FAMILY LIFE

Joseph Dunbar Sinclair (Joe) was on born on 5^th May 1871 in Nowra. He was one of eleven children born to James Adolphus Sinclair and Jane Ryder Sinclair. Three of Joe’s sons also served- Arthur who returned to Australia in 1915 with a gunshot wound to his head & left eye, Robert, who was killed in Gallipoli in 1915

Four of Joe’s brothers also served: Arthur, Charles, George & John as well as three of his nephews- Harry, Frank & John.

Joe had married Annie Amelia Carter in 1890 in Nowra. Joe & Annie had 2 sons Arthur, b1896, and Francis, aka Darcy b 1894 and a daughter Daisy, b1901. However, Alice Sinclair is listed as his wife in his attestation. There is no record of Annie's death.

ENLISTING AT 44 YEARS OLD

Why did Joe enlist when he did? By May 1917, he had already given more to the war than most men could bear. Both his sons had enlisted before him – one never came home from Gallipoli, buried in that far-off, stony ground, while the other returned to Australia broken in body, his youth stolen by wounds that would never truly heal.

He was 44 now, married with two children still under sixteen at home, his hair touched with grey and his hands rough from years of work. For most of the war, he had stayed where duty had placed him – as a husband, a father, a provider. But the war had reached into his home twice already, and it seemed to have left its shadow there.

Perhaps it was grief. Perhaps it was pride. Perhaps it was simply that he could no longer stand on the sidelines while others – younger men, strangers – shouldered the burden that his own boys had carried. By the middle of 1917, enlistments had slowed and the call for reinforcements was urgent. On 29 May 1917, he stepped forward at the recruiting office, giving his name, his age, and his willingness to serve. There was no fanfare. Just a man deciding that if his sons could give their lives and health for the Empire, he too could give what remained of his strength

ATTESTATION

He travelled to Brisbane on 29^th May 1917 to complete his application which showed he was a married labourer. His next of kin as his wife, Alice, of Murwillumbah.

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

Joe also agreed to allot three fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during his service to the support of his mother

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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, Joseph Dunbar Sinclair, 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 44 years 10 months old, 5ft 6½ inches tall (1.6m), weighed 10stone 5lbs (63kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair.  His eyesight was good but he required dental treatment. Joe 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. Joe was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 21^st July 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 as a private into the 47^th Infantry Battalion with service No 3684

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 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

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day

VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO ENGLAND AUGUST 1917

On the 31^st July 1917 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney & Joe & the other recruits embarked at Sydney, New South Wales aboard HMAT Miltiades on 2 August 1917. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

HOSPITALISED BAD KNEE AUGUST 1917

While on board Joe received treatment for a bad left knee on 3rd August and was discharged on 9th August 1917

DISCIPLINED AUGUST 1917

On 23rd August Joe was disciplined for neglecting to obey an order. He was awarded 1 day “confined to barracks”. When a soldier was confined to barracks on a troop ship headed to England during WWI, it basically meant he was restricted to his quarters or a designated area on the ship as a form of disciplinary action or for health reasons.

Since there were no actual barracks on a ship, this phrase was used to indicate the soldier was not allowed to leave his assigned living space or cabin, and was often confined to prevent contact with others, to keep order, or as punishment for some infraction.

So, in short:

·      The soldier could not move freely around the ship.

·      He was confined to his sleeping quarters or a specific section.

·      It was a way to maintain discipline or isolate him temporarily

ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP OCTOBER 1917

By the time the Miltiades docked at Glasgow on 2 October 1917, autumn had settled over Britain and the air was sharp with the promise of rain.

From there, Joe and his fellow reinforcements were sent to Codford Camp in Wiltshire on 3 October. Codford was a sprawling training ground, a place where new arrivals learned the latest tactics from the Western Front – trench construction, wiring, gas drill, and live-fire exercises. It was also where men adjusted to the English climate, the damp chill seeping into bones unused to such cold.

They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.

Military training grounds, had soldiers exposed to harsh weather. The sanitary facilities in training camps were often rudimentary, and the spread of infections was common.

