WAR: 1916
At the beginning of 1916 there were Australian troops stationed on Lemnos Island, men who had been withdrawn from the Gallipoli Peninsula and were waiting to be moved elsewhere. Eventually they would join the rest of the AIF and Light Horse Brigades who were garrisoned in numerous camps around Egypt. Over the coming months they would all be reorganised into an expanded, larger force, in fact in this period the AIF went from two divisions to five and the Light Horse Brigades became an ANZAC Mounted Division.
At the same time the various battalions that made up the AIF were shuffled around so that each would have a mixture of veteran soldiers, from the fighting on Gallipoli, and new recruits, from those who had recently arrived in Egypt. Many local soldiers were then transferred into battalions different to what they had originally left Australia with and some would be promoted. They would all continue to train in the deserts of Egypt until the authorities decided they would be of better use on the Western Front and from March 1916 they began filtering out of Egypt and travelling by ship to France.
January 1st, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: At sea. In a letter to his mother in Lilydale –‘As you see we are at sea. We left Lemnos on the 30th, so this is our third day out. We are on an awful boat. There are about 2000 on board. The accommodation is rotten. We sleep anywhere and everywhere, and the tucker is worse, not half enough, and what there is, is only half cooked. The meat we had for dinner today was nearly raw. Don’t take any notice of my growling as it’s a soldier’s privilege to grumble. Anyway, if all goes well and we don’t meet any ‘tin-fish’ we’ll be in ______ tomorrow. We’re not used to travelling on short rations on board ship for the simple reason that other ships we’re been on have been under the Australian Government, while this one is under the British Government, but still one would think they would do a bit better considering she is such a big ship.
The sea has been like glass, but none of us will be sorry to get off. It’s too anxious a time; you never know when a ‘tin-fish’ (torpedo) is going to strike you. There are lookout men all round the ship. Everybody’s eyes, when you are on deck, are scanning the sea for that little black stick, the periscope of a submarine. The ship steers a most erratic course, zig-zag all the way. We’ve had a French ‘Torpedo Boat Destroyer’ with us all the morning, but she goes on ahead now. We live with our life belts, always ready to grab and put them on at a second’s notice. We are all detailed off to our posts and know exactly where to go. Some go to life boats; others to rafts. The squad I am in (20 of us) go to a raft. On the alarm we grab our life belts and rush to the raft, then await orders. If the ship is doomed our orders are to heave the raft overboard, then jump after it. We practice this every day, all except the heaving and jumping over. At night not a light is to be seen, very awkward getting about the ship in pitch dark’.
January 2nd, 1916 –
Pte Benjamin Sessions (Silvan), 4th Light Horse: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Themistocles.
January 3rd, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In camp in Egypt. In his diary –‘Arrived Tel-el-Kebir 4am, moved into camping ground and waited for daylight. What a kick in the pants for us, after a long nine months out of civilization we thought we’d get a spell in Cairo and here we are in the desert, ninety miles from Cairo, the nearest town is Ismailia, forty-five miles off. We’re between Cairo and the Suez Canal’.
Gnr Alfred Niblett (Lilydale), 19th Battery, Royal Field Artillery: Arrives in Mesopotamia from France with an English force sent to assist the British garrison at Kut that is being besieged by the Turks.
January 4th, 1916 –
Pte Norman Hooke (Kilsyth), 14th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Cairo suffering from measles.
January 5th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Afric:
Tpr Thomas Smith (Lilydale), 3rd Light Horse Regiment:
Gnr James Strachan (Lilydale), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
Gnr Richard Sharp (Yering), 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Frank Austin (Lilydale), 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Gnr William Stewart (Lilydale), 1st Divisional Ammunition Column
Spr Ernest Rae (Mooroolbark), 1st Divisional Signal Company
Pte Percy Johnston (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte Cecil Farr (Mooroolbark), 24th Battalion
Pte Edgar Wilson (Lilydale), 24th Battalion
January 6th, 1916 –
Sgt John Casson (Kilsyth), Army Veterinary Corps: Is admitted to hospital in Cairo suffering from mumps.
Pte Arthur Watson (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged as medically unfit as a result of a long standing injury to his right knee that he received in the work place. He would successfully re-enlist the following year.
January 8th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Stallworthy (Lilydale), 1st Remount Unit: In camp in Egypt. In a postcard to a friend in Lilydale –‘Just a card to say I am keeping very well and enjoying the life here in the desert under canvas. There is some talk of our going to France or England but I do not think there is anything in it, hope there is’.
Henry Rowney (Coldstream): Leaves his job as a gardener and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
January 9th, 1916 –
Dvr Reginald Summers (Seville), 6th Field Artillery Brigade: Is sent to hospital in Cairo suffering from mumps.
January 10th, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (Lemnos) – ‘We stay at Lemnos for a few weeks and spend our first Xmas from home getting our Xmas billies and enjoying a good rest. We are not here long when we are once more put on board, this time on the Simla. Back once more to Egypt, disembarking after a short but not too pleasant journey at Alexandria’.
Pte Marcus Kay (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF as being medically unfit.
John Hogg (Wandin): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
January 11th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin), 1st Remount Unit: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from bronchitis. He would spend much of the year in hospitals in Egypt suffering from various aliments until he was discharged as medically unfit and sent home to Australia.
Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a cheese maker at Cave Hill and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
January 17th, 1916 –
Henry Bamber (Coldstream): Leaves his family’s property in Coldstream and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 22 years old.
Frank Hogg (Wandin): Leaves his father’s property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. His younger brother Gilbert would also enlist in the AIF in a few months’ time.
Arthur Moore (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a waiter and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
January 18th, 1916 –
Trp Ove Ovesen (Seville), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Westalia.
Eric Beggs (Lilydale): Leaves his job with the Postal Department and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
Julius Ozols (Silvan): A Russian immigrant, he leaves his job as a blacksmith in Silvan and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
Alvoria Williams (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a police constable in Claremont WA, where he lives, and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old and married.
William Pettit (Lilydale): Tries to enlist in the AIF but is rejected as being medically unfit.
January 19th, 1916 –
Cpl George Ingram (Seville), Tropical Force: Having contracted malaria while on active service in Rabaul, he is discharged in Melbourne from the Tropical Force as medically unfit. Five hours later he walks into a recruiting depot at the Melbourne Town Hall and enlists in the AIF, changing the spelling of his middle name to avoid detection. His younger brother Alex would also enlist in the AIF a few days later.
Alfred Ackerman (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old and married with two children.
Benjamin Hussey (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
January 21st, 1916 –
Sgt Harold Clark (Gruyere), 27th Battalion: Is transferred from hospital in Malta to hospital in Egypt suffering from paratyphoid.
Alex Ingram (Seville): Leaves his job at the Victorian Railways and enlists in the AIF, he 24 years old and recently married.
Duncan St Leger (Coldstream): Leaves his position as a pianist for Madame Melba and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
January 22nd, 1916 –
John Wilken (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
January 25th, 1916 –
Hubert Guiney (Seville): Leaves his family’s property in Yering and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
January 26th, 1916 –
William Bethune (Seville): Leaves his job as a timber worker in Western Australia and enlists in the AIF in Perth, he is 24 years old. A few months later his younger brother Malcolm would also enlist.
January 27th, 1916 –
Pte Theodore Hand (Mt Dandenong), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Hymettus.
Pte Arthur Jeeves (Mt Dandenong), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Hymettus.
John Hannah (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a salesman and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
January 28th, 1916 –
Cpl William Teese (Mt Evelyn), Divisional Ammunition Column: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from defective eyesight.
Pte Edwin Meade (Mooroolbark), 8th Battalion: Leaves Egypt bound for Australia on the SS Kanowna. He has been suffering with enteric fever for three months and doctors order him back to Australia for further treatment. He will return to the AIF later in the year.
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Themistocles –
Pte William Houghton (Mooroolbark), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Archibald Arnott (Lilydale), 4th Battalion
Pte Lionel Whisson (Lilydale), 5th Battalion
Pte Howard Morey (Lilydale), 6th Battalion
Albert Blair (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 47 years old and married.
January 30th, 1916 –
Pte Adrian Camp (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from enteric fever.
Pte Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 2nd Veterinary Section: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from typhoid.
January 31st, 1916 –
William Buckley (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a lamp lighter and enlists in the AIF, he is 36 years old.
Albert Woolrich (Olinda): Leaves his farm and enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old.
February 1st, 1916 –
Sidney Ingram (Silvan): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
Frederick Jeeves (Montrose): Leaves his garage in Montrose and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old and married with two children. He later wrote to his wife saying: ‘I would rather die with a little wooden cross above my head than be one of those who could have gone and did not.’
February 2nd, 1916 –
Victor Boulter (Olinda): Leaves his job as a storekeeper and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
Arthur James (Mooroolbark): Leaves his job as a farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
Alex Pope (Lilydale): Leaves his job on the railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
Dennis Shepherdson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 42 years old.
February 3rd, 1916 –
Pte James Wallace (Seville), 6th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Cairo suffering from influenza.
February 4th, 1916 –
Alexander Blair (Olinda): Leaves his family’s farm and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
Leslie Molloy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a bootmaker and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
February 5th, 1916 –
Thomas Amor (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
Malcolm Rankin (Lilydale): Leaves his job at a local vineyard and enlists in the AIF, he is 34 years old and married with one child.
February 6th, 1916 –
Pte Lionel Whisson (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: While on board the HMAT Themistocles travelling to Egypt he is injured when a piano falls on him crushing his foot.
THE SEIGE OF KUT, MESOPOTAMIA
February 7th, 1916 –
Gnr Alfred Niblett (Lilydale), 19th Battery, Royal Field Artillery: Is killed in action while serving with the relief column sent to raise the blockade of the British troops in the besieged garrison town of Kut, on the Tigris River. He is 35 years old and is buried at the British War Cemetery in Basra, Iraq.
Allan Hooke (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a baker and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old. His brother Norman had enlisted the year before.
Harold Hunter (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
Philip Kidgell (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a printer and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
February 8th, 1916 –
Cpl Ted Duncan (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Warilda.
Pte John Fitzgerald (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Warilda.
Pte Richard Moloney (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Warilda.
February 9th, 1916 –
Sgt Harold Clark (Gruyere), 27th Battalion: Suffering from paratyphoid, he is returned to Australia for further treatment.
Robert Black (Montrose): Leaves his studies as an engineering student and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old. Three of his brothers would also enlist but only two would survive the war.
Cyril Kuster (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
February 10th, 1916 –
Pte Leslie Sessions (Silvan), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from mumps.
Robert Lawlor (Coldstream): Leaves his parent’s property and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old. His older brother Leonard had been killed in action at the landing at Anzac Cove. Before he enlists he tells his mother: ‘Len had cut a track, but not very far, and I would like to cut it a bit longer if I can’.
Archibald McCully (Wandin): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 44 years old.
Alexander Tonkin (Wandin): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old.
William Davies (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as an engine driver for the Western Australian Railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 40 years old and married.
February 12th, 1916 –
William Shell (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married with two children.
February 16th, 1916 –
Trp George Gilbert (Yering), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from mumps.
Pte Richard Moloney (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: While his ship, HMAT Warilda, is docked in Fremantle, WA, he deserts. He wouldn’t be found again by the authorities until 1920.
February 17th, 1916 –
Joseph Gibson (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a butcher and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old. His brother Benjamin had enlisted the year before.
Geoffrey Searle (Wandin): Born in Wandin although living at Cockatoo, Vic, he leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
Harry Wilkin (Wandin): Leaves his father’s property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.
February 18th, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (Egypt) – ‘Entraining for Tel-el-Kebir. Here we get reorganised as the Regiment has come down from five hundred strong to a little over two hundred. We also hand in our web equipment and get our own back and also our horses, after being made up to full strength again with a new Colonel (our own going back home)’.
February 19th, 1916 –
Thomas Gaudion (Wandin): Leaves his family’s orchard in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
James McNeill (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a blacksmith and enlists in the AIF, he is 37 years old and married.
John O’Halloran (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a packer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
John & Thomas Payne (Seville): Both brothers leave their family’s property in Seville to enlist in the AIF together. Thomas is 21 years old, John 18 years old.
February 20th, 1916 –
Pte William Davies (Kilsyth), 1st Mining Corps: Leaves Australian bound for Europe on the HMAT Ulysses.
February 21st, 1916 –
John Marsh (Wandin): Leaves his family’s farm in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
Louis Cazaly (Montrose): Leaves his orchard in Montrose and enlists in the AIF, he is 39 years old.
February 23rd, 1916 –
Gordon Towt (Coldstream): Leaves his family’s farm ‘Devon Park’ and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old.
William Jackson (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
February 24th, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In camp in Egypt. In his diary –‘The famous 1st Division is being broken up, half of each battalion is being sent to build up a new battalion and half the new battalion is coming into the 1st Division. Our corps is suffering likewise, our C Section leaves tomorrow, it’s a cruel shame, men who made the Division what it is, and been in their Battalion since they were formed, are being shoved into these new battalions. But sentiment doesn’t count in the army’.
February 26th, 1916 –
Paul Clegg (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin where he works and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old. His older brother James had enlisted the year before.
Reginald Lyons (Olinda): Leaves his job as a butcher and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married.
