Training Units in England
From Our Contribution
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Contents
- 1 Brief History
- 1.1 1st Training Battalion
- 1.2 2nd Training Battalion
- 1.3 3rd Training Battalion
- 1.4 4th Training Battalion
- 1.5 5th Training Battalion
- 1.6 6th Training Battalion
- 1.7 7th Training Battalion
- 1.8 8th Training Battalion
- 1.9 9th Training Battalion
- 1.10 10th Training Battalion
- 1.11 11th Training Battalion
- 1.12 12th Training Battalion
- 1.13 13th Training Battalion
- 1.14 14th Training Battalion
- 1.15 15th Training Battalion
- 1.16 69th Training Battalion
- 1.17 HQs 2nd Training Brigade
- 1.18 Overseas Training Brigade
- 1.19 Artillery Training Depot
- 1.20 Pioneer Training Battalion
- 1.21 Machine Gun Training Depot
- 1.22 Engineers Training Depot
- 1.23 29th Training Squadron Australian Flying Corps
- 1.24 Army Service Corps (AASC) Training Depot
- 1.25 1st ANZAC School of Instruction
Brief History
Egyptian camps after Gallipoli
The last British units evacuated from Gallipoli arrived in Egypt at the end of February 1916. Over a 6-week period, ships disembarked veterans of the Gallipoli Campaign and reinforcements from Australia. The ships that docked at Alexandria and Port Said also unloaded animals, guns and supplies for the troops. Both the Australian and British forces were exhausted. The AIF restructured its units to take in the reinforcements from Australia. Battalions were split to contain a mix of veterans and new arrivals. The officers and their men underwent more rigorous training before embarking on the campaigns on the Western Front and in the Sinai:
- a machine-gun school operated at Mo'ascar Isolation Camp at Ismailia (until it moved to the Imperial School of Instruction at Zeitoun)
- a training centre operated in Tel-El-Kebir, between Port Said and Cairo (until training was transferred to the AIF depots in England)
- The Imperial School of Instruction was started by Major Edward Colston, who had served in the South African War. The school ran classes for officers and NCOs on existing and emerging technologies, including:
- artillery warfare
- grenadier - grenade (bomb) throwing
- Lewis guns, Vickers machine guns and Stokes mortars
- signal and telephone operations
Signallers and telegraphists provided communication services for troops. They used an extensive network of military telegraphs over 1600km of front. They did specialised training to meet the challenges of Egypt - long distances, camel transport, desert, sandstorms and mirage. [1]
Warfare training in England
Later in the war, AIF troops arriving in England from Australia were trained at military depots on the Salisbury Plain. The aim was to turn them into soldiers who were partly prepared for trench warfare in Belgium and France.
Example syllabus The No. 1 Training Company of the 15th Training Battalion covered warfare topics in the last 3 weeks of its 14-week training program. Instruction included:
- wiring
- firing rifle grenades
- firing the Lewis light machine gun
- dealing with a gas attack
- using bombs (hand grenades)
- using the bayonet
- routines in the trenches
After completing training in England, the troops received an extra 10 days of training at the major British base depot at Étaples near Boulogne, on the French coast. British officers subjected them to a strict medical check and some military 'tests', such as practicing their response to gas attacks.[2]
1st Training Battalion
Existed in Egypt before later being reformed at Perham Down on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Durrington on 30 Jul 1917 and then to Sutton Veny on 10 Oct 1917.
Egypt
- † Frederick William Wallace Moore ?? Sep - 20 Oct 1915
- † Stephen Henry Robson 29 Oct 1915 - 6 Jan 1916
- William Edward Butcher MM RMG MID 27 Nov - 10 Dec 1917
England Staff
- William Isaac Little 26 Dec - 13 May 1918
Trainees
- Pierre Wolfe Daimpre 10 Nov 1917 - 26 Jul 1918
- Walter Alfred King 28 Sep 1918 - ?? Apr 1919
- Frank Thomas Firns 28 Sep - 5 Oct 1918
- Walter Alfred King 28 Sep - ?? 1919
2nd Training Battalion
Formed at Perham Down on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Durrington on 30 Jul 1917 and then to Sutton Veny on 10 Oct 1917 before being disbanded 25 Apr 1918. Staff
- William Isaac Little 7 Nov 1917 - 25 Feb 1918
Trainees
- Claude Francis Cooper 3 - 30 Sep 1916
- Alfred Tennyson Needham 7 - 27 Nov 1917
- † Daniel Malcolm Wann 7 Nov 1917 - 7 Jan 1918
- † David Andrew Allison November 1917
- Thomas Alfred Osborne ?? Nov 1917 - ?? Mar 1918
- Joseph George Benton Jnr 28 Dec 1917 - 25 Apr 1918
- Ernest Camp 27 Dec 1917 - 30 Mar 1918
- Peter Grant Watt 27 Dec 1917 - 2 Jun 1918
3rd Training Battalion
Egypt and then reformed at Perham Down on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Durrington 30 Jul 1917 and then to Sutton Veny, 10 October 1917 before being disbanded 8 Nov 1917.
Egypt
- † Charles Maul Glover 15 Dec 1915 - 18 Apr 1916
- Arthur Thomas Orton MM 17 Apr - 8 May 1916
- † Thomas William Dowell 26 Apr - 7 Jun 1916
- William Carroll 10 - 6 Apr 1916 - includes the voyage from Egypt to France.
- † Herbert George Lewis 4 May - 22 Jul 1916 during which time the unit relocated to England.
- James Lawrence McKenna 20 May - 26 Oct 1916 during which time the unit relocated to England.
