Pte Alfred Fairbank (Montrose), 59th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Archie Kilfoyle (Mooroolbark), 31st Battalion: In a letter written to his mother – ‘I have passed through that awful time unscathed and have fond hopes of going right through safely so I can return to you and home. But if it is God’s will that I should fall,

Pte Henry Lord (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left shoulder, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Cpl Walter Henry Clegg (Wandin), 11th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left foot, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Alfred Sutherland (Wandin), 22nd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the

THE BATTLE OF POZIERES, SOMME VALLEY, FRANCE (23rd July – 3rd September) Just after midnight on July 23rd 1916, the Australian 1st Division attacked the village of Pozières. They went on to take the village but the capture of Pozières only served to cruelly expose the Australian troops to the enemy. The German commanders then turned the guns of an entire army corps onto the Australian soldiers and pounded them

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘The first time I’ve had a chance for a spell, it’s been hell, double hell and triple hell all in one, slaughter and nothing else. But our boys have routed Fritz out, taken three lines of trenches and a village, Pozieres, but it’s awful. The artillery, tear shells, poison gas, stink shells, how we are alive I

Pte William Hawkey (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: On this night he was with ‘C Company’, who were moving up the Pozieres road between 10.00pm & 11.00pm to reinforce the front line. The Germans were shelling the road and one shell landed near him, killing him instantly and wounding twelve others. One witness to the event, Private Lionel Miller, claimed: ‘I saw Hawkey killed on July 25th near the chalk pit at

Pte William Chauvin (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: At about 9.00am he was with a group of men about 360 metres away from the German lines at an area known as ‘Casualty Corner’. They were trying to take shelter in a poorly constructed trench when they came under sustained artillery fire from the enemy. One witness to the event, Private Clark, later wrote: ‘Several shells had fallen when one landed right in

Pte Richard Plummer (Olinda), 21st Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 21 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France.

Pte John Medhurst (Gruyere), 8th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 22 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France. Pte Leopold Muir (Wandin), 8th Battalion: He was dug in with his platoon, in an area near Pozieres where they were under fire from both rifle and artillery fire. Leopold’s good mate, Pte Cecil Coe, had been

Pte Isaac Davies (Kilsyth), 28th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 39 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France. Another brother, Frederick, would be killed in action in 1918. Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Harry Black (Coldstream), 23rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Ernest Commerford (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the back, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Horace Twiner x (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Leaves Egypt bound for Australia on the SS Mashobra, he is to be discharged

Pte Harry Dawson (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the ankle, and is evacuated to hospital in France. Pte Benjamin Hussey (Lilydale): While still at Seymour Military Camp he is discharged from the AIF for being medically unfit as a result of a previous injury to his leg.

The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Orsova – Pte George Rouget (Wandin), 58th Battalion Pte James Jordon (Kilsyth), 59th Battalion Pte Arthur Leckie (Lilydale), 59th Battalion Gnr Victor Boulter (Olinda), 3rd Division Ammunition Column Pte Duncan St Leger (Coldstream), 14th Australian General Hospital: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Miltiades.

Pte Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale), 4th Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to shoulder and back, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte John Ellis (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, suffering shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte George Brown (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: He was sheltering in a shell hole not far from Mouquet Farm when an artillery shell burst just near him. He sustained horrific injuries from the blast including the loss of both his legs and most of both arms. One witness, Cpl Percy Mortimer, later said: ‘I spoke to him as he was conscious. He called out ‘I’m a Blighty case’. He was lying

Pte Claude Atkinson (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Dies in the No 11 General Hospital at Camiers, France of wounds he’d received in action the day before. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.

TURKISH ATTACK ON THE SUEZ CANAL, EGYPT L/Cpl Gilbert Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Is killed in action while defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish attack. He is buried at the Kantara War Cemetery in Egypt, he was 22 years old. Trp Stanley Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: On the same day his brother is killed in action, he is wounded in the same battle, gunshot wound

THE BATTLE OF MOUQUET FARM, SOMME VALLEY, FRANCE (10th August – 3rd September) After the Australian forces took Pozieres they moved on to a nearby area called Mouquet Farm which was a heavily defended German position. This was a four week struggle during which thousands of Australians tried to push the British line forward just a few hundred metres to capture the farm area. Henry Stewart (Kilsyth): Leaves his job

Pte Ebenezer Gray (Seville), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the left arm and face, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. L/Cpl George Harrison (Wandin), 58th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the hand, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Reuben Parry (Wandin), 29th Battalion: Reported by the German authorities to be a prisoner of war and interned

Pte George Vale (Lilydale), 8th Field Ambulance: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in France.

Pte Eddie Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Both Eddie and his brother Frank were sheltering with another soldier in a dug out near the sunken road at Mouquet Farm when they suddenly came under an artillery attack. One witness, Private Carwardine, later said: ‘After heavy shelling both brothers were in a dug out that was buried by shell fire. Frank was above and got out first and begged the men to get

Pte William Bedford (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to the back and side, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Arthur Newman (Yering), 5th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Frank Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Much

Pte Andrew Holland (Yering), 7th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 23 years of age and is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery is France. Pte Thomas Morton (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is killed in action. He is 33 years of age and is buried at the Pozieres British Cemetery is France. Cpl Arthur Anderson (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: He was listed as missing in action on this day. One witness

Sapper Henry Woodruff (Seville), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, gunshot wounds to the buttock, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Louis Herry (Lilydale), No 14 Australian General Hospital: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Karoola.

