Topic: AIF - 1B - 1 Sig Trp
1st Australian Signal Troop, AIF
History
Below is a transcription from a manuscript submitted by by Major R. Smith called 1st Australian Signal Troop. This is Page 5.
History of the Wireless Sections after being detached from 1st Signal Troop.
April 28th 1915
No. 2 Det. moved to Gully Beach, about 3 miles from X Beach and worked between forward O.P and the Fleet.
No. 1 Det. moved to De Totts Battery on the south shore east of Sad-el-Bahr.
There was a good deal of sniping on to Gully Beach from the snipers hidden in front, also at De Totts Battery and there the N.C.O i.e. No. 1 "Det". Sgt. Metcher was wounded through the leg.
So far No. 2 "Det." had no causalities and remained at Gully Beach about 4 days, quite as comfortable as circumstances would permit, rations and water were plentiful.
May 2nd.
At dusk No. 2 "Det". dismantled station and eventually arrived at our new destination which was about 1 mile E of the lighthouse on Helles, here the station was re-erected and spotting work for the Fleet was carried on.
No. 1 "Det". took over the position vacated by No. 2 "Det." at Gully Beach and both Dets. remained in this position until ordered to rejoin the 1st Signal Troop which they did at Anzac on the 31/5/15.
The strength of the sections and the equipment at their disposal was inadequate to cope with the amount of work which had to be done so another set of receiving; instruments was given each section for special use with the aeroplanes in addition to this ground signals for use with the planes had to be operated for calling planes back to their aerodromes etc.
From this time on until the 9th May things ran fairly smoothly there being just the different shoots to work on but on the 9th at 16.45 an exceptionally heavy bombardment was opened and the sections were kept busy right up till dusk. There was a good deal of hostile fire onto our positions, the area in which the wireless (No. 2) stood fell in for its share and one of the Operators was wounded.
For the next 3 weeks there was just the daily work between aeroplane and navy and both 'sections went on board a trawler and landed at Anzac on 31/5/13.
COMMISSIONS.
Of the original members of the 1st Signal Troop the following obtained commissions during the war.
Hoddinott Farnes Latham
Masters Shaw Matthews
Metcher Fitton Larkin
Sutherland Cash Ward
Mustard Westerman Bate
Turnbull Fahey Dugan
Letch Stinson Wills
The following decorations were awarded to members of the Troop during the war.
Mentions in Despatch. 5.
M.C. 7
D.C.M. 3
D.F.C. 1
M. M. 2
C. de G. 2
Order of the Nile 1
Further Reading:
1st Australian Light Horse Brigade
Citation: 1st Australian Signal Troop, Page 5
