Driver Michael Halbert Hayman was the youngest of five children of Frederick Hayman (1862-1928) and Mary Halbert (1863-1935). He was born in Eaglehawke, Victoria, on 22nd October, 1895. Michael spent over five years as a cadet in the 88th Battalion.

He was working as a commercial traveller at the time of his enlistment on 1st October, 1916, in the 11th Reinforcements, 24th Field Artillery Brigade. Michael embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Shropshire on 11th May 1917, arriving in Plymouth and joining the Reserve (or Reinforcement) Brigade of the Australian Field Artillery at Larkhill in July. He proceeded to France and joined his unit, 2nd Division Ammunition Column, on 23rd October 1917.

In late October, the unit was located in the Ypres/Passchendaele supporting the 2nd Division fighting the Battle of Broodseinde. Following this, the division moved southwards for the winter, occupying front-line and support positions in the Somme/Albert area. Michael was granted leave to Paris in February 1918. In early April, the division was located in the Villers- Bretonneux area to meet the German threat during their Spring Offensive. In August, the 2nd Division (with its artillery) took part in the Battle of Amiens, attacking from Villers-Bretonneux. The division advanced up the Somme and in October attacked the Beaurevoir Line and captured Montbrehain. By 18th October, they were withdrawn to rest and refit. Michael was granted leave to England in October, rejoining his unit on 8th November 1918. Following Armistice on 11th November 1914, the division began the long move into occupation and demobilisation areas with artillery and supply columns moving gradually eastward through northern France and into southern Belgium, performing equipment maintenance, horse care and salvage duties. Training and ceremonial duties were common – parades, inspections and memorial services. Michael was sent to England in March 1919 to attend an aircraft gunner’s course. He returned to Australia on 16th June, 1919 on RMS Ormonde.

Following discharge, Michael returned to his work as a commercial traveller, living in Hyde Street until his father died, then moving with his mother to Woodville Street. Michael took up farming at Mandiga in the 1930s. He married Jeanie Prentice (1909-1988) in Fremantle in 1938. Michael participated in the South-West tennis tournament in 1939. He put his property up for sale in 1942. Michael and Jeanie moved to South Perth, living at 197 Millpoint Road, and Michael resumed work as a commercial traveller. Michael and Jeanie had three children. Michael died at South Perth on 15th April 1966 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image of a painting by Arthur Streeton of the 1st AIF, 2nd Division Ammunition Column, courtesy of the AWM.

Private James Slaney Brown was the eldest of two children of railway traffic inspector father James Slaney Brown (1865-1903) and Henrietta Bevis (1868-1952). He was born in Perth on 25th June 1898. Younger sister Evelyn was born in 1900. Father James died in 1903 and mother Henrietta married again and had a further two children. The family lived in Hyde Street.

James spent three years with the 88th Infantry Battalion, North Perth, prior to WW1. James was working as a store man when he enlisted on 27th March 1916, in the 19th Reinforcements, 11th Battalion. James embarked on HMAT Miltiades on 7th August 1916, arriving in Plymouth in September, and joining 3rd Training Battalion at Pernham Downs.

In December 1916 James proceded to France on the SS Princess Victoria, departing from Folkestone to the Allied Base Depot in Etaples. In January 1917 James was detached from 11th Battalion to the Number 13 Prisoner of War Company and after a short time then attached to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot. This base depot was formed in March, 1916 and moved to Le Havre in June 1917. Depot command had responsibility for military discipline, medical/staging services, training cadres, transport and the drafting of reinforcements to battalions in the lines. It was the AIF’s reception, hospital and reinforcement HQ in France.

James was put before a medical board in August 1917 at Le Havre and was deemed PB – fit for home service, not to serve abroad. James returned to Australia and was discharged in November 1917 living with his mother and family at 23 Hyde street, North Perth. He applied to re enlist on 22nd November, 1917, and was appointed to the 5th District Guards. He was discharged at his own request on 30th November, 1917, at the number 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle.

James was living in Maylands and working as a labourer in 1925. From there, he worked as a mill hand in various locations-Treesville, Waroona and Palgarup. In 1960 he travelled to the UK. He was living at 73 Wood Street, Inglewood, at the time. James had requested a copy of his discharge papers as his own records had been lost in a fire. James had retired by 1977 and was living at 46 Broun Avenue. He died on 19th July, 1983, and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery with instructions his ashes be placed in the family grave. There is no record of marriage or children. Image of 1st ADBD Etaples courtesy of Roads to the Great War.