James Morrison (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a pastry cook and enlists in the AIF, he is 16 years old although he tells the authorities he is 18.
Leopold Navas (Lilydale): Originally born in Spain, he leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old.
Thomas Russell (Seville): Leaves his family’s property in Seville where he worked and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old. His younger brother William would follow him two weeks later and also enlist.
February 28th, 1916 –
Pte Fred Town (Lilydale), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from influenza.
George Lawson (Olinda): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 34 years old. He had originally come out to Australia as an immigrant from Sweden.
Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a storeman and enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old and married.
February 29th, 1916 –
Spr Charles Noden (Lilydale), 2nd Field Engineers: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Star of Victoria to be discharged as medically unfit.
Roland Wild (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as an engineer and enlists in the AIF, he is 34 years old and married.
March 1st, 1916 –
Norman Bennier (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a bricklayer and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old and married.
Alfred Fellows (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a fellmonger and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
Sydney Leake (Olinda): Leaves his job as a carter and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.
March 2nd, 1916 –
Richard Greenlees (Olinda): Leaves his job as a painter and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old.
Louis Sage (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
March 4th, 1916 –
William Parr (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a chauffeur and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old.
March 5th, 1916 –
Pte Eddie Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his family – ‘The Johnnie Lees (fleas) after lights out attack in brigades. Strike me up the apple tree they do torment one. We had sports here today and we four were in with a squad for the best dressed squad. We were five men short and only got third. We saw Ralph Goode and four or five of the other lads when we were coming out from the aerodrome. Well I’ll have to turn it up as I can’t see the lines now and the mail goes in the morning’.
Patrick Pender (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a miner and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old and married.
March 6th, 1916 –
Hugh Cowan (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a plumber in Perth, WA, where he is living, and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 30 years old.
March 7th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire –
Pte Arthur Cheep (Lilydale), 5th Battalion
Pte Henry Ferguson (Coldstream), 6th Battalion
Pte Hewitt Hussey (Lilydale), 6th Battalion
Dvr Alfred Pomeroy (Wandin), 7th Battalion
Pte Richard Grossman (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: He had been wounded on Gallipoli and returned to Australia for further treatment and was now returning to active service.
Pte George Shell (Lilydale), 8th Battalion
Pte Robert Shell (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte James Harrison (Wandin), 22nd Battalion
Pte William Parker (Silvan), 23rd Battalion
Pte John Ellis (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion
Pte Joseph Keeley Snr (Mooroolbark), 23rd Battalion
Pte Robert Jeeves (Montrose), 58th Battalion
Henry Millward (Olinda): Leaves his farm ‘Bay View’ at Olinda and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
March 8th, 1916 –
Cpl William Teese (Mt Evelyn), Divisional Ammunition Column: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suffolk to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of defective eyesight.
Pte Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 2nd Veterinary Section: Arrives back in Australia from Egypt on the HT Suffolk for further medical treatment for typhoid.
Pte Louis Cazaly (Montrose), 57th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Ajana.
William Johnston (Wandin): Leaves his job as a driver to enlist in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
George Pendlebury (Seville): Leaves his job as a store manager in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old. His brother Richard had already enlisted and had served at Gallipoli.
March 10th, 1916 –
William Barker (Olinda): Leaves his job as a farm labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
March 11th, 1916 –
Thomas Priest (Seville): Leaves his property in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 33 years old.
Charles Mortomore (Lilydale): Leaves his farm in Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
March 13th, 1916 –
Pte Lionel Whisson (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Arrives in Egypt and is admitted to hospital suffering from an injured foot after a piano fell on it while on board his ship.
Pte Norman Avard (Olinda), 6th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HMAT Nestor to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting jaundice while at Gallipoli.
March 14th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Anchises –
Pte Daniel Bowen (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Pte Percy Haddon (Seville), 14th Battalion
Pte Charles Pazzi (Lilydale), 29th Battalion
Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion
George Hastie (Seville): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
William Russell (Seville): Leaves his family’s property in Seville where he worked and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old. His older brother Thomas had enlisted in the AIF a fortnight earlier.
John Warren (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a brass finisher at Cave Hill Quarry and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
March 15th, 1916 –
Patrick Duffy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a woodcutter in Westonia, WA, where he is living, and enlists in the AIF, he is 44 years old.
March 16th, 1916 –
Pte Eric Beggs (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Orsova.
Pte Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Orsova.
William Thompson (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin, and his job as a blacksmith, and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old. His father Walter had already enlisted the year before.
March 17th, 1916 –
Spr Harry Linacre (Seville), 6th Field Company Engineers: Is admitted to hospital in Ismalia, Egypt suffering from a coneal ulcer.
Pte Albert Rouget (Seville), 14th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Tel el Kebir, Egypt suffering from influenza.
Pte Harry Stevens (Seville), 8th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HMAT Ascanius to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting rheumatism.
Trp Robert Purves (Lilydale), 3rd Light Horse Regiment: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HMAT Ascanius to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting dysentery.
Frederick Leach (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a butcher and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
Sam Tucknott (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a woodcutter and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old and married.
March 18th, 1916 –
Ronald Ingram (Seville): While working in New Zealand he decides to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He is 28 years old and by now both of his brothers, George and Alex, had enlisted in the AIF.
March 19th, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (Egypt) -‘We set out for Ferry Post, in the Suez Canal, to patrol the desert. Very shortly after this it is decided to split the Regiment up so as each Division could have some mounted troops, our lot being sent to the 4th Division. We joined them at Tel-el-Kebir and were sent out in the plantations, guarding them in case some of the troops interfered with the natives. We were on this job for a fortnight’.
March 21st, 1916 –
Cpl Rupert Bloom (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HT Malwa. He is returning to Egypt after being sent home the year before for further treatment for enteric fever.
William Eales (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. His older brother, Thomas, had enlisted the years before.
William Wood (Seville): Leaves his family’s property ‘Sunnyside’ in Seville where he worked and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
March 22nd, 1916 –
Stoker James McClure (Yering), HMAS Pioneer: After four weeks of patrolling off the coast of Zanzibar, HMAS Pioneer arrives off Dar-es-Salaam, the capital of German East Africa, and helps sink the enemy ship, Tabora.
March 25th, 1916 –
Pte Bruce Timms (Yering), 14th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from exostosis of tibia.
Robert Bedford (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a postman and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old. His younger brother William had enlisted the year before.
William Duffy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer in Kalgoorlie, WA, where he is living, and enlists in the AIF, he is 33 years old.
March 26th, 1916 –
William Jacob (Mooroolbark): Leaves his job as a farm labourer in Mooroolbark and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years.
March 27th, 1916 –
John Evans (Silvan): Leaves his job as a bootmaker and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.
March 30th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Suffolk –
Pte William Buckley (Kilsyth), 6th Battalion
Pte Vivian Grenness (Kilsyth), 6th Battalion
Pte Alex Pope (Lilydale), 6th Battalion
Pte John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion
March 31st, 1916 –
Pte Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale), 4th Pioneer Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from mumps.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary –‘Disembarked 10am, marched about two miles through streets of bond stores to railway siding. French soldiers everywhere. Left Marseilles at 11.30am, passed through magnificent country; hills and valleys, miles of vineyards and orchards. Went through some wonderful tunnels, one right through a mountain of rock, so long was it that air shafts had to be cut from the top. I’ve often heard that the South of France was a beautiful place, I quite believe it’.
April 1st, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (Egypt) – ‘Took over from the 1st Division at Serapeum on April 1st. Here we are given a little patrolling to do at this the place where the Turks tried to cross the Canal before. So we are patrolling the desert with 9th Light Horse and also the Sweet Water Canal to stop the natives from bathing in it and also to irrigate their land. We celebrate the anniversary of our leaving Australia here’.
Spr Frank Hogg (Wandin), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Makarini.
April 2nd, 1916 –
Trp Albert Briers (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from laryngitis.
April 4th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Euripides-
Pte Paul Clegg (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte Thomas Gaudion (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte John Marsh (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte Thomas Payne (Seville), 5th Battalion
Pte John Payne (Seville), 5th Battalion
Pte Geoffrey Searle (Wandin), 14th Battalion
Pte Malcolm Rankin (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: In a letter to his uncle in Lilydale –‘Since I have left you all we have had a great trip round. We had a good trip over from Australia. We had only a couple of rough days on the whole voyage; that was after we passed the Heads. I was sea-sick the third day out for twenty-four hours. I missed only three meals’.
Pte Benjamin Gibson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion
Pte Henry Rowney (Coldstream), 24th Battalion
Pte Archibald McCully (Wandin), 58th Battalion
Pte John Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 58th Battalion
Pte Ern Morey (Lilydale), 2nd Divisional Train
April 7th, 1916 –
Trp William Mattingley (Wandin), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Barunga.
Frank Duffy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a blacksmith in Subiaco, WA, where he is living, and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married. Both of his brothers, Patrick and William, had already enlisted.
April 8th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Aeneas-
Pte Sidney Ingram (Silvan), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte George Lawson (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Alfred Fellows (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Malcolm Bethune (Seville): Leaves his parent’s property in Seville to enlist in the AIF. He is 21 years old and this is his second attempt to enlist, the first time he was rejected on account of his poor vision.
April 10th, 1916 –
James Wilken (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a radio telegraphist and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
April 11th, 1916 –
Pte Alan McGuiness (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Karoola to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting chronic rheumatism.
Cpl Reg Peisley (Lilydale), 3rd Field Company Engineers: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Karoola to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of injuries to his back and shell shock.
Pte Lionel Whisson (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Runic to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of injuries to his foot.
Cpl Stanley Nicholas (Lilydale), 5th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on board the HMAT Runic to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting bronchial pneumonia.
Pte Edward Buck (Wandin), 23rd Battalion: Is tried by Court Martial for failing to re-embark on the HMAT Wiltshire while at Fremantle as well as for being absent without leave and for resisting an escort. He is sentenced to six months’ hard labour in the Fremantle Goal and is then discharged from the AIF.
April 14th, 1916 –
Walter Deppeler (Gruyere): Leaves his farm in Gruyere to enlist in the AIF, he is 34 years old.
Thomas Leach (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
Clive Rowan (Olinda): Leaves his farm to enlist in the AIF, he is 23 years old and married.
April 20th, 1916 –
Henry Collins (Coldstream): Leaves his job working as a chauffeur for Madame Melba at Coombe Cottage and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.
George Rouget (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
April 22nd, 1916 –
Sgt Harry Matthews (Seville), 2nd Field Ambulance: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing colitis while on Gallipoli.
Pte Charles Campbell (Kilsyth), 8th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the wounds he’d received at the landing at Anzac Cove.
April 25th, 1916 –
Frank Muirson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer to enlist in the AIF, he is 16 years old although he tells authorities he is 18.
April 26th, 1916 –
Since March the AIF had been moved in stages from Egypt to Europe and sent on to the frontlines in France and Flanders to help man the trenches along the Western Front. Here they would experience the cold and muddy conditions of European trench warfare and come under fire from snipers, machine guns, aeroplanes, artillery barrages and, for the first time, gas attacks. Here they would encounter their first casualties; killed, wounded and sick.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘Tonight we had our first experience of tear shells, what devil’s things will the Germans use next! These tear shells are an acid which cause intense pain and watering of the eyes, absolutely blinding a man for some five hours. We all have specially made goggles for this, but of course one always gets a dose before one can get goggles on. We did last night, our eyes rained tears and were sore for some hours’.
April 27th, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘Following on the acid last night, at midday today the Germans dropped two shells in this village which wrecked two houses and killed two little children (girls five and seven years old), wounded three other kiddies, one little boy having his arm blown off. It wrecked a home where forty of our corps are billeted, fortunately we were all away being inspected by Sir Douglas Haig. One Australian was killed and two injured. It has upset us awfully seeing these dear little kiddies murdered’.
James Jordon (Kilsyth): Leaves his job at Cave Hill Quarry to enlist in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
Frank Morton (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer to enlist in the AIF, he is 36 years old and married. His older brother Thomas had enlisted the year before. He had previously served in the Boer War.
Thomas Rowan (Olinda): Leaves his job as a farmer to enlist in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
April 28th, 1916 –
Pte Nathaniel Davidson (Mooroolbark): Is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit for showing signs of paranoia and dementia. Reports states he is ‘strange and solitary and suffered from delusions of persecution, states that people are drugging him. Is very suspicious and thinks he is accused of murder at Lilydale and that people are talking about him. He has been found with a razor in front of a mirror and threatened suicide. Is under constant restraint at Kew Asylum’.
April 29th, 1916 –
Sgt Thomas Williams (Lilydale), 11th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Ascanius to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting dysentery and angina.
April 30th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his father –‘Out at our billets they blew our house to the ground, one man was wounded, three horses and two cows killed and we buried them in a shell hole. So you can guess it made some stir. Forty-three shells they put in altogether.
I was just having breakfast at 3.15am, when we heard one whistle overhead, and when it burst we knew they were after the house, so we got out. I had a dixie of tea in one hand and a piece of bread int he other and just got outside when another came. I skipped, tripped, and lost my tea and bread. They put five shells in the house and yard and then stopped.
