Our Indigenous Heroes - They Also Served
Many thanks to Diane Ashmore for allowing us to share her stories with our visitors.
FAMILY LIFE
Charles Henry Bird was born on 5th February 1896, in Murwillumbah son of John & Mary Bird.
APPLICATION
He was single farmer, living in Duranbah, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 9th January 1917 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Marion Bird, of Duranbah. He had spent 2 years as a senior cadet in Murwillumbah and had been rejected from enlisting before as he had a hernia.
His medical, taken at Adelaide St, Brisbane, showed he was 20 years 10 months old, 6ft ½ inches tall (1.82m), weighed 195 lbs (88 kgs), with a medium complexion, blue eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good & he required minor dental treatment. Charles was Church of England and had a scar on his left foot & another on his right hip. He was enlisted as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion – 19th Reinforcements with service No 6531.
25TH INFANTRY BATTALION
The 25th Infantry Battalion, part of the 7th Brigade, 2nd Division of the Australian Imperial Force, was raised in March 1915 at Enoggera, Queensland. Their service is remembered for their resilience and contributions to key victories.
HOME LEAVE
On that day he requested, and was granted, 4 days leave, from 19th January to 22nd January 1917, to farewell his parents the people around the district and to arrange for the temporary disposal of my property during his absence.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS
He returned to the 11th Battalion depot for some basic training then he embarked at Sydney, New South Wales aboard HMAT Wiltshire on 7 February 1917. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection.
Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. It was a foretaste of what was to come.
ROLLESTONE TRAINING CAMP
They disembarked at Plymouth on 11th April 1917 and were marched into the 7th training battalion at Rollestone. They had already completed very basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons. Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more.
DISCIPLINED JULY 1917
On 28TH July Charles went AWL till 6pm 30th July. He was awarded 2 days confined to camp and lost 4 day’s pay. The total forfeiture of pay was 6 days but that misdemeanour is not listed.
FRANCE AND TRENCH WARFARE
On 17th October 1917 he left Southampton for France and joined his unit on 18th October. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the German in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE NOVEMBER 1917
The 25th Battalion had rotated through the line on the Western Front and took part in many more battles in France and Belgium. In November they were engaged in many actions on the Flanders Front. Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Passchendaele takes place in Ypres, Belgium, as British forces, with help from the French and the use of tanks, launch an attack to wrest control of Ypres from the Germans. Attacks and counterattacks ensue for four months in the rain and mud, with Canadian forces brought in to help relieve the troops but little ground being won. In the end, it is considered a victory for the Allies, with but one that costs both sides more than 550,000 casualties.
The 25th Battalion, part of the 5th Australian Division, was involved in the capture of Passchendaele during the later stages of the battle. The 25th was one of several Australian battalions involved in the Australian Corps during the battle. Australia, under the command of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, was tasked with supporting the British and Canadian forces in their effort to capture the Passchendaele ridge.
The battalion advanced under the cover of artillery bombardments. However, the weather and mud were formidable obstacles, and it was difficult to maintain communication or coordination with other units. The 25th Battalion suffered significant casualties during the attack, as they faced not only heavy German machine gun fire and artillery shelling, but also the debilitating conditions of the battlefield. Many soldiers drowned or became bogged down in the mud, adding to the already high toll of the battle. The 25th Battalion, like other Australian units, was involved in the consolidation of the captured positions in the aftermath of the battle. They worked to defend the newly-won ground from German counterattacks. The capture of Passchendaele and the surrounding ridge, while a tactical victory, came at an extremely high cost.
WOUNDED IN ACTION- GASSED 4TH NOVEMBR 1917
One of the casualties was Charles who, on 4th November 1917, was wounded in action being gassed. When mustard gas is released, it forms a mist of droplets that can linger in the air and settle on surfaces. Exposure causes severe chemical burns, painful blisters, and damage to the respiratory system if inhaled. It can also lead to temporary blindness or long-term eye issues. The gas is heavier than air, so it sinks into trenches and low-lying areas, making it persistently dangerous. Soldiers often experienced panic and disorientation during attacks
HOSPITALISATION
Charles was transferred to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, England. But by 3rd November he had gas poisoning pneumonia and was transferred to No 3 Command depot at Hurdcott. The depot dealt with the soldiers deemed able to return to duty and here he would convalesce but continue with drilling & training as the technology and techniques were rapidly changing and soldiers had to be up to date when they were ready to rejoin their units.
