2749A Private Harold Lapworth
9th Infantry Battalion,
3rd Brigade,
1st Division
4th & 6th Australian Motor Transport Companies
1st Australian Imperial Force
This file last updated
2 September, 2023 0:28
Introduction
Harold Lapworth enlisted in 1915 and was originally posted as a reinforcement to the 25th Battalion.
On arrival in Egypt he was instead allotted to the 9th Battalion as a replacement for those Gallipoli
veterans who had been sent off to form the nucleus of the newly-raised 49th Battalion.
Towards the end of the war he was allotted to the 6th Australian Motor Transport Company as an artificer
(today known as a mechanic) and 3 months after joining that unit he was reallocated to the 4th AMT Coy.
Details concerning the 9th Battalion AIF taken from the entry on the Australian War Memorial site and the
wikipedia entry for the 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment (9 RQR).
See a copy of Harold's original Record of Service, his entry on the
WW1 Nominal Roll and WW1 Embarkation Roll.
There is a further record in the National Archives, being five pages
in respect of his fianceé Miss Gladys Violet Stockwell's free passage
to Australia in 1920. (Continue to scroll down the PDF as the first page concerns rehousing of the record and can be
deceiving.) Gladys' address was 15 Boundary Road, Hoodgreen, London and curiously,
the application for free passage gives Harold's address in Moore Street, Paddington, Brisbane as being
"C/- Mrs E.H. Stockwell".
This record of the service of Harold Lapworth was prepared for Agnes Rudd, neé Lapworth by Clive
Mitchell-Taylor, September 2019. Harold was one of three brothers who served in the 1st AIF, and one of
his first cousins also served.
Brother 1884 Frederick Arthur Lapworth served with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment,
1st Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and later with the 11th Field Artillery
Brigade for the newly raised 4th Division in Egypt and France. He went on to serve in WW2
Brother, 2371 James Ernest Lapworth was twice wounded in action (WIA) with the 12th Infantry Battalion and later
repatriated to Australia.
Cousin, 3598 Ralph Leslie Lapworth was assigned to the 6th Light Horse after enlisting in 1917, but he was
hospitalised with epilepsy and returned to Australia as medically unfit.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviations or acronyms which have a dotted underline can be expanded by moving the cursor
over the term - e.g. WIA. The cursor will be replaced by
? and the expanded abbreviation will be displayed. This is gradually being
incorporated into the site, replacing the the current expansion of abbreviations. There may
be a discernable delay of about a second before the expansion is first provided.
There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available
through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here. Abbreviations are inconsistent,
even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.
There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records.
Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1.
Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are
regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.
Duplicated Pages
Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the
same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon
discharge or death in Service.
Service Numbers
Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service
Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers
for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers
Dates of Occurrence and Reporting
The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.
The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily
recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record,
and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at
all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.
To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence.
This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.
For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.
The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the
service record of Harold Lapworth. Over the course of the war there was a number of versions of the questions
put to the enlistees.
AUSTRALIAN
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MILITARY FORCES
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AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad
No.
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2749A
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Name
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LAPWORTH, HAROLD
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Unit
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6th Reinforcements 25th Infantry Battalion
9th Infantry Battalion
6th Australian Motor Transport Company
4th Australian Motor Transport Company
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Joined
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20 August 1915
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Questions to be put to the Person Enlisting before Attestation
1.
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What is your Name?
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1.
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Harold Lapworth
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2.
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In what Parish or Town were you born?
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2.
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In the Parish of Brisbane, in or near the Town of Brisbane in the County of Queensland
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3.
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Are you a natural born British Subject or a Naturalised British Subject? (N.B. — If the latter, papers to be shown)
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3.
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Yes (natural born)
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4.
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What is your age?
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4.
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22 years 8 months [Actual date of birth is 22 Dec 1893]
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5.
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What is your trade or calling?
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5.
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Carter
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6.
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Are you, or have you been, an Apprentice? If so, where, to whom, and for what period?
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6.
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No
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7.
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Are you married?
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7.
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No
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8.
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Who is your next of kin? (Address to be stated)
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8.
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Brother, Mr F. [Frank Joseph] Lapworth
Grey Street, South Brissbane
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9.
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Have you ever been convicted by the Civil Power?
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9.
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No
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10.
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Have you ever been discharged from any part of His Majesty's Forces, with Ignomony, or as Incorrigible
and Worthless, or on account of Conviction of Felony, or of a Sentence of Penal Servitude, or have you
been dismissed with Disgrace from the Navy?
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10.
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No
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11.
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Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in, His Majesty's army, the Marines, the Militia, the Militia,
Reserve, the Territorial Force, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and if not now serving,
state cause of discharge.
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11.
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No
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12.
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Have you stated the whole, if any, of your previous service?
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12.
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Yes
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13.
