Joined Melbourne Victoria Older brother James joined same place same day

Transcription

1 McDonald Donald Neil AIF Private #3561 WWI service records cross-referenced with (8 th ) Battalion field diaries 1. (Also comments re McDonald James AIF Private #3591 service records & 24 th Battalion field diaries) Joined Melbourne Victoria Older brother James joined same place same day Unit 1st depot Batt Seymour Broadmeadows Australia (6 th Training Battn) /24 rfts Broadmeadows 8 th reinforcements 24 th battalion departed Melbourne on H.M.A.T. AFRIC unit at embarkation 8 th reinforcements 24 th battalion James on same ship assigned to 23 rd Battn. is transferred to 24 th Battn Transferred to 8 Batt from O.C. 6 th training battn allotted to proceed to join 8 th Battn ex Zeitoun (Cairo) Africa O.C. 8 th Battn taken on strength of 8 th battalion Serapeum Africa February 8 th Bttn War Diary Shooting training rapid loading practice Hot, windy and dusty = disagreeable weather Inoculations for Peso-typhoid Possibility to take 2 days leave O.C. proceeded to join Alexandria H.M.T. B.E. F. Megantic March - 8 th Bttn War Diary 1800 men (23 officers 973 men) issued mark IV riffles and Mark VII ammunition Second inoculation at sea Disembarked at Marsailles France April - 8th Bttn War Diary Wet & Cold March to JESUS FARM near ERQUINGHAM FLEUR BAIX th Battn Pte Wounded in action France GSW Left leg (mild) POZIERES & MOUQUET FARM James wounded in same battle GSW Back (wounded 27 th or 28 th ) most likely in Chalk Pit / Kays Trench admitted N0.1 1st Stat Hospital Rouen G.S.W.L/leg embarked on H. S. Asturias at Havre for England GSW Left Leg James wounded in action (2 nd occasion) severe GSW left Leg (fracture) MOUQUET FARM 1 AWM4, Class23/25 8 th Infantry Battalion field diaries accessed from Australian War Memorial McDonald Donald Neil (AIF#3561) & McDonald James (AIF#3591) : WWI Service Records 1

2 James Adm Alexandra Hospital Cosham England (Remained in Hospital until shipped Home to Australia via Weymouth marched in from furlough England No. 4 Com Depot Wareham No. 4 Com Depot Wareham England Pte Crime Wareham Absent WOL from 3pm to 6pm Award 6 days CB (confined to barracks) by Capt JS Yeomans Forfeits 6 days Pay under RW ER Pte Sick to Brimstone Bottom Hospital England (Mumps) from Inf Draft depot 4&5 Comps Berham Downs Pte Marched in to Inf Draft Depot Berham Downs 4& 5 Comps from Wareham England M/Out to Inf Draft Depot from No 4 Com Depot Wareham ER Pte Adm Military Hosp Tidworth England (Sick Slt) [probably slight] Pte 8th btn Pte Proceeded Overseas France ex Inf Draft Depot Folkestone st ADBD Marched in Estaples st ADBD No Muet? Estaples Pte Rejoined 8 Battn from wounded Wad France April 8 th Bttn War Diary BAPAUME - Railway construction work VILLERS. AU. FLOS road repairs LAGIN COURT to MORCHIES In Action: 13 th to 30 th April HINDENBURG LINE May 8 th Bttn War Diary BEUGNY ROAD - Bombing, shelling, artillery, gassing, machine guns, rifle fire, bayonets, aeroplane surveillance and bombing VAUX COURT weather very warm HINDENBURG LINE (Right of BULLECOURT) Post U22.d.1.3 & U22.d.1.4 (6 killed, 63 wounded, 1 missing, / 5 German prisoners taken) Pte Wounded in Action France (EI) SW face & shock (2 nd occasion) HINDENBURG LINE Fld Amb Fls WDES SW Face & Shock France DRS Trs to 47 C.C.S. S.W. face. shell shock France date of casualty Com SH - SW Face adm Doulleris France Somme th CCS SW Face adm to 3 Com SH France Com SH Neur disease supervising Doulleris McDonald Donald Neil (AIF#3561) & McDonald James (AIF#3591) : WWI Service Records 2