We decided to go back and found that one shell had blown the two sides and end of the washhouse out. The Corporal and a mate and I went into what was left of the washhouse to have a shave, and I just got a good lather up when we heard another coming, and we knew it was for us. We looked at each other and then lay down flat on the floor and took our chance. It burst about 20 yards away, and iron flew around us, but none of us were touched. I gathered up my shaving gear and we went out behind a tree and finished the shaving.
Things got quiet again and feeling hungry we decided to look for some tucker and what a mess we found. Half the house and outhouses were gone; blankets, rifles, equipment, bread and jam, dirt and bricks, all in a heap; one had burst right in the middle of our bedroom. Well, we got some bread and jam, and were just going out when along comes another. The Corporal ran one way, my mate another. I lay down and chanced it again. It was very close but no one got hurt and this time they kept it up until they blew the whole show clean down. We sat out in the paddock, having a rough feed, and betting where the next one would drop; whether in the moat or in the ruins of the house or on the road. We have shifted out of the place now. This was how we had our Sunday’s breakfast, quite an exciting meal, but we are singularly free from indigestion. This is what they call resting in France’.
May 1st, 1916 –
Pte Philip Kidgell (Lilydale), 15th Machine Gun Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Lincoln.
Pte Francis McLass (Lilydale), 60th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HT Port Lincoln.
Robert Fairnie (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a mechanic and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
George Fraser (Yering): Enlists in the AIF in Mildura, Vic, where he has been convalescing for two years, he is 29 years old.
Charles Kimberley-Walker (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old and married.
Robert Mitchell (Seville): Leaves his orchard in Seville to enlist in the AIF, he is 40 years old and married with six children.
May 2nd, 1916 –
Spr Samuel Fennell (Lilydale), 4th Field Company Engineers: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Hororata.
Pte Arthur Moore (Lilydale), 8th Light Horse: A court of enquiry is held on this day to decide on his illegal absence without permission from Broadmeadows Military Camp since April 5th. He is found guilty of desertion and discharged from the AIF.
Charles Asling (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a labourer to enlist in the AIF, he is 28 years old and married.
May 4th, 1916 –
Frederick Tonkin (Wandin): Leaves his job as a labourer to enlist in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
Pte John Wilken (Kilsyth), 14th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Lincoln.
May 5th, 1916 –
Pte William McCallum (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to foot, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Ernest Smith (Yering): Leaves his job as a ploughman to enlist in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
May 6th, 1916 –
Tpr Leslie Howard (Olinda), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Clan Maccorquodale.
May 7th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his father – ‘They missed our bedroom, or dugout, by only six yards with two shots. We had to fill some sand bags to repair this part of the parapet which tried to stop a shell, but failed miserably, so the dirt they loosened with the shells saved us a lot of work digging for our bags. But our lads take the bins for their calmness’.
May 8th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his father –‘I was on duty in our gun “possy” and the Germans were shelling a supposed position behind our lines when one of their shells fell short, and by the feel of the dugout I knew they had not missed us by much. One of my mates was working 20ft away from where I sat at my gun, so I put my head out and asked, “Where was that?”. Bob was still working and he said, ‘Oh, one of Fritz’s out on the duck boards’. I was only 15 yards from it and Bob was much nearer, so Fritz has to put one right amongst them before they get annoyed. We were cooking breakfast when one shell struck the parapet and scattered dirt all over us, and the chap who was cooking said to me, ‘Hurry up, I want to get this bacon cooked before Fritz knocks the fire out. The wood is too wet to start another fire’. And our chaps seem all the same’.
Pte Francis Hughes (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Accidentally shots himself in the finger while cleaning his rifle. He is later charged with having caused a self-inflicted wound but court of enquiry finds he did not do it intentionally.
William Oliver (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a machinist to enlist in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
May 9th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his father – ‘We have had some beautiful weather this last few days but last night, and this morning, it has been wet and very muddy. I have just come off my two hours’ post. It is very quiet here today but it has been rough here. We were out of the trenches eight days, and now we are back in the trenches for eight days, and then out for another rest. Of course, things are not always dull like this.
I will try to give you some idea of a two hours’ shift in the trenches. I am asleep and dreaming of home and loved ones, but at 11.45pm I get a shake, or a bump, or a kick from my mates, whichever is handiest, and wake up to the remark, ‘Come on, Dreamy; get a hustle on!’ We getup, vowing we have just gone to sleep, but we have had four hours and the relief must be changed. We sleepily and politely tell them to suck eggs but it’s no use, up one must get, already dressed. We slip on our overcoats and steel helmets and crawl out and wish the war was over and then wake up to reality. We get all passwords from those we relieve, the number of parties out in front, and any other information that may be necessary, and we are now on duty.
Well one of us goes on first looking over the top, and the other stays in the trench and has a smoke, or sits down somewhere but must keep handy. Well my mate goes on. The first hour I do not feel like talking, so fill up and have a smoke, and think of all sorts of nice things and watch the clouds go scudding along, a half-moon going down in the west until my turn to go on, and my mate climbs down and I take his place. I see my rifle is loaded, the bolt working properly and keeping it handy I watch, sitting as comfortable as possible. Up goes a flare. I scan the ground in front and raise my rifle at the ready, and fancy I see something move and fire and all along the line someone sees something, and perhaps imagines it, for you hear the rattle of machine guns and rifles rise and fall like wind amongst the trees; and then suddenly we get the order to put on gas helmets.
You pass the word to your mate, and he flies and wakens up all sleeping men. They put on their helmets, fix bayonets, and take their places, I to my machine guns, and stand to, ready for anything. Perhaps nothing comes of it. It all dies away to quietness; and we get the order, ‘Stand down’, carry on, and so up to our posts again, and wait perhaps until you see a flash of a rifle in the enemy’s lines, at which you fire perhaps sending death or agony to some fond mother’s son, or perhaps wasting another shot for your country’s honor, who knows. And then the dull boom of a trench mortar sending 20, 50 or 100 lbs of death-dealing iron on its way. Such is the hourly watch of the night.
It is now 1.45am, we wake our relief and get the same compliments from them as we gave them when they woke us earlier in the night, crawl into our quarters for four hours’ sleep and we are lucky, who knows what will happen next? But in a few minutes we are sound asleep, and forget all about it until our next shift, or something turns up that may cause us to‘stand to’.
I have nothing else to tell you, other than I am quite well and happy, and have no complaints, and quite content to do my duty, and quite used to all the noises and looking forward to the conclusion of this war and then for home and sweetheart and what a time we will have. Our wiz-bang is sending over iron rations for Fritz’s dinner. It is now 20 to 12, so, I must go and cook some dinner for myself and mates’.
David Davies (Wandin): Leaves his farm and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old. He is the first of three brothers, David, William & Roy, to enlist in the AIF.
Bert Hooper (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a baker to enlist in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
May 10th, 1916 –
William Atkinson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. His older brother Claude had already enlisted and his father Albert would enlist in a few months.
George Crowther (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a manufacturer’s agent and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
Henry Petersen (Olinda): Leaves his job as a carpenter to enlist in the AIF, he is 21 years old and married.
May 11th, 1916 –
Isaac Brown (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
William Davies (Wandin): Leaves his job as a carter and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
Arthur Leckie (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
May 12th, 1916 –
Pte Joseph Speakman (Coldstream), 14th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Egypt on the HT Karoola to be discharged medically unfit as a result of contracting raynards disease.
May 13th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Payne (Seville), 5th Battalion: Is sent to hospital in Cairo, Egypt suffering from measles.
Pte Alexander Tonkin (Wandin), 36th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Beltana.
May 14th, 1916 –
Pte Malcolm Rankin (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: In a letter to his uncle in Lilydale –‘We are camped at Tel-el-Kebhir in Egypt, about 160 miles from Alexandria, right in the desert. You can see nothing but sand as far as the eye could reach. It is very hot and dusty and the flies were pretty bad but I am getting fat since I came over here. It is about 120 degrees in the shade, but lovely and cool at night. I saw Oswald Wilson and Bob Shell from Lilydale and Bert Hutchinson had just left there. We were only there three weeks and we were not sorry to leave there’.
May 15th, 1916 –
Charles Reilly (Olinda): Leaves his orchard at Olinda to enlist in the AIF, he is 30 years old and married.
May 16th, 1916 –
Pte William Lucas (Silvan), 1st Remount Unit: In camp in England. In a postcard to his wife – ‘I am at Rollerstone Camp and my tent leaks infamously, the weather has brought broken rain in torrents yesterday. Smiley has arrived and will arrange for him to come and help me in this camp. No chance of my going to the front for some time. I’ll cable when I do’.
Pte Hugh Cowan (Lilydale), 10th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Surada.
May 18th, 1916 –
Pte Allan Hooke (Kilsyth), 3rd Field Bakery: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Demosthenes.
May 20th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Medic-
Dvr Henry Early (Lilydale), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Dvr Gus Gilbert (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Dvr Ernest Gilbert (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Dvr Hubert Guiney (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Dvr Percy Hyne (Lilydale), 8th Field Artillery Brigade: In a postcard to Kath Phillips, Lilydale – ‘We have been seven weeks and a day out and have just left these islands for finals run to England. I don’t know who it was who gave me the electric torches but I wish you would thank him for me and tell them that they are very handy, very much so after lights out on board the ship’.
May 24th, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary –‘Rather an exciting time today. I was on duty at Barrier, at 11am they poured shells on us. The first came through the wall into the room I was in, smothered us with bricks and dust, three more lobed on the roof. In ten seconds the place was ablaze, we got out without getting hurt then they poured shrapnel on us but we were well in our funk trenches. At 6pm they shelled us again, blew some more of the buildings down, casualties for the two bombardments was one man wounded. Frank and Eddie Poyner were in the same farm’.
Roy Davies (Wandin): Leaves his job as a motor driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.
May 25th, 1916 –
Pte Donald Fergus Scott (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his father in Mt Evelyn – ‘Cairo has greatly improved in character and is losing its reputation as being the dirtiest and vilest city on earth. The weather was everything that could be desired. I don’t forgive the postal people for not delivering the Evelyn Christmas gift and have had to enjoy the smokes only in dreams’.
Spr Dennis Shepherdson (Lilydale), No 5 Tunnelling Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Warilda.
Dvr Thomas Priest (Seville), No 5 Tunnelling Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Warilda. He had married a few weeks before and unbeknownst to him, he would be leaving his wife pregnant with their first child.
May 27th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Ascanius-
Spr Robert Fairnie (Lilydale), Australian Army Pay Corps
Capt George Crowther (Lilydale), 10th Battalion
Dvr David England (Silvan), 12th Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Henry Millward (Olinda), 39th Battalion
May 28th, 1916 –
David Stormont (Silvan): Leaves his farm at Silvan and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 39 years old and married.
May 29th, 1916 –
Thomas Kerr (Yering): Leaves his property in Yering and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old.
May 30th, 1916 –
Pte Eddie Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: In camp on the Somme, France. In a letter to his family – ‘Just a line or two to let you know we are still in the land of the living. How are things going over there? Ralph was up in our parts of the globe yesterday and he told us a bit of news. I’ve had a few narrow escapes but have managed to get out alright so far. Au-revoir, remember me to all the Dale folk’.
Sgt James Wilken (Kilsyth), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the RMS Morea.
Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the RMS Morea.
May 31st, 1916 –
Pte Malcolm Rankin (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: In a letter to his uncle in Lilydale – ‘We left Alexandria at 11 o’clock at night and arrived at camp about 5 o’clock next morning. We were in open trucks and it was a freezing cold night. We left Alexandria on 31st May. The only thing we had to look out for was the tin fish but we arrived safely. We had to wear life belts all the way over to England’.
Pte Martin Hatfield (Lilydale) & Pte William Lucas (Silvan), both 1st Remount Unit: Are ordered to return to Australia for discharge when their unit is disbanded. They do but both later re-join the AIF again.
June 1st, 1916 –
Pte George Evans (Mt Evelyn), 22nd Battalion: Is evacuated to hospital in France suffering from gastritis.
Pte Patrick Duffy (Lilydale), 6th Tunnelling Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Warilda.
Alfred Larking (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a market gardener in Drouin, where he lives, and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
June 2nd, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (Egypt to France) – ‘We put our horses on the train en route for sunny France, on the Kingstonia, arriving at Marseilles. We were given two days leave which gave us the opportunity of seeing a good deal of the city. Putting our horses on the train we start for the north at one o’clock in the morning. When day broke we were passing through the most picturesque country that I have ever seen. Our train did not stop in many places but whenever it did, we received a warm welcome, in fact some of the girls were exchanging kisses for badges. I had all my badges when we arrived at our destination.
On the third morning we could see the Eiffel Tower in the distance and from there on we were given tea by the Red Cross workers at every station we stopped at, arriving at our destination on the following morning. We were certainly glad to get out of the train after over a three day’s trip but I am very glad that I never missed that train journey from Marseilles to Ballieul. From the station we walked to our camp about four miles away as the horses could not be ridden so soon after the sea trip. We have an easy time at this place, doing gas drill and grazing the horses in our spare time. It was at this place that we first heard the guns on the Western Front’.
Dvr Leslie Coppin (Kilsyth), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from malaria. He is eventually sent to hospital in England.
