Sergeant George Patrick Nolan
Service #: 1978B
Summary
HOME LIFE
George Patrick Nolan was born in Ryde in 1891, son of Thomas & Margaret Nolan. According to NSW BDM George was the only child.
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
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, George Patrick Nolan, 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 5ft 7 ½ inches tall (1.71m), weighed 162 lbs (73kgs), with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good. George was Roman Catholic
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
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
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 to 5th Brigade, 20th Infantry Battalion with service No 1978
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 was conducted within 6 weeks
Australians 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 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.
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 week.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO EGYPT
Departing Sydney
On 7th August 1915 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on 9th August 1915 they embarked on the HMAT Runic A54. Alongside his comrades, George 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.
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 SEPTEMBER 1915
The Runic reached Egypt in early September after the long voyage through the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal. Like thousands of Australian reinforcements arriving at that stage of the war, George would have undergone further training in the great camps around Cairo before being sent forward as a reinforcement to Gallipoli.
TRAINING CAMP, EGYPT
They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over the next few tough week, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind.
Conditions were harsh and often criticized by the Australian troops training there. Temperatures during the day could be extremely hot. The area was dusty and sandy, with frequent sandstorms. These made daily life and drills difficult and unpleasant
Soldiers lived in canvas tents with minimal protection from the elements. There was little shade or comfort. Latrines and hygiene facilities were basic and sometimes inadequate. Flies and other insects were a constant problem. Rations were repetitive and not always sufficient in quantity or quality. Complaints about the food were common. Despite the conditions, training was rigorous—drills, route marches, musketry, and entrenching were conducted daily. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.
Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause. Training camps were a place of tough acclimatization, designed to prepare the men for combat in Gallipoli. It was physically uncomfortable, with limited resources, but it played a critical role in transitioning a civilian army into one ready for war
ANZAC TRENCHES
Life in the trenches at Gallipoli was harsh, exhausting, and often miserable. The soldiers lived in narrow, dusty trenches cut into the rocky slopes above Anzac Cove. These trenches offered little protection from the elements or the enemy and were often cramped, infested with lice, and filled with flies attracted by unburied bodies and rotting waste.
During the dry months, the men endured intense heat, choking dust, and water shortages. In winter, the trenches became waterlogged and freezing cold, with many soldiers suffering from trench foot, frostbite, or exposure. Sleeping space was limited, and men often rested in dugouts carved into the trench walls, trying to avoid falling debris or the occasional sniper bullet.
Food was basic and monotonous—mostly bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—and fresh water was strictly rationed. Hygiene was nearly impossible to maintain, leading to widespread disease, especially dysentery and enteric fever. Latrines were crude, and flies swarmed constantly, spreading infection.
Despite these conditions, the men showed remarkable resilience. They endured regular shelling, sniper fire, and night raids, always under the threat of death. Morale fluctuated, but camaraderie, humour, and the shared hardship of trench life helped many soldiers cope.
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.
TRANSFER TO 18TH BATTALION OCTOBER 1915
On 29 October 1915 he was transferred to E Company of the 18th Battalion at Gallipoli. By this stage of the campaign the fighting had settled into grim trench warfare. The men endured constant flies, poor food, sickness, sniping and shellfire, while the approaching winter brought bitter cold and flooding trenches. Reinforcements like George were urgently needed because the battalion had suffered heavy losses during earlier fighting at Lone Pine and other attacks around Anzac.
George would not have had long to settle in before the evacuation of Gallipoli in December 1915. The withdrawal was carried out secretly and remarkably successfully, with the Australians slipping away by night. After leaving Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt where the AIF was reorganised and expanded for service on the Western Front.
FRANCE AND THE WESTERN FRONT
On 18 March 1916 George embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles, arriving in France on 25 March 1916. For many Australians this was their first experience of Europe. From Marseilles the troops were packed into crowded troop trains and sent north into the vast British sector in France and Belgium.
Before entering the front line, the Australians usually passed through training areas often referred to as “nursery sectors.” The 18th Battalion spent time learning the very different style of warfare on the Western Front. At camps behind the lines the men practised trench raids, grenade throwing, wiring parties, gas helmet drills and attacks across open ground. Conditions in France were far wetter and colder than Gallipoli, and the soldiers had to learn to cope with endless mud, heavy artillery bombardments and complex trench systems stretching for miles.