Sgt Leonard Walters (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from tonsillitis and pharyngitis. Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Leaves Australia bound for Bombay, India on the SS Moolton. Pte David Davies (Wandin), Anzac Cyclist Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire. Pte William Davies (Wandin), Anzac Cyclist Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire.

Sgt Charles Cooper (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this and the following day. His recommendation states: ‘For his gallantry and determination in command of a working party on 23rd/24th August, 1916, at Mouquet Farm. The ground between 0.1 and 91 was well lit by enemy flares and half the party were casualties from the enemy shell fire. Sgt Cooper withdrew his men to

Dvr James Currie (Seville), Divisional Supply Column: While at Etaples, he is injured in an accident when he was cleaning his lorry and another lorry struck it, causing it to move forward and run over his foot. His right foot was crushed and he was evacuated to hospital in England.

Sgt Charles Cooper MM (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, severe shrapnel wounds to left arm and thigh as well as to the groin, when a high explosive shell burst close to him. He is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Henry Hogan (Olinda), 24th Battalion: Is killed in action when a shell from an Australian gun fell short and landed on the parapet behind him. He was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel and killed. His is 19 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux, France. Pte Alfred Leonard (Olinda), 21st Battalion: Is awarded the

Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: At the Guildford War Hospital, England. In a postcard to his family in Lilydale: ‘Whatever else you do, stick to the Red Cross; its bonzer. A British Red Cross lady visits this hospital every second day; we want for nothing; they bring us books, papers, fruit, flowers and in fact anything we fancy they try and get for us’.

William Hayes (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a labourer in the area and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old and married.

William Clark (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a stable hand and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

Pte William Hodges (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Is wounded in action and evacuated from the field to hospital in France. James Graham (Wandin): Leaves his farming property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.

Pte Norman Hooke (Kilsyth), 14th Battalion: While dug in with his platoon, in an area near Pozieres where they were under fire from both rifle and artillery fire, a shell landed just near his trench killing him instantly. He is19 years old and has no known grave and as a result is remembered on the memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France. Pte Oswald Wilson (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: Has his right

Pte James Clegg (Wandin), 46th Battalion: During a bombardment he is buried and has to be dug out by his mates. Afterwards he is removed from the lines to hospital in England suffering from shell shock.

Spr Henry Kings (Wandin), 13th Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital. After the Battle of Pozieres ended, the AIF were sent to man frontline trenches at various places in Flanders and in the Somme Valley. They would be here during that terrible winter of 1916 – 1917, one of the worst on record, where they had to experience

Leonard Bunt (Wandin): Leaves his orchard at Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old. His brother Frederick enlists a few days later. Howard Vernon (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a traveller and enlists in the AIF, he is 29 years old and married.

Sgt John Casson (Kilsyth), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column: Is admitted to hospital in France feeling ill. He is sent to England where he is diagnosed with a brain tumour. Cyril Dennis (Lilydale): Leaves his job working on ‘The Oaks’ farm in Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old. Rupert Langley (Montrose): Leaves his job working on his uncle’s farm and enlists in the AIF, he is 30

Pte Albert Woolrich (Olinda), 14th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney. Pte Robert Bedford (Lilydale), 46th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In Belgium. In his diary – ‘Today I went to the trenches and I passed through Ypres. I have never seen such desolation, what was once a beautiful city is now a heap of ruins. I saw the Cloth Hall and Cathedral smashed to atoms. I should say Ypres is as big as Ballarat or Bendigo and I say without exaggeration there is

Pte Arthur Thomas (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: A Field General Court Martial is held where he is charged with the following ‘while on active service, neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, negligently wounding himself in the foot on August 14th, 1916’. He is found guilty and is imprisoned for 28 days and forfeits 14 days pay.

Pte William Clark (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Euripides. Alex Duncan (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old.

Pte Arthur Newman (Yering), 5th Battalion: Is awarded the Serbian Gold Obilich Medal for Bravery in recognition of ‘distinguished and all out service during the Gallipoli campaign’.

Gnr Theodore Lowe (Gruyere), 4th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from scabies. Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is seconded to work in the war hospital at Bombay, India. James Wheeler (Yering): Leaves his dairy farm at Yering and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.

Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: In France. In a letter to his brother in Lilydale – ‘We have done fatigue in the trenches for a week. We are having wet weather here and it is very cold. It is only autumn; goodness knows what it will be like in winter. I think our furlough for England is knocked on the head. It was just about to start when we

Sgt Frank Dixon (Wandin), 59th Battalion: Reported ‘missing in action’ since the battle of Fromelles, his family received word on this day from the YMCA National Council in England that Frank was actually being held as a prisoner of war in the Hotel de La Paix in Leysin, Switzerland. As a result, the family and his fiancée all write letters to him. However three months later the military authorities confirmed

Pte Norman Stewart (Wandin), No 3 Company, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to his right leg, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.

Pte Alfred Blanksby (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis. Pte Alfred Larking (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Karroo. Pte Stan Goode (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Karroo. Pte William Duffy (Lilydale), 11th Field Artillery Battery: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Clan McGillivray.

