FAMILY LIFE

Ernest Maximilian Worthington was born on the 13^th June 1873, according to wikiree.com, in Ryde, son of James & Eliza (Page) Worthington. He was the second oldest of 8 siblings. He appears to have moved to Murwillumbah sometime about 1916 as his son, Richard, was born in Murwillumbah in that year as was all his other children from that time

ATTESTATION

James travelled to Lismore from his home at Round Mountain on 7^th September 1917 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was 44 years and 2 months old and a married man with 4 children under the age of 16, one of whom, Tony, had been born on the 12^th November 1917. He gave his occupation as carpenter & body builder. His next of kin was his wife, Mary, of Round Mountain via Murwillumbah and he had spent five years as a volunteer in the Murwillumbah Infantry as well as 5 years in the Engineers.

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 smallpox & enteric fever

He also answered yes to the statement made by married men, widowers with children and soldiers who are the sole support of widowed mothers- do you understand that no separational allowance will be issued in respect of your service beyond an amount which together with pay would reach ten shillings per day?

Ernest also agreed to allot three fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during his service to the support of his wife

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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, Ernest Maxmilian Worthington, 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 6 inches tall (1.68m), weighed 10 stone (64kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. His eyesight was good and he needed dental treatment. Ernest was Church of England and had a scar on his right breast

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 was completed at Engineer Depot, Moore Park on 1^st November 1917. 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 Engineer Reinforcements, 2^nd MD with service No 22188

TRAINING ENGINEER DEPOT, MOORE PARK

When Ernest enlisted on 7 September 1917 as an engineer reinforcement, he would have begun training within the military district system of 2nd Military District (New South Wales). By November 1917 his record places him at the Engineer Depot, Moore Park, which was the principal engineer training establishment in Sydney.

The Engineer Depot occupied part of the old Sydney Showground area at Moore Park. By 1917 it was a busy military camp filled with recruits at various stages of training, men awaiting embarkation, returned soldiers recovering from illness, and specialist instructors. Unlike infantry recruits, engineer reinforcements required both military and technical instruction.

During his first weeks Ernest would have learned the basics of soldiering. Every day included drill, physical training, route marching, rifle instruction, bayonet fighting, military discipline, and fieldcraft. Recruits spent many hours on the parade ground learning to move and act as a unit. Long marches carrying full equipment were intended to build endurance for service overseas.

As an engineer reinforcement, however, much of his training would have gone beyond ordinary infantry work. Sappers were expected to become practical problem-solvers. Ernest would likely have received instruction in:

·      Construction of trenches and dugouts.

·      Barbed-wire entanglements and obstacle construction.

·      Road making and repair.

·      Bridge building and maintenance.

·      Timber work and carpentry.

·      Use of picks, shovels, axes, saws and other engineering tools.

·      Military surveying and simple map reading.

·      Water supply and sanitation.

·      Handling explosives for demolition work.

·      Construction of defensive positions and strongpoints.

The Australian engineers placed considerable emphasis on practical work. Men often spent entire days digging trenches, erecting bridges, laying roads, or constructing field works. The intention was to prepare them for the immense labour expected on the Western Front.

Life at Moore Park was generally more comfortable than conditions overseas but was still far from luxurious. The men lived in huts or large bell tents depending on accommodation availability. Sydney's spring and summer weather could make the camp hot and dusty, while heavy rain quickly turned parts of the ground into mud. Reveille sounded early, usually around 6 a.m., and the day was tightly scheduled until evening.

Food was plain but plentiful by military standards. Meals commonly consisted of bread, meat, potatoes, tea, porridge and stew. Complaints about repetitive meals were common, but recruits were generally better fed than many civilians during the war.

Evenings provided some freedom. Men wrote letters, attended concerts, visited Sydney on leave, or spent time with family if they lived locally. Moore Park's location near the city meant recruits had far more access to civilian life than soldiers training in isolated country camps.

By the time Ernest left the Engineer Depot he would have been transformed from a civilian recruit into a trained sapper, capable not only of fighting as a soldier but also of carrying out the specialised engineering tasks upon which the Australian divisions depended. When he eventually embarked for overseas service, the Army expected him to arrive in England already possessing the fundamental skills needed for further advanced engineer training before joining an operational field company at the front.

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day

DENTAL WORK

Many recruits needed dental work done and on the 21^st October 1917 Ernest needed treatment on 15 of this, with one to be extracted and 3-4 to fill

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND

On the 21^st March 1918 the recruits left Brisbane, sailing upon the HMAT Persic A34. Alongside his comrades, Ernest 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

ENGLAND

About a fortnight later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.

ENGLAND MAY 1918

When Ernest's transport arrived in England on 24 May 1918, he was not sent immediately to a fighting unit. Instead, like most Australian reinforcements, he entered the large training and administration system on Salisbury Plain. Ernest was marched into Details No. 3 Camp, Parkhouse" one of the Australian reinforcement camps situated near the village of Parkhouse, north of Tidworth on Salisbury Plain. This area had become the heart of the Australian training organisation in Britain. Tens of thousands of Australian soldiers passed through the camps there during the war.