TRENCH WARFARE
The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. This was completely different to the trenches they knew in Egypt. 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 18th Battalion entered the trenches near Armentières in northern France, a comparatively quieter sector used to introduce newly arrived troops to trench warfare in France. Even so, men were still killed or wounded almost daily by shellfire, snipers and trench raids. George would have spent weeks rotating between front-line trenches, support trenches and working parties repairing parapets, carrying supplies and laying barbed wire at night.
WOUNDED IN ACTION JUNE 1916
On 23 June 1916 George was severely wounded in action, suffering gunshot wounds to the scalp, left foot, left arm, left side and left thigh. The timing strongly suggests he was wounded during the aggressive trench fighting around Armentières in the lead-up to the Somme offensive. Raids and patrol clashes were frequent during this period, and casualties could be extremely heavy even outside major battles.
After being wounded he was evacuated through the chain of medical stations that stretched back from the front. Stretcher bearers would first carry him from the trenches to a Regimental Aid Post, where the battalion medical officer gave emergency treatment. From there he was moved to a Field Ambulance and then to a Casualty Clearing Station near the railhead before being transported to Calais.
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND JUNE 1916
Because his wounds were severe, George was evacuated across the English Channel to England, arriving at Chatham Military Hospital on 24 June 1916. Chatham Military Hospital handled large numbers of wounded soldiers arriving from France. Doctors and nurses there would have cleaned and dressed his wounds, removed bullet or shrapnel fragments where possible, and carefully monitored him for infection, which remained one of the greatest dangers in wartime medicine. Gunshot wounds to multiple parts of the body were extremely painful, and recovery could take weeks or months depending on complications.
The hospital routine was strict but caring. Patients were washed, fed nourishing meals and often encouraged to spend time outdoors once able to walk. Red Cross workers and volunteer nurses frequently helped provide comforts such as books, writing materials and small treats from home. For badly shaken soldiers, simply being away from the guns and noise of the front could itself be part of the healing process.
CONVALESCENT CAMP JULY 1916
By 9 July 1916 George had improved sufficiently to be sent to Perham Down Camp and was classified “Class A Fit.” Perham Down, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, was one of the major Australian training and reinforcement camps in England. The surrounding countryside was filled with huts, parade grounds and training areas occupied by Australian troops preparing to return to France.
Life at Perham Downs combined recovery with military routine. Men who had returned from hospital underwent medical inspections, route marches and physical training to rebuild their strength. They practised musketry, bayonet fighting and trench exercises while awaiting return to their units overseas. The camp was windswept and often cold, but compared with the trenches it offered proper food, clean clothing and regular sleep. For George, Perham Downs marked the transition from wounded casualty back to active soldier once more.
5TH TRAINING BATTALION
After recovering sufficiently from his wounds, George remained in England attached to the 5th Training Battalion, which was based on Salisbury Plain around the camps at Rollestone and Perham Downs. These training battalions played an essential role in preparing reinforcements and recovered wounded men for return to the front in France. The instructors pushed the men hard, determined that those returning overseas would be physically fit and fully up to date with the latest trench warfare methods.
Life in the camps could become monotonous and frustrating for experienced soldiers like George. Days were filled with drill, route marches across the chalk downs, musketry practice, bayonet exercises and inspections. The discipline was strict, and many men who had already served under fire found the constant regulations irritating after surviving Gallipoli and the trenches of France.
DISCIPLINED ROLLESONE
At 9 pm on 17 September George absented himself without leave from Rollestone Camp and did not return until 6 pm the following evening. For this offence he forfeited three days’ pay. Such incidents were common among troops in the English camps, particularly when soldiers visited nearby villages or public houses and overstayed their leave.
Only a few weeks later, on 6 November, George again found himself in trouble at Rollestone for being out of bounds and failing to obey orders. Once more he was penalised three days’ pay. “Out of bounds” areas were places soldiers were forbidden to enter, usually to reduce drunkenness or disorder, and the military authorities enforced these rules firmly. These minor offences were fairly typical of many Australian soldiers, whose independent streak often clashed with rigid British military discipline.
FRANCE AND ETAPLES MILITARY CAMP NOVEMBER 1916
Despite these incidents, George had evidently regained both his health and the confidence of his superiors. On 18 November 1916 he proceeded overseas once more for service in France. Leaving the training battalion behind, he crossed the Channel and on 20 November was marched into the great reinforcement depot at Étaples Military Camp.
