BACKGROUND

Will Curtis was born 1892 in Ulmarra, son of David & Ellen Curtis. His name was registered as Willie. According to NSWBDM he had 6 siblings- 3 sisters & 3 sisters. His father was dead when he enlisted

ATTESTATION

Will travelled to Melbourne on the 13^th November 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 labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Ellen Curtis, of Byron Bay. Will states his home address is Cudgen and he had been rejected for service before because of his teeth.

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

PAGE 2

CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Will Curtis, 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

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

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MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Will was 24 years 11 months old. He was 5ft 7 ½ inches tall (1.71m) and weighed 148lbs (73kgs) with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was now dentally fit and his eyesight was good. Will 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. Will was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 19^th January 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 in the 49^th Battalion, 7^th reinforcement with service number 3377

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.

HOME LEAVE

Will was granted home leave to visit his mother and to get his affairs in order before going overseas

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND

On the 22^nd January 1917 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 24^thJanuary 1917 they embarked on the A33 Ayrshire. Alongside his comrades, Will 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 APRIL 1917

The ship docked at Devonport on the 12^th April 1917. From there the recruits proceeded to the English training camp Codford. 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

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.

HOSPITALISED MUMPS JULY 1917

On the 13^th July 1917 he contracted mumps and was hospitalised in the Group Hospital at the camp. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Soldiers would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917

Will rejoined his fellow recruits on the 2^nd August and continued with his training

FRANCE SEPTEMBER 1917

The recruits proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on the 3^rd September 1917. After crossing the English Channel, the reinforcements landed at one of the great base ports- Le Havre. From there they were not sent directly to their battalion. Instead, they entered the Australian Base Depots, where records were checked, equipment inspected and final preparations made before they moved forward.

The journey to the battalion was often made in stages. Reinforcements travelled by train, lorry and sometimes on foot through the rear areas, gradually moving closer to the sound of the guns. Along the way they would encounter the immense logistical system that supported the armies in France—supply depots, ammunition dumps, field hospitals and transport columns stretching across the countryside

TAKEN ON STRENGTH SEPTEMBER 1917

On the 16^th September Will was taken on strength with the 49^th 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

When Will was taken on strength, the battalion was in Belgium participating in the latter stages of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The Australians had recently fought at the Battle of Polygon Wood and were preparing for further operations against the heavily defended German positions east of Ypres. During these days Will would have been settling into battalion life, receiving equipment, learning the trench system and carrying out the endless routine of working parties, trench maintenance, carrying supplies, and preparing for combat operations. The battalion was constantly moving men and stores forward through muddy, shell-torn country under intermittent artillery fire.

BATTLE OF POLYGON WOOD SEPTEMBER 1917 WOUNDED IN ACTION

On 26 September 1917, during the Battle of Polygon Wood, Will was wounded by a gunshot wound to the little and ring fingers of his left hand.

Polygon Wood was the second of three battles between 20 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

MEDICAL CHAIN

Although comparatively minor compared with many battlefield injuries, wounds to the hand could be painful and disabling, especially for a soldier required to handle a rifle and equipment. He was evacuated through the medical chain, first reaching the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station on the day he was wounded. The following day he was admitted to the 11th General Hospital at Camiers on the French coast before being transported across the Channel aboard the hospital ship Newhaven. He was admitted to the 16th General Hospital at Orpington in Kent, where surgeons cleaned and dressed the wound, monitored it for infection, and allowed the damaged fingers time to heal.

By 10 October he had recovered sufficiently to leave hospital and proceed to the military depot at Dartford. A week later he was transferred to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. These command depots were designed to rehabilitate wounded soldiers and assess their fitness for future service.

THE LETTER “A” ADDED TO REGIMENTAL NUMBER

The AIF often added letter prefixes to distinguish soldiers with identical service numbers or to assist administrative staff when men were moving through hospitals, depots and training establishments. It was simply an administrative device and had no effect on his rank, unit or seniority

On 27 October Will proceeded to Hurdcott, one of the major Australian training camps on Salisbury Plain. Here he underwent further training and physical conditioning while recovering fully from his wound. On 13 December he was classified A3, meaning he was considered fit for active service though not yet at the highest physical category. Continued training and medical assessment followed, and on 5 January 1918 he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill to prepare for his return to France.

