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PATRIOTISM AND DUTY
Towards the end of 1915, the Defence Authorities decided to form a new division of the Australian Imperial Forces. Queensland was called upon to provide two battalions.
It was about Christmas time that sites were selected. Thompson's Paddock, at Enoggera, some few miles distant from Brisbane, was allotted to what was at first called "The 36th Battalion," which soon afterwards became permanently altered to "The 42nd Battalion" Its Commanding Officer was Lt-Colonel A. R. Woolcock, who remained the Battalion Commander until the end.
Then ensued the preparation of rolls, attestation papers, allotments and pay-books. Issues of clothing and equipment followed in due course. Spasmodic training, fatigue duties and the furnishing of picquets, vaccination and inoculations gradually eliminated the civilian side of life from the embryo soldier.
As the weeks passed by, signallers, transport, bands, and headquarters staff and so forth, were evolved, until at daybreak on June the 3rd, 1916, the 42nd Battalion marched out of Thompson's Paddock to the railway station at Enoggera Rifle Range. Thence it proceeded, in three trains, to Sydney, where it arrived at 5.30 p.m. next day.
Embarkation upon the s.s. "Borda" then took place at Wooloomooloo. The transport drew out and anchored in Rushcutter's Bay. Next day, whilst at anchor, motor launches in dozens surrounded the "Borda," the occupants waving and sending messages and receiving replies. Some of these replies, after being written on paper, were placed in a slit made in a raw potato, to ensure a safer passage when thrown through the air. The "Borda" sailed at 11.0 a.m. that day, and then, as Sydney Heads were passed half an hour later, we said "Good-bye" to Australia.
EARLY SIGNS OF THE 42nd 's INITIATIVE
Before leaving Thompson's Paddock, the men of the 42nd Battalion gave evidence of the spirit of initiative which later on proved to be one of the characteristics of the Battalion. Only ten per cent of those in camp were allowed "leave" each night, but it could not be denied that the remaining 90 per cent were dissatisfied to remain in camp, consequently there was always a large proportion nightly absent without leave.
On one occasion a particularly zealous officer determined to make "examples" of these defaulters and set a trap to capture them. He knew they would return by the last train from Brisbane which also brought back to camp the City Picquet, which the 42nd Battalion had to furnish to patrol the streets of Brisbane. This officer had sentries posted at all entrances to the camp, and had everything in readiness to catch those who were "A.W.L."
The train was heard to arrive at Enoggera, Station, and about twenty minutes later the steady and regular crunch of marching troops was heard. The officer in charge of the body was heard cautioning the men to "March to Attention." Then warning them to put out cigarettes and to watch their step. A well ordered of 50 men or more marched into camp to the command of "City Picquet-Right Wheel Then came "City Picquet-Halt! Right Turn." Then the caution: "Now you fellows, don't make a noise getting into your bunks. Remember there are men trying to sleep. Dis-miss."
When they had all turned in, the conscientious officer awaited the arrival of the "birds" who were without leave. He had not long to wait before a second body of troops, 50 or more strong, marched orderly into Camp to the command of-"City Picquet, Right Wheel. This second body was the REAL City Picquet. The others were the defaulters.
BATTALION'S FIRST CASUALTY
Whilst steaming through the Red Sea our first casualty was sustained. One of the boys died from pneumonia and was buried at sea with full naval and military honours.
INNOCULATED AGAIN IN EGYPT
Suez was reached on July 6th, and next day we arrived at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt, where we remained for a few days and thus gave the doctor an opportunity to diligently exploit his prowess with "The Needle," and so, the 42nd was once more inoculated.
INNOCULATED AGAIN ON THE TRANSPORT
The voyage was continued on the "Borda," on which we re-embarked at Alexandria, for the passage through the Mediterranean.
The doctor, who was termed in military phraseology, the M.0. (Medical Officer), but by the troops familiarly dubbed-"The Quack," had heard some mention of the word "Cholera." This was the signal to again bring forth the needle. We were lined up. Sleeves were rolled up. A patch of iodine. A stab. And once again the 42nd Battalion was inoculated.
WE ARRIVE AT, AND PASS THROUGH FRANCE
The menace of enemy submarines was very great, but we reached Marseilles, in Southern France, without mishap on July the 19th. We proceeded through France by train to Le Havre. It was here that we first saw a Red Cross train. Painted all white with large crosses of red, occupied by wounded men and nurses, it was the means of making us realise how near we were getting to the battlefield, and how grim was the job we had on hand.