The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Commonwealth – Pte Charles Shell (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Company Pte Perrin Wallace (Seville), 5th Machine Gun Company Pte Charles Wallace (Seville), 5th Machine Gun Company Trp Alexander Mathews (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Clan MacCorquedale bound for Egypt. Andrew Noden (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a coach builder and enlists in the AIF, he

Pte Alfred Parish (Lilydale), 13th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England after accidentally injuring his ankle. Gnr Isaac Brown (Lilydale), 6th Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Borda bound for Europe.

Lt James Wilken (Kilsyth), Australian Flying Corps: Arrives in Baghdad to report for duties in the Mesopotamia campaign. Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: Arrives in Baghdad to report for duties in the Mesopotamia campaign.

Pte Ernest Kerslake (Lilydale), 26th Battalion:  Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever. Nolan Footit (Gruyere): Having deserted from the Royal Australian Navy in May 1915, after two years’ service, he decides to enlist in the AIF under the name John Willis, he is 24 years old.

Pte William Town (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis and influenza. Pte Henry Bamber (Mt Dandenong), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Persic. Thomas Hennessy (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 44 years old.

Pte Arthur Stallworthy (Lilydale), 1st Remount Unit: In camp in Egypt. In a postcard to a friend in Lilydale – ‘Many thanks for your long newsy letter received yesterday. I am very well thank God. There are no Lilydale boys anywhere near me now, all are at one of the fronts. I am looking forward to seeing you all again but do not expect it will be for several months

Pte Arthur James (Mooroolbark), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England.

Dvr Charles Clarke (Mt Dandenong), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Ascanius to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting severe bronchitis. His younger brother James would enlist the following year.

Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Is involved in a very successful raid on an enemy trench for which he is later ‘Mentioned in Despatches’. Pte Ralph Garth (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is involved in a very successful raid on an enemy trench for which he is later ‘Mentioned in Despatches’. Spr Robert Fairnie (Lilydale), Australian Army Pay Corps: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from scarlet fever.

The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Nestor- Pte Frederick Tonkin (Wandin), 5th Battalion Pte Thomas Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion Pte William Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion Pte James Graham (Wandin), 7th Battalion Pte Henry Stewart (Kilsyth), 8th Battalion Pte Roy Davies (Wandin), 14th Battalion Pte Alex Duncan (Lilydale), 14th Battalion Cpl Charles Perrin (Lilydale), 14th Battalion Pte Edward Hitchings (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion Pte James Wyles (Olinda),

Gnr William Atkinson (Lilydale), 120th Howitzer Battalion: On board the HMAT Aeneas. The following message was put in a bottle and dropped overboard -‘At sea. October 4, 1916. We are 26 hours out from Melbourne now. and I am well. Was a bit sea sick at first. Bob Gray and I are together here. Will finder please forward to my mother – Gunner W. Atkinson’. It was later found on

Vincent Black (Coldstream): Leaves his family’s property in Coldstream and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old. His older brother Harry had already joined the AIF the year before.

Herbert Jeeves (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a motor driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.

Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza.

Thomas Hogg (Wandin), 24th Battalion: Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and his job as a linesman and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old. His younger brother Herbert would also enlist in the AIF in a few days’ time. Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.

James Smith (Olinda): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 28 years old.

Pte Ernest Bridgewater (Seville): After three months training at Broadmeadows and a month in a convalescent home, he is discharged as medically unfit as a result of a vasomotor instability. Bertie Blashki (Lilydale): The grandson of Polish immigrants, he leaves his job as a commercial traveller and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.

Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: While serving in the Mesopotamia campaign, he is admitted to hospital suffering from malaria.

Herbert Hogg (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. His older brother, Thomas, had already enlisted a few days before.

Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: From his diary (France) –‘We go north to Abecele. While here they decide that they will build stables for the horses for the winter with brick floors, so a party of us were detailed to proceed to Ypres to pick up the best bricks from among the ruins and load the wagons when they come up at night. We do a bit

Pte Norman Pontin (Lilydale) 14th Battalion: In camp in England. In a letter to his fiancée Alice Huston of Lilydale and her family – ‘Just a line to let you know I can find a little time to drop an occasional word to my other friends in Lilydale. Tho it isn’t for want of thinking about you, as you may guess, those thoughts can be nothing but pleasant; for you

Sgt John Casson (Kilsyth), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column: Dies in hospital in England as a result of a brain tumour. He is 22 years old and is buried in his family’s grave at Willesden New Cemetery, Willesden, England. Dvr Leslie Coppin (Kilsyth), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Marama for further treatment for his gastritis. Thomas Brown (Olinda): Leaves his job as a labourer and

Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin), 1st Remount Unit: After spending the past ten months in hospitals in Egypt suffering from various ailments, he is discharged as medically unfit and sent home to Australia on the HS Westalia. Oliver Matthews (Yering): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 35 years old. Florian Deshamps (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a grazier and enlists in the AIF, he

Capt James Rowan (Olinda), Australian Army Medical Corps: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Barunga. The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Lincoln- Pte Ernest James (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion Pte Walter Leach (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion Pte Gilbert Hogg (Wandin), 37th Battalion Pte Harry Moore (Lilydale), 46th Battalion: This is his second trip overseas, the first was in 1915 but he was sent

The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the SS Port Melbourne – Pte Malcolm Bethune (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion Pte Charles Dorrington (Montrose),3rd Pioneer Battalion Pte William Jacob (Mooroolbark),3rd Pioneer Battalion Pte Joseph Keeley Jnr (Mooroolbark),3rd Pioneer Battalion Pte Thomas Kerr (Yering),3rd Pioneer Battalion Pte Frank Muirson (Lilydale), 50th Battalion

David Snell (Wandin): Leaves his job as a printer and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old.

