The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked, 16 April 1915.

Joined 9th Bn at Gallipoli, 22 June 1915.

Admitted to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 16 September 1915 (influenza), and transferred same day to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Anzac, and transferred to Hospital Ship 'Somali'. Admitted to Imtarfa Hospital, Malta, 22 September 1915 (enteric); transferred to England, 21 October 1915, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, 29 October 1915 (enteric); discharged to duty, 29 November 1915.

Proceeded overseas to France (date not recorded), and joined 9th Bn, 29 July 1916.

Admitted to New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Amiens, 28 November 1916 (influenza); transferred to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 7 December 1916 (appendicitis); to England, 9 December 1916, and admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital, 11 December 1916 (appendicitis, slight). Discharged from hospital and marched into No 2 Command Depot, 30 December 1916. Taken on strength, 69th Bn, 23 March 1917; transferred to 9th Bn on marching out to Command Depot, Hurdcott, 19 September 1917. Marched out to No 1 Group, Durrington, 1 October 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 14 November 1917; rejoined 9th Bn, 22 November 1917.

To Brigade School, 7 December 1917; rejoined Bn from Brigade School, 17 January 1918.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, 25 March 1918 (trench fever); discharged to duty, 31 March 1918; rejoined Bn, 2 April 1918.

To XV Corps School, 30 May 1918; rejoined Bn, 3 June 1918. Attached for duty to Army Provost Marshal, 3 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 16 June 1918.

Wounded in action, 21 July 1918 (shrapnel wound, right hand), and admitted same day to 3rd Field Ambulance; transferred to 35th General Hospital, Calais, 22 July 1918; to England, 25 July 1918, and admitted same day to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham (gun shot wound, right hand); transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 27 July 1918. Discharged on furlough, 9 August 1918, to report to No 4 Command Depot, 23 August 1918. Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, 26 September 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 24 October 1918; rejoined 9th Bn, 29 November 1918.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 28 December 1918; marched in to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 3 January 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Kashmir', 9 March 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 23 April 1919, for onward travel to Brisbane, 23 April 1919; discharged Brisbane, 2 July 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Mother, Bridget McHugh, wrote to Base Records, 8 December 1915: 'I am very thankful to you for been so kind, as to send me Michael's Address. It is the greatest favour you bestowed on me, as I wrote to him every week since he left Brisbane, and he never got any. I had two letters from Michael since he landed in Malta. The last one was last Tuesday telling me he was out of bed and able to get about also stating the sort of sicknesshe had. The same sickness as your last report. It was very different to the report they are putting about here that he was shot through both lungs also the Willie was wounded. Those cruel people have no one at the Battle-field. I again thank you very kindly. May the Almighty God reward you. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours truely, Bridget McHugh.'

Mother wrote to Base Records, 22 June 1916: 'Many thanks for informing me where Michael was. I couldn't understand what was wrong with him, as I haven't had a letter from him for seven weeks now. Since he left home 18months ago, I had a letter from him every fortnight. The last letter I had from him was wrote in England on the 17th March. His camp was isolated then, as some of his mates had measels. I was terrible worried until I received your note, I don't know how to thank you for all the kindness you have shown to us. May God reward you for your kindness. I remain Dear Sir, Yours very truely, B. McHugh.'