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Have you ever been rejected as unfit for His Majesty's Service? If so, on what grounds?
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13.
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No
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14.
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(For married men, widowers with children, and soldier who are the sole support of widowed mother) -
Do you understand that no separation allowance will be issue in respect of your service beyond an amount which
together with pay would reach eight shillings [$A0.80¢] per day?
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14.
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15.
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Are you prepared to undergo innoculations against small pox and enteric fever?
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15.
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Yes
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence.
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I have taken care that he understands each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as
replied to by him.
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I have examined his naturalisation papers and am of opinion that they are correct.
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Date 20 Aug 1915
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Signature of Attesting Officer
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OATH TO BE TAKEN BY PERSON BEING ENLISTED
I, Harold Lapworth swear that I will well and truly serve
our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from 20 Aug 1915 until the end of the War,
and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed
therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty's enemies and cause His Majesty's peaceto be kept and
maintained; and that i will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty
according to law.
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SO HELP ME GOD
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   Signature of Person Enlisted
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Taken and subscribed at Brisbane in the State of
Queensland this 20th
day of August, 1915, before me :—
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Signature of Attesting Officer
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* A person enlisting who objects to taking an oath may make an afformation in accordance with the Third Schedule of the Act,
and the above form must be amended accordingly. All amendments must be initialed by the Attesting Officer.
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Description of LAPWORTH, HAROLD on Enlistment
Age 20 years
8 months
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[b. 22 Dec 1893]
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Distinctive Marks
6/6 6/6
[Refers to the ability to see at 6m or 20 feet, what should
normally be seen at that distance i.e. normal vision]
[No distinctive marks were noted]
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Height 5 feet
4½ inches
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[154.8cm]
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Weight 8 st 11
lbs
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[55.9Kg]
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Chest 35½ / 37½ inches
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[90.2 - 95.25cm]
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Eyes Grey
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Hair Brown
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Religious Denomination C of E
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[Church of England now Anglican Church of Australia]
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CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
I have examined the above-named person and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz:—
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence, defects of vision, voice or hearing; hernia;
haemorhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendant testicle; inveterate
cutaneous disease; chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment, or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or
B.C.; contracted or deformed chest abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to
unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs;
and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description.
I consider him fit for active service.
Date 4 Nov 1915
Place Troopship A69
Signature of Examining Medical Officer
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
I CERTIFY that this attestation of the above-named person is correct and that the required forms
have been complied with. I according approve and appoint him to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date
Place
Signature of Officer Commanding
Chronological Events
Rank
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Description
|
Date
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Remarks
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Private
|
Enlisted
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20 Aug 1915
|
Initial training would have been conducted at one of the
military camps in and around Brisbane, but there is no
formal record of this, which is not unusual in the case
of the 1915 volunteers.
|
Private
|
Allotted to 6th Reinforcements to the 25th Battalion
|
Not known
|
|
Private
|
Embarked on HMAT SEANG BEE (A48)
for Middle East
|
21 Oct 1915
|
By the time this draft of reinforcements arrived in Egypt, troops on Gallipoli had been
withdrawn and reorganisation of the AIF was taking place. Experienced Gallipoli veterans
were placed as the initial backbone of newly created units, while the units themselves
were reallocated to form the basis of newly created Brigades and Divisions.
|
Private
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Disembarked at Zeitoun, Egypt.
|
Not known
|
|
Private
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Reallocated to 9th Infantry Battalion
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27 Feb 1916
|
Presumably after initial training in Egypt
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Private
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Taken on strength of 9 Bn
|
28 Feb 1916
|
|
Private
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Proceeded to join BEF.
Embarked Alexandria aboard RMS SAXONIA
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27 Mar 1916
|
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Private
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Disembarked Marseilles
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3 Apr 1916
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private
|
Attached to 1st Div HQ from 9 Bn for Traffic Duties, France
|
23 Aug 1916
|
|
Private
|
Discharged from HQ, returned to 9 Bn
|
19 Dec 1916
|
|
Private
|
To Hospital, sick - VD
|
11 Jul 1917
|
It was recently revealed that approximately 15% of Australian troops in WW1 were diagnosed with VD.
It was of little concern to troops who knew that they could be killed or maimed the next day, and
there were many who took the risk because they did not want to die without having had sex.
|
Private
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Admitted to 1 Div Rest Station, Venereal Disease Gonorrhea
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11 Jul 1917
|
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Private
|
Discharged to Duty after treatment of 11 days
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21 Jul 1917
|
Mention of the period of treatment is significant because pay was stopped
for the period of treatment of VD because it was deemed to be a "self-inflicted wound".
