AB Spr John Lucke (Montrose), 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train: Lands at Anzac Cove and reports for duty.
Pte Charles Willimott (Lilydale), Mechanical Transport Division – attached to 17th Divisional Supply Column, British Expeditionary Forces: In France. In a letter to Dr Cross in Lilydale – ‘Glad to say I am at last in France, with every prospect of seeing something of this great war. The corps has been attached to a division of the British Army and my corps is now known as the 17th Divisional Supply Column. I left England about twelve days back and got across the channel without mishap. Extraordinary precautions are taken in transporting troops across to France, all is done with greatest secrecy. We were loaded at Rouen, hence by road to the base of operations (we used our own wagons). I am not allowed to state where we are or anything referring to our operation. We have been fitted out with new wagons, those we brought over being left at Balford camp in England to be used as camp transports.
I am now near the firing line and can hear the sound of guns in the distance. The country around is in a very prosperous state and the inhabitants take no notice of the firing line being so close in front, one would never know war was going on were it not for the troops to be seen everywhere. Our work is to supply food, fodder etc and one is struck by the huge quantities of fodder consumed by the horses, which are kept in first rate condition.
One thing I’ve seen which is very interesting is a fight in the air by aeroplanes. The German machines were attacked by our airman and also from below by anti-aircraft guns. One could see the shells bursting high up in the sky, but it was too far off to see what damage was done.
Our work is fairly hard; we are often out by daybreak till late at night, and of course we have to rough it. We sleep in our wagons which are not exactly like a bed but much better than sleeping on the bare earth. I am fit and well and quite happy, and I like the work. We are well looked after and admirably equipped. The weather here is almost the same as in England, I expect it will be very cold in winter, but hope that the war will be all finished before then’.
Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a stone quarrier to enlist in the AIF, he is 25 years old. He had been born in Chile to Italian parents.
John Fitzgerald (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a labourer and enlists in the AIF, he is 27 years old.
Percy Haddon (Seville): Leaves his job as a farm worker in Seville to enlist in the AIF, he is 23 years old.
Fred Town (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a blacksmith and enlists in the AIF, he is 20 years old.