barrages, machine guns, poison gas and endless trench systems stretching across northern France and Belgium.
The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans 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.
MARCHED OUT TO ETAPLES MAY 1917
On 13 May 1917 Dick marched out from the reinforcement depot at Étaples to join his field unit. The journey from the base depots to the front was often slow and exhausting. Reinforcements travelled by crowded troop trains through northern France, usually by night to avoid attracting German aircraft. From railheads behind the lines, they marched forward carrying full equipment through shattered villages, muddy roads and endless columns of troops, transport wagons and artillery. For many men this was their first real glimpse of the Western Front — ruined churches, blasted trees, abandoned farms and the constant distant thunder of artillery.
During the nine days before formally joining his battalion, Dick was likely held temporarily at reinforcement camps behind the lines while casualty returns and unit requirements were sorted. Reinforcements were then sent forward in small drafts to battalions in the field, often at night through communication trenches and shell-torn country.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH MAY 1917
On 22 May 1917 Dick was taken on strength of the 42nd Battalion (Australia). The battalion, part of the 11th Brigade, was then in Belgium preparing for the great assault at Messines. The Australians had spent weeks rehearsing for the operation, which aimed to capture the Messines Ridge south of Ypres. This ridge gave the Germans commanding observation over Allied positions and had been heavily fortified for years.
WOUNDED IN ACTION BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917
Only two weeks after joining the battalion, Dick was wounded in action on 6 June 1917. His wounds occurred during the opening stages of the Battle of Messines, one of the most successful Allied operations of the war. In the early hours of 7 June — shortly after midnight — nineteen enormous mines that had been secretly dug beneath the German lines were detonated simultaneously. The explosions were so vast they were reportedly heard in England. Immediately afterward, Australian, British and New Zealand troops advanced behind a carefully planned artillery barrage.
The 42nd Battalion took part in the attack around Messines and the advance toward the German positions near the ridge. Even before the main assault fully developed, troops endured heavy shellfire, machine-gun fire and sniping as they moved into assembly positions. Dick was wounded during this violent period of fighting, suffering gunshot wounds to the left foot, right arm and left side.
ADMITTED TO CASUALTY STATION
After being wounded, he was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Casualty Clearing Stations were positioned relatively close behind the front and represented the first major surgical treatment centres after the regimental aid posts and field ambulances. Here Dick would have been cleaned up, examined and stabilised. Doctors focused on stopping bleeding, preventing shock and controlling infection before men were evacuated further to the rear. In 1917 infection remained one of the greatest dangers for wounded soldiers, especially with contaminated battlefield wounds caused by mud, cloth fragments and shell debris.
ADMITTED TO 2ND AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL JUNE 1917
On 7 June 1917 Dick was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux on the French coast. Wimereux was one of the major Australian hospital centres in France. There his wounds would have been more thoroughly treated by surgeons and nursing staff. Gunshot wounds to the foot, arm and side could require removal of shrapnel or damaged tissue, cleaning of infected wounds and careful bandaging. X-rays were increasingly used during the war to locate bullets and fragments. Patients were also monitored for gas gangrene, septic infection and blood poisoning, all of which could rapidly become fatal.
EVACUATION TO ENGLAND JUNE 1917
Because his wounds were considered severe, Dick was evacuated to England on 10 June and admitted to the County of London War Hospital. This large military hospital specialised in treating serious casualties from the Western Front. Here he may have undergone additional surgery, prolonged wound treatment and rehabilitation. Severe foot wounds were especially troublesome because shattered bones, infection and nerve damage could leave soldiers unable to walk properly for months. His arm and side wounds would also have required regular dressing changes and monitoring for complications.
TRANSFERRED TO THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN AUXILIARY HOSPITAL AT HAREFIELD JULY 1917
On 5 July 1917 Dick was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Harefield became famous among Australian soldiers as a rehabilitation and convalescent hospital. Once men were out of immediate danger, Harefield focused on rebuilding strength and preparing soldiers either for return to duty or discharge. Patients received physiotherapy, light exercise and occupational therapy, while the quieter rural surroundings helped recovery after the trauma of battle and surgery.
GRANTED FURLOUGH AUGUST 1917
By 9 August 1917 Dick had recovered sufficiently to be discharged from hospital. He was granted furlough and ordered to report to Weymouth on 23 August. For Australian soldiers, furlough in England was often one of the few pleasant breaks of the war. Men commonly visited London, toured the countryside, stayed with civilian families, attended theatres or simply enjoyed good food and freedom away from military routine. Some visited relatives if they had family connections in Britain, while others spent time recovering physically and mentally after months of hardship.
MARCHED INTO NO. 2 COMMAND DEPOT AUGUST 1917
On 23 August 1917 Dick marched into No. 2 Command Depot. Command depots were essentially holding and rehabilitation centres for men who were not yet fully fit for front-line service. Soldiers there underwent medical assessment, physiotherapy, route marches and gradual retraining. Dick’s lingering foot wound may have delayed his return overseas for quite some time.
RETURN TO FRANCE- GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE 1918
At some point he did return to France, although the exact date is missing from the surviving record. By early 1918 the 42nd Battalion was involved in the desperate fighting that followed the German Spring Offensive. In March and April 1918, the Germans launched massive attacks aimed at breaking the Allied armies before American forces could fully arrive. Australian battalions were heavily engaged around Villers-Bretonneux, Dernancourt and the Somme sector, enduring relentless artillery bombardments and fierce defensive fighting.
WOUNDED IN ACTION FEBRUARY 1918
On 15 February 1918 Dick was again embarked for England suffering from a gunshot wound in the left foot. Given the timing, this injury may actually have represented complications from his earlier wound rather than an entirely new injury. Foot wounds frequently reopened under the strain of marching and trench conditions, particularly during the freezing winter of 1917–1918. However, it is also possible he was wounded during local trench fighting or raids while the battalion held defensive positions before the major German offensives began.
No hospital is listed, but after arriving in England he was likely again treated in one of the Australian military hospitals or command depots. The fact that he was ultimately returned to Australia suggests the army no longer considered him fit for active service.
GOING HOME APRIL 1918
Dick embarked for Australia aboard the Llanstephan Castle and disembarked in Melbourne on 15 April 1918. After years of service that had taken him from Egypt and Gallipoli to the trenches of France and Belgium, his war finally came to an end.
DISCHARGED MAY 1918
On 22 May 1918 he was medically discharged from the AIF as permanently unfit for further military duty, the lasting effects of his wounds having finally ended his active service.
For his service Dick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Murwillumbah War Memorial
HOME LIFE
Dick married Hazel Bowen in Murwillumbah in 1919. He died on the 5th April 1926 at Newtown and is buried in Gerringong Cemetery
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
Murwillumbah War Memorial
Buried Location
Gerringong Cemetery
Gallery
