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3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
| Want to know more about 3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force? There are:2 items tagged 3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ahern Francis. Pte. (d.16th Apr 1918)
- Anderson Andrew. Pte.
- Baldwin MM. Cecil Charles Harpur. Sgt. (d.1st Mar 1917)
- Briggs Henry Francis. 2nd Lt. (d.14th Sep 1917)
- Bryans Edward Arthur. (d.4th Oct 1917)
- Charlton James Joseph. Pte. (d.22nd March 1917)
- Crawford Kenneth M.. Private
- Croft John Hector. Pte.
- Hall Arthur Edmund. L/Cpl.
- Hamilton VC. John Patrick. Capt.
- Lutton William Verdi. Gnr.
- McAnulty Cecil Anthony. Pte. (d.8th-10th Aug 1915)
- Noble Vivian Henry William . Cpl.
- Peeler VC. Walter. WOII
- Wallace MM. William John. Pte. (d.23rd Aug 1918)
- Ward MM, DCM. Philip Henry. Sgt.
- Woods MC. Percy William. Lt.Col.
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force from other sources.
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Pte. James Joseph Charlton 3rd Btn. Australian Infantry (d.22nd March 1917)  James Joseph Charlton served with 3rd Battalion (8th Reinforcement is remembered on the Roll of Honour at A.W.M. Thank you Grandfather Charlton, we are all safe and well because of you and your sacrifice. You were the much loved husband of Ethel adoring father of Alma & Leslie, devoted grandchildren Wave William Edward & Lolo. in 2009 you have 15 respectful Great grandchildren , 23 Great, Great grandchildren , 5 Great, Great, Great grandchildren.
Grandfather while mortally wounded, secured the safety of two fellow wounded soldiers from the battle area. Private J. J. Charlton died in France 22nd March 1917. Receiving the " British War Medal." & "Victory Medal." His adoring sister Mary received the condolences letter from the Empire Which broke her heart and she died the same year. the letter stated how he was a fine example and inspired his fellow men. He was described as having strict soldier qualities and the sterling qualities of a soldier and a man. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. His grave has been visited by family. James J. Charlton was the Grandson of William Charlton NSW Corps 1790, he sailed to Australia on Neptune 1789. Mentioned in the first "Land Grants Book" 1788-1809. William married Mary, a convict, he was a rum trader. William & Mary forged a life for their family, which his Grandson James had to defend to the death in WW1 . James J. Charlton enlisted and sailed on the SS Runic in 1915 to Suez and the war. James J. Charlton's Great grandson now a soldier wears your medals Anzac day every year. A Kelso born man loved adored respected and always remembered by your family. Lest We Forget
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Pte. William John Wallace MM. 18th Battalion (d.23rd Aug 1918) William Wallace was my Grandmother's older brother. He came from Liverpool.
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Gnr. William Verdi "Stitch" Lutton 8th Regiment 3rd Btn. My great grandfather William Lutton fought in WW1. He sent pictures to the family. Some had names, but not all of them. I don't know any of the names. One states that `This is a photo of one of our flights. It was taken at Tern Hill, dated 1916.'
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Lt.Col. Percy William Woods MC. 3rd Infantry Btn. Percy William Woods was born in Sydney on 8th November 1885. After leaving school he worked as a decorator and was also commissioned as a lieutenant in the senior cadets of the Citizens' Forces. The 28-year-old enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 27th August 1914 and, having been allotted to the 3rd Infantry Battalion, departed Sydney on HMAT Euripides on 20th October 1914,
Woods took part in the Gallipoli landing on 25th April 1915. In a letter to a friend he wrote of the battle of Lone Pine, in which he had participated, and recalled the details of the attack. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions at Lone Pine and for his bravery and devotion to duty throughout the entire Gallipoli campaign. After the evacuation in December Woods was transferred to the newly formed 55th Infantry Battalion, with which he would serve for the remainder of the war and would temporarily command.
Woods continued to distinguish himself on the Western Front. By June 1917, the man who had left Australia with the rank of sergeant was a lieutenant colonel. By the end of the war, Woods had been Mentioned in Despatches four times, had been awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Fromelles in 1916, and had received the Distinguished Service Order with Bar for his actions at Doignies in 1917 and Peronne in 1918 respectively.
In October 1918, Woods returned for Australia and in February the following year was discharged from the AIF. He died of cerebrovascular disease in Sydney on 5th January 1937, survived by his wife, Annie.
