BACKROUND

Clarence Chilcott, known as Lammie, was born in Murwillumbah on the 30th September 1892, son of Robert & Elizabeth (Henry) Chilcott. According to NSWBDM he was one of 12 children with 7 brothers & 5 sisters. However, his birth was not registered so the family was larger.

Lammie’s father Robert had been a resident of the district since 1883. He was an old cedar-getter, and in the early days worked timber all over the Big Scrub, of recent years he had engaged in the dairying industry. Mr. Chilcott was a native of Emigrant Creek, and was a son of the late Mr. Thomas Chilcott, one of the early cedar-getters on the Clarence River and later on the Richmond, who came to the northern districts over 60 years ago. Many of the family, including Lammie, his wife and one of his children ae buried in Murwillumbah cemetery. His parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed District

ATTESTATION

Lammie travelled to Brisbane on the 31^st August 1915 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, Elizabeth, of Crystal Creek.

Item 13 asks had the recruits has been rejected as unfit for his Majesty’s service? If so, on what grounds? and Lammie answered- yes, due to 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

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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, Clarence Edward Chilcott, 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

Lammie was 22 years 11 months old when he enlisted. He was 5ft 6 inches tall (1.68m) and weighed 9 st 11 lbs (59kgs). He had a ruddy complexion, blue-grey eyes and dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. He had a scar on his right shin, and another on the 3^rd finger of his left hand. Clarence was Presbyterian

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training. 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 9^th Battalion with service number 4164

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 EGYPT

On the 3^rd January 1916 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT A55 Kyarra.  Alongside his comrades, Lammie 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. 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. 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.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. 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.

EGYPT

The ship arrived in Alexandria on the 10^th February 1916. The unit then went to their training camp. When the train finally rattled into the siding near the Camp, the soldiers found themselves staring at an extraordinary sight — the vast Pyramids looming on the horizon, their ancient stones glowing gold in the late afternoon sun. Rows of khaki tents stretched out across the sand, the dust curling in little eddies around the tent pegs

This camp provided the final preparation for entrainment to Alexandria and the Western Front. The isolation camps screened soldiers arriving in Egypt as reinforcements for two weeks, checking for any illnesses such as measles which can break out when people are crowded together for long periods.

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: Egypt's heat made the heavy wool uniforms uncomfortable. As a result, lighter clothing was often issued or obtained locally. Soldiers frequently wore:

ü Khaki cotton shirts without the tunic

ü Lightweight drill uniforms made from cotton

ü Shorts on some occasions, particularly in camp

ü Pith helmets or sun helmets for fatigue duties and work in the sun, although the slouch hat remained the iconic Australian headgear

·      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.

EGYPT TO FRANCE MARCH 1916

After completing their training in Egypt, the recruits marched to Alexandria embarkation port on the 29^th March 1916, where thousands of Australian reinforcements waited to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Before departure, every man underwent a final medical inspection, was issued with ammunition, rations and received equipment and uniforms: this included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.

The crossing from Alexandria or Port Said to Marseilles generally took five to seven days. The crossing to France was usually made in the early hours of darkness aboard a crowded troopship. The journey was considered dangerous, as German submarines and mines posed a constant threat.

Troops travelled in large transport ships or converted passenger liners. Protection usually included:

·      Royal Navy destroyers, particularly in waters where submarines were known to operate.

·      Patrol vessels and trawlers that swept routes and watched for submarines.

·      Sailing in convoys whenever practical, especially from 1917 onwards when the convoy system became widespread.

·      Travelling at zig-zag courses to make it more difficult for submarines to calculate a torpedo attack.

·      Strict blackout conditions at night, with no lights visible from the ship.

The soldiers themselves were well aware of the submarine danger. Throughout the voyage they regularly took part in lifeboat and emergency boat drills. Every man was allocated a lifeboat station and instructed what to do if the alarm sounded. Lifebelts were often kept close at hand, and in dangerous waters the men sometimes slept fully dressed so they could reach the boat deck quickly if the ship was torpedoed.

Although most crossings were uneventful, the danger was very real. Several troopships carrying Australian soldiers were attacked during the war. One of the best-known examples was the Southland, torpedoed in the Aegean Sea on 2 September 1915 while carrying Australians from Gallipoli to Lemnos. Although she remained afloat, many men became casualties during the evacuation. Later in the war, ships crossing the Mediterranean continued to face the constant threat of U-boat attack.