WE ARRIVE IN ENGLAND
We crossed the English Channel on the night of July the 22nd, and disembarked next morning at Southampton, travelling thence to Amesbury by train. We eventually reached our new home on July the 23rd. Our address for the next three months was Number 11 Camp, Larkhill, Salisbury Plain. We spent this time steadily acquiring the arts of war and assiduously training both body and mind for that great day when we should meet the enemy face to face.
On September the 27th, the Third Australian Division, of which we were a unit, was reviewed by His Majesty King George the Fifth. Including New Zealand troops there was a parade of 38,500 men. It was a most inspiring sight.
The largest number of troops that we had ever seen on a route march was on the occasion when the entire Third Division, consisting of 18,000 men, with vehicles, animals, and mechanical transport passed along the roads stretching many miles around Salisbury Plain. The display was spectacular and impressive. This took place on November 13th, twelve days prior to our embarkation for France.
The 11th BRIGADE of the 3rd DIVISION AIF
The 11th Infantry Brigade to which we belonged consisted of two Battalions of Queenslanders, the 41st and the 42nd; one Battalion of South Australians, the 43rd; and a Western Australian Battalion, the 44th:
The other infantry brigades of the Third Division were the 9th and 10th The former contained all New South Wales Units, whilst the latter was made up of Victorian Units with the exception of the 40th Battalion which was composed mainly of Tasmanians.
It might here be mentioned that many Queensland Units contained men from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, which was part of our military district.
The Colour Patches of the Third Divisional troops, worn at the top of either sleeve of both tunics and overcoats were oval in shape and made in two colours. The bottom colour represented the brigade and the top colour designated the unit. The Brigade colours were: The Ninth, Green; The Tenth, Red; The Eleventh, Saxe Blue. The Battalion Colours went in rotation, the same in each brigade, as follows: Black, Dark Blue, Brown, White. Hence the colour patches of the Third Division were:
Ninth Brigade: 33rd, Black; 34th, Dark Blue; 35th, 36th, White. All worn above the brigade colour, Green.
Tenth Brigade: 37th, Black; 38th, Dark Blue; 39th, Brown; 40th, White. All worn above the brigade colour, Red. (Compilers note. The 39th patch, brown over red, became 'famous' with the troops as "Mud over Blood")
Eleventh Brigade: 41st, Black; 42nd, Dark Blue; 48th, Brown; 44th, White. All worn above the brigade colour, Saxe Blue.
METHOD OF WEARING THE LARGE FELT HAT
During the time the Third Division was in training, the troops were distinguished from those of other Australian Divisions by the manner of wearing the felt hat. The Third Divvy Troops wore the hat with the brim turned down completely, the large rising sun badge being adjusted in the centre front, whilst the men of the other four Divisions wore their hats with the rising sun badge displayed on that part of the brim which was turned up at the left hand side, and this was the style that was subsequently adopted as uniform for all Australian Divisions.
THE TERM "EGGS-A-COOK"
Up to this time, the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Divisions had seen active service at Gallipoli and on the Somme. They had also done some training in Egypt, where the "Gyppo" vendors of fruit and chocolates advertised their wares by calling them "verra nice, verra sweet, verra clean. Two for One." (This meant, two of them for one half-piastre). They also sold hard-boiled eggs, in the same manner, calling out: "Eggs-a-cook. verra sweet, verra clean. Two for one." When the Third Divisional troops appeared, with their turned down hats and their oval, or egg-shaped, colour patches, members of the other four "Fighting Divisions," as they called themselves, immediately yelled out: "There they are. Eggs-a-cook. Verra nice, verra sweet, verra clean. Two for one." It may have started as a joke, but it unfortunately developed into a term of derision.
There was a little doggerel verse to the tone of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which went:
"Oh, the First and the Second are in the line,
And the Fourth and Fifth are behind them.
But when we look, for the Eggs-a-cook,
I'm dammed if you can find them."
This, when sung in the hearing of men of the Third Division, was usually the signal for a box-on or brawl, but that was before the Third Division had made a name for itself at Messines and Passchendaele, and later on with its greatest exploit of all, which gained for it unstinted praise and everlasting respect. This was at the time the Germans broke through the British lines and the Fifth British Army was retreating in haste. Pushing on, to support our Fourth Division hanging on at Dernancourt, with but a mere handful of cavalry to act as support; without the aid of artillery other than four field guns, which were subsequently withdrawn, the derided Eggs-a-cook Division, between the Somme and the Ancre bore the entire brunt of stopping that avalanche of victory-flushed enemy troops, swooping onwards towards Amiens.
Unflinchingly the Eggs-a-cooks withstood the onslaught, held the enemy at bay and snatched victory from his very jaws. But we are progressing too fast. We must return to Salisbury Plain, where our 42nd Battalion is still awaiting orders to proceed to The Front.
