Chapter 1: Albert Percival Smith 1891-1966

ALBERT PERCIVAL SMITH
Born 3 August 1891 Glenburn (Yea)
Died 17 September 1966 Melbourne
Regimental Number: 972

My grandfather, Percy Smith ("Gargoo") joined the 1st Australian Imperial Force on 2 March 1915, as a private in the 4th Light Horse Regiment.

He was aged 23 years and 6 months, and single.

Gargoo was born and bred a 'country boy', who must have had much experience with horses. He was taken into the 4th Light Horse Regiment, but never fought as a Light Horseman. After the 4th LH was split up in Egypt in early 1916 (half went to Palestine where they took part in the Charge at Beersheba), Percy Smith became a Driver in the Artillery. His main work in France consisted of being in charge of a team of horses and carting the artillery and ammunition up to the trenches.

During his lifetime, like so many others, he rarely, if ever, talked about his experiences in World War One. He was away from Australia from May 1915 to early 1919 (he embarked for Australia from England on 2 January 1919) - just under 4 years. During that time, he saw action at Gallipoli and in France, both Flanders and the Somme. There were a few periods of respite, due to illness after Gallipoli ('nervous breakdown'), which saw him recuperate in Malta and Egypt, mumps and dysentery (Egypt), and leave in (England). In May 1918 he left France and was posted to the Reserve Australian Artillery Brigade in Heytesbury, England.

This is "his story" as far as I can reconstruct it.

Chapter 3: Enlistment 1915

Date of Enlistment: 2 March 1915 (however, he arrived at Broadmeadows Camp 1 December 1914: there are letters from that time. ) Rank: Private Regiment: 4th Light Horse Regimental Number: 972 Place of Enlistment: Broadmeadows, Victoria. Age: 23 years 6 months Height: 5 feet 5 inches Weight: Chest expansion: 33.5 to 38.5 Eyes: Blue Hair: Fair Religious Denomination: C of E Considered fit for active service 2/3/15 Signed Geo S Cole Capt AAMC From Smith, Men of Beersheba (1993) p 4: "It is often asserted that the bulk of the light horse regiments found their recruits in rural areas this is not entirely true. Certainly many troopers had backgrounds on the land which suits the modern perception that light horsemen were tall, bronzed young men accustomed to life in the saddle on the outback plains of Australia. But an examination of recruiting sources for the 4th Light Horse Regiment reveals that this is not the case…of the original members of the regiment, about 20% were city dwellers from Melbourne." From Bill Gammage The Broken Years: Australian soldiers in the Great War. Penguin, 1975. P. 7: " Many volunteers were disappointed. The army wanted men 5 ft 6 inches and over, at least 34 inches about the chest, and between nineteen and thirty-eight years, but so many volunteers that these minimums or any defect - lack of military experience, unfilled teeth, flat feet, corns or bunions - often meant rejection. Doctors set artificial standards, so high that even in 1918 the survivors of the '1914 men' stood out clearly from other soldiers…Those who sailed against Turkey were the fittest, strongest, and most ardent in the land. Most of that early avalanche of volunteers were roused by a sense of adventure. Great wars were rare, and short, and many eagerly seized a fleeting opportunity. They were the first Australians enabled to unsling the drums of the Empire's glory, they would engage in the splendour of the charge, and in some glorious moment of cut and thrust balance the chance to kill with the risk of death. And they would do this overseas, on horizons hitherto only the wisps of boyhood dreams." "Some volunteers felt obliged to enlist….'I would never have been able to hold up my head & look any decent girl in the face' …Other volunteers …offered to do 'their bit', or 'their duty', or to 'answer the call"…Other men enlisted from hatred of Germany…There were in addition a thousand and particular and personal reasons for enlistment. Loneliness, family trouble, public opinion, and unemployment all contributed a measure" (pp 8-10)