3 Com SH (Neurasthemia) [polite term for shell shock] to AT Doulleris [Definition: It refers to a syndrome of chronic mental and physical weakness and fatigue due to exhaustion of the nervous system. Causes: Many causes; failure to lead a regulated life, anemia, infection, post-surgical, endocrinal, convalescence. Symptoms: Lack of energy and exhaustion. Tiredness, lassitude and absence of energy.] GH (as above) adm Caruier Camiers France GH (as above) to 26 GH Caruier France GH (as above) adm Estaples GH (as above) to Con D Estaples Con D (as above) adm Estaples Con D (as above) to 5 th con D Estaples Con D (as above) adm Baglex?? Con D Dis to B/Ds Baglex st ADBD M/In from Hospital Harve James shipped home on H.S. A14 after 11 months in Hospital in England st ADBD to Unit - Harve Pte rejoined Bn from Hosp rejoined 8 th Battalion France on August 8 th Bttn War Diary Doulieu STEENWERCK September 8 th Bttn War Diary DOULIEU VLEUX BERQUIN BERTHEN RENINGHELST CHATEAU SEGARD In Action 15 th to 23 rd Sept BUND DUGOUTS (slushy ground) STEENVOORDE CHATEAU SEGARD Bombed by aircraft Pte Wounded in action 3 rd Occ France / Belgium CHATEAU SEGUARD & ANZAC RIDGE (ROMULUS & REMUS WOODS) rd A.F.A SW R/Eye (severe wound right eye) adm m/a?? M/u? CCS Field October 8 th Bttn War Diary CHATEAU SEGUARD & ANZAC RIDGE McDonald Donald Neil (AIF#3561) & McDonald James (AIF#3591) : WWI Service Records 3

4 EXTRACT from Appendix No th October Narrative of Operations = At 0100 (5 hours before Zero) Batn. Commenced to move from ANZAC RIDGE to the Tape Line, immediately in rear of the Front Line. The forming up on the Tape Line was successfully carried out and Battalion was in position to attack at Officer and 2 Other Ranks were killed by Shell Fire during the move forward. The situation continued normal until 0530 (half an hour before Zero) when the Enemy put down a heavy barrage on, and in rear of, the Front Line, the troops assembled for attack coming under same. This was really one of the severest tests of the operations, as for half an hour troops had to remain perfectly quiet, practically without cover, and endure extremely heavy shelling. Casualties were heavy but troops stood their ground with great fortitude anxiously awaiting zero hour. At Zero hour (0600) our Barrage came down and Bttn went forward in grand style, getting out of enemy barrage after advancing about 150 yards. Heavy infilade fire (M.G.) [Machine Gun] was received from right flank. Both ROMULUS and REMUS WOODS were very marshy and difficult for troops to advance through, being heavily wired. The attack was diverted round the flanks of these Woods after which the men had to again reform their line to cover the whole front to attack the Ridge. A nest of Pill Boxes at J.4.b.4.9 put up a stubborn resistance with M.G s. and Bombs. They were finally out-flanked and rushed, to garrison being put to the bayonet. The ground in the vicinity of these Pill Boxes was of a schrubby (sic) and marshy nature. The Enemy s system of defence consisting of Pill Boxes and improved Shell Holes (all containing ample supplies of flares). As the two leading Coys. Were engaged by nests of Pill Boxes and temporarily held up, they each converged around the nests outflanking and surrounding same, by so doing leaving room in the centre for C and D Coys. to advance through. As the nests were captured A and B Coys. Again reformed and the Line went forward in the formation, viz A, C, D and B from Left to Right, the four Coys. in Line. The Battn. Reached the RED LINE at 0630 and as barrage lifted advanced 100 yards beyond same to a position of better command out of the Enemy s Barrage, just behind, and parallel to, the BECELAERE-WERVICQ ROAD, with points of Line just touching Road. The Enemy, who consisted of the 5 TH PRUSIAN GUARDS (Grenadiers) fought stubbornly and at most of the Pill Boxes continued fighting until our men got to close quarters, using Bombs and M.G s freely. A hostile Battery of 77 s (4 guns) were in position on Road just in front of Line which this Battalion took Capt. J.C.M. TRAILL, M.C. of this Battalion, and a few men attacked the garrison and gun escort and after a hot fight succeeded in capturing the 4 guns and the survivors of the garrison, including 3 Officers. In the Artillery Commander s Pill Box a big leather port folio was captured containing papers of great Military Value. These were forwarded to Bde. H quarters as soon as possible. The RED LINE was consolidated and in a position of defence by 0730, reorganisation being proceeded with as much as possible The following Booty was captured by the Battalion during the advance, as well as numerous other articles not enumerated mm. German Field Guns 5. Heavy Machine Guns. 6. Light Machine Guns 1. Trench Mortar 2. Bomb Machines A large quantity of Ammunition and about 300 prisoners, including 11 Officers. A large amount of Military Papers, Maps, Orders Etc. Our casualties were approximately 13 Officers and 188 Other Ranks. At 0710 a large body of the Enemy were observed moving South from BROODSEINDE. Artillery were advised by visual signalling and dispersed same promptly. The BLUE LINE was carried by the 6 th and 7 th Battalions on schedule time. McDonald Donald Neil (AIF#3561) & McDonald James (AIF#3591) : WWI Service Records 4