FRANCE 1917

His time in England was short. On 27 October, less than a month after arriving, Joe left for France via Southampton. The Channel crossing was rough, and the welcome on the other side was the rattle of troop trains carrying him closer to the war. For a time, he was held at an Australian Infantry Base Depot, waiting for orders.

AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BASE DEPOT

The AIBD was much more than a holding camp. It acted as a vast reception and training centre where newly arrived soldiers were prepared for the realities of the Western Front. During the final months of 1917 Joe would have been issued with additional equipment, organised into reinforcement drafts, and put through intensive training. This included musketry, bombing practice with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, trench warfare tactics, gas-mask drills, route marches, and instruction on surviving artillery bombardments. Men who had never experienced the front were taught how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, and respond to enemy attacks.

The timing of Joe's arrival was significant. The 42nd Battalion was heavily engaged during the closing stages of the Passchendaele campaign in Belgium throughout October and November 1917. The battalion suffered casualties during operations around Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele, creating a constant need for reinforcements. While Joe was training at the depot, drafts of men were regularly being sent forward to replace losses.

By late 1917 the Australian Corps was exhausted after the terrible fighting in Flanders. During November and December the 42nd Battalion spent periods rotating between front-line positions, support trenches, and rest areas around the Ypres Salient. Conditions were dreadful. The battlefield was a sea of mud, shell holes filled with water, and bitter winter weather. Even when not actively attacking, battalions were occupied repairing trenches, carrying supplies, constructing duckboard tracks, and enduring enemy shellfire.

Meanwhile, Joe was likely waiting for a vacancy within the battalion's ranks. Reinforcements were often held at the depot for weeks or even months until a unit required them. During this period, he would have continued training and carried out camp duties while becoming accustomed to military life in France.

Between October 1917 and January 1918, Joe was not idle. He was undergoing the final stage of his transformation from reinforcement to front-line infantryman—training, waiting for a place in the battalion, and preparing for the harsh realities of the Western Front while the 42nd Battalion was enduring the final battles of Passchendaele and the difficult winter that followed.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH JANUARY 1918

On 2^nd January 1918 Joe finally left the Australian Infantry Base Depot and joined the 42nd Battalion. He entered the battalion at a relatively quiet but uncertain time. The Australians had been withdrawn from the Passchendaele area and moved south to the Somme sector, where rumours of a major German offensive were circulating. Within a few months Joe would find himself involved in some of the most critical fighting of the war as the Germans launched their great Spring Offensive in March 1918.

The new year found him in the cold, muddy reality of the Western Front – part of the weary but determined Australian force holding the line through a war now in its fourth brutal year.

TRENCH WARFARE

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.

JANUARY TO APRIL 1918

Once Joe joined the 42nd Battalion in January 1918, he entered the battalion during a period of rebuilding and preparation rather than major offensive operations.

The 42nd Battalion, part of the 11th Australian Brigade in the 3rd Australian Division, spent much of January and February in the Somme region of France. The men occupied trench systems, carried out patrols into No Man's Land, repaired wire entanglements, strengthened defensive positions, and endured the bitter European winter. Although quieter than the fighting at Passchendaele, the front was never truly peaceful. Enemy artillery fire, snipers, trench raids, and gas shelling remained constant dangers.

For Joe, this would have been his introduction to front-line warfare. He would have learned quickly from experienced soldiers how to survive in the trenches, keep his equipment serviceable, stand sentry duty through freezing nights, and move safely under enemy observation. New reinforcements often regarded these first weeks in the line as a steep learning curve.

During February and early March 1918, the battalion continued its cycle of front-line service, reserve positions, and brief periods in rest camps behind the lines. Training never ceased. Officers knew that the Germans were expected to launch a major offensive once troops became available from the Eastern Front after Russia's withdrawal from the war.

GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

Those fears proved justified on 21 March 1918 when the Germans opened the great offensive known as the German Spring Offensive. The Australian divisions were rushed south to help stop the German advance towards Amiens. The 42nd Battalion was moved rapidly into the threatened area and spent much of late March and early April marching long distances, digging defensive positions, and preparing for battle.

