4th Field Company - Engineers
From Our Contribution
 Shoulder patch | |
 AWM photo H03520 Preparing to move out to the trenches defending the Suez Canal near Serapeum 1916 | |
Brief History
Engineers, also known as sappers, were essential to the running of the war. Without them, other branches of the Allied Forces would have found it difficult to cross the muddy and shell-ravaged ground of the Western Front. 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
The 4th Field Company was formed in Egypt in August 1915 with men from the 5th Brigade (New South Welshmen), and from reinforcements for the Second Division. In February 1916 they were reassigned to the 4th Division.
Of the men in the unit that did not return, 1 died in Egypt of illness; 9 were either killed in action or died of wounds on Gallipoli; 1 died of illness on Gallipoli; 21 lost their lives in Belgium (1 to illness); 38 were KIA or DOW in France, 2 died from accidents in France and 6 from illness; and 1 died in the UK from wounds received in France.
Unit Personnel
- † Frederick Douglas Atlee Bowra ?? Aug - 29 Oct 1915 (KIA Scott's Post, Gallipoli)
Individual Honours
- 1 Distinguished Service Medal
- 4 Military Crosses
- 6 Distinguished Conduct Medals
- 11 Military Medals
- 4 Meritorious Service Medals
- 10 Mentioned in Despatches
- 3 foreign awards
Notes
Content for the history and honours sections has come from a combination of Wikipedia and the Australian War Memorial websites.