The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Brisbane, 21 October 1915.

Found guilty, 11 February 1916, of (1) disregarding the order of a non-commissioned officer, (2) being absent without leave, 9.00 am, 18 February, to 10.30 pm, 18 February 1916: awarded 14 days' detention; forfeited total of 14 days' pay. Moved out from 7th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 27 February 1916. Transferred to 9th Bn, Habeita, 28 February 1916; marched into 9th Bn, Serapeum, and taken on strength, 3 March 1916; posted to Medical Store, Trans Levant, 25 March 1916. Transferred to 49th Bn, Serapeum, and taken on strength, 2 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria on HT 'Arcadian' and proceeded to join British Expeditionary Force, 5 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 12 June 1916. Transferred to 4th Pioneer Bn and taken on strength, 17 July 1916.

Found guilty, 12 March 1917, of being absent without leave, 8.30 am, 10 March, to 6.45 pm, 11 March 1917: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited total of 30 days' pay. Rejoined 4th Pioneer B from 1st Anzac Field Compound, 8 April 1917.

Found guilty, 21 June 1917, of being absent without leave, 7.00 pm, 16 June , to 10.15 pm, 18 June 1917: awarded 28 days' forfeiture of pay; forfeited total of 31 days' pay.

Charged, 25 June 1917, with deserting himself from service in that he absented himself without leave from tattoo, 22 June, until reporting back at 4.15 pm, 25 June 1917: Found not guilty of desertion but guilty of being absent without leave: awarded 12 months imprisonment with hard labour; forfeited total of 1 year and 13 days' pay. Marched out, 17 July 1917; admitted to No 5 Military Prison, Les Attaques, 18 July 1917; classified B.3 by classification board, Les Attaques, 30 April 1918; released from prison with remainder of sentence remitted, 11 May 1918. Marched into Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 14 May 1918. Proceeded to England for return to Australia (age 52), Havre, 20 May 1918; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 23 May 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on HT 'Essex', 7 June 1918; disembarked Sydney, 1 August 1918, for onward travel to Brisbane. Discharged as being unfit for military service, 20 August 1918 (premature senility).