Chapter 4: Broadmeadows

From Men of Beersheba, 1993 pp 3-4: One soldier, Tom Cranwell wrote about Broadmeadows: " Let me try to give you some idea of our camp life. Everyone is up at 6 in the morning, and our straw beds are at once folded up. It's a fine sight to see 3000 men lined up at the 6.30 parade to answer their names. From then to breakfast we pass our time at drill and physical exercises. One of our Sgt major instructors can speak seven languages and has seen much service in India and among the Afghans. You should see the rush there is for breakfast, for we acquire a very keen appetite. Our typical breakfast menu - coffee without milk, and very little sugar. Boiled beef and a huge slice of dry bread, no butter - that's a luxury. I haven't tasted milk for a fortnight. These are what are known as active service rations. Our comfort is that all the British at the front are braving it on the same fare. After breakfast we fall in again when the Squadron Leaders receive their instructions from headquarters. This may be drill, swimming or riding tests, and last until 12. After diner we parade and drill until 5.30, when we have tea. Although there may be a few doubtful characters here, the remainder are a jolly good and fine lot of fellows, and also good comrades. We are free after tea, but we cannot leave the lines. The YMCA also have got some huge concert tents erected for the men, and they also have a good reading and writing room. It does one good to see the crowds of fellows waiting around every night to take their turn at the writing table. The Church of England also has a huge tent for the same purpose and the Salvation Army is also doing very good work." AWM photo showing Mess Parade at Broadmeadows. (P01700.011) The caption reads in part: "Broadmeadows, Vic, 1914.Mess parade for recruits...The recruits are gathering for dinner at the camp kitchen. The meal has been cooked in large dixies balanced on two poles stretched over a long pit, in which a fire has been lit." From Patsy Adam-Smith The Anzacs, Thomas Nelson Australia, 1978 p. 33 "They arrived at Broadmeadows to mud and more mud. So tenacious was this mud claimed to be that the New South Welshmen swore that in Egypt and Gallipoli there were still 'Broadmeadows' mud marks on our clothes'.

Chapter 5: 4th Light Horse Regiment

From Smith, Men of Beersheba (1993) pp 3 - 4:

On 11th August (1914) authority was promulgated for the formation of the 4th Light horse regiment as Divisional Cavalry for the 1st Australian Division under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Forsyth. This fine officer however was soon detached to the 1st Light Horse Brigade and did not assume command of his regiment until the troops arrived in Egypt. At the Broadmeadows camp the Regiment's replacement commander, Lieutenant Colonel Long set about recruiting, organising, equipping and training his fledgling Regiment."

AWM photo titled 1914 Broadmeadows. Horse lines of Light horse units training. (H03025)

From Smith, Men of Beersheba (1993) p 4:

"It is often asserted that the bulk of the light horse regiments found their recruits in rural areas this is not entirely true. Certainly many troopers had backgrounds on the land which suits the modern perception that light horsemen were tall, bronzed young men accustomed to life in the saddle on the outback plains of Australia. But an examination of recruiting sources for the 4th Light Horse Regiment reveals that this is not the case…of the original members of the regiment, about 20% were city dwellers from Melbourne."
The Light Horse Regiment was made up as follows:

Year/Unit:1916 Light HorseRegiment
Section: 4 Other Ranks (mounted)
Troop: Troop Headquarters (1 Officer, 3 Other Ranks)
8 x sections (ie 32 Other Ranks)
Squadron: 4 x troops.
Total:4 Officers,140 Other Ranks
Regiment: 25 Officers,497 Other Ranks
Regimental HQ3 x squadron
Total:
37 Officers,
897 Other Ranks

