Private Arthur Aubrey Budd
Service #: 2867, 2867a
Summary
BACKGROUND
Arthur Aubrey Budd was born in Murwillumbah in 1898, the eldest son of Arthur Eames Budd & Annie (Knight) Budd. He was one of ten children with 3 sisters and 6 brothers. His father, Arthur Eames Budd (25 September 1870 – 28 November 1957) was an Australian politician.
Arthur Snr was born at Ipswich in Queensland to farmer John Budd and Sarah Naish, née Eames, he was educated privately before becoming a railway worker and road contractor, moving to Murwillumbah in New South Wales in 1891 to become a farmer. On 14 August 1895 he married Annie Knight, with whom he had ten children. Budd served on Murwillumbah Municipal Council from 1904 to 1908 and from 1920 to 1927, with a period as mayor from 1922 to 1927. He was managing director of Budd's Farm Supplies until 1927 and had been a foundation member of the Tweed River Agricultural Society in 1910. From 1921 to 1927 he was the Murwillumbah district Coroner.
In 1927, Budd was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Country Party member for Byron. He served until his retirement in 1944.
The Budd family started Budds Farm Supplies Murwillumbah – now Budds Mitre 10 although no longer owned by the Budd family. Budd Park Murwillumbah is named in honour of the contributions the Budd Family has made to the community of Murwillumbah.
Murwillumbah Municipal Chambers. – the foundation stone for which was laid by the Mayor, Alderman A.E. Budd on 17 September 1924.
Murwillumbah and District Hospital – When Arthur represented the electorate of Byron in the NSW Legislative Assembly (1927-1944), he fought to have a modern hospital for Murwillumbah. Arthur Eames MLA opened the hospital on 27 August 1939.
Wollumbin/Mount Warning National Park – Arthur was Mayor of Murwillumbah and member of the subcommittee that formulated the administration of the national park. He was one of the original trustees of the proposed park.
Arthur Snr & Annie Budd are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district
ATTESTATION
Arthur travelled to Brisbane on the 7th September 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as an auctioneer’s clerk. His next of kin was his mother, Annie, of Murwillumbah
Item 11 asks-Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in His Majesty’s Army, the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Territorial Forces, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and is not now serving, state cause of discharge. Arthur stated he had spent 4 years in Senior Cadets Area 12 and his equipment was returned
During WWI, Australia’s home militia was known as the Citizen Forces. Under the Universal Service Scheme, military training was compulsory for young men. While strictly confined to homeland defence, the militia served as the backbone of early deployments and a vital training ground for the oversea
Enacted in 1911, it mandated military training for males aged 12 to 26. This included Junior Cadets (12–14), Senior Cadets (14–18), and the Home Defence Militia (18–26).
No Overseas Service: By law, members of the Citizen Forces could not be deployed to fight overseas. To fight in Europe or the Middle East, militiamen had to volunteer to join the separate Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Up to 50,000 militiamen enlisted in the AIF during the war.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Arthur Aubrey Budd, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Arthur was 18 years 6 months old when he enlisted. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall (1.75m) and weighed 148lbs (67kgs). He had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His eyesight was good but his teeth needed dental treatment. This was corrected on the 20th September 1916 when he was in Enoggera training camp. Arthur 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. Arthur was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on the 18th October 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 a private with the 7th reinforcements, 49th Battalion with service number 2867
MILITARY DISTRICT PAY OFFICE
On the day of his enlistment, Arthur signed a document directing the sum of 3 shillings per day to be paid to his father whilst he was in service.
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO ENGLAND
On the 27th October 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Marathon A74. Alongside his comrades, Arthur marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
DAILY ROUTINE
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
MEALS
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
HEALTH & SANITATION
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt to keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
About a fortnight later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.
SLOW VOYAGE
Troopships (HMATs) frequently took up to 60-90 days to reach England because they were requisitioned commercial merchant liners with slow average speeds (12-15 knots). Delays were caused by 16,000+ km voyages, frequent port stops to load supplies and horses, unescorted convoy groupings, and mandatory detours in Egypt.