For Ernest, arriving at Parkhouse would have been quite a contrast to Sydney. Salisbury Plain was a vast, windswept military training area. The camp consisted of long rows of huts, parade grounds, stores, workshops and training facilities. In spring 1918 the weather could be cold, wet and miserable compared with Australia, and many new arrivals struggled to adapt to the English climate.

During his first days he would have:

·      Undergone medical inspections.

·      Had his records checked and updated.

·      Been issued with any additional equipment required for service in France.

·      Received information about conditions on the Western Front.

·      Been assessed according to his trade and engineering qualifications.

Once processed, his training would have become more specialised. By 1918 the Australian Army wanted engineer reinforcements to arrive in France as close to operational standard as possible. Ernest would have received instruction based on the latest battlefield experience, including:

·      Construction and repair of trenches damaged by shellfire.

·      Bridge construction using military bridging equipment.

·      Road and railway maintenance.

·      Wiring operations close to the front line.

·      Use of explosives and demolitions.

·      Construction of dugouts and strongpoints.

·      Gas precautions and anti-gas drills.

·      Working under simulated artillery fire.

The training was often realistic and physically demanding. Salisbury Plain was deliberately used because its open countryside allowed large-scale exercises resembling battlefield conditions.

The timing of Ernest's arrival was particularly significant. In the spring of 1918, the German Army had launched its great offensive on the Western Front. Casualties among engineer units were substantial, and reinforcements were urgently needed. As a result, training was thorough but generally not prolonged. Once instructors considered a man ready, he would be sent across the Channel to join the Australian Corps in France.

For Ernest, Parkhouse was therefore the final stage of preparation between civilian life and active service. The weeks spent there transformed newly arrived reinforcements into soldiers familiar with the realities of modern warfare before they faced the dangerous and highly skilled work of an Australian sapper on the Western Front.

“SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC 1918”

The 1918 flu pandemic (often called the Spanish flu) was the deadliest in recorded history, caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus. Between 1918 and 1920, it infected roughly a third of the global population (500 million people) and resulted in an estimated 17 million to 50 million deaths worldwide. Military camps were particularly vulnerable because of crowded living conditions. If Ernest contracted influenza in January 1919, he may already have been physically weakened or medically downgraded before ever receiving orders for France.

WAR ENDED 11^th NOVEMBER 1918

The armistice that ended the First World War on the Western Front was signed between Germany and the Allies on 11 November 1918. Once the war ended on 11 November 1918, the need for fresh engineer reinforcements disappeared almost overnight.

Many men who had spent months training in England suddenly found that the war was over before they could be posted overseas.

COLECHESTER MILITARY HOSPITAL JANUARY 1919

The military hospitals around Colchester handled large numbers of Australian troops. Influenza cases varied enormously in severity. Ernest was admitted on 23rd January 1919 with influenza

Treatment generally consisted of:

·      bed rest

·      isolation wards

·      nursing care

·      fluids and nourishment

·      treatment of complications such as pneumonia

A soldier could spend weeks recovering before being considered fit enough for discharge or repatriation.

LACK OF EVIDENCE IN DOCUMENTS

I suspect Ernest spent virtually all of his overseas service in England. After arriving in May 1918, he underwent advanced engineer training on Salisbury Plain and remained in the reinforcement system awaiting a posting. The rapid changes brought about by the end of the war meant that many reinforcements were never required in France. While still serving in England he contracted influenza during the epidemic of early 1919 and was admitted to military hospital at Colchester.

GOING HOME

Following recovery, he was transferred through the repatriation system at Weymouth and London before embarking aboard the Armagh on 5 April 1919 for the long voyage home.

The absence of any entry showing him crossing to France, joining an engineer field company, or being taken on strength of a unit in France,

strongly suggests that Ernest's war service overseas was confined to England. That was not uncommon for men who arrived in Britain during the final year of the war, especially those whose training coincided with the Armistice.

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

Badges Hat                    Badges Collar (2)                    Bags kit universal

Bags kit sea                   Braces (pair)                            Brush, shaving

Brush, tooth                  Breeches M.S (Military service)

Cap comforter (warm cap)                                           Comb, hair

Disc identity with cord                                                  Drawers (2 pairs)

Great Coat                     Hat, Khaki fur                          Hat, white

Holdall                           Housewife (compact sewing kit)

Jackets Cardigan           Jackets S.D (service dress)

Leggings 1 pair             Laces, leather 1 pair

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

Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection 

for the lower leg)

Razor                              Shirts, flannel (2)                   Socks, 3 pairs

Singlets (2)

Strap chin                      Soap piece                               Suit, working

Towels, hand (2)

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

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Ernest was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was discharged on the 20^th May 1919

AFTER THE WAR

Ernest and Mary had a daughter, Marie, born in 1921 and a son, Eric, born in 1923, both born in Murwillumbah. In 1942 he is living in Fingal

DEATH AND BURIAL

Ernest died on the 11^th November 1953, aged 79. He is buried in Murwillumbah Catholic Cemetery, Row 28, Plot 8

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