The Plugstreet Archaeological Project The 36th Infantry Battalion.

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The 36th Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division, was raised at Broadmeadow Camp, in Newcastle, New South Wales in February 1916 following a a recruiting drive amongst the rifle clubs of New South Wales by the Minister for Public Information in the New South Wales government, Ambrose Carmichael. Leading to the battalion being known as “Carmichael’s Thousand”. Carmichael himself enlisted in the 36th, serving as a captain. The 36th Btn departed for England from Sydney on the 13th of May 1916 on board the Beltana. A further 7 reinforcements would follow, the last leaving Sydney on the 2nd of August 1917. Arriving in England in early July, the 35th battalion spent the next four months training and crossed to France to take up positions on the Western Front in late November 1917. Their first major action was the Battle of Messines, launched on the 7th of June 1917, when the battalion attacked over ground near Ploegsteert Wood, close to the Ultimo and Factory Farm mines. The faced a 3 mile march from their camp which lead them through the wood under shelling from the enemy and a gas attack which slowed progress and claimed casualties. The battalion reached their jumping off points just in time for the start of the battle, signaled by the explosion of nineteen huge mines laid beneath a nine mile stretch of the enemy front line. The delay in the wood meant that many of the men went straight over the top, without pausing for the refreshments which had been planned. The 36th Battalion went onto the Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they saw action in the Spring Offensive when the enemy pushed through the lines. The 36th Battalion disbanded on the 30th April 1918, with the men reinforcing the other battalions of the 9th Brigade as heavy casualties had been suffered. With their new battalions they went on to take part in the counter offensive and saw action at the Battle of Amiens and the Battle of St Quentin Canal.

Those who served with The 36th Btn at the Battle of Messines. Aird   Lachlan McDonald Pte. Antcliff James Hartley Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Antcliffe   James Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Bennett Thomas Newbon Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Bentley J. B. Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Burns Alfred Alexander Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Fleming Walter Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Fuller E. C. B. Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Hanks John Thomas Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Haynes   Alfred John Pte. Hennessy John Albert Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Johnson Frederick William Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Jones Arthur Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Kelly Robert William L/Cpl. d.10th Jun 1917 Macaulay James Pte. d.9th Jun 1917 McAuliffe Hugh Paul Pte. d.9th Jun 1917 McKinery William Edward Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 McNamara Martin Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Moore William Richard Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Morris Walter John Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Norman Beresford Grey Sgt. d.9th Jun 1917 Piggott Francis John Capt. d.10th Jun 1917 Piggott   John Capt. Ross Alexander Pte. d.7th Jun 1917 Schipper H. Pte. d.9th Jun 1917 Sieman Percy Henry Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Stead William John Sgt. d.7th Jun 1917 Wilson J. Sgt. d.8th Jun 1917 Wright C. Pte. d.10th Jun 1917 Wright Frederick Pte. d.10th Jun 1917

Digging Up Plugstreet Richard Osgood and Martin Brown The compelling story of the Australian soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division who journeyed to England in 1914, and who fought and died on the Western Front during the First World War. Using archaeology as the vehicle for their story, Martin Brown and Richard Osgood follow in the footsteps of the 'Aussies', from their training on windswept Salisbury Plain to the cheerless trenches of Belgium, where they 'dug-in' north-east of Ploegsteert to face the Germans. It presents a unique window into the world of the men who marched away to fight the so-called 'war to end wars More information on: Digging Up Plugstreet

Pillars of Fire: The Battle of Messines Ridge, June 1917 Ian Passingham Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography.' So said General Plumer the day before 600 tons of explosives were detonated under the German positions on Messines Ridge. The explosion was heard by Lloyd George in Downing Street, and as far away as Dublin. Until 1918, Messines was the only clear cut Allied victory on the Western Front, coming at a time when Britain and her allies needed it most: boosting Allied morale and shattering that of the Germans. Precisely orchestrated, Messines was the first true all-arms modern battle which brought together artillery, engineers, infantry, tanks, aircraft and administrative units from a commonwealth of nations to defeat the common enemy. So why is its name not as familiar as the Somme, Passchendaele or Verdun? General Sir Herbert Plumer, perhaps the most meticulous, resourceful and respected British general of WW1, is also unfamiliar to many. This book examines the battle for the Messines-Wytschaete Rid More information on: Pillars of Fire: The Battle of Messines Ridge, June 1917

Bullecourt 1917: Breaching the Hindenburg Line Paul Kendall The assault upon the formidable Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt in April and May 1917 by three British Divisions - the 7th, 58th and 62nd - and three Australian Divisions was initially designed to assist Allenby's Third Army break out from Arras. This book tells the full story of a battle that can be seen as an archetype of the horrors of trench warfare. The controversial first Bullecourt battle of 11th April came to be regarded as the worst Australian defeat of the War, when Australian infantry assaulted without artillery and tank support. They were badly let down by the British tanks - but the British tank crews were let down in their turn by their own commanders, who put them in the forefront of the attack in Mark II training tanks, prone to malfunction and not armour-plated. Significant numbers fought their way into the German lines at Bullecourt against all odds, including legendary ANZAC soldiers Major Percy Black, Captain Albert Jacka and Captain Harry Murray. The Australians achi More information on: Bullecourt 1917: Breaching the Hindenburg Line

If you know of anyone who served with this unit at the Battle of Messines, please complete the form below so that they can be remembered. Required fields are marked *                      Surname:             * Of the veteran.. First Name:          Middle Name(s): Nick Name:        Rank:                  Galantry Awards: DSO, MID etc. Service Number: Service:               * British Army/AIF/NZ/RFC/Civilian. etc. Unit:                     Regiment/Squadron etc. Sub unit:              Battalion/Section/Flight/etc. Home:                 prewar address/town/village Date of Death,     if during the war. Web Link,           If you have a webpage about your relative please provide the address. Please tell us about your relative: name of submitter:* Your name. email:                   @ Please type in the code shown here:   If you are unable to read the code please click here. If you have any photographs please scan or digitally photograph your orginials and send a copy by email attachment. NB. All entries are checked manually before appearing online to prevent spam and inappropriate content. There will be a delay before your submission appears on the website.

Links War Diary of the 36th Infantry Battalion.