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"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess

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Monday, 2 June 2008
Great War, Military Biographies, The old man of the AIF, George Paul
Topic: GW - Biographies

Great War

Military Biographies

The old man of the AIF, George Paul

 

George Paul, 1918

 

3664 Corporal George Paul and the AIF

The story of 3664 Cpl George Paul's enlistment in the AIF makes fascinating reading. At 69, he became one of the oldest recruit to see service in the AIF.

Here is the article from the Sydney Mail, 7 August 1918 at p. 34:


Enlisted at 69.

There are few soldiers or the A.I.F. possessing long a record of soldiering as Corporal George Paul, now living at Wallaballah, a little township two miles from Quirindi. He must have surely been born under the planet of Mars, for he has fought in all the principal British campaigns during the last half century. Corporal Paul served first in the Ashanti war in 1873-4, under Sir Garnet Wolseley, and afterwards in the Zulu War of 1874, under Lord Chelmsford, father of the one-time popular Governor of New South Wales, and Queensland, and now Viceroy of India. He fought again at Tel-el-Kebir under Sir Garnet Wolseley, in 1882, and went twice to the Boer War of 1899-02, under Sir Ian Hamilton and Lord Methuen. He holds the Ashanti, Zulu. Egyptian, and King's and Queen's South African medals. Finally, and most remarkable of all, he enlisted in the A.I.F., and fought in France with the Tunnellers. He was then 69 years of age and how he came to he enlisted, both for the Boer War and the present war is a long story. It turned that when a man is keen enough, or when fighting is still the blood, nothing will stop him. It is all open secret, locally, that his official age was a year younger when he enlisted in the Boer War than when he joined the A.I.F. When the first 'March to Freedom’ arrived at Quirindi last May, the veteran Corporal was there to meet it, and instantly he picked up the step, and marched into town with the boys, keen on joining up again. With all his half-century of soldiering, the years lie lightly upon him, and with his easy carriage, alertness, and bronze face, "old George" would pass easily amongst strangers as a man of fifty. The story of his life deal with adventure and events, which, together, make up some of the most stirring chapters in the history of the expansion and consolidation of the British Empire. Our illustration shows Corporal Paul in his A.I.F. uniform. What an example for young Australians who have not answered the call.



The story was repeated again in the R.S.S.I.L.A. Official Year Book [Coronation Issue], 1937 which gave a brief vignette about the man similar to that in the Sydney Mail article shown above. Since the R.S.S.I.L.A. Official Year Book was published in 1937, and given the year was when George Paul died, the story was more of an obituary.

George Paul had his baptism registered on 15 February 1848 at the parish of Dornoch, Sutherland so we can assume he was born somewhere around that time. His father was James Paul [b. 1832] and mother known as Kate. We know from NSW Certificate No. 15984 that George Paul died at Quirindi in 1937, making him 89 at the time.

While nothing about him prior to 1900 can be verified, there is nothing in his story that leads to doubt about accepting his history of service. Once he commences service in Australia, then he is picked up by the official records.

The first official record of service we have is that 1123 Trooper George Paul enlisted in the Bushies, the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen. Here are his details from Murray:

 

George Paul

Service number: 1123

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: NSW IMPERIAL BUSHMEN

Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)

State: NSW

Source: Murray page number - 104

 

He was allocated to the last formed NSW squadron, F Squadron. Here is his name and rank recorded on the list published in the Sydney Mail, 7 April 1900 at p. 79. George Paul's name is underlined in red.

 

New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, F Squadron, Sydney Mail, 7 April 1900.

 

The Sydney Mail, 28 April 1900 at p. 984 published a photograph of all the men from F company taken the day before they departed. 1123 Trooper George Paul is circled in red.

 

Some men of the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, F Squadron
 
[From: Sydney Mail, 28 April 1900, p. 984.]


Paul embarked from Sydney on the Armenian, 23 April 1900. He spent over a year in South Africa taking part in many of the key engagements of the war.

He arrived back in Sydney on the Orient landing at Cowper Wharf, 15 July 1901. A cartoon series of the landing published in the Sydney Mail, 27 July 1901, p. 217.

 

A cartoon series of the landing
 
[From: Sydney Mail, 27 July 1901, p. 217.]

