Chapter IV: Preface

In the pages which follow an attempt has been made to give some account of how a Western Australian battalion was raised, organised, trained, and lived. How and where it travelled, some of the things it did and saw, and the nature of its environment. That is a large area to cover, and I am only too conscious that the result achieved is far from perfect.

This volume is confined to the period which terminated with the arrival of the 28th Battalion at Marseilles. That first phase of the unit's history was not so unimportant as might be thought. Although the following years were marked by a series of great events, in which the Battalion took a glorious part, yet there was a sameness in the surroundings and a monotony of routine which was conspicuously absent amongst the changing scenes and varied incidents of the earlier months of service. In those beginnings was moulded the high character for which the unit was ever afterwards esteemed. The trial by battle, hardship, and disease had not found its members lacking, and a fine spirit of comradeship had rapidly developed. With a high _morale_ it arrived on the historic battlefields of Europe.

The few opinions offered in the course of the narrative are my own. They have not been formed lightly. Any individual charged with the care and direction of a body of his fellows must, of necessity--if he be worth his salt--study causes and effects.

Certain names have been mentioned in the text. Doubtless there are others equally worthy, but with the material I have had at my disposal it has been impossible to do due justice to all. There does exist a wealth of incident and anecdote which should be exploited but which, for obvious reasons, has not been available to me, and although I have made a general appeal to all ex-members to contribute to this record, a perfectly natural diffidence has held the hands of the great majority. For sins of omission and commission I beg the forgiveness of those with whom I had the great honour of serving and for whom, as comrades, men, and soldiers, I have the greatest respect and admiration.

The sources of information upon which I have had to mainly depend have been:--A very imperfect Official War Diary; my own letters; my memory; and a few contributions from former comrades. These last have been received from Major E. G. Glyde, Captains A. M. P. Montgomery, A. S. Isaac, N. W. Sundercombe, G. D. Shaw, T. O. Nicholls, and C. C. Flower. But more particularly am I indebted to Lieut. J. T. Blair, who placed at my disposal a considerable quantity of material which he had been at great pains to collect whilst in London.

As regards photographs and maps: Valuable prints and drafts have been supplied by the Trustees of the Australian War Museum. Mr. C. E. W. Bean, the Australian War Correspondent and Official Historian, has very kindly lent me photographs from his private collection. Mr. E. L. Mitchell and Mr. W. Owen, both of Perth, have generously given unrestricted permission to reproduce from their negatives, and certain members, and relatives of members, have also contributed interesting specimens. For the map of the Australian Corps' Front on Gallipoli, and the plans and diagrams referring to Cairo, Tel-el-Kebir, and the Pyramid, I have especially to thank Captain E. A. E. Andrewartha of the Australian Staff Corps.

The publication of the Nominal Rolls of Members of the Battalion has been made possible largely through the assistance of Major J. M. Lean, M.B.E., the Officer in Charge of Base Records, Melbourne.

For historical data, descriptive matter, and a few other essentials, I have also consulted the following works:--Barrett and Deane ("The A.A.M.C. in Egypt"); Callwell ("The Dardanelles Campaign and its Lessons"); Ellis ("Story of the 5th Division"); Hamilton ("Gallipoli Diary"); Masefield ("Gallipoli"); "Military History of the Campaign of 1882 in Egypt" (official); Nevinson ("The Dardanelles Campaign"); Schuler ("Australia in Arms"); Sladen ("Oriental Cairo"); Woods ("Washed by Four Seas"), and several others the names of which I cannot now recall. I am also under a great obligation to J. S. Battye, Litt.D., B.A., LL.B., the General Secretary of the Public Library, whose invaluable advice has guided me through a pleasing but arduous task.

HERBT. B. COLLETT. Public Library, Perth, W.A., June, 1922.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE 28th BATTALION, A.I.F.

1914.

August 4.--Declaration of War.

1915.

April 1.--Formation of the 7th Infantry Brigade approved and
Establishments issued.
16.--Orders issued in Western Australia for formation of 28th
Battalion of Infantry at Blackboy Hill. Necessary action
taken the same day.
23.--Lieut.-Colonel H. B. Collett appointed to command.

May 12.} "A" and "B" Companies proceeded to Rockingham for advanced
13.} training. Returned 22nd May.
27.--Visit and inspection by His Excellency the Governor of
Western Australia, Major-General Sir Harry Barron,
K.C.M.G., C.V.O.