England
Unit Staff
- Herbert Lewis Battams 21 Jul - ?? Oct 1917
Trainees
- Leonard Henry (Lennie) Buckingham MM 6 - 24 Jul 1916
- Ernest Ball DCM 14 - 24 Jul 1916
- † Francis Dyson 21 Jul - 4 Sep 1916
- Mount (Mont) Alexander Taylor 22 Jul - 7 Oct 1916
- † Albert Ernest Elkington 11 Jan - 2 May 1917
- Thomas Albert Leslie Cheney 2 Sep - 22 Nov 1916
- Charles Kelly 2 Sep 24 - Nov 1916
- Donald Victor Chisholm 3 Sep - 21 Oct 1916
- Edward Bailey 25 Sep - 3 Dec 1916
- Richard Beattie 25 Sep - 3 Dec 1916
- James Thomson MM September 1916
- Cecil Walter Challis 3 Nov - 16 Dec 1916
- Thomas Hughie Culbertson 3 Dec 1916 - 15 Jul 1917
- Claude Eustace Herbert Evans 11 Jan - 4 Apr 1917 -
- Lancel Butcher 17 Feb - 2 May 1917
- Charles Henry Dohnt 17 Feb -13 May 1917
- John Flynn 17 Feb - 10 Mar 1917
- † David Andrew Allison 28 Mar - 2 Jul 1917 & 9 Jul - ?? Nov 1917
4th Training Battalion
Originally in Egypt, it was reformed at Rollestone on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1916 before being disbanded 4 Nov 1917.
Egypt
Trainees
- William Plant 11 Mar - 6 Jun 1916
- Frederick Sidney Gladstone 12 Mar 1916
- John William King 11 Apr - ?? May 1916
- † Frank Ernest Cousens 26 Apr - 19 May 1916
- John Wilfred Gargett 26 Apr - 18 May 1916
- William Arthur Green 26 Apr - ?? May 1916
- † Hobart Turner 26 Apr - 17 May 1916
- Frederick Sidney Gladstone 12 Mar 1916 - transfer to England
- Gordon Vidgen Cross 15 - 30 May 1916
- George Harris 15 Jun 1916 - transfer to England
England
Staff
- James Clarence Taylor - attached from 76th Dental Unit 27 Jun - 6 Nov 1917
- George Henry Martin MM MID 7 Jul - 2 Oct 1917
- George Chistopher Dalziell DCM 3 Oct 1917 - 30 Mar 1918
Trainees
1916
- Aubrey Jesse Whittington MM 28 May - 15 Aug 1916
- † Ernest Clifford Noyce 12 Aug - 29 Sep 1916
- Alexander Robinson 12 Aug - 29 Sep 1916
- Frederick Sidney Gladstone transfer ex Egypt - 21 Sep 1916
- George Harris transfer ex Egypt - 21 Sep 1916
- Gordon Vidgen Cross 15 Aug - 21 Sep 1916
- † Arthur Thomas Feast 10 Sep - 13 Oct 1916
- William Thomas Saw 10 Sep 1916 - 21 Mar 1919
- William Henry Gibbs 10 Sep - 20 Dec 1916
- Cyril Arthur Woodland 12 Sep - 20 Dec 1916
- Sidney Herrick Carter 25 Sep - 27 Nov 1916
- William Francis Cohn 26 Sep - 18 Nov 1916
- † Joseph Scott 23 Oct - 27 Nov 1916
- Matthew Walsh 10 Nov 1916 - 8 Jul 1917
- † Thomas Denteith 3 Dec 1916 - 15 Jan 1917
- † Ernest Charles Thomas 3 Dec 1916 - 15 Jan 1917
- Charles Fancote 13 Dec 1916 - 28 May 1917
- Sidney Hart 13 Dec 1916 - 9 Mar 1917
- Claude Robert Marsh 13 Dec 1916 - 7 Feb 1917
- Benjamin Arthur McEvoy 13 Dec 1916 - 9 Apr 1917
- Albert Tom Milton 13 Dec 1916 - 21 May 1917
- John Edmond Rhodes 13 Dec 1916 - 7 Feb 1917
1917
- George Henry Aspinall 11 Jan - 27 Feb 1917
- † Robert Prior Bailey 11 Jan - 3 May 1917
- Samuel Thomas Lowth 11 Jan - 3 May 1917
- George Emanuel Nettleton 11 Jan - 11 Apr 1917
- † Alfred Charles Newman 11 Jan - 27 Feb 1917
- Patrick Joseph O'Brien 11 Jan - 8 Jul 1917
- Isaac Robert Powell 15 Jan - 27 Feb 1917
- Edwin Patrick Hanrahan 17 Feb - 7 Mar 1917
- James Peter Henderson MM & Bar 27 Mar - 30 May 1917
- Frederick James Allison MM 28 Mar - 8 Oct 1917
- John Thomas Clements 28 Mar - 8 Jul 1917
- Edwin Lawrence Reed 28 Mar - 8 Jul 1917
- Clarence Otto Sladden 28 Mar - 8 Jul 1917
- John Kiely 30 Jun - 3 Nov 1917
- † John James Gill 26 Aug - 3 Dec 1917
- Alfred Gittins 26 Aug - 2 Oct 1917
- Frank Myales 22 Sep - 29 Oct 1917
- Eugene Anthony Gillespie 4 Oct - 4 Nov 1917
- Harold Percival Martin 4 Oct 1917 - 15 Jan 1918
5th Training Battalion
Formed Rollestone 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 18 Apr 1917 and then to Fovant 11 Oct 1917.