Specific reasons for these lengthy transits include:
· Logistical and Coaling Stops: Due to limited fuel capacity and the need to carry tons of fodder for thousands of horses, ships had to make frequent stops at ports such as Colombo, Aden, and Durban
· Slower Vessels Dictated the Pace: To maximize transport capacity, the government sent vessels together in convoys. The speed of the entire convoy was limited by its slowest vessel.
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP JANUARY 1917
The ship arrived in Plymouth, England on the 9th January 1917
When the recruits arrived in England, they boarded the troop train for Codford, one of the training camps on the Salisbury Plains. During an interim period, soldiers typically:
· Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.
· Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.
· Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
· Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.
· Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.
When the recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.
The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.
Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.
Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.
Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.
Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.
Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.
If applicable
Spring made conditions difficult. Although it was spring, the winds sweeping across Salisbury Plain became bitter, and training often continued in rain, frost and mud. For Australian soldiers accustomed to warmer climates, the English weather could be an uncomfortable introduction to European conditions. Nevertheless, the harsher weather provided valuable preparation for service on the Western Front.
Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.
After many months of continuous preparation in England, the men were judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.
HOSPITAL FEBRUARY 1917
Only 5 weeks after entering the camp, on the 16th February, Arthur was admitted to the group hospital but no details are recorded. He returned to his training on the 9th March 1917
ENGLAND TO FRANCE JUNE 1917
After completing his training in England, the recruits marched to Southampton embarkation port, on the 14th June 1917, where thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the English Channel. Before departure, every man underwent a final medical inspection, was issued with ammunition, rations and any remaining equipment, and received instructions on what to do if the transport came under enemy attack.
The crossing to France was usually made in the early hours of darkness aboard a crowded troopship or cross-Channel steamer. Although the journey was relatively short, it was considered dangerous, as German submarines and mines posed a constant threat. Every soldier wore a lifebelt throughout the voyage, and troops remained alert in case they had to abandon ship. Fortunately, most crossings were completed safely, escorted by Royal Navy vessels.
On arrival at one of the Channel ports, such as Le Havre, Rouen or Boulogne, the men would have stepped onto French soil for the first time. Rather than proceeding directly to the front, they were sent to the Australian Base Depot, where reinforcements were organised, equipped and held until required by their units. Here the men exchanged some of their British-issued equipment for stores more suited to service on the Western Front, completed further medical inspections and undertook additional training designed to familiarise reinforcements with the latest trench warfare tactics.
From the Base Depot, the recruits would have travelled by troop train through the French countryside towards the rear areas behind the front line. The trains were often slow, crowded and uncomfortable, but they provided many soldiers with their first glimpse of war-torn France. Villages showed signs of shell damage, roads were busy with military traffic, and columns of troops, horses and artillery moved constantly towards the front.
Before joining their battalion, the recruits would have spent several days at the Australian Reinforcement Camp, where experienced officers and non-commissioned officers instructed newly arrived soldiers in current battlefield conditions. They practised trench routines, the use of gas masks, grenade throwing, wiring, patrolling and the latest infantry tactics. The distant rumble of artillery could often be heard, reminding every reinforcement that the front line was now only a short distance away.
Finally, they were marched forward to their battalion, usually under the cover of darkness. Meeting men who had already endured months or even years of fighting, they quickly learned that his training had prepared them for the realities of the Western Front. The smell of mud, cordite and damp sandbags, the constant thunder of artillery and the ever-present danger from enemy shellfire and snipers marked the beginning of their active service in France.
DISCIPLINED JUNE 1917
On the 24th June Arthur was out of bounds from the camp at Le Havre and forfeited 2 day’s pay
TAKEN ON STRENGTH JULY 1917- SERVICE NUMBER RE-ALLOTTED
On the 4th July Arthur was taken on strength with the 49th Battalion. This means a soldier was officially assigned to and accounted for in a specific military unit's nominal roll. It meant they were integrated into the unit for daily operations, including food, discipline, equipment, and frontline duties. His service number was re-allotted to 2867A
4 JULY – 14 OCTOBER 1917 – 49TH BATTALION
When Arthur was taken on strength by the 49th Battalion he joined experienced New South Wales & Queensland soldiers who had already endured the Battle of Messines only weeks before. As one of the battalion's reinforcements he spent his first days becoming acquainted with his platoon, drawing equipment, learning trench routines and undertaking further training behind the lines. Although he had completed months of instruction in England, life on the Western Front demanded a rapid education in surviving artillery fire, gas attacks, sniping and night patrols.
