PERSONAL LIFE

Victor Carlyle Graham was born in 1896 in Lismore, son of Robert Fanny Graham. There is little information about his family and by the date of Victor’s enlistment he was under the guardianship of William Oliver Irvine, a well-known Uki resident who was the first auctioneer in Uki and built the sale yards on corner Mitchell St. & Rowland's Ck Rd.

ATTESTATION

Victor travelled to Nambour on 9^th March 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in the Lismore, was, 19 years 1 month old and a single man. He gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his guardian, W.O. Irvine, of Uki and he was presently with the Act. Section Commander, 7^th Infantry, Moreton Regiment.

CITIZEN MILITARY FORCES

Before enlisting Victor already had military experience through his service with the Citizen Military Forces. As a member of the 7th Infantry, Moreton Regiment, a Queensland militia unit, he undertook regular part-time training that included drill, route marching, musketry, and field exercises. This service provided him with a grounding in military discipline and infantry tactics well before the outbreak of war.

By the time he presented himself for enlistment on 9 March 1915, aged just 19, Victor was serving as an Acting Section Commander within his unit. In this role he was responsible for leading a small group of men on parade and in training, supervising their conduct and efficiency, and conveying orders from platoon leadership. Although the appointment was temporary rather than substantive, it indicates that he had demonstrated reliability and leadership qualities and was trusted to assume the duties of a junior non-commissioned officer.

This prior service meant that Victor entered the AIF not as a raw recruit, but as a young soldier who was already familiar with military routine and the responsibilities of command — experience that would have been regarded as valuable as Australia’s forces expanded rapidly in 1915.

SECTION COMMANDER — WHAT HE DID

An infantry section at the time consisted of roughly 8–12 men.

As an Acting Section Commander, Victor would have been responsible for:

·       Leading his section on parade and in the field

·       Enforcing discipline and drill

·       Supervising weapons handling and musketry

·       Passing orders from platoon leadership

·      Looking after the welfare and efficiency of his men

In essence, he was already doing junior NCO work before enlisting.

PERMISSION TO ENLIST IF UNDER 21 YEARS OLD

As Victor was only 19 William Irvine signed his consent for Victor to enlist on 8^th March 1915

ATTESTATION CONTINUED

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. He also signed that he was prepared to undergo inoculation against small pox & enteric fever

PAGE 2

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, Victor Carlyle Graham, 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 9 inches tall (1.75m), weighed 10 stone 2 lbs (64kgs), with a dark complexion, hazel eyes & dark hair. His eyesight was good

Victor was Methodist and had a brown stain on the back of his left thigh

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION

He states he has examined the abovenamed person, and finds 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 officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He accordingly approves, and appointed him to the 5^th Light Horse Regiment, 8^th reinforcements as a private with service No 1167

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

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

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

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

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

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

HORSEMANSHIP TRAINING

Enoggera was the main mobilisation and training camp for Queensland Light Horse units in 1914–1915.

As well as the basic training as described above, light horseman also trained in the following

·       Mounted drill and horsemastership

·       Rifle and musketry training

·       Stable duties and horse care

·       Route marching and field exercises

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM BRISBANE TO EGYPT

On the 16^th August 1915 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Kyarra. Alongside his comrades, Victor 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.

SAILING WITH HORSES

When Victor stepped aboard the Kyarra, he was not only beginning his own long journey to war but also taking responsibility for a living companion — his horse. Unlike the infantrymen who embarked with little more than their rifles and kit, the Light Horsemen spent much of the voyage tending to the animals that would carry them through future battles.

DAILY DUTIES

Below decks, the Kyarra had been fitted with rows of stalls. Each morning at first light, Victor and his comrades made their way down into the cramped, airless hold to feed, water, and clean up after their horses. The heat, smell, and flies could be overpowering, but the routine was strict and unrelenting: feed measured out carefully, water rationed, and the heavy work of mucking out stalls done daily to keep the animals healthy. When weather allowed, the horses were brought on deck to stretch their legs, led slowly around the ship, or lifted in slings to keep their muscles supple.

