33rd Battalion

Private: 686 Frederick William FARBER.

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9th Machine Gun Company - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 686 Frederick William FARBER.

Born: 11th May 1888. St Lawrence, Queensland, Australia. 

Died: 1st May 1918. Died of Wounds. France.

Father: Frederick William Farber. (1857-1900) Died at Leichardt Downs Station, Dysart, Queensland, Australia.

Mother: Elizabeth Farber. nee: Schneider. (1863-1924) Died at Nebo, Queensland, Australia.

INFORMATION

Frederick William Farber enlisted with the AIF on the 9th of February 1917 at Rockhampton, Queensland and was allocated to the Machine Gun Company and embarked for Melbourne. Frederick embarked on board HMAT A29 "Suevic" on the 21st June 1917 from Melbourne, Victoria for England and disembarked on the 21st August 1917 at Liverpool, England. Frederick was transferred to the 33rd Battalion AIF the next day and marched in to the Durrington Army Camp where he settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine.

Frederick proceeded overseas for France on the 27th December 1917 via Southampton and was marched in to Rouelles the next morning where he went into billets for the next 2 days before marching out to the lines where he was Taken on in Strength with the 33rd Battalion in the field. 

Private: 686 Frederick William FARBER (1888-1918)

8th February 1918, Frederick was detached again to the 9th Machine Gun Company. He reported sick on the 15th February and was treated by the 9th Australian Field Ambulance for Scabies and was later transferred to the 11th Field Ambulance. Frederick was discharged for duty on the 22nd 0f February and marched out to the lines the next day. Frederick was marched out from his detachment and re joined to 33rd Battalion on the 17th March 1918. 

About 4 A.M. on the 17th, Villers Bretonneux, Bois d'Aquenne, to the west of it and the village of Cachy, to the south, were heavily drenched for three hours with phosgene, mustard and irritant gasses. But no assault followed. As soon as possible the local garrison, consisting of the 6/London(58 Devon) and the 33rd Australian Battalion, was got out of the shelters in the town into the trenches around it. The gas shelling was repeated in the evening from 4 to 7 P.M., next morning and on the following days, being increased so as to include Bois I'Abbe, but with greatly reduced results. Nevertheless it was impossible for anyone to move that area without feeling some ill-effects from the mustard gas, and there were in all, 1,074 gas casualties.’

33rd War Diary

Villers-Bretonneux

 Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment near Bois de L'Abbe outside Villers-Bretonneux 1918.

Note: 33rd Battalion Colour Patch on Corporal: 1102 Ernest Allan CHARTERS in foreground. (Eggs-a-Cook)

Frederick was treated by the 55th Australian Field Ambulance on the 17th of April for Gas Poisoning, but the effects were so severe he was transferred to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen for further treatment on the 18th of April. Frederick Died of Wounds on the 1st May 1918 from the effects of Mustard Gas Poisoning and is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.

St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.

Family Information

Frederick was a single 27 year old Coach Driver upon his enlistment with the AIF. His parents Frederick William Farber was born about 1857 at Konizsberg, PRUSSIA and his mother Elizabeth Schneider was born on the 10th February 1863 at Gruningen, Darmstadt, Hessen, GERMANY, they were married on the 17th of November 1881 at St Lawrence, Queensland after they immigrated to Australia.

Fredericks Memorial Plaque was listed for Auction on May 2026.

Military Records

Under Construction: 26/05/2026.

Corporal: 1187 Thomas McARDLE.

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33rd BATTALION AIF

Corporal: 1187 Thomas McARDLE.

Born: 1897. Tingha, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:11445/1896.

Died: 4th April 1918. Killed in Action. Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Father: Thomas E McArdle. (1860-1920) Died at Tingha, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:7651/1920.

Mother: Annie Maria McArdle. nee: Nash. (1859-1943) Died at Tingha, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:17256/1943.

INFORMATION

Studio portrait of 1187 Private (Pte) Thomas McArdle, 33rd Battalion, of Tingha, NSW. A grocer prior to enlistment in January 1916, Pte McArdle embarked on board HMAT Marathon (A74) on 4 May 1916. He was promoted to Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) in May 1917 and wounded in action in Belgium in June. L/Cpl McArdle was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) in February 1918. He was killed in action on 4 April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France. Cpl McArdle was 22 years of age.

4th-5th April 1918

The First VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

The Strength of the 9th Infantry Brigade was about 2,250 but their casualties during the 2 days of fighting numbered 30 Officers and 635 men either killed in action or missing.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.4th-5th April 1918

33rd Battalion. AIF 3 Officers 82 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF 5 Officers 120 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF 9 Officers 282 Other ranks (including 44 missing)
36th Battalion. AIF 12 Officers 133 Other ranks (including 1 missing)
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF 1 Officer 18 Other ranks (including 4 missing)

28th June 1919.

Informant: Private: 1139 Marmion  Alexander HAY. "D Company" 33rd Battalion AIF. "I knew McARDLE, his name was "Tom" and he was a Corporal in D Company and came from Tingha were I knew him. He was killed outright at Villers-Bretonneux, shot through the forehead 4/4/18. I saw him when he was carried out, thing he was buried near Villers-Bretonneux but I'm certain he was killed outright as others saw him as well as I, and have confirmed as what I say. He was short and nuggetty. 

Anzac Buffet

Sydney

Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery, France.

Military Records

 

Under Construction: 28/07/2025.

Company Sergeant Major: 1708 Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW

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36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Company Sergeant Major: 1708 Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW

Born: 5th May 1897. Balmain via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:10210/1897.

Married: 15th November 1921. Drummoyne vis Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:14729/1921.

Wife: Alice Martha Wilthew. nee: Clarke. (1892-1978)

Died: 15th June 1978. Narrabeen War Veterans Home, Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:

Father: William James Wilthew. (1867-1920)

Mother: Mary Ann nee: Sayer. (1863-1912) 