THE BATTLE AT DERNACOURT

The battalion then became involved in the desperate fighting around Dernancourt and the approaches to Amiens. Although the 42nd Battalion was not at the centre of every engagement, the brigade was heavily committed to holding the line during a period when the German Army appeared close to achieving a breakthrough. The men faced constant shellfire, exhaustion from repeated moves, and the strain of defending hastily prepared positions.

By April 1918 the German offensive had begun to lose momentum. The Australians were no longer simply defending but were conducting aggressive local attacks to regain important ground. The 42nd Battalion took part in trench raids, patrols, and limited offensive operations designed to harass the enemy and improve defensive positions.

HOSPITALISATION APRIL 1918

Therefore, by 25 April 1918—Anzac Day—Joe had experienced far more than routine trench duty. In only a few months he had gone from a newly arrived reinforcement to a veteran of one of the most dangerous periods of the war. He had endured a winter in the trenches, witnessed the crisis of the German Spring Offensive, helped hold the line protecting Amiens, and participated in the hard fighting that prevented a German victory in 1918.

For many men of the 42nd Battalion, Anzac Day 1918 was marked quietly in the field. There were no grand ceremonies. Most were too busy fighting, working, or preparing for the next move. The day was more likely spent in trenches or billets, remembering fallen comrades and reflecting on how far the battalion had come since its formation in Queensland and Tasmania two years earlier.

For Joe, this day meant something different. By April 1918, the strain began to tell. On 25 April, Joe was admitted to the Lines of Communication Hospital in France, his health worn down by the harsh conditions.

BASE DEPOT APRIL 1918

Five days later, on 30 April, Joe was discharged from hospital to a Base Depot. He was classified “B2” – fit for light duties, but no longer considered strong enough for the rigours of front-line service. For a man who had come so far to serve, it was a hard truth to accept.

CONVALESCENT CAMP MAY 1918

In mid-May, he was moved from France to England, arriving at the No. 2 Command Depot in Weymouth. Here, men unfit for further action were gathered, many awaiting return to Australia. Joe was reclassified Rheumatism “E” – permanently unfit for overseas service – and the decision was made to send him home.

RETURNED HOME JUNE 1918

On 4 June 1918, Joe boarded a ship bound for Australia. His discharge was officially noted as “over age,” a quiet acknowledgment that at 44 he had already given more than the Army could reasonably ask. He returned to his family with the satisfaction of having answered the call, even in the shadow of the loss and sacrifice that had first driven him to enlist.

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

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Joe was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

HOME LIFE

Alice had 5 children with Joe when he returned home. He finally married her in 1922 in Murwillumbah. Joe died 6^th May 1930 in Murwillumbah & is buried in Murwillumbah Old Cemetery. Alice died in 1969

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE MAY 1930

Northern Star, Friday 9 May 1930, page 6

MR. J. D. SINCLAIR

The death occurred at Murwillumbah on Tuesday of Mr. Joseph Dunbar Sinclair, of Nobby's Creek, at the age of 60 years, after a brief illness. The late Mr. Sinclair was a returned soldier, having served in France with the 42nd Battalion for two years. He was one of six brothers who saw war service, and four sons of these brothers were also with the forces. He was invalided home suffering from wounds and the effects of gas and it is thought that his death was due in some measure to his war injuries. The late Mr. Sinclair had followed the occupations of dairyman and labourer in the Murwillumbah and Nobby Creek districts for about 25 years, and before that was engaged in similar pursuits on the Richmond River. He is survived by a widow and seven children. The sons are Arthur Leslie (Tweed Heads), Eric Alton (Bellbird, Cessnock), and John (Nobby's Creek). Another son, Darcy, was killed at Gallipoli in 1915. The daughters are Kathleen, Joyce, Elsie, and Jean, all of Nobby's Creek. The funeral took place at Murwillumbah on Wednesday.

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