PREPARING FOR FRANCE.

Early in 1916 the Australian Government decided to raise and maintain three new Divisions of the Australian Imperial Force. One of these the 3rd was to be recruited in Australia and the other two 4th and 5th found from personnel available in Egypt. By this decision Australia was committed to providing, straight off, a new formation of 20,000 men and, in addition, to increasing her monthly flow of reinforcements by 150 per cent., in order to adequately maintain the five divisions in the field.

When the 1st and 2nd Divisions moved down to the east bank of the Suez Canal, the 4th and 8th Brigades were taken back to Tel-el-Kebir camp to form the nuclei of the 4th and 5th Divisions, respectively. As a means of preserving the admirable spirit of the A.I.F., and also to ensure a backing of trained and experienced personnel, 50 per cent. of the new infantry brigades, technical and departmental units, was secured by splitting up the four original infantry brigades and their attendant auxiliaries. The balance was furnished from the accumulating reinforcements at the training camps, near Zeitun. By this means, the two original Western Australian Battalions 11th and 16th became the parent units of the 51st and 48th Battalions, respectively.

Following on this very important addition to the forces, the A.I.F. was now divided into two Corps. General Birdwood remained in supreme command, but personally directed the operations of the 1st Anzac Corps, whilst to General Godley fell the 4th and 5th Divisions which, added to his own New Zealanders, formed the 2nd Anzac Corps. The main body of the Light Horse became a separate Division under the command of Major-General H. G. Chauvel.

In consequence of the necessity for filling up the ranks of the new formations, a goodly portion of the body of reinforcements officers and others intended for the 28th Battalion was diverted to the 51st Battalion.

Following on the action taken in regard to the creation of the new Divisions, steps were taken to form several new units. These included a Cyclist Battalion for the Corps, a Pioneer Battalion for each Division, and a Machine Gun Company for each Brigade. Heavy calls were made on the infantry to man these, and the transfers which ensued made serious gaps in the ranks of the 28th. Lieut. J. J. S. Scouler, the Signalling Officer, was selected to command a company of the Cyclists and secured his third star. Lieut. G. D. Shaw and 2nd Lieut. A. M. Hope went to the 2nd Pioneers and were accompanied by many well tried N.C.Os. and men.

To the Machine Gun Company Lieuts. T. O. Nicholls and C. R. Field went together with the whole of the Machine Gun Section, which had done such sterling work on Gallipoli. For the future, in order to ensure a tactical use more in keeping with their fire power, machine guns were to be grouped under the Brigade Commander. Their place with the Battalion was taken by two Lewis Guns an automatic rifle and a new weapon. These were given into the care of 2nd Lieut. F. Sears who, with a newly formed Section, was sent to attend a School of Instruction in that arm.

In connection with the new formations, Major C. R. Davies was selected for promotion, and on the 28th February left Ferry Post to take over the command of the 58th Battalion.

Towards the end of February some modifications were made in the establishments of the infantry battalions. For reasons unknown, provision for Signalling and Transport Officers was omitted and the duties had henceforth until some time after arrival in France to be carried on by subaltern officers taken away from their platoons.

Further changes in the Battalion were necessitated by the attachment to Brigade Headquarters of Lieut. N. W. Sundercombe, as Brigade Bombing Officer, and Lieut. G. A. Read, as a Staff Trainee. The necessary adjustments were made. Major A. W. Leane became second in command, and was succeeded in “C” Company by Captain A. S. Isaac. Lieut. C. M. Foss took up the duties of Adjutannd Lieut. R. G. Sexty remained in charge of the Transport, whilst the Signallers were supervised by Lieut. A. E. C. Gepp a Duntroon graduate, who was posted to the Western Australians at this stage. The remaining vacancies for officers were filled by the promotion of Sergt. A. Brown, whose good work on Gallipoli had brought him especially under notice, Company Sergeants-Major B. A. Bell, J. McIntyre, and Sergt. H. C. King.

About the middle of February, the General Staff seemed to have formed the opinion that the situation in regard to the Canal no longer gave cause for anxiety. The strength of the forces available for its defence, the backward condition of the enemy preparations, the route of the Senussi’s army, and the approach of summer, all pointed to the improbability of active operations for at least some months to come. At this time also Sir Archibald Murray, in an official document, referred to the A.I.F. as the “Imperial Strategical Reserve.” Those persons who grasped the meaning of this phrase expected early developments, and the various foreign theatres again came under discussion. Nor were indications as to the new field of service long in coming. The institution of a certain type of tactical exercise; the overhauling of gas helmets and the constant practice in wearing them; lecturettes on the tactics and weight of metal of the German artillery; and leaflets describing the rank, badges, and saluting habits of one of our Allies, all pointed to an early departure for the Western Front. Following on these things came a complete change of rifles the new ones firing mark VII. ammunition, which gave a flat trajectory for a longer distance than the earlier mark and instructions to study the regulations regarding the transport of troops by sea.