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Cpl. Vivian Henry William Noble D Coy. 3rd Btn. Vivian Henry William Noble was born in the inner-Sydney suburb of Enmore in 1894. At the time the First World War broke out, he was living in Epping and working as a clerk. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to D Company, 3rd Battalion. The battalion sailed aboard HMAT Euripides from Sydney on 20 October 1914.
Noble served with the 3rd Battalion at Gallipoli and was amongst the last party of men in this battalion to leave Anzac Cove at 3am on 20th December 1915. Noble continued to serve with the same battalion on the Western Front, where he was promoted to corporal in November 1916. On 7th of January 1917, he was attached to 1st Divisional Ordnance Corps and by April was serving with 1st Division Headquarters. In August 1917, he changed units again when he joined the Australian Divisional Army Ordnance Depot.
Noble was amongst the men who were granted special 1918 leave, and he left France to return to Australia on 14th October 1918. Vivian Henry William Noble married Constance Knox in 1920 and lived at Manly until he died in a swimming accident in 1930 at the age of 36.
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Pte. Cecil Anthony McAnulty 3rd Infantry Battalion (d.8th-10th Aug 1915) Cecil Anthony McAnulty was born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1888. He originally enlisted with the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force on 4th November 1914. However, he was discharged prior to embarkation for an unknown reason. Undeterred, the 26-year-old clerk enlisted again the following year on 11th February 1915, this time with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, and lft Sydney aboard HMAT Argyllshire on 10th April 1915.
In May McAnulty and several others of the battalion were sent to reinforce the 3rd Battalion on Gallipoli. He had kept a diary since the day he left Australia and recorded his experiences on Gallipoli in great detail. One of the last entries concerns the fighting at Lone Pine in early August. McAnulty described his amazement at reaching the opposing Turkish trenches, charging in a trance through the flurry of machine-gun and rifle fire. Sadly, his last entry ends mid-sentence while he is describing the battle.
Cecil McAnulty was killed in action at Lone Pine, sometime between 8th and 10th August 1915. He was originally buried at Brown's Dip North Cemetery but was later reinterred at the Lone Pine Cemetery on Gallipoli.
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Pte. John Hector Croft 3rd Infantry Battalion  John Hector Croft was born in Mittagong, New South Wales 28th March 1891 and grew up in Bulli. At the outbreak of the First World War he was working as a labourer, was 23 and unmarried. Enlisting on 3 November 1914, he joined one of the first Infantry units raised - the 3rd Infantry Battalion, embarking five months later on HMAT Derflinger, with the 2nd reinforcements. The 3rd Battalion was involved with the initial landings at Gallipoli on 25 April and it was at Gallipoli that Croft had an amazing escape. Croft recalled the incident in a letter home to a friend. Talking about the landing, he wrote of seeing his mates being shot and of being peppered with shrapnel. During the battle, Croft was shot - the bullet passing through his arm, which slowed it down. Fortunately for Croft the bullet was stopped by his pocket book - a gift from his friends - before reaching his heart. Croft noted he had been on the shore only seven hours before being hit.
During his recovery in Egypt, Croft learned that his arm had been badly damaged and he was almost sent home to Australia. Before this could take place, Croft was moved to another hospital where he underwent surgery to fix his arm and was able to continue his service with the 3rd Battalion. After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. In March 1916, it sailed for France and the Western Front. From then until 1918 the battalion took part in operations against the German Army, principally in the Somme Valley in France and around Ypres in Belgium.
The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozières on the Somme in July 1916. It was during this battle that Croft's luck ran out. He received a severe gunshot wound and was evacuated by ambulance train. This time, sadly, he did not recover and died on-board the hospital ship St George, crossing from France to England. It was 27 July 1916. He was 25 years old. While Croft was initially listed as being buried at sea, he was in fact taken ashore and buried at Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Mourned by his family, and friends, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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2nd Lt. Henry Francis Briggs 3rd Battalion (d.14th Sep 1917) Henry Francis Briggs was born at Brighton, England in 1891 and worked as a salesman before the outbreak of the First World War. He was 23 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 17th August 1914. He departed Sydney with the 3rd Battalion on 20th October 1914 aboard HMAT Euripides.
Briggs served with the 3rd Battalion in Gallipoli where he was promoted to sergeant on 18th May 1915. He fell ill in November 1915 and recuperated in Egypt until he re-joined his unit on 30th December 1915. Briggs was transferred to the 55th Battalion on 13th February 1916 but he didn't stay with this unit for long. He was transferred to the 14th Australian Machine Gun Company on 11th March 1916.
Briggs served with this unit on the Western Front until 20th July 1916. It was whilst fighting to occupy German trenches during the battle of Fromelles that he was reported missing and it was later confirmed that he had been killed in action on 14th September 1917. Henry Briggs is commemorated on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial, France.