June 3rd, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Persic-
Pte John Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion
Drv Cyril Kuster (Lilydale), 37th Battalion
Pte Charles Mortomore (Lilydale), 37th Battalion
Pte Harry Wilkin (Wandin), 37th Battalion
Charles & Perrin Wallace (Seville): Both brothers leave their family orchard at Seville and together enlist in the AIF. Charles was 24 years old and single, Perrin was 22 years old and married with one child.
Joseph Keeley Jnr (Mooroolbark): Leaves his job as a farm labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. His father, also Joseph Keeley, had enlisted the year before.
June 5th, 1916 –
Pte William Parr (Lilydale), 3rd Supply Column: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Afric.
June 6th, 1916 –
Pte Ernest Kerslake (Lilydale), 26th Battalion: Takes part in a raid on the enemy trenches at the Bois Grenier sector, the first raid undertaken by Australian troops on the German lines on the Western Front. In fact on this night he became the first person in his battalion, and possibly in the whole of the AIF, to capture a German prisoner. For this he was awarded a ‘mentioned in despatches’, promoted to Corporal and presented with £5 and given a week’s leave in London.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In a letter to his mother – ‘We were ordered to move off to a village 10 miles off. The school we have turned into a hospital and we are living in huts, and very ‘comfy’ they are. There is a stove in each, thank heaven, wooden floor and raised wooden paths to go to them, which, believe me, are wanted. If you get off the track you go up to your knees in pure mud. Only last week there was six inches of snow here. I am very glad we are not billeted with the inhabitants. They are a very poor class and very dirty.
We are the only Australians in this village. It is fearfully cold; the wind cuts right through you. I tell you, I feel the benefit of that rabbit jacket, but, of course, every day the weather is getting warmer. I do not know where any of the other ‘Dale boys are – I mean which village they are in. I know they’re all within 10 miles of me. I’ll find them when I have time.
I was simply astounded at the way the people of France are taking this war. They go about their daily work as if nothing was wrong. In this village we are in, we are only five miles from the firing line. Some of our artillery is only a mile from here and, of course, we are right in range of the German guns, and yet things go on just the same. The old men and women look after their farms, the ‘kids’ go to school and play in the streets, shops are open, and it’s the same everywhere.
The artillery fire is something awful. Last night, for hours, every building and window in the place shook like a jelly. The noise was terrific. We could see the shells bursting quite close to us. Aeroplanes are over us all day, and some ‘Tommies’ tell us that occasionally a Taube drops a bomb or two, but through it all the people live and have got so used to it they don’t take any notice. It beats me; I expected to find all these villages near the firing line deserted except for troops. A lot of the inhabitants are Belgian refugees. The villages round about here were occupied by the Germans when they tried to break through to _____ but they were pushed back over the border. By jove the artillery duels are very ‘tasty’. Some of the explosions nearly knock you over altho they’re a couple of miles away.
The living conditions and ‘tucker’ are excellent here. Along the roads we marched the women and ‘nippers’ shouted ‘Vive la Australian’. They pronounced it ‘Aus-tra-leer’ with the accent on the ‘Aus’ and ‘leer’. The roads are most wonderful. Every road is as perfect as our St. Kilda road, no matter where it goes. From one end of France to the other beautiful white roads, as smooth as a billiard table, you can see them winding for miles and miles through the hills. The ‘Tommies’ are treating us well. Of course we are a bit of a novelty at present. They’ve never seen Australian soldiers before, or I don’t suppose Australian people’.
Pte Alvoria Williams (Lilydale), 44th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Suevic.
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wandilla-
Pte Alex Ingram (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Leslie Molloy (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Dvr Joseph Poyner (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Leopold Navas (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte William Wood (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: On the trip over he would be hospitalised on the ship suffering from influenza and pneumonia.
June 8th, 1916 –
Pte James Wallace (Seville), 6th Battalion: In France. In a postcard sent to the Sebire family – ‘I had a pleasant surprise last night. There was another lot of boys come into this camp when, who must I find, but Tom Gaudion, Jack & Harry Payne & Paul Clegg. It made France seem like dear old Wandin again & didn’t we have a good old talk about home. Jack Marsh was coming with them but owing to sickness they had to leave him at Alexandria’.
June 9th, 1916 –
Pte William Mitchell (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF for being medically unfit as a result of being overweight and having frequent bouts of drunkenness.
June 12th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Goodall (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: In the front line, the Somme, France. In a letter to his younger brother – ‘We are in the trenches now and not having too bad a time so far. Glossie told me that you have got your bike, I will be able to borrow it when I get back to go for a ride, I don’t know when that will be though. It’s a pity you are not a couple of years older, you could be here with me, bet Mum don’t say that though.
The Germans sent us over about a thousand or more shells one evening last week and I think our guns sent them back two to their one, the noise was nearly deafening. Things have been pretty quiet since, we must have given them a bit of a gruelling while they done us very little damage and none of us got hurt where we were, although the shells were bursting overhead all time. It was funny being under fire for the first time but got used to it as it went on. I like this country much better than Egypt, it is more like our own’.
Charles Perrin (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a bank clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
June 13th, 1916 –
Frank Rae (Mooroolbark): Leaves his family’s property at Mooroolbark and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old. His younger brother Ernest had enlisted the year before.
June 14th, 1916 –
Charles Dorrington (Montrose): Leaves his job as a hairdresser and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
June 16th, 1916 –
Pte Richard Robertson (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
June 19th, 1916 –
Ernest Bridgewater (Seville): Leaves his property in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
Walter Leach (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
June 18th, 1916 –
Pte Eddie Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: In camp on the Somme, France. In a letter to his family – ‘Just a line or two to let you know we are keeping well, I always get pinched for fatigue or something when I start to write letters. Frank and I are still together, have not been separated yet. You will know before this that we are not in Egypt. I see there has been a battle on the sea, I think we got the best of it against such heavy odds don’t you? I suppose Melba is back again now, all the lads wish to be remembered to you all. Tom Goodall was nearly buried by a shell the other day but fortunately escaped injury. I believe he laughed fit to kill himself, he said he would have had to laugh if he had been killed, the way he got out’.
June 20th, 1916 –
Pte Malcolm Rankin (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: In a letter to his uncle in Lilydale –‘You will see by this that we are in England. When we arrived we were taken ashore in freighters and got aboard the train, but not in open trucks this time, we had third class carriages. We had a journey of about 200 miles through some of the most lovely country and beautiful scenery I have ever seen, I can’t describe it on paper. We came through the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire. I have often heard of the Devonshire Devons, but I did not think I would ever see them. They are just cutting the meadow hay. It is their best time ever over here now. They don’t seem to waste any ground over here. There are not many farms and the lanes are narrow. You can hardly describe the scene.
Well we came to a camp on the edge of Salisbury Plains. It was a good camp but we were only there two days when we were marched to Salisbury Plain, only a few miles from historic Stonehenge, that we used to read about in our books at school. If I get through alright I will not regret coming’.
Pte Frederick Randolph (Lilydale), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from dysentery.
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Runic-
Dvr Cecil Watson (Olinda), 10th Field Ambulance
Pte Roy Cahill (Gruyere), 10th Field Ambulance
Sgt William Thompson (Wandin), 38th Battalion
Irwin Campbell (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a farm hand at Mt Dandenong and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old and married.
June 22nd, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary –‘Fearful shell fire today. The Huns tried to get a battery of ours three different times today. They opened on us, at one time we counted seventy-three shells in fifteen minutes drop within two hundred yards of us, the explosions were fearful, it was death to poke your head out altho we were two hundred yards away’.
June 23rd, 1916 –
Pte Ernest Williams (Lilydale), 6th Field Ambulance: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
June 24th, 1916 –
Pte Herbert Read (Seville), 6th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Euripides to be discharged as medically unfit after being wounded in action and losing an eye at Cape Helles.
Sgt Harold Clark (Gruyere), 27th Battalion: After being sent back to Australia from Gallipoli suffering from paratyphoid, he is given the all clear and returns to duty. Within the month he would sail for Europe and return to his battalion.
June 26th, 1916 –
Spr Michael McCristal (Lilydale), Anzac Signal Section: Whilst on escort duty at Hill 40 in the Sinai he jumps on a train at the station and heads toward Romani to be involved in the fighting there. He is later charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and docked 14 days pay.
Pte Richard Grossman (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
Pte Leslie Gamble (Lilydale), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column: A Court of Enquiry is held where he is charged with – 1. When on active service being drunk in the field and 2. When on active service using insubordinate language to his superior officer in that he said ‘go and get fucked, I will not go out’. He is found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour.
Pte Ronald Ingram (Seville), 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, NZEF: Leaves New Zealand bound for Europe on the HMNZT Tahiti. He spends part of the journey in the ship’s sick bay suffering from the mumps.
June 27th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HT Barambah-
Lt William Eales (Lilydale), 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column
Dvr Charles Reilly (Olinda), 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column
Pte James McNeill (Lilydale), 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column
June 28th, 1916 –
Pte Cyril Gregan (Olinda), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right knee, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Pte Ernest Smith (Yering), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HT Themistocles.
Alexander Mathews (Seville): Leaves his stepfather’s orchard, ‘Woodbury’ in Seville, and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he was 18 years old. His father had died when he was young and his mother had remarried Walter Boys from Seville and he went to live with his stepfather here, on Walter’s Aunt and Uncle’s property ‘Woodbury’ where Walter had grown up. His stepfather, Walter Boys, would also enlist six months later.
June 29th, 1916 –
Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left shoulder and thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Leslie Jack (Silvan), 21st Battalion: Takes part in a raid on the enemy trenches at night.
Pte George Joy (Mt Evelyn), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action during a raid on the enemy trenches, gunshot wound to arm and back, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
June 30th, 1916 –
Pte Clyde Richardson (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from dysentery.
July 1st, 1916 –
THE START OF THE SOMME CAMPAIGN
It began with a massive British offensive, some 100,000 soldiers surged forward from their lines near the Somme River and attacked six German divisions opposite. The AIF would join the Somme campaign later in the month.
L/Cpl Jack Lester (Yering), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
July 3rd, 1916 –
Pte Benjamin Sessions (Silvan), 1st Anzac Cycle Corps: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from mumps.
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Ayrshire-
Pte Thomas Amor (Mt Evelyn), 5th Battalion
Pte Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale), 8th Battalion
Pte Richard Poole (Lilydale), 8th Battalion
Pte Edwin Meade (Mooroolbark), 8th Battalion: He has spent the last six months in Australia recovering from enteric fever after contracting it at Gallipoli.
Pte William Barker (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte Robert Lawlor (Coldstream), 22nd Battalion
Ernest James (Gruyere): Leaves his parent’s property at Gruyere and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
July 4th, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Berrima-
Gnr William Bethune (Seville), 10th Field Artillery Brigade
Gnr Julius Ozols (Silvan), 10th Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Arthur James (Mooroolbark), 29th Battalion
July 5th, 1916 –
Wallace Coutts (Wandin): Leaves his property in Wandin and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 27 years old.
Dr James Rowan (Olinda): Leaves his medical practice and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
James Wyles (Olinda): Leaves his farm at Olinda and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old.
July 7th, 1916 –
Pte Henry Holbrook (Montrose), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, suffering shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
July 8th, 1916 –
Pte John Evans (Silvan), 60th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Ajana.
Albert Atkinson (Lilydale): Leaves his job on the railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years and married with ten children. Two of his children, Claude & William Atkinson, had already enlisted in the AIF, sadly Claude would be killed in action the following month.
July 10th, 1916 –
Charles Clegg (Wandin): Born in Wandin, he is working for the railways in Western Australia as a loco fireman when he decides to enlist, he is 25 years old and married.
July 12th, 1916 –
Pte Duncan St Leger (Coldstream), 14th Australian General Hospital: While at Broadmeadows he is transferred from the Infantry to the Australian Army Medical Corps. His commanding officer states: ‘This man is Madame Melba’s pianist and unsuited for infantry work. The Commandant has expressed his approval of Pte St Leger’s transfer to the AAMC’.
July 13th, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary –‘We have marched through the most beautiful country I have ever seen, we are now in the Somme and are making our way to the big advance’.
Pte George Fraser (Yering): While stationed at Broadmeadows he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit as a result of his poor physical condition.
July 15th, 1916 –
Pte Percy Johnston (Olinda), 58th Battalion: Is killed in action when a gas attack was sent over by the enemy. The gas mask he was wearing was unfortunately broken and he was overcome by the gas. He is 25 years old and is buried at the Rue Petillion Military Cemetery in France.
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from rheumatism.
THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES, FLEURBAIX REGION, FRANCE
This was the AIF’s first campaign on the Western Front and the first part they played in the Somme offensive. But Fromelles was a battle that has come to be known as the worst 24 hours in Australia’s history. On this day just over five and a half thousand Australians were killed or wounded in just one day’s fighting. In fact, two thousand were killed in just two hours – that is more Australian casualties than the Boer War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Afghanistan conflict put together. It left so many families and homes in this district in grief.
July 19th, 1916 –
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale – ‘I wrote the day before we went into action, telling you all the happenings up till then getting shrapnelled etc, every day, coming back through the sap, then had to finish, as we had to get back to the trenches ready for the charge, which came the following day. One could not explain one-third of what it was like sitting under a heavy bombardment for six hours; all our mails and belongings got blown up in the bombardment, which was very heavy’.