June 3.--The King's Birthday. March through Perth, fully horsed and
equipped, with 1st Reinforcements.
6.--First Reinforcements embarked on H.M.A.T. "Geelong" at
Fremantle. Sailed next day.
7.--Visit and inspection by O.G. 7th Infantry Brigade--Colonel
J. Burston, V.D.
9.--The Battalion, less Transport details, embarked at
Fremantle on H.M.A.T. "Ascanius" (A11). Ship steamed out
the same evening.
24.--East coast of Africa sighted--south of Ras Jard-Hafun.
26.--Entered Red Sea.
29.--Suez sighted.
30.--Advance party landed and proceeded to Cairo.

July 2.--Battalion disembarked and proceeded by train to camp at
Abbasia.
5.--Inspection by Lieut. General Sir John Maxwell, General
Officer Commanding in Egypt.
12.--Sergeant Faulkner and Transport details embark at
Fremantle on H.M.A.T. "Boonah." Ordered that horses remain
in Australia.

August 4.--Formation of 2nd Australian Division in Egypt.
8.--Transport details rejoin the Battalion.
17.--March to and occupation of Citadel of Cairo. First draft
of reinforcements arrived and was taken on strength.
30.--Evacuation of Citadel and march to Aerodrome Camp,
Heliopolis.

September 1.--Embarkation orders received. Transport to remain in Egypt.
3.--Entrained at Qubba Station.
4.--Arrived at Alexandria. Embarked on H.M.T. "Ivernia." Left
harbour.
8.--Arrived off Lemnos Island.
9.--Entered Mudros Bay.

10.--Transhipped to S.S. "Sarnia" and proceeded in direction
of Gallipoli Peninsula. That night landed at Williams'
Pier and bivouaced in Waterfall Gully. Attached to New
Zealand and Australian Division.
11.--First casualty. Private F. T. Mitchell wounded. Moved up
Chailak Dere and bivouaced between Bauchop's Hill and
Little Table Top--Rose Hill.
12.--"Apex" salient taken over from New Zealanders. First
casualty in action. Lieut. F. E. Jensen dangerously
wounded. He died a few hours later.
13.--First visit by Corps and Divisional Commanders.

October 4.} Relieved by 25th Battalion. Moved to Lower Cheshire
5.} Ridge.
30.--"B" Company relieved by "A" Company 26th Battalion.

November 1.--"C" Company moved to Taylor's Hollow.
2.--"D" Company moved to Taylor's Hollow.
3.--13th Battalion took over sector. 28th Battalion
concentrated in Taylor's Hollow as Divisional Reserve.
For next five weeks main body engaged on works and Beach
fatigues.
12.--Moved to Happy Valley as support to 26th Battalion. Thus
rejoined 2nd Division.
13.--Visit of Lord Kitchener.
24.} Period of silence. Australians withhold their fire.
27.}
27.} Peninsula visited by a blizzard. Heavy snow and extreme
29.} cold.

December 4.--"A" Company went into line on Russell's Top.
6.--"D" Company went into line on Russell's Top.
7.--Headquarters and "B" Company proceeded to Russell's Top.
8.--"C" Company joins Battalion.
11.--Received orders to embark on day following.
12.--Relieved by 20th Battalion. Embarked, less M.G. Section,
on "Osmanich" after dark.
13.--Landed on Lemnos Island and marched to camp at Sarpi.
15.--Marched to Z Valley, South Camp.
20.--Lieut. G. D. Shaw and Machine Gun Section left Gallipoli
Peninsula with last of troops, 3.30 a.m. Rejoined
Battalion same day.
31.--Advance Party left for Egypt.

1916.

January 6.--Embarked on H.M.T. "Ansonia."
7.--Left Mudros Bay at 7.30 a.m.
9.--Entered Alexandria Harbour.
10.--Disembarked and proceeded by train to camp at Tel-el-Kebir.
Transport rejoined Battalion.
15.--Inspected by General Sir Archibald Murray, Commanding in
Chief in Egypt.

February 3.--Moved by train to Moascar. Thence marched to Staging
Camp--east bank of Suez Canal and opposite Ismailia. 7th
Brigade in Divisional Reserve.
6.--Moved back to Ferry Post to garrison Inner Defences of
Canal. Relieved 30th Battalion.
28.--Major C. R. Davies proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir to command
58th Battalion. Major A. W. Leane became 2nd-in-Command
of 28th Battalion.

March 8.--Relieved by the New Zealanders. Crossed Suez Canal to
Moascar Camp.
13.--Transport details and horses entrained for Alexandria.
Embarked on H.M.T. "Minneapolis" next day.
15.--Battalion entrained for Alexandria.
16.--Arrived at Alexandria at 6.30 a.m. Embarked on H.M.T.
"Themistocles." Left harbour same evening.
19.--Arrived off Valetta, Malta. Received orders as to route.
21.--Arrived in Marseilles Harbour.

The 28th:

A Record of War Service,

1915-1919.