The 35th Battalion was raised in December 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales. The bulk of the Battalion’s recruits were drawn from the Newcastle region and thus was dubbed “Newcastle’s Own”. Reflecting the demographics of the area, there were a high proportion of miners among the battalion members, 1,330 men from the Hunter Region were drafted into the Battalion.
The 35th Battalion became a part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. The Mayor of Newcastle wrote to the Minister of the Navy, Mr Jensen on the 20th April 1916 requesting that the Newcastle troops should embark at Newcastle: Quote" In confirmation of my telegram to you, I desire to bring under your notice that it would be a very gratifying compliment to the residence of this city and district if you could make arrangements for the embarkation of troops at present in camp here (especially the 35th Battalion, Newcastle's Own) from Newcastle, on leaving for the seat of war." Unquote.
The 35th Battalion left Sydney on the 1st May 1916 bound for the United Kingdom aboard the H.M.A.T. A24 "BENALLA" with 28 Officers and 991 other ranks. The original 35th Battalion had regimental numbers between 1-1513. Compiling of Headquarters, Machine Gun Section, A Company, B Company, C Company and D Company. Arriving in England in early July, the Battalion spent the next four months in training. It crossed into France in late November,and moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on the 26th of November, just in time for the onset of the terrible winter of 1916-17.
The Battalion had to wait until the emphasis of British and Dominion operations switched to the Ypres Section of Belgium in mid-1917 to take part in its first major battle; this was the battle of Messines, launched on the 7th June. The 35th’s next major battle was around Passchendale on the 12th October. Heavy rain, though, had deluged the battlefield, and thick mud tugged at the advancing troops and fouled their weapons. The battle was a disaster for the 35th; 508 men crossed the start line but only 90 remained unwounded at the end.
For the next five months the 35th alternated between periods of rest, training, labouring, and service in the line. When the German Army launched its last great offensive in the spring of 1918, the battalion was part of the force deployed to defend the approaches to Amiens around Villers-Brentonneux. It took part in a counter-attack at Hangard Wood on the 30th March, and helped to defeat a major drive on Villers-Bretonneux on the 4th April. The desperate nature of the fighting at this time is revealed by the fact that the 35th Battalion suffered nearly 70 per cent casualties during these operations.
Later in 1918, the 35th also played a role in the Allies own offensive. It took part in the battle of Amiens on the 8th August; fought several small battles during the rapid advance that followed; and at the end of September provided reserves for the joint Australian-American operation that breached the Hindenburg Line, thus sealing Germany’s defeat. The 35th Battalion disbanded in March 1919.
(Extracts from the Australian War Memorial, Newspaper articles and private research by author)
35th Battalion departed Sydney 1st May 1916-HMAT A24 Benalla.
1st Reinforcements departed Sydney 1st May 1916-HMAT A24 Benalla.
2nd Reinforcements departed Sydney 4th September 1916-HMAT A15 Port Sydney.
3rd Reinforcements departed Sydney 24th August 1916-HMAT A68 Anchises.
4th Reinforcements departed Sydney 17th October 1916-HMAT A30 Borda.
5th Reinforcements departed Sydney 25th October 1916-HMAT A11 Ascanius.
6th Reinforcements departed Sydney 25th November 1916-HMAT A72 Beltana.
7th Reinforcements departed Sydney 24th January 1917-HMAT A68 Anchises.
8th Reinforcements departed Sydney 2nd August 1917-HMAT A28 Miltiades.
Messiness 1917
Ypres
Polygon Wood
Broodseinde
Poelcappele
Passchendaele
Somme 1918
Ancre 1918
Amiens
Albert 1918
Mont St Quentin
Hindenburg Line
St Quentin Canal
France and Flanders 1916-1918
Casualties:581 killed, 1637 wounded.(including gassed)
Lieutenant Colonel, Grantley Andrew Hillier HOLBOROW. 10/02/1916-1916
Lieutenant Colonel, Henry Arthur GODDARD.C.M.G. D.S.O.
Lieutenant Colonel. Harold Fletcher WHITE. C.M.G. D.S.O.30/04/1918-16/06/1918
Lieutenant Colonel: Henry Arthur GODDARD. C.M.G D.S.O.
Lieutenant Colonel: Harold Fletcher WHITE. C.M.G. D.S.O.
Lieutenant Colonel: Henry Arthur GODDARD. C.M.G. D.S.O.
Lieutenant Colonel: Harold Fletcher WHITE.C.M.G. D.S.O.
Major. Hugh John CONNELL: D.S.O. M.C. @ Bar
Captain: Robert Derwent DIXON: D.S.O.
Major. Hugh John CONNELL.D.S.O. M.C. @ Bar
Captain: Henry Charles Dight CADELL. M.C.
Captain: Gilbert Gordon COGHILL. M.C.
