nom de guerre NormaOlive Brown Maggie Commercial
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The 1st Division started the Amiens o ff ensive in reserve but was later committed to the left flank along the Somme, taking part in actions around Chipilly and Chuignes across the Somme towards Bapaume securing the right flank of the British Army while it advanced on Bapaume. It also allowed the 3rd Australian Division to cross the Somme and secure the Australian Corps northern flank for the attack on Mont St Quentin. The First Division finished its last phase of combat operations in the vicinity of Epehy on the approaches to the Hindenburg Line. After the 2nd Division attack on the Beaurevoir Line at Montbrehain on the 5th October, the AIF was withdrawn from the line to reinforce and refit following the accumulated losses it had sustained since 8th August. The Battalion along with the rest of the AIF, was resting 'out of the line' when the Armistice was declared on the 11th November 1918. The long process of repatriation and demobilisation began. For many, re-settling into civilian life after the turmoil of the battlefield was not a straightforward process. Many were beset with the legacy of multiple woundings, in some cases amputations, gassing and what we now know as PTSD. Many died young, it is a staggering statistic but 50% of the men who returned from the war were dead from multiple causes within 20 years, no doubt exacerbated by the onset of the Great Depression. The legendary Pompey Elliot took his own life during this time, exemplifying the fact that the e ff ects of the war did not discriminate by rank or station in life. Others lived on to lead very productive lives rendering further service to the community, marching every Anzac Day in memory of their fallen mates until they too succumbed to the passage of time. They had lived through 'The Broken Years', so vividly described in Professor Bill Gammage's superb book of the same name. During the course of the war, the Battalion's soldiers were awarded the following decorations: 3 VC; 10 DSO and 1 Bar; 33 MC and 6 Bars; 43 DCM; 32 MM, 1 bar; 4 MSM; 45 MID; 9 foreign awards Battle Honours and Campaigns ANZAC / Gallipoli (/explore/campaigns/1) - 25 April 1915 to 19 December 1915 Lone Pine (/explore/campaigns/3) - 6th August 1915 Pozières (/explore/campaigns/5) - 23 July 1916 to 4 September 1916 Mouquet Farm (/explore/campaigns/103) - 8 August 1916 to 5 September 1916 Second Bullecourt (/explore/campaigns/6) - 3 May 1917 to 17 May 1917 Menin Road (/explore/campaigns/26)- 20 September 1917 to 25 September 1917 Broodseinde (/explore/campaigns/18) - 4 October 1917 to 5 October 1917 Poelcapelle - 9 October 1917 2nd Passchendaele (/explore/campaigns/29) - 26 October - 10 November 1917
Hazebrouck (/explore/campaigns/80) - 12 April 1918 to 15 April 1918 Amiens (/explore/campaigns/14)- 8 August 1918 to 11 August 1918 Albert 1918 (incl Chuignes) 21 August 1918 to 23 August 1918 Epehy 2 October 1918 to 5 October 1918
Compiled by Steve Larkins 2013 - updated Dec 20 If you would like to contribute a more detailed unit history we would be pleased to hear from you. We are particularly interested to hear from unit associations. Contact admin@rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au (mailto:admin@rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au) Page 21 of 72
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