Michael White (Lilydale): Leaves his farm at Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old. Alex McEwin (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a postal assistant and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old.

Harold Wright (Mooroolbark): Leaves his orchard in Mooroolbark and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old. William Guillerme (Lilydale): Enlists in the AIF for a second time, he had been discharged as medically unfit the year before because of his poor eyesight.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘Still raining and bitterly cold. Fearful shellfire last night in the dark, we fall into shell holes half full of water, up to our knees in mud everywhere, I haven’t been dry for days. Our food is short and what we get is cold, cooks can’t keep a fire alight’. The following locals leave Australia bound for

Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his father in Lilydale – ‘We are still in Egypt, and it is now six months since we arrived, so you can guess we are quite sick of the country of sand, heat, and filth; also its inhabitants. The ‘Gippoes’, as we call them, are a very dirty race and we

Pte Mort Tait (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell shock, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Edward Gray (Seville): Leaves his family’s orchard in Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old. His older brother, Ebenezer Gray, had enlisted the year before. This was his second attempt at enlisting, in November 1915 he had been rejected as being medically unfit because he had fractured his

Edward Barratt (Olinda): Leaves his job as a joiner and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married. His younger brother Percy had enlisted the year before.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘At 9am this morning we moved up to the advance stations in blinding rain. We are just in Delville Wood, the conditions are absolutely indescribable, the whole place is one mass of shell holes and the mud is knee deep. In this we are working carrying stretchers, two men to one stretcher, the artillery is awful’.

Ernest Le Page (Seville): Leaves his job as a labourer at Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old. This is his second attempt; he was rejected the first time as being medically unfit.

Pte Oliver Matthews (Yering): Is admitted to hospital at Broadmeadows not feeling well, it later turns out to be emphysema.

Pte Benjamin Gibson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to head and buttocks, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Levi Trayford (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

L/Cpl Wilfred Tucker DCM (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from myalgia.

Spr Harry Linacre (Seville), 6th Field Company Engineers: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis. Pte Charles Clegg (Wandin), 51st Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Argyllshire.

2nd Lieut Harold Manders (Wandin), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: After a gas attack while in the front line, he is evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station suffering from gastritis and a nervous breakdown as a result of gas poisoning. L/Cpl Michael Upton (Yering), 6th Machine Gun Company: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His leg is later amputated below the knee. Harry

Pte Francis Hughes (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the face, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Cpl Archie Kilfoyle (Mooroolbark), 31st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench feet. Cpl Arthur Chapman (Wandin), 13th Field Artillery Brigade: Is charged with being drunk while in charge of a gun pit. An enquiry that is later held charges him with 12 months

Pte James Clegg (Wandin), 46th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from influenza.

L/Cpl Cyril Gregan (Olinda), 23rd Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from dysentery.

Pte Leslie Farndon (Mt Dandenong), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. He is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this day. His recommendation states: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action near Flers on 14th November, 1916, as Battalion runners to the front line and also as guides to carrying parties. Their coolness in action and their

Pte William Clark (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from a collapsed left lung.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In France. In his diary – ‘This morning, on getting out of bed, we were met with a sight that astonished us, it had been snowing all night, everything looked beautiful but fearfully cold. We marched out of Buire at 10am in blinding rain and stood shivering in it for three hours on the side of the road waiting for motor buses. These

Pte Richard Goodall (Gruyere), 46th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Frederick Brierty (Lilydale), 2nd Remount Unit: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Vestalia to be discharged as a result of his unit being demobilised. He later re-enlists. Lt Wilmot Stephens (Lilydale), 57th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Armadale to be discharged, services no longer required. He later enlists in the New Zealand Forces.

Pte Duncan St Leger (Coldstream), 14th Australian General Hospital: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from diaphragmatic pleurisy. Robert Jenkins (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a driver and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old and married. Claude Pitt (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a bricklayer and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.

Pte Barney Gilson (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Marries an English girl in England. She would later return to Australia as a war bride. The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Hororata- Pte Nolan Footit (serving under the name John Willis),(Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion Pte James Smith (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion Gnr Frederick Bunt (Wandin), 21st Howitzer Brigade Gnr Leonard Bunt (Wandin), 21st Howitzer Brigade Pte Hugh Comans

Pte Robert Jeeves (Montrose), 58th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to left thigh, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Arthur Roger (Silvan): Leaves his family’s orchard at Silvan and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old.

Pte Thomas Goodall (Lilydale), 24th Battalion: In the front line, France. In a letter to his younger brother – ‘I see you are getting on well with the farming, I suppose you will be head boss soon, especially as you are leaving school. I am quite well again now and back in camp. I have had a good time lately, Geo Smith from the Glen is here in this camp,

Gnr Clifford Jackson (Lilydale), 5th Field Artillery Battery: While on board the HMAT Hororata he throws a bottle over the side with the following note: ‘On Troopship A 20. We are having a beautiful trip, and at present it is a glorious night. Have just finished a good sing song round the piano. Passed a Red Cross hospital ship returning this afternoon at 5.15 o’clock. It was about six miles

Cpl David Ogilvy (Seville), 60th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza and pneumonia.