Throughout July and August, the battalion rotated through reserve positions and the front line around Ypres. The days were spent repairing trenches shattered by constant shellfire, carrying ammunition, rations, duckboards and engineering stores to the fighting troops, digging communication trenches and strengthening defensive positions. Most of this exhausting work was done under the cover of darkness to avoid German observation. Sleep was scarce, clothing was continually damp and boots rarely dried out.
By September the Australians were preparing for General Herbert Plumer's series of carefully planned "bite and hold" attacks. The 49th Battalion took part in the Battle of Polygon Wood beginning on 26 September 1917.
BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD 1917
Polygon Wood was the second of three battles between 26th September and 4 October 1917 in which ‘step by step’ or ‘bite and hold’ tactics were used to batter down the formidable German defensive positions. After an opening bombardment the infantry would advance for a prescribed distance behind a ‘creeping’ barrage of shells. This barrage would keep the Germans in their ‘pillboxes’ until British soldiers were almost upon them. The enemy positions would then be captured consolidated and protected from counter-attack by artillery. Artillery would be brought forward and the next ‘bite’ attempted. In this way the British aimed to work their way from their start lines near Ypres to the heights of the ridge ten kilometres away at Passchendaele village. Charles Bean, the Australian Official Historian described the opening barrage on 26 September as the most perfect that ever protected Australian troops and that it rolled ahead of the troops roaring ‘like a Gippsland bushfire’. The battle cost 5,770 Australian casualties
Although the operation was successful, the battalion endured heavy artillery bombardments, machine-gun fire and difficult fighting through shattered woods and concrete pillboxes. Even men not directly involved in the assault were continually occupied carrying supplies, evacuating wounded comrades and consolidating newly captured positions under enemy shellfire.
Following Polygon Wood, the battalion remained in the Ypres Salient during one of the wettest autumns of the war. Continuous rain transformed the battlefield into a sea of thick mud. Duckboards floated away, shell holes filled with icy water and every movement became an exhausting struggle. It was under these dreadful conditions that Arthur developed trench feet.
14 OCTOBER 1917 –TRENCH FEET
By mid-October Arthur's feet had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer remain with his battalion. He was evacuated to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, where medical officers diagnosed trench feet, one of the most common and debilitating conditions suffered on the Western Front.
Trench foot developed after soldiers stood for prolonged periods in freezing water and mud while wearing wet boots and socks. The constant dampness restricted blood circulation, causing swelling, numbness and severe pain. As the condition worsened the skin became pale or blue, blistered and extremely tender. In severe cases infection set in, tissue died and amputation could become necessary.
At the Field Ambulance Arthur's boots and socks would have been removed immediately. His feet were gently cleaned, dried and warmed gradually—never rapidly, which could worsen the damage. The medical staff massaged his feet to encourage circulation, applied clean dressings to any blisters or broken skin and placed him on bed rest with his feet elevated. Warm food, blankets and careful nursing formed an important part of his treatment while doctors assessed whether he could recover near the front or required evacuation farther to the rear.
15 OCTOBER 1917 – 57TH GENERAL HOSPITAL
The following day Arthur was transferred to the 57th General Hospital, indicating that his condition required more extensive treatment than could be provided near the battlefield.
General Hospitals were large, well-equipped medical facilities located well behind the front lines. Here doctors continued treating his damaged feet with regular dressings, antiseptics to prevent infection and careful monitoring of circulation. Nurses changed bandages frequently and ensured his feet remained clean, warm and dry. He would have remained confined to bed for much of his stay while waiting for the damaged tissues to recover. For many soldiers, the greatest frustration was inactivity. Arthur would have listened to the distant rumble of guns while wondering how his mates in the 49th Battalion were faring in the terrible fighting around Passchendaele.
4 OCTOBER 1917 – EVACUATED TO ENGLAND
After little improvement, doctors decided Arthur required a longer period of recovery. He was evacuated across the English Channel aboard a hospital ship.