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Private
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On leave to UK
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19 Aug 1917
|
|
Private
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Rejoined Battalion
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2 Sep 1917
|
|
Private
|
On leave to UK
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11 Mar 1918
|
|
Private
|
Rejoined Bn
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31 Mar 1918
|
|
Private
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To Hospital, Sick, Cellulitis
|
11 Apr 1918
|
20 CCS
|
Private
|
Admitted to [illegible], transferred to AT.
|
13 Apr 1918
|
|
Private
|
Admitted, Cellulitis [illegible] Rouen
|
14 Apr 1918
|
|
Private
|
To Convalescent Depot
|
16 Apr 1918
|
|
Private
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To 11th Convalescent Depot
|
20 Apr 1918
|
|
Private
|
Discharged to Base Depot
|
25 May 1918
|
Medical Class A
|
Private
|
Marched in to AIBD Havre
|
25 May 1918
|
By this time the Divisional Base Depots had been replaced by a single Base Depot
|
Private
|
Marched out to Unit
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28 May 1918
|
|
Private
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Absent Without Leave
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8:30pm 13 Jul 1918 to 10:30pm 27 Jul 1918
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Private
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FIELD GENERAL COURT MARTIAL
CHARGE Absenting himself without leave from 8:30pm 13 Jul 1918
to 10:30pm 27 Jul 1918
FINDING Guilty
SENTENCE 56 days Field Punishment No 2
CONFIRMED by GOC 3 Inf Bde 13 Sep 1918
Date of 1st Investigation 31 Jul 1918
PROMULGATED 17 Jul 1918
FORFEITURE Concurrent From 12 Sep 1918 to 17 Sep 1918, total forfeiture 114 days pay
|
12 Sep 1918
|
Field Punishment No 1 consisted of heavy labouring duties, possibly restraint in handcuffs or fetters and
being tied to a post or wheel. Field Punishment No 2 differed in that the offender was not liable to be
attached to a fixed object.
[Note that the absence was 14 days, and the length of the punishment was 4 times the absence.
There is insufficient detail to determine exactly how the forfeiture of pay was calculated in this case, but
it generally comprised all of the time the soldier was unavailable for normal duties - the periods of the absence,
incarceration awaiting trial and punishment.]
|
Private
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Detached to 6th AMT Coy
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18 Nov 1918
|
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Temporary Artificer
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Transferred from 9 Bn to 6 AMT Coy and taken on strength as an Artificer
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2 Feb 1919
|
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Temporary Artificer
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Transferred to 4 AMT Coy
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24 May 1919
|
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Temporary Artificer
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Taken on Strength 4 AMT Coy
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25 May 1919
|
|
Temporary Artificer
|
Leave [illegible - probably "furlough"]
|
29 Jul 1919
|
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Temporary Artificer
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On leave till 11 Aug 1919, granted an extension till 18 Aug 1919, pending discharge
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29 Jul 1919
|
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temporary Artificer
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On leave and instructed to join unit
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18 Aug 1919
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Temporry Artificer
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Rejoined unit from leave
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22 Aug 1919
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Temporary Artificer
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Departed from London, ex France for Sutton Very
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26 Sep 1919
|
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Temporary Artificer
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OFFENCE, London
Absent Without Leave 10:00am 10 Oct 1919 - 10:00am 13 Oct 1919
FINDING Guilty
AWARD Forfeit 2 days pay, total forfeiture 6 days pay
|
10 Oct 1919
|
|
Temporary Artificer
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Embarked for return to Australia per HT KÖNIGIN LOUISE
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18 Dec 1919
|
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Temporary Artificer
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Disembarked 2MD
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7 Feb 1920
|
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Temporary Artificer
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Discharged on the completion of his service
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24 Apr 1920
|
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Medals and Dress Embellishments
1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920, and Victory Medal.
No Wound Stripe.
Not entitled to wear ANZAC 'A'.
Having served from 1915 to 1920 Harold Lapworth should have been entitled to
Three Long Service Stripes and four Overseas Service Chevrons,
One Good Conduct stripe would have been lost through his forfeiture of pay after being court martialled, but there is no indication that his
subsequent conduct was anything but exemplary, and the stripe should have been reawarded.
Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.
Background - Infantry Battalions
[Based on information in Redcoats to Cams, Ian Kuring.]
In December 1914, battalions of about 1000 men were organised into eight companies each divided into half of 60 men and then into two sections of around 30 men.
Command was highly centralised with companies commanded by a Captain, half-companies by Lieutentants and sections by a Sergeant.
In early 1915 Australia reduced the number of Companies to four, but doubled their size to more than 220 men. Each rifle company had a headquarters and four
platoons. Each platoon had a headquarters and four rifle sections of 10 men commanded by corporals.
From early 1916 light machineguns replaced medium machine guns and were eventually issued to each rifle platoon.
During 1917 rifle platoons were reorganised to have a light machine gun section, a rifle grenade section, a hand grenade/bombing section and a rifle assault section.