The rest of the day was divided between horse duty, parades, and training. On deck, the men drilled with their rifles, practised bayonet work, and kept up their physical fitness.

EATING, SLEEPING & RECREATION

The ship was crowded, hammocks and bunks jammed together, and meals were plain—bully beef, hard biscuits, and tea—but the men kept themselves occupied with cards, writing letters, or impromptu concerts. Seasickness was common, especially in the early days, and many struggled with the reek of horseflesh combined with the rolling sea.

Victor, like many of his regiment, came from country life and was used to handling horses; brushing down his mount or leading it carefully around the deck gave him a small sense of normality amid the voyage’s monotony.

The journey was not without loss. Some horses sickened and died despite the best efforts of their handlers and veterinary officers. Their bodies were solemnly hoisted up from the holds and buried at sea, a sight that reminded the men of the fragility of both beast and soldier in the campaign ahead

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.

TRAINING IN EGYPT

On arrival in Egypt, Victor passed through Anzac Base, where newly arrived reinforcements were processed, medically inspected, and temporarily accommodated while awaiting allocation to their units. This period was largely administrative but also allowed men and horses to recover from the long sea voyage before resuming full duties.

Victor was taken on strength of the 5th Light Horse Regiment at Maadi Camp, south of Cairo. Maadi was the principal training centre for Australian Light Horse units and was ideally suited to mounted training, with extensive horse lines, open desert ground, and established rifle ranges. There, Victor rejoined his regiment and commenced an intensive programme designed to prepare both man and horse for active service in desert conditions.

Training at Maadi focused heavily on horsemastership and mounted manoeuvre, with daily riding, stable duties, and endurance work to rebuild the condition of the horses after transport. Victor would have been responsible for the care, feeding, watering, and grooming of his own horse, alongside participating in squadron and regimental drills across the desert terrain.

In addition to mounted training, the regimen included musketry and weapons instruction, field tactics, route marches, and extended exercises conducted in heat and sand, intended to accustom the men to the physical demands of campaigning in Egypt and beyond. Navigation, scouting, and rapid movement over open ground were emphasised, reflecting the evolving role of the Light Horse in mobile desert warfare.

By early 1916, the 5th Light Horse was engaged in steady training and reorganisation following the Gallipoli campaign, and Victor’s time at Maadi formed an essential period of preparation before the regiment moved into active operations in the Sinai and Middle East theatres.

DESERT OPERATIONS JANUARY 1916

After leaving Alexandria on 10 January 1916, Victor Carlyle Graham moved with the 5th Light Horse as the regiment transitioned from static training around Cairo to forward desert operations in support of the Suez Canal defences.

MOVEMENT INTO THE CANAL ZONE

The regiment travelled by rail and staged marches eastward into the Suez Canal Zone.

Men and horses did not move directly to a forward post in one continuous journey; instead, they advanced in echelons, pausing at intermediate camps to allow horses to rest, water, and acclimatise.

TRAINING AND ACCLIMATISATION

During this period Victor would have been engaged in:

·       Extended desert marches to harden both men and horses

·       Mounted patrols and reconnaissance training, often over unfamiliar terrain

·       Outpost and picquet duties, learning to hold ground and observe enemy movement

·       Navigation and night movement, essential for canal defence work

·       Continued weapons training, including firing practice in open desert conditions

This phase represented a shift from camp-based training at Maadi to operational preparation, with exercises increasingly resembling active service.

CANAL DEFENCE AND GARRISON DUTIES

The 5th Light Horse was part of the force screening and defending the Suez Canal against Ottoman incursions from Sinai.

Victor would have taken part in:

·       Canal patrols

·       Desert outposts

·       Escorting convoys and guarding water points

Although enemy contact was limited during early 1916, the work was demanding, involving long hours in heat, sand, and wind.