Étaples was one of the largest military camps in the British Army system and was notorious among Australian troops. Tens of thousands of soldiers passed through the sprawling tented and hutted camp near the French coast. Here George underwent final preparation before rejoining a fighting unit. Training was intensive and often exhausting, with endless drilling, route marches through sand dunes, musketry and battlefield exercises designed to harden the men for the front line once again.
The camp had a harsh reputation for discipline, and many Australians disliked the rigid methods of some British instructors there. Nevertheless, Étaples served as the final staging ground for men heading to the trenches, and from here George was eventually posted from the reinforcement details in France back toward active service.
REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1916
On 3 December 1916 he was taken on strength from details in France, meaning he had formally rejoined a combat formation in the field. By then the terrible Somme battles were winding down for the winter, but conditions in the trenches remained miserable. The winter of 1916–1917 was one of the coldest of the war. Trenches flooded, roads became seas of mud and snow covered the battlefield for weeks at a time.
PROMOTED TO CORPORAL FEBRUARY 1917
George had now survived Gallipoli, severe wounds, hospitalisation in England and retraining in both England and France. His experience and reliability were increasingly recognised, and on 10 February 1917 he was promoted to Corporal. Promotion to non-commissioned rank was an important achievement within the AIF. A corporal was expected to lead small groups of men, maintain discipline, supervise trench duties and set an example under fire. The promotion suggests that despite his earlier minor disciplinary offences, George had proven himself a capable and dependable soldier with valuable combat experience.
SEPTIC FOOT FEBRUARY 1917
Only days after being promoted Corporal, George’s health again began to suffer from the terrible conditions of trench warfare. On 15 February 1917 he was admitted to the 7th Field Ambulance suffering from a septic sore on his left foot. In the muddy trenches of the Western Front even a small blister or cut could quickly become infected. Soldiers often stood for hours, sometimes days, in freezing mud and water, unable to dry their boots or socks properly.
TRENCH FOOT MARCH 1917
George’s condition worsened and by 2 March he was evacuated to England suffering from trench foot. Trench foot was one of the most common and miserable afflictions of the war. It was caused by prolonged exposure to cold, wet and unsanitary conditions. The circulation in the feet became badly affected, causing swelling, numbness, severe pain and discolouration. In serious cases the flesh could decay and gangrene might develop, sometimes leading to amputation.
Treatment focused on restoring circulation and preventing infection. At hospital the medical staff would have removed George’s wet boots and socks immediately, carefully cleaned and dried his feet and wrapped them in warm bandages. He would likely have been ordered complete rest while doctors monitored for infection. Soldiers were often given massages to improve blood flow, dry woollen socks and gradually increasing exercise once the swelling eased. Recovery could be slow because damaged nerves and tissue remained painful long after the initial injury.
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND MARCH 1917
On 16 March George was under treatment at the military hospital at Edmonton Military Hospital. Like many Australian soldiers evacuated from France, he now faced another lengthy period away from the front recovering his strength
CONVALESCENT WEYMOUTH
By 20 March he had improved enough to be transferred to the Command Depot at Weymouth. Command depots were designed for men recovering from wounds or illness who were not yet fully fit for active service. Here George would gradually rebuild his endurance through physical training, route marches and medical inspections. The atmosphere was less intense than a hospital but still highly structured, with the aim of preparing men either to return to duty or be discharged if unfit.
HOSPITALISED VENEREAL DISEASE MARCH TO APRIL 1917
The sense of adventure, the loneliness, and the loss of family life that overwhelmed many of the overseas volunteers during the First World War often found them on leave in large cities or small towns where alcohol and women were plentiful, and a lack of available prophylaxis allowed the spread of diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis to reach epidemic levels. Historians claim that the average incidence rate for this disease in the AIF was around 12 per cent
Treatment for venereal disease in the Australian Imperial Force during WWI primarily involved hospitalisation, strict rest, and medical therapies available at the time. Soldiers were often treated with salvarsan (an arsenic-based compound) or mercury-based preparations, which were administered by injection or topical application. These treatments aimed to cure the infection but could be uncomfortable and required careful monitoring due to side effects. In addition to drug therapy, patients were given regular medical inspections, hygiene instruction, and restrictions on activity until fully recovered. Lengthy stays in hospital—often several weeks or months—were common, as doctors ensured soldiers were no longer infectious and fit to return to duty
George was admitted on 23rd March to the special isolation hospital & discharged to duty 12 days later on 3rd April 1917
PERHAM DOWNS JUNE 1917
On 17 June he returned once more to Perham Down Camp. By now Perham Downs must have become very familiar to George. Again, he underwent further training and preparation before returning overseas. The AIF badly needed experienced veterans, and men who had already survived Gallipoli and the Western Front were highly valued.
REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917
On 23 July 1917 George returned to France through the reinforcement system at Le Havre, one of the principal British ports for troops arriving from England. From there he moved back toward the front and on 11 August rejoined his unit in the field.
AUGUST TO OCTOBER 1917- PASSCHENDAELE
The period from August to October 1917 was one of constant fighting and exhausting movement for Australian troops in Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres, often remembered simply as Passchendaele. The Australians fought through devastated country churned into mud by endless shellfire and rain. Roads and tracks disappeared beneath thick slime, while shattered trees and water-filled shell holes covered the landscape.
George’s battalion spent much of this period rotating through front-line trenches, support positions and reserve camps around the Ypres sector. Even when not directly attacking, the men endured artillery bombardments, gas shelling, sniping and dangerous working parties at night. Carrying ammunition, repairing duckboards and bringing supplies forward through knee-deep mud was physically exhausting work.
The Australians participated in a series of major battles during these months, including Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde. These operations gradually pushed the Germans back but at terrible cost. Officers and experienced non-commissioned officers were frequently killed or wounded, creating opportunities for proven men like George to assume greater responsibility.
PUO SEPTEMBER 1917
The strain of continuous service on the Western Front eventually caught up with George once again. On 3 September he was admitted to a British Army Field Ambulance suffering from “P.U.O.” — Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. This was a very common diagnosis during the war and simply meant that the soldier was suffering from a fever whose exact cause could not immediately be identified. In the trenches men were exposed to influenza, bronchitis, infected wounds, contaminated water, exhaustion and countless minor illnesses, any of which could produce persistent fever.
Symptoms of P.U.O. often included high temperature, weakness, headaches, aching limbs and extreme fatigue. Doctors usually treated the condition with rest, warmth, clean bedding, nourishing food and careful observation. Because antibiotics did not yet exist, treatment largely depended upon allowing the body to recover naturally while preventing complications. Many men improved after a few weeks away from the trenches, particularly once they received decent food and proper sleep.
58TH GENERAL HOSPITAL ST OMER SEPTEMBER 1917
On 8 September George was transferred to the 58th General Hospital. Saint-Omer was a major medical centre behind the British lines in northern France, containing several large military hospitals. Here George would have been under more thorough medical supervision while doctors attempted to determine the source of his illness.
COMMAND DEPOT SEPTEMBER 1917
By 23 September he had recovered sufficiently to move to the Boulogne-Sur-Mer Command Depot, and four days later he was transferred to No. 10 Command Depot at Écault. These depots acted as holding and rehabilitation centres for soldiers recovering from illness or wounds before they were considered fit enough to return to active duty. George would again have undergone medical inspections, light training and gradual conditioning exercises designed to rebuild his strength after illness.
REJOINED UNIT OCTOBER 1917 BELGIUM
On 11 October he marched out to rejoin his unit via Le Havre, and on 14 October 1917 he rejoined the battalion in Belgium.
PROMOTED LANCE SERGEANT OCTOBER 1917
George had now become a seasoned veteran. He had survived Gallipoli, multiple wounds, serious illness and repeated returns to the front. His experience, leadership and resilience were recognised on 14 October 1917 when he was promoted to Lance Sergeant. This rank carried increased authority and responsibility. A Lance Sergeant supervised groups of soldiers, helped organise trench duties, led men during attacks and acted as an important link between officers and the ordinary troops. For a man who had once been punished for being out of bounds in England, it marked a remarkable rise through the ranks earned through endurance and battlefield experience.
OCTOBER 1917 TO MARCH 1918
The months between October 1917 and March 1918 were among the harshest and most exhausting of the war for Australian troops. George’s battalion was heavily involved in the later stages of the Passchendaele fighting in Belgium. The battlefield had become a nightmare landscape of mud, shattered villages and water-filled shell craters. Men struggled simply to move supplies and ammunition forward, often carrying heavy loads along narrow duckboard tracks under enemy shellfire.