Pte William Tait (Mt Dandenong), 29th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the right arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England. His arm would later be amputated.

Pte Alexander Bonney (Lilydale), 11th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Karoola to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds received in action.

Pte Joseph Keeley Snr (Mooroolbark), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from rheumatism.

Dvr Ernest Gilbert (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from scabies.

Pte Thomas Senior (Seville), 1st Remount Unit: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on board the HT Ayrshire. He is to be discharged as medically unfit, suffering from deafness and varicose veins.

Pte Harry Duck (Seville): While in training at the Seymour Military Camp he is hospitalised suffering from both measles and gastritis, a condition he had before enlisting. Spr Joseph Sies (Wandin), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from bronchitis. Sr Alicia Kelly (Mt Dandenong), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives in France and reports for duty at the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station. She would

Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment: In France. From his diary –‘A small party of us were sent straight to be attached to the 4th Division to carry despatches to various brigades. Not the best job as the roads were very bad for the horses and we were poorly fed, four of us messing together and it costing nearly 10/- a week for food that we could buy

Pte William Jackson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza. Nurse Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is seconded to work in the war hospital at Poona, India. Pte John Albrey (Seville), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Medic.

Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 31st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from influenza. Pte William Johnston (Wandin): Soon after he enlisted and was sent to the Broadmeadows Camp, he ended up in hospital suffering from sciatica. He spent the next nine months in hospitals and convalescent homes until the military authorities finally deemed him medically unfit and discharged him.

Pte John Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 58th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench feet. Pte John Johnston (Wandin): At Royal Park Camp he is discharged from the AIF for desertion. He had gone absent without leave on November 23rd and hadn’t been seen since. A Court of Enquiry held on this day rules that he be declared a deserter and struck off the list.

Trp Vincent Black (Coldstream), Camel Corps: Leaves Australia on the HMAT Vestalia bound for Egypt.

Pte Robert Shell (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench feet. The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Medic- Pte Herbert Hogg (Wandin), 14th Battalion Pte Claude Pitt (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion Pte Thomas Telson (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion Pte Arthur Roger (Silvan), 39th Battalion Pte Frank Tait (Mt Dandenong), 57th Battalion Pte Edward Gray (Seville), 58th Battalion Pte

Pte Daniel Bowen (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from scabies.

Trp Albert Walker (Montrose), 8th Light Horse: While stationed at Kantara, Egypt, he transfers to the Australian Flying Corps.

Walter Boys (Seville): Leaves his Aunt and Uncle’s orchard, ‘Woodbury’, in Seville, where he had lived and worked since he was two months old, and enlists in the Australian Light Horse. He is 30 years old and married with two children. His stepson, 18 year old Alexander Mathews, had enlisted six months earlier, also in the Australian Light Horse, and both would serve together in the 8th Light Horse Regiment.

Cpl Herbert Mackin (Lilydale), 7th Mobile Veterinary Section:  While in Egypt he transfers to the 4th Camel Regiment, Camp Corps.

Sgt Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from trench fever. Spr Ernest Rae (Mooroolbark), 1st Divisional Signal Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from severe bronchitis. Trp Allen Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: During the attack on the village of Maghdaba, near the Palestine border, he is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the

Pte Robert Lawlor (Coldstream), 22nd Battalion: Writing to his family in Coldstream he states: ‘I fired my very first shot of the Great War on Christmas Day 1916 with a Lewis Gun’. Pte Charles Mortomore (Lilydale), 37th Battalion: Is awarded the Military Medal for his actions on this night. His recommendation states: ‘At Armentieres on the night 25th/26th December, 1916, while acting as a scout, he displayed great daring in

Pte Harry Duck (Seville): Hospitalised with gastritis at the Seymour Military Camp since December 8th, his condition hasn’t improved and he is moved to the Military Rest Home, Macleod.

Pte Arthur Overton (Wandin), 23rd Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the head, and is evacuated to hospital in England. He would not return to his unit. Pte Henry Holbrook (Montrose), 8th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Wiltshire. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of suffering from shell shock which has also created a facial paralysis. Pte Phillip Lithgow

The AIF began 1915 camped in Egypt. In Europe a fierce winter was beginning to set in laying England in a blanket of snow. The military authorities had originally planned to base the Australians in camps on the Salisbury Plain in the south of England however the cold climate had quickly turned that area into a series of quagmires that was seriously effecting the morale of the Canadian troops already

Albert Clegg (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the Royal Australian Navy for a period of five years, he is 18 years old.

Pte Donald Fergus Scott (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: At Mena Camp, Cairo. In a letter to his family – ‘As a camp it is miles ahead of Broadmeadows. We don’t have to eat our meals out in the open they have built mess rooms for each company where you can buy a good cup of coffee or cocoa for half piaster also cakes and soft drinks at the same price.

Pte Horace Allen (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from synovitis of the right knee.

William Long (Silvan): Leaves his job as a chainman and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.

Thomas Ogilvy (Seville): Leaves his brother David’s property in Seville where he works and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 20 years old. His brother David would follow him four months later and enlist in the AIF.