Pte Stanley Robinson (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: While awaiting orders to go over the top, a German shell burst in his trench killing four men outright and severely wounding Stanley. Attempts were made to get him to a Casualty Clearing Station but his wounds were too severe and he died later that night. He is19 years old and he is buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery in France.
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale –‘Then over the parapet we went with old Fritz’s guns playing on us all the time. It was a success on every point gained by us, although we came back, as no reinforcements or ammunition came, as they were blown up. It was awful. Our mates were mown down at each side of us, and some of us came back without a scratch. It is a sight one will never forget. It was worse than Gallipoli and Lone Pine. The worst that happened to us was that we got caught in the wire entanglements. We got out of that into a mud hole with shells bursting all around us. We eventually got back smothered in mud and our clothes torn nearly off. How any man returned at all is a miracle to me’.
Sgt Frank Dixon (Wandin), 59th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. A Lieutenant Hackworthy later recalled that he said goodbye to Frank just before he went over the top and that was the last that was ever seen of him. He is 22 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France. Sadly, on the same day his cousin, Private Ernest Wilkin of the 29th Battalion, was also killed in action.
Pte Ernest Wilkin (Wandin), 29th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. He is 23 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France.
Pte William Orenshaw (Seville), 59th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. His brother Arthur, in the same unit, is severely wounded in the same charge. He is 26 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France.
Pte John Purcell (Lilydale), 60th Battalion: Charges over the top of the trenches into ‘no man’s land’ and is never seen again, he is later listed as ‘missing in action’. He is 27 years old and his name is remembered on the memorial at Y Farm Military Cemetery in France.
Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe gunshot wounds to his legs and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Henry Ferguson (Coldstream), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to right eye, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His eye would be removed a week later.
Pte George Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, shoulder and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Hewitt Hussey (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to his hand and face, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Robert King (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Phillip Lithgow (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right wrist, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Arthur Orenshaw (Seville), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to his arm and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte William Shell (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Armadale.
Stan Goode (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grocer and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old. His older brother Ralph was the first man from the shire to enlist.
July 20th, 1916 –
Pte Reuben Parry (Wandin), 29th Battalion: Is captured by the Germans during the battle. According to correspondence with the Australian Red Cross, he reported that during the battle he had met up with his younger brother Frederick, of the same unit, close to the German line. They decided that the severely wounded Frederick should try to return to the Allied trenches and that Reuben would stay with the survivors of the battalion and try to carry on. However Reuben was captured shortly after and Frederick was never seen again. Later that year Frederick’s family learned via the Red Cross that the Germans had recovered his body and had given him a Christian burial. In 2010 his remains were recovered from an unmarked mass grave and formally identified by the Fromelles Joint Identification Board and were then reburied at the new Commonwealth War Cemetery at Pheasant Wood. Reuben then spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany.
Pte Lindsay Yeaman (Montrose), 20th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the head and hand, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte William Tait (Mt Dandenong), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the back and shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Thomas Goodall (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from pleurisy.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘I’ve been nearly two years at this game now but I’ve never seen anything like the bombardment we gave the Germans tonight, it was awful. It is said that some of the Germans were found to be raving mad, so fearful was our artillery. I can quite understand it, the noise nearly sent us mad, there must have been thousands of guns firing as hard as they could, eight guns just near us averaged fifty-five rounds a minute’.
July 21st, 1916 –
Pte Alfred Fairbank (Montrose), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Archie Kilfoyle (Mooroolbark), 31st Battalion: In a letter written to his mother – ‘I have passed through that awful time unscathed and have fond hopes of going right through safely so I can return to you and home. But if it is God’s will that I should fall, you are not to fret, but rejoice in the fact that I have fallen in a noble cause’.
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale – ‘The worst was the following day – back in our billets, and roll call. A name would be called and there would be no reply. We lost heavily out of our company. I am glad to say the majority were wounded. We have just heard that the OC of our company has died of wounds, he was a fine boss. Poor Bert Hibbert got killed in the charge, he was a fine brave fellow. All the Dale lads in our lot are well’.
Pte George Pendlebury (Seville): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit as a result of defective vision in the right eye. He had enlisted in March.
Pte William Oliver (Lilydale): While still at Broadmeadows Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit as a result of flat feet. He had enlisted in May.
Gilbert Hogg (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old. His brother Frank had enlisted earlier in the year.
July 22nd, 1916 –
Pte Henry Lord (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left shoulder, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Cpl Walter Henry Clegg (Wandin), 11th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left foot, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Alfred Sutherland (Wandin), 22nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘I am writing this while thousands of shells are screaming overhead. Two thousand of our guns are belching forth as fast as they can fire for the last four hours, our Division is just about to go over the parapets, it’s now 12.25am and at 12.30am we attack. The noise and roar, with the air full of smoke and the earth trembling, is nearly sending us mad. What must Fritz feel like, he has been bombarding us pretty freely, one killed, one wounded of our corps so far’.
Charles Shell (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a horse breaker and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
THE BATTLE OF POZIERES, SOMME VALLEY, FRANCE (23rd July – 3rd September)
Just after midnight on July 23rd 1916, the Australian 1st Division attacked the village of Pozières. They went on to take the village but the capture of Pozières only served to cruelly expose the Australian troops to the enemy. The German commanders then turned the guns of an entire army corps onto the Australian soldiers and pounded them with an intense three sided artillery bombardment. To this day it is the most sustained artillery attack to ever be experienced in wartime.
But this was just the beginning. The battle went on for another seven weeks until September 3rd, 1916. In that time there were 23,000 casualties in the AIF in and around Pozieres, more than 6700 of whom were killed, most of whom still have no marked grave. Historian Charles Bean famously said the fields around Pozieres were “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”.
July 23rd, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘Still going strong our boys are magnificent they’ve got Fritz right up to the village of Pozieres’.
Pte Sydney Shore (Mooroolbark), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, injury to left foot, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
July 24th, 1916 –
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘The first time I’ve had a chance for a spell, it’s been hell, double hell and triple hell all in one, slaughter and nothing else. But our boys have routed Fritz out, taken three lines of trenches and a village, Pozieres, but it’s awful. The artillery, tear shells, poison gas, stink shells, how we are alive I don’t know? The German prisoners say that our artillery fire is the worst they’ve experienced since the war began, and I don’t wonder at it.
Today the boys captured Pozieres, old Fritz is on the run it’s great, we are just about dead beat but it doesn’t matter. Our casualties are heavy but we’re like J W; as long as the troops stick it, we will, bet yer life’.
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale –‘We have been sent to the rest camp 8 miles away, it is run by soldiers. We had a bath and clean clothes and a shave, one razor for the lot of us, and now we feel tip top. We are being fed up a treat – eggs, bacon, a pipe and cigarettes and anything you want. I have lots of things to tell you but I am not allowed. We are having wet weather here’.
Pte George Pendlebury (Seville): After being discharged from the AIF for being medically unfit, he is transferred to the Australian Army Service Corps for home service.
July 25th, 1916 –
Pte William Hawkey (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: On this night he was with ‘C Company’, who were moving up the Pozieres road between 10.00pm & 11.00pm to reinforce the front line. The Germans were shelling the road and one shell landed near him, killing him instantly and wounding twelve others. One witness to the event, Private Lionel Miller, claimed: ‘I saw Hawkey killed on July 25th near the chalk pit at Pozieres village. It was not a regular advance; we were just going up to the front line. He was caught by a splinter of a shell. Two shells came along one after another and caught him. We managed to get out of the way but he was blown to pieces. We could not bring in his body; I saw the body several times the next day lying in the open’. He is 32 years old and is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery.
Pte George Hamilton (Lilydale), 1st Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action but has wounds dressed and remains on duty.
Pte Thomas Butcher (Yering), 5th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right wrist, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Alexander Bonney (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Henry Warwick (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘The casualties in our corps are heavy. We are all scattered, don’t know where half my mates are, all I know is that I am safe and sound but oh so sleepy and footsore. It’s just a week since I’ve had my clothes off or a wash, the birds are building in my whiskers. We have captured hundreds of prisoners, I dressed four badly wounded last night, they can’t understand why we treat them kindly, we’ve got some who are not wounded stretcher bearing for us’.
July 26th, 1916 –
Pte William Chauvin (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: At about 9.00am he was with a group of men about 360 metres away from the German lines at an area known as ‘Casualty Corner’. They were trying to take shelter in a poorly constructed trench when they came under sustained artillery fire from the enemy. One witness to the event, Private Clark, later wrote: ‘Several shells had fallen when one landed right in our trench, in the middle of nine of us. Five were buried as a result of the shell explosion and Chauvin was one that was never seen again’. His friend from Lilydale, George Allen, tried in vain to dig for him but couldn’t find any trace of him. He is 24 years old and as his body was also never recovered he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux.
Pte Ralph Noden (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is killed in action, believed to have been buried by a shell explosion. He is 24 years old and as his body was also never recovered he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux. He and William Chauvin are the first of the Lilydale footballers who joined up together to be killed in the war.
Pte Leonard Giddins (Olinda), 7th Battalion: Is wounded in action, crushed left hand, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Pte George Allen (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to buttock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
L/Cpl Wilfred Tucker (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the cheek, and is evacuated to hospital in France. He is later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his men, time after time, against the enemy under intense grenade and sniper’s fire, until only one man of his section remained unwounded. Although wounded himself, he continued to throw grenades for seven hours until wounded a second time’.
Cpl George Milne (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Is recommended for, although not awarded, the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His recommendation states he showed: ‘Consistent good work. Valuable services showing calm courage and devotion to duty at Pozieres’. A fellow soldier with him later wrote: ‘At Pozieres I cannot express in strong enough words the good work that he did. The boys of his platoon thought the world of him, as his chief concern was always their welfare before his own’.
July 27th, 1916 –
Pte Richard Plummer (Olinda), 21st Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 21 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.
July 28th, 1916 –
Pte John Medhurst (Gruyere), 8th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 22 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.
Pte Leopold Muir (Wandin), 8th Battalion: He was dug in with his platoon, in an area near Pozieres where they were under fire from both rifle and artillery fire. Leopold’s good mate, Pte Cecil Coe, had been wounded by shell blast and lay exposed in ‘No Man’s Land’. As a result, Leopold volunteered to go and rescue his friend, even though he knew this would put him in danger. As he got out of his shell hole and moved towards his mate he was sadly shot and killed by a sniper, he is 24 years old. His friend, Cecil Coe, also died that same day. As they have no known graves, both he and his friend Cecil are remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.
Pte Cecil Farr (Mooroolbark), 24th Battalion: Is killed in action while advancing along the Albert-Bapaume Road. He is 22 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.
Pte Henry Tudor (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left leg and knee, and is evacuated to hospital in France seriously ill.
Pte David Lohman (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Themistocles-
Pte Robert Black (Montrose), 7th Battalion
Pte Walter Deppeler (Gruyere), 7th Battalion
Pte John O’Halloran (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion
Pte John Warren (Lilydale), 7th Battalion
Pte Frederick Jeeves (Montrose), 22nd Battalion
Pte Sam Tucknott (Mt Evelyn), 22nd Battalion
Pte Thomas Leach (Lilydale), 22nd Cycling Battalion
Pte Robert Davies (Kilsyth), 24th Battalion
Pte Harold Hunter (Wandin), 24th Battalion
Spr Roland Wild (Kilsyth), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
July 29th, 1916 –
Pte Isaac Davies (Kilsyth), 28th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 39 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France. Another brother, Frederick, would be killed in action in 1918.
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
July 30th, 1916 –
Pte Harry Black (Coldstream), 23rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Ernest Commerford (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the back, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Horace Twiner x (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Leaves Egypt bound for Australia on the SS Mashobra, he is to be discharged as medically unfit for having contracted a venereal disease.
July 31st, 1916 –
Pte Harry Dawson (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the ankle, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Pte Benjamin Hussey (Lilydale): While still at Seymour Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF for being medically unfit as a result of a previous injury to his leg.
August 1st, 1916 –
The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Orsova –
Pte George Rouget (Wandin), 58th Battalion
Pte James Jordon (Kilsyth), 59th Battalion
Pte Arthur Leckie (Lilydale), 59th Battalion
Gnr Victor Boulter (Olinda), 3rd Division Ammunition Column
Pte Duncan St Leger (Coldstream), 14th Australian General Hospital: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Miltiades.
August 3rd, 1916 –
Pte Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale), 4th Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to shoulder and back, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
August 4th, 1916 –
Pte John Ellis (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, suffering shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
August 5th, 1916 –
Pte George Brown (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: He was sheltering in a shell hole not far from Mouquet Farm when an artillery shell burst just near him. He sustained horrific injuries from the blast including the loss of both his legs and most of both arms. One witness, Cpl Percy Mortimer, later said: ‘I spoke to him as he was conscious. He called out ‘I’m a Blighty case’. He was lying there some time before the stretcher bearers came and carried him away. I never heard anything more about him’. He was carried back to the nearest Casualty Clearing Station but he died there soon after of his wounds. He is 33 years old and is buried at the Becourt Military Cemetery in France.