The crossing itself was carefully organised despite the constant threat from German submarines. Hospital ships displayed Red Cross markings and carried medical staff who continued caring for wounded and sick soldiers during the voyage. Arthur would have travelled lying comfortably in a hospital cot instead of enduring the hardships of troop transport.
25 OCTOBER 1917 – ADMITTED TO LAKENHAM MILITARY HOSPITAL, NORWICH
Arthur was admitted to Lakenham Military Hospital at Norwich the following day. Away from the guns of France, the hospital provided a far more comfortable environment for recovery. His treatment continued with careful cleaning of the affected areas, regular dressings, massage to improve circulation and gradual physiotherapy as the swelling subsided. Once the worst damage had healed, he would slowly begin standing and walking short distances before progressing to longer exercises designed to strengthen his feet again. The medical staff were determined not to return men to active service until they could march comfortably.
26 NOVEMBER 1917 – 3RD AUSTRALIAN AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, DARTFORD
After a month of improvement Arthur was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. Auxiliary hospitals cared for soldiers who no longer required intensive medical treatment but were not yet fit for full military duty. Life here was considerably more relaxed. Arthur would have continued physiotherapy, undertaken light exercise and gradually regained his strength. Recreation rooms, reading materials and occasional organised concerts helped restore morale while patients prepared to return to military service.
30 NOVEMBER – 14 DECEMBER 1917 – FURLOUGH AND HURDCOTT
Having recovered sufficiently, Arthur was granted two weeks' furlough. Like many Australians, he probably used the opportunity to explore parts of England, visit friends or relatives if he had any nearby, enjoy proper meals and experience a brief return to civilian comforts after months of mud, hospitals and military routine.
Following leave he reported to the 3rd Command Depot at Hurdcott. Command Depots acted as holding and rehabilitation centres where recovered soldiers were medically assessed, underwent physical training, route marches, drill and refresher instruction before returning to active service overseas. Their fitness was closely monitored to ensure they could again meet the demands of front-line infantry service.
14 DECEMBER 1917 – ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE
Only hours after arriving at Hurdcott, Arthur was absent without leave from 3.30 pm on 14 December until 3.00 pm the following day. Such offences were unfortunately common among soldiers who had spent months overseas or recovering in hospital.
He received eight days Field Punishment No. 2 together with the forfeiture of eleven days' pay. Field Punishment No. 2 did not involve being tied to an object like the more severe No. 1 punishment. Instead, Arthur remained under military custody, undertaking hard labour, extra fatigues, prolonged drill and other physically demanding duties while confined during periods when other soldiers were off duty. His record notes he remained in custody awaiting trial, but no further details are in his file
8 JANUARY 1918 – LONGBRIDGE DEVERILL
On 8 January Arthur marched out from Hurdcott to Longbridge Deverill, another important Australian training establishment on Salisbury Plain, and was immediately taken on strength there.
Longbridge Deverill specialised in preparing recovered infantrymen for their return to France. Medical officers first confirmed that Arthur's trench foot had healed sufficiently before he began a programme of route marching, bayonet fighting, musketry, physical training and field exercises. Every effort was made to rebuild his endurance after several months in hospital.
24 JANUARY – 18 MAY 1918 – OVERSEAS TRAINING BRIGADE, CODFORD
Arthur was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Codford, where he entered the final stage of his preparation for returning to the Western Front.
For almost four months he trained alongside hundreds of other reinforcements. Daily life included long marches across Salisbury Plain, rifle practice, bombing instruction, Lewis gun training, trench warfare exercises, gas-mask drills, physical conditioning and mock attacks over specially constructed trench systems. Experienced instructors—many recently returned from France—passed on the latest battlefield lessons learned during the fighting at Passchendaele.
The training was demanding because the situation in France was becoming increasingly serious following the German Spring Offensive launched in March 1918. Every reinforcement was urgently needed, and the Army wanted each man to return fully prepared for modern warfare.
18 MAY 1918 – AWL AT CODFORD
Just days before returning to France, Arthur was again absent without leave, this time from midnight on 14 May until 8.30 am on 15 May.
The offence was relatively minor and resulted only in the forfeiture of one day's pay, suggesting his absence caused little disruption and that his previous good service was taken into account.