Leslie Jack (Seville): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old. Harry Dawson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 23 years old. Ern Mason (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old. Albert Walker (Montrose): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the

Arthur Rouget (Wandin): Leaves his family’s property in Wandin and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 25 years old. Reginald Farndon (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a clerk and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. His younger brother Leslie would follow him and enlist in a few months’ time.

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: In camp at Mena, Cairo, Egypt. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale – ‘The training here is far more advanced than in Australia and marches of 12 or 15 miles, or bivouacs and night attacks in the desert are not novelties to us now. The weather has become much hotter and a big percentage of our work is carried out at night.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: At Mena Camp, Cairo. From his diary –‘Went to Mena House. Our deepest thanks we owe to our people at home for the books they have given us. We have a library in camp and we are able to pass many weary hours at night reading. Visited the zoo, reckon Melbourne zoo not to be compared with this one’.

Leslie Gamble (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a salesman and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old.

Norman Stewart (Wandin): Is working as a carpenter in New Zealand when he decides to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he is 34 years old. Ernest Williams (Lilydale): Leaves his job at a saw mill and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.

David Mitchell (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a pastry cook and enlists in the AIF at the recruiting office in Lilydale, he is 18 years old. Frederick Randolph (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a waiter and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 26 years old.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: At Mena Camp, Cairo. From his diary –‘Played football against the Light Horse this afternoon, lost by two points. This was the first Australian game played in Egypt’.

Dvr Donald Lord (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Service Corps: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from rheumatism. He is later sent to England for further treatment. In a letter to his wife –‘I have been nearly crippled with rheumatism since leaving Australia. They are sending me to hospital as soon as possible for treatment but I am afraid they will send me back. I hope to enlist again as

Thomas Eales (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a law clerk and enlists at the AIF at the recruiting office in Lilydale, it is his 19th birthday. Rae Lucke (Montrose): Leaves his job as a coach builder and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 18 years old. His older brother John would follow him in a few months and also enlist.

Pte John Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Is discharged from the military for refusing to be inoculated.

Dvr Charles Clarke (Mt Dandenong), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from measles. Edward Buck (Wandin): Leaves his job as a farm worker in Wandin to enlist in the AIF, he is 21 years old.

Pte Frank Kingsley-Norris (Lilydale), 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance: In an excerpt from his auto-biography ‘No Memories for Pain’: ‘Up I swayed along the curving road that leads to the first pyramid of Cheops. Only when I was right against this huge structure did I appreciate the enormity of its construction, the effort and the cruelty that must have gone into the production and placing of those huge blocks of

Trp Albert Briers (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Katuna. Pte Felix Hargrave (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Gasson.

Pte Duncan Campbell (Seville), 5th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Clan Macgillivray. Pte Richard Glass (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Clan Macgillivray. Pte James Mackie (Seville), 6th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Clan Macgillivray. Pte Ernest Clow (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Clan Macgillivray. Pte Walter Staff (Wandin), 14th Battalion:

Dvr Alfred Parish (Lilydale), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is ordered to be sent back to Australia from Egypt on the HT Kyarra to be discharged as medically unfit. While at Broadmeadows he was kicked by a horse in the left upper abdomen and then on the ship was hit in the same place during a boxing match. Afterwards he becomes melancholic in his attitude and according to a report ‘fought

Ordinary Seaman Nolan Footit (Gruyere): Is transferred to HMAS Fantome, a Cadmus class sloop, but would only spend the next few weeks on the ship before being transferred back to the base at HMAS Cerberus.

Harry Moore (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a mill hand to enlist in the AIF, he is 23 years old.

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: In camp at Ismailia, Egypt, on the Suez Canal. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale –‘The 7th and 8th went to Ismailia, on the Suez, when the Turks attacked, but the Turks were beaten before we got there and we only saw the end of the scrap. There’s not much doing here now and it’s a brute of a day – I’m

Pte Frank Kingsley-Norris (Lilydale), 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance: In an excerpt from his auto-biography ‘No Memories for Pain’: ‘Along the pavements in Cairo were small tables and chairs, but no sooner would one sit down and order a drink than an endless stream of fly specked touts would gather and, before our ordered drinks arrived, press sherbet and gazooza upon us. Others brought food, fruit, carpets, antikers, chairs, couches, fly

Dvr Donald Lord (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Service Corps: Arrives in England from Egypt to undergo further treatment for his rheumatism. In a letter to his wife: ‘Well, we are in England at last. Things here are on the go just the same except that everywhere you go there are soldiers, the streets are full of them. At the depots one sees wicked looking guns, innumerable horses, stacks of forage

Trp Albert Briers (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: On board the HMAT Katuna. In a letter to his sister in Lilydale – ‘The boat left Port Melbourne pier at 5 o’clock on 3rd February and we had a good trip down the bay. We got outside the Heads about dark then we got into ‘The Rip’ and every one of us was sick as it was so rough. The steamer

Walter Summers (Seville): Leaves his family’s property at Seville and his job at the State Savings Bank in Fitzroy to enlist in the AIF, he is 25 years old. His younger brother Reginald would also enlist in the AIF in August 1915. Harry Boxall (Silvan): Leaves his job as a farm hand around Silvan and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 29 years old.

Trp Walter Dawson (Lilydale), 9th Light Horse: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Karroo.