By mid 1918, the number of officers had increased to 38 but the number of other ranks had declined to 900. At the same time, the
firepower of the battalion was greatly augmented with hand and rifle grenades and Lewis Guns, of which there was 34 per battalion.

Rifle, Small Magazine Lee-Enfield .303in, Mark III with sword bayonet
9th Battalion, 11th Brigade, 5nd Division
UNIT COLOUR PATCH
9TH INFANTRY BATTALION

NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'
The 9th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. It was the first
battalion recruited in Queensland, and with the 10th, 11th and 12th Battalions it formed the 3rd Brigade.
The battalion was raised within weeks of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later.
After preliminary training, the battalion sailed to Egypt, arriving in early December. The 3rd Brigade was the covering
force for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915, and so was the first ashore at around 4.30 am. The battalion was heavily
involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead. It served at ANZAC until the evacuation
in December 1915.
After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. It was split to help form the 49th Battalion and
brought up to strength with reinforcements. In March 1916 the battalion sailed for France and the Western Front. From
then until 1918 the battalion took part in operations against the German Army. The battalion's first major action in
France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley. The 9th Battalion attacked on the extreme right of the line and it was during
this action that Private John Leak won, with the bayonet, the battalion's only Victoria Cross. Later the battalion fought
at Ypres, in Flanders, before returning to the Somme for winter. In 1917 the battalion moved back to Belgium for the
advance to the Hindenburg Line, and in March and April1918 helped stop the German spring offensive. The battalion
participated in the great allied offensive of 1918 and fought near Amiens on 8 August. The advance by British and Empire
troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front, one that German General Erich Ludendorff described
as "the black day of the German Army in this war".
The battalion continued operations until late September 1918. At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns fell silent. The November
armistice was followed by the peace treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919.
In November 1918 members of the AIF began to return to Australia for demobilisation and discharge. On 5 February 1919, the
9th and 10th Battalions were amalgamated.
Battle Honours:
Albert 1918, Amiens, ANZAC, Broodeseinde, Bullecourt, Defence of ANZAC, Egypt 1915-16, Epehy, France and Flanders 1916-18,
Gallipoli 1915, Hazebrouck, Hindenburg Line, Kemmel, Landing at ANZAC, Lys, Menin Road, Passchendaele, Poelcappelle, Polygon Wood,
Poziéres, Sari Bair,Somme 1916-18, Suvla, Ypres 1917
Auxilliary Mechanical Transport Companies &
Australian Motor Transport Companies
UNIT COLOUR PATCH
4TH AUSTRALIAN MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY
NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'
I have been unable to find much detail concerning the work of the Motor Transport Companies other than that below, and the fact that they were
an element of the Service Corps.
In the period between the withdrawal from Gallipoli and engagement in France, there was significant
reorganisation of the Australian formations, leading to much confusion as to the nomenclature and numbering of units. As an example, the 8th
Field Company Engineers was formed at the same time in Egypt and Australia a situation later sorted out in Egypt. The
ADFA AIF site has the most comprehensive coverage, and was the source for most
of the following.
The Australian Motor Transport Companies were formed late in the war, 13 Mar 1918, from the disbanded Auxilliary Mechanical Transport
Companies/Supply Columns and Ammunition Sub Parks attached to the Australian Divisions in France.
The 1st Division Supply Column which had been formed in Australia in September 1914 as the 9th Army Service Corps Company
departed Melbourne on 22 Dec 1914. Diverted to England as the terrain and tactical situation on Gallipoli was totally unsuitable for the
use of vehicles, it arrived 15 Feb 1915 and was renamed the 300th Auxilliary Mechanical Transport Company and arrived in France
July 1915.
In France it was renamed the British 17th Division Supply Column, assigned to the British 17th Division. In April 1916, with
the arrival of Australian troops in France, the unit was assigned to the 1st Division as the 1st Division Supply Column. It was
disbanded in March 1918.
The 8th Army Service Corps Company was formed in Australia September 1914 and assigned to the 1st Division. It departed
Melbourne 22 Ddec 1914 and was diverted to England where it was renamed the 301st Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France in
July 1915 it was renamed the British 17th Division Ammunition Sub Park. It was renumbered 1st Division Ammunition
Sub Park in 1916 and assigned to the 1st Division. It was disbanded in March 1918.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Auxilliary Mechanical Transport Company were formed in Australia in 1916 and departed
Melbourne on 22 Dec 1916. The 1st was broken up in August 1917 to form the 2nd Division Supply Column. The 2nd
became the 5th Division Supply Column and the 3rd was broken up in August 1917 to form the 5th Division Ammunition
Sub Park.
The 2nd Division Supply Column was formed in Australia in 1916 as the 1st Mechanical Transport Company. It departed
from Melbourne 2 Dec 1916 and on arrival was renamaed the 2nd Division Supply Column. It