26–30 MAY 1918 – RETURN TO FRANCE
On 26 May Arthur crossed from Folkestone to France as part of a reinforcement draft. After landing he reported to the Australian Infantry Base Depot (AIBD), where he was formally taken on strength from England.
The Australian Infantry Base Depot served as the reception and administrative centre for all infantry reinforcements arriving on the Continent. Here Arthur received any replacement clothing and equipment, underwent a final medical inspection, was allocated to a reinforcement draft and waited until transport became available to carry him forward. During this period, he also received the latest intelligence on current operations, ensuring he was familiar with the rapidly changing situation before rejoining his battalion.
3 JUNE 1918 – MARCHED OUT TO UNIT
On 3 June Arthur marched out from the Australian Infantry Base Depot to rejoin the 49th Battalion. The battalion was then recovering from the desperate defensive battles that had halted the German Spring Offensive and was preparing for the Allied offensive that would begin only weeks later. Arthur returned as an experienced soldier who had survived the mud of Passchendaele, endured months of treatment for trench foot and completed an extensive programme of retraining before once again taking his place among his comrades.
After Arthur rejoined the 49th Battalion in June 1918, he would have shared in the final great Allied offensives that eventually forced Germany to seek an armistice. By March 1919 the battalion was no longer engaged in combat, but occupation duties, administration and the long process of demobilisation occupied the men's days.
JUNE–JULY 1918 – TRAINING AND THE QUIET SECTOR
Arthur rejoined the battalion while it was rebuilding after helping stop the German Spring Offensive around Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux. The 49th Battalion spent much of June and July alternating between reserve camps and quieter sectors of the front.
Arthur's days consisted of:
· rebuilding trench systems
· carrying supplies forward at night
· patrols into No Man's Land
· practising open warfare tactics
· musketry and Lewis gun training
· preparing for the Allied offensive that everyone knew was coming
BATTLE OF AMIENS 8–11 AUGUST 1918
This was Arthur's first major offensive after returning from England.
The Battle of Amiens opened with complete surprise and became known as "the Black Day of the German Army." Over 500 tanks, massive artillery support and Australian, British, Canadian and French infantry smashed into the German positions east of Amiens.
On the night of 7 August 1918, Gunner J.R. Armitage lay in readiness for the attack the next day. In his diary, he wrote:
It was utterly still. Vehicles made no sound on the marshy ground ... The silence played on our nerves a bit. As we got our guns into position you could hear drivers whispering to their horses and men muttering curses under their breath, and still the silence persisted, broken only by the whine of a stray rifle bullet or a long range shell passing high overhead ... we could feel that hundreds of groups of men were doing the same thing - preparing for the heaviest barrage ever launched.
The Attack
At 4.20 am the next day:
all hell broke loose and we heard nothing more. The world was enveloped in sound and flame, and our ears just couldn't cope. The ground shook.
A mass of assembled Allied forces, including Australians, launched an offensive to push through the German front lines to victory. It was to involve the 1st French and 4th British armies, but was led by combined Australian and Canadian forces.
There was a mist, which helped the element of surprise, and through it moved the joint forces of a line of tanks and infantry. The crucial work of the heavy artillery held off fire from German guns, so that troops could get across the land.
Setting out from the positions of Villers-Bretonneux and Hamel, the Australian troops in two hours had accomplished all their objectives, and the Canadian troops that had begun the attack alongside them had advanced several kilometres. In just over 3 hours, the enemy's front line had been overrun.
In total, the Allied forces captured 29,144 prisoners, 338 guns, and liberated 116 towns and villages. Ludendorff called 8 August "the black day of the German army".
When Sapper Harold Grant heard of the advance he wrote:
Great news ... Australians caught Fritz napping.
Many German weapons were captured in the advance. However, the advance was achieved at a high cost, with 21,243 Allied casualties, one-quarter of who were killed.
For a reinforcement, being taken on strength did not necessarily mean he immediately went into a major assault. Reinforcements generally spent time becoming acquainted with their company, learning trench routines, carrying out fatigues, and filling the gaps left by casualties
The 49th Battalion advanced with the 4th Australian Division through heavy machine-gun fire, capturing trenches, villages and hundreds of prisoners. German resistance steadily weakened as Allied forces advanced several kilometres in only a few days—an extraordinary achievement after years of trench warfare.