Pte Norman Pontin (Lilydale) 14th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Cpl Thomas Eales (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the arm and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Pte Claude Atkinson (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in Camiers, France.
Pte Leslie Jack (Seville), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, thigh and chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte William English (Mt Evelyn), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to hand, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
John Johnston (Wandin): Born in Wandin, he was working as a sawyer in Wyelangta, Vic when he enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old and married.
August 6th, 1916 –
Pte Claude Atkinson (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Dies in the No 11 General Hospital at Camiers, France of wounds he’d received in action the day before. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.
TURKISH ATTACK ON THE SUEZ CANAL, EGYPT
August 9th, 1916 –
L/Cpl Gilbert Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Is killed in action while defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish attack. He is buried at the Kantara War Cemetery in Egypt, he was 22 years old.
Trp Stanley Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: On the same day his brother is killed in action, he is wounded in the same battle, gunshot wound to left foot, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in Egypt.
Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his father in Lilydale: ‘We were very busy when the Turks made an unsuccessful attack on the Canal, and we were complimented on that from the right quarter, for our efficiency and ability. But the Turks are well driven back now, and in that scrap their losses were very heavy while ours were very light’.
Pte Arthur Newing (Mt Evelyn), 8th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Egypt on the HT Clan Macgillivray. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of having two flat feet, a condition that was discovered a month after arriving in Egypt.
Pte Patrick Pender (Lilydale), 51st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Miltiades.
THE BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM, SOMME VALLEY, FRANCE (10th August – 3rd September)
After the Australian forces took Pozieres they moved on to a nearby area called Mouquet Farm which was a heavily defended German position. This was a four week struggle during which thousands of Australians tried to push the British line forward just a few hundred metres to capture the farm area.
August 10th, 1916 –
Henry Stewart (Kilsyth): Leaves his job as a miner and enlists in the AIF, he is 33 years old and married.
August 12th, 1916 –
Pte Ebenezer Gray (Seville), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left arm and face, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
L/Cpl George Harrison (Wandin), 58th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the hand, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Reuben Parry (Wandin), 29th Battalion: Reported by the German authorities to be a prisoner of war and interned at Kriegsfangenenlager Munster III in Germany.
August 13th, 1916 –
Pte George Vale (Lilydale), 8th Field Ambulance: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in France.
August 16th, 1916 –
Pte Eddie Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Both Eddie and his brother Frank were sheltering with another soldier in a dug out near the sunken road at Mouquet Farm when they suddenly came under an artillery attack. One witness, Private Carwardine, later said: ‘After heavy shelling both brothers were in a dug out that was buried by shell fire. Frank was above and got out first and begged the men to get his brother out. I saw Eddie’s body recovered but he was dead, so was the other man, he had been hit by shell pieces in the back and on the side. Frank was dazed and was led away by others. I was present at the funeral, Eddie and the other man in the dug out were buried in the one grave at an improvised cemetery near the sunken road. The Pioneers put up a wooden cross but they were short of tools and had to scratch his name on the cross with old razors. I saw the surviving brother again later that same evening in the lines. He was on duty as a sniper in a bay in front of the front line trenches’. He is 19 years of age and is buried at the Sunken Road War Cemetery in Contalmaison, France.
Cpl Harold Ritchie (Kilsyth), 49th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wounds to hands and legs, and dies soon after. He is 21 years old and is buried at the Warlon-Baillon Communal Cemetery, France.
Pte Harry McCormack (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right side, and is evacuated to a hospital in England.
Pte Perrin Wallace (Seville), 5th Machine Gun Company: Is admitted to the Glenroy Hospital from the Seymour Military Camp suffering from measles.
Pte Richard Greenlees (Olinda), 39th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on board the RMS Orontes.
Pte Bert Hooper (Mt Dandenong), 15th Machine Gun Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the RMS Orontes.
Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale): Leaves her job as a nurse and enlists in the Australian Army Nursing Service, she is 30 years old.
August 17th, 1916 –
Pte William Bedford (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to the back and side, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Arthur Newman (Yering), 5th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Frank Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Much of this is due to the news of the death of his brother the day before.
Spr Joseph Sies (Wandin), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
Sr Matilda McNeill (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Reports for duty with the No 2 Australian General Hospital at Marseilles, France.
August 18th, 1916 –
Pte Andrew Holland (Yering), 7th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 23 years of age and is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery is France.
Pte Thomas Morton (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 33 years of age and is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery is France.
Cpl Arthur Anderson (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: He was listed as missing in action on this day. One witness later stated: ‘Arthur was with us on the night he were missing, he got his Corporal’s stripes just before we went in. He was digging trenches between the lines. The German front line was to be taken by the rest of our fellows but they did not get far enough to the right and many were cut off and taken prisoner. Arthur was with four or five others that led that attack and when we retired none of those four or five came back’. The authorities eventually reported him as being killed in action. He is 19 years old and is buried at Delville Wood, Cemetery, France.
Letter by Capt A Oates to Arthur’s sister in Lilydale – ‘We feel we would like to let you know all we can of Cpl A F Anderson, who has been reported ‘missing’, in the hope that it will be some consolation to you. On the night the battalion made their advance on the German lines at Pozieres, he was last seen about 20 yards from the German lines. On the following morning the Germans were seen to be collecting our wounded near their front lines. Knowing the character of Cpl Anderson we do not think he would allow himself to be taken prisoner unless badly wounded. Cpl Anderson was known for his courage in the face of the enemy and was highly respected by his comrades who greatly regret his loss’.
Cpl George Deacon (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the abdomen, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte James Varty (Mt Evelyn), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to foot, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte George Evans (Mt Evelyn), 22nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, bullet wound to arm, and is evacuated to hospital in France.
Pte Hugh Cowan (Lilydale), 10th Light Horse Regiment: While in Egypt he is transferred into the Imperial Camel Corps.
August 19th, 1916 –
Sapper Henry Woodruff (Seville), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to the buttock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Louis Herry (Lilydale), No 14 Australian General Hospital: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Karoola.
August 22nd, 1916 –
Sgt Leonard Walters (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from tonsillitis and pharyngitis.
Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Leaves Australia bound for Bombay, India on the SS Moolton.
Pte David Davies (Wandin), Anzac Cyclist Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire.
Pte William Davies (Wandin), Anzac Cyclist Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire.
August 23rd, 1916 –
Sgt Charles Cooper (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this and the following day. His recommendation states: ‘For his gallantry and determination in command of a working party on 23rd/24th August, 1916, at Mouquet Farm. The ground between 0.1 and 91 was well lit by enemy flares and half the party were casualties from the enemy shell fire. Sgt Cooper withdrew his men to cover and completed the sap himself under continuous fire’.
Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘When we arrived in this part about a month ago there were seventeen of us from Lilydale in the 2nd Brigade, we march out today, not seventeen but two of us, myself and as far as I know George Milne. All the rest are killed, wounded or missing, such is war, Tom Morton is missing, Ed Poyner killed, Frank Poyner wounded, Bill Bedford wounded’.
August 24th, 1916 –
Dvr James Currie (Seville), Divisional Supply Column: While at Etaples, he is injured in an accident when he was cleaning his lorry and another lorry struck it, causing it to move forward and run over his foot. His right foot was crushed and he was evacuated to hospital in England.
August 25th, 1916 –
Sgt Charles Cooper MM (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe shrapnel wounds to left arm and thigh as well as to the groin, when a high explosive shell burst close to him. He is evacuated to hospital in England.
August 26th, 1916 –
Pte Henry Hogan (Olinda), 24th Battalion: Is killed in action when a shell from an Australian gun fell short and landed on the parapet behind him. He was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel and killed. His is 19 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France.
Pte Alfred Leonard (Olinda), 21st Battalion: Is awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion during operations as a volunteer runner and stretcher bearer, performing splendid work until he collapsed. On recovering he resumed his work, and continued collecting wounded until he was himself wounded’. Even though he is wounded he doesn’t get evacuated and remains on duty.
Pte Vincent Lawlor (Gruyere), 5th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from varicose.
August 27th, 1916 –
Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: At the Guildford War Hospital, England. In a postcard to his family in Lilydale: ‘Whatever else you do, stick to the Red Cross; its bonzer. A British Red Cross lady visits this hospital every second day; we want for nothing; they bring us books, papers, fruit, flowers and in fact anything we fancy they try and get for us’.
August 28th, 1916 –
William Hayes (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a labourer in the area and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old and married.
August 29th, 1916 –
William Clark (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a stable hand and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.
August 30th, 1916 –
Pte William Hodges (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Is wounded in action and evacuated from the field to hospital in France.
James Graham (Wandin): Leaves his farming property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
September 1st, 1916 –
Pte Norman Hooke (Kilsyth), 14th Battalion: While dug in with his platoon, in an area near Pozieres where they were under fire from both rifle and artillery fire, a shell landed just near his trench killing him instantly. He is19 years old and has no known grave and as a result is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.
Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: Has his right leg amputated as a result of the severe wounds he’d received a few months earlier at Fromelles.
Clifford Jackson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a bank clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old.
September 2nd, 1916 –
Pte James Clegg (Wandin), 46th Battalion: During a bombardment he is buried and has to be dug out by his mates. Afterwards he is removed from the lines to hospital in England suffering from shell shock.
September 3rd, 1916 –
Spr Henry Kings (Wandin), 13th Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital.
After the Battle of Pozieres ended, the AIF were sent to man frontline trenches at various places in Flanders and in the Somme Valley. They would be here during that terrible winter of 1916 – 1917, one of the worst on record, where they had to experience the rain, mud, slush, snow and freezing temperatures that descended upon them.
Out in the open, in trenches full of mud, having to experience shelling and sniper fire, as well as constantly being wet and cold; all of this made life wretched and almost unendurable for the Australian soldiers and casualties mounted.
In the meantime, the Light Horse in the Middle East had crossed the Suez Canal into Turkish controlled Sinai and had taken the village of Romani and would push on into Palestine.
September 4th, 1916 –
Leonard Bunt (Wandin): Leaves his orchard at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old. His brother Frederick enlists a few days later.
Howard Vernon (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a traveller and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old and married.
September 5th, 1916 –
Sgt John Casson (Kilsyth), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column: Is admitted to hospital in France feeling ill. He is sent to England where he is diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Cyril Dennis (Lilydale): Leaves his job working on ‘The Oaks’ farm in Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
Rupert Langley (Montrose): Leaves his job working on his uncle’s farm and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old.
September 7th, 1916 –
Pte Albert Woolrich (Olinda), 14th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney.
Pte Robert Bedford (Lilydale), 46th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney.
September 9th, 1916 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In Belgium. In his diary – ‘Today I went to the trenches and I passed through Ypres. I have never seen such desolation, what was once a beautiful city is now a heap of ruins. I saw the Cloth Hall and Cathedral smashed to atoms. I should say Ypres is as big as Ballarat or Bendigo and I say without exaggeration there is not a home or building that is not smashed to pieces’.
Able Seaman Robert Croydon McComas (Montrose): Is part of the crew of the HMAS Sydney when they leave Bermuda after spending eighteen months engaged in surveillance duties off neutral ports in the Americas.
Frederick Bunt (Wandin): Leaves his orchard at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. His brother Leonard had enlisted a few days earlier.
Hugh Comans (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a driver at the Lilydale Cordial Factory and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
September 10th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: A Field General Court Martial is held where he is charged with the following ‘while on active service, neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, negligently wounding himself in the foot on August 14th, 1916’. He is found guilty and is imprisoned for 28 days and forfeits 14 days pay.
September 11th, 1916 –
Pte William Clark (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Euripides.
Alex Duncan (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old.
September 12th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Newman (Yering), 5th Battalion: Is awarded the Serbian Gold Obilich Medal for Bravery in recognition of ‘distinguished and all out service during the Gallipoli campaign’.
September 13th, 1916 –
Gnr Theodore Lowe (Gruyere), 4th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from scabies.
Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is seconded to work in the war hospital at Bombay, India.
James Wheeler (Yering): Leaves his dairy farm at Yering and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.
September 15th, 1916 –
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale – ‘We have done fatigue in the trenches for a week. We are having wet weather here and it is very cold. It is only autumn; goodness knows what it will be like in winter. I think our furlough for England is knocked on the head. It was just about to start when we were shifted to another part of the line, a fair distance away.
I am here with the Lewis machine gun with the company all the time. It is alright. You can bet we give it to Fritz. We do not have to go on fatigue. Just started to write a letter and had to stop and shift places in the trench, as Fritz is putting a few shells over and they are landing too near to allow me to stop here. He has put plenty of shrapnel over this last half hour but he is getting tired and our guns are after him and aeroplanes shut him up. No more news. The same thing happens every day, can’t set one’s mind on writing when these whizz bangs are flying about’.
September 16th, 1916 –
Sgt Frank Dixon (Wandin), 59th Battalion: Reported ‘missing in action’ since the battle of Fromelles, his family received word on this day from the YMCA National Council in England that Frank was actually being held as a prisoner of war in the Hotel de La Paix in Leysin, Switzerland. As a result, the family and his fiancée all write letters to him. However three months later the military authorities confirmed that this report was false and that he had in fact been killed in action at Fromelles the year before.