FRANCE FEBRUARY 1918- REJOINED UNIT

He left Southampton on 1 February 1918 and arrived at Le Havre the following day. Between 2 and 9 February he was passing through the Australian Infantry Base Depot system. Here he was equipped, medically inspected, issued with any necessary clothing and equipment, and then held until drafts could be sent forward to their units. Once the necessary arrangements were completed, Will rejoined the 49th Battalion on 9 February.

FEBRUARY TO OCTOBER 1918

From February until October 1918, the 49th Battalion experienced some of the hardest fighting of the war. The battalion helped stem the German Spring Offensive in March and April, fought in the Australian counter-offensives around Villers-Bretonneux, participated in the great Allied advance beginning at Amiens on 8 August, and took part in the relentless operations that forced the Germans back towards the Hindenburg Line. Even when not engaged in major attacks, the men endured artillery bombardments, patrols, working parties, exposure to the weather and the constant strain of front-line service.

THE GREAT SPRING OFFENSIVE (OPERATION MICHAEL)

MARCH TO JULY 1918

In March 1918, the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia ended its role in the First World War by signing the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with the Central Powers.

This had a significant impact on the war in Western Europe, giving rise to the German Spring Offensive, also known as the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ (the Kaiser’s battle).

The Russians had been beaten by the Germans in a number of battles early in the war, but they had also inflicted substantial defeats on the Ottomans, Germans troops and Austrian-Hungarian forces.

With the signing of the treaty, however, the Germans ‘freed up’ their forces on the Eastern Front, reinforced their army on the Western Front, and raised it to 206 Divisions.

In response, the Allies raised 172 Divisions on the Western Front, including a growing number of Americans, which provided sufficient impetus for the Germans to mount their Spring Offensive.

Erich Ludendorff, the commander of the German Army on the Western Front, believed if Germany did not act, the Allies would achieve ascendancy.

The Germans were aware the balance of power was shifting and, while they held a superiority in numbers, this would soon change if they did not strike a decisive blow.

The German offensive was spearheaded by Operation Michael and supported by operations Georgette, Gneisenau and Blücher-Yorck, supported by smaller operations to deal with battlefield contingencies.

Operation Michael began with a devastating barrage of nearly 10,000 artillery pieces and mortars. The attacks were spearheaded by path-finding ‘Stormtroopers’, followed by immense numbers of infantry.

The German attack worried Australia’s diggers as much as those in high command, with soldiers bitter about the German successes.

Barwick though was aware this was the German’s ‘last throw of the dice’ and he was supremely confident the Australians would check the German advance.

Operation Michael seemed a success in terms of captured territory, prisoners and equipment, but it did not deliver an over-arching strategic blow to the Allies.

It did not destroy the British Army nor drive a wedge between the British and French forces.

Michael, along with the other German Spring Offensive operations, failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the Allies to their knees.

After the Spring Offensive finished in July 1918, the initiative crossed to the Allies who — with the addition of American troops — brought Germany to its knees in a number of subsequent battles.

 Germany surrendered less than six months after the last operation in its Spring Offensive

THE BATTLE OF AMIENS AUGUST 1918

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

AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL SEPTEMBER 1918

His mother received a letter from Base Records on the 17^th November 1919 advising Will had received the Military Medal. This is awarded for

acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.

The statement made said that Pte Curtis carried out the duties of Battalion stretcher bearer during operations in front of Le Verguier NW of St Quentin 14th to 16^th September 1918. Repeatedly he went forward in daylight under intense fire to bring in wounded. His bravery and endurance were responsible for saving numbers of wounded. His devotion to duty and self-sacrifice were most inspiring to others.