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Sgt. Cecil Charles Harpur Baldwin MM. 18th Infantry Battalion (d.1st Mar 1917) Cecil Charles Harpur Baldwin was born in 1893 at Rydalmere, New South Wales, the grandson of Australian poet Charles Harpur. Preceding his First World War service he was a member of the senior cadets and the militia units St George's Rifles and the Legion of Frontiersmen.
The 22-year-old clerk and accountant enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 16th August 1915, and he departed Sydney with reinforcements for the 18th Infantry Battalion aboard HMAT Suevic on 20th October 1915.
In February 1916 Baldwin was transferred to the 3rd Infantry Battalion, which was sent to the Western Front. Among his regular duties, he wrote of listening in the trenches at night for enemy movement and patrols. He wrote to his mother several times during his time on the front, taking great effort to portray a positive experience as to mitigate her worrying. Baldwin signed off most of these letters with the phrase, "Don't worry, be happy." The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozières in July and August of 1916. There Baldwin was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field during the battle. In November he was wounded in action with a gunshot to the left arm.
On 1st March 1917 Cecil Baldwin was killed at La Barque near Bapaume during an early morning raid by a Prussian Guards unit. He was killed instantly by a sniper's bullet as he emerged over the parapet of his dugout. Baldwin was described by his fellow B Company soldiers as being a "very fearless man" and "one of the bravest men that ever stood". He is buried in France at the Warlencourt British Cemetery.
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Pte. Francis Ahern 3rd Battalion (d.16th Apr 1918) Francis Ahern was the son of Walter and Isabella Woodley Ahern, of 6, Carlisle Terrace, Malahide, Co. Dublin.
He died age 37 and is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France
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Capt. John Patrick Hamilton VC. 3rd Battalion John Patrick Hamilton was born in Orange, New South Wales, Hamilton described himself as a butcher when he enlisted aged eighteen, as a private in the 1st Australian Imperial Force on 15th September 1914. His father William Hamilton was also a butcher and they resided together in Penshurst, Sydney. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion (N.S.W.) and embarked from Sydney in October 1914 on HMAT Euripides. After training in Egypt his battalion sailed for Gallipoli and took part in the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 - his battalion coming ashore in the 2nd and 3rd waves.
He was 19 years old when the following deed took place at Sasse's Sap during the Battle of Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula for which he was awarded the VC:
“For most conspicuous bravery on 9th August, 1915, in the Gallipoli Peninsula. During a heavy bomb attack by the enemy on the newly captured position at Lone Pine, Private Hamilton, with utter disregard to personal safety, exposed himself under heavy fire on the parados, in order to secure a better fire position against the enemy's bomb throwers. His coolness and daring example had an immediate effect. The defence was encouraged, and the enemy driven off with heavy lossâ€
The 3rd Battalion was decimated at Lone Pine but, after the withdrawal from Gallipoli and reorganization in Egypt the Battalion was redeployed to the Western Front in March 1916 and went into the line at Armentières. Hamilton was promoted corporal on 3 May and fought at the Battle of Pozières in July, the Battle of Mouquet Farm in August and Flers in November. He was promoted sergeant in May 1917 and that year his battalion served at Bullecourt and at the Menin Road and Broodseinde theatres of the Battle of Passchendale.
After officer cadet training at Cambridge, England from July 1918 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in January 1919 and promoted Lieutenant in April 1919. After demobilisation, he was discharged in September 1919.
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Edward Arthur Bryans 3rd Battalion (d.4th Oct 1917) Edward Bryans was my great uncle. He was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1886. His parents were Edward and Bessie (Moore) Bryans.
He went to Australia around 1905 and I think he sailed on the ship HMS Encounter. This ship was sent from England to help Australia defend its country. Previously he had spent four years in the militia in England and four years in the British Royal Navy. In the navy he was a stoker first class on HMS Encounter. He married Elizabeth Morton Riddick in 1915 and they had two daughters Myee and Edith.
He enlisted on 17th of January 1916 and arrived in England on 3rd of August 1916. He proceeded to France and marched into the 1st Australian Division Base Depot in Etaples on 17th of Sept 1916.
Edward was wounded in the spring of 1917 and sent to England for medical care. A few months later he returned to fight in Belgium. He was killed 4 Oct 1917 during the Battle of Passenchendale. His name is on the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and also on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
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Sgt. Philip Henry Ward MM, DCM. 3rd Battalion Philip Ward enlisted in Sydney, New South Wales, where he was working as a labourer. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal:
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 9th August, 1915, at Lone Pine (Dardanelles). During a strong counter attack by the enemy, he, with the greatest coolness and bravery, mounted the parapet under a heavy and continuous fire in order to bring more effective fire on the enemy. His gallant conduct set a fine example and materially contributed to encourage the men of his section in repelling the attack.'
