FAMILY LIFE

Ashley Haydon Vidler, was born in 1884, the first son of Frederick Ashley and Jane Vidler of the Berry area in southern NSW. In the late 1890s the family moved north to Chillingham and it was here that Ashley and his siblings attended Chillingham School. In World War 1 his brother, Frederick, and several first cousins into the AIF.

ATTESTATION

Ashley was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 23^rd August 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Mrs J Vidler, of Tweed Heads

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Ashley “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Ashley Haydon Vidler, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

His medical showed he was 30 years old, 5ft 5 ½ inches tall (1.66m), weighed 9stone 12 lbs (64kgs), with a dark complexion, grey eyes & fair hair. His eyesight was good. He was Church of England and had an operation scar on his stomach.  He was enlisted as a private into the 9th Infantry Battalion – 13th Reinforcements with service No 4300

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

 VOYAGE OVERSEAS

Ashley embarked at Brisbane, aboard HMAT Kyarra on 3 January 1916. 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, 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.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. For most, it was their first sight of a foreign country, and the reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

CHARGED WITH JUMPING SHIP FEBRUARY 1916

While the Kyarra was anchored in Ceylon, Ashley Haydon Vidler jumped ship, an offence taken seriously by the military authorities. The official charge was recorded on 15 February 1916. His length of service by that time was 7 months and his general conduct was very good. The records indicate that his punishment was 120 hours of troops’ punishment, which was a standard disciplinary measure used by the Australian Imperial Force at the time. This type of punishment did not involve confinement in a guardhouse or detention barracks; instead, it consisted of extra duties assigned by the unit, often manual or routine work such as cleaning, loading supplies, standing extra guard, or other menial tasks. The intention was to discipline the soldier while keeping him occupied and contributing to the unit’s operations.

In Ashley’s case, the 120 hours would have been served either on board the troopship or shortly after disembarkation under the supervision of his unit. While the exact circumstances of the incident and the dates are not recorded, the punishment shows that the offence was taken seriously and that Ashley completed a period of additional duties because of leaving the ship without permission.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

After disembarking from the Kyarra, Ashley spent a period in Egypt where the 9th Battalion was engaged in further training. Their camp was set up in the sprawling tent lines around Tel-el-Kebir, a vast training area in the desert that had been used since British occupation in the 19th century. Days began early, with reveille often sounded before sunrise to take advantage of the cooler hours.

Training routines were rigorous and aimed at turning volunteers into disciplined infantrymen ready for the Western Front. Mornings were filled with drill, musketry practice on the rifle ranges, and bayonet fighting exercises, while afternoons might involve long route marches under the desert sun, carrying full packs and weapons. The men practiced entrenching work, digging, and reinforcing firing positions in the hard-packed sand, and learning how to live and fight from improvised defences. Field manoeuvres, mock attacks on trench systems, and instruction in grenade-throwing and Lewis gun operation rounded out their preparation.

Discipline was enforced through strict routines — equipment had to be kept in spotless order for daily inspections, and any lapse was noted. Off-duty hours were spent in canteens, playing cards, writing letters home, or occasionally visiting nearby towns such as Cairo or Ismailia when leave was granted. Dust storms could sweep through the camp without warning, coating everything in fine sand and making the heat even more oppressive. Yet despite the discomforts, the time in Egypt allowed the battalion to bond, learn the skills of trench warfare, and adapt to army life before facing the grim reality of the Western Front.

WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE

By March 1916, after weeks of preparation, Ashley and his comrades were ready for the next stage of their service. The battalion embarked for Marseilles, France, leaving Egypt as part of the broader AIF deployment to the Western Front. From there, they would travel to northern France and join the British Expeditionary Force in the trenches, entering the war in Europe and beginning the harsh realities of trench warfare.

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARCH 1916 THE SOMME REGION

After travelling north from Marseilles, the battalion took up positions in the Somme region, preparing for its first major operations on the Western Front. Life in the trenches was harsh and unrelenting. Ashley and his comrades rotated between the front-line trenches, support trenches, and reserve positions, enduring the constant threats of artillery bombardment, machine-gun fire, mud, and disease. In the front line, men carried out sentry duty, patrolled no-man’s-land, repaired fortifications, and assisted with supply lines, while periods in the support trenches offered some respite, training, and the opportunity to prepare for the next relief into the line.

During these months, the battalion underwent intensive field training to adapt to the realities of industrialised warfare. This included trench construction, grenade and rifle practice, coordination with artillery, and small-unit tactics, all essential skills for surviving and operating in the Somme sector. As part of the 1st Australian Division, Ashley and the 9th Battalion were preparing for one of the fiercest phases of the Somme Offensive: the capture and holding of Pozières.

WOUNDED IN ACTION- POZIERES JULY 1916

On 22 July 1916, while engaged in operations around Pozières, Ashley was severely wounded by a gunshot to the hip. The intensity of the battle, combined with relentless German artillery and machine-gun fire, made the Somme one of the most dangerous and demanding sectors of the front.

EVACUATED TO ENGLAND JULY 1916

Following his injury, he was evacuated from the front and transferred to England on 26 July 1916, arriving at the 1st South General Hospital, where his hip wound—treated as a bomb wound—received specialised surgical attention, infection control, and careful nursing.

COMMAND POST WEYMOUTH NOVEMBER 1916

After several months of recovery in hospital, Ashley was transferred to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on 4 November 1916. The depot functioned as a centre for convalescence, administrative processing, and light military duties. Here, Ashley continued to regain strength and mobility following his severe hip wound, taking part in supervised physical training, and performing routine duties essential to the running of the camp. Soldiers at the depot were also monitored by medical officers, ensuring that any ongoing treatment or follow-up care was properly managed. In addition to these responsibilities, educational and recreational activities were provided to keep men occupied and maintain morale while they awaited their next orders, whether that meant returning to active service or preparing for repatriation.

RETURNING HOME FEBRUARY 1917

After several months at Weymouth, Ashley was deemed fit to return to Australia. On 13 February 1917, he embarked on HMAT Ulysses for the long voyage home. Life on board was regimented but relatively comfortable compared with the front, with daily routines including drills, inspections, and duties related to ship maintenance. Men had opportunities for recreation on deck, including sports, reading, and social activities, which helped pass the weeks at sea. After several stops en route, Ashley and the other soldiers finally arrived back in Australia, bringing to a close his period of overseas service. His time in hospital, at the command depot, and on the voyage home, had allowed him to recover from his severe battlefield injury and transition back to civilian life. He was discharged on 23^rd May 1917

FOR HIS SERVICE

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

HOME LIFE

Ashley married Elsie May Vidler (yes, same surname) on the August 1929 in Berry. He died in Brisbane on 12 September 1970 and is buried  Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium Holland Park, Plot Columbarium 10, Section 30

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.