 

Paul was awarded the Queen's South African Medal with 5 bars - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Rhodesia and South Africa 1901. There is a bit of a question as to whether he arrived as a Sergeant or Lieutenant.

Paul's next period of service reflected some form of senior rank as he enlisted as 23 Sergeant George Paul, 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW), A Squadron. Here is his Murray entry from the AWM:

 

George Paul

Service number: 23

Rank: Trooper

Unit: 1BN AUST CMNWLTH HORSE (NSW)

Conflict: South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)

State: NSW

Source: Murray page number - 169

 

Since this was a Commonwealth formation, his Attestation Papers can be accessed through the NAA.

Again the Sydney Mail was on the job. In the edition of 8 February 1902, at p. 344, they published a picture of the 1st Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW), A Squadron where we see Sgt Paul seated with his men. He is circled in red.

 

1st Australian Commonwealth Horse (NSW), A Squadron

[From: Sydney Mail, 8 February 1902, p. 344.]

 

Paul embarked from Sydney on the Custodian, 18 February 1902. By the time they arrived and prepared for action, the war was coming to a close. Peace broke out on 2 June 1902.

George Paul returned from South Africa on 11 August 1902.

After that, we lose touch with him although it appears that he might have married somewhere along the way. His attestation papers mention a wife Mary Ann but there is no record of this marriage in NSW.

During the Great War, while the "Freedom March" passed by his town, he began the march again and enlisted as a soldier. When he joined up his previous military service was recognised and was made Acting Sergeant but on active service was promoted to Corporal. Here he is in uniform, 3664 Cpl George Paul, No 4 Tunnelling Company prior to embarkation.

 

A brief military biography of George Paul from The AIF Project:

Regimental number3664
Place of birthDornoch, Scotland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressWallabadah, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation48
Next of kinWife, Mrs Mary Paul, Wallabadah, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the Ashanti War, 1873-4; Zulu War, 1874; Tel el Kebir, 1882; Boer War, 1899-1902.
Enlistment date19 October 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll18 October 1915
Rank on enlistment2nd Corporal
Unit nameTunnelling Company 4, Headquarters 1
AWM Embarkation Roll number16/10/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 22 May 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll2nd Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Tunnelling Company
FateReturned to Australia 17 March 1917
Discharge date14 June 1917
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 22 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 18 July 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 October 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 6 December 1916 (debility); transferred to England,13 December 1916, and admitted to Dover Hospital; discharged to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 16 December 1916.

Marched out to No 2 command Depot, Weymouth, 20 November 1916.

Commenced return to Australia from Plymouth on board HT 'Beltana' for discharge (senility), 17 February 1917; arrived Sydney, 15 May 1917; discharged (medically unfit), 14 June 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsReal age: 69
Date of death1937
SourcesNAA: B2455, PAUL George
Sydney 'Mail', 7 August 1918.

 

 

Paul embarked from Sydney on the HMAT A69 "Warilda", 22 May 1916 and arrived at Plymouth on 18 July 1916. From there he went to France on 16 October 1916 ending up at the base at Etaples. Once there, after 2 months, on 6 December 1916, he was admitted to hospital at Etaples with debility. From that moment he was on his way back to Australia, first to Tidworth, then Weymouth, and finally Plymouth where he boarded the Beltana on 17 February 1917 for a trip back to Australia. It looks like the military authorities finally tumbled to the fact that George was not 48 but a tad bit older. When Paul reached Sydney, on 14 June 1917, he received a medical discharge on the grounds of senility.

This is indeed one of those good stories, which occasionally we come across and makes it a sheer joy to research.

 

Further Reading:

Great War, Military Biographies

Great War, August 1914

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: Great War, Military Biographies, The old man of the AIF, George Paul

Posted by Project Leader at 9:12 AM EADT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 6:35 PM EADT
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 2 June 1918
Topic: Diary - Schramm

Diaries of AIF Servicemen

Bert Schramm

2 June 1918

 

Bert Schramm

 

Bert Schramm

2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.

During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September Offensive by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.

 

The Diaries

The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:

Bert Schramm Diary

Finding more about a service person. See:

Navigating the National Archives Service File 

 

 

Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 28 May - 3 June 1918

[Click on page for a larger print version.]

