1st Field Company - Engineers

Exterior of an extensively damaged convent school where members of No. 1 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, lived for a time. AWM P02226.040

A wooden bridge crossing the Somme. Note the camouflage of grass and bushes covering the hand rails of the bridge. AWM P02226.044

Brief History

The unit was raised in August 1914 in Sydney and went into camp at the Royal Agricultural Society Showgrounds. On 18 Oct 1914 they sailed from Sydney aboard HMAT A19 Afric, arriving in Alexandria in early December 1914. On 4 Mar 1915 the unit deployed to Lemnos in preparation for the landing at Anzac Cove. They landed on 25 April, and also participated in the landing at Sulva from 8 - 15 August. On 17 Sep 1915 half of the company were sent to Mudros for a rest while the other half continued to work on fortifications and trenches.

Each Division had three Field Engineer Companies under command, numbered the same as the Brigades of the Division. The First Division thus had the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Field Company of Engineers on strength. the Engineers undertook a raft of tasks broadly divided into mobility, counter mobility and construction as well as survey and mapping, and specialised tunnelling and mining operations. The Field Companies' scope of works concentrated on the former rather than the latter.

They undertook a broad range of tasks including preparation and supervision of the construction of defensive and gun positions, excavation of trenches and dugouts, erection of wire and other obstacles, preparation of command posts, signalling and water supply, field engineering, road and bridge construction and route maintenance. They also undertook obstacle breaching and crossing. For example in the lead up to the attack at Mont St Quentin the Engineers were required to carry out two river crossing / bridging operations.

Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, they company spent January 1916 working on Suez Canal defences before moving to France in Jun 1916. While on the Wester Front theyplayed a role in battles at Pozieres, 2nd Bullecourt, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Hazebrouck, Amiens, Albert, Epehy nd the Pursuit to Mons.

Ninety two men lost their lives while posted to this unit.

Unit Personnel

• Frazer Paterson Henderson 15 Aug - 18 Aug 1916 (WIA)

Individual Honours

• 1 x Distinguished Service Order
• 7 x Military Cross
• 7 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
• 38 x Military Medal
• 4 x meritorious Service Medal
• 17 x mentioned in Despatches
• 1 x Belgium Croix de Guerre
• 1 x Serbian Cross of Karageorge, Second Class