HOSPITALISATION VENEREAL DISEASE
By the 17th April 1918 Charles had contacted venereal disease and was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Buford. Since the early dawn of military manoeuvres and activities, sexual hygiene and behaviour have proven to be a major problem for the Worlds’ Armies, and WW1 proved to be no different. Soldiers on assignment overseas were often lonely, had time to spare, got homesick, or were just looking for female companionship. VD was a great source of military inefficiency: although it had a low mortality rate, it resulted in loss of manpower, and the cure was expensive, time-consuming, and often ineffective and over 400,00 soldiers contacted the disease during the years of conflict. His course of treatment involved 7 injections of 606, an antibiotic drug - the powder was dissolved and then injected into the buttocks — not particularly pleasant but effective. The other treatment was 7 uses of mercury ointment, both of which were completed by 31st May.
THE HUNDRED DAY OFFENSIVE
On 5th June 1918 he was marched out to Sutton Veney to continue his drilling and training prior to deploying him back to France. By late August Richard sailed to France and rejoined his unit. The 25th were engaged in The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) which was a series of massive Allied offensives that ended the First World War. The Hundred Days Offensive was a series of Allied attacks that ultimately led to the end of World War I. It began with the Battle of Amiens, where British, French, and Canadian forces launched a surprise assault that shattered German defences.
Following this success, the Allies continued their rapid advance, forcing German troops to retreat from their positions along the Hindenburg Line. The offensive saw coordinated attacks across the Western Front, with British, French, American, and Belgian forces pushing the Germans back.
During this time many battles were fought- Mont St Quentin, Amiens, Marne, Second Battle of the Somme, Battles of the Hindenburg Line, the Meuse–Argonne offensive, Battle of St. Quentin Canal, Fifth Battle of Ypres, Battle of Cambrai, Battle of the Canal du Nord, Fifth Battle of Ypres). Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Western Front, the Allies pushed the Imperial German Army back, undoing its gains from the German spring offensive (21 March – 18 July).
APPOINTED A DRIVER
On 5th October 1918 Richard was appointed a driver. A driver in WW1 rode on team horses which pulled wagons, guns, ambulances, equipment. Usually, a wagon had a team of 6 horses, 3 pairs of 2. Each driver was responsible for his two horses (feeding, shoeing, vet care, etc.) and he teamed up with two other drivers to pull the wagon. Drivers were usually privates in rank but designated "Driver" to distinguish them from infantry. Drivers were essential in getting supplies, food, ammunition, and equipment to the men at the front, and bringing wounded back to medical stations. It was a dangerous job as they were targeted by machine guns and artillery to prevent them getting supplies through.
GETTING HOME
The end of the war was in sight and on 11th November the fighting was officially over, so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait several months before they were headed back to Australia.
HOSPITALISATION GONORRHOEA
However, on 1st July 1919 Richard was again admitted to Bulford with venereal disease in the form of Gonorrhoea. The sense of adventure, the loneliness, and the loss of family life that overwhelmed many of the overseas volunteers during the First World War often found them on leave in large cities or small towns where alcohol and women were plentiful, and a lack of available prophylaxis allowed the spread of diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis to reach epidemic levels. Historians claim that the average incidence rate for this disease in the AIF was around 12 per cent
Treatment for VD was a punishment in its own right. Special hospitals for VD patients were set up and often regarded as deterrent. Patients would be treated with Salvarsan and mercury which offered uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects such as jaundice and convulsions. Other treatments included irrigation, which was painful and undignified resulting in many men to opt for chemical treatment instead. These long and uncomfortable stays in VD hospitals often averaged between 50 and 60 days, with most patients recovering and returning to the front. On 15th September he was discharged.
RETURN TO AUSTRALIA
During this time Richard should have been reverted to private but the entry had been overlooked. As Richard was no longer a serving soldier this was noted for record purposes in March 1920. Richard returned to Australia on the HT Port Denison on 17th November 1919 and was discharged 26th December 1919.
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Richard was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
AFTER THE WAR
On 18th November 1919, a medical report stated that Private Charles Bird spent 5 months in hospital after being gassed and feels no ill effects. Charles married Lena Eunice (Almera) Duck in 1922 and they had 4 children. Richard died 1st October 1957 in Lismore & is buried East Lismore General Cemetery, Presbyterian section, row 26B, plot 13.
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