INFORMATION

No.1708 Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW was two months short of his 19th birthday when he enlisted in the AIF at Narrabri on the 15th of March 1916. He nominated his Father, William WILTHEW who was then in New Zealand, as his next-of-kin.
On his Enlistment Attestation Form he was described as being 5’6” (167cm) in height, 126 lbs (57.1kg) in weight, having a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair.
Private Wilthew embarked from Australia as one of the 1st Reinforcements of the 36th BATTALION (Carmichael’s Thousand / Rifle Clubs Thousand) aboard the HMAT (A72) “Beltana” sailing from Sydney on the 13th of May 1916. Its route was via Capetown and Dakar, arriving at Devonport in England on the 9th of July. Upon arrival in England the Battalion travelled by train, via Exeter, to the village of Amesbury in Wiltshire, where they unloaded and then marched the several miles to the AIF Camps at Larkhill. On arrival the 36th Battalion was allocated to the No.4 Camp and the men were then given four days Disembarkation-Leave prior to commencing their training in England.
The Battalion now became part of the 9th Infantry Brigade (33rd, 34th, 35th, and 36th Infantry Battalions, 9th Machine-Gun Company, and the 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery), of the newly raised 3rd Australian Division (9th, 10th, and 11th Infantry Brigades). It would spend the next 4 months training hard on Salisbury Plain to learn all the methods of fighting Trench-Warfare, under the Command of Major-General John MONASH.
The 9th Brigade trained and practiced in Musketry, bayonet fighting, the digging of trenches, received their weapons, equipment and field-kitchens, attended various specialist courses, practiced route-marching, improving their fitness, practised trench raids and attacks while coordinating with aircraft and Artillery, culminating in a week in October spent in trenches under active service conditions. They voted in the ‘Conscription Referendum’, were reviewed by His Majesty the King on Salisbury Plain and then completed a final Divisional Route-March of 18 miles. Selected personnel had attended various Promotion and Officer Training Courses, in preparation for the Casualties and losses that were inevitable. In November, the 3rd Division finally received the remainder of their Rifles and Equipment.
The delay in receiving this equipment had ensured that they were now the most highly trained Division to leave England.
On the 22nd of November 1916 the 36th Battalion, minus Reginald, proceeded from England to France, as part of the 9th Brigade’s deployment onto the Western-Front. On arrival the Brigade marched to the Sanvic Rest Camp (located at Bléville, several miles NNW of Le Havre). On the 23rd/24th the Brigade moved by train from Le Havre to Bailleul, in cattle-trucks that were marked “Hommes (people) 40, Chevaux (horses) 8”. On the 26th the 36th Battalion marched from Bailleul to billets in the village of Merris. On the 29th the 36th Battalion moved from Merris to the ‘D’ Battalion area at the village of Armentieres. At 5 p.m. on the 29th of November 1916 the G.O.C. of the 9th Infantry Brigade assumed control of the Armentieres Sector, and the Battalions began their rotations through the front-line trenches.
Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW remained behind in England. On the 17th of October 1916 he marched in to the 15th Training Battalion and on the 4th of December 1917 marched into the 9th Training Battalion. On the 27th of November 1916 he had been appointed an Acting-Sergeant, and then on the 24th of January 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Temporary-Sergeant. He was one of those invaluable personnel, that trained the Reinforcements of the 9th Brigade AIF, that were held in England until needed.
On the 25th of August 1917 he deployed across to France, reverting to the rank of Corporal, and was taken-on-strength by the 36th Battalion on the 1st of September.
He was with the 36th Battalion for the horror of the unsuccessful attack in the mud of ‘PASSCHENDAELE’ in Belgium on the 12th of October 1917. The battlefield was described as a morass and a quagmire – a continuous mass of interconnecting shell-holes filled by liquid mud - with the only semi-dry or firm surface being the high ground where the shell-holes connected together. To go over the high ground meant being exposed to enemy fire, while to take cover meant risking becoming stuck in the liquid mud.
Note - The attack on Passchendaele commenced at 5.25 a.m. on the 12th and by the end of the day the 3rd Australian Division had sustained approximately 2,935 casualties (of which 299 were killed) and after being forced to withdraw from the 2nd Objective, finally held a line only just in front of that morning's starting point. It was reported that men had sunk into the liquid mud in the shell holes under the weight of their own equipment and drowned. If a man became stuck it took several of his comrades to extricate him, and it needed a team of stretcher-bearers just to bring a single man back to the dressing-Stations. The Battlefield could not be held and many men had to be left behind and their bodies were never found again.
In late March of 1918 the 9th Infantry Brigade (33rd, 34th, 35th, and 36th Infantry Battalions) had been rushed south to ‘the Somme’, in response to a huge new German Offensive and then used as a mobile formation being thrown into the line wherever strengthening was needed. The 9th Brigade finally ended up at the village of Villers-Bretonneux, France.
He was with the 36th Battalion for the ‘1st Battle of Villers-Bretonneux’ on the 4th of April 1918, when the 9th Australian Brigade, and a few tired elements of the British 5th Army, held back the German advance and kept the Germans from capturing the village. The 36th Battalion Counter-Attacked in what was considered to be a ‘Forlorn Hope’ counter-attack, but despite suffering heavy casualties was instrumental in halting the German advance. During this battle all the Officers in his Company were casualties, and Reginald took Command of the Company. For his bravery he was nominated for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, although it was not awarded.
The 9th Brigade then defended the village for the next couple of weeks, keeping the Germans to the east of the Village. Unfortunately, the village would be later captured by the Germans after the 9th Brigade had been relieved, thus necessitating its recapture by the 13th and 15th Brigades of the AIF in a heroic night attack on the 25th of April (the 2nd Battle of Villers-Bretonneux).
On the 30th of April 1918 the 36th Battalion was DISBANDED. This was due to a number of reasons: the falling number of reinforcements arriving from Australia, the losses suffered by the Brigade in the earlier Battle, and also due to the 36th Battalion having lost most of its Senior Officers. The Battalion was one of three Infantry Battalions to be officially disbanded in the AIF, in late April and May of 1918. The remaining men of the 36th were then used as reinforcements to bring the other three Infantry Battalions of the Brigade up to near full strength. Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW was one of the men that were transferred to the 33rd Battalion AIF (New England’s Own / the Northern Battalion), being posted into “Charlie” Company.
On the 26th of May 1918 he was promoted as Temporary-Company Sergeant Major (CSM). On the 24th of July he reverted to the rank of Sergeant.
He was then with the 33rd Battalion AIF for the ‘August Offensive of 1918’, the ‘Advance to Bouchavesnes’, and the ‘attack on the Hindenburg Line’.
On the 30th of October 1918 the Ottoman-Empire signed an Armistice ending the fighting in the Middle-East. On the 3rd of November the Austro-Hungarian Government signed an Armistice with the Allies leaving Germany to fight on alone, and on the 11th of November 1918 the Germans finally also sign an ARMISTICE, finally ending the fighting in Europe.
On the 17th of January 1919 he was once again appointed to the position of CSM, looking after the men of the Battalion while they waited for their turn at demobilisation.
He began his own return to Australia on the 22nd of August 1919, but had requested to take leave in South Africa, as his Father was then in that country. He took special leave for the period of 12/9/19 – 19/11/19 and then resumed his return to Australia on the 20th of November, aboard the HMAT Nestor. He was discharged from the AIF on the 7th of February 1920.
Family Information
Reginald was a single 18-year-old Station Hand from "Duane" Orchard Street, Croydon, N.S.W. upon his enlistment with the AIF enlisting at Narrabri, N.S.W.
1938. Lieutenant: Reginald Kenneth WILTHEW. (1897-1978) 36th Battalion CMF
Alice Martha Wilthew. nee: Clarke. (1892-1978)
Inscription reads: A loving tribute To the Memory of MARY ANN Wife of WILLIAM WILTHEW DIED 1st JAN 1912 AGE 48 YEARS Also LIEUT HAROLD WILTHEW ELDEST SON OF THE ABOVE KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 4TH NOV 1916 AGED 23 YEARS ALSO WILLIAM Beloved Husband & Father DIED 14TH NOV 1920: AGED 56 YEARS ERECTED BY HER LOVING HUSBAND & CHILDREN ALSO ANNIE WILTHEW DIED 12TH NOV 1949 AGED 77 YEARS (ANNIE is Annie Bryant, wife of Thomas Henry Wilthew)
Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 11/09/2025-24/04/2026.

Lieutenant: Henry Joseph LAZER.

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33rd BATTALION AIF

Lieutenant: Henry Joseph LAZER.

Born: 26th August 1894. Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. (No Birth Record)

Died: 24th March 1917. Killed in Action. Armentieres, France. 

Father: Isaak Lazer. 

Mother: Helana Lazer. (1859-31.10.1918) Died at Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:15420/1918.

INFORMATION

Henry Joseph Lazer served as a Lieutenant in the 13th Infantry Militia and the 14th Infantry "Hunter River" Militia and was still serving the the 13th Infantry when he enlisted with the AIF on the 7th March 1916 with the rank of Lieutenant to B Company 33rd Battalion AIF. 

Henry and the 33rd Battalion entrained to Sydney and disembarked from the Woolloomooloo Wharf in Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the 4th May 1916. The 33rd Disembarked at Devonport England on the 9th July and were marched in to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp where the Battalion settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine. Later the Battalion moved to the No: 25 Camp and finished off their training, which included six days' battle practice and field work at the Bastard Trenches. 

Henry was treated by the New Zealand Ambulance for a Bomb Wound to his Right Knee and was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital on the 17th August 1916. The next 3 months Henry remained in Hospital recovering from his injury before he has discharged to duty on the 10th November 1916. The 33rd were preparing for overseas deployment and Henry proceed overseas for France via Southampton on the the 21st November 1916 at 4:30 pm and travelled by paddle steamer ‘Mona Queen’ to France arriving November 22, 1916 at 7:00 am in Le Havre. The Battalion moved in to the No:1 Rest Camp just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17.

S.S Mona Queen S.S. "MONA QUEEN"

  Henry was appointed Temporary Quartermaster on the 6th January 1916 

28th January 1917.

Enemy Operations

He showed more than usual activity with his artillery all day. He shelled the Battalion area more reliantly from 9:00am till about 4:00pm. At 9:15am he put 20 - 5.9 H.E and 10 - 77MM Shrapnel into vicinity of  c-28-b-1-4 doing no damage. Started at 9:30am at Sidiars Line which he shelled with 5.9 H.E. from 10:00am till 10:40am putting in about 50 shells and doing damage to some dugouts and considerable damage to both trenches and causing 4 casualties. 

(33rd Battalion War Diary)

Henry was Killed in Action on the 24th March 1917 at Armentieres France, and is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, France

Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery

Family Information

Henry was a single 21 year old Shop Keeper who worked at I LAZER and SON General Store Keepers and Timber Merchants from Glen Innes New South Wales upon his enlistment with the AIF. 

14th Infantry "Hunter River" Hat Badge

Isaak and Helana Lazer, of Betts Rd., Merrylands, Sydney, New South Wales. Helen is buried at the Rookwood General Cemetery. Plot: Zone G Section 3 Grave 68

Military Records

 

Under Construction: 17/02/2026.

Private: 377 George BULTER.

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33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 377 George BULTER.

Born: 23rd November 1888. Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia

Married 1: 19th March 1910. Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:2965/1910.

Wife 1: Olive Sarah Butler. nee: Cottle. (1892-1921) Died at Tenterfield, N.S.W. Australia. Death Cert:13445/1921.

Married 2: 8th September 1920. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Registration:002750.

Wife 2: Mary Jane Butler. nee: Lovell (1898-1970) Died at Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia.

Died: 17th March 1970. Stanthorpe, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia

Father: Samuel "Sami" Butler. (1847-1934) Died at Stanthorpe, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia

Mother: Patience Ruby "Tottie" Butler. nee: Taylor. (1849-1915) Died at Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. Registration:003658.

INFORMATION

George Butler enlisted with the AIF on the 4th January 1916 at the Armidale Show Ground where he was allocated to B Company 33rd Battalion AIF. He would later be allocated to number 8 Platoon. The composition of the 33rd Infantry Battalion was on a district basis. "A Company" was from Armidale and Tamworth, "B Company" was from Walcha, Uralla, Barrabra, Bingara and Manilla. "C Company" was from Narrabri, Moree and Inverell. and "D Company was from Glen Innes, Guyra and Tenterfield.

Armidale Army Camp 1916

4th April 1918.

Informant: Private: 377 George BULTER. 33rd Battalion, B Company VIII Platoon. "I saw Private: 2871 James MYLIE 33rd Battalion, B Company VIII Platoon being carried away the morning after he was killed about December 12 at Touquet Station near Armentieres. He had been killed practically instantly by a shell while we were holding the line, and was buried in a Cemetery just behind the lines. I have not seen his grave. 

Private: 5126 Joseph TOWNSEND 33rd Battalion, B Company VIII Platoon was hit at the same time (and is now either in England or Australia). They were both Pioneers and engaged on sanitary duties at 7 or 8 pm when they were both hit. 

Southern General Hospital

Redcliffe, England. 

 

Family Information

George was a 27 year old Labourer from Tenterfield, New South Wales upon his enlistment with the AIF. 

19th March 1910

Wedding. The wedding of Mr. George Butler, fourth son of Mr. A. B. Butler, and Miss Olive Cottle, third daughter of Mr. R. Cottle, took place at the residence of the bride's parents on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev. H. G. Smith officiating. Miss Francis Cottle was bridesmaid and Mr. W. Butler best man.

The Tenterfield Star

Military Records

Under Construction: 19/02/2026.

Private: 3712 Andrew Alfred WARK

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53rd BATTALION - 36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 3712 Andrew Alfred WARK

Born: 19th June 1894. Westville via Corowa, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:11379/1894.

Married:  1925. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:64/1925.

Wife: Ada Louisa Wark. nee: Maguire. (1890-1968) died in Queensland, Australia.

Died: 20th September 1949. Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:21273/1949.