He received his medals from George V on Salisbury Plain and was supposed to have received the Freedom of Ipswich, Suffolk England but with family and dignitaries waiting at Ipswich Station, he never arrived and returned home with his Anzac mates instead. (He is listed as departing for Australia on 20th December 1918) This story was from my mother his sister but I cannot find any confirmation of this.
Philip was born in Ipswich in 1895. He was 21 when he embarked from Australia, he was 5' 5.5" and his weight was 126 lbs. He listed his
Next of kin as his Mother, Mrs Annie Naylor, 19 Pottery Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, when he enlisted on the 29th of January 1915.
His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 17 March 1915
He was awarded the Military Medal, listed in the 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 174, on 11th of October 1917
He was taken on strength, with the 3rd Bn, at Gallipoli, 31 May 1915.
Disembarked Alexandria, 29 December 1915 in the general Gallipoli evacuation and embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, on 22 March 1916, arriving at Marseilles, France, on 28th of March 1916. Philip was wounded in action, 26 July 1916 (gun shot wound, chest: severe) and admitted to 9th General Hospital, Rouen then transferred to England, 26 July 1916, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, 28 July 1916. He was discharged to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs on the 28th of September 1916; granted furlough, 30 September 1916; marched in to No 1 Command Depot, from furlough, 20 October 1916. He was
found guilty, on the 20th of October 1916, of being absent without leave from 3 pm, 16 October, till 4 pm, 19 October 1916: admonished, and forfeited 4 days' pay. He was found guilty, on 10th of January 1917, of being absent without leave from midnight, 26 December 1916, to midnight, 4 January 1917 and given 9 days' detention, and forfeited 23 days' pay.
He proceeded overseas to France, 14th February 1917 and rejoined 3rd Bn, in the field, on 14th March 1917. He was promoted Corporal, on 20th of April 1917.
Philip was detached to 1st Australian Division School, on 12th of May 1917 and rejoined his Battalion on 14th June 1917. Appointed Lance Sergeant, 18 July 1917 and Detached to 1st Brigade Musketry Class on 23rd August 1917; rejoining his Bn on 4th September 1917.
He had leave to Paris, from the 16th to 22nd of September 1917 and was
promoted to Sergeant on the 27th.
On the 1st of October 1917 he was admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to 39th General Hospital, Havre, on 3 October 1917 and discharged to duty, 27 October 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 27 days; rejoined Bn, 20 November 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, on the 8th of December 1917 with scabies and transferred same day to 20th General Hospital, Camiers and rejoined his Battalion, in the field on the 26th of December 1917.
He was on leave to United Kingdom from the 19 January 1918 and detached for duty with 1st Training Bn, in England, on expiration of his leave on the 2nd of February 1918. He was admitted to the Isolation Hospital on the 20th February 1918 again suffering from scabies and marched in to 1st Training Bn from hospital on 5 March 1918.
He left England to return to Australia on board HT 'Orontes', 20 December 1918 and disembarked Sydney, 1 February 1919; He was discharged, in Sydney, 9 April 1919.
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L/Cpl. Arthur Edmund Hall 3rd Battalion Australian Imperial Force Arthur enlisted September 1915 and fought in Europe from during WW1 from August 1916 until the end of the War. He was wounded in May 1917 at Bullincourt and spent 2 months recuperating in England before returning to France and resuming his role as a stretcher bearer on the frontline for the duration of the War. He eventually returned to Australia in July 1919.
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Pte. Andrew Anderson C Coy. 33rd Btn. Andrew Anderson was a 39year old farmer from Inverell who joined up in 1916, he was 5'10" tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He arrived in England in July 1916 and proceeded to France on the 16th September 1916 to join the 3rd battalion at the front. On the 11th January 1917 he was admitted to the 25th Stationary Hospital at Rouen in France suffering from Mumps. on the 6th February he was transferred to England aboard the Hospital Ship Sr David having developed Bronchitis. By March he had recovered enough to leave hospital and return to camp in England. In September he returned to France to join the 33rd Battalion. Andrew was reported as wounded in Belgium on the 20th October, but this was then amended to reported Sick. He was killed in Action near Ypres on the 13th November 1917 and was reported to have been buried in that vicinity by men from the 36th Battalion. His name is amongst those with no known grave who are remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
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