This morning after mass Dad told me about the World War I records of our uncle, which have been digitised and included in the National Archives web site as part of the “Gift to the Nation” project.
It was fascinating to read about my uncle James Joseph Ferris, who was not quite 23 years old when he enlisted in August 1915, joining the 13th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion at Dubbo.
In December he embarked from Australia to Egypt, where he joined the 54th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir. He was shortly after transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion. During this time his pay was docked to replace a lost army issue felt hat.
In June 1916 he was shipped from Alexandria to Marseilles on the BEF Canada. The following year he is promoted to Lance Corporal but several months later reverts to ranks at own request. During this time he seems to have distinguished his career by taking an officer to hospital (pity the records don’t go into the circumstances).
After a couple of weeks leave in England in Oct 1918, he rejoins his unit in France. By February 1919 he is very ill and is shipped back to Australia on the Wyreema. He receives a medical discharge in May, and is formally discharged from the AIF in August almost four years to the day he enlisted.
He was awarded two service medals – The British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
I read up on some of Hubby’s relatives as well – he has two uncles who fought in WW1. Frank Lenon was 18 when he signed up in 1919 – he was killed in action in France the same year. His older brother Hugh Lenon enlisted in 1914, a Lighthorseman he took part in the action at Gallipoli. Hugh got into a spot of bother back in Egypt and was shipped back to Australia.