ARRIVAL AT SERAPEUM FEBRUARY 1916

By 23 February 1916, the regiment had concentrated at Serapeum, a major Light Horse and ANZAC camp on the western bank of the Suez Canal. Serapeum served as a staging and training base, a hub for mounted patrols into Sinai and a key defensive position guarding the central sector of the canal

From February 1916, Victor served with the 5th Light Horse Regiment in the Suez Canal Zone and western Sinai, following the regiment’s concentration at Serapeum. During this period, the 5th Light Horse formed part of the mounted screen responsible for defending the canal against renewed Ottoman attack while simultaneously preparing for offensive operations into the Sinai Peninsula.

The regiment’s daily work consisted of mounted patrols, reconnaissance, and outpost duties conducted across wide tracts of desert east of the canal. Troopers operated in small, mobile groups, often riding long distances to observe enemy movement, guard railheads and water points, and maintain a forward presence in exposed positions. Training continued under these operational conditions and included extended endurance rides, tactical manoeuvre, night patrols, and weapons training, all carried out in extreme heat and sand. The physical demands on both men and horses were considerable, with long hours in the saddle, limited water, and frequent bivouacking in the open desert.

BATTLE OF ROMANI AUGUST 1916

In early August 1916, the regiment was engaged in operations connected with the Battle of Romani, a major Ottoman attempt to seize the Suez Canal. Between 3 and 5 August, enemy forces advanced across the Sinai toward the canal but were met by entrenched infantry and highly mobile mounted units, including the Light Horse. The role of the 5th Light Horse during and immediately after the battle involved screening movements, mounted patrols, pursuit of withdrawing enemy forces, and securing ground and water sources as Ottoman troops were driven back eastward into the desert. The battle marked a decisive turning point, removing the immediate threat to the canal and allowing Allied forces to begin a sustained advance into Sinai.

HOSPITALISED MILD ILLNESS AUGUST 1916

On 5 August 1916, Victor Carlyle Graham was admitted sick to 31st General Hospital, suffering from a mild illness. Given the timing and the regiment’s operations in the Sinai following the fighting at Romani, this would have involved his evacuation from the forward area to a larger medical facility, where he received rest, fluids, light diet, and observation rather than surgical treatment. Conditions in the desert at that time — intense heat, fatigue, and limited water — commonly resulted in such illnesses among mounted troops.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1916

Victor remained under care for several weeks, and after recovering sufficiently he was discharged from hospital and rejoined his unit on 30 August 1916, returning to active service with the 5th Light Horse as the regiment continued its operations in the Sinai, returning to duty as the 5th Light Horse prepared for further operations eastward toward Magdhaba and Rafa.

SINAI 1917

By 1917, Victor was serving with the 5th Light Horse Regiment during the Australian mounted advance from Sinai into southern Palestine. Following their successes at Romani, Magdhaba, and Rafa in the previous year, the regiment took part in mounted operations supporting British attempts to break the Ottoman defensive line at Gaza.

FIRST BATTLE OF GAZA MARCH 1917

The First Battle of Gaza (26 March 1917) saw British and ANZAC forces attempt to capture the strategically important town of Gaza, a key point on the coastal road and rail line. The 5th Light Horse Regiment played a vital role in screening the flanks, conducting reconnaissance, and securing water points, while infantry attempted to press the town. Despite initial advances, confusion and miscommunication, coupled with the effective Ottoman defensive positions, forced a withdrawal. The regiment’s work was physically demanding, involving long desert marches, extended patrols, and constant readiness to respond to enemy movement

SECOND BATTLE OF GAZA APRIL 1917

Only weeks later, the Second Battle of Gaza (17–19 April 1917) sought once more to seize the town. This time, the 5th Light Horse and other mounted units were again heavily engaged in screening and flanking operations, covering infantry advances, and preventing Ottoman forces from reinforcing key positions. The battle involved intense rifle and artillery fire, and the regiment’s patrols helped protect supply lines and maintain situational awareness in difficult desert terrain. Despite determined attacks, the British and ANZAC forces were unable to break through, and Gaza remained in Ottoman hands, highlighting the challenges of desert warfare and well-prepared enemy defence

RECUPERATION APRIL 1917 PORT SAID

The strain of these operations, combined with continuous patrols, long hours in the saddle, heat, dust, and minimal rest, necessitated periods of recuperation. On 19 August 1917, Victor was sent to a rest camp at Port Said, a major centre for leave and recuperation in Egypt. At this time, he was temporarily struck off the strength of the 5th Light Horse Regiment, an administrative measure reflecting his absence while at the rest camp rather than any disciplinary action or change in posting.

