Herbert McDonough was born in 1896 in Murwillumbah, son of William & Mary McDonough. His name was registered as Herbert only.

ATTESTATION

Herbert travelled to Brisbane on 7^th October 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in Murwillumbah, was, 21 years and 6 months old and a single man. He gave his occupation as shop assistant. His next of kin was his mother, brother, J.M. McDonough of East Murwillumbah and he had spent one year in the Murwillumbah Infantry, from which he resigned

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

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

He also signed that he was prepared to undergo inoculation against smallpox & enteric fever

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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, Herbert Cecil McDonough, 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 8 ½ inches tall (1.72m), weighed 9 stone (57kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. He was Church of England and had 2 vaccination scars on his right arm

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

He was enlisted as a private into the 25^th Infantry Battalion – 7^th Reinforcements

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

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

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

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

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

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

AWL

Herbet was to report to C Company depot battalion on 7^th December 1915, and the quartermaster subsequently advised he did not report on that and on 17^th January 1916 reported him absent without leave from 7^th December 1915 to that date.

LETTER DATED 5^TH DECEMBER 1915

“I trust you will pardon the liberty I take in writing to you. As you are aware I have been suffering from rheumatism and was recommended for a discharge from the A.I.F. I got that bad that it was impossible for me to go any longer without some treatment. I could not eat or sleep and was utterly run down. I was probably be put into the general hospital. He goes on to say he will get a certificate”

There is no reply in the records

COURT OF ENQUIRY

This was held on 12^th January 1916 at Bells Paddock, Enoggera and Herbert was declared a deserter

HOME LIFE

He married Alice Louisa Marriott in 1915 in Murwillumbah. 

They had 2 sons, Rex, 1919 and Eric 1921. Bert died on 1^st December 1963 in Hurstville and is buried in Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, plot RC 5 213

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