FAMILY LIFE

Daniel Robert Venn was born on 12 November 1895 in Sassafras, Tasmania, son of Daniel & Ellen Venn. By 1916 his parents were farming at Uki

APPLICATION

He was single farmer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 10^th July 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his father, Daniel, of Uki.

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, Saniel Robert Venn, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

His medical showed he was 20 years 8 months old, 5ft 7 inches tall (1.7m), weighed 155 lbs (70kgs), with a fair complexion, brown eyes & light hair. His eyesight was good & was dentally fit. Daniel was Methodist and had a scar on his right forearm, one across his left ankle & on the first finger of his left hand.  

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. Daniel was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 21^st September 1916. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 9th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement with service No 6603

9^TH INFANTRY BATTALION

The 9th Infantry Battalion, also known as the "Fighting Ninth," has a proud history within the Australian Army. Its origins trace back to 1867, when it was formed as part of the Queensland Volunteer Rifle Corps. Over time, it evolved into the 9th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. It symbolizes courage, dedication, and service to Australia

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

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

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

VOYAGE OVERSEAS BRISBANE TO ENGLAND OCTOBER 1916

On the 21st October 1916 the recruits left Brisbane sailing upon the HMAT Boonah. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

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

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

LARKHILL TRAINING CAMP

The troops disembarked on 10^th January 1917 and were marched into Larkhill training camp.  They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Salisbury Plains training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind.

Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.

Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions. Specially constructed practice trenches on Salisbury Plain allowed officers and NCOs to rehearse attacks down to the smallest detail, ensuring that every man understood his role once the battalion went into action.

Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.

Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.

Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and by autumn the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.

After many months of continuous preparation in England, the Battalion was 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.

HOSPITALISED PUO FEBRUARY 1917

During this time, on 15^th February, Daniel was admitted to Fargo Hospital with PUO, often classed as “pyrexia of unknown origin” when individuals suffered from a febrile illness that relapsed in five-day cycles. Larkhill Camp, like many other military training grounds, had soldiers exposed to harsh weather. Cold, wet, or muddy conditions, common on Salisbury Plain, could lead to an increased risk of hypothermia, infections, or illnesses that caused fever as a secondary symptom. The sanitary facilities in training camps were often rudimentary, and the spread of infections was common. If soldiers were living in overcrowded conditions with limited access to proper hygiene, it increased the risk of illness and fever.

CONVALESCENCE IN COMMAND DEPOT

After hospital stays soldiers were marched into command depots. Here they would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units. This ensured they did not lose their sharpness for battle and that a unit’s cohesiveness was retrained.

RETURN TO LARKHILL

There is no record of the date Daniel returned to his training at Larkhill but he returned there to complete his training

TAKEN ON STRENGTH MAY 1917

As Daniel had to catch up on his training, he was not able to join his unit until 11^th May 1917

TRENCH WARFARE

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE SECOND BATLE OF BULLECOURT APRIL TO 17^TH MAY 1917

The 9^th was engaged in the second battle of Bullecourt. This was Daniel’s introduction to fighting in the trenches. Despite the failure of the first attack on 11 April 1917, a few weeks later General Gough once again tried to break the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt. On 3 May 1917 the 2nd Australian Division attacked with the British alongside. Although the brigade on the right faltered under deadly machine-gun fire, the 6th Brigade got into the enemy’s trenches and, despite heavy shellfire and counter attacks, bravely held on. The 1st Division relieved the 2nd, and soon the 5th Division took its turn. Finally, after more than a week, the Germans gave up these blood-soaked fields. Then the depleted Australian battalions were withdrawn to recover. The furious fighting, which in the end only advanced the line a kilometre or so, had been at the heavy cost of another 7,000 Australian casualties. 'The Second Bullecourt (battle) was, in some ways, the stoutest achievement of the Australian soldier in France'.

THE BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD 20^TH TO 25^TH SEPTEMBER 1917

The 9th returned to Belgium in September; the battalion fought in various major battles. The Battle of Menin Road was an offensive operation, part of the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front, undertaken by the British Second Army to take sections of the curving ridge, east of Ypres, which the Menin Road crossed. This action saw the first involvement of Australian units (1st and 2nd Divisions AIF) in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack was successful along its entire front, though the advancing troops had to overcome formidable entrenched German defensive positions which included mutually supporting concrete pill-box strongpoints and resist fierce German counter-attacks. A feature of this battle was the intensity of the opening British artillery support. The two AIF Divisions sustained 5,013 casualties in the action

THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE 4^TH OCTOBER 1917

They engaged in the battle of Broodseinde, the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allied devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders, and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. Preparations were made by the Germans for local withdrawals and planning began for a greater withdrawal, which would entail the abandonment by the Germans of the Belgian coast, one of the strategic aims of the Flanders Offensive.