During this period the battalion alternated between front-line service, reserve positions and brief periods of rest behind the lines. Even when not attacking, life remained dangerous. German artillery bombarded roads, camps and trenches day and night, while raiding parties and snipers ensured there was rarely true safety. The cold winter of 1917–1918 added further misery. Men endured freezing rain, mud-filled trenches and inadequate shelter while trying to keep weapons and equipment functioning.
The battalion also spent time rebuilding after the enormous casualties suffered during the Ypres offensive. Reinforcements arrived regularly, many of them young and inexperienced, and seasoned veterans like George played an important role training and guiding newer men. As a Lance Sergeant, George would have supervised working parties, trench routines and small groups of soldiers during both combat and daily duties.
By early 1918 the German Army was preparing for its great Spring Offensive, although the Australians did not yet know exactly when or where it would strike. The battalion remained in Belgium maintaining trench systems, conducting patrols and preparing defensive positions through the difficult winter months.
LEAVE IN ENGLAND MARCH 1918
On 11 March 1918 George was granted leave to England. Leave was greatly valued by front-line soldiers and offered a brief escape from the strain of war. For men like George, who had spent years enduring Gallipoli, wounds, illness and the brutal conditions of the Western Front, even a short period away from the guns and mud was enormously important both physically and mentally.
OPERATION MICHAEL MARCH 1918
After his leave in England, George returned to France on 26 March 1918 at a critical moment in the war. Only days earlier the Germans had launched their massive Spring Offensive, known as Operation Michael, in a desperate attempt to break the Allied armies before large numbers of American troops could arrive. The Australian divisions were rushed south from Belgium to help stop the German advance toward Amiens.
The 18th Battalion was heavily involved in the bitter defensive fighting around the Somme region during April 1918. The battalion spent these weeks moving rapidly between threatened sectors, digging defensive positions, holding trenches under heavy shellfire and participating in counter-attacks designed to slow the German advance. Conditions were chaotic and exhausting, with little rest as the Australians fought to stabilise the line.
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT APRIL 1918
George’s experience and leadership were clearly valued during this dangerous period. On 24 April 1918 he was promoted to Sergeant, a significant step upward in responsibility. A sergeant carried major duties within the battalion. He supervised sections and platoon routines, maintained discipline, organised working parties and often led men directly during attacks or defensive actions. In battle, sergeants were essential to keeping units functioning when officers became casualties, which happened frequently during the intense fighting of 1918.
By this stage George was a hardened veteran with service stretching back to Gallipoli. He had survived severe wounds, trench foot, repeated illnesses and years at the front. Younger soldiers and reinforcements would have looked to experienced NCOs like him for guidance and confidence under fire.
AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL JUNE 1918
On 18 June 1918 George was awarded the Military Medal. The Military Medal was a highly respected decoration awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted men for acts of bravery and devotion to duty under fire. Instituted during the First World War, it recognised courage in the battlefield short of the level required for the Distinguished Conduct Medal or Victoria Cross.
Unfortunately, many service files do not record the precise action for which the medal was awarded. In George’s case, the citation does not appear in the attestation papers, but the award itself indicates he performed a notable act of courage or leadership during active operations. Considering the timing, it is very likely connected with the fierce fighting of the German Spring Offensive in April and May 1918, when Australian troops were heavily engaged in defensive and counter-attacking operations around Villers-Bretonneux and the Somme.
The award was later officially published, or “promulgated,” in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 23 of 12 February 1919. Publication in the Gazette formally recorded the honour as part of Australia’s official military records.
APPOINTED TEMPORARY COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR SEPTEMBER 1918
On 1 September 1918 he was appointed temporary Company Sergeant Major while attached to the transport section of the battalion. The Company Sergeant Major was one of the senior non-commissioned appointments within a company and carried enormous administrative and disciplinary responsibility. Even temporarily filling such a role demonstrated the confidence his superiors placed in him.
REVERTED TO SERGEANT SEPTEMBER 1918
A few days later, on 13 September 1918, he reverted to Sergeant upon rejoining the battalion from the transport section. This suggests he had been temporarily detached for duties connected with battalion transport or supply operations before returning to normal company duties.
ATTENDED 22ND LEWIS GUN COURSE SCHOOL SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 1918
George attended the 22nd Lewis Gun Course at the Australian School at Mussy-sur-Seine. The Lewis Gun was one of the most important infantry weapons of the war — a light machine gun capable of providing rapid mobile fire during attacks and defensive actions. Australian units relied heavily upon skilled Lewis gunners by 1918.