Before any move took place the A.I.F. indulged in a little introspection. Considering the size to which the Force had grown it was inevitable that some proportion of undesirables must exist in its ranks. Nor is this to be wondered at when it is remembered that in certain cities in Australia magistrates released well known criminals from custody on their undertaking to enlist. The majority of these men had no intention of fighting, and when they eventually joined their units were the cause of endless trouble. In their nefarious operations they were not easily detected, but evidence of their handiwork was forthcoming from the police, who received complaints of serious assaults and robberies from the villages around Tel-el-Kebir and on the route to Cairo. In cases where arrests were made it was sometimes not difficult for the prisoner to escape from his captors and then the search for him began anew. Later, when the main body of the A.I.F. had officially departed from Egypt, a party had to be left behind to clear up the situation caused by the presence of these individuals in the native community.

The 28th was not altogether free from characters of this sort. On the eve of embarkation for Gallipoli a man was missed from his company. His absence was duly reported in the proper quarter, but nothing more was seen of him by his officers until January, 1916, when he marched into the camp at Lemnos with other details. He remained with the Battalion until the rumours of the Turkish advance began the preparations for the move to the Canal. Once more he vanished, and just prior to the embarkation for France information was received that he had been seen near the Pyramids, dressed as a Light Horseman, armed with a revolver, conducting a “two-up” school. The next indications of his whereabouts came from Etaples, about the middle of 1917. From there he was sent to England suffering from debility! He did not return to Australia.

Another original member of the Battalion, whose appearance and demeanour gave a fair indication of his capabilities, could never be satisfactorily brought to book. After the first action at Pozieres he joined the stream of men returning to Sausage Valley, but the contrast between him and those who had taken part in that heroic fight was so marked as to make it fairly safe to say where he had not been during those trying hours. Some months later he was found walking down Piccadilly arrayed in a frock coat and top hat. He retired to Lewes for a term, was placed on board a transport after the Armistice, but got ashore at Cape Town and, it is hoped, has not troubled Australia since. One or two other similar types joined the Battalion later in the war and their records varied but slightly.

It was the type of men indicated in the foregoing that neither General Birdwood nor the A.I.F. desired should accompany the troops to France. In order to be rid of them, instructions were issued that all “undesirables” were to be returned to Australia. Unfortunately, in the 2nd Division, it was soon found that the C.Os. were not considered to be good judges as to who were the vicious characters. A call was made for the records of the men, and from those who had the greatest number of entries in their “conduct sheets” the selection was made. This was greatly deplored, for the reason that many men who were frequent offenders in a minor way were excellent soldiers in the line. On the other hand, the real undesirable was sufficiently astute to keep free from ordinary military “crime.” Nevertheless, his presence in the ranks was a continual menace to the preservation of order and to the peace and property of individuals. Experience later proved that to the failure to thoroughly clear up the situation whilst in Egypt, and to the inability of certain officials in Australia to recognise that the good name of Australia’s volunteer army required to be jealously guarded, may be attributed many of the troubles and prejudices which hampered the Force during the remainder of the war and were so costly to the taxpayer.

There were other men whose services it seemed unwise to retain. A few existed in every unit. They were constitutionally unfit for active service and, whilst not requiring medical treatment, were unlikely ever to become fit. It was useless evacuating them to hospital because they always turned up again in a few days or weeks marked “Fit.” To deal with them a Medical Board, composed of experienced officers, was assembled. After an examination of the individual, the Board recorded its opinion and, if it was adverse, he was sent down the Line of Communication either for return to Australia or for employment as a “B. Class” man.

During the first week in March the camp at Ferry Post began to get uncomfortable. The heat was increasing and the desert winds brought the “khamsin” or duststorms. For hours on end the air would be laden with the flying sand which got over and into every object in its path. Early one morning 500 men of the Battalion were called out and, armed with shovels, proceeded to uncover the railway track which had been completely submerged during the night.

The “move” commenced on the 5th March. On this date Brigade Headquarters and three battalions marched back to Moascar where a divisional camp existed. From that date for several days there was a continuous stream of troops crossing the pontoon bridge. After a lapse of several months the New Zealanders were encountered again as they came over to the east bank to relieve the 2nd Australian Division.

On the 8th March the 28th joined the rest of the Brigade after a rather trying march in great heat the last portion being through heavy sand.

It was directed that before embarkation all troops were to be reinoculated against paratyphoid. This unpopular action was duly taken.

