The AIF Project

War service: Western Front

Embarked Fremantle, 9 November 1916; found guilty, at sea, 26 December 1916, of being absent from church parade: confined to ship for 2 days, and forfeited 2 days' pay; disembarked Devonport, England, 10 January 1917; marched into 7th Training Bn, Rollestone, 11 January 1917.

Found guilty, 29 January 1917, of being absent without leave from midnight, 22 January, till surrendering in London at 8 pm, 24 January 1917: awarded 2 days confined to camp, and forfeiture of 4 days' pay; total forfeiture: 6 days' pay.

Admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital, 28 February 1917; discharged to Depot, 15 March 1917; marched into 7th Training Bn, Rollestone, 17 March 1917.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 1 April 1917; transferred to Parkhouse Hospital, 14 April 1917; discharged, 18 April 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 18 days.

Found guilty, 18 May 1917, of absenting himself without permission from 9.15 am parade: forfeited 1 day's pay.

Marched into 7th Training Bn, Rollestone, 21 May 1917.

Found guilty, 12 June 1917, of being absent without leave from midnight, 9 June, till 1.15 pm, 12 June 1917: awarded 3 days confined to camp and forfeiture of 6 days' pay; total forfeiture: 8 days' pay.

Found guilty, 18 June 1917, of being absent without leave from 9.30 pm,16 June, to 6 am, 18 June 1917: admonished, and forfeited 3 days' pay under Royal Warrant.

Found guilty, 2 July 1917, of (1) being absent without leave from 6 am, 24 June, till 12.30 pm, 28 June 1917 (5 days); (2) failing to appear at place of parade appointed by C.O. in that he ailed to appear on parade at 1.30 pm; (3) an act to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline in that he at Rollestone was absent from Isolation compound 9.30 pm: awarded 5 days confined to camp with forfeiture of 7 days' pay; total forfeiture: 12 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 9 July 1917; taken on strength, 28th Bn, in the field, 31 July 1917.

Found guilty, 13 November 1917, of being 10 minutes late on parade: awarded 2 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Mother wrote to General Birdwood, 24 December 1917: I write to ask you if you will be so kind as to allow my son to be taken away from the firing line where he has been since last July - particulars about him I give you so that you can judge for yourself. I am willing for him to do his duty for his King and Country in any other capacity but near or in the firing line. He himself has never complained and taken his place as ordered, he does not know I am writing this to you and I ask you to please not let him know I have been the means of having him put out. His letters have been very cheerful and bright. Up to the last October 14th he had been in two battles as far as I can understand. He is under age, was 17 years old last October 11th, 1917. The reason why he is there is, like all young headstrong lads, he would go and worried me to let him go ever since the early part of the war, at last he got so desperate to go that he said he would change his name and I would not know where he was, so I thought it better for me to give in and know his whereabouts. I could sympathise with him feeling so keen to go to his Country's call, and as he is so big and strong I was advised to give my consent. You will say I was very wrong to sign his papers saying I was agreeable for him to go. I thought I would get him to allow me to try and get him out after a few weeks of camp like (sic), but to the very end he begged me not to, but to let him do his duty. Well, now that he has gone so far I think I have a right to ask if you will do all in your power to have my son removed from the lines. I am sure you will see I don't wish to show the white flag on his behalf or mine. There are many little jobs he could do and still be doing his duty. I am writing a copy of this letter to Colonel Courtney, in case you may say the case is out of your hands, and it all means time ... I may tell you we stated nothing about his age, as there was no mention of it on his form, just signed we were agreeable for him to join the Forces.'

Birdwood gave orders, 24 February 1918, for the case to be investigated, 'and, if he is not yet 19, send him to the base for employment out of the line.'

Transferred to AIF Headquarters, London, 13 March 1918, for discharge.

Marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 1 April 1918.

Found guilty, 31 May 1918, of being found in Weymouth without a pass from his CO at 10.35 pm on 29 May: awarded 7 days confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 28 June 1918, of being found in Weymouth without a pass from his CO at 10.35 pm on 26 June: awarded 7 days confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 1 July 1918, of (1) whilst in open arrest breaking Camp; (2) whilst undergoing confined to barracks failing to answer defaulters' call; (3) absent without leave from 9.30 pm, 28 June, to 11 pm, 30 June 1918: awarded 10 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeiture of a total of 13 days' pay.

Found guilty, 26 July 1918, of failing to be present on parade: awarded 7 days confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 29 July 1918, of (1) failing to answer a defaulters' roll call at 1.30 pm, 27 July, until apprehended by Military Police at Weymouth at 10 pm; (2) fighting a sailor in Park Street; (3) striking two Military Police and resisting arrest: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 6 August 1918, of failing to report at Guard Room at 7 pm whilst undergoing Field Punishment No 2: awarded 120 hours' detention.

Found guilty, 28 August 1918, of breaking out of Camp; (2) trespassing: awarded 14 days' detention.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Arawa', 15 September 1918 (for discharge, under age: not to forfeit pay); broke ship at Durban, South Africa, 19 October 1918 (held in detention); departed Durban on board HT 'Durham', 27 November 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 23 December 1918; discharged (under age), Perth, 14 January 1919.