Temporary Sergeant Thomas Vigors was the youngest of two children of parents Thomas Mercer Vigors (1861-1910) and Ellen Vigors (-1958). He was born in Marylebone on 19th November 1897. Older sister Dorothy was born in 1895. The 1911 UK Census has Thomas senior deceased and the family living with Thomas Junior’s uncle in Hanwell, Middlesex. In 1911, Ellen and her two children left London for Fremantle on the SS Rangatira. Thomas spent four months serving with the 37th Battery AFA in 1915. The family were living in Hyde Street. Thomas enlisted on 24th September 1915 in the 1st Reinforcements, 44th Battalion, and trained with the 31st depot at Blackboy Hill. He embarked on HMAT Suevic on 6th June, 1916, and joined 11th Training Battalion. Thomas proceeded to France in November, 1916. He was hospitalised with mumps in January, 1917.

From April, 1917, the battalion moved to the Messines sector with the first major combat action taking place in June and suffering heavy casualties. They rested and reorganised from July – August, absorbing new reinforcements, then returning to the line near Broodseinde Ridge.

The Battle of Passchendaele spanned three months of combat from the 31st July 1917 to 10th November 1917. It was an inconclusive battle between the British Empire and German Empire, committing a total of nearly 140 Divisions with casualties amounting to anywhere from 457,000 – 850,000. The 44th Battalion’s role in the battle lasted 12 days.

“It seemed that every gun on the Western Front was being dropped on to or in front of the 11th Brigade. The 44th was split up into little groups struggling and cursing their way forward, many men being killed or wounded, and the survivors exhausted and covered with mud. Organised movement was impossible and it stands as a monument to the Digger that not one man turned back. Despite the sheer horror of the whole operation, when morning dawned the 44th Battalion was lying in the mud on a line approximating that which had been taken one week earlier in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge.” – Captain Longmore

Before dawn on the 10th October 1917, the 44th Battalion advanced forward but were isolated by the heavy German fire and suffered heavy casualties. Mustard gas dropped on the Australian positions. By the end of the first day the 44th had suffered seven killed. On the second day another five were killed and another five the day after that.

“British Empire troops from all over the world had been fighting heavily for the past three months, with no appreciable gain in territory for their tremendous efforts. In one shellhole alone were seen five dead men, evidently killed on various dates. An English officer, a coloured King’s African Rifleman, a New Zealander, a Highlander and an Australian. Such a “grave” in itself lent a grim significance to the term World War, for the bugle call had brought these willing fighters together from every British corner of it. In life strangers; in death comrades united.” – Captain Longmore

“The slope was littered with dead, both theirs and ours. I got to one pillbox to find it was just a mass of dead, and so I passed on carefully to the one ahead. Here I found about fifty men alive, of the Manchesters. Never have I seen men so broken or demoralised. They were huddled up close behind the box in the last stages of exhaustion and fear. Fritz had been sniping them off all day, and had accounted for 57 that day – the dead and dying lay in piles. The wounded were numerous – unattended and weak, they groaned and moaned all over the place.” – Lieutenant Fisher.

From the 13th to the 21st October 1917 the 44th were ordered to hold the line. The 14th October was the deadliest day of the battle. The battalion had begun October with around 1000 men and after three weeks of hellish fighting had just 150 men. The total 44th casualties for the Battle of Passchendaele were around 40 killed and another 100-150 wounded.

Thomas was gassed on 16th October 1917. He rejoined his unit following treatment and in December was detached to 11th Brigade Headquarters as a runner. He served there until December, 1918, and transferred to London and Pay Corps in 1919. In April he was promoted to temporary VO Sergeant. Thomas returned to Australia on SS Leicestershire in May 1919.

Thomas was living with his mother and sister in Swanbourne and working as a clerk in 1922. He married Ethel Eliza Guthrie (1892-1960) in 1930. Thomas started work as a wool classer with Elders, Fremantle, and the couple lived in Swanbourne. By 1942 he was the head wool classer. Thomas enlisted in WW2, W66969. Thomas and Ethel lived in West Perth and Nedlands, with mother Ellen and typist sister Dorothy always living close by. The couple had no children. Thomas died on 31st January, 1978, and is memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery and on the North Perth Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

Image and some history courtesy of the 44battalipnmemorial.com.