Father: John Henry Bernard Wark. (1860-1949) died at Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:30009/1949.

Mother: Elizabeth Walk. nee: Barrass. (1862-1929) died at "Eldorado", Denman St, Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:18290/1929.

INFORMATION

No.3712 Andrew Alfred WARK was a 22-year-old Horse-Trainer, working at Westville in NSW when he enlisted in the AIF on the 1st of July 1917. He was described as having a fair complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair. His height was 5 foot 8 inches (172 cm) and he weighed 9 stone 6 pounds (59 kg).
He embarked as a member of the ‘10th Reinforcements to the 53rd Battalion’, sailing from Sydney on the 2nd of August 1917, on board the Troopship ‘Miltiades’. The troopship sailed via Halifax, Nova Scotia, and on the 20th of September he was charged with 1. “Absent without Leave, from 2:15 pm until 9:50 pm” and 2. “Smoking between decks”. As punishment he forfeited two days’ pay.
The troopship disembarked at Glasgow in Scotland on the 2nd of October 1917, and the Reinforcements then travelled south by train to Salisbury-Plain in southern England, arriving at the village of Hurdcott, Wiltshire on the following day. On the 11th of October he reported sick and was admitted to the isolation hospital at the No.3 Camp, diagnosed with mumps. On the 2nd of November he was released and marched out to the 14th Training-Battalion at Hurdcott.
On the 23rd of January 1918 he deployed across the English-Channel to France to reinforce the 36th BATTALION, marching into the 3rd Australian Infantry Base Depot at Rouelles in France. On the 26th he marched out to the front and was taken-on-strength by the 36th Battalion in Belgium, on the 28th of January. On the 10th of February 1918 he reported sick and was admitted to the 9th Australian Field-Ambulance Hospital diagnosed with scabies. He rejoined the Battalion on the 27th of February.
He was with the 36th Battalion on the 4th of April 1918 for its famous ‘forlorn hope’ counter-attack at Villers-Bretonneux, which helped hold back the German attack toward Amiens. The Battalion suffered a huge number of casualties and would subsequently also lose its Commanding-Officer. Note - Due to the lack of reinforcements arriving from Australia, the decision was made to disband three Battalions from within the AIF in order to use the remaining soldiers as reinforcements. Due to the losses suffered by the Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux the 36th Battalion was the one selected from the 9th Brigade. The 47th Battalion of the 12th Brigade and the 52nd Battalion of the 13th Brigade, were the other two. This was to be a foreshadowing of what would happen again in late 1918.
On the 30th of April 1918 the 36th Battalion was officially disbanded and its men transferred to the other Sub-Units of the 9th Brigade. Private WARK was taken-on-strength by the 33rd BATTALION and posted into Alpha-Company. On the 29th of July 1918, during shelling by the Germans, he was 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕-𝕀𝕟-𝔸𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, receiving a wound to his face. He was admitted to the 10th Field-Ambulance and transported to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. On the 31st he was transferred to Le Treport on the French Coast and admitted to the 2nd Canadian Gen Hospital. On the 21st of August he was transferred to the 1st Convalescence Depot at Le Havre.
On the 12th of September he marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot and on the 16th marched out to the front. He rejoined the 33rd Battalion on the 20th of September.
He was then with the Battalion for the final attacks in the ‘Advance to the Hindenburg Line’ (the attacks on Bony and the St Quentin Canal Tunnel) in the last two days of September.
On the 2nd of October 1918 the 33rd Battalion was holding the line in the Le Catelet sector, when it was relieved. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Australian Divisions were then withdrawn from the line leaving the 2nd Division to carry out the attack on Montbrehain, which was the last operation in which any Australian infantry fought.
On the 30th of October 1918 the Ottoman-Empire signed an Armistice ending the fighting in the Middle-East. On the 3rd of November the Austro-Hungarian Government signs an Armistice with the Allies leaving Germany to fight on alone, and on the 11th of November 1918 the Germans finally also sign an ARMISTICE ending the fighting on the Western-Front.
The 33rd Battalion would spend the next few months in France training, resting, and waiting for demobilisation and their return to Australia. Now all the Dominion Forces in France and England (Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, South-African, Newfoundlanders) expected to be returned to their country of origin. Due to a combination of shortage of sufficient troopships and various strikes in the English ports, the demobilisation of the AIF would take a lot longer than expected.
Note – Due to the AIF enlisting for “the duration of the war and four months after”, on the 19th of June 1918 The Commonwealth Defence Act had amended the Commonwealth Defence Act to read that the Governor-General may declare by Proclamation “that the Forces may be maintained after the time of war and so long as that proclamation remains in force”. This ensured that funding would still be available to pay, supply, and ration the AIF, in the event of delays.
The AIF was kept busy training, playing sport, undergoing education courses, and sending the men on leave if their finances permitted. Private WARK went on ‘Paris Leave’ from the 22nd of January until the 4th of February 1919. On the 3rd of April 1919 he reported sick and was admitted to hospital, being diagnosed with V.D. On the 16th of May he was released. On the 27th of May he marched into the No.3 Group at Codford to begin demobilisation.
On the 21st of June 1919 he commenced his return to Australia on board the ‘Konigin Luise’, arriving back on the 16th of August 1919. In Sydney on the 15th of September, he was discharged from the AIF.
33rd Battalion.
Family Information
Andrew was a single 22 year old Horse Breaker from Westville New South Wales prior to his enlistment with the AIF.
Brother John Henry Wark wedding photo daughter Thelma and wife Molly at Bathurst in 1925.
John Henry Wark became Mayor of Dubbo
Ada Louisa Wark. nee: Maguire. (1890-1968)  - Andrew Alfred Wark (1894-1949)
Roger Francis Walk (1925-1987)
Andrew was cremated at Beresfield Crematorium and his ashes are at the Newcastle, Memorial Park at Beresfield, New South Wales, Australia. Location of Ashes - Drive Wall C/86. Ada died in Queensland, Australia. Their son Roger served in the Royal Australian Airforce during World War 2 service number:444985. He died in Queensland also.
John Henry Bernard Wark. (1860-1949) - Elizabeth Walk. nee: Barrass. (1862-1929)
Cowra Cemetery. N.S.W.
Newcastle Memorial Garden, Drive Wall C/86. Beresfield, N.S.W.
Military Records
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)
Under Construction: 27/12/2025-30/12/2025

Lieutenant: 547 Harold Innes SPENCER. MM

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33rd BATTALION AIF

Lieutenant: 547 Harold Innes SPENCER. MM

Born: 1893. Barraba, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:6183/1893.

Died: 1st October 1918. Killed in Action. Bony, France.

Father: John Spencer. (1854-1938)

Mother: Margaret May Spencer. nee: Williams. (1859-1940)

INFORMATION

Harold Innes Spencer enlisted with the AIF on the 4th January 1916 at the Armidale Army Camp at the Armidale Showground. 

Studio portrait of Sydney Augustus Witten and three brothers of the Spencer family from Barraba, NSW. Identified left to right, back row; Private:568 Sidney Augustus WITTEN and Private:547 Harold Innes SPENCER. Front row; Private:548 William Clifford SPENCER and Robert Spencer. Privates Witten, Harold Innes Spencer and William Clifford Spencer enlisted within a few days of each other and embarked together with the 33rd Battalion aboard HMAT Marathon (A74) on 4 May 1916 from Sydney and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 9th July 1916.

Sydney was marched in to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp. The Battalion spent the next four months in training.

September 27th 1916

Australian Troops reviewed at Salisbury Plain by His Majesty King George V. 27th September 1916.

The King on Salisbury Plain

At Milton Down, near Bulford, on Wednesday morning, September 27th 1916, the King reviewed Colonial Troops stationed at various quarters on Salisbury Plain. The King arrived by special train at Bulford at 11:15 a.m. and mounting his black charger rode across country to the parade ground, accompanied by General Sir Henry Sclater, G.O.C., Southern Command, Commander Sir Charles Cust, R.N., and Lieutenant Colonel Clive Wigram, Equerries in Waiting. 

The 33rd Battalion departed from Southampton, England on the 21st November 1916 at 4:30 pm and travelled by paddle steamer ‘Mona Queen’ to France arriving November 22, 1916 at 7:00 am in Le Havre. The Battalion moved in to the No:1 Rest Camp just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17.

S.S Mona Queen S.S. "MONA QUEEN"

Pte Harold Innes Spencer was promoted to Lance Corporal 0n the 18th December 1916. 

28th January 1917.

Enemy Operations

He showed more than usual activity with his artillery all day. He shelled the Battalion area more reliantly from 9:00am till about 4:00pm. At 9:15am he put 20 - 5.9 H.E and 10 - 77MM Shrapnel into vicinity of  c-28-b-1-4 doing no damage. Started at 9:30am at Sidiars Line which he shelled with 5.9 H.E. from 10:00am till 10:40am putting in about 50 shells and doing damage to some dugouts and considerable damage to both trenches and causing 4 casualties. 

(33rd Battalion War Diary)

Harold was Promoted to the rank of Corporal on the 13th August 1916 and Temporary Sergeant on the 24th October 1916 when Sergeant: 1880 John Kershaw McLAUGHLAN was struck off strength.

was awarded the Military Medal (MM) on 4 February 1918. 2nd Lieutenant on the 3rd November 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Lt) on 12 April 1918.

Harold re joined the 33rd Battalion on the 19th September 1918.

The 33rd now set to bombing up the old trenches leading up to the upper end of the 1916 Spur where the Peronne-Bapaume Road also ran through. On the nearer side of the road a German battery commander with his gun crews and some infantry was blazing with six field-guns into the Australian groups everywhere they left shelter.

From the southward side Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL. and Lieutenant: William Alexander McLEAN. M.C. of the 33rd-the latter greatly helped by the leaders of the 10th Brigade Sergeant 1007 E E Walters. D.C.M, 39th Battalion and Corporal 5024 A V GRINTON. D.C.M, 38th Battalion, worked up and presently rushed the guns, the German Battery Commander fighting to the last with his revolver. He was shot by Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL.

Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN. M.C. reaching realised that the old quarry beyond it was a commanding position and accordingly took it and 40 German prisoners and placed a post on its eastern rim. He then went back to Wary Alley, and finding some of the 6th London Regiment, got Captain: S T COOKE M.C, and 20 men to garrison the quarry while the 33rd lined the Bapaume Road on the right.

24 September 1918.

ST RADEGONDE Fine day. Working hours having been increased from three to four - the Battalion went for a two hour route march on the completion of the platoon tactics laid down in the syllabus of training. In the afternoon a cricket match was played between Headquarters and "B" Company, the former winning. "B" Company went in first, and after losing the first 4 wickets for 1 run knocked up 54 runs. Sergeant: P McMLEAN (30 Not Out) and Company Quartermaster Sergeant: 504 Hubert George McCROSSIN. (11) being the chief scorer. Headquarters then batted making 72. Corporal: 1432 William John FINNEY. M.M. (20), Lieutenant: 916 Robert Cecil KING. (12) and Private: 552 Frederick SHERWOOD. (11) being the principal contributors. Headquarters also defeated "A" Coy at Football by 14 to nil, and "B" Company defeated "D" Company by 11 - 6.

25th September 1918.

Fine day but very windy. In the morning the Adjutant, Signal and Intelligence Officer attended a lecture at Brigade Headquarters, on play fair code - the lecture being given by the Brigade Signals Officer. Training was carried out as per syllabus. A.C.O's Conference was held at Brigade Headquarters at MONT St QUENTIN at 8:30 p.m. when instructions were issued as per Battalion Operation Order No:109A.

27th September 1918.

Fine day. Preliminary Instructions were issued for the Battalion to move to CAPRONCOPSE and a billeting party under Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL left on bicycles for the new area at 9:00 a.m. All day was spent in getting things packed up and ready for the move. At 7:30 p.m. the Battalion passed the starting point at L.26.d.8.7. Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL met the Battalion at 8:15 p.m. and guided it to the new Battalion area at CAPRON COPSE -E.17.a.8.6. which was reached at 12:30 a.m. German Bombing Planes were overhead at work but no bombs were dropped sufficiently close to cause casualties. Only 5 shelters were available per company and the men had to make themselves as comfortable as possible in the COPSE which was chiefly composed of low scrubby bushes and barbed wire. On arrival an issue of Rum was served out and the tired men were very soon asleep.

28 September 1918.

CAPRON COPSE Cold showery day. The Commanding Officer and adjutant attended a Brigade Conference at E.12.c.7.5. at 11:00 a.m, but very little new information could be gained. It was learned however that the 27th AMERICAN Division had lost the ground they had gained the previous day and that the jumping off line for the coming operation was now in enemy hands. A Company Commanders conference was held at 3:00 p.m, after which the Company Commanders made a reconnaissance of the approach route for the following day, going as far as LEMPIRE ROAD. At 10:00 p.m. a large German Bombing Plane came over and was very soon caught by our search lights. Finding it could not get out of the rays it dropped it's Bombs and made for home, closely chased by one of our fighters. Private: 2271 Oliver ANDREWS "C" Coy was wounded in the hip by a falling machine gun bullet.

29 September 1918.

CAPRON COPSE & DOLEFUL POST Fine day. The barrage opened at 5:40 a.m. for the AMERICAN hop over. The Battalion was astir early and had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. The Approach march was commenced at 7:15 a.m. and operations were carried out as per C.O's Report on operations - September 29th - October 2nd 1918.

30 September 1918.

BENJAMIN POST & TRENCH SYSTEM Showery day. Operations were carried out as per C.O's Report on operations 29th September - 2nd October 1918. Duplicate Report, messages and maps in connection with this operation will be included in the October Diary.

(33rd Battalion War Diary)

Harold was Killed in Action at Bony in France on the 1st October 1918 and is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Unicorn Cemetery in France.

UNICORN CEMETERY, France. 

Red Cross Report. Lieutenant SPENCER MM Harold Innes. 33rd Battalion AIF. Killed in Action 1.10.18.

The Battalion was about to advance on Le Catelet on the afternoon of 1.10.18 and just after moving across the Bellicourt Tunnell immediately East of Bony the enemy opened up a sharp barrage of 42 and 45s. During this barrage Lieutenant:547 Harold Innes SPENCER MM was killed outright by a fragment of a shell which burst close by. Captain: Charles John DOIG MC was killed at the same time and both were buried together on the Hindenburg Line at 62B (WIANCOURT SHEET) A15.a95. A suitable cross erected by our pioneer section. They were buried by Chaplain: BURKITT of this Battalion, the C.O. Adjutant, and other Officers attending the funeral. a suitable cross was erected by us. They were buried at WIANCCURT.

Family Information
Harold was a single 24 year old Grazier from "Nangarah" Barraba, N.S.W. upon his enlistment with the AIF.

Barraba War Memorial

Margaret May Spencer. nee: Williams. (1859-1940)

Military Records
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 02/10/2025-05/12/2025.

Private: 35 Frederick ASTON.

by

36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 35 Frederick ASTON.

Born: 7th July 1897. Penshurst via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:22397/1897.

Married: 18th October 1933. Burrowa, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:19475/1934. 

Wife: Elizabeth Margaret Aston. MBE. nee: Cunliffe-Jones. (1907-2005) Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:

Died: 21 August 1977.  Ryde Hospital, Ryde via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:19624/1977.

Father: Samuel Aston. (1865-1952) Died at Hurstville via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:3313/1952.

Mother: Leah Aston. nee: Jones. (1866-1955) Died at Hurstville via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:18979/1955.

INFORMATION

Fred Aston enlisted with the AIF on the 7th of January 1916 at Liverpool before being sent to the Broadmeadow Camp where he was allocated to A Company "Riflemen's Battalion" on the 24th of February 1916. The bulk of the Battalion's recruits had enlisted as a result of a recruiting drive conducted amongst the RIFLE CLUBS of New South Wales by the Minister of Public Information in the New South Wales Government, Ambrose CARMICHAEL. Thus the Battalion became known as "CARMICHAEL'S THOUSAND". Carmichael led by example and enlisted as well, serving in the Battalion as a Captain. Ralph was the Captain of the Alectown Rifle Club.

36th Battalion on Parade at Liverpool, N.S.W.

22nd November 1916.

1: Larkhill. Troops en trained at Amesbury Station in three trains. 1st Train 7:47 am Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others, 19 horses, 8 hand carts, 3 4 wheeled wagons and 9 bicycles. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: ARNOLD. B Company Lieutenant: 3 Harry WOODHAMS. C Company Lieutenant: James Michael JULEFF.

2nd Train 9:15 am-Compliment-Officers 11 and 327 others. 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Clifford BLACKLOW. Officer Commanding. A Company Lieutenant: Richard Henry DOYLE.

3rd Train 11:am- Compliment-Officers 10, 326 other ranks, 20 horses, 2 two wheeled, 5 four wheeled vehicles. Major: Archibald Leeson PRINCE. Officer Commanding. B Company Lieutenant: 1376 William James GORDON.

22nd November 1916

Embarked "Caesarea" 24 Officers, 811 others. Embarked "African Prince" 8 Officers 168 others, 59 horses, 15 four wheeled vehicles, 12 two wheeled vehicles and 9 bicycles. Total 32 Officers, others 979 left Southampton 6:00 pm. 1 Officer 75 others detailed as sentries and boat guard. 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 20 detailed as Firing Party. 5 Sanitary Police and 10 men as Sanitary Party.

23rd November 1916.

Arrived at La Havre 1:40 am. Disembarked 7:25 am. Marched via town to No:1 Rest Camp arrived 11:40 am. Remained at Rest Camp, Le Harve, till 6:30 am 24th November 1916.

24th November 1916.

36th Battalion, less 8 Officers 250 Other Ranks marched via town to point 3 Railway Station, Le Harve at 8:00 am. En trained and left Le Harve at 10:30 am. Proceeded via Montcrolier Buchy, Abbeville 6:10 am. 10 hours late via Boulogne Calais and Bailleul. Arrived at Bailleul at 4:25 pm 25th November 1916.

25th November 1916.

De trained at Bailleul marched to billets at Merris district. Arrived at billets 10:45 pm. Quartered in 12 billets. Headquarters at Hameur Farm.

26th November 1916.

4 Officers 100 men "A" Company arrived at Merris at 8:30 am. Remainder of Battalion arrived at Merris 4:00 pm. Hostile aircraft shelled overhead 2:15 pm.

27th November 1916.

8 N.C.O's detailed to attend Gas School for 4 days. All Officers instructed in Box Respirator by Divisional Gas Officer. General: Alexander John GODLEY and General: Sir John MONASH visited billets at Hameur Farm at 2:30 pm. Captain: John Martin HAWKEY. and 1 N.C.O. per Company visited forward billets at Armentiers.

28th November 1916.

Battalion left for Armentieres in 16 Motor Lorries. Whole Battalion reported in billets at Armentieres at 5:30pm. Headquarters established at 6:00pm Rue De Strasburg.

29th November 1916.

Whole Battalion still in billets-supply Working Parties Only.

30th November 1916.

Visited the front line on left sector of defences at Armentieres.

1917.

22nd January 1917.

Armentieres. Enemy started light shelling at 10:00 am. At 2:00 pm locality 16 & 17 was heavily bombarded also locality 14 which ended in a box barrage being put on at 4:10 pm and an attack by the enemy from Pimple Salient. They entered our trenches but were only in 10 minutes. Our casualties 11 killed, 36 wounded, 4 missing. It is quite possible the 4 missing have been buried by Minnies.

Ralph was Wounded in Action; 1st occasion during this enemy attack and received a Gunshot Wound to his hand. 