THE BATTLE OF POELCAPPELLE 9^th OCTOBER 1917

5 days they also participated in the battle of Poelcappelle. Also called the first battle of Passchendaele, the battle of Poelcappelle was launched on 9 October with the ridge upon which Passchendaele stood as its objective. Like earlier battles in the Ypres offensive, the aim of the Poelcappelle attack was to secure a series of objectives in turn, protected by a heavy artillery barrage; the troops involved would be drawn from the 49th and 66th British, and 2nd Australian Divisions. Rain, however, had begun to deluge an already poorly drained battlefield, and adequate numbers of guns were unable to be brought within range. The infantry's advance also wallowed in the mud. The Australians were able to secure some of their objectives for a short time, but, with little artillery support and both flanks open, they were forced to withdraw. The 2nd Australian Division sustained 1,250 casualties in the battle.

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHAENDELE 12^TH OCTOBER 1917

3 days later they join in the battle of Passchendaele. After mid-1917, and following mutinies in the over-strained French Army, the British Forces had to assume an even greater role in the war on the Western Front. For Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British commander-in-chief, this provided an opportunity to launch an offensive that he had long wanted. Attacking from Ypres in Belgium, he planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding dominant ridges and even hoped to reach the Belgian coast. Following on the success at Messines in June, he unleashed his great attack on 31 July 1917. Fighting went on, often in appalling weather and despite crippling losses, until November. Finally, with the army stuck in muddy fields churned up by the artillery fire, the bloody offensive came to an untidy close. Many would afterwards call this offensive, a series of battles, after the name of the village that had become the last objective – 'Passchendaele'.

BETWEEN BATTLES

Between battles, battalions engaged in a variety of critical activities to recover, prepare, and maintain their effectiveness. Some of the key activities included rest & recovery, continuing their training, maintaining their weapons & uniforms, building & reinforcing the trenches & dugouts & barbed wire defences

They also conducted patrols and reconnaissance to gather intelligence on enemy movements and maintain control over no-man's-land & engaged in activities like writing letters, playing games, and sharing stories to bond as a unit and maintain their spirits. This downtime between battles was essential for ensuring that battalions could perform effectively when called back into action.

MESSINE RIDGE EARLY 1918

The battalion remained in Flanders in the Messines sector of the front into early 1918. the area around Messines Ridge in Belgium remained a significant part of the Western Front during World War I. Following the successful Allied capture of the ridge in June 1917, the region became a defensive position for the Allies. Australian troops, including the 3rd and 4th Divisions, were stationed there during the winter of 1917–1918, enduring harsh conditions such as freezing temperatures, mud, and constant shellfire. The area saw continued skirmishes and artillery exchanges as both sides prepared for larger offensives. The Germans launched their Spring Offensive in March 1918, which shifted the focus of fighting away from Messines to other parts of the front.

LEAVE IN ENGLAND

On 18^th March 1918 Daniel was given leave in England and returned on 10^th April 1918

THE BATTLE OF HAZEBROUK 12^TH TO 15^TH APRIL

In mid-April, however, the 9th Battalion along with other units of the 1st Australian Division, was rushed back to northern France to help contain an enemy breakthrough aimed at the vital town of Hazebrouck. The Battle of Hazebrouck was part of the German Spring Offensive during World War I, specifically within the Battle of the Lys. Hazebrouck, a key railway hub in northern France, was vital for Allied supply lines.

The German forces launched a major attack, breaking through weakly defended sections of the British line, particularly where Portuguese divisions were stationed. The British and Commonwealth troops, including the 1st Australian Division, were ordered to hold their ground despite being low on reserves. The battle saw fierce fighting, with Australian and British forces successfully defending Hazebrouck and preventing a German breakthrough

The battle was significant in halting the German advance towards the Channel ports, ensuring continued Allied supply routes. It is sometimes referred to as a "forgotten battle" despite its importance in the broader conflict. There they remained until August 1918.