Chapter 6: Departure for Overseas May 1915

From Service record: 7 May 1915 Embarked on "Palermo" Port Melbourne AWM photo showing the Troopship Palermo, Brisbane, about 1915. (H02227) Percy Smith sailed with the 5th Reinforcement of the 4th Light Horse, which comprised Regimental Numbers 926 to 979 inclusive. The reinforcement included 1 Officer and 52 Other Ranks. His comrades included: Private H Biggs (928) Killed In Action Private EH Cashmore (934) 12 Field Artillery Brigade Private A Cashmore (932) Private JA Cashmore (933) Private S Chambers (931) Private W Colombini (950) Died 1939 Returned to Australia 20 Oct 1915 Private G Crooks (939) Returned to Australia 4 August 1915 Sergeant RJ Darby (979) Returned to Australia 4 Nov 1915 Private D Devlin (935) Returned to Australia 28 Jan 1916 Private A Edwards (945A) Returned to Australia 13 Dec 1915 Private AE Goss (936) Returned to Australia 17 March 1916 Private FS Hick (941) Killed in Action 16 Sep 1915 Private H Hill (938) AVH (Army Veterinary Hospital??) Private RD Hollins (937) British Expeditionary Force (Europe) Private JP Howard (939) Corporal KC Hudson (940) Returned to Australia 15 June 1919 Private J Jackson (943) Returned to Australia 8 May 1916 Private C Jobson (964) Cyclist Corps Private FG Johnston (944) B Squadron Western Front Private SAJ Johnston (931A) Invalided 1915. Re-enlisted, went with 18th Reinforcements, 20 June 1916 Private MD Lang (960) ABD HQ Private C Leslie (947) Cyclist Corps Private JW Lockey (946) Returned to Australia 17 Sep 1916 Private SP Macumber (949) M/O 1 March 1917 Private J McAlpine (955) British Expeditionary Force Private HF McInerney (957) British Expeditionary Force Private PW McLellan (959) Returned to Australia 19 Jan 1916 Private A McLeod (956) Died of Wounds 7 October 1915: Private PA McMahon (958) British Expeditionary Force Private MW (Malcolm) McPherson (A955) Died of Wounds 17 Nov 1915. Painter by trade. Private AS Mill (954) 13th Light Horse Private E Money (951) Cyclist Corps Sergeant F Mortimer (952) Returned to Australia June 1916 Private R Newth (951) British Expeditionary Force WIA Private WG Peel (962) Died of Wounds 5 Sep 1915 Private TJ Popple (963) Returned to Australia 31 Aug 1915 Private JA (Joseph) Roberts (969) Died of Sickness 25 June 1915 . Labourer from Cowra. Private HC Robertson (968) Squadron Sergeant Major. Military Medal. Returned to Australia 15 June 1919 Australian War Memorial Record B01165 c December 1918, Tripoli. Portrait of 968 Sergeant Herbert Charles Robertson MM, 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment. He also served in 4 (Qld Imperial Bushmen Contingent) in the Boer War. Australian Commonwealth Horse, who all enlisted in South Australia. He is wearing the Queen's South African campaign medal. A small badge in the form of the letter "A" on unit colour patch denotes that the wearer had taken part in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. Private HF Robinson (966) Returned to Australia 11 June 1917 Private J Slattery (971) Died of Wounds 23 August 1915 Private H Stephens (970) Returned to Australia 23 Sep 1919 Private JA Stone (961) Returned to Australia 4 Nov 1915 961 Private (Pte) John Alexander Stone, of Bairnsdale, Vic. Pte Stone enlisted on 25 January 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Palermo on 7 May 1915. On 22 August 1915 he sustained a shrapnel wound to the leg at Gallipoli and returned to Australia on 30 October 1915. On 19 September 1916 he was discharged as an invalid. (Australian War memorial Record No DA08619 ) Private O Thaw (974) Returned to Australia 15 June 1919 Private L Trigg (973) Cyclist Corps Private G Vardy (975) B Squadron Western Front. Military Medal. Sgt Wounded In Action Private JR Walsh (976) Returned to Australia 1 Sep 1915 Private AS Walton (953) To Provost Corps Private JM Ward (978) Cyclist Corps Private T Wombwell (977) Returned to Australia 15 June 1919 -From Men of Beersheba: a history of the 4th Light Horse Regiment 1914-1919 From Patsy Adam-Smith The Anzacs, 1978 pp 33-34: "Most of the men had been no more than six weeks in camp - and much of that had been spent in getting uniforms together, learning to drill, and arranging their papers. On board ship, men who would be signallers for infantry regiments were drawn from the ranks and trained in semaphore and message carrying. All ranks were given instruction in semaphore signalling and all officers 'should be able to send and read semaphore by the end of voyage". "The men had come on board with much of their personal kit such as 'soap, piece of, in wallets; Boots, ankle, brown. Laces (spare), for boots, ankle, pairs; socks, worsted, pairs - one pair on person, one pair in pocket of greatcoat and one pair in kitbag at base.' The final instruction regarding kit was: 'Soldiers when