Ordinary Seaman Samuel Rouget (Wandin): Is transferred to HMAS Una, a sloop that was a former German motor launch, and would spend the next year patrolling the Pacific, especially round the New Guinea and New Britain area. Trp Gilbert Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Armadale. Trp Robert Purves (Lilydale), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT

Pte Frederick Crooks (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Runic. Pte Leonard Giddins (Olinda), 7th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Runic. Pte William Long (Silvan), 8th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Runic. Spr Michael McCristal (Lilydale), 3rd Light Horse: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Runic.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: At Mena Camp, Cairo. From his diary –‘Held quite a reception of Lilydale boys. ‘Smiler’, C Noden, Bert Reid, Lawlor, A Bedbrook, Billy Mac, Harry Hunt and self – all met’.

Pte George Ingram (Seville), Tropical Force: Leaves Australia bound for Rabaul on the HMAT Eastern. Albert Douglas (Seville): Leaves his parent’s property at Seville and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. William English (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a woodworker and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. Cyril Gregan (Olinda): Leaves his job as a railway porter and enlists in the AIF, he

Richard Robertson (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job as a wire netter and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old. Henry Warwick (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a baker and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.

Trp Albert Walker (Montrose), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Star of Victoria. Trp Iver Hamilton (Mt Evelyn), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Star of Victoria.

Clyde Richardson (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a hairdresser and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. Harry Stevens (Seville): Leaves his parent’s property on Warburton Hwy, Seville and enlists in the AIF at the recruiting office at Lilydale, he is 19 years old.

Charles Cox (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: In camp at Mena, Cairo, Egypt. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale – ‘Ismailia is a pretty place on Lake Timsah, through which the boats using the canal pass. In contrast to Cairo, its houses are more like the high-class residential ones in Australia – Toorak, and not like magnificent hotels. There are very pretty public gardens all round the place –

Pte Charles Willimott (Lilydale), Mechanical Transport Division: Arrives in the United Kingdom from Egypt. He is with a group assigned to assist the British Transport Service on the Western Front and as a result is one of the first AIF men to arrive for service in Europe. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale – ‘We had a good trip over. We were in Egypt only five days and

William Parker (Silvan): Leaves his job as a tree feller around the district and enlists to serve in the AIF, he is 24 years old and married.

Claude Atkinson (Lilydale): Leaves his job with the Victorian Railways and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

Trp Albert Briers (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: At Mena Camp, Egypt. In a letter to his sister in Lilydale – ‘We are camped about four miles from Cairo City on a sandy desert and I can tell you it is rather cold at night and fairly warm in the day. Cairo is a very big place and it is pretty easy to lose yourself there. There are millions of

Henry Maidment (Lilydale): Leaves his job with the railways and enlists in the Australian Light Horse, he is 23 years old.

Dvr Arthur Bedbrook (Mt Evelyn), Australian Army Service Corps: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt after being kicked in the head by a horse which results in some loss of hearing.

Pte Horace Allen (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia on the HT Kyarra to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing synovitis of the right knee.

Leslie Farndon (Mt Dandenong): Leaves his job as a farm hand in the Yarra Valley and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

Frank Foster (Montrose): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 24 years old.

Pte Norman Stewart (Wandin), New Zealand Samoan Relief Force: In August 1914 New Zealand forces invaded and took over the German Colony of Samoa in the Pacific. Norman arrived on this day with a Relief Force of New Zealand troops to help garrison the islands.

Richard Plummer (Olinda): Leaves his job as a boilermaker and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.

Pte Charles Willimott (Lilydale), Mechanical Transport Division: In England. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale – ‘We are present billeted in Romsey, in the south of England, but are under orders to clear – I don’t know where. England is just one huge camp – troops everywhere. They all live in huts. Some of the camps are almost as large as Melbourne. We are engaged in carting stores

Pte Fred Whiteside (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Shropshire.

Tpr Albert Briers (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: At Mena Camp, Cairo, Egypt. In a letter to his mother – ‘The Egyptian men are very small and the Australians look very fine soldiers alongside them. The coming of the Australian Army was a godsend to Cairo, as there are not many tourists here this season. Cairo was a great surprise to us all. It is a bigger place than Melbourne

Ebenezer Gray (Seville): Leaves his job as a gardener on his family’s orchard ‘Theodore’ and enlists in the AIF at the recruiting office at Lilydale, he is 28 years old. John Irwin (Mooroolbark): Leaves his job as a linesman in Sydney and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.

Levi Trayford (Lilydale): Leaves his job as farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old. Peter Brander (Lilydale): Leaves his job as labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old. However after this date no further word is heard from the authorities about him, he fails to report for duty, and he is eventually discharged.

Rupert Bloom (Lilydale): Leaves his job as farmer and enlists in the AIF, he is 21 years old. David Lohman (Lilydale): Leaves his job as manager of Cave Hill’s bacon curing and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old and married.

Harold Manders (Wandin): Leaves his job as a marine engineer and enlists in the AIF, he is 25 years old.

