FAMILY LIFE

Joseph Daniel Withers was born circa 1891 in Murwillumbah, son of John & Mary P (Reilly) (Dixon) Withers. His parents are buried in Murwillumbah cemetery. Both his parents are listed on the Banner St Memorial, Murwillumbah which lists the 2348 pioneer settlers of the Tweed district

ATTESTATION

Joseph travelled to Chermside, Qld on 13^th November 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Murwillumbah, was, 23 years and 2 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as printer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary, of Murwillumbah and he had spent 2 years in the Citizen Forces.

He answered yes to the question had he ever been rejected as unfit to serve and gave “teeth” as the reason. He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following

“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him

OATH

He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Joseph Daniel Withers, 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 10 ½ inches tall (1.79m), weighed 135 lbs (61kgs), with a dark complexion, blue grey eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good. He was now dentally fit. Joe was Roman Catholic. He had tattoo marks on his right forearm being a heart pierced by an arrow.

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 during his training at Enoggera on 29^th January 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 9^th reinforcement 4^th Pioneers with service No 3660”

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

INNOCULATIONS

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

THE UNIFORM

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

SOLDIER’S KIT

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

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

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

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

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

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

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

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

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND

On the 22^nd January 1917 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 24^th January 1917, they embarked on the HMAT Ayrshire A33. Alongside his comrades, Joe 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.

DISCIPLINED

While on the ship Joe was disciplined for neglecting his duty (not specified) and was awarded 4 days CB. On a World War I troopship, CB typically meant Confined to Barracks (or "Confined to Camp/Billets"). It was a standard military disciplinary punishment for minor infractions, which translated to the shipboard environment as confinement to a specific area of the vessel.

Soldiers serving a "CB" sentence during a sea voyage faced strict restrictions and extra duties, including:

·      Restricted movement: Confinement to a specific deck, bunk space, or cabin when not on official duties.

·      Loss of privileges: Often included the stoppage of smoking privileges.

·      Extra punishment drills: Participation in "pack drill," which involved parading and drilling in heavy marching gear, sometimes for hours.

·      Daily deck duty: Being required to stand or parade on deck for specified periods (e.g., from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM) under the watch of a sentry.

·      Roll calls: Mandatory attendance at frequent roll calls and answering to the bell throughout the day.

This punishment was usually handed down by a soldier’s commanding officer for misbehaviour aboard the transport, such as disobeying orders or missing muster, rather than a serious offense that would require the ship captain's intervention

ENGLAND APRIL 1917

On the 12^th April 1917 they stepped ashore in Devonport. When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital. During an interim period, soldiers typically:

·      Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.

·      Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.

·      Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.

·      Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.

·      Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.

Then formal training began. Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.

Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions.

Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.

Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.

Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.

After many months of continuous preparation in England, the men were judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.

DISCIPLINED MAY 1917

Joe went AWL from midnight 28^th May 1917 till 10am 29^th May and was awarded 7 days CC by Major Rutledge and forfeited 1 days’ pay.

CC- CONFINEMENT TO CAMP

Serving 7 days CC is highly restrictive and physically demanding, especially within an infantry battalion. Joe received the same punishment as he had previously on the ship

·      Confinement to the Lines: The soldier cannot leave the base or their designated unit lines. They are completely restricted from taking local leave or going out on weekends. Loss of Privileges: Access to the boozer (base canteen/bar), phones, and general leisure activities is stripped away.

·      Extra Duties and Fatigues: Infantry soldiers will be put to work doing heavy labour, base maintenance, cleaning, or administrative fatigue duties outside of normal working hours.

·      Punishment Parades: The soldier must attend multiple "musters" or check-in parades throughout the day (sometimes as early as 0600 and as late as 2200) in full uniform to ensure they are remaining where they are supposed to be.

·      Pay Docking: AWOL automatically results in a forfeiture of pay for the exact days the soldier was missing, and the CC punishment itself can sometimes be paired with a fine

TRANSFER TO 7^TH FIELD ENGINEERS JUNE 1917

During his time in the camp Joe was transferred to the 7^th Field Engineers on the 7^th June 1917.

DISCIPLINED JULY 1917

On the 3^rd July 1917 Joe was absent from the 6.30am parade. He was awarded 2 days pay and FP No 2 By Lt Withall on 19^th July.