 

Bert Schramm's Diary

Sunday, June 2, 1918

Bert Schramm's Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

Bert Schramm's Diary -   Sun. Enemy aeroplanes raided one camp this morning at 5.15. About twelve planes dropped about sixty bombs but not much damage done. No losses suffered.

 

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences, Jordan River

9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0520 from 12 to 15 enemy aeroplanes raided the Brigade area. They were flying at an altitude of from 800 to 1200 feet and were able to take advantage of thick low hanging clouds.

All ranks were immediately ordered to take shelter in bomb pits, a full complement of which had been constructed two days previously. Each pit was five feet deep 11/2 yard wide and accommodated two men.

Four Hotchkiss rifles specially mounted on sticks were immediately brought into action against the aeroplanes. The two B Squadron guns fired 500 rounds before the first bomb dropped. About 100 mostly 15lb bombs were dropped in the Brigade area. The Brigade units were fairly close and presented a fair target. The aeroplanes kept circling round and took deliberate aim for each bomb and when the bombs were finished they machine gunned the lines. The brigade casualties in personnel were very light. Total eight wounded. Horses total 102 killed and wounded. The regiments casualties were two Other Ranks wounded. Animals killed three rides wounded ten rides one pack. Raid lasted for 1/4 hour.

Just prior to the raid the Brigade anti malarial party had concentrated at 9th Light Horse Regimental Headquarters. These offered a good target but scattered quickly before any bombs fell. The bomb pits undoubtedly saved many casualties. Two Other Ranks wounded in Regiment were men who did not get into pits when ordered.

Orders received that 3rd Light Horse Brigade would take over No. 4 sub sector from 2nd Light Horse Brigade.

 

3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary -

At 0530, 2nd June 1918, the enemy with two machines carried out a severe bombing raid and heavy casualties to horses, mules and donkeys were suffered, but by immediate occupation of the short trenches, comparatively light casualties to personnel. The casualties in the Brigade were: -

Personnel, ten other ranks.

Animals, 103.

The heat of the Jordan valley had now become intense and the dusty conditions were very trying. Cases of malaria began to appear.

During this period of garrison of the Auja bridgehead, a great amount of work was carried out and the defences were considerably improved and strengthened. Close contact with the enemy was maintained day and night. Much valuable information of the enemy was gained and many prisoners taken by our patrols.

9th LHR AIF War Diary, 2 June

 

Darley

Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924.

No Entry.

 

 

Previous: Bert Schramm's Diary, 1 June 1918

Next: Bert Schramm's Diary, 3 June 1918

 

Sources Used:

Bert Schramm's Diary

National Archives Service File.

Embarkation Roll, AWM8.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.

 

War Diaries and Letters

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy 

 

Further Reading:

Bert Schramm Diary

Bert Schramm Diary, Album

Bert Schramm's Photo Album

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, War Diary, Day by Day Account

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 2 June 1918


Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT
Updated: Saturday, 28 May 2011 4:48 PM EADT
9th LHR AIF War Diary, 2 June
Topic: AIF - 3B - 9 LHR

9th LHR, AIF

9th Light Horse Regiment

War Diary, 2 June

Pro Gloria et Honore - For Glory and Honour

Regimental March -  Marching Through Georgia

 

 

The following entries are extracted and transcribed from the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, the originals of which are held by the Australian War Memorial. There are 366 entries on this site. Each day has entries as they occurred from 1914 to 1919. In addition to the 9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary, when appropriate, entries from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary and other regiments with the Brigade will also appear. Entries from the unit history, Darley, TH, With the Ninth Light Horse in the Great War, Adelaide, Hassell Press, 1924 will also appear from time to time. The aim is to give the broadest context to the story and allow the reader to follow the day to day activities of the regiment. If a relative happened to have served in the regiment during the Great War, then this provides a general framework in which the individual story may be told.

 

The Diary

 

1914

Tuesday, June 2, 1914

See 4th Military District, South Australia for militia activities.