Cpl William Aicher (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: At Mena Camp. In a letter to a friend in Mt Evelyn – ‘There was a bit of a fight here in Cairo between the natives and the soldiers on Thursday, and myself and four others just escaped serious damage. Five of us were having a look at the native quarters when the blacks suddenly attacked us and drove us into a blind alley

Harry Black (Coldstream): Leaves his family’s property at Coldstream and enlists in the AIF, he is 26 years old. Harold Clark (Gruyere): Leaves his job as a bank manager in Norwood, SA, where he had been working, and enlists in the AIF, he is 31 years old. Ernest Commerford (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 34 years old. George Joy (Mt Evelyn):

Ray Tregear (Mt Evelyn): Leaves his job with the Commercial Bank in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he had been working, and enlists in the New Zealand Military Forces, he is 23 years old.

THE BATTLE OF THE WASSIR, CAIRO, EGYPT For the Australians in Egypt, life soon became both monotonous and impatient as they waited to go into action. Fairly soon some of the more boisterous and high spirited young soldiers began to run wild. Discipline deteriorated, military offences increased and the incidents of venereal disease rose. This all culminated with a large riot in the red light district of Cairo called the

George Davies (Kilsyth): Leaves his orchard in Kilsyth and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: From his diary – ‘Embarked on SS Mashobra’.

Henry Hogan (Olinda): Leaves his job as a butcher and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

Cpl William Aicher (Mt Evelyn), 6th Battalion: At Mena Camp. In a letter to a friend in Mt Evelyn –‘We are still in Egypt and are greatly disappointed to be left here for a longer period. I don’t know what the people will think of us. Judging from the Australian papers we receive here, they must think we are all downright rotters of the very lowest degree. Well, there are some

Pte Archie ‘Smiler’ Williams (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: At Mena Camp. In a letter to a friend in Lilydale – ‘I suppose everyone has seen the letters in the papers written by Captain Bean. Well, though to a certain extent he was right, he exaggerated things very much, and was practically forced by the authorities here to contradict his statements in future letters. With about 40,000 or more men camped together, when they

Alicia Kelly (Mt Dandenong): Leaves her job as a nurse at a private hospital in Melbourne and enlists in the Australian Army Nursing Service, she is 29 years old.

Pte Felix Hargrave (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: In a letter to his sister in Lilydale – ‘There are a lot of French and Greeks here in Cairo which is a big place about twice as big as Melbourne but not half as well laid out, most of the streets are narrow, choked and smell somewhat. There are thousands of black faces thronging the streets, the men and women dressing alike. One

Alfred Leonard (Olinda): Leaves his job as a railway porter and enlists in the AIF, he is 38 years old and married. Wilson Evans (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a flour miller and enlists in the AIF, he is 22 years old.

John Lucke (Montrose): Leaves his job as a carpenter and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old. His brother Rae had enlisted earlier in January.

Alfred Parish (Lilydale): After returning from Egypt to Melbourne, he is discharged from the AIF as medically unfit, he then moves to Sydney and enlists again there. Pte Vincent Lawlor (Gruyere), 5th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Hororata. Pte Charles Cox (Gruyere), 6th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMAT Hororata. Pte David Mitchell (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the

Charles Osborne (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer to enlist in the AIF, he is 23 years old.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In his diary – ‘Can’t say I’ve enjoyed these 3 weeks on this boat, there is no sleeping accommodation, I have slept under the mess table these last 21 days’. Dvr William Lysaght (Lilydale), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Leaves Australian bound for Egypt on the HMAT Wiltshire.

Cpl James Drummond Burns (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: While stationed at Broadmeadows Military Camp he writes the following poem to be published in his old school newspaper at Scotch College. It sums up how he felt about the conflict and about imperial identity as he saw it. Once published the poem hits a nerve with the general public and goes on to become the most well received and widely read piece

Pte George Williams (Lilydale), Canadian Army Medical Corps: Arrives in France and is seconded to duties with the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance. He serves with this unit in France until December 1918. Pte Norman Stewart (Wandin), New Zealand Samoan Relief Force: Returns to New Zealand from Samoa suffering from malaria and is soon discharged from the military as medically unfit. Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In his diary

THE LANDING AT GALLIPOLI, DARDENELLES, TURKEY THE FIRST WAVE Around 4.20am the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions (3rd Brigade) landed at what became known as Anzac Cove and began making their way up the cliffs and ridges in front of them. Locals amongst that first wave were: Pte Harold Ritchie (Kilsyth), 9th Battalion Pte Alexander Bonney (Lilydale), 11th Battalion Pte Walter Clegg (Wandin), 11th Battalion Sgt Thomas Williams (Lilydale), 11th Battalion

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: On Anzac Cove. In his diary –‘The mighty ‘Queen Elizabeth’ speaks this morning. The earth fairly trembles when she fires. Oh how we duck when the ‘shrap’ flies. 5.30pm – I am writing this under a rain of shells, the noise is terrific, about eight warships and twenty guns we got into position today are belching forth to the return of Turkish shrapnel.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: On Anzac Cove. In his diary – ‘We have been shelled unmercifully today but worse at night. The valley we were carrying the wounded down was like an inferno, they dropped shells at the rate of six a minute on us. Thank God I got through without a scratch’. Spr Joseph Sies (Wandin), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound

Dvr Richard Pendlebury (Seville), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: On Anzac Cove. Letter written to his brother George from Gallipoli – ‘From the time of landing until Tuesday night we did not get any sleep but things are going more smoothly now. Our job consists of dragging guns up into position carrying shells to the guns, unloading barges of rations, digging pits for the guns and for the first few days