17th February 1917

On the night of 17th-18th February last. Lieutenant: Clarence William BODDY 36th Bn when on patrol in NO MAN'S LAND, crawled close up to a Machine Gun emplacement in the enemy wire when the Gun therein suddenly Opened fire. Sergeant: 731 Gordon Mott COX who was hit and their presence became known to the enemy who thereupon opened up a concentrated fire on them. Lieutenant BODDY who was carrying a demolition charge which was hit by a bullet without causing it to explode, thereupon crawled backwards to within about six yards of the gun, with the charge under him, fired it and he and the Sergeant both dashed away and sheltered in a crater. The charge exploded and the gun at once ceased fire and it is probable that it was destroyed. Corps, Divisional, and Brigade Commanders desire to congratulate Lieutenant BODDY on his successful and hazardous enterprise.

(36th Battalion War Diary)

Leading Air Craftsman:  Australian Flying Corps - Private: 35 Fred Aston. 36th Battalion. 1917.

12th October 1917

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE I

At 1:30 am rain showers began. By 2:30 am it was raining lightly but steadily, by 3:30 fairly heavily. the infantry moved through the pitch dark in single file. In some battalions each man held on to the equipment of the man ahead of him; if touch was broken, those in front had to come back. The news that the line as reported by the 66th division was not held only just reached the incoming troops. Accordingly, in the right brigade (9th) the leading Company Commanders Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. and Captain: Telford Graham GILDER M.C. both of the 34th Battalion stopped their men at the entrance to Broodseinde railway cutting, and themselves went to make sure that their column might not run into the enemy.

At Keerselaarhoek Cemetery they found the tape duly laid, and met the officer of the 36th Battalion who had laid it, and by 3:00 am the time set, the 34th battalion was extended on its jumping-off position. But during the previous halt and afterwards, as it lay on the tape, the battalion was persistently shelled and suffered many casualties.

The first shell killed three signallers. Lieutenant: Albert Leslie WATSON. a signal officer of the 34th Battalion, a brave and enterprising leader who also was at the head of the column was severely wounded and all his staff hit. After establishing a forward command post Lieutenant: Thomas Fraser BRUCE 36th Battalion was also killed. Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE. 36th Battalion supervising the assembly was knocked down by a shell but continued to command. Captain, Chaplain: Charles MURPHY was also wounded.

(BEAN; History of World war 1 Vol IV p911) Charles Edwin Woodrow BEAN

Only one Australian Division, the 3rd, was wholly employed in the days offensive. but the division was to capture Passchendaele an in spite of the depressing conditions, it was eager to achieve the distinction of doing so. One unit carried the Australian flag, to be planted in Passchendaele, and although officers and men in general were not enthusiastic concerning such "stunts" the Commander-in-Chief had been informed, and had told General: MONASH that, when this flag was planted, the news would be immediately cabled to Australia.

Some keen spirits looked on the operation simply as a dash for Passchendaele. One young company commander of Monash's reserve battalion, the 33rd, in face of a strict prohibition, led on his company as soon as the barrage fell. Starting from a line 350 yards in rear of the general alignment, the 3rd Division was out of touch with its neighbours from the outset. The heavy shelling on the tapes had made orderly disposition there almost impossible, as German Machine-Guns, undisturbed by the barrage now opened immediately, no opportunity offered of restoring proper formation.

The 9th Brigade went forward in the utmost confusion and a terrible mix up as reported by Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON D.S.O 35th Battalion at 6:40 am and "Great Confusion" was the description given by Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion. Even on the ridge, the mud was difficult, the hope, if there ever was one, of catching up before the quick barrage finished.

The 9th Infantry Brigade's intended direction lay not along the ridge and the Passchendeale road, but diagonally across them, and parallel to the railway, which most of the brigade could not see. As the jumping-off line was practically at right angles to the ridge, the brigade tendered to advance alone the heights. The Machine-Gun fire at the start came, on the 9th Brigade's right, from the ruined house near Defy Crossing; on its center from, "Hillside Farm"; and on its left from Augustus Wood.

The pillbox opposite the center was supported from the rear by a trench in which were Germans with Machine-Guns, and here occurred a delay which threatened to wreck to whole attack. it was not until an hour after the program time that these places were rushed by the neighbouring portion of the line under Captain: Henry Vince CARR and Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O of the 35th Battalion. The trench contained 35 Germans and 4 Machine-Guns. Part of the line was also held up by a pillbox close to Passchendaele road near the highest point of the ridge.

Here there was practically no shelter from attack, but Captain Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. of the 34th Battalion managed to organise a party, with Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE and another N.C.O Corporal: 2036 Vere Cummings STEVENSON and a dozen men, and outflanking it, charged the place from the rear, capturing 25 Germans and 2 Machine-Guns. These actions set free the advance. The pillbox captured by Captain Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. being not far short of the first objective, the 34th Battalion dug in there.

Great loss had been uncured; the 34th Battalion had only three officers left and there were wide gaps in the line. The right flank had swung far away from the railway, along which the 4th Division was attacking, but on the left Captain: Telford Graham GILDER M.C. of the 34th Battalion who had been wounded by a Machine-Gun bullet, but was carrying on found the 10th Brigade digging in slightly to his left under Captain: LATCHFORD, 38th Battalion, and fell back seventy yards to join it.

The Advance to the second objective was to begin at 8:25, the low clouds had opened, and fleecy cirrus with patches of blue were widening overhead and the sun had come out. The 9th Brigade had been so late in reaching the first objective that, while most of the 34th Battalion dug in, the 35th Battalion, allotted for the second phase, moved straight on. Standing on the Passchendaele road, Captain: Henry Vince CARR and Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O of the 35th Battalion endevoured to decide where the barrage then was; at first Carr thought it may be behind them, but finally decided that it was ahead.

The confusion at the start had split the brigade into mixed parties of all battalions and many of the 34th went on with the 35th, the main body of which, about 100 in all, now advanced along the south-eastern side of the ridge in order to catch the barrage. The hour was probably a little before that for the second advance. A German Machine-Gun in the gap between the brigade's right and the railway immediately opened with deadly effect.

Major: John Bruce BUCHANAN 36th Battalion, the senior forward officer was killed. At this critical juncture Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. of the 34th Battalion, again accompanied by Sergeant: 21 James BRUCE, led out a few men from the first objective and made for the gun. it was shooting in short bursts, and he was able to work up fairly close. Seizing a moment when it was firing to the north, he and his men rushed at it from the west. It was switched round, killing him, and sending his men to the ground.

But when its fire eased they worked round it, rushed the position, seized 25 Germans and 2 Machine-Guns. This gallant and effective action Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES. V.C. was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for removing the chief danger to the advance along the crest, but as soon as the 35th Battalion crossed to the eastern side of the hill it became the target of a number of field and heavy guns which, from the hedges and other cover in various parts of the landscape, fired over open sights.

After passing a corpse on its right, the 35th Battalion settled down on what its officers took to be the second objective, although on the extreme right they were actually short of the first. Captain: Henry Vince CARR, now the senior officer on the spot, reported; 8:35. On objective, with about 100 Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. DSO and three officers. Casualties 25 or 30 per cent. Captain: Henry Charles Dight CADELL M.C   Lieutenant: Charles Teesdale MAIN   Lieutenant: Keith Maitland DAY reported killed and Lieutenant: Frank HORNE   Lieutenant: Christopher Kyffin MEARS  Lieutenant: Charles John HENRY were wounded. Prisoners sent back 400-500. Contact on flanks uncertain, being heavily shelled.

Three posts were established under surviving officers, right Lieutenant: Norman Beade D'ARCY M.C centre Lieutenant: Joseph Francis ADAMS left Lieutenant: Harold Sydney WYNDHAM. In this brigade the battalion for the final objective was the 36th, and a report came along that it had gone through. Actually, it had advanced with the 35th, but, on the left, penetrated to the second objective, which bad been reconnoitered during the previous halt by the commander of the company Captain Robert Austin GOLDRICK. M.C.

He went up the road towards Passchendaele. The barrage, he said afterwards was no hindrance to him, although he left the line lying as close to it as possible "or where he thought it was." He was unable to detect the intensification of the barrage for the second phase, but led his men forward at the proper hour.

As no other battalion was there, he now established the line with its left on the road 600 yards from the church, about the point reached by the 66th Division's troops on October 9th. In front of the position Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK. M.C. and Lieutenant E.H FLEITER (39th Battalion) found hidden in a shell hole men of the 66th Division. One had a broken arm, the other trench-feet. They took the Australians at first for Germans. When reassured, "we knew the Australians would come," they said, 'We prayed hard."

From the direction of the church, which lay straight down the highway, no fire came. two Germans ran up the road and surrendered. South-east of the village, along the Moorslede road, were the Germans who seemed "very windy," and near the road two 5.9-inch howitzers began to blaze at the troops digging in.

The 9th Brigade had taken its second objective and the 10th its first, but the position of the officers in charge of these advanced lines was full of anxiety. On the eastern slope Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion, the senior officer in this part of the 9th Brigade's front, could see the 4th Division somewhat ahead of its right, and by 10:55 he had discovered that the 36th was on the left, but farther left than the 10th Brigade was far behind on its first objective . The German Guns ahead were sniping with dreadful accuracy. Carr on the western slope, sent back for instructions: "what am I to do?"

Word of the true situation reached headquarters slowly. As on the 9th, the first news was all encouraging. General: MONASH in the Ypres ramparts heard shortly after 7 that both brigades were "well away"; but by 8:26 he had ample evidence that the first objective was taken. At 9:25 the intelligence officer examining prisoners (Lieutenant: Frederick Morley CUTLACK Official War Correspondent) reported having heard from the wounded men that the second objective had been reached.

At 10:28 headquarters was informed of a statement of a wounded man, that the 38th Battalion had gone through. A further report that Australians had been seen at Crest Farm although quickly contradicting but probably true nevertheless. Which confirmed Monash's impression that his division was succeeding. Concerning the New Zealand brigade on his left, however, there was no word until, at 10:50, there arrived the tragic information that the New Zealand Division was stopped by the enemy alone the entire front.