Back Row: Lieutenant W.G. Guard (20th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant W.J Kilpatrick (17/19th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant L.G. McColl (18/20th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant C.R. Graves (18/18th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant G.E. Roddis (15/17th Battalion) Lieutenant W.T. Bastin (19th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant S.M Blackshaw (18/17th Battalion) Lieutenant A.H. Leslie (18th Battalion) Lieutenant R.J. Louch (20th Battalion) Lieutenant W.G. Forster (A.A.S.C. Attached) Middle Row: Captain V.W. Edwards (Royal Fudiliers) Lieutenant A.S. Taplin (17th Battalion) Lieutenant A.S. Browne (17th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant R.T. Phelps, (18/17th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant A.H. Ison (19th Battalion) Lieutenant C.C. Finlay (17th Battalion) Lieutenant E. Parfitt M.M (18th Battalion) Lieutenant J.P Flynn (19th Battalion) Captain S.M.O 'Riordan (R.M.O) Front Row: Lieutenant R.C. Remington (Dental Officer) Lieutenant J.M Moore (20th Battalion) Lieutenant E.L Goodwin (19th Battalion) Quartermaster Captain E.T. Manefield (17th Battalion) Lieutenant C.H. Keppel M.C. (18th Battalion Adjutant) Major R.E. Hale (Commanding Officer 5th Brigade A.I.F) Major E.L Dawson (25th Battalion Attached) Captain J.A. Broadbent M.C (2nd in Command 20th Battalion) Lieutenant R.C. Anderson (17th Battalion) Lieutenant L.W. Blake (19th Battalion) Lieutenant W.H Cullen (19th Battalion). IWM photo
Staff
- Douglas Gordon Scott MC 16 May - 4 Sep 1918
- William Alfred Leaver MC MM 15 Jan 1918 - 2 Sep 1918
Trainees
- Leslie Norman Elkington 5 Apr - 16 Oct 1918
- Wilfred (George) Nettleton 5 Apr - 3 Dec 1918
- James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray 5 Apr - 4 Jun 1918
- Samuel Arthur Vincent 5 Apr - May 1918
- George Emanuel Harber 16 May 1918 - 5 Feb 1919
- John George (Jack) Ray 16 May - 4 Jun 1918
- Allahbuse Jan Butt 16 Jul - 3 Oct 1918
- George Charles Unwin 16 Jul - 3 Oct 1918
- Joseph Watson 16 Jul - 3 Oct 1918
- Rolf Montgomery Allom 28 Jul - 16 Oct 1918
- Oliver John Dowell 17 Aug - 3 Oct 1918
- Ernest Taylor 21 Aug 1918 - ??
6th Training Battalion
Formed Rollestone 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 18 Apr 1917 and then to Fovant 11 Oct 1917, before being disbanded 23 Apr 1918. Staff
- Henry Ivor Passmore DCM 9 Oct 1917 - 5 Mar 1918
- † William Barge 7 Nov 1917 - 28 Jan 1918
- † Basil Kelley 1 Feb - 28 Apr 1918
- † Albert Squire 8 Nov 1917 - 22 Jan 1918
- James Arthur (Artie) Williams 8 Nov 1917 - 11 Feb 1918
7th Training Battalion
Egypt and then reformed at Rollestone 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 18 Apr 1917 and then to Fovant 11 Oct 1917, before being disbanded 8 Nov 1917.
Egypt
1915
- Victor Norman Chandler MM 27 Nov 1915 - 2 Mar 1916
- † Ernest Selkirk MID 27 Nov 1915 - 2 Mar 1916
- † Leonard Roy Matthews 27 Nov 1915 - 2 Mar 1916
- Samuel Vivian Mortimer 27 Nov 1915 - 27 Feb 1916
- † Charles Joseph Gerald Raynor 27 Nov 1915 - 2 Mar 1916
1916
- Thomas William Kerry 10 Feb - 2 Mar 1916
- Edward Patrick Barker 10 Feb - 3 Mar 1916
- George Edward Binns 10 Feb - 3 Mar 1916
- William Mathews 7 - 20 Mar 1916
- † John Huntley 12 Mar - 1 Apr 1916
- † Frank Leslie Sexton 12 Mar - 2 Apr 1916
- † John Whittaker 12 Mar - ?? Jun 1916
- Thomas Bird 11 - 30 Apr 1916
- Charles Bird 25 Apr - ?? May 1916
England
Staff
- † William Barge 8 Jul - 6 Nov 1917
Trainees 1916
- Joseph Charles Joshua Farnell 15 May - 24 Sep 1916
- Gordon Edgar (George) Bennett ??Jun - 8 Sep 1916
- Edward Armstrong 12 Jun - 14 Sep 1916
- † Basil Kelley 13 Jun - 8 Aug 1916
- Patrick Michael 22 Jul - 13 Oct 1916
- Patrick Francis Brennan 10 Sep - 14 Nov 1916
- † David Edward Bromley 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Sylvanus Benjamin Buckland 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Frederick Ernest Capstick 10 Sep 1916 - 22 Mar 1917
- Ernest Henry Chisholm 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Herbert Dunbar Cousens 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- † Reuben Leeuwin Cousens 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Aleck (Alex) Charles Gale 10 Sep 1916 - 19 Apr 1917
- Thomas Percival (Percy) Hanretty 10 Sep 1916 - 15 Nov 1916
- † William Hall 10 Sep 1916 -15 Nov 1916
- Alfred James Hansen MM 10 Sep 1916 - 12 Dec 1916
- Paul Henzell Hemy 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Leo Patrick Kane 10 Sep - 12 Dec 1916
- † Arthur Lewis 10 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- Ernest Alfred (Jack) Lewis 10 Sep - 2 Nov 1916
- † Reginald Peter Lewis 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- William Edward McKenna 10 Sep - 20 Dec 1916