discharged will receive a suit of plain clothes and a cap for free or sum of 20 shillings in lieu… During the voyage they were to be paid 1s 0d per day for 50 days. The pay of a private, apart from on board ship, was to be 5s 0d per day plus 1s 0d deferred pay…The allotment to dependents must be 'Not less than 2/5 of pay to wife or de facto and no less than 3/5 if children.' Illegitimate children were to be allotted one-fifth, and pre-maternity orders would be in the order of one-fifth. Colonels of regiments were obliged to ensure that soldiers retain at least 1s 0d per day for their own use while abroad." From Bill Gammage The Broken Years, 1974 pp 32-33: "Complaints about food, beer restrictions, canteen facilities, and the distribution of mail were fairly frequent on board the transports, but there were only two real discomforts: seasickness, or 'practising singing', and boredom. With a spirit that was to support them well in harder times, men tried to laugh seasickness away ('If I was Christ I would get out and walk home'), and they had a ready counter to boredom: Gambling is a favourite pastime on board. I suppose 60% of the troops indulge in these games, more or less. There are the crown and anchor, house, cards, and two up. Any time of the day and up to 9p.m. one will find crowds congregated together at different parts of the ship, playing one or other of these games…the first thing that meets my eyes on coming up from below this morning was the coins being tossed…at the stern…the crowd…started their gambling and kept it up all through the [church] service…I don't think it possible for them to lift their minds off the two coins in the air. (Bdr W.E.Baker, 2 FAV, Telephone mechanic of Northcote, Vic. KIA 21/3/18 aged 27.) Australians necessarily tolerated their confinement at sea, but they resented being kept on board a ship in port. Authorities invariably attempted to restrict shore leave, and large numbers of men invariably ignored such attempts. General Bridges wrote that discipline on the first two convoys was good, the chief difficulty being in off-loading civilian stowaways at Albany. In fact men from these convoys regularly went absent without leave, often only a small proportion of those given leave returned when it expired, and troops kept under special guard on board serenaded their officers with songs as 'Britons never shall be slaves' and 'Every dog has his day'. " In mid-1915 soldiers on a troopship at Colombo were refused leave, and were fined when they took it. They were not allowed to buy beer or fruit from the natives, but after the ship left port the canteen sold Colombo fruit at rates 200 per cent above Colombo prices. The 'Australian spirit' having been roused by these injustices, the troops rioted. They pushed officers about, assaulted the military police, broke open the canteen and the detention cells, and threw furniture overboard. When their commanding officer attempted to address them, he was hooted, hissed, and threatened with ejection over the side, until at last he withdrew. The men finally dispersed when more leave and cheaper fruit had been promised them, but by then they had exhausted their opportunities and energies for riot and revelry. The man who described these events, a Victorian private, defended them by pointing to the injustices done at Colombo, and by listing other iniquities; the men had been kept below deck when they left Australia and so has missed the last goodbyes; the voyage had been insufferably monotonous; there had been no fruit on board until Colombo and seasick men craved fruit; the commanding officer had broken promises about leave and refreshments; the detention cell was hot and dirty, so that men were carried to hospital from it." (Lt H.S. Trangmar, 57 Bn, Book keeper of Coleraine, Vic. b. 1888.) From http://www.maps.jcu.edu.au/hist/aif/vshipb.htm: Voyage From Australia Shipboard Training and Morale The leadership of the AIF placed great store in ensuring that discipline was maintained on board troopships. For a good deal of the time of the eight week passage to Egypt, recruits were drilled and underwent instruction in weapons training. The training men received included lectures on hygiene and sanitation. For the Light Horse Brigades there were lectures on horse health and diseases. Officers of the AIF were also conscious of the need to sustain morale, especially given that theirs was a volunteer citizen army. So it was that, during the voyage from Australia, a measure of high spirits and horseplay was tolerated - more so than would have been given units of the British or Indian armies. Cultural activities such as concerts and the production of ship board newspapers were encouraged, even though these activities sometimes resulted in military authority and politicians being made the target of satire.