The course would have involved intensive instruction in stripping and cleaning the gun, firing drills, changing drums, clearing stoppages and tactical deployment in battle. Men also practised range estimation, target engagement and advancing under fire while supporting infantry attacks. The notation that George qualified as “1st Class” in examination and range practices shows he performed very well and demonstrated a high level of competence with the weapon.
By late 1918 the Australian Corps had become one of the most experienced and effective formations on the Western Front. During August and September, the Australians participated in the great Allied offensive known as the “Advance to Victory,” breaking through German defensive positions along the Somme and Hindenburg Line. The fighting was fast-moving compared with earlier trench warfare, with villages, ridges and strongpoints captured in rapid succession.
Experienced NCOs like George were crucial during this period. Sergeants often led Lewis gun teams directly in combat, helping suppress enemy machine-gun nests and protecting advancing infantry. His attendance at the course suggests the battalion intended to use his combat experience in training or leadership involving Lewis gun sections.
DISCIPLINED
An entry dated 28 September 1918 indicates that while attending this course he forfeited two days’ pay for misconduct. Even experienced and decorated soldiers occasionally fell foul of military discipline, particularly within the Australian forces where attitudes toward authority could sometimes be relaxed. Compared with his long and distinguished service, however, this was only a minor blemish in an otherwise remarkable wartime record.
ATTACHED TO THE SCHOOL
On 30 October 1918 George was attached to the Lewis Gun School at Mussy-sur-Seine. This likely meant he remained there temporarily either for advanced instruction, assisting with training or performing duties connected with the school itself. By then the war was entering its final weeks, although heavy fighting still continued in places along the front.
WAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1919
The next entry, dated 29 November 1918, records that George was detached from the permanent cadre of the 5th Training Battalion. The Armistice had been signed on 11 November 1918, ending the fighting, and the AIF was beginning the enormous task of demobilisation. Men with long service and good records were gradually being prepared for return home to Australia.
Finally, on 10 December 1918 George was transferred to the 5th General Service Reinforcements and marked for return to Australia. After more than three years overseas — including Gallipoli, the trenches of France and Belgium, severe wounds, illness, trench foot and repeated returns to active duty — his war service was finally drawing to an end.
THE LONG WAIT TO GO HOME
After being selected for return to Australia, George entered the long demobilisation process that occupied the AIF after the Armistice. On 12 December 1918 he was sent to Heytesbury Camp on Salisbury Plain. Heytesbury was one of several large camps used to process Australian soldiers awaiting repatriation home.
For many men this period felt strange after years of war. The danger and urgency of the front line had vanished, replaced by waiting, paperwork, medical inspections and endless military administration. Soldiers attended parades, underwent final medical examinations and prepared their records for discharge, while also enjoying far greater freedom than during wartime service. Sporting competitions, concerts and leave became common as authorities tried to maintain morale among thousands of impatient troops eager to return home.
George had now spent over three years overseas. During that time, he had served at Gallipoli, fought on the Western Front, survived severe wounds and illness, endured trench foot and risen steadily through the ranks to Sergeant. His Military Medal marked him as a decorated veteran, and like many long-serving Australians he had seen much more than most civilians at home could imagine.
On 25 January 1919 he moved again through the repatriation system to Weymouth, one of the principal embarkation points for Australian troops returning home. Weymouth’s harbour was crowded during this period with troopships carrying thousands of soldiers back across the world after the war’s end.
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
GOING HOME MARCH 1919
Finally, in late March 1919, George embarked aboard the HMAT Euripides for Australia. The voyage home was far different from the anxious troop convoys of 1915. The war was over, and although many men still carried physical wounds or emotional scars, there was enormous relief and excitement at finally heading home.
The trip took several weeks, usually travelling through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean before reaching Australia. Soldiers filled the time with concerts, sports, card games and endless discussions about civilian life awaiting them. Yet for many veterans there was also uncertainty, as they tried to imagine returning to ordinary life after years shaped entirely by war.
On 25 April 1919 — poignantly, the fourth anniversary of the Gallipoli landings — George disembarked in Sydney. It was a fitting date for a Gallipoli veteran to return home. He came back not as the young man who had sailed away on the Runic in 1915, but as a seasoned and decorated veteran who had endured some of the harshest campaigns fought by the Australian Imperial Force during the Great War
FOR HIS SERVICE
He was examined at the Garrison Hospital Sydney on the same day and declared fit for discharge. He was discharged on 17th June 1919. For his service George was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
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