FIELD PUNISHMENT NO 2

In Field punishment no.2, the soldier could be kept in irons to prevent his escape, however was not allowed to be tied to a fixed object, carried out in the units if the punishment was sentenced to less than 14 days. They had to undergo hard labour, made to march in full order with packs and rifles twice daily, usually morning and afternoon. The soldier’s rifle equipment was inspected and if not satisfactory would be further punished.  Soldiers under field punishment no.2 were not allowed to smoke or drink any rum; pay was also lost during this time. If the prisoner messed up, they were sent straight to the bottom of the leave roster and also did at least an hour pack drill every day. The prisoners were only allowed blankets and to sleep on the floor and were under guarded supervision in a room from between the hours of 6pm and 6am. 

FRANCE AUGUST 1917

On the 26^th August he and the recruits arrived in Rouelle, France. They now had another few months of training ahead of them. When a unit arrived in France, they did not immediately join their Battalion. This was entirely normal. Reinforcements arriving in France first passed through the large Australian reinforcement and training system based around Étaples and other depot camps. Here they underwent further training designed specifically for conditions on the Western Front. Life at the camp was demanding and often unpopular. Soldiers underwent intensive training designed to prepare them for trench warfare, including rifle practice, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, gas-mask drills and battlefield exercises. Much of this training took place in the notorious "Bull Ring," where instructors enforced strict discipline and expected high standards from men who were often only days away from entering combat. Many Australian soldiers found the routine exhausting, particularly those who had already served in the trenches and had been sent back through the camp after recovering from wounds or illness. Despite the hardships, the training was intended to ensure that every man reaching the front possessed the skills needed to survive and fight effectively in the harsh conditions of the Western Front.

TAKEN ON STRENGTH 7^TH FIELD ENGINEERS OCTOBER 1917

Joe was taken on strength with the 7^th Field Engineer on 5^th October 1917.

After being taken on strength Joe was serving in the Ypres sector of Belgium when he became sick.

The entries appear to read:

·      13 October 1917 – Admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and then to the 7th Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne via 63rd Casualty Clearing Station.

·      14 October 1917 – Transferred to 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance (likely an administrative entry during evacuation).

·      15 October 1917 – Admitted to 56th General Hospital, Étaples with "debility" (general weakness, exhaustion, or rundown condition).

·      16 October 1917 – Transferred to 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot, Le Havre.

·      26 November 1917 – From the convalescent depot, transferred to No. 6 Convalescent Depot.

·      26 November 1917 – Admitted to No. 6 Convalescent Depot.

·      28 November 1917 – Fit enough to proceed to a reinforcement camp.

·      30 November 1917 – Marched into A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot), Étaples.

·      21 December 1917 – Marched out from the Base Depot for return to his unit in France.

What this means

Joe had only been with the 7th Field Company for about a week when he was evacuated sick from the Ypres area. The autumn of 1917 was one of the worst periods of the war in Flanders. Engineers were working in appalling mud, constructing roads, duckboards, tramways and defensive works behind the Passchendaele battlefield. Men frequently became exhausted, run down, and ill, even when not wounded.

His medical journey followed the normal chain:

·      Field Ambulance – first medical treatment near the front.

·      Casualty Clearing Station – more thorough examination and stabilization.

·      General Hospital at Étaples – major treatment centre on the French coast.

·      Convalescent Depot at Le Havre – recovery and rebuilding strength.

·      Convalescent Depot No. 6 – physical training and preparation for duty.

·      Australian General Base Depot – holding and administration before returning to the front.

The diagnosis of debility suggests he was suffering from exhaustion, weakness, or a general breakdown in health rather than a specific wound. Such cases often required several weeks of rest, better food, and graduated exercise before a man was considered fit for front-line service again.

DISCIPLINED DECEMBER 1917

On the 11^th December, while convalescing, Joe again, went AWL on the 6.15am parade and forfeited 2 day’s pay and 7 days confined to camp. (see above for details)

 REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1917

On the 21^st December 1917 he had recovered sufficiently and was sent back through the Australian reinforcement system to rejoin the 7th Field Company Engineers in France.

Between December 1917 and September 1918, Joseph was almost certainly doing exactly what a sapper of the 7th Field Company Engineers was expected to do on the Western Front. Although his record is silent, the unit itself was very busy throughout this period.