HOSPITALISED INFLUENZA JUNE 1918

On 17^th June 1918 Daniel was admitted to the 3^rd Field Ambulance with influenza. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

This was a dangerous disease to have in an area with a lot of people who would continue to spread the infection. Many people died with this disease which could cause trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, seizures and/or severe weakness or muscle pain.

There was no effective medical treatment for Influenza. The Army Nurse Corps was critical for soldier’s care. Symptom management by skilled supportive nursing care was the best predictor of positive patient outcomes and decreases in mortality rates. This care consisted of duties such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, fever control, providing hydration, rest, dressing changes, open-air therapy, bed baths, clean bedding, feeding, back and chest rubs with camphorated sweet oil, and cleaning the ward. He was transferred to the 4^th General Hospital in Etaples.

REJOINED UNIT JULY 1918

When Daniel rejoined the 9th Battalion on 5 July 1918, he returned to a battalion that had already endured more than four years of war. During July the battalion was holding positions in northern France, where the Australian divisions were recovering from the desperate fighting that had halted the German Spring Offensive. Although there were no major attacks during this period, life was far from peaceful. The men spent their days repairing trenches and strongpoints, carrying supplies, conducting patrols into No Man's Land, wiring defences, and enduring intermittent artillery and machine-gun fire. Reinforcements were absorbed into the ranks and intensive training was carried out in preparation for a major Allied offensive that was being planned in great secrecy. The 9th Battalion remained in the Hazebrouck sector until early August, when it was quietly withdrawn and moved south to the Somme front

In the days leading up to 8 August 1918, Daniel and his comrades marched into assembly positions near Amiens. Strict secrecy surrounded the operation. Troops moved mainly at night, artillery was concealed, and every effort was made to prevent the Germans from discovering the coming attack. The offensive opened before dawn on 8 August and became one of the most successful Allied attacks of the entire war, beginning what would later be known as the Hundred Days Offensive. Australian and Canadian troops smashed through the German positions and advanced several miles in a single day

HUNDRED DAY OFFENSIVE

The 9th Battalion was heavily involved in the fierce fighting that followed. On 10 August, while attacking German positions around Crépey Wood and the approaches to Lihons, the battalion encountered stubborn resistance from machine-gun posts and defensive strongpoints. Casualties were severe as the Australians pushed forward across open ground under shellfire and small-arms fire.

WOUNDED IN ACTION AUGUST 1918

During this action Daniel was struck by a gunshot wound to his left hand. Such wounds were often caused by rifle or machine-gun bullets and could shatter bones, tear tendons, and leave a soldier unable to use the hand for months.

HOSPITALISATION AUGUST 1918

After receiving first aid at a Regimental Aid Post, Daniel would have been passed through the evacuation chain to a field ambulance and casualty clearing station before being transported to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital on 12 August. There surgeons cleaned the wound, removed any fragments, treated infection, and immobilised the hand to allow healing. The risk of infection remained high despite improving medical practices, and recovery could be slow. Following several weeks of treatment and convalescence, Daniel was judged fit enough to return to duty.

DISCHARGED TO A.I.B.D

He was discharged to the A.I.B.D on 5^th September 1918. This was the Army Infantry Brigade Depot". During WWI, many regiments and brigades had depots where soldiers were trained, rested, and prepared for front-line service. The Infantry Brigade Depot would have been a central location where soldiers could be assigned to a particular unit, receive training, or be equipped.

REJOINED UNIT SEPTEBER 1918

On 15 September 1918 he rejoined the 9th Battalion as it prepared for the final series of Allied attacks against the Hindenburg Line. He returned to a unit that had continued advancing almost continuously since Amiens and was now helping drive the German Army back towards the frontier in the closing weeks of the war.

SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1918

The battalion had recently participated in the Allied advance that followed the victory at Amiens and was now engaged in operations aimed at breaking the formidable German defensive system known as the Hindenburg Line. Throughout September, the men were frequently on the move, marching between staging areas, carrying out patrols, digging assembly trenches, and preparing for further attacks. Although the German Army was retreating, it remained capable of fierce resistance, and artillery fire, machine-gun attacks, and sniper activity continued to claim casualties.

In late September the 9th Battalion took part in operations associated with the assault on the Hindenburg outpost defences around the Bellicourt and Le Catelet areas. The Australians fought through heavily fortified positions protected by belts of barbed wire, concrete machine-gun emplacements, and deep trenches. The fighting was often confused and costly, with units advancing through shell-torn ground under heavy fire.