Captain: 1167 Richard Valentine LATHLEAN. M.C. @ Bar
Captain: John Grieve PATERSON. M.C.
Captain: Lindon Helton BIDDULPH. M.C.
Captain: Chaplain 4th Class: John Edward Norman OSBORN. M.C.
Lieutenant: 1110 Norman Beade D’ARCY. M.C.
Lieutenant P.M Dunn MC,
Lieutenant F.J. Deyere MC, Clerk, Newcastle. N.S.W. (Moore Park 28/01/1896) VI 79
Lieutenant: 161 Donald Lincon McKENZIE. M.C.
Lieutenant: 530 James Allan PURCELL. M.C.
Lieutenant: 759 Jeremiah "Jerry" DONOVAN. D.C.M. M.M.
Lieutenant: 1267 James THOMPSON. D.C.M.
Lieutenant: 242 Leslie James West. D.C.M.
Regimental Sergeant-Major: Richard Fletcher DCM,
Company Sergeant-Major: 459 Albert William HARTLAND. D.C.M. M.I.D.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant: 387 Alexander CAMPBELL. D.C.M.
Warrant Officer 2: Henry Anson DCM,
Private Harold Beaird DCM.
The following transcripts of citations for the Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded for
‘Distinguished conduct in the field’.
Lieutenant: Jerry Donovan D.C.M. M.M.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on Curlu on 28th August 1918.
In command of the left assault platoon of the left battalion, he pushed out and established a
forward post, where he came under heavy machine gun fire. Without hesitation he worked forward
100 yards and bombed the gun. He then assisted the next unit to establish an advanced post.
(London Gazette: 10th January 1920)
Private Harold Beaird DCM
For conspicuous gallantly and devotion to duty as a runner during a long period. He carried out
many dangerous and difficult tasks, and as a result set a splendid example of determination and
courage to his comrades.
(London Gazette: 17th April 1918)
Lieutenant: 759 Jeremiah "Jerry" DONOVAN. D.C.M. M.M.
Lieutenant P.M Dunn MM,
Lieutenant William Glossop MM (KIA),
Sergeant Vincent Lawrence Andrews MM,
Sergeant: 709 Hugh Robert Archard. M.M.
Sergeant: 2533 Cyril Theodore BURKITT. M.M.
Sergeant Robert Dick MM,
Sergeant Edward Gain MM,
Sergeant: 985 Clement Fairfax MORRISBY. +
M.M.
Sergeant: 2139 Gilbert WALTERS. M.M.
Sergeant: 244 Richard WILLIAMS. M.M.
Corporal James Burraston Angove MM,
Corporal: 1959A John Joseph CURRAN. M.M.
Corporal: 71 Harold ELLICOTT. M.M.
Corporal: 141 Robert LODER.M.M.
Corporal Herbert Parkinson MM (KIA),
Lance Corporal: 2637 Andrew Clarence MITCHELL. M.M.
Lance Corporal John William Tilden MM,
Private: 1511 Thomas BLACKWELL. M.M.
Private Arthur Davidson Allen MM,
Private Arthur Archinal MM,
Private: 2527 Francis Harold BINNS. M.M.
Private John E Canham MM,
Private Charles Warren McKinnon MM,
Private John Mills MM,
Private George Peacock MM,
Private: 1921 Francis Harold SULLIVAN. M.M.
Sergeant, Conumemes Fitzsimmons MSM.
Lieutenant Colonel: Archibald Clifford BLACKLOW. MID x 2.
Lieutenant Colonel. Harold Fletcher WHITE.C.M.G. D.S.O. MID x2
Major. Hugh John CONNELL. D.S.O . M.C.@ Bar. MID.
Major F.G. Grant,
Captain. Lindon Helton BIDDULPH. M.C. M.I.D.
Captain: John Grieve PATERSON. M.C. M.I.D.
Lieutenant: George HALFORD. M.I.D.
Lieutenant: Alton Claude CATTLE. M.I.D.
Lieutenant: 10 Hugh Murray BUNTINE. M.I.D.
Lieutenant: 1267 James THOMPSON. D.C.M. M.I.D.
Company Sergeant Major: 1125 Harry Cleveland GOODSIR. M.I.D.
Company Sergeant-Major: 459 Albert William HARTLAND. D.C.M. M.I.D.
Sergeant Sidney Smith William Saunders,
Sergeant H.M. York,
Acting Sergeant: 1647 James Wright FORRESTER. M.I.D.
Corporal J.J. Marks,
Acting Lance Corporal F.J. French,
Acting Lance Corporal: 119 James HALLIWELL. M.I.D.
Private W. Barett,
Private L.D.R. Bell,
Private Phillip Esmond Calley,
Private W. Carr.
Private: 13 Stanley Alexander ANDERSON.
Lieutenant Colonel. Harold Fletcher WHITE. C.M.G. D.S.O.