Life at Port Said offered a marked contrast to the hardships of the desert. Victor would have had proper accommodation, regular meals, and access to fresh water, with opportunities for rest, exercise, and social interaction. Men could attend organised recreation, write letters home, and receive medical checks if needed. The camp provided a chance to recover physically and mentally, restoring energy before returning to the rigours of mounted service in Palestine. For many soldiers, even this brief respite was a welcome relief from the relentless heat, dust, and fatigue of desert operations.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917

After returning from his rest at Port Said on 29 August 1917, Victor rejoined the 5th Light Horse Regiment at a forward camp in the southern Sinai. Life in the desert, though less frenetic than during battles, was still physically demanding and structured around both mounted duties and regimental training.

TYPICAL DAILY ROUTINE

Early morning (before sunrise) the men rose before dawn to feed, water, and groom their horses, clean stables, and prepare for the day’s duties. The desert heat made early hours the only practical time for strenuous work.

Morning patrols or training rides: Victor would have taken part in mounted patrols across the Sinai desert, sometimes alone or in small groups, observing enemy lines, scouting for Ottoman movements, and testing the endurance of men and horses over long desert tracks. On quieter days, these rides became training exercises, including mounted manoeuvres, gallops, and rapid deployment drills.

Midday rest: With temperatures soaring, men sought shade while horses rested. Food and water were rationed carefully. Victor would have had brief periods to write letters home, check equipment, or attend regimental briefings.

Afternoon exercises: The regiment conducted musketry practice, squadron manoeuvres, and flanking drills. Troopers practiced coordinated movements, signalling, and rapid response to simulated enemy action — essential preparation for the coming offensive.

Evening duties: Men resumed feeding, watering, and grooming horses, repaired equipment, and maintained stables. Night sentries were posted at outposts and along water points to watch for enemy activity.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS AUG–DEC 1917

Late August–September: Desert patrols intensified, monitoring Ottoman positions and securing the forward edge of the Sinai. Victor’s routine included escort of supply convoys, mounted reconnaissance, and picket duty, ensuring that the regiment remained prepared for sudden action.

October–November: As the Third Battle of Gaza approached, patrols became longer and more tactical. Victor would have been involved in screening the flanks of infantry units, rapid desert advances, and reconnaissance raids behind Ottoman lines. Days often began before dawn and ended after sunset, with little respite between marches and duties.

Post-Beersheba (late November–December): After the capture of Gaza and Beersheba, the regiment transitioned to holding and consolidating territory, maintaining water and supply lines, and continuing patrols to prevent Ottoman counterattacks. Routine still included mounted patrols, horse maintenance, and field exercises.

RECOGNITION AND PROMOTION DECEMBER 1917

Throughout these months, Victor’s reliability, horsemanship, and leadership became increasingly apparent. He would have been responsible not only for his own horse and duties but also for assisting newer or less experienced troopers, instructing them in patrol work, mounted drills, and desert survival. His consistent performance and ability to lead small groups were recognised when he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 14 December 1917, marking him as a trusted and experienced non-commissioned officer within the regiment.

DECEMBER 1917 – AUGUST 1918

After his promotion to Lance Corporal on 14 December 1917, Victor continued with the 5th Light Horse Regiment as they consolidated their positions in southern Palestine following the capture of Gaza and Beersheba. The early months of 1918 were a period of both holding operations and preparation for further advances.