ARRIVAL IN FRANCE APRIL 1916

On arrival at Marseilles on the 4^th April 1916, 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 Egyptian-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.

Many were struck by the contrast between the peaceful farms and villages they passed and the devastation that awaited them closer to the front. On arrival they entered one of the large reinforcement camps, where they completed further training, received their final equipment and waited to be posted to their battalions in the field. For most, it was only a matter of days before they joined experienced comrades and began life on the Western Front.

Many had never seen vineyards, centuries-old churches, stone farmhouses or snow. Some men wrote home saying that travelling through southern and central France was the most beautiful train journey they had ever experienced. Then, as the train neared the front, the scenery changed dramatically. Green fields gave way to shattered woods, abandoned villages and endless shell holes, providing a sobering glimpse of what lay ahead.

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.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH MAY 1916

On the 25^th May 1916 Lammie was taken on strength with the 9^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. Lammie spent his first weeks becoming accustomed to the Western Front. The 9th had initially served in the Armentières sector, where the men learned the very different conditions of trench warfare in France. Their days were divided between periods in the front line, reserve positions and billets, with constant work involved in repairing trenches, carrying supplies, standing sentry and undertaking patrols. Although this period was quieter than the great battles that were to follow, the men were still exposed to shellfire, rifle fire and the ever-present dangers of trench warfare.

By July the 9th Battalion had been moved south towards the Somme, where the great Allied offensive was underway. On 23 July 1916 the battalion went into its first major action on the Western Front at Pozières.

BATTLE OF POZIERES JULY AND AUGUST 1916

The Battle of Pozières took place during the Battle of the Somme. Australian forces played a crucial role, capturing the village of Pozières and enduring relentless German artillery bombardments, losing as many men in a few weeks as they did over eight months on Gallipoli. Less than one third of the Australian reinforcements had fought at Gallipoli; they were largely inexperienced and ill-prepared to deal with the deadly onslaught of the battle-hardened machine that was the German Imperial Army.

The battle was marked by intense fighting, with Australian divisions suffering heavy casualties—over 23,000 men, including 6,800 killed or dying of wounds. Despite the losses, the Australians secured the high ground, which was vital for further Allied operations. On 29 July 1916 official Australian war correspondent Charles Bean recorded in his diary: “Pozieres Ridge is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”. The Australians succeeded in capturing much of the village, but the German response was ferocious. Heavy artillery fire and repeated counter-attacks turned the area around Pozières into one of the most dangerous battlefields on the Western Front. The 9th Battalion endured intense fighting and bombardment before being withdrawn and reorganised for the next phase of operations

Lammie remained with his battalion as the fighting moved northwards from Pozières towards Mouquet Farm.

BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1916

When the replacements arrived in the trenches the battle-weary veterans took one look at them and pitied them, they were so fresh faced and as one said, “they looked just like normal men” something they had not seen for some time.

Following the capture of Pozières and the German lines at the windmill east of the village in late July and early August 1916, the three Australian divisions of I Anzac Corps attacked northwards along the Pozières Heights towards the site known as Mouquet Farm.
Between 8 August and 3 September 1916, the Australians launched nine separate attacks to capture the heavily defended German position which lay half way between Pozières and Thiepval, with the aim of driving a wedge behind the salient held by the Germans.
Although the Australians managed to occupy the farm several times, they were forced back each time due to fierce German counterattacks. The site was still in enemy hands by the time Anzac Corps was withdrawn from the Somme on 5 September.
The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Australian Divisions suffered around 11,000 casualties in the fighting. After moving past the stronghold in a broader offensive, the British managed to capture the now isolated outpost three weeks later.

Between 8 August and early September, Australian troops made repeated attempts to capture this strongly defended German position. The farm itself had been reduced to rubble, but the German defenders had constructed deep underground positions, making it extraordinarily difficult to capture and hold. The Australians launched nine separate attacks in an attempt to break through this part of the German line, suffering very heavy casualties in the process.