- Robert Poole 10 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- † Frederick James Powell 10 Sep - 1 Nov 1916
- Thomas Henry Rice 10 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- † Albert Edward See 10 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- Sidney Francis Till 10 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- † William Barge 21 Sep 1916 - 25 Feb 1917
- † Gordon Weston Johanson 25 Sep - 15 Nov 1916
- † Reuben Arnold MM 26 Sep - 12 Dec 1916
- Harold Empsall 21 Nov - 20 Dec 1916
- † Joseph Reginald Jones 21 Nov - 20 Dec 1916
- † Arthur John Verrall 21 Nov - 20 Dec 1916
- † Angus Dearden 3 Dec 1916 - 21 May 1917
- † James Willie Bush 3 - 28 Dec 1916
- Frederick Hobbs 3 - 20 Dec 1916
- Arthur James Allen 29 Dec 1916 - 7 Feb 1917
- John Esperance Blair 29 Dec 1916 - 7 Feb 1917
- † Wilfred Norman Robinson 29 Dec 1916 - 7 Feb 1917
Trainees 1917
- Keith Herbert Sloan 6 Jan - 8 Oct 1917
- Robert Henry Blake 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- William Wilfred Gerald Liddington 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- Ephraim Shepherd 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- Henry (Harry) Butcher 17 Feb 1917 - 10 May 1917
- David Forbes Abernethy 4 Mar - 13 Jun 1917
- Albert William Barratt 4 Mar - 13 Jun 1917
- George Henry Holroyd 4 Mar - 24 Sep 1917
- Albert Thomas Myers 4 Mar - 13 Jun 1917
- Robert George Orrock 4 Mar - 14 Jun 1917
- Henry William Buckland 28 Mar - 8 Jul 1917
- † Stephen Gittins 28 Mar - 16 Oct 1917
- Leonard Alfred Sawtell 28 Mar 1917 - 16 Jun 1918
- Frederick John Chester 30 Mar - 30 Jul 1917
- † James Edward Richardson 6 - 26 Aug 1917
- † Albert Squire 26 Aug 1917 - 7 Nov 1917
- Henry Ivor Passmore DCM 17 - 18 Sep 1917
- John (Junior) Shepherd 17 Sep 1917 - 5 Mar 1917
- James Arthur (Artie) Williams 17 Sep 1917-7 Nov 1917
8th Training Battalion
Formed at Larkhill on 5 Aug 1916, moved to Codford on 2 Oct 1916, and hen to Fovant 16 Nov 1916 before being disbanded on 5 Nov 1917.
- † Hobart Turner 9 Jun - 6 Sep 1916
- Harry Simpson Francis 2 Dec 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
- Frederick Robert Weedon 2 - 17 Dec 1916
- William James Barnard 28 Dec 1916 - 8 Jul 1917
- † George Rowland Benton 28 Dec 1916 - 27 Feb 1917
- Roslyn Christopher Coulston 28 Dec 1916 - 29 Jul 1917
- William George Martin 28 Dec 1916 - 19 Mar 1917
- Frederick Owen Werndly 28 Dec 1916 - 1 Aug 1918 - DOW Halloy-Les-Pernois
- Patrick Wilford Kelly 13 Jan - 15 Apr 1917
9th Training Battalion
Formed at Hamilton on 31 Aug 1916, moved to Codford on 2 Oct 1916, and then to Larkhill 15 Dec 1916 and Durrington on 30 Jul 1917 before being disbanded on 12 Oct 1917.
Staff
- George Henry Norman Pringle 24 Mar - 1 Aug 1918
- Edgar Copley Adams MID Jun - Dec 1918
- Jason Howard 17 Jul 1918 on
Trainees
- James Henry Davidson 6 Feb -14 Apr 1917
- Charles Henry Murray ?? Mar - 6 Apr 1918
10th Training Battalion
Formed at Hamilton on 31 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1916, and then to Larkhill 15 Dec 1916, Durrington on 30 Jul 1917 and Fovant on 12 Oct 1917 before being disbanded on 31 Mar 1918
Back Row: Lieutenant E. Wyndham, 2nd Lieutenant D.R. Davies, 2nd Lieutenant A.R. Mills, Lieutenant L.R. Hart, (Assistant Adjutant) 2nd Lieutenant J. Stanley, Lieutenant G.L. McIntyre (O.C. "D" Coy) 2nd Lieutenant C.R. Hawker, 2nd Lieutenant H.W. McBean. Middle Row: 2nd Lieutenant W.P.D. Murie, 2nd Lieutenant H.H. Bowden, Lieutenant H. Kaufman, 2nd Lieutenant W.J. Paterson, Lieutenant H.L. Foster, 2nd Lieutenant K.D. Marshall, 2nd Lieutenant W.F. Zimmerman, 2nd Lieutenant W.J. Boyland, 2nd Lieutenant C.L.A. Ramway, Lieutenant H. McColl, (Messing Officer), 2nd Lieutenant J.H. Wilson. Front Row: Lieutenant L.J. Beattie, (Musketry Officer) Lieutenant W.J. Collins (O.C. "B" Coy.) Captain P.J.F. O'Shea (Medical Officer), Chaplain T.H. Justice, 2nd Lieutenant P. Neilson (Adjutant), Captain (Hon.Mjr) H.V. Carr, Commanding Officer, 2nd Lieutenant E. Lewis (Quarter Master) Captain F.C. Wood, (O.C. "A" Coy.) 2nd Lieutenant A.T. Brading, Chaplain S. Forsyth, 2nd Lieutenant C.P. Christensen (Bombing Officer). credit IWM photo
Staff
- Harry Simpson Francis 23 - 29 Jan 1918
- James Clarence Taylor - attached from 76th Dental Unit 25 Mar - 2 Apr 1918
Trainees
- Joseph William Smith ?? Mar - 29 Apr 1917
- Clarence William Hammond 5 Nov - 17 Dec 1917
- † Leslie Charles Hutchinson 5 Nov - 27 Dec 1917
- Mervyn Alexander Stalker 11 Nov 1917 - 15 Jan 1918
- † Cecil Herbert McKeown 11 Nov 1917 - 22 Jan 1918
- Charles Henry Murray 24 Jan - ?? Mar 1918
- George Henry Norman Pringle 30 Jan - 20 Feb 1918
11th Training Battalion
Formed at Hamilton on 31 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1916, and then to Larkhill 15 Dec 1916, Durrington on 30 Jul 1917 and Fovant 12 Oct 1917 before being disbanded on 8 Nov 1917.