During October, Daniel and his comrades continued to press the retreating Germans eastward. The battalion participated in a series of advances through northern France, frequently moving forward by day and consolidating captured ground by night. Villages that had been occupied by the Germans for years were liberated one after another. The work was exhausting. Besides combat, the men repaired roads, buried the dead, escorted prisoners, and established defensive positions in newly captured territory.

By early October the German Army was clearly weakening. Prisoners were being captured in increasing numbers, and intelligence reports suggested that Germany was seeking an end to the war. Nevertheless, the fighting remained dangerous, and Australian casualties continued to mount.

The 9th Battalion's final major operation of the war was the advance towards the Selle River. Shortly afterwards, the exhausted Australian Corps was withdrawn from the front line. The Australian government had refused to introduce conscription, and years of casualties had left the battalions severely under strength. The Australians had earned a well-deserved rest after months of almost continuous fighting.

For the remainder of October and into November, Daniel would have been stationed in rear areas. Training continued, equipment was cleaned and repaired, and rumours of peace circulated constantly among the troops. Most soldiers sensed that the war was nearing its end, but no one knew exactly when it would come.

WAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1918

On 11 November 1918, news arrived that an armistice had been signed between Germany and the Allies. At 11 a.m., after more than four years of war, the guns finally fell silent. For Daniel and the surviving men of the 9th Battalion, the announcement brought immense relief. They had endured Gallipoli, the Somme, Passchendaele, the German Spring Offensive, and the victorious Hundred Days campaign. The war was over, and thoughts now turned from survival on the battlefield to the long journey home to Australia.

After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia.

GOING HOME

However, Daniel remained in the AIBD whose role had shifted from training and deployment centres to processing, medical, administrative, and demobilisation hubs, ensuring a smooth return to civilian life for thousands of Australian soldiers. Their role was vital in transitioning from war to peace and laying the groundwork for veterans' support in the 1920s. Daniel returned home on the Ormonde, disembarking on 4^th August 1919. He was discharged 12^th September 1919

CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION

Badges Hat                    Badges Collar (2)                    Bags kit universal

Bags kit sea                   Braces (pair)                            Brush, shaving

Brush, tooth                  Breeches M.S (Military service)

Cap comforter (warm cap)                                           Comb, hair

Disc identity with cord                                                  Drawers (2 pairs)

Great Coat                     Hat, Khaki fur                          Hat, white

Holdall                           Housewife (compact sewing kit)

Jackets Cardigan           Jackets S.D (service dress)

Leggings 1 pair             Laces, leather 1 pair

Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions

Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)

Razor                              Shirts, flannel (2)                   Socks, 3 pairs

Singlets (2)

Strap chin                      Soap piece                               Suit, working

Towels, hand (2)

Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also wore unit titles above this which indicated the units to which they belonged

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Daniel was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is recorded on the Loyal Uki Lodge HR & Uki Tweed River South Arm War Memorial

AFTER THE WAR

Daniel married Hazel Arnold in Lismore in 1923 and they had a daughter in 1924. They had lived in Commissioners Creek since his return from the war. Daniel died on Monday 22nd October 1928, aged 32 years

Tweed Daily   Wed 24 Oct 1928  Page 2 

OBITUARY

Daniel underwent an operation on 19th October for appendicitis, and as he was an unusually fine specimen of manhood, in the prime of his life, little fear was entertained by his relations. However, he had been gassed at the war, and it was the after effects of this that caused his collapse after passing safely through the operation. The funeral took place in Lismore 23^rd October 1928, of Mr. Daniel Robert Venn, aged 32 years. Mr. Venn was a returned soldier, and resided at Uki since his return from the war. He was a member of the Masonic order, and the funeral was of a military and Masonic nature. The funeral was largely attended, Messrs. A. E. Kimber and C. A. Wilson representing the Lismore branch of the Returned Soldiers' League. Pall bearers were Bros. A. Lowe, R. E. Walls, and R. Armour (Masonic), and D. Brown, H. J. Mc Intyre, and, G. Fuller (returned soldiers). The "Last Post" was sounded by Mr. Elwyn Roberts. The Rev. S. W. Bonnor conducted the service and Worshipful Bro. Grant (Lodge Uki) the Masonic services. He was buried in the East Lismore (Lismore) General Cemetery
Methodist Portion. The late Mr. Venn is survived by a widow and a daughter.

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