Pte William Walker (Montrose), 24th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
September 17th, 1916 –
Pte Norman Stewart (Wandin), No 3 Company, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to his right leg, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
September 18th, 1916 –
Pte Alfred Blanksby (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis.
Pte Alfred Larking (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Karroo.
Pte Stan Goode (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Karroo.
Pte William Duffy (Lilydale), 11th Field Artillery Battery: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Clan McGillivray.
September 19th, 1916 –
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Commonwealth –
Pte Charles Shell (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Company
Pte Perrin Wallace (Seville), 5th Machine Gun Company
Pte Charles Wallace (Seville), 5th Machine Gun Company
Trp Alexander Mathews (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Clan MacCorquedale bound for Egypt.
Andrew Noden (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a coach builder and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. He enlists under the name James Dolan.
George Reid (Lilydale): Leaves his job with the railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
Thomas Telson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a groom at the Black Springs Hotel and enlists in the AIF, he is 41 years old.
September 20th, 1916 –
Pte Alfred Parish (Lilydale), 13th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England after accidentally injuring his ankle.
Gnr Isaac Brown (Lilydale), 6th Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Borda bound for Europe.
September 21st, 1916 –
Lt James Wilken (Kilsyth), Australian Flying Corps: Arrives in Baghdad to report for duties in the Mesopotamia campaign.
Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: Arrives in Baghdad to report for duties in the Mesopotamia campaign.
September 22nd, 1916 –
Pte Ernest Kerslake (Lilydale), 26th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.
Nolan Footit (Gruyere): Having deserted from the Royal Australian Navy in May 1915, after two years’ service, he decides to enlist in the AIF under the name John Willis, he is 24 years old.
September 23rd, 1916 –
Pte William Town (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis and influenza.
Pte Henry Bamber (Mt Dandenong), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Persic.
Thomas Hennessy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 44 years old.
September 25th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Stallworthy (Lilydale), 1st Remount Unit: In camp in Egypt. In a postcard to a friend in Lilydale – ‘Many thanks for your long newsy letter received yesterday. I am very well thank God. There are no Lilydale boys anywhere near me now, all are at one of the fronts. I am looking forward to seeing you all again but do not expect it will be for several months yet’.
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Shropshire-
Pte Alexander Blair (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte Sydney Leake (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte Henry Petersen (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte Charles Asling (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion
Pte William Jackson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion
Pte Charles Kimberley-Walker (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion
Pte Irwin Campbell (Mt Dandenong), 57th Battalion
Pte Frank Rae (Mooroolbark), 57th Battalion
Pte Frederick Leach (Gruyere), 59th Battalion
Spr Joseph Gibson (Kilsyth), 3rd Division Signal Company
Spr Reginald Lyons (Olinda), 3rd Divisional Signal Company
September 27th, 1916 –
Pte Arthur James (Mooroolbark), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.
September 29th, 1916 –
Dvr Charles Clarke (Mt Dandenong), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Ascanius to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting severe bronchitis. His younger brother James would enlist the following year.
September 30th, 1916 –
Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Is involved in a very successful raid on an enemy trench for which he is later ‘Mentioned in Despatches’.
Pte Ralph Garth (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is involved in a very successful raid on an enemy trench for which he is later ‘Mentioned in Despatches’.
Spr Robert Fairnie (Lilydale), Australian Army Pay Corps: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from scarlet fever.
October 2nd, 1916 –
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Nestor-
Pte Frederick Tonkin (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte Thomas Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion
Pte William Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion
Pte James Graham (Wandin), 7th Battalion
Pte Henry Stewart (Kilsyth), 8th Battalion
Pte Roy Davies (Wandin), 14th Battalion
Pte Alex Duncan (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Cpl Charles Perrin (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Pte Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion
Pte James Wyles (Olinda), 23rd Battalion
L/Cpl George Ingram (Seville), 24th Battalion
Cpl George Hastie (Seville), 58th Battalion
Pte Norman Bennier (Lilydale), 59th Battalion
Pte Frank Morton (Lilydale), 59th Battalion
Trp David Stormont (Silvan), 4th Light Horse Regiment
Dvr Henry Collins (Coldstream), 119th Howitzer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Aeneas.
Gnr William Atkinson (Lilydale), 120th Howitzer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Aeneas.
David Briers (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a butcher in Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old and married. His brother Albert had enlisted in 1914.
October 4th, 1916 –
Gnr William Atkinson (Lilydale), 120th Howitzer Battalion: On board the HMAT Aeneas. The following message was put in a bottle and dropped overboard -‘At sea. October 4, 1916. We are 26 hours out from Melbourne now. and I am well. Was a bit sea sick at first. Bob Gray and I are together here. Will finder please forward to my mother – Gunner W. Atkinson’. It was later found on the beach at Rendelshan, SA, by H Stewart who sent it on to his mother.
Norman Bedford (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a coach builder and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.
Andrew Blythe (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his orchard at Mt Dandenong and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.
October 5th, 1916 –
Vincent Black (Coldstream): Leaves his family’s property in Coldstream and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old. His older brother Harry had already joined the AIF the year before.
October 6th, 1916 –
Herbert Jeeves (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a motor driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
October 7th, 1916 –
Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
October 9th, 1916 –
Thomas Hogg (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and his job as a linesman and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old. His younger brother Herbert would also enlist in the AIF in a few days’ time.
Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
October 10th, 1916 –
James Smith (Olinda): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.
October 11th, 1916 –
Pte Ernest Bridgewater (Seville): After three months training at Broadmeadows and a month in a convalescent home, he is discharged as medically unfit as a result of a vasomotor instability.
Bertie Blashki (Lilydale): The grandson of Polish immigrants, he leaves his job as a commercial traveller and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
October 13th, 1916 –
Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: While serving in the Mesopotamia campaign, he is admitted to hospital suffering from malaria.
October 14th, 1916 –
Herbert Hogg (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. His older brother, Thomas, had already enlisted a few days before.
October 15th, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (France) –‘We go north to Abecele. While here they decide that they will build stables for the horses for the winter with brick floors, so a party of us were detailed to proceed to Ypres to pick up the best bricks from among the ruins and load the wagons when they come up at night. We do a bit of souvenir hunting in our spare time among the ruins. It took us about ten days before we had enough bricks. When we had, we went back to our camp and got to work laying, there happened to be one tradesman among our lot so he was foreman. We got on very well and it did not take us long to lay enough bricks to accommodate one hundred and thirty horses. The funny part was we were just finished when we had to pack up and go down on the Somme again’.
October 16th, 1916 –
Pte Norman Pontin (Lilydale) 14th Battalion: In camp in England. In a letter to his fiancée Alice Huston of Lilydale and her family – ‘Just a line to let you know I can find a little time to drop an occasional word to my other friends in Lilydale. Tho it isn’t for want of thinking about you, as you may guess, those thoughts can be nothing but pleasant; for you were always kind, to say nothing of Alice of course. It was difficult for me to always tell you as much in so many words, my gift of speech was ever rather scarce when I felt most.
Please don’t smile to yourself, for even Al can’t accuse me of talking much. Before we left Salisbury Plains there were nearly 100,000 men encamped; but they come and go all the time. Our present camp is in Dorset and is much better in every way. Hope it isn’t long before my weekend visits recommence, altered a little I hope in that Al and myself will be the visitors’.
Guy Berry (Seville): Leaves his family’s orchard at Seville and enlists in the AIF. He is 21 years old and this is his second attempt to enlist, he was first rejected on account of heart trouble following typhoid fever in his youth.
Gordon Howell (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the military but as a permanent guard for home service only, he is 24 years old.
October 17th, 1916 –
Sgt John Casson (Kilsyth), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column: Dies in hospital in England as a result of a brain tumour. He is 22 years old and is buried in his family’s grave at Willesden New Cemetery, Willesden, England.
Dvr Leslie Coppin (Kilsyth), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Marama for further treatment for his gastritis.
Thomas Brown (Olinda): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 33 years old.
October 18th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin), 1st Remount Unit: After spending the past ten months in hospitals in Egypt suffering from various ailments, he is discharged as medically unfit and sent home to Australia on the HS Westalia.
Oliver Matthews (Yering): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old.
Florian Deshamps (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grazier and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old.
October 20th, 1916 –
Capt James Rowan (Olinda), Australian Army Medical Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Barunga.
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Lincoln-
Pte Ernest James (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Walter Leach (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Gilbert Hogg (Wandin), 37th Battalion
Pte Harry Moore (Lilydale), 46th Battalion: This is his second trip overseas, the first was in 1915 but he was sent home later the year after having contracted a venereal disease.
Pte Andrew Noden (Lilydale), 12th Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HT Borda.
Pte Cyril Crameri (Montrose), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HT Borda.
October 21st, 1916 –
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the SS Port Melbourne –
Pte Malcolm Bethune (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Charles Dorrington (Montrose),3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte William Jacob (Mooroolbark),3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Joseph Keeley Jnr (Mooroolbark),3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Thomas Kerr (Yering),3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Frank Muirson (Lilydale), 50th Battalion
October 22nd, 1916 –
David Snell (Wandin): Leaves his job as a printer and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
October 23rd, 1916 –
Michael White (Lilydale): Leaves his farm at Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old.
Alex McEwin (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a postal assistant and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
October 24th, 1916 –
Harold Wright (Mooroolbark): Leaves his orchard in Mooroolbark and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
William Guillerme (Lilydale): Enlists in the AIF for a second time, he had been discharged as medically unfit the year before because of his poor eyesight.
October 25th, 1916 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘Still raining and bitterly cold. Fearful shellfire last night in the dark, we fall into shell holes half full of water, up to our knees in mud everywhere, I haven’t been dry for days. Our food is short and what we get is cold, cooks can’t keep a fire alight’.
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HT Ulysses-
Pte William Hayes (Mt Evelyn), 5th Battalion
Pte Robert Mitchell (Seville), 5th Battalion
Pte James Wheeler (Yering), 15th Machine Gun Company
Pte Gordon Towt (Coldstream), 15th Mobile Veterinary Section
Pte Norman Bedford (Lilydale), Australian Army Service Corps
Victor Fisher ( Lilydale): Leaves his job as a jockey and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old. This is his seventh attempt to enlist, he has been rejected six times as a result of the condition of his feet.
Thomas Holter (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
Frank Ketteridge (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.
Arthur Lowe (Yering): Leaves his job as a farm labourer at Yeringberg and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. This is his second attempt; he was first rejected on account of his poor vision.
October 26th, 1916 –
Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his father in Lilydale – ‘We are still in Egypt, and it is now six months since we arrived, so you can guess we are quite sick of the country of sand, heat, and filth; also its inhabitants. The ‘Gippoes’, as we call them, are a very dirty race and we have not much time for them. The majority of them seem to be a sort of uncivilized, or may I say un-intellectual. But in a case where there are money matters involved, they seem to know what they are about. They generally ask double the value of anything they have to sell but soon reduce their price so as to make a sale. I bought an article once for 50 piastre that was priced at first at 95 piastre and this is the way the majority of them treat their soldier customers.
Since being in Egypt, I have spent most of my time in places in the vicinity of the Suez Canal, and for three weeks was in a camp which was handy to Cairo, consequently I was able to make numerous visits to that city. It is a very large city, with a hefty population and has some beautiful buildings, and some business streets. But in certain parts (mainly the Arab quarters) the streets and surroundings are filthy. As you will know, in and around Cairo there are some very interesting and historical places and I have seen different mosques, the Pyramids, the Elizabeth gardens, and the Citadel. They were all very interesting to me, but the biggest eye-opener was when I visited the Citadel, with its marble walls, lovely alabaster stone work, costly mats, hundreds of electric lights and numerous colored glass windows. It is in our way of speaking, an enormous church, and I understand that it is the place that the Sultan visits when attending church.
The Zoological Gardens are well worth a visit, and as well as the shining and well-kept animals, the beautiful ancient net coral work of stone is a feature. The Eskabah Gardens are well laid out, and what adds to the soldier’s interest there is a branch of that splendid institution, the YMCA, which is the soldier’s home. We are able to purchase there at a small cost, soft drinks and reliable food, as well as being provided with different games and free concerts, also stationery and if necessary we are able to do our corresponding on the premises.
The Pyramids are reached after a twelve miles’ or so journey by tram from Cairo. They are, no doubt marvellous ancient structures of an enormous height, but I am unable to go into details, as our guide spoke anything but the truth. I am not able to go into details of the work that our corps has been doing, but can assure you that our time has not been wasted.
It was in the summer months when we first arrived in this country. Naturally we felt the heat a bit, but we soon became acclimatised. We are getting into the winter now, but winters over here are quite different from our Australian winters. During the six months I have been here I have only known rain to fall on one occasion and then only a couple of sharp showers. We are quite settled down to our food, which is plain and wholesome, and consists of bacon for breakfast, stew or bully beef for dinner and bread and marmalade for tea. Seeing that most of us live well and keep in good health on it, there is no room for complaint. Our mails from home and Australia are always looked forward to, and are a great comfort. I have had a lot of travelling about, and moving from one camp to another, and could make you laugh explaining some of the different journeys, which have been it any conveyance from an aeroplane to a kit truck of a ‘Gippoes’ goods train’.
October 27th, 1916 –
Pte Mort Tait (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Edward Gray (Seville): Leaves his family’s orchard in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old. His older brother, Ebenezer Gray, had enlisted the year before. This was his second attempt at enlisting, in November 1915 he had been rejected as being medically unfit because he had fractured his knee four years previous.
William Hunter (Wandin): Leaves his family’s farm and nursery at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old.
Edward Read (Seville): Leaves his job as a blacksmith in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old.
October 28th, 1916 –
Edward Barratt (Olinda): Leaves his job as a joiner and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married. His younger brother Percy had enlisted the year before.
October 30th, 1916 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘At 9am this morning we moved up to the advance stations in blinding rain. We are just in Delville Wood, the conditions are absolutely indescribable, the whole place is one mass of shell holes and the mud is knee deep. In this we are working carrying stretchers, two men to one stretcher, the artillery is awful’.
October 31st, 1916 –
Ernest Le Page (Seville): Leaves his job as a labourer at Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old. This is his second attempt; he was rejected the first time as being medically unfit.
November 3rd, 1916 –
Pte Oliver Matthews (Yering): Is admitted to hospital at Broadmeadows not feeling well, it later turns out to be emphysema.
November 6th, 1916 –
Pte Benjamin Gibson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to head and buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Levi Trayford (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
November 7th, 1916 –
L/Cpl Wilfred Tucker DCM (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from myalgia.
November 9th, 1916 –
Spr Harry Linacre (Seville), 6th Field Company Engineers: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis.
Pte Charles Clegg (Wandin), 51st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Argyllshire.
November 10th, 1916 –
2nd Lieut Harold Manders (Wandin), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: After a gas attack while in the front line, he is evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station suffering from gastritis and a nervous breakdown as a result of gas poisoning.
L/Cpl Michael Upton (Yering), 6th Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His leg is later amputated below the knee.
Harry Duck (Seville): Leaves his family’s property in Seville where he works and enlists in the AIF. He is 28 years old and married with three children. It is the second time he has tried to enlist; the first time he was rejected as being medically unfit.
William Boyden (Wandin): Leaves his job as a tinsmith and enlists in the AIF, he is 39 years old.
November 11th, 1916 –
Pte Francis Hughes (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the face, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Cpl Archie Kilfoyle (Mooroolbark), 31st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench feet.
Cpl Arthur Chapman (Wandin), 13th Field Artillery Brigade: Is charged with being drunk while in charge of a gun pit. An enquiry that is later held charges him with 12 months imprisonment with hard labour however this is later commuted to the reduction to the rank of Gunner. The sad irony is, if he had gone to prison he may have survived the war, as he is killed in action in August 1917.
Pte James Reade (Yering), 24th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Runic. He has been granted special leave of absence from the AIF to attend to family matters after his father passed away suddenly leaving their dairy farm in need.
John Albrey (Seville): He leaves his job as a farm worker in the Yarra Valley to enlist in the Australian Light Horse. He is 34 years old and this is the second time he has tried to enlist; on the first occasion he was rejected as being medically unfit.
November 12th, 1916 –
Pte James Clegg (Wandin), 46th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from influenza.
November 13th, 1916 –
L/Cpl Cyril Gregan (Olinda), 23rd Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from dysentery.
November 14th, 1916 –
Pte Leslie Farndon (Mt Dandenong), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. He is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action near Flers on 14th November, 1916, as Battalion runners to the front line and also as guides to carrying parties. Their coolness in action and their endurance until both were wounded in making repeated journeys under heavy fire were most praise worthy. These two soldiers [Farndon and 1034 E. McPhee] were mentioned in Corps Orders for similar good work at Pozieres’.
Pte William Town (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench feet.
November 16th, 1916 –
Pte William Clark (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from a collapsed left lung.
November 17th, 1916 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘This morning, on getting out of bed, we were met with a sight that astonished us, it had been snowing all night, everything looked beautiful but fearfully cold. We marched out of Buire at 10am in blinding rain and stood shivering in it for three hours on the side of the road waiting for motor buses. These arrived at 1pm, after six hours journey we arrived at La Chasseur where we are to rest for a week or so’.
Albert Parkes (Coldstream): Leaves his job as a farm hand at Coldstream and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.
November 18th, 1916 –
Pte Richard Goodall (Gruyere), 46th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
November 19th, 1916 –
Pte Frederick Brierty (Lilydale), 2nd Remount Unit: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Vestalia to be discharged as a result of his unit being demobilised. He later re-enlists.
Lt Wilmot Stephens (Lilydale), 57th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Armadale to be discharged, services no longer required. He later enlists in the New Zealand Forces.
November 20th, 1916 –
Pte Duncan St Leger (Coldstream), 14th Australian General Hospital: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from diaphragmatic pleurisy.
Robert Jenkins (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old and married.
Claude Pitt (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a bricklayer and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.
November 23rd, 1916 –
Pte Barney Gilson (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Marries an English girl in England. She would later return to Australia as a war bride.
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Hororata-
Pte Nolan Footit (serving under the name John Willis),(Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte James Smith (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Gnr Frederick Bunt (Wandin), 21st Howitzer Brigade
Gnr Leonard Bunt (Wandin), 21st Howitzer Brigade
Pte Hugh Comans (Lilydale), 5th Battalion
Pte Cyril Dennis (Lilydale), 5th Battalion
Pte Rupert Langley (Kilsyth), 5th Battalion
Pte Howard Vernon (Lilydale), 5th Battalion
Pte David Briers (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Unbeknownst to him, his wife is pregnant and would give birth to a son the following year, a son he would never see.
Pte Victor Fisher (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte William Guillerme (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte Thomas Holter (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte Frank Ketteridge (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte Harold Wright (Mooroolbark), 21st Battalion
Pte Florian Deschamp (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion
Pte Thomas Hogg (Wandin), 24th Battalion
Pte Arthur Lowe (Yering), 24th Battalion
Gnr Louis Sage (Lilydale), 2nd Field Artillery Battery
Gnr Clifford Jackson (Lilydale), 5th Field Artillery Battery
George Conner (Lilydale): Leaves his orchard in Piangil, Vic, where he lives, and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old and married. His older brother Archibald enlists a month later.
November 24th, 1916 –
Pte Robert Jeeves (Montrose), 58th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Arthur Roger (Silvan): Leaves his family’s orchard at Silvan and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old.
November 25th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Goodall (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his younger brother – ‘I see you are getting on well with the farming, I suppose you will be head boss soon, especially as you are leaving school. I am quite well again now and back in camp. I have had a good time lately, Geo Smith from the Glen is here in this camp, he was wounded I don’t know where Fred Searle is and George don’t know either. I stayed in London a few days and then went to Scotland when on my furlough and had a good time in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is very wet and cold here now, we had a couple of days snow last week and it was very cold’.
November 27th, 1916 –
Gnr Clifford Jackson (Lilydale), 5th Field Artillery Battery: While on board the HMAT Hororata he throws a bottle over the side with the following note: ‘On Troopship A 20. We are having a beautiful trip, and at present it is a glorious night. Have just finished a good sing song round the piano. Passed a Red Cross hospital ship returning this afternoon at 5.15 o’clock. It was about six miles to starboard. Everybody happy and contented’. It would wash up on the shores of Western Australia and on January 28th, 1917 be found by Mr J H McGlade of Bremir Bay, WA, who then forwarded it on to Clifford’s father.
November 29th, 1916 –
Cpl David Ogilvy (Seville), 60th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza and pneumonia.
December 1st, 1916 –
Pte William Tait (Mt Dandenong), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His arm would later be amputated.
December 2nd, 1916 –
Pte Alexander Bonney (Lilydale), 11th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Karoola to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds received in action.
December 3rd, 1916 –
Pte Joseph Keeley Snr (Mooroolbark), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from rheumatism.
December 5th, 1916 –
Dvr Ernest Gilbert (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from scabies.
December 7th, 1916 –
Pte Thomas Senior (Seville), 1st Remount Unit: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on board the HT Ayrshire. He is to be discharged as medically unfit, suffering from deafness and varicose veins.
December 8th, 1916 –
Pte Harry Duck (Seville): While in training at the Seymour Military Camp he is hospitalised suffering from both measles and gastritis, a condition he had before enlisting.
Spr Joseph Sies (Wandin), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis.
Sr Alicia Kelly (Mt Dandenong), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives in France and reports for duty at the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station. She would spend the next two years serving at Casualty Clearing Stations or Stationary Hospitals in France.
December 11th, 1916 –
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: In France. From his diary –‘A small party of us were sent straight to be attached to the 4th Division to carry despatches to various brigades. Not the best job as the roads were very bad for the horses and we were poorly fed, four of us messing together and it costing nearly 10/- a week for food that we could buy from canteen’.
December 12th, 1916 –
Pte William Jackson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is seconded to work in the war hospital at Poona, India.
Pte John Albrey (Seville), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Medic.
December 13th, 1916 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 31st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
Pte William Johnston (Wandin): Soon after he enlisted and was sent to the Broadmeadows Camp, he ended up in hospital suffering from sciatica. He spent the next nine months in hospitals and convalescent homes until the military authorities finally deemed him medically unfit and discharged him.
December 14th, 1916 –
Pte John Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 58th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench feet.
Pte John Johnston (Wandin): At Royal Park Camp he is discharged from the AIF for desertion. He had gone absent without leave on November 23rd and hadn’t been seen since. A Court of Enquiry held on this day rules that he be declared a deserter and struck off the list.
December 15th, 1916 –
Trp Vincent Black (Coldstream), Camel Corps: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Vestalia bound for Egypt.
December 16th, 1916 –
Pte Robert Shell (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench feet.
The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Medic-
Pte Herbert Hogg (Wandin), 14th Battalion
Pte Claude Pitt (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion
Pte Thomas Telson (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion
Pte Arthur Roger (Silvan), 39th Battalion
Pte Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong), 57th Battalion
Pte Edward Gray (Seville), 58th Battalion
Pte Ernest Le Page (Seville), 58th Battalion
Pte Edward Read (Seville), 58th Battalion
Pte Albert Parkes (Coldstream), 59th Battalion
Pte William Hunter (Wandin), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Thomas Brown (Olinda), 6th Machine Gun Company
Sig Guy Berry (Seville), 2nd Divisional Signal Company
December 17th, 1916 –
Pte Daniel Bowen (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from scabies.
December 19th, 1916 –
Trp Albert Walker (Montrose), 8th Light Horse: While stationed at Kantara, Egypt, he transfers to the Australian Flying Corps.
December 20th, 1916 –
Walter Boys (Seville): Leaves his Aunt and Uncle’s orchard, ‘Woodbury’, in Seville, where he had lived and worked since he was two months old, and enlists in the Australian Light Horse. He is 30 years old and married with two children. His stepson, 18 year old Alexander Mathews, had enlisted six months earlier, also in the Australian Light Horse, and both would serve together in the 8th Light Horse Regiment.
December 21st, 1916 –
Cpl Herbert Mackin (Lilydale), 7th Mobile Veterinary Section: While in Egypt he transfers to the 4th Camel Regiment, Camp Corps.
December 23rd, 1916 –
Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever.
Spr Ernest Rae (Mooroolbark), 1st Divisional Signal Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from severe bronchitis.
Trp Allen Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: During the attack on the village of Maghdaba, near the Palestine border, he is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the arm, and evacuated to hospital in Egypt.
Lt Thomas Rowan (Olinda), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the RMS Orontes.
Finlay McCay (Silvan): Leaves his job as a farmer in Silvan and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.
Archibald Conner (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a fisherman in Swan Reach, SA, where he is living, and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old and a widower.
December 25th, 1916 –
Pte Robert Lawlor (Coldstream), 22nd Battalion: Writing to his family in Coldstream he states: ‘I fired my very first shot of the Great War on Christmas Day 1916 with a Lewis Gun’.
Pte Charles Mortomore (Lilydale), 37th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this night. His recommendation states: ‘At Armentieres on the night 25th/26th December, 1916, while acting as a scout, he displayed great daring in getting through the enemy wire and obtaining information preparatory to a raid on the enemy trenches. When the scout next to him was wounded he carried him back across No Man’s Land to our lines, and then returned to his work. When a party of the enemy commenced repairing the damaged wire, he watched from a distance of five yards, and sent back information which proved of great value to our raiding party’.
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘The first Christmas in Egypt was very quiet but this year we had a good time. We sent to Cairo for flour currants and cakes, also received some gifts from the Australian Comfort Fund. We had half a sovereign in the pudding and the coin was not found until the following day as we had more pudding than we could eat. Christmas was not a very merry one for those in Australia but let us hope we will all be home in time for the next although the outlook is not very promising. I often wish the war was over’.
December 29th, 1916 –
Pte Harry Duck (Seville): Hospitalised with gastritis at the Seymour Military Camp since December 8th, his condition hasn’t improved and he is moved to the Military Rest Home, Macleod.
December 31st, 1916 –
Pte Arthur Overton (Wandin), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England. He would not return to his unit.
Pte Henry Holbrook (Montrose), 8th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of suffering from shell shock which has also created a facial paralysis.
Pte Phillip Lithgow (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received at Fromelles.
Spr Henry Kings (Wandin), 13th Field Company Engineers: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HMAT Wiltshire to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action in September.