ADVANCE BEYOND AMIENS MID-AUGUST 1918
Rather than stopping after Amiens, the Australians continued pressing the retreating Germans. Arthur and the battalion would have:
· attacked successive trench systems
· crossed devastated countryside
· captured machine-gun posts
· escorted prisoners to the rear
· endured heavy shellfire while the Germans fought delaying actions.
The rapid pace was exhausting. Many soldiers remarked that the continuous marching and fighting were more tiring than the static trench warfare of previous years
ALBERT (SECOND BATTLE OF THE SOMME) AUGUST 1918
As the German Army withdrew towards its old defences, the Australians advanced through the old Somme battlefields. The British Third Army and the United States II Corps launched the attack to recapture Albert on 21 August. The town of Albert was retaken on 22 and the town of Bapaume was captured on 29 August. Arthur passed over ground where Australians had first fought in 1916. Entire villages were little more than heaps of broken brick, while the landscape remained scarred by shell holes, abandoned trenches and rusting barbed wire.
The Germans fought stubborn rear-guard actions, but they could no longer halt the Allied advance
Hindenburg Outpost Line 18 September 1918 (Battle of Épehy)
This was probably Arthur's last major battle. The Germans had fallen back to the powerful Hindenburg defensive system. Before reaching the main line the Australians first had to capture heavily defended outpost positions.
The 49th Battalion formed part of the 4th Division reserve during the assault on the Hindenburg Outpost Line near Épehy. Although reserve battalions were not always in the first wave, they frequently moved forward to reinforce success, replace casualties, carry ammunition, escort prisoners or exploit captured objectives. They remained under artillery fire throughout the operation.
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 1918
Following the capture of the Outpost Line, the exhausted Australian Corps was gradually withdrawn from front-line fighting.
After almost eight months of nearly continuous operations, the Australians had become severely depleted through casualties and sickness. Other British and American formations continued the attacks that finally broke the Hindenburg Line. Arthur's battalion spent the remaining weeks:
· resting
· rebuilding its strength
· training replacements
· cleaning equipment
· undertaking occasional working parties behind the lines.
The battalion was not committed to further major assaults before the Armistice.
ARMISTICE 11 NOVEMBER 1918
At 11.00 am on 11 November the guns finally fell silent. Like thousands of Australians, Arthur probably found the sudden silence almost unbelievable after months of constant artillery fire. There were no great celebrations at the front—most men were simply relieved that the killing had finally ended.
The battalion remained in France performing occupation and administrative duties while awaiting eventual return to Australia.
8–22 MARCH 1919 – LEAVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
By March 1919 Arthur had finally earned leave to Britain after many months of continuous service in France during the closing stages of the war.
For many Australians this was the first real opportunity to enjoy peace. Arthur may have travelled by leave train to the Channel ports before crossing to England, where soldiers were encouraged to sightsee, attend theatres, sporting events or simply enjoy civilian life once more. Many visited London to see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament, while others sought quieter holidays in the countryside.
For Arthur, the leave also provided a welcome chance to replace months of military routine with ordinary comforts—sleeping in a proper bed, eating good food, wearing clean clothes and escaping the discipline and constant movement of army life. Yet, like thousands of other Australians, he knew the greatest prize was still to come—returning home to Australia.
22 MARCH – 13 APRIL 1919 – WAITING FOR REPATRIATION
After returning from leave, Arthur rejoined his battalion in France while awaiting instructions for repatriation. Although the fighting had ended four months earlier, the Australian Imperial Force could not simply send everyone home at once. Shipping was scarce, and over 160,000 Australians in Europe had to be returned according to an organised priority system based largely on enlistment date, family circumstances, length of service and occupation.
During these weeks the battalion's work was very different from wartime operations. Arthur's days were occupied with equipment inspections, cleaning weapons, returning stores, parades, sports competitions, educational lectures and fatigue duties. Men dismantled camps, salvaged useful equipment and prepared military records for demobilisation. Concert parties, boxing tournaments, football matches and organised sightseeing helped relieve the boredom while everyone waited for transport home.