WINTER 1917-1918

After returning from hospital and convalescence, he would have rejoined the company during the winter of 1917–18. The engineers were responsible for building and maintaining roads, bridges, tramways, dugouts and defensive positions, repairing shell-damaged infrastructure, laying barbed wire, constructing strongpoints, and assisting infantry movements. Much of this work was carried out at night and often under artillery fire.

In early 1918 the German Spring Offensive threatened Allied positions. The field companies spent much of their time strengthening rear defensive lines and preparing demolitions should a withdrawal become necessary. By mid-1918, as the Allies regained the initiative, the engineers were heavily involved in bridging streams, repairing roads for advancing troops, clearing obstacles and maintaining communications during the advance that eventually led to the Armistice.

So, although Joseph's record contains no individual entries, he would have spent those nine months performing the difficult and often dangerous engineering work that kept the Australian Corps moving and fighting.

SEPTEMBER 1918 LEAVE

Joe was granted leave from 26^th September to 13^th October 1918.  This was probably one of the leave schemes to the United Kingdom, although occasionally leave was spent in France. Given the length of absence (about 17 days), England is quite possible. A soldier on leave might visit London, Edinburgh, relatives or friends, or simply enjoy a break from front-line conditions.

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.

WHAT WAS THE 7TH FIELD COMPANY DOING THEN?

By late December 1918 the war had been over for six weeks. The Australian engineers were no longer engaged in combat operations. Instead, they were heavily involved in:

·      repairing roads and bridges destroyed during the war

·      clearing battlefield debris

·       salvaging engineering stores

·      dismantling temporary military works

·      assisting with reconstruction work

·      supporting the occupation and administrative forces remaining in France and Belgium

DETACHED JANUARY 1919

It was very common for engineers to be detached for short periods to specialist tasks. However, I am unable to read to where he was detached. The fact that Joseph was detached for only 13 days and then rejoined on 9 January 1919 suggests a temporary working party rather than a transfer to another unit.

FRANCE UNTIL MAY 1919

Joe remained in France till May 1919. This was actually quite normal for engineers. After the Armistice, the Australian government began repatriating men according to a combination of length of service, family circumstances, occupation, and available shipping. Engineers were often retained longer than infantrymen because their skills were needed during the enormous clean-up effort. So, from January to May 1919 Joseph would likely have continued carrying out engineering and reconstruction duties while waiting his turn for repatriation.

GOING HOME

When he finally embarked on the Persic in May 1919, he was one of thousands of Australians gradually being returned home after the long demobilisation process. The voyage home was generally more relaxed than wartime troopship voyages. There was no threat from submarines, and the men spent much of the journey attending lectures, sports, concerts, and planning their return to civilian life. After arriving in Australia and disembarking on 2 September 1919, Joseph's military service was effectively drawing to a close after nearly two years in France. He was discharged on the 11^th October 1919.

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

AFTER THE WAR

Joe requested a duplicate discharge and returned soldier’s badge in August 1948. He was living at Flints Gang, Bromelton, via Beaudesert. The reply stated he must provide a statutory declaration. It also stated that he had already been issued with 2 badges and one duplicated discharge and therefore, after receipt of the items, no more would be issued.

The statutory declaration made by Joe on the 24^th August, 1948 stated “I was crossing in over the Tweed Heads bar on a fishing boat -we hit the bottom and the boat was badly damaged and my port washed overboard by heavy seas. This March 1946.  My badge and discharge were in the port which was never recovered”. Joe received the parcel containing a duplicate Returned Soldier’s Badge & duplicate discharge from Base Records in Canberra delivered to him on 31st August 1948.  

Records show he received a badge on the 20^th October, 1937 as a result of a stat dec with basically the same information as above dated 25^th September 1937 declared at Coolangatta, His address then was c/- A.F. Smith, Eviron Estate, Murwillumbah.

On the 16^th March 1935 another stat dec declared that he had lost his badges which were burnt in my camp while I was working. His address at that time was c/- J.H. Barnes, Crofton Rd, Nimbin.

 FOR HIS SERVICE

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

WORLD WAR II

Joe enlisted in World War II on the 27^th December 1939. He was living in Murwillumbah at the time. His service number was Q187386 and he was in 9 Works Company as a Corporal. He was discharged on 1^st November 1945

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