Back Row: 2nd Lieutenant H.I. Taylor, 2nd Lieutenant G.S. Devonshire, 2nd Lieutenant W.H. Parker, 2nd Lieutenant H.V. Peterson, 2nd Lieutenant H.G. McKenzie, 2nd Lieutenant E.J. Piper, (Mr E Bradley Y.M.C.A), 2nd Lieutenant G.S. West, 2nd Lieutenant A.I. Smith, 2nd Lieutenant H. Wiles, 2nd Lieutenant H. Dent, 2nd Lieutenant A.J. Browne, 2nd Lieutenant G.O. Wilson, 2nd Lieutenant D.S. Meares. Centre Row: 2nd Lieutenant L. Pavy, 2nd Lieutenant L.W. Barnes, 2nd Lieutenant G.H. Loriand, 2nd Lieutenant R.F. Darling, 2nd Lieutenant T.S. Lewis, 2nd Lieutenant F.W. McGibbon, 2nd Lieutenant I.G. Symons, 2nd Lieutenant L.S. Watts, 2nd Lieutenant A. Horsburgh, 2nd Lieutenant T.R. Beamish, 2nd Lieutenant T.S. Bartley, Lieutenant W.H.A. McDonnell, 2nd Lieutenant J.S. Smith, 2nd Lieutenant W. Hunt, 2nd Lieutenant J.S. Heal. Front Row: 2nd Lieutenant H.S. Lanyon, 2nd Lieutenant H.T. Harper, 2nd Lieutenant S.R. Warry, Captain R.S. Ranking, Captain P.M. Swanson, Lieutenant T.F. Rice Adjutant, Major C.C. Campbell C.O., Lieutenant W.Clarke Q.M., Captain H.W. Tilling R.M.O, Captain H.T. Phillips, Lieutenant P. Young, Caplain Rev J.A. Malcolmson, 2nd Lieutenant W.N. Maddeford, Lieutenant J.F. Gill, 2nd Lieutenant J. Mitchell. IWM photo.
Staff
- † Alfred Parker 1 Jan - 1 Oct 1917
- Harry Simpson Francis 11 Jan - 6 Nov 1917
- Norman Leslie Skewes 11 Jan - 3 Dec 1917
Trainees
- † Martin Abolin 22 Jul - 17 Nov 1916
- Charles Frederick George Judd 26 Sep 1916 - 26 Dec 1916
- † Thomas Hesketh 26 Sep - 13 Nov 1916
- † Ernest John Coles 26 Sep - 20 Nov 1916
- John Waldegrave Packer 26 Sep - 9 Nov 1916
- Harry Simpson Francis ?? Sep - 13 Oct 1916
- Thomas Kinsman Bickell 2 Nov - 16 Dec 1916
- † Alfred Parker 2 Dec 1916- 1 Jan 1917 - to unit cadre
- Arthur Leworthy Bettenay 3 - 19 Dec 1916
- Wilfred George Bettenay 3 - 19 Dec 1916
- † Tom Baxter Joyce 3 Dec 1916 - 15 Jan 1917
- Archibald Shepherd 3 Dec 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- William Wright Casterton MM 13 Dec 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- Walter Eugene Cockram 13 Dec 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- † Ernest William Serls 13 Dec 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- Charles Henry Murray 29 Dec 1916 - 23 Jan 1918
- William Percy Matthews 29 Dec 1916 - 9 Apr 1917
- John Arthur Patterson MM 29 Dec 1916 - 24 Feb 1917
- John Henry Whitfield 29 Dec 1916 - 27 Feb 1917
- Thomas Ramsell 29 Dec 1916 - 24 Feb 1917
- Mervyn Alexander Stalker 29 Dec 1916 - 9 Feb 1917 & 11 Feb - 10 Nov 1917
- William Atkins 11 Jan - 15 Jul 1917
- † William George Ball 11 Jan - 18 Apr 1917
- † Beverley Loxton Bennett 11 Jan - 19 Nov 1917
- Robert Frank Bickford 11 Jan - 3 Jun 1917
- William Bingham 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- Arthur Clarke 11 Jan - 21 May 1917
- Harry Simpson Francis 11 Jan - 6 Nov 1917
- Robert Hastings Joyce 19 Feb - 18 Apr 1917
- † Charles Alexander Wann 11 Mar - 1 Jul 1917
- Albert John Harris 18 Apr - 19 Aug 1917
- † William Savage 11 Jan - 8 May 1917
- George William Piesley 5 Feb - 24 Apr 1917
- Eric Horace Bell 3 Mar - 10 Jun 1917
- † Stephen Hubert Christian (Hughie) Wallace 4 Mar - 16 Sep 1917
- † Robert Melville Salter 28 Mar - 22 Oct 1917
- John Humphrey Coyle 4 - 13 Jun 1917
- † George Alexander Armstrong ?? - 18 Jun 1917
- Henry Ogilvie Allom (Jnr) 18 Apr - 19 Aug 1917
- † Gordon Walter Bone 18 Apr - 15 Jun 1917
- Clarence William Hammond 26 Aug - 4 Nov 1917
- † Cecil Herbert McKeown 26 Aug 1917 - 10 Nov 1917
- † Leslie Charles Hutchinson 26 Aug - 4 Nov 1917
12th Training Battalion
Formed at Rollestone on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1917 and then to Hurdcott on 14 Sep 1918