WOUNDED IN ACTION AUGUST 1916 MEDICAL CHAIN

On 18 August 1916, Lammie was wounded in action. His service record records that he was admitted to the 2nd Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his left foot. The date is significant because the 9th Battalion was at this time operating in the Pozières–Mouquet Farm area. On 18 August the battalion was under the continuing pressure of the Somme fighting, with German artillery heavily shelling the Australian positions. The wound to Lammie's foot was serious enough to remove him from the fighting, and he was passed back through the casualty evacuation system for further treatment. The Field Ambulance was responsible for collecting and treating wounded men close behind the front before sending those requiring more substantial treatment onwards to casualty clearing stations and base hospitals.

The following day, 19 August, Lammie was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. This was part of the network of large base hospitals serving the British and Allied armies on the Western Front. By the time a wounded soldier reached a general hospital at Boulogne, he had normally travelled a considerable distance from the battlefield. At the hospital Lammie's wound could be properly assessed, cleaned and dressed, and arrangements made for further treatment. A gunshot wound to the foot could involve considerable damage to bone, muscle and soft tissue, and infection was a constant danger in wartime wounds because the projectile could carry dirt, fragments of clothing and other contamination into the wound.

Lammie did not remain in France for long. On 23 August he was transferred to England aboard the hospital system and admitted to Reading War Hospital with the wound recorded as a severe gunshot wound to the left foot. His transfer to England indicates that his injury required a longer period of treatment and recovery than could conveniently be provided at the base hospital in France. Hospital trains and hospital ships were used to move wounded men from the Western Front to England, where the much larger network of military and auxiliary hospitals could provide prolonged treatment.

At Reading, Lammie's immediate concern would have been the healing of his damaged foot. The doctors would have cleaned and dressed the wound, watched closely for infection and allowed the damaged tissues time to recover. Depending upon the nature of the damage, treatment could include repeated dressings, rest and immobilisation of the foot, together with attempts to preserve as much function as possible. For a soldier whose injury was described as severe, recovery was likely to be measured in weeks rather than days.

CONVALESENCE SEPTEMBER 1916

On 28 September 1916, Lammie was admitted to Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital. This represented a further stage in his recovery. A convalescent hospital was intended for men who no longer needed the intensive treatment of a general hospital but were not yet fit to return to military duty. At Woodcote Park, Lammie's treatment would have concentrated on rebuilding his strength and, importantly in his case, restoring as much use of his injured foot as possible. Convalescence could include graduated exercise, walking practice and general physical conditioning, with the patient's progress monitored before he could be considered fit for further service.

FURLOUGH OCTOBER 1916

By 16 October, Lammie had recovered sufficiently to be granted furlough in England. After spending nearly two months in the hospital system following his wounding, this would have been a welcome change from hospital routine. He was given leave but was required to report to Perham Downs on 31 October. Perham Downs was one of the large Australian training and reinforcement areas on Salisbury Plain, where men returning from hospital or leave could be reorganised, medically assessed and prepared for their next posting.

DISCIPLINED OCTOBER 1916

Unfortunately, Lammie's return to military control did not go according to plan. On 31 October 1916 he was recorded as absent without leave from 3.30 pm that afternoon. He did not return until 5.15 pm on 6 November, meaning that he was absent for almost six days. The circumstances behind his absence are not recorded in the information you have, so I would not speculate about why he stayed away. He was, however, formally dealt with for the offence and was ordered to forfeit six days' pay.

This was a rather unfortunate ending to what had otherwise been a long period of recovery for Lammie. He had joined the 9th Battalion in France, survived the brutal fighting at Pozières and around Mouquet Farm, suffered a severe gunshot wound to his left foot, endured treatment first in France and then in England, and spent several weeks in convalescence. By early November he was back under military authority at Perham Downs, with his future service still to be determined.

MOVE TO WAREHAM NOVEMBER 1916

On 8 November 1916, Lammie was moved to Wareham and classified B1A. This classification meant that he had been medically assessed as fit for a particular category of military service, although he was not necessarily considered suitable for unrestricted front-line infantry duties. After the severe gunshot wound to his left foot and the lengthy treatment and convalescence that followed, his medical fitness was clearly being carefully considered. Wareham was one of the areas in England where Australian soldiers were held, assessed and trained while awaiting further service.

Lammie remained in England through the following months while arrangements were made for his future.