By the addition of reinforcements, which had dribbled in, together with officers and other ranks returning from hospital, the strength of the Battalion had been brought up to near the authorised establishment. The last draft marched in on the day before departure for Alexandria. Transport vehicles and bicycles were not to be taken overseas and were transferred to the charge of the New Zealanders.

These preparations took up several days, during which very little training could be carried on. On the evening of the 13th March the Brigade assembled and was addressed by General Birdwood. His principal theme was Australia’s good name and Lord Kitchener’s message to the British Expeditionary Force on embarkation in August, 1914. Later General Godley rode into camp to say good-bye and wish good luck to those who had served under him on Gallipoli.

The Transport Officer, together with 25 other ranks and the 56 horses of the Battalion, boarded a train near midnight on the 13th, journeyed to Alexandria, and next day embarked on H.M.T. “Minneapolis,” which left the harbour early in the morning of the 15th. This last date witnessed the main body of the 28th, climbing on to open trucks at Moascar siding. From 10 p.m. until next morning the train rumbled and jolted through the night. The air was cold but the single blanket, now the sole covering for the soldier, was reinforced by the heat generated by the crowded condition of the trucks. At Tel-el-Kebir there was a brief halt. Here three reinforcement officers, Lieut. R. S. Browne, and 2nd Lieuts. J. Roydhouse and R. H. Gill, reported and were carried on.

Arriving at a wharf at 6.30 a.m., some little delay ensued before the men could file on to the Transport. Besides the 28th Battalion there were to be accommodated 1-1/2 Companies of the 27th Battalion (Major F. R. Jeffrey), and the 2nd Divisional Signal Company (Major R. H. Goold, M.C.). Later in the day Major-General Legge and the Divisional Headquarters were added to the number, making a total complement of 53 officers and 1,533 other ranks. Travelling as a passenger was Major-General W. G. B. Western, who had recently commanded the troops on Lemnos Island.

The Battalion now found itself on the most comfortable ship that, so far, it had been its lot to travel by. Bearing the number “A32,” the Transport was the Aberdeen liner “Themistocles,” of some 11,000 tons.

The voyage commenced that evening. The usual precautions against fire and submarines were observed. Life belts were always in evidence, and boat stations practised daily. All lights were covered at night. The weather proved to be ideal and the look of content on every soldier’s face gave indication of how the change of life, scene, and air was appreciated.

A modified form of training was carried on prominence being given to anti-gas measures and trench routine and discipline.

During the morning of Sunday, the 19th March, the rather violent “zig-zagging” of the ship gave an indication of the presence of hostile submarines. There were, however, no visible signs of their presence, and it was not until later in the day that the information as to another ship having been torpedoed, not many miles away, was passed down by the ship’s staff.

Having passed around the north side of Crete the ship, during the afternoon of this same day, arrived off Malta. Her engines were stopped for a while and those on the decks had a brief glimpse of the narrow entrance to the Grand Harbour, the heavy fortifications whose walls seemed to run down into the sea, and, beyond, the steep slopes, upon which the picturesque city of Valetta is built. A few naval vessels were within sight of the Transport. A wicked looking submarine and a French torpedo boat passed close by.

Receiving fresh instructions as to the route to be followed, the “Themistocles” resumed her course and, passing through the Malta Channel, entered the Sicilian Sea. The Italian possession of Pantellaria Island was sighted and also the elevated headland of Cape Bon on the Tunisian coast. Skirting the western shores of Sardinia and Corsica, the French coast east of Toulon came into view on the morning of the 21st March. Little could be seen of the great naval base, but as the Transport headed north-west, a short lapse of time revealed Marseilles, France’s most ancient city, lying within its circle of verdured hills.

Proceeding under slow steam towards a precipitous islet, which with its castle was recognised by some as the Isle d’If, made famous by Dumas’ “Count of Monte Cristo,” a hail was received from a picket boat, which came racing out from the direction of the shore. In response, the Transport changed her course abruptly, as it seemed she had been on the verge of entering a mine field.

As the harbour was entered all eyes were agaze at this first contact with the civilisation of the Old World. Comments were made on the obvious fertility of the soil, on the apparent prosperity of the community, and on the magnitude of the engineering undertakings, as disclosed by the many docks and their machinery.

A closer approach to the shore revealed sentries posted here and there. These were old gentlemen in battered képis, long coats and baggy trousers, armed with rifles, which were capped by bayonets of an inordinate length. The 28th Band, which had been revived at Ferry Post, came into action and did its best with the “Marseillaise.” This was responded to from the wharves, where a number of women and a few men had assembled to see the new arrivals. “Vivas” for France and Australia were exchanged and some of the members of the Battalion let go what they recollected of their schooldays’ French.

At 3.30 p.m. the voyage came to an end.