Egypt
Staff
- † Frank Ernest Cousens 20 May - 6 Jun 1916
- William Plant 12 Apr - 12 Sep 1918
Trainees
- John William King ?? May - 6 Jun 1916
England
Staff
- James Clarence Taylor - attached from 76th Dental Unit 7 Nov 1917 - 24 Mar 1918
Trainees
- William Dobson Stevens 13 Jun - 3 Sep 1916
- Frederick William Scott 29 Jun - 15 Sep 1916
- Patrick Francis Fitzgerald 29 Dec 1916 - 14 Feb 1917
- Albert Nock 11 Jan - 20 Jul 1917
- Ernest William George Reed 11 Jan - 13 Jun 1917
- Herbert James Reed 11 Jan - 28 Feb 1917
- George Albert Alford 17 Feb - 18 Jun 1917
- William Henry Baldwin 17 Feb - 28 May 1917
- George Mouatt Dow 4 Mar - 28 May 1917
- William Percival Nairn 4 Mar - 1 Jul 1917
- Nicholas Joseph Rosekelly 4 Mar - 16 Sep 1917
- Francis William Swann 4 Mar - 12 Aug 1917
- † Arthur Werndly 4 Mar - 3 Jun 1917
- Albert John Llewellyn Reed 8 Apr - 21 Jul 1917
- Aubrey Turner 22 Dec 1917 - 14 Apr 1918
- John Alexander Trotter 29 Dec 1916 - 27 Mar 1917
- James Edward Grabham 11 Apr - 9 Dec 1918
- Archibald Watson 11 Apr - 30 Nov 1918
- Ellis Shackleton 11 Apr - 3 Dec 1918
- Samuel Arthur Vincent June - 7 Aug 1918
- John George (Jack) Ray 4 Jun - 14 Aug 1918
- James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray 4 Jun - 24 Jan 1919
13th Training Battalion
Formed at Rollestone on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1917 and disbanded 12 April 1918
Unit Staff
- Victor Norman Chandler MM 1 Sep 1917 - 29 Jan 1918
Trainees
1915
- William Charles Woodland 15 Dec 1915 - 3 Sep 1916
1916
- Edward William Tink 14 May 1916 (Egypt) - 17 Dec 1916 (England)
- Fritz Robert Jaentsch 17 Jun - 30 Dec 1916
- † Charles Stephen Haughey 22 Jul - 13 Jul 1916
- Clarence Victor Watson 27 Jul - 7 Oct 1916
- Macalister Adair Blain 26 Sep - 24 Dec 1916
- † Albert Victor Berry 26 Sep - 3 Dec 1916
- William Edwin Cousens MM 26 Sep - 25 Nov 1916
- Donald Gordon Melville Huggins 26 Sep - 25 Nov 1916
- William Bertie Claude Moulden 26 Sep 1916 - 15 Jan 1917
- James Edward Grabham 15 Nov 1916 - 10 Apr 1918
- † Herbert Charles Smith16 Nov 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- Victor Emanuel Durling 18 Nov 1916 - 2 Jul 1917
- Daniel Adkins Lewis Dec 1916 - Jan 1917
- Charles Blunt 3 Dec 1916 - 24 Jun 1917
- Ernest (Roy) William Sladden 3 Dec 1916 - 3 Feb 1917
- † Felix Edmund John Sainsbury 3 Dec 1916 - 9 Jun 1917
1917
- Hubert Maitland Armstrong MM 11 Jan - 13 Apr 1917
- Charles Leonard Lockhart 11 Jan - 8 May 1917
- Leslie Hetherington 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- † Henry Seddon 11 Jan - 24 Apr 1917
- Vernon Claude Witney 11 Jan - 8 May 1917
- Stanley Thomas Marsh 28 Mar - 24 Jun 1917
- Harold Hopgood Surman 28 Mar -24 Jun 1917
- William Richard (Billy) Orr 28 Mar 1917 - 17 Feb 1918
- Alan Harry Boyce 26 Aug - 11 Dec 1917
- Victor Norman Chandler MM 1 Sep 1917 - 29 Jan 1918
- John Kiely 3 Nov - 3 Dec 1917
- Eugene Anthony Gillespie 4 Nov 1917 - 15 Jan 1918
- Frank Myales 31 Nov 1917 - 15 Jan 1918
- Charles Blunt 3 Dec 1916 - 24 Jun 1917 - 13th Training Battalion
- Ellis Shackleton 27 Dec 1917 - 10 Apr 1918
- Archibald Watson 28 Dec 1917 - 10 Apr 1918
1918
- Gordon Devereux MM 5 Jan - 30 Mar 1918
- James Owen Horrocks ?? Jan - 27 Mar 1918
- Douglas Campbell Wills Winning 15 Feb - 19 Mar 1918
14th Training Battalion
Formed at Larkhill on 8 Aug 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1916 and then Hurdcott on 25 Oct 1918.
- Harry Douglas Butcher 21 Apr - 9 Jul 1918
15th Training Battalion
Formed at Larkhill on 8 Oct 1916, moved to Codford 2 Oct 1916, and then to Fovant on 16 Nov 1916 before being disbanded on 12 Apr 1918.
