FAMILY LIFE

Charles William Lawrence Morrison was born in 1898 in Tumbulgum to William Morrison and Janet McKay (Dinsey) Morrison and was one of nine children raised on the family farm, Abbottford, at Tumbulgum. He attended Murwillumbah Public Primary School and after leaving became a farm hand. His parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

He enlisted with only his first Christian name. He was single farm hand, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Sydney on 8^th May 1916 to complete his application which was taken at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds, Moore Park. His next of kin was listed as his aunt, Mrs Dyce of Petersham. This was changed later to his father, William, as Charles had lied about his age on his application. This avoided the requirement for his parents to approve his enlistment.

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, Charles Morrison, 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 stated he was 21 years 8 months old, 5ft 9¼ in (1.77m) tall and weighed 158lbs (71.5kgs) with blue eyes, light hair, and a light complexion. His eyesight was good. He was Presbyterian.

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. Charles was in Barroul, Kiama training camp when this was completed on 8^th May 1916. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 30^th Infantry Battalion – 9^th Reinforcements with service No 3845”

BARROUL TRAINING CAMP, KIAMA

In December 1915, Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes selected Kiama to be the site for the NSW signalling school and a training and drill camp for new recruits designated as reinforcements for the 13th, 30th and 45th battalions, AIF.

 In February 1916, the Dept of Defence met with the Kiama Agricultural Show Committee to request the use of the Kiama Showground and its buildings for this purpose (the military authorities could take possession of any public or private property under war conditions, as required).

Although the establishment of the camp would mean an influx of money into the community, many community members were against the camps. Nonetheless, by late March 1916, the camp was ready for occupation by up to 2000 soldiers at a time. Shortly after, another Kiama camp was set up where the new Blue Haven Bonaira complex is located, called Barroul Camp. All South Coast recruits were initially trained in Kiama at these camps.

 The camps required a continuous supply of meat, bread and other provisions from local suppliers, and would need approximately 10,000 gallons of water per day and 120 sanitary pans. The military laid their own water pipes and paid a 9 pence per 1000 gallons. Council supplied the sanitary pans and a daily attendant, whom the military paid 3 pence per pan.

The main pavilion was used as a recreation hall. The poultry shed, quarter-masters mess and stables were used for the horses, and the cattle pens were dismantled and the wood given to the military for firewood. Chapman Point was used for drills, and the rifle range on Kendall’s Point was used for musketry practice. Bombo Beach was used to practice digging trenches.

The tents were in rows and housed eight men in each. The sanitary and bath facilities were constructed with concrete floors directly over the rocky escarpment on the outer edge of the showground.

There were many communal tents, such as a 400-capacity tent for concerts and entertainment and a Salvation Army tent that was used as a reading and writing room.

The soldiers spent most of their week in training, and on Sundays the local townspeople were allowed to visit the camp site. The children loved this because the soldiers would give them sweet treats.

 There were fortnightly socials organised by local ladies from various religious groups. These were so popular that they had to restrict attendance to those that had gone to Sunday service.

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 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 1916

On the 10^TH August 1916, the recruits left Sydney, sailing upon the HMAT Anchises.  Alongside his comrades, he 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.

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.

CODFORD TRAINING CAMP

The recruits arrived in Plymouth on 11 October 1916 and were marched into the English Training Camp at Codford. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. 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

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

He then proceeded on the ‘Princess Victoria’ from Folkstone, England to France on 5 December as part of the 9th Reinforcements for the 30th Battalion AIF. The recruits now found themselves fighting the German in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH

HOSPITALISATION FROST BITE FEBRUARY 1917

Charles was taken on strength by the Battalion on 8 February, but by 16^TH February he was admitted to hospital due to frostbite (mild) on his toes (the winter of 1916-17 in Belgium/France was one of the coldest on record).

FROSTBITE

Frostbite is a medical condition that occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. It primarily affects extremities like fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks, and chin. During WWI, frostbite became a serious problem, especially on the Western Front, where soldiers endured freezing temperatures in the trenches, often while standing in waterlogged or muddy conditions for days. Medical understanding of frostbite was limited, and treatment was rudimentary by modern standards. Common practices included:

·      Gradual rewarming: Soaking the affected parts in warm (not hot) water, around 38–40°C  

·      Rest and elevation to reduce swelling and prevent further injury.

·      Massage and rubbing: Unfortunately, this was often done and is now known to be harmful—it can cause additional tissue damage.

·      Alcohol was used both as a pain reliever and mistakenly believed to improve circulation (it worsens hypothermia).

EVACUATION TO ENGLAND

He was firstly evacuated to Rouen, then to England on the ‘HS Panama’, to the 3^rd General Southern Hospital in Oxford

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 45^th BATTALION

Charles did not return to France until early June and then joining the 45th Battalion on 23 Jun 1917

JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1917

Between July and September 1917, the 45th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force was actively engaged on the Western Front, particularly in Belgium

JULY–AUGUST 1917: PREPARATIONS AND REST

The 45th Battalion spent July and August alternating between front-line duties and periods of rest and training behind the lines. These rotations were crucial for recuperation and preparation for upcoming offensives. During this time, the battalion was stationed in the Ypres sector of Belgium, an area that would soon become the focal point of intense fighting.

SEPTEMBER 1917: ENGAGEMENT AT GARTER POINT

In September, the 45th Battalion moved into advanced positions near Zonnebeke, Belgium, specifically at a location known as Garter Point. Photographic evidence from 27 September 1917 shows members of the battalion in the advanced trenches at Garter Point, indicating their active involvement in the front-line operations during this period.

The battalion's presence at Garter Point placed them in the midst of the broader Third Battle of Ypres, a protracted and gruelling campaign characterized by muddy terrain, heavy artillery bombardments, and significant casualties. The 45th Battalion's activities during this time would have included holding and consolidating captured positions, conducting patrols, and preparing for further assaults as part of the coordinated Allied efforts in the region

BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE OCTOBER 1917

The 45th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Division, played a direct role in the Battle of Passchendaele, particularly in the later phases of the Third Battle of Ypres in October 1917.

Their task was to support the main attack on Passchendaele village alongside other units of the 4th and 3rd Divisions. The objective was to capture the Passchendaele Ridge from entrenched German forces. The conditions were terrible- torrential rain, deep mud, flooded shell holes, and heavy artillery made movement and coordination extremely difficult. The attack failed to secure its objectives. Poor weather and mud bogged down troops and artillery & German machine guns and artillery inflicted severe casualties. There was limited artillery support due to mud and logistical failures & communication broke down between units due to terrain and chaos. The 45th Battalion suffered heavy losses, though exact numbers vary depending on source. The AIF overall lost thousands that day

KILLED IN ACTION

On the following day, Charles was killed by an artillery round and his body was never recovered. He was only 19 years old.

FOR HIS SERVICE

He is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. He is also remembered at the Australian War Memorial’s Wall of Remembrance on panel 140, and at the Murwillumbah Cenotaph. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

SCROLL, PLAQUE & VICTORY MEDAL

His father received his memorial scroll & memorial plaque on 3^rd July 1923. He received his Victory Medal & British War Medal on 5^th July 1923

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