Chapter 10: Back in Egypt - Dysentry, Mumps and Training

From service record: 7 January 1916 Dysentery. Transferred to Egypt per "Essiquibo". Non cot case. Malta 11 January 1916 Admitted to No 2 Aux Conval Depot Heliopolis 21 January 1916 Transferred to Con Depot Helouan 2 February 1916 Discharged to duty ex Helouan and rejoined Regiment Heliopolis 3 Feb Letter to brother-in-law, Dave Lade:

Sister Maud, and brother-in-law, Dave Lade, with their grandchild. Letterhead of The Young Mens Christian Association with H.M. Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt. Heliopolis Feb 3rd 1916. Dear Dave As you will know before you receive this I am in Egypt again. I was sent to the convalescent home at Helouan, about twenty miles up the Nile from Cairo, and after having about a fortnight there was allowed to rejoin my regiment here. I could have gone home if I had wished, but as I felt so well I did not care about that, there being so many more in need of a trip than I was. The doctor was doubtful about letting me stop, as they make a point of sending typhoid cases home for three months; but here I am, and hope I will be able to see the war through before being sent home sick or wounded. I got another batch of delayed letters yesterday - about a dozen in all including one from you, one and a postcard (view of Strath) from Maud, and one from Hilda. They were very old ones - written mostly in September and August. Will Ross is a lieutenant in my regiment, and although I have seen him once I have not had an opportunity of making his acquaintance. I also met Dave Patterson, and he wished to be remembered to you. He has been sick, but is better again now. Will tells me that they have started what is very nearly conscription in Australia, and is not sure but what he might be called up. I think myself that Australia has done quite her share now, and will not be doing much good by sending her young married men away. Everything is very quiet in Egypt, but as you know there are possibilities of stirring times shortly. However, I cannot say much about that, as the censorship is very strict at present. We are having perfect weather in Egypt now, but I expect it will soon be getting warm again. I was glad to hear you have had such a fine season in Australia, and I suppose it was most welcome after last year. You said in your letter your nephew Perce was in the 13th L.H., so he will be in the same lot as Dave Patterson. It is not far from where I am so will try and see him shortly. You said you were a great believer in prayer for soldiers, and I am sure it will interest you to hear what fellows in the trenches have told me. I have been told by the most hardened of men that in the hour of greatest danger, they have offered up a prayer - the first in most cases since they were children - and have been surprised at the benefit they received. This is about all this time. Yours truly, Percy Remember me to all your people. AWM photos:Al Hayat Hotel, Helouan, used as a Convalescent Depot (P00156.019) Al Hayat - the Australian Convalescent Home (J06424)

From Service Record: 25 February 1916 Mumps (mild): adm No 4 Aux hospital Heliopolis 1 March Letter to sister, Maud Lade: No 4th Auxiliary (sic) Mumps Hospital Abassia March 1st 1916 Dear Maud As you see by this address I am in hospital again, this time with the mumps. I came in last Friday 25th and am getting on alright now, although my face is still a bit swoolen. I think they will keep me hear three weeks as that is the time they allow for isolation of mumps cases. A great number of the soldiers here are getting mumps for some cause or other. I had a number of letters the day after I came here including one from you and one from Dave. They were both written in Oct. though. However I had some later news from Mother also one from Berta. They were written in the middle of Jan. By the way I am to congratulate myself I suppose on the possession of several new nephews. I expect you would be disappointed - Mother especially - when you heard I was not coming home after all, but I think you will agree I did the right thing, as it would not be too nice returning when there was nothing wrong with me. In any case I would only have meant coming straight back again. We had just finished three days sham-fighting in the desert before coming in here. It was very interesting and exciting while it lasted although hard work. We used to get up early march out about five miles - sometimes further - and then double about in the sand all day. By the time we got in at night we would be tired enough. The 4th L.H. is very much over strength so all those who have come back from hospital lately have gone in what they call the details, and have no horses yet. The details consist of D + E squadron. I am in D squadron under the command of Lieut Ross. I was speaking to him for a few minutes the other day. I was to go to his tent and have a yarn with him but have not been able so far. He wished to be remembered to you and Dave. He is looked upon as a good officer and got the most points with his men in the sham-fighting. Auntie Sarah and Uncle Arthur are getting quite gay in their old age running about to the lakes and so on. I have not heard anything of Eric lately. Have been wondering if he has enlisted. Berta too was down Gippsland she says. I have not come across any more Strath boys. I fancy they most of them are down on the canal somewhere. We have a chap - Sgt Major - in our lot name of Purves. He comes from Yea, and used to visit Henny Yorston at Strath. I wonder if you know him. I have also seen Jim and Arthur Knoop. Arthur is in the next tent to mine and Jim is in the 8th L.H. Also one of the Collins from Break-a-day is in the 4th and a Pat Nelson brother of Mrs Mitchell of Strath. All these chaps belong to the late reinforcements. I think this is about all this time. I would tell you a lot more that would interest you, but the censor won't allow I'm afraid. Hoping you are all well Yours Percy I wrote to Dave about a fortnight ago.