 

1915

Wednesday, June 2, 1915

9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Walkers Ridge
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1100 The Machine Gun Section, 1 Officer and 25 Other Ranks less 4 left on transport Kameron to look after transport.
Also one sick man rejoined the Regiment.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - Inspected trenches 0300. Stand to Arms daily at this time. Inspected all available sites for 10th Light Horse Regiment bivouacs.
Majors Love and Todd called Brigade Headquarters - sniping becoming serious on the beach.
Three police to Headquarters No. 4 Section.
Signal troops to duty at Walker's Hill.
Carew Reynell Diary - Last night General Russell again spoke about attacking the Turkish post in front of our salient, No. 4 Sap. I particularly request that if this attack was to be made that it should be made on Sunday night as I felt that everybody, Turks included, were mentally, morally and physically tired and that it would therefore have a fair chance of success.

The Colonel went and saw Russell and came back and said that it was permanently off. Now that he, and incidentally brother Turk, have freshened up, he has put it on again.
Our Brigadier, Brigade Major and Colonel and Second in Command of 8th and our Regiment and Staff Captain MacFarlane have all advised against it but I think it will be on never the less. It is to be a bigger show and I shall almost certainly have to take it as in its present form it is a pretty important affair, and although only a comparatively small number of men and officers will be in the attacking party, about 100 all told. It will be a tricky business to hold it and that is the idea. It will be a desperate affair in my opinion and everybody else's.

However, war is war and it may go off all right although the loss must be heavy.

 

1916

Friday, June 2, 1916
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Roadhead Serapeum.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - Routine Patrol and Training work carried out.

 

1917

Saturday, June 2, 1917
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Um Urgan
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - The General Officer in Command carried out weekly inspection of the Regiment. "A" and “C” Squadron lines were particularly good.
Seven days' leave granted to ten Other Ranks [1 Sergeant and three per Squadron]. 20 Other Ranks marched in and allotted.
Two Lieutenants and two Other Ranks left for School of Instruction - Shaw, Lieutenant OJ, Night Marching Course; Smith, Lieutenant PT, Officer's General.
Two Other Ranks were sent to the Hotchkiss Rifle first Course.
 

1918

Sunday, June 2, 1918
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Auja bridgehead defences
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 0520 from 12 to 15 enemy aeroplanes raided the Brigade area. They were flying at an altitude of from 800 to 1200 feet and were able to take advantage of thick low hanging clouds. All ranks were immediately ordered to take shelter in bomb pits, a full complement of which had been constructed two days previously. Each pit was five feet deep 1½ yard wide and accommodated two men. Four Hotchkiss rifles specially mounted on sticks were immediately brought into action against the aeroplanes. The two “B” Squadron guns fired 500 rounds before the first bomb dropped. About 100 mostly 15lb bombs were dropped in the Brigade area. The Brigade units were fairly close and presented a fair target. The aeroplanes kept circling round and took deliberate aim for each bomb and when the bombs were finished they machine gunned the lines. The brigade casualties in personnel were very light. Total eight wounded. Horses total 102 killed and wounded. The regiments casualties were two Other Ranks wounded. Animals killed three rides wounded ten rides one pack. Raid lasted for ¼ hour. Just prior to the raid the Brigade anti malarial party had concentrated at 9th Light Horse Regimental Headquarters. These offered a good target but scattered quickly before any bombs fell. The bomb pits undoubtedly saved many casualties. Two Other Ranks wounded in Regiment were men who did not get into pits when ordered.
Orders received that 3rd Light Horse Brigade would take over No. 4 sub sector from 2nd Light Horse Brigade.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary - At 0530, 2nd June 1918, the enemy with two machines carried out a severe bombing raid and heavy casualties to horses, mules and donkeys were suffered, but by immediate occupation of the short trenches, comparatively light casualties to personnel. The casualties in the Brigade were: -
Personnel, ten other ranks.
Animals, 103.
The heat of the Jordan valley had now become intense and the dusty conditions were very trying. Cases of malaria began to appear.
During this period of garrison of the Auja bridgehead, a great amount of work was carried out and the defences were considerably improved and strengthened. Close contact with the enemy was maintained day and night. Much valuable information of the enemy was gained and many prisoners taken by our patrols.

 

1919

Monday, June 2, 1919
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Tel el Kebir
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - 1100, Scott, Lieutenant Colonel WH, CMG DSO, evacuated to 14th Australian General Hospital.
Parsons, Major HM, DSO, takes charge of the Regiment.