OPERATIONS AND DUTIES

Defensive and patrol work: Victor’s troop would have been responsible for maintaining security over captured territory, including guarding key roads, water points, and rail lines, and conducting mounted reconnaissance patrols to monitor Ottoman activity in the surrounding desert.

Mounted training and manoeuvres: Even during relatively quiet periods, training remained essential. Victor would have led or participated in mounted drills, squadron exercises, and rapid deployment simulations, ensuring men and horses were ready for sudden action.

Long-distance desert patrols: The Light Horse regularly undertook extended patrols across open desert and semi-arid plains, often over 20–30 km in a day, testing endurance, navigation, and horsemanship. These patrols were physically demanding and often in hot, dusty conditions with limited water.

Logistical support: Troopers also escorted supply convoys, transported messages between units, and maintained contact with infantry and artillery detachments — vital tasks for sustaining operational readiness.

Although there were no major battles during this period, the work was still arduous and demanding, with the men exposed to heat, sand, flies, and fatigue. Constant vigilance was required, and the combination of desert conditions and continuous patrol work often led to illness or exhaustion — something many men, including Victor, would experience.

HOSPITALISATION AUGUST 1918

By August 1918, after months of these strenuous conditions, Victor was admitted seriously ill, to hospital, reflecting the cumulative effects of prolonged service in the harsh desert environment while serving in Palestine

He was evacuated through the medical chain, being admitted first to a dressing station in Jerusalem before transfer to the 66th Casualty Clearing Station and then to the 47th Stationary Hospital at Deir el Belah near Gaza. As his condition stabilised, he was moved to Egypt, where he received further treatment at the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Kantara.

TRANSFER TO CONVALESCENT DEPOT & GRANTED LEAVE

By mid-September he was well enough to be transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Port Said, and on 21 September 1918 he was discharged to Administrative Headquarters and granted leave, indicating his recovery and readiness to return to duty.

APPOINTED TEMPORARY SERGEANT DECEMBER 1918

In October 1918 Victor rejoined the 5th Regiment in Palestine following leave, and later that month underwent routine typhoid inoculation. On 6 December 1918 he was appointed Temporary Sergeant, replacing Sergeant Anderson, and was subsequently selected for return to Australia on repatriation leave.

WAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1918

When the fighting ended on 11 November 1918, the AIF was deployed in three main areas:

·       some 95,000 men were in France

·       some 6000 were in hospitals, convalescing, in reinforcement depots or working on the staff in the United Kingdom

·       some 30,000 were in the Middle East or other theatres of war

Most soldiers on overseas service wanted to return home as quickly as possible. After some deliberation, the Prime Minister decided that the criteria for returning men to Australia would be based on length of service, family responsibilities and 'assured employment'

By late December 1918, Monash urged that the criteria for demobilisation were to be:

·       length of service

·       family responsibilities

·       assured employment

Those who had served on Gallipoli would go home first. This was agreed in principle, with some conditions to give flexibility. For example, some men not meeting the three criteria could be returned earlier if they were 'pivotal' to the needs of Australian industry. With the policy agreed on, Monash developed the process by which troops were sent home.

AIF Divisions created quotas of 1000 men who met the three criteria and organised them as 'battalions' to be shipped home at the right time. The battalions were roughly the right size for transportation on trains and ships.

To maintain morale amongst the troops, quotas typically included:

·       a brass band

·       some recreation and education staff

As ships appeared on the docks, quotas were ordered to fill them. Then the ships returned to Australia

GOING HOME

In April 1919 he was marched to Moascar Camp, Egypt, and embarked at Port Said aboard HMAT Dorset as part of the early repatriation draft. He returned to Australia on 29 April 1919, bringing his active overseas service to a close

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

Victor was issued clothing & necessaries for his voyage home- see images

FOR HIS SERVICE

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

HOME LIFE

Victor married Florence Eva Gray (details unknown). He died in Canberra on 1^st November, 1966 and is buried in Woden Cemetery.  His memorial is in Rockwood Cemetery in the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance. 

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