It was promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 115 dated 10^th October 1919

THE HINDENBURG LINE SEPTEMBER 1918

The Hindenburg Line- the last and strongest of the German army's defence - consisted of three well-defended trench systems, established in 1917. Throughout September 1918, Australian forces had helped the British army to secure positions from which an attack on the Hindenburg Line could be launched. Planning began for a major attack at the end of the month. It was hoped that this attack would finally break the power of the German army.

FIRST ATTACK 18^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 18 September 1918, a preliminary attack was launched when Lieutenant General Sir John Monash's troops reached the first part of the Hindenburg Line. At 5.20 am, Monash's troops, supported by huge artillery barrages, attacked the heavily fortified German defences and machine-gun posts. Using only eight tanks (as well as dummy tanks to distract the Germans), they broke through German positions and took 4,300 prisoners. Although there were 1,000 dead or wounded, this cost was fairly slim compared to the losses of the German forces.

THE SECOND ATTACK 29^TH SEPTEMBER 1918

On 29 September, the line was finally broken. Australian and US troops spearheaded this battle, given the task of breaking defences in the centre. They attacked a strongly defended sector at Bellicourt with tanks, artillery, and aircraft working in concert. Advances were made, but it was a struggle between the two forces. The fighting lasted four days and resulted in heavy losses.

Gunner J.R. Armitage wrote:

“As we went over the ridge we found ourselves in the midst of the most wonderful and impressive battle field scene imaginable. It was a scene never to be forgotten with infantry, tanks, guns, everything in action in a sort of inferno of smoke and shell bursts.”

THIRD ATTACK OCTOBER 1918

Eventually, the Allies broke through the third and final stage of the Hindenburg Line, and the Germans were forced to fall back.

In this attack, troops captured the entrance to the St Quentin canal tunnel. 

HOSPITALISED PNEUMONIA OCTOBER 1918

MEDICAL CHAIN

On 17 October 1918 Will became ill with pneumonia and was admitted through the 13th Australian Field Ambulance. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Field ambulances were crucial mobile medical units in World War I, responsible for the immediate care and evacuation of wounded soldiers from the front lines. When it was at full strength a Field Ambulance was composed of 10 officers and 224 men. The theoretical capacity of the Field Ambulance was 150 casualties, but in battle many would need to deal with very much greater numbers. 

Pneumonia was a serious and often deadly disease before the discovery of antibiotics. Treatment consisted largely of nursing care: strict bed rest, warmth, good nutrition, plenty of fluids, oxygen when available, stimulants such as brandy in some cases, and medicines intended to relieve fever and breathing difficulties. Doctors could do little to directly combat the infection itself.

The next day he was transferred to the 41st Stationary Hospital at Lintremesnil, a large medical facility situated behind the lines. Despite receiving treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly. Pneumonia often proved especially dangerous to soldiers whose bodies had been weakened by years of campaigning, exposure, fatigue and the widespread influenza and respiratory infections circulating in 1918.

DIED OCTOBER 1918

Sadly, on 20 October 1918, only three weeks before the Armistice, Will succumbed to pneumonia and died while under medical care. Having survived battle wounds, months of front-line service and some of the fiercest fighting of the war, he became one of the many soldiers whose lives were ultimately claimed by disease rather than enemy action. His death was a reminder that even in the war's closing weeks, illness remained as deadly an enemy as the battlefield itself

BURIAL

Will is buried in the Villers- Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Picardie, France, plot 17, row AA, grave 6

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Will was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Tyagarah First World War Honour Roll and Byron Bay War Memorial Gates & Memorial Park

His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Number 148 among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War

PERSONAL EFFECTS

His personal effects were forwarded to his mother on the Barambah on the 26^th May 1919. The sealed package contained 1 disc, 1 wallet, 1 pipe, 1 locket, 1 cap badge, photos, post cards, memoriam cards and letters

MEMORIAL PLAQUE MEMORIAL SCROLL, VICTORY MEDAL

His mother received his Memorial Plaque on the 17^th December 1922; his Memorial scroll on the 5^th January 1922 and his Victory medal on the 7^th May 1923

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