Back Row: Lieutenant McKay W.S. (50th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant Harding F.E (49th Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant Hall W.J (52nd Battalion Quarter Master) 2nd Lieutenant Lackman R.H. (50th Battalion Musketry Officer) 2nd Lieutenant Burton R. (52nd Battalion) 2nd Lieutenant Gibson J.B. (52nd Battatlion) Middle Row: Lieutenant Beresford W.R. (50th Battalion) Lieutenant Richards G.E. (49th Battalion) Lieutenant Keats W.F. (52nd Battalion Bombing Officer) Lieutenant Thomas H. (52nd Battalion) Lieutenant Caufield W.E.G. (Dentist) 2nd Lieutenant Maunder D.S. (49th Battalion) Lieutenant Lipman A.A. (52nd Battalion Assistant Adjutant) Lieutenant Higham E.A. (51st Battalion) Lieutenant Hamilton Fisher (51st Battalion) Front Row: Captain Steward A.M. (52nd Battalion) Captain Hunt A.E. (Second in Command) Major Herbert M.J. (50th Battalion Commanding Officer) Captain Christophers W.H. (52nd Battalion Adjutant) Captain Kelly J.P. (Medical Officer) Captain Kelly H.C. (51st Battalion) credit IWM photo
- Francis William Wakeham 1 Jul - 3 Sep 1917
69th Training Battalion
On 1 February 1917 the British government made a formal request for a sixth division. On 15 February 1917 the Australian government assented and the Sixth Division began to form in England. The 16th Brigade was to include the 61st, 62nd, 63rd and 79th Battalions, the 17th brigade to include the 65th, 66th, 67th and 70th Battalions. However, heavy casualties in the fighting at Bullecourt in April and May, and at Messines in June caused the project to be abandoned. As Australia had democratically rejected the introduction of conscription on 28 Oct 1916 and the flow of voluntary recruits was barely enough to maintain the existing Divisions. The project for the 6th Division was abandoned in late 1917. The 69th Battalion was formed in England on 19 Mar 1917 before being disbanded on 19 Oct 1917.
Battalion Personnel
- † Reginald Peter Lewis 19 Sep - 13 Oct 1917
- William Mathews 19 Sep - 8 Dec 1917
HQs 2nd Training Brigade
Unit Staff
- Harry Simpson Francis 7 Nov 1917 - 23 Jan 1918
Overseas Training Brigade
Unit Staff
- Alfred Warburton Chapman (Jnr) Dec 1916 - Sep 1917
- Bernard O'Reilly 17 May - ?? Jul 1917
- Arthur Thomas Orton MM ?? - 30 Nov 1918
- John Grant Watt MM & Bar 8 Jan - 29 Jun 1918
- † William Barge 28 - 30 Jan 1918
- Arthur Leworthy Bettenay 7 Aug 1918 - ?? Jan 1919
- Patrick (John) Curo 1 Dec 1918 - 30 May 1919
Trainees
1917
- † George Scrivener 5 Apr - 19 Jul 1917
- Daniel Adkins Lewis ?? May - 25 Jul 1917
- John Henry Holroyd 23 May - 12 Aug 1917
- Alfred Martin Tilly ?? May - ?? Sep 1917
- Robert Sang Herd mid year 1917 - late Sep 1917
- Thomas Albert Leslie Cheney 10 Aug - 30 Sep 1917
- † John Hobbs 15 Aug - 9 Sep 1917
- Patrick Francis Brennan 12 Sep - 8 Oct 1917
- Charles Fielder 12 Sep - 13 Oct 1917
- Alfred Martin Tilly 19 Sep - 8 Oct 1917
- Gordon Devereux MM 22 Sep 1917 - 4 Jan 1918
- Frederick Hobbs 29 Sep - 19 Oct 1917
- Alfred Arthur Martin 29 Sep - 19 Oct 1917
- John Harold Coffen 6 Oct - 9 Nov 1917
- Harold Empsall 12 Oct 1917 - 2 Jan 1918
- Alfred Gittins 20 Oct 1917 - 29 Jan 1918
- Frederick Edwin Murphy 5 - 26 Nov 1917
- Gordon Edgar (George) Bennett 8 Nov 1917 - 6 Feb 1918
- † Albert Victor Berry 10 - 27 Nov 1917
- John Goffin 13 Nov 1917 - 6 Feb 1918
- Lancel Butcher 27 Nov - 18 Dec 1917
- John Arthur Patterson MM 5 Dec 1917 - 2 Jan 1918
- Ernest Ball DCM 25 - 26 Dec 1917
- Leith John Newton Angelo 29 Dec 1917 - 22 Jan 1918
1918
- Richard Evans MM 1 - 9 Jan 1918
- John Alexander Trotter 2 - 20 Jan 1918
- Edward Patrick Barker 11 Jan - 26 Mar 1918 & 12 Jul - 8 Aug 1918
- George Turner 17 - 28 Jan 1918
- Gustaf Adolf Olson 18 Jan - 1 Feb 1918
- Frederick Sidney Gladstone 22 Jan - 6 Feb 1918
- Leslie James Godfrey 26 Jan - 3 Mar 1918
- † David Alexander Sayer 6 - 27 Feb 1918
- William Plant 28 Feb - 12 Sep 1918
- William James Allen ?? - 12 Mar 1918
- Hector Lionel Saw 14 - 27 Mar 1918
- Robert Frank Bickford 16 Mar 1918 & 1 - 23 Oct 1918
- William Plant 23 Mar - 12 Apr 1918
- Norman Sedrick Tonkin 9 Apr - 7 May 1918
- Albert John Harris 11 Apr - 7 May 1918
- William John (Bill) Hart 26 Apr - 29 May 1918
- † Rupert Gregg 1 May - 3 Jul 1918
- † Thomas Hesketh 11 May - 4 Jun 1918
- Alfred Arthur Martin 16 May - 4 Jun 1918
- Daniel Adkins Lewis 29 May - 18 Jun 1918
- Ernest Ball DCM 4 Jun - 16 Jul 1918
- William Percival Nairn 21 Jun - 11 Sep 1918
- Claude Francis Cooper 11 Jul - 28 Aug 1918
- † Albert Ernest Elkington 15 Jul - 7 Aug 1918
- Charles Fielder 30 Aug - 3 Oct 1918
- Leo Patrick Kane 12 Sep - 16 Oct 1918
- Norman Sedrick Tonkin 18 Sep - 24 Nov 1918
- Arthur Frederick William Eivers 10 Oct 1918 - ?? Feb 1919
- Cecil James Clark 17 Oct - 21 Nov 1918
- Charles John Mitchell 24 Oct - 20 Nov 1918
1919
- Albert John Egan MID 29 Jan - 28 Feb 1919
Artillery Training Depot
Formed in Egypt during January 1916. Arrived England 20 June 1916. Renamed Reserve Artillery Brigade 28 November 1916.