5 At 1200 enemy were observed massing at DAME HO and CELTIC WOOD. Artillery were advised and responded promptly scattering them in all directions. Enemy shelling which had been very severe for some time eased down slightly at At 1330, enemy commenced to mass in large numbers in FLINT COPSE FARM. Artillery again effectively dealt with the situation, apparently inflicting heavy losses on the Enemy and preventing the counter-attack developing. Bn. H quarters had been established in RETALIATION FARM immediately the 1 st Objective had been carried and Coys. were promptly linked up by phone S.O.S. Signal went up from Unit on our Right Flank, artillery responding promptly. Our Front Line reported Enemy massing at 1707 and Artillery laid down Barrage for 20 minutes. Attack failed to develop. At 1845 heavy Enemy Artillery and M. Gun fire was put down on our Forward Area and Enemy appeared to be attacking. S.O.S. fired from Front Line and Artillery responded. Attack again failed to develop. S.O.S s went up at from different parts of our Front Line, but no attack developed. At 0030 Enemy commenced shelling heavily. At 0110 Two Lewis Guns from 1 st. Pioneer Batn. Reported and were placed in our own Line. Shelling heavy on both sides throughout the night, but eased down during morning. All wounded were cleared and water and rations got forward to Line during night. Battn, was relieved during the afternoon by the 9 th Battn. A.I.F. Relief was completed by 1820 (in daylight) and Battn. Proceeded to dugouts in CHINA WALL. JW Mitchell Lt Colonel : Commanding 8 th Battalion, A.I.F th G.H. GSW Head adm Caruier CO 8 Btn Wounded in Action Belgium casualty date Pte Embarked H.T Princess Elizabeth for England from France GSW Head Pte Adm to Norfolk & Norwick Hosp England ADV to Norfolk W.H. GW Head (Sev) Severe th CCS SW R/Eye adm M/u? oftu? AP? Field date of casulaity Traferred to 3 rd Aux Hosp ex Norfolk War G. S.W. HEAD Disch to No. 2 C. Dep. Weymouth ex 3 rd Aux GSW Head & Face Pte Nif in from 2 nd Cent H. Dartford N R Adm Heleps? Lon. Pte emb. per HT. Corinthic x England for Return to Australia for Discharge GSW face. Head England Discharged 3 rd MD ex AIF ex Corinthic M.U. REFERENCES: Australian War Memorial. WWI Infantry Battalion field diaries accessed 2008 Mallett, R. unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett accessed 2008 National Archives of Australia accessed 2008 McDonald Donald Neil (AIF#3561) & McDonald James (AIF#3591) : WWI Service Records 5