TRANSFER TO 1^ST AUSTRALIAN PIONEER BATTALLION MARCH 1917

On 18 March 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion. The pioneers were trained soldiers whose work was closely connected with the fighting troops. They constructed and repaired trenches, dugouts, roads and tracks, strengthened defensive positions, helped with communications and carried out other essential engineering work. Although their duties were different from those of ordinary infantry, they often worked close to the front line and were exposed to enemy artillery and machine-gun fire.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 69^TH BATTALION MARCH 1917

Only a few days later, on 26 March, Lammie was recorded as taken on strength of the 69th Battalion while still at Wareham. This can look very confusing on the service record, but the 69th Battalion was one of the Australian training battalions in England. It was used to train and hold reinforcements before they were sent to operational units overseas. Lammie was therefore moving through the reinforcement system rather than simply serving permanently with the 69th as a fighting battalion.

DENTALLY FIT MAY 1917

On 29 May 1917, Lammie was recorded as dentally fit. This was actually an important milestone for him because his teeth had already caused difficulty before the war, and he had previously been rejected for military service because of his dental condition. During the war, dental fitness was taken seriously because soldiers with severe dental problems could have difficulty eating and could become unfit for active service. Being declared dentally fit meant that this obstacle had finally been overcome and Lammie could continue towards overseas service.

 At some point during this period Lammie was moved to Hurdcott on Salisbury Plain. Hurdcott was one of the Australian camps where reinforcements were assembled, trained, medically assessed and prepared for service overseas. After everything Lammie had already experienced since being wounded at Pozières, he was now once again being prepared to return to France.

DISCIPLINED JULY 1917

Unfortunately, Lammie again found himself in trouble with military discipline. On 28 July 1917, he was recorded as absent without leave from Hurdcott. He remained absent until 10.00 am on 30 July. The army dealt with the offence severely, awarding him fourteen days' confinement to barracks and ordering him to forfeit six days' pay. Confinement to barracks meant that he was restricted to his military quarters for the period of the punishment and was subject to the additional duties and restrictions imposed on men undergoing disciplinary punishment. The loss of six days' pay was an additional penalty.

ENGLAND TO FRANCE OCTOBER 1917

On 9 October 1917, Lammie left Hurdcott and proceeded overseas for France, travelling from Southampton. This was the journey he had been working towards for many months. They marched to the embarkation port, 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.

The following day, 10 October, he arrived at the 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Le Havre. On arrival 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.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 12^TH BATTALION OCTOBER 1917

On 13 October, Lammie proceeded to join his unit. Three days later, on 16 October 1917, he was taken on strength of the 12th Battalion, having arrived from the reinforcement system in Belgium. 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 timing was significant because the 12th Battalion was involved in the fighting associated with the Third Battle of Ypres. The Australians had already endured months of terrible fighting in the Ypres sector, and by October the battlefield had become a devastated landscape of mud, shell holes and broken ground.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES KNOWN AS BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, (JULY 31–NOVEMBER 6, 1917),

This battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, Passchendaele was ostensibly an Allied victory, but it was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the following year. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on opposing sides attacked and counterattacked across sodden, porridgelike mud, in an open gray landscape almost empty of buildings or natural cover, all under the relentless harrowing rain of exploding shells, flying shrapnel, and machine-gun fire. Few gains were made. 

The Third Battle of Ypres is remembered for its immense human cost and the resilience of those who fought in it

When Lammie joined the 12th Battalion, the fighting around Passchendaele was still continuing. The battalion's men alternated between the front line, reserve positions and billets, carrying out patrols, working parties, trench maintenance and other duties while the battle continued. Conditions were appalling. Rain had turned the churned-up ground into deep mud, movement was extremely difficult and the men were continually exposed to German artillery fire.

The major Australian attack of 12 October had taken place only a few days before Lammie's arrival. The attack towards Passchendaele had been fought in atrocious conditions and had resulted in heavy casualties. The Australians were subsequently withdrawn from the Ypres battlefield as the campaign moved towards its conclusion. Although the fighting in the area was eventually taken over by Canadian troops, the Australians had already endured months of some of the worst conditions of the war.

For Lammie, joining the 12th Battalion at this stage meant that the long period of medical treatment, convalescence and training in England was finally over. He was once again with an operational infantry battalion and facing the realities of the Western Front.

WINTER ROUTINE

During the following months, Lammie remained with the 12th Battalion as the men moved away from the Ypres sector and settled into the winter routine of the Western Front. The battalion spent periods in the front line interspersed with rest, training and working parties. The men repaired trenches and dugouts, carried ammunition and supplies, maintained defensive positions and undertook patrols. Even when the sector was described as quiet, there was never complete safety. German artillery, snipers and raids could cause casualties without warning.

TRANSFERRED TO 1^ST AUSTRALIAN PIONEER BATTALION FEBRURY 1918

Then, on 8 February 1918, Lammie was transferred yet again, this time from the 12th Battalion back to the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion. After all his previous movements, he must have felt as though the army was sending him around in circles. However, this transfer had a practical purpose. The 1st Pioneers needed experienced men, and Lammie had already undergone considerable military training and had previous experience of active service in France. His return to the Pioneers placed him in a unit whose work was to support the infantry by preparing and improving the battlefield.

SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH 1918

The timing was particularly important because the Western Front was about to enter one of its most dangerous periods. The German Army was preparing its great Spring Offensive, and when the attack began in March 1918 the Australian divisions were hurried south to help stop the German advance towards Amiens.

Following the collapse of Tsarist Russia in late 1917, the Germans were able to transfer large amounts of equipment and manpower from the Eastern Front to the Western Front and subsequently launched their Spring Offensive in March. Falling on the southern flanks of the sector held by the British Third and Fifth Armies, the offensive initially succeeded in driving the Allies back and in late March, as the Germans closed in on the vital railhead around Amiens, the five Australian divisions, which had been grouped together as part of the Australian Corps, were transferred to the Somme to help blunt the attack.

The Pioneer battalions played an important role during this period, strengthening defensive positions, repairing roads and communications routes and preparing the ground for the movements of the fighting troops. Their work often had to be carried out close to the front and under enemy shellfire.

Once the German offensive had been stopped, the situation gradually changed. The Allies moved from desperate defence towards preparations for their own great counter-offensive. The 1st Pioneers continued their essential work, supporting the infantry as the nature of the fighting changed from static trench warfare towards increasingly mobile operations.

SERVICE NUMBER REALLOCATED AUGUST 1918

On 21 August 1918, Lammie's service number was reallocated and he became 4164A. This was an administrative change rather than a new enlistment or a change in his status as a soldier. By this stage, after all the transfers, medical assessments, training camps and his return to France, Lammie was once again firmly established with an operational Australian unit.

Lammie's journey had certainly been an unusual one. He had joined the 9th Battalion, fought on the Somme and been severely wounded in his left foot. He had then spent months in hospitals and convalescence before being moved through Wareham, the 69th Battalion, the 1st Pioneers and Hurdcott. He had overcome the dental problem that had once prevented him from enlisting, endured further disciplinary trouble, and finally returned to France in October 1917.

He then served with the 12th Battalion through the closing stages of the Third Battle of Ypres and the difficult winter that followed before being transferred once again to the 1st Pioneers in February 1918. Despite all the twists and turns in his service, Lammie had eventually found his way back to active service and was serving with the pioneers during the critical battles of 1918.

LEAVE IN UK OCTOBER 1918

On 7 October 1918, Lammie was granted leave in the United Kingdom. This came at the end of a long and exhausting period of active service. By this time the great Allied advance of 1918 was well underway, but Lammie and the 1st Pioneer Battalion had already been through the major fighting of the year. Leave in England gave him a valuable opportunity to get away from the military routine and the conditions of the Western Front for a short time. Although we cannot know exactly how Lammie spent his leave, he may have visited London or another English town, met friends or fellow Australians, enjoyed some ordinary civilian comforts and simply had the opportunity to rest, away from the noise and danger of the battlefield. For a soldier who had been overseas for several years and had already been wounded, this brief period of normality would have been very welcome.

REJOINED UNIT OCTOBER 1918

Lammie rejoined his unit on 22 October 1918. By then the fighting on the Western Front was rapidly approaching its end. The 1st Pioneer Battalion had been supporting the Australian infantry during the Allied advance and had been engaged in the demanding work that followed the breakthrough. Pioneer soldiers were responsible for keeping roads and tracks usable, repairing bridges, constructing and strengthening positions, clearing obstacles and helping the infantry maintain their advance. Their work was particularly important during the final months of the war because the Allied armies were no longer simply holding trenches; they were moving forward through territory that had been devastated by years of fighting.

During the last weeks of October and into early November, Lammie and the 1st Pioneers continued their duties as the German Army withdrew. The fighting was becoming increasingly mobile, with the Australians following the retreating German forces and consolidating the ground that had been captured. The pioneers worked behind and alongside the advancing troops, repairing roads and crossings, improving communications and making the newly captured areas usable for the forces following behind. The men were still required to work hard and remained exposed to danger, but the character of the war was very different from the trench warfare Lammie had experienced at Pozières in 1916.

WAR ENDED 11^TH NOVEMBER 1918

On 11 November 1918, the Armistice came into effect and the fighting finally stopped. For Lammie, this must have been an extraordinary moment. He had first gone to France with the 9th Battalion, had been severely wounded in the left foot during the Somme fighting, spent months in hospitals and convalescence, and then endured the complicated process of training and transfers before returning to France. He had subsequently served with the 12th Battalion and then the 1st Pioneers. After all of that, the guns had finally fallen silent.

The end of the fighting did not mean that Lammie could immediately return home. The Australian Imperial Force had to be gradually demobilised, with hundreds of thousands of men requiring medical checks, documentation, transport and discharge arrangements. Units also had to remain organised until sufficient men had been returned to Australia. During the months after the Armistice, Lammie and his fellow pioneers therefore continued with military duties rather than simply being free to leave. The work would have included routine camp duties, training and physical work, maintenance of equipment and positions, and assisting with the general process of winding down the Australian forces.

PREPARING TO GO HOME MARCH 1919

On 8 March 1919, Lammie was finally returned to England in preparation for repatriation to Australia. By this stage the emphasis had shifted completely from fighting to demobilisation. Once back in England, he would have been processed through the Australian repatriation system, where soldiers were medically examined, their service records checked and their travel arrangements organised. There were large numbers of Australian soldiers waiting for ships home, so the process could take considerable time. The Australian authorities were gradually sending men home according to a system based on such matters as length of service, age, family circumstances and other priorities.

The months Lammie spent waiting in England would therefore have been very different from his wartime service. He was no longer preparing for battle and there was no prospect of returning to the trenches. Instead, he would have lived within the military system while waiting for a transport to become available. Soldiers awaiting repatriation still had to obey military regulations and undertake routine duties, but there was also time for recreation and social activities. After years of active service, this period must have felt like an unusually long pause between the war he had known and the civilian life to which he was finally returning.

RETURNING HOME JULY 1919

On 4 July 1919, Lammie finally embarked for Australia aboard HMAT Soudan. The departure marked the beginning of the last stage of his long military journey. The Soudan was one of the troop transports used to bring Australian servicemen home after the war, and the voyage would have been filled with men who, like Lammie, were looking forward to seeing Australia again after years overseas. By this time the war had been over for almost eight months, and the atmosphere aboard the ship would have been very different from the troopships that had carried men towards the battlefields.

DISCHARGED AUGUST 1919

After reaching Australia, Lammie completed the necessary repatriation arrangements before his military service was formally ended. On 26 August 1919, he was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force.

Lammie's wartime story had been anything but straightforward. He had gone overseas with the 9th Battalion, fought during the terrible Somme battles, and suffered a severe gunshot wound to his left foot at a time when the Australians were fighting around Pozières and Mouquet Farm. He endured treatment in France and England, a long period of convalescence and repeated assessments of his fitness. His poor dental condition, which had once caused him to be rejected, had to be dealt with before he could return to active service. He was moved between training and pioneer units, had several periods of absence without leave and endured the resulting punishments, before finally making his way back to France.

He served with the 12th Battalion during the closing stages of the Third Battle of Ypres and then returned to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, where he remained through the desperate fighting of 1918 and the final Allied advance. He was on leave in England only weeks before the Armistice, and after the war he remained in the military system for several more months while waiting for his turn to return home. On 4 July 1919, Lammie finally sailed for Australia, and on 26 August his long military service officially came to an end. After more than three years of a complicated and often difficult wartime journey, Lammie was home again.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Lammie 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

MARRIAGE

Lammie married Dorothy Maggie Phillips in 1924 in Murwillumbah.

DEATH AND BURIAL

Lammie died on the 5^th June 1976 of cancer, in Murwillumbah and is buried in Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery, Roadside Gardens/Left/Road

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