Egypt
- Sydney Charles Welch 15 May 1916 - 14 Mar 1917
England
- George Turner 28 Jan - 28 Feb 1918
- Hector Lionel Saw 28 Mar - 10 Jul 1918
- John James Lynes Chester March - June 1918
- Frederick George Gibbs 10 Jun - 3 Oct 1918
Pioneer Training Battalion
Formed at Sutton Veny on 8 Nov 1917 and was active until after November 1918.
Unit Staff
- Pierre Wolfe Daimpre 26 Oct - 9 Nov 1917 (staff)
- John Aubrey Nunn MC 24 Oct - 16 Nov 1916
- John Aubrey Nunn MC 11 Mar 1917 - 4 Oct 1917
Trainees
- Alfred Ernest Andrews 27 Jul - 23 Nov 1916
- Clarence Henry Batt 27 Jul - 23 Nov 1916
- Ernest Albert Batt 27 Jul - 23 Nov 1916
- Michael Dennis O'Rourke 27 Jul - 23 Nov 1916
- Charles John Mitchell 4 Mar - 24 Aug 1917
- James Peter Henderson MM & Bar 31 May - 6 Sep 1917
- Dugald Thomas Main 27 Dec 1917 - 7 Apr 1918
- Reginald William Edwards 28 Dec 1917 - 16 Jan 1918
- Maurice Francis Gustavis Hare 17 Feb - 8 Jul 1918
- George Partington 11 Jan - 3 Dec 1917
- Francis William Wakeham 29 Dec 1916 - 1 Jul 1917
Machine Gun Training Depot
Grantham, Heytesbury
Unit Staff
- Bernard O'Reilly ?? Jul - 10 Oct 1917
- Henry George Price Jul 1917 - Nov 1918
- James Murray Whiteley 31 Dec 1917 - 2 Oct 1918
Trainees
- William Francis Clements 11 Jun 1916 - 28 Feb 1917
- William Percival Nairn 23 Apr -11 Sep 1918
- Jack Hayden Gibson 21 May - 6 Nov 1917
- Harry Hodgson 10 Oct 1918 - 20 Feb 1919
Engineers Training Depot
Brightlingsea with a Signals section at Shefford
- James Henry Larkin 8 Jun - 3 Dec 1916
- † Harold Ross 10 Sep 1916 - 28 Mar 1917
- Arthur Frederick William Eivers 5 Nov 1917 - 23 Apr 1918
29th Training Squadron Australian Flying Corps
Flying stations in Egypt
Neither ground crews nor airmen in the Australian Flying Corps were prepared for wartime service when they reached Egypt. Some were sent to two local British squadrons for instruction in bombing, gunnery and photography. Others went to England for further flight training.
Flying stations in England Point Cook graduates who arrived at Royal Flying Corps stations (flying bases) around England undertook months of training. Aircrews had to be well-prepared before they could join a line squadron to face German planes in the skies over Belgium and France.
The airmen were taught the science of aviation and operational tasks, such as:
- battery ranging for artillery work
- gunnery
- observation and interpretation of the ground from above
- photography and surveillance
- Experienced pilots lectured trainees on conditions over the Western Front and the latest aerial combat tactics.
Accidents were common during training. The average trainee pilot in the Royal Flying Corps destroyed two aircraft and wrecked six undercarriages. Towards the end of 1917, the AFC had 4 training squadrons in England - together they formed the Australian Training Wing. The graves of 32 Australians in English cemeteries prove that it was dangerous learning to fight in the air - 23 are buried at Leighteron Church Cemetery.[3]
- James Strachan 20 Jul 1918 - 13 May 1919
Army Service Corps (AASC) Training Depot
- Edward William Tink 18 Dec 1916 - 27 Jan 1917
- † Gordon Walter Bone 16 Jun - 10 Oct 1917
- Thomas Herbert Pierssene 21 Dec 1918 - 1 Feb 1919
1st ANZAC School of Instruction
This establishment was in France (Abbeville?)
- † Oswald Chorlton 1 Oct 1916 - 25 Apr 1917 on detachment from 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery
- † Oswald Chorlton 15 Jun 1917 - 17 Oct 1918 Accidental death
Notes
- ↑ DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2021), Training Australian army recruits during World War I, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 26 March 2021, http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/training
- ↑ DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2021), Training Australian army recruits during World War I, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 26 March 2021, http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/training
- ↑ DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2021), Training Australian army recruits during World War I, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 26 March 2021, http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/training