Comments on: The Australian War Records Section

By: Jessie Webb

Jessie Webb — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Dear Henry,

The best place to go for this sort of information is the unit’s war diary. You can then check where his unit was and what was happening on the day he was injured.
Your father’s service record is a little confusing, but it looks as though he was injured on 16 October, 1917. The 52nd Battalion was in the lines at Broodseinde Ridge, just east of Ypres, on that day. Broodseinde Ridge had been captured earlier in the month.

Regards,

Jessie Webb
Information Services

By: Henry Browning

Henry Browning — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:20:51 +0000

I am the 80 year old son of Robert James Browning Service no 3119 I do have his service record that shows he was attached to 8th/52 Btn and that he was Shell Gassed wounded and taken prisoner in Germany. My question is where was he wounded? what Battle please? I believe somewhere in France.

Thanking you for any information auswal01@optusnet.com.au

By: Diane Wells

Diane Wells — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:09:53 +0000

My Uncle Walter (Norman) Nicholls was a Captain in the First A.I.F. He was apparently injured in the first World War, was hospitalised in Germany and had surgery on his chest and heart. My relatives, who have since died, thought he was a member of English M.I.5. A prisoner of war, he later was returned to England and then Melbourne. The story goes that on his return to Australia, an officer put him to work on “dock duty”, not believing his status of Captain and working for British Intelligence. He became ill with pneumonia and died. He was buried in Linton, after a large military funeral and grave with the rising sun emblem as a headstone. Do you have any information on Uncle Norman, as I am new at this research. I would be fascinated to have any information or resource material.
Many thanks, Mrs. Diane Wells (Nicholls )
(Neice of the above.)

Editor’s response: Hello Diane. I had a look on our nominal roll for a Captain Walter Nicholls but couldn’t find one. Can you tell us any further details such as his middle name, where in Australia he was from, or which unit he enlisted with, or later served with (if different to the one he enlisted in)? What about Nichols spelled with one ‘L’? If we can figure him out, I can then point you to his personal service record held by the National Archives of Australia.

Craig Tibbitts
Curator Official Records
Australian War Memorial

By: greg john james tuohy

greg john james tuohy — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:30:53 +0000

my grand father fought in the 1st and second world war his name is hugh witworth morris, my mum remembers dad talking about flanders field. if you have any imfomation on my grand father it would be gratefully appreciated i want to apply for the medals he was given and imformation were he fought, you can contact me at turbotuohy@hotmail.com

Editor’s response: Hello Greg, National Archives holds your grandfather’s personal service dossiers. The First World War dossier is available to read online. His Second World War dossier is listed here, however this cannot be read online. You’d have to apply to the archive for a copy to be made. It appears he served with 9th Field Ambulance around the time of Passchendaele. The service dossier will give an outline of where he was and when. Further reading would be a published unit history (if one exists for the 9th Field Ambulance), or their unit war diaries which are held here at the Australian War Memorial.

As for medals, contact Dept of Defence Honours and Awards.

Regards,

Craig Tibbitts

By: Frans Heinlein

Frans Heinlein — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:38:30 +0000

Very interresting thank you