13 APRIL 1919 – POSTED FOR RETURN TO AUSTRALIA (RTA)
On 13 April Arthur was posted for Return to Australia (RTA), one of the happiest entries in any Australian soldier's service record.
Receiving RTA orders meant that his active service with the 49th Battalion had effectively ended. He handed in much of his equipment, completed medical examinations and administrative paperwork, settled outstanding accounts and prepared to leave France for the final time. Like every other Australian soldier, he probably counted the days until he could once again see his family after years overseas.
22 APRIL 1919 – RETURNED TO ENGLAND
Arthur crossed the English Channel back to England as part of a draft of returning Australians. The atmosphere aboard these transports was very different from wartime crossings. Instead of anxious reinforcements heading towards battle, the ships carried relieved veterans whose thoughts were firmly fixed on home. Many spent the voyage reflecting on friends who would never make the same journey.
23 APRIL – 4 AUGUST 1919 – NO. 4 GROUP, HURDCOTT
Arthur was taken on strength of No. 4 Group at Hurdcott, one of several Australian demobilisation camps established on Salisbury Plain.
Like thousands of other AIF soldiers, Arthur now entered what many veterans jokingly called "hurry up and wait." The Army still lacked enough troopships to return everyone immediately, so men often remained in England for several months awaiting embarkation.
Life at Hurdcott was far more relaxed than wartime service. Daily routine still included roll calls, inspections, physical training and occasional fatigue duties, but discipline was noticeably lighter. Soldiers attended educational courses to prepare for civilian employment, learnt trades, studied bookkeeping, farming, engineering or other subjects through the AIF Education Scheme, and participated in organised sports including football, cricket, athletics and boxing.
Many men received additional leave, travelled throughout Britain, visited relatives or friends, attended concerts and cinemas, or simply enjoyed freedoms impossible during the war. The YMCA and Australian Comforts Fund organised libraries, recreation huts, concerts and social events, while canteens provided inexpensive meals and refreshments.
Despite these activities, waiting could become extremely frustrating. Every troopship sailing for Australia seemed to carry someone else first, and rumours about embarkation dates circulated constantly through the camp. Arthur and his mates watched ships depart month after month, hoping their own turn would soon come. After surviving the dangers of the Western Front, many soldiers later remarked that the long wait for a ship home seemed almost as difficult as the fighting itself.
4 AUGUST 1919 – EMBARKED FOR AUSTRALIA ABOARD SWAKOPMUND
At last Arthur's name appeared on an embarkation list, and on 4 August he boarded the transport Swakopmund for Australia. Before sailing he underwent a final medical examination and received the documents needed for his discharge. Once aboard, military routine relaxed considerably. Although regular boat drills, inspections and parades continued, the voyage was generally comfortable. Sports competitions, concerts, deck games, card tournaments and lectures filled the long weeks at sea. Friendships formed during the war were strengthened as the men reminisced about their experiences and looked forward to beginning new lives back in Australia.
Unlike his outward voyage two years earlier, Arthur was no longer an inexperienced reinforcement heading towards an uncertain future. He returned as a veteran who had endured the mud of Flanders, suffered trench foot, recovered through months of hospital treatment and training, and served through the final victorious campaigns of the Australian Corps.
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
11 SEPTEMBER 1919 – DISCHARGED
After arriving home, Arthur was formally discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 11 September 1919. His discharge marked the end of more than two years of overseas service and closed a remarkable chapter in his life. Like so many returned soldiers, he now faced the challenge of exchanging army routine for civilian life. The transition was not always easy, but Arthur carried home the experience, resilience and comradeship forged through the hardships of the Western Front.
His military service had taken him from the training camps of England to the battlefields of Belgium and France, through illness and recovery, and finally back across the world to Australia. He was among the fortunate members of the 49th Battalion who survived one of history's most devastating wars and returned home to build a future in peace.
For his service Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Parish of Murwillumbah First World War Roll of Honour
AFTER THE WAR
Arthur married Daphne Jane Odgers in 1923 in Murwillumbah. Arthur died in Murwillumbah in 1989
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
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