The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 17 April 1915.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 3 July 1915; taken on strength, 7th Bn, 10 July 1915. Disembarked Alexandria from Lemnos, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 59th Bn, Serapeum, 24 February 1916. Sick to hospital, Duntroon Plateau, and admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 20 April 1916 (influenza); discharged to unit, 21 April 1916; rejoined Bn, 21 April 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916, and admitted to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 20 July 1916 (shell shock); transferred by Ambulance Train and admitted to 25th General Hospital, 20 July 1916; discharged to Base Details, 25 July 1916. Rejoined Bn, 12 August 1916.

Detached temporarily to 15th Brigade Machine Gun Company, 9 December 1916; rejoined 59th Bn from detachment, 16 February 1917.

Field General Court Martial held 19 April 1917. Charge: While on Active service deserting His Majesty's service in that he, in the Field, at 4 pm on 14/3/17, when his Company was doing duty in the line, absented himself without leave with intent to avoid duty in the line, and remained absent until 9.45 pm on 21/3/17, when he was arrested in the town of Amiens. Found Not Guilty of deserting but Guilty of absenting himself without leave: awarded forfeiture of 21 days' pay; forfeited total of 57 days' pay (28 days awaiting trial).

Field General Court Martial held 29 May 1917. Charge: While on Active Service deserting His Majesty's service in that he, in the Field, at 7 pm on 9/5/17, after his Company had been warned for duty in the line, absented himself without leave with intent to avoid duty in the line and remained absent until 10 pm on 9/517, when he surrendered himself at Becourt. Found Not Guilty of desertion but Guilty of absence without leave: awarded 90 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited 109 days' pay (20 days awaiting trial).

Field General Court Martial held, 22 August 1917. Charge: While on Active Service absenting himself without leave from the Field at 8 am on 3/8/17 until 8 am, 7 August 1917: awarded 6 months' imprisonment with hard labour; forfeited 5 days' pay; period in arrest awaiting trial 14 days.

Committed to prison, France, 22 September 1917. Admitted to 30th General Hospital, Calais (not yet diagnosed), 23 October 1917; date of discharge not recorded. Readmitted to 30th General Hospital, 12 November 1917 (venereal disease). Escaped from hospital; sentence expired, 21 February 1918; apprehended, 21 March 1918; total period of escape: 96 days. Readmitted to 30th General Hospital with venereal disease (gonorrhoea), 27 March 1918; escaped from hospital, 29 March 1918 (total period of treatment for venereal disease: 3 days); apprehended at Vignacourt, 9 April 1918; escaped from escort, 11 April 1918; apprehended and escorted to 30th General Hospital, Calais (venereal disease), 28 August 1918. Transferred to 51st General Hospital, Calais, 10 August 1918; discharged to duty, 5 November 1918; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 59 days. rejoined 59th Bn, 30 November 1918.

Detached to 15th Australian Infantry Brigade Compound, 31 January 1919.

Field General Court Martial held, 1 March 1919. Charge: While on Active Service absent without leave from the Field from 11/4/18 until apprehended on 28/8/18. Found Guilty, awarded 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. Admitted to 11th Military Prison, 11 April 1919; transferred to Worcester Prison, England, 26 May 1919. Released from prison, 2 August 1919, and sent to Lewes Detention Barracks for safe custody. Discharged from detention, 21 August 1919; unexpired portion of sentence remitted, 22 August 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Anchises', 22 August 1919. Absent without leave, Captown South Africa, 12 September 1919; returned from absent without leave and entrained for Durban at own expense to rejoin 'Anchises', 14 September 1919; re-embarked Durban, 17 September 1919. Found guilty, 17 September 1919, of (1) conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline in that he failed to be on board his ship 'Anchises', when she saild for Durban, leave having expired on 12 September 1919; (2) absent without leave from 1 am to 5.30 pm 12/9/19: awarded 168 hours' detention. Disembarked Melvbourne, 8 October 1919; discharged Melbourne, 7 November 1919.