After a brief sojourn in Flanders, the AIF had returned to the Somme Valley to man the frontline trenches at places like Armentieres, Delville Wood and Gueudecourt. They would remain here during the terrible winter of 1916 – 1917, one of the worst on record, where they had to experience the rain, mud, slush, snow and freezing temperatures that descended upon them.

Out in the open, in trenches full of mud, having to experience shelling and sniper fire, as well as constantly being wet and cold; all of this made life wretched and almost unendurable for the Australian soldiers and casualties mounted.