5th Division Base Depot

Brief History

Men arriving in France, whether reinforcements or "casuals" - men returning from hospital - proceeded to Base Depots and thence to their units. All drafts - although they had already been passed in England as fully trained - were subjected to further tests laid down by GHQ, comprising, in 1916, at least ten days additional training. A strict medical check was also carried out.

The first Australian depots were established in March 1916 at Étaples, but this was inconvenient both in time and increased risk of submarine attack. The line of transport from Southampton to Étaples crossed that of the Canadians whose English depots were near Folkestone and their French depots at Le Havre, consequently in June 1917 the depots of the two dominions changed place, with the Australians moving to the much nicer location of Harfleur outside of Le Havre They were disbanded on 15 December 1917 to be replaced with a single Infantry Base Depot (AIBD) for the AIF.

Unit Personnel

• Henry Thomas (Harry) Brear 20 Jul 1916 - 27 Sep 1917