 


Previous: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 1 June

Next: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 3 June

 

Sources:

See: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Contents
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

 

Further Reading:

9th Light Horse Regiment AIF

Bert Schramm Diary

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: 9th LHR AIF War Diary, 2 June

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT
Updated: Saturday, 7 August 2010 2:22 PM EADT
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Boer War, General Topics, British POW's at Waterval
Topic: BW General

Boer War

General Topics

British POW's at Waterval Camp

 

British POW's at Waterval Camp outside Pretoria

[From The Queenslander, 5 May 1900, p. 839.]


The Boers fully understand the various uses of barb-wire. They have employed it to confuse a charging enemy and when sections of that enemy have fallen into their hands they have utilised this comparatively modern invention to keep their prisioners  within bounds. The captured British officers who have been taken to Pretoria are housed in the State Model School from which it will be remembered Mr Winston Churchill made his escape. The school is a modern and well built building, having many large and lofty rooms and surrounded by a broad and cool veranda. The officers have their own cooks and servants. The bathrooms are commodious and books can be procured from the State Library. The rations supplied to the prisoners are of much the same quantity and quality as those issued to the wives and families of burghers throughout the State.

The great bulk of the captured men, however, are in camp at Waterval, the new military prison camp outside Pretoria. Their quarters consist of a series of long galvanised iron sheds. In them the soldiers make themselves comfortable and seem to have settled down to a regular garrison existence. The large enclosure is surrounded by a barbed wire entanglement. Each corner is protected by stockades, on which Maxim guns are mounted. Each stockade is in electric communication with the others and the whole camp seems to form an absolutely secure detention ground for the prisoners. The sentry appear to be men of middle age. They are in every day mufti and look anything but military, the only evidence of soldierly duties being their rifles and bandoleers.

 

Further Reading:

Boer War, General Topics

Boer War

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: Boer War, General Topics, British POW's at Waterval


Posted by Project Leader at 6:47 PM EADT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 10:34 PM EADT
AIF Headquarters, 3rd Echelon, The duties of the 3rd Echelon
Topic: AIF - HQ - 3rd Echelon

AIF Headquarters

3rd Echelon

The duties of the 3rd Echelon

 

The duties of the 3rd Echelon.

When exploring service records, routine orders and other files relating to the administration of the AIF, the one constant in all the paper work is the reference to the 3rd Echelon. This ubiquitous organisation was the driving engine of the AIF in Egypt, France and Britain. 

As these posts unfold, the duties of the 3rd Echelon, as seen by the Commanding Officers at the time, will unfold. This is the first instalment.

 

RE OFFICERS

Precedence, Promotion, Resignations and Relinquishments are properly questions for the A.H.S., G.H.Q.

If Commanding Officers referred such questions to their Headquarters for transmission through the proper channels to the A.H.S., G.H.Q. the 3rd Echelon would only be interested in so far as the record is concerned, i.e., when London Gazettes and Lists of Appointments etc., published with General Routine Orders are received. Care has to be taken to avoid encroaching on the A.M.S.'s Department.

PRECEDENCE OF OFFICERS.

Army Order 35 of 1915. All officers belonging, transferred, posted or attached to a unit will take precedence therein and in their respective ranks according to the date of the appointment or promotion to those ranks and not according to the date on which they actually joined the unit for duty.

The London Gazette has at different times laid down that Officers of the overseas contingents take rank with Officers of the Regular Army from date of appointment or promotion.

RANK AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.

G.R.O.'s and Circulars published as required. T. F. Regulations 9B.

All these questions are finally disposed of by the A.H.S., G.H.Q. and should be submitted through the Commanding Officers to Headquarters of Formations for forwarding if necessary to G.H.Q.

T. F. Regulations legislate for special selection for promotion where such a course is considered necessary in the interests of the Service. Officers in the New Army may be promoted by selection and not necessarily by seniority.

 

Seniority and precedence of an officer is important in allocating temporary or acting positions, something that happened on a regular basis in a unit.

 

 

Further Reading:

AIF Headquarters, 3rd Echelon

AIF & MEF & EEF

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

 


Citation: AIF Headquarters, 3rd Echelon, The duties of the 3rd Echelon

Posted by Project Leader at 4:27 PM EADT
Updated: Wednesday, 28 July 2010 5:51 PM EADT

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