Monash has already heard at 9:55 that the 10th Brigade was held up by fire from Bellevue Spur. Believing that his division was still advancing, he asked that every gun that the New Zealand Division could spare should be turned upon that ridge to suppress the fire. Meanwhile, he would order the reserve (39th) battalion of the 10th Brigade to be ready to assist in holding the ground already won. The reserve battalion the (33rd) of the 9th Brigade he was still keeping back to assist in the capture of Passchendaele.

Shortly after noon news of the true situation arrived. Lieutenant Jackson of the 40th Battalion had established at Waterfields pillbox near the Ravebeek a forward report-centre from which a series of messages, admirably accurate, was flashed by lamp to the headquarters of Lieutenant Colonel Lord of the 40th Battalion. Thus Brigadier General McNicoll of the 10th Brigade was able to inform Monash of the precise position of Giblin's Line. He added that the situation was very serious and the casualties very heave. At the same time from the front line of the 9th Brigade arrived a pigeon message, sent by Captain: Richard GADD of the 36th Battalion.

We are on the Blue Line (second objective) with composite force all three battalions, both flanks in the air.

The New Zealand Division was to make a second attempt at 3:00 pm, and Monash was of the opinion that from the 9th Brigade, well forward on the ridge, patrols might still work northward around Crest Farm. His reserve, the 33rd Battalion (9th Brigade), was accordingly ordered to attempt this at 4:30 pm and the 10th Brigade's forward line being meanwhile reinforced by its own reserve, the 39th Battalion.

These orders went out, but none of them were fulfilled. The New Zealand Division had been defeated by obstacles which no hastily renewed bombardment could have overcome. no infantry in the world could have crossed the Ravebeek mud, penetrated the dense wire, and attacked the crowded pillboxes of Bellview with the assistance of a barrage which did not even screen the advance. No blame can attach to the artillery. Its commander, according to the New Zealand official history, had reported on the previous day that his guns might be unable to give efficient support.

This magnificent division, which lost nearly 3,000 men, had been held up in almost exactly the same position as the 49th three days before-the left brigade penetrating half-way to the first objective, the right stopped almost at the start. The Germans were reinforcing. The New Zealand battalion commanders knew that their men had no chance of succeeding by renewed attack, and the order was eventually cancelled.

As for the Australians, of the two battalions that MONASH had now ordered to participate, the 39th had already to a large extent been involved in the fighting, and the 33rd, endevouring to reach its position of readiness for outflanking Passchendaele, had suffered great loss. No less than 6 of its Officers were killed or mortally wounded. Captain: Wilfred Frank HINTON in command of the forward company, Lieutenant Leonard Rockley BROWNLOW  Lieutenant: Thomas Acheson ARMSTRONG   Lieutenant: Albert George KILPATRICK  Lieutenant William REES-REYNOLDS and Lieutenant: Norman Francis GOBLE.

By the time Lieutenant Colonels Henderson DSO 39th Battalion and MORSHEAD attempted to carry Monash's orders, they found that the attacking force of both brigades was back almost at its starting point. What had happened was as follows.

Neither Major: GIBLIN near the Ravenbeek nor Captain: Henry Vince CARR on the ridge had received their messages sent several hours earlier. The 9th Brigade's line was still being battered by the German Guns. Captain: Richard GADD 36th Battalion, whose troops were being wiped out, informed Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion that Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O 36th Battalion had now come forward to Hillside Farm. CARR accordingly sent Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON. D.S.O with GADD to explain to Milne the desperate nature of their situation. Milne said that he would try to get their troops relieved after dark, but till relieved they must hold on.

(BEAN; History of Word War 1 Vol IV page 921) Charles Edwin Woodrow BEAN

Meanwhile, however, the German artillery was annihilating some parts of their line. All leaders of Carr's three posts were out of action. Lieutenant: Joseph Francis ADAMS was Killed in Action and Lieutenant: Norman Beade D'ARCY M.C and Lieutenant: Harold Sydney WYNDHAM were wounded. Of the remaining officers of the 36th Battalion, Major: John Bruce BUCHANAN and Lieutenant: Fredrick William PUTNEY had been Killed in Action and Captain: Robert Austin GOLDRICK M.C wounded. Farther back Lieutenant: Sydney COOK had been Killed in Action and Lieutenant: William WAND and Lieutenant: Herbert Reginald MAILER were wounded.

At 3 o'clock rain began to fall steadily. at 3:15 pm Captain: Richard GADD 36th Battalion, thought agreeing with  Captain: Henry Vince CARR 35th Battalion that to hold on meant annihilation, refused, in view of his Colonel's orders, to retire. Carr consented to wait while Gadd again sent word to Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O. Carr himself at 12: 30 had sent Captain Robert Derwent DIXON.  D.S.O to the headquarters of the 35th Battalion at " Seine", from which no word had been received all day.

At 3:45 pm, no reply having come from Milne, and Dixon having not returned as he had been kept at 35th Battalion headquarters awaiting the arrival of an order from brigade headquarters concerning the projected operation by the reserve battalion, Gadd agreed to withdraw and Carr sent along the line a note: The 35th Battalion will retire.

When visiting Gadd, Carr had warned the troops of the probable order to withdraw, and he now saw that the left had already begun to retire. He told men whom he passed to get back as fast as they could to the 34th Battalion (which he believed to be on the first objective). Captain: William James GORDON M.C 36th Battalion, strongly dissatisfied with the order, went straight to Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE D.S.O urged that the forward position was tenable, and with Milne and Major: John Martin HAWKEY M.C rushed out to stop the withdrawal. But it was too late.

The 34th was not, as Captain: Henry Vince Carr 35th Battalion, believed, on the first objective. The Commander of the line, Captain: John William RICHARDSON 34th Battalion, on hearing of the extreme weakness of the force at the second objective, had reinforced it. He and his only remaining officer's Lieutenant: James Clement BURGES  Lieutenant: Bruce Gray McKENZIE   Lieutenant: John Abbott LONGWORTH had all been Killed in Action while organising on the first objective, and the first objective now lay empty. The retiring troops, being without orders as to the position to be taken up, streamed back past Milne's headquarters.

All that Hawkey, Gordon, Gadd, and others could then do was to lead a fraction of them forward again to the first objective, where they remained during the night. Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON.  D.S.O. with Captain: John Grieve PATERSON adjutant of the 35th, went up to organise the 35th there, but could find none of its men. When eventually re-formed the remnant of the 35th was temporarily attached as a Company to the 33rd Battalion.

9th-12th October 1917 saw the 3rd Division, 9th and 10th Infantry Brigade in action during the Battle of Passchendaele, which saw massive losses and suffering in the Australian ranks. The casualties numbered 3,199 men in 24 hours during the height battle. The 34th Battalion lost every officer that day, either killed or wounded including their Medical Officer, Major: Gother Robert Carlisle CLARKE and some of his staff were killed while dressing the wounded. The spirit of some of the wounded is illustrated by the case of Corporal: 3170 Winsleigh Alexander MURRAY   35th Battalion, (formerly a Methodist Minister from Newcastle) gave up his place in a queue waiting for stretcher bearers and was never heard of again.

The Battle of Passchendaele saw 60 Officers and 1,322 other ranks loose their lives.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.

33rd Battalion. AIF 11 Officers 273 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 323 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF 18 Officers 296 Other ranks
36th Battalion. AIF 15 Officers 383 Other ranks
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF 1 Officer 36 Other ranks
9th Light Trench Mortar Battery. - Officer 11 Other ranks

Fred was Wounded in Action and Passchendaele receiving a Gun Shot Wound to his Right Thigh and was treated by the Australian Field Ambulance before being taken by Stretcher Bearers to the Casualty Clearing Station for further treatment before he was transferred and admitted to the 55th General Hospital.  

Fred was later discharged and rejoined his unit in January 1918 and returned to Australia on the 11th of May 191 before being discharged from the AIF on the 12th of August 1919.

Unknown - Fred Aston - Unknown

Frederick's Cadet Medal was sold at Auction in March 2022 to a Private Collector and as the under bidder I was unable to secure for the Harrower Collection. It was again sold on October 2025 to another Private Collector and once again I was the underbidder and was unable to secure for the Harrower Collection.

March 2022.

Australia Senior Cadets Commonwealth Military Competitions, Brigade Competitions 1911-12, Champion Team, with pin-back buckle suspender. Cadet. F. Aston. 38th Battn. Engraved. Nearly extremely fine. 

Ex Warwick George  Cary Collection. WWI: Fred Aston, clerk, age 18, born at Penshurst, Sydney, NSW; Enl.07Jan1916 at Liverpool, NSW in 33Bn, with previous service in Senior Cadets 38Bn; Emb.13May1916; to France 22Nov1916; WIA 12Oct1917 GSW right thigh, France; rejoined unit 24Jan1918; RTA 11May1919; Disch.12Aug1919. Entitled to British War Medal 1914-18 and Victory Medal 1914-19.

October 2025.

On offer here is a superb Australian Senior Cadet Competition Medal in solid silver.

This medal was instituted in 1911 to encourage a higher quality of attainment within The Australian Cadet units.

There a were four stages of competition, with the winners of each stage progressing to the next level. Basic level was Battalion , then onto District, Brigade and finally Commonwealth.

This example being for Brigade Champions 1911-12 to Cadet .F. Aston of the 38th Battalion. Cadet Aston was from Penshurst in Sydney.

This is a fine medal still on its original ribbon complete with original pin buckle. A superb item.

Fred Aston died on the 21 August 1977.  Ryde Hospital, Ryde, N.S.W. (Burial Unknown) 

Elizabeth Margaret Aston MBE. died on the 14th of September 2002 at Ryde, N.S.W. and is resting at the Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, North Ryde, City of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. They had three children.

Elizabeth Margaret Aston MBE. (1907-2005)

Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium. 

Education
Elizabeth Margaret ASTON
The Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil)
31st of December 1976

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 31/03/2022-10/10/2025.

Lieutenant: 1287 Richard Morgan GENGE.

by

33rd BATTALION AIF

Lieutenant: 1287 Richard Morgan GENGE

Born: 18 October 1895. Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:33938/1895.

Wife: Dorothy May Genge. nee: Gambling. (1897-1953) Died in Middlesex, England. 

Married: 30th January 1919. Hackney, London, England. Marriage Cert ME6957.

Died: 1st December 1991. Middlesex, England. 

Father: Charles William Genge. (1867-1947) Died at West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:12455/1947.

Mother: Dorcas  Genge. nee: Marsh. (1867-1948) Died at West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:13977/1948.

INFORMATION

Richard Morgan Genge Born on 18 October 1895 in Maitland, NSW to Charles William Genge & Dorcas Marsh. At age 18, he was serving as 1st Lieutenant in B Company (West Maitland - East Greta - Dungog Kurri Kurri) with the 14th (Hunter River) Infantry, Richard was preparing to attend the Royal Military College, Duntroon when on the outbreak of war he instead offered his services to the Imperial Force. Immediately as the Army Camp at the Armidale Showground opened he was appointed to Instructional Staff as a Lieutenant & began duties preparing the men.

In January 1916, he began training the men of the 33rd Battalion and being anxious to go on active service but under the age for a commissioned rank in the AIF, he enlisted direct into the 33rd as 1287 Private on 7 April 1916. Due to his experience however, the Commanding Officer soon appointed him as a Platoon Sergeant in D Company & shortly after completion of initial training in Armidale the Battalion moved to Maitland, where they concentrated with the rest of the 9th Brigade.

On 3 May 1916, they entrained for Sydney where they embarked upon HMAT (A74) Marathon. Bound for Egypt, they were diverted to England while en route arriving at Devonport on 9 July, they moved to Larkhill on Salisbury Plain where they underwent five months of intense training with the 3rd Division to prepare them for the rigours of war with British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front - During this time Richard also attended a "Potential Officers Course" at the Tidworth Camp Officer Training School.

A month later they embarked for France, split amongst HMHS Hunslet & SS Mona's Queen, arriving at Le Havre on 22 November. After arriving in France, they moved by rail to Bailleul then marched to the front & occupied a section of the line around Armentières. Assigned to a "nursery sector" for the next month, they rotated between occupying the forward trenches & undertaking training courses as they were introduced to life on the European battlefield.

Although they gained some experience of combat over Christmas when they launched raids against the German lines, their first major battle did not come until mid-1917, by which time the focus of British operations had shifted to the Ypres sector in Belgium.

Wounded in action (first) - On 5 November while occupying the trenches at L'Epinette, Richard was WIA (details not stated) though remained on duty

The Battalion was involved in the Battle of Messines (Ploegsteert Wood) 7-14 June 1917 where, despite suffering around 200 casualties from Allied gas-shells that had dropped short, they went over the top at the appointed hour & after skirting a large crater caused by a mine explosion, secured their objective. After the battle, they remained at the front holding the ground they had gained, enduring almost constant shelling. The 33rd's casualties amounted to 92 killed in action or died of wounds & 260 wounded; the heaviest they would suffer for the entire war

Richard was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 14 July & re-allocated to command a section in B Company

On 1 October, Richard marched out to England for Regimental duty with 9th Training Battalion. Owing to being unwell upon arrival in England, he failed to report for duty until 4 October. Due to this he was tried by General Court Martial & found guilty. As punishment, he was to take rank & precedence in Unit, Corps & in the AIF as if his appointment to 2nd Lieutenant is dated 3/11/1917 - He was also severely reprimanded & forfeited a total of 33 days' pay

Richard returned to France, rejoining the Battalion at Le Touquet on 29 November & was re-allocated to A Company

The following year as the Germans launched a major offensive (German Spring Offensive) the Battalion was thrust into the line in a desperate attempt to hold the front of the vital railhead of Amiens

From 30 March to 5 April 1918 the Battalion fought in the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, where flanking movements by British Cavalry & Australian infantry from the 33rd & 34th Battalion's helped consolidate the Australian gains. The 33rd lost 21 officers (Commander, Padre & Medical Officer included) as well as 250 other ranks

At the end of the month they amalgamated with the 36th Battalion as part of a general re-organisation of the AIF, necessitated by heavy casualties & falling recruitment, which saw the disbandment of three battalions – the 36th, 47th & 52nd, in order to reinforce others

Wounded in action (second) - Richard was promoted to Lieutenant on 12 April & WIA five days later during the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux when, at about 0400 the enemy commenced very heavy bombardment of gas shells, obtaining direct hits on A Company's billets, penetrating into the cellars where the men were asleep, gassing a number before respirators could be adjusted – The bombardment lasted the whole day but was most intense between 0400 & 1300. During the bombardment, the Battalion's casualties were 16 Officers (including Richard), 26 NCO's & 268 OR's

Richard was subsequently evacuated to England for recovery & rejoined the Battalion at Camon on 1 July

Wounded in action (third) - He went on to fight with the Battalion during the Hundred Days Offensive at Accroche Wood & Road Wood near Peronne where on 30 August he was again WIA suffering a GSW to the neck as A & C Companies were attacking Germans who were holding Berlingtots Trench & Marriers Wood – He was again evacuated to England for recovery

After recovering from wound he was transferred to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on 12 November where he was involved in demobilising the troops as they returned from the front

During his time in England he met Miss Dorothy May Gambling of Stamford Hill & on 30 January 1919, he & Dorothy were married at the Raleigh Memorial Church on Albion Road in Stoke Newington, Hackney

On 10 May Richard embarked for return to Australia arriving in Sydney on 1 July where his appointment in the AIF was terminated on 16 August – It is unclear if Dorothy returned with him, though notes in his service record state he returned to Australia on board the Wahehe (family ship)

Richard emigrated to the United Kingdom on 1 November 1921 & with Dorothy, celebrated the birth of their daughter Mollie Genge in 1925

A 1939 census records him as living in Middlesex with the occupation of cabinet maker / manufacturer - It would appear that he took over his wife’s family business

Dorothy passed away in 1953 at Wood Green, Middlesex, however Richard went on to live a long life, remaining in Middlesex until he passed away in 1991 at the age of 96

When purchased, it was mentioned that he had service in England during WW2 with the " Auxiliary Territorial Services" - Further researching this, it appears to be a MRS. Robina Mair Genge (née Leishman) serving in the Women's Force of the Auxiliary Territorial Services with rank of Subaltern

Jim Cole: July 2025.

War Medal: and Victory Medal: to Lieut R.M. GENGE AIF Wrist Bracelet engraved to Lieut R.M. Genge

War Medal: 43321 to LIEUT. R.M. GENGE. A.I.F.

Victory Medal: 42388 to LIEUT. R.M. GENGE. A.I.F.

Richard's War Medal:43321 and Victory Medal:42388 to Lieut R.M. GENGE AIF Wrist Bracelet engraved to Lieut R.M. Genge was acquired in July 2025 from the Jim Cole Collection and is now in the Harrower Collection.

Family Information

Richard was a single 20 year old Student from 8 Denman Street, West Wallsend upon his enlistment with the AIF. He was serving as 1st Lieutenant in B Company with the 14th (Hunter River) Infantry with Captain: Clarence Smith JEFFRIES.V.C. (1st Lieutenant E Company 14th Infantry) 

His parents, Charles William Genge was born in 1867 at Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:13230/1867 to Morgan and Margaret Genge. and his mother Dorcas Marsh was born 8th September 1867 at Maitland New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:11595/1867 to Frederick and Mary Marsh. 

Richards Parents Charles and Dorcas Genge were married in 1890 at West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:4690/1890 and has 5 children. Marjorie Genge born 1891 at West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:20798/1891 and died 1977 in Wollongong, N.S.W. Death Cert:16557/1977. Richard Morgan Genge born 1895 West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:33938/1895 and died 1991. Middlesex, England. Beatrix Genge born 1897 at West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:13776/1897 and died 1965 at Maitland, N.S.W. Death Cert:32345/1965. Eva Genge Born 1899 West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:31888/1899 and died West Maitland, N.S.W. Death Cert:13196/1900. Mary Genge born 1902 at West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:13668/1902 and died 1902 at West Maitland, Death Cert:14498/1902.

Charles was Cremated at Newcastle Memorial Park and had his ashes delivered to be buried at Sandgate Cemetery with his parents Richard and Margaret Genge at Sandgate Cemetery.

Charles William Genge (1867-1947) Sandgate Cemetery

Dorcas was the Daughter of Frederick n Mary Akhurst/Mother of six children with her husband Charles.

Dorcas was Cremated at Newcastle Memorial Park and had her ashes delivered to be buried at Rutherford Cemetery with two of her children Eva n Mary

Dorcas  Genge (1867-1948) Rutherford Cemetery, Section 1B Plot 26

Eva Genge (1899-1900) - Mary Genge (1902-1902) Rutherford Cemetery, Section 1B Plot 26

Beatrix Genge (1897-1967) was Cremated at the Newcastle, Memorial Pak, Beresfield. Her ashes was scattered at, Loggia 12/2 Q/102

Marjorie Hain nee: Genge (1891-1977) - E.R Sergeant: 3540 Hubert Clarence Hain (1892-1961) 1st Light Horse. WW1

Wollongong Memorial Gardens

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 23/07/2025-26/07/2025.

Corporal: 3073 Alfred Henry LAMERTON.

by

35th BATTALION - 36th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION AIF

Corporal: 3073 Alfred Henry LAMERTON.

Born: 18th March 1891. Newtown via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:25412/1891.

Married: 5th June 1920. Newtown via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:6066/1920. 

Wife: Constantine Elizabeth Gladys Lamerton. nee: Neal. (1898-1969) Died at Roseville via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:26318/1969.

Died: 16th May 1965. Roseville via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:17342/1965.

Father: Edmund Alfred Lamerton. (1856-1933) Died at Bankstown via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:11454/1933.

Mother: Maria Lamerton. nee: Dixon. (1865-1950) Died at Bankstown via Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:19328/1950.

INFORMATION

Alfred Henry Lamerton enlisted with the AIF on the 11th September 1916 at the Sydney Royal Agricultural Ground before he was allocated to the Signal Training Company at the Moore Park Depot. Alfred was transferred to the 7th Reinforcements, 35th Battalion AIF on the 21st January 1917 and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A68 "Anchises" on the 24th January 1917.

HMAT A68 "Anchises" 

Alfred disembarked with the 7th Reinforcements at Devonport England on the 27th March 1917 where they were marched in the the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp. Here the Reinforcements settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine. On the 17th October 1917 the Reinforcements embarked to France via Southampton and disembarked at Fovant, France where they went into billets before proceeding out to the lines where Alfred was taken on in strength with the 36th Battalion in the field on the 22nd October 1917. 

30th December 1917

HOUPLINES. At noon enemy 77 mm Guns and Trench Mortar Guns active for one hour, our 18 pounders and 4.5.Howitzer Batteries in conjunction  with our 6" Trench mortar replied to this fire. 

4th April 1918.

A heavy burst of shelling occurred at CACHY and on some 6" Howitzer Batteries situated under cover of the S.E. corner of the BOIS D'AQUENSE, at about 3.30 am. At 5.30 am the fire thickened to heavy and general shelling, counter battle work and harassing fire suggestive of preparations for an attack. Just before 6.00 am shells fell in the wood near our bivouacs. The troops were hastily got out into the open. The shelling continued to be very heavy for about two hours, in the course of which two men were killed, and Lieutenant:  927 John LANG and 8 other ranks were wounded.

At 9:00 am orders were received to "Stand To" as it was expected the enemy would attack. At 11.45 am orders were received to proceed to position of readiness at U.5. central (South of VILLERS-BRETONNEUX) for defence of the village. Moved at 11.55 am and arrived at position of readiness without casualty despite general shelling of the area crossed. Lieutenant: Sydney Horace NEWELL (Scout Officer) reported direct to C.O. 35th Battalion, who was defending the line in part of the attack area. As the position of readiness the Battalion took up a position on the reverse slope of the hill on the east side of the VILLERS-BRETONNEUX - HANGARD ROAD, with "A" and "B" Companies just below the crest, "C" Company in close support, and "D" Company in reserve.

At 1.45 pm the C.O. and Adjutant reported to the C.O. 35th Battalion, at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX the village was being heavily bombarded. At 2.30 pm the Adjutant returned with the preliminary instructions to the 2nd in Command and the C.O. awaiting developments. At 4.45 pm the C.O returned with information that the Bosch had broken through the English line and was advancing on the village. While he was speaking heavy bursts of Machine Gun fire sprayed over the hill. English troops had been retiring for half an hour through our line but efforts to stop them were in vain.

The C.O ordered "A" Company and "B" Companies to immediately counter-attack. They did so with great spirit and in fine style sweeping along the southern end of the RAILWAY LINE. A party of English troops were seen to be reforming on our right. The Adjutant was sent with an invitation to their C.O to join in a Counter-Attack. Brigadier General: WOOD of the 55th Brigade was found to be Commanding in person and he immediately agreed, and went forward on the right flank of our "C" Company. In the advance great progress was made by "A" Company on the left under Captain: John Edward Wallace BUSHELLE who imbued them with wonderful Spirit and Confidence by his gallant leadership.

Owing however to organized opposition from special M.G. strong points in an orchard and two hay stacks "B" and "C" Companies were not able to keep up to the line of "A" Company's advance and wide gaps were left between all the Company frontages by reason of the extended front on which it was necessary to deliver our Counter Attack. The Reserve Company was however sent up to reinforce the center, link up the Companies, and, as far as possible, straighten out the line. Two small Companies of the 6th London Regiment who appeared at the time were also sent into the gap between "A" and "B" Companies and our gain was consolidated. Tools and ammunition were hastened forward by a small party from Headquarters - signallers, batman, police and gas personnel, - and this party brought back wounded on the return trip, doing excellent work.

4th-5th April 1918

The First VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

The Strength of the 9th Infantry Brigade was about 2,250 but their casualties during the 2 days of fighting numbered 30 Officers and 635 men either killed in action or missing.

9th Infantry Brigade Casualties.4th-5th April 1918

33rd Battalion. AIF 3 Officers 82 Other ranks
34th Battalion. AIF 5 Officers 120 Other ranks
35th Battalion. AIF 9 Officers 282 Other ranks (including 44 missing)
36th Battalion. AIF 12 Officers 133 Other ranks (including 1 missing)
9th Machine Gun Company. AIF 1 Officer 18 Other ranks (including 4 missing)

12th April 1918.

Just after dawn (at 6:00 am) the enemy opened a barrage along our front and to our right on the French. The French S.O.S. went up immediately and was answered by a heavy barrage. Very soon the whole of the forward areas and the immediate rear was screened by heavy smoke from the enemy barrage which consisted principally of 5.9's and 4.2's. At about 7:00 am the fire slackened and it was learnt that the French had been pushed back on our immediate right and partly out of HANGARD. Reinforcements for the French came along the slope of the hill on our right flank till almost level with our line and then went half right over the hill into HANGARD. Enemy Machine Gun's attempted enfilade fire on those troops from the BOIS de HANGARD, but "C" Company on the left stopped this by rifle and Lewis Gun fire.

The line was shelled heavily several times during the day. At 7:30 pm the French, West Kent's and Essex counter attacked on our right. The barrage was lighter than in the morning. Fire died away about 8:30 pm and it was learnt that the line on the right had been re established and in some parts had gone further than the position lost in the morning. The Battalion was relieved by the 18th Battalion AIF commencing about 10:00 pm and was completed at 1:30 am, the Battalion then moved to billets in the BOIS de BLANGY where a hot meal awaited them.

At 1:09 pm a 5.9 Howitzer Shell landed in Battalion Headquarters and killed Lieutenant Colonel: John Alexander MILNE. D.S.O., Captain: Thomas Rodger MacNEE, also the Adjutant of the 5th Essex Regiment and 6 other ranks; the same shell wounded Major: John Ambrose McDOWELL. and 3 other ranks.

36th Battalion War Diary

On the 30th April 1918 the 36th Battalion was disbanded to reinforce the 33rd-34th and 35th Battalion's as their strength has been reduced. Due to low numbers of enlistments back home and the lack of reinforcements, the AIF disbanded three battalions: the 36th, the 47th and the 52nd. It was a painful process for men devoted to their units. The men of the 36th Battalion were devastated as their loyalty was to the old 36th Battalion. This was reflected men refusing to wear the 33rd Colour Patch and to continue wearing the 36th Colour Patch.

Alfred was granted leave to England from the 11th October until the 27th of October 1918 and returned to France at the ending of the war. 

ARMISTICE SIGNED

We could now tell by the news in the papers that the war was practically over although we (The Third Division) was told to hold ourselves in readiness to proceed to the line again, the 1st, 4th, and 5th Australian Divisions being already on their way back to the line. On Monday 11th November 1918 (the day the Armistice was signed) we marched to Alleray for a hot steam bath and on passing through Airaines found all the houses decorated with tricolours and the church bells pealing and the Frenchies running about like madmen. We wondered what was wrong and halted in the main street for a rest. The Captain then told us (he had interviewed the Mayor who had received a telegram saying that the Armistice was to be signed) that the Armistice was to be signed at 11 a.m. that morning it was then about 10 a.m. We gave three cheers and could scarcely realise that the war was over. When we arrived back at Warlus the news had already reached there and the town was decorated &c. Next day we had a holiday from drill to celebrate Peace. The bells of the old French church chimed day and night for several days. Most of us attended the Victory Mass at the Roman Catholic Church and we also had a great Thanksgiving service out on the parade ground. Some of the men broke camp and went to the neighbouring cities and some got as far as Paris. Many were "pinched" and put in clink (gaol) as they had no leave passes, others were caught and sent back to the Battalion.

Alfred was promoted to Temporary Corporal on the 15th February 1919 and was demobilized to return to England on the 21st of April wher here was marched in the the No:3 Command Depot before he embarked for Australia on the 12th June 1919. 

Alfred was issued his discharge certificate: 110499 and his Medically Unfit Certificate:3657 on the 17th September with his King's Silver Wound Badge A57322 on the same day. His Returned from Active Service Badge was No:160274. Alfred lost his Silver Wound Badge and requested at replacement on the 25th August 1927 when he lived at "Norron" Crinin Street, Hurlstone Park, N.S.W.  

Wedding Portrait. 5th June 1920 Alfred and Constance. Note Alfred 36th Battalion Colour Patch.

Bridesmaid ... Bestman.. Alfred Henry Lamerton (1891-1965) - Constance Elizabeth Gladys Lamerton nee Neal. (1898-1969) - Alfred Ernest Neal (1876-1958) -  Groomsman.. Bridesmaid.. 

Constantine Elizabeth Gladys Lamerton. nee: Neal. (1898-1969)

Alfred died at 52 Shirley Road Roseville, New South Wales from a  'heart attack', aged 74; He was Cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

Funeral Notice Alfred Henry Lamerton (1891-1965)

Granddaughter of Alfred; Cortney McGuigan. N.S.W.

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 8 August 1933, page 8

LAMERTON.—August 4, 1933, at a private hospital, Belmore, Edmund Alfred Lamerton, of Warwick Street, Punchbowl, beloved husband of Maria Lamerton, and loving father of Eddie (Wagga), Bert, and Elsie (Punchbowl), Harry (Hurlstone Park), aged 77 years.

Edmund Alfred Lamerton. (1856-1933) was interned on the 12th August 1933 at the Rookwood Cemetery. Zone F Plot 1337.

Maria Lamerton nee: Dixon.  (1865-1950) is buried at the Rookwood Cemetery. Zone F Plot 1337.

Military Records

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction: 18/01/2025.