PERSONAL LIFE

Robert Amos Alfredine Worland (known as Amos) was born in Cooma 11^th July 1887. His name was not registered with the third Christian name. He was the son of Arthur & Mary Worland.  He, his wife Dehlia, and their 4 children lived at Tyalgum where he was a farmer. Amos had at least 7 brothers, all of whom enlisted and, according to NSWBDM, he also had 2 sisters. He and Dehlia had 7 children after the war and 5 of his sons and one of his daughters enlisted in World War ii

ATTESTATION

Amos travelled to Murwillumbah on the 14^th May 1918 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Cooma, was, 30 years 10 months old and a married man with 4 children. He gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his wife, Dehlia, of Tyalgum.

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, Robert Amos Alfredine Worland, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from 1^st July 1918 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 5ft 7 ½ inches tall (1.71m), weighed 143 lbs (64kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair.  His eyesight was good and was dentally fit. Amos was Church of England and had a scar above his right groin 2” from radical cure for hernia. He also had a scar above his right elbow 1” long and only one testicle as the other had been removed due to a kick from a horse

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION

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

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

This is completed during the recruits training. Amos received his at Enoggera on 4^th October 1918

He 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 to 7^th reinforcements Queensland with service No 58434

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- 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. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

HOME LEAVE

Amos received home leave for 5 days from 19^th September to 24^th September to visit his family

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND

On the 12 October 1918 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on 14^th October 1918 they embarked on the AA Wyreema. 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, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.

EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board

ARMISTICE

On 11^th November 1918 the war was declared ended so on the ship, still at sea, was ordered to return to Australia. They disembarked on 21^st December 1918

FOR HIS SERVICE

Amos is listed on the Tyalgum Great War Roll of Honour and the Coffs Harbour Roll of Honour

AFTER THE WAR

After the war, Amos drew a block of land at Cecil Plains, on the Darling Downs, under the Soldier's Settlers scheme. He eventually in Dalby and became a milk carter

DEATH

Amos, aged 58, passed away after a heart attack in September 1945, after learning that all five of his soldier sons were returning from WW II. His obiturary reads” Remaining in a critical condition since taken with a seizure fifteen days ago, Robert Amos Alfredine Worland died in the Dalby Hospital early yesterday morning. Mr Worland’s death removed a very well known figure from the community life of Dalby as he had given much voluntary service in assisating a number of bodies at their functins and was actually attending a dance in aid of the Dalby Town Band, of which he was honorary secretary, at he time he was struck down with the fatal sickness. Mr Worland took a keen interest in the Band’s affairs and willingly undertook the many duties of secretaryship in a spirit or enthusiasm and displayed much energy in all band matters, both the senior and boys’ band movements. It is a sad coincidence that he and the president, the late Alderman A. O’Toole, with whom he was closely associated, should have died within a few days of each other.Mr. Worland was also interested in the Ambulance and workesd for its welfare at numerous functions. Mr Worland in recent years has been aretaker at the national broadcasting station 4QS at Dalby. He is survived by his widow, whom he married in Ralaiegh, before coming to Dalby and a grown family of six sons and three daughters. Three of the sons and one daughter are in the services. The funeral took place this morning, being attended by a large number of friend and representitives of the Dalby Town Band”

Amos is buried in Dalby Monumental Cemetery, Dalby, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Plot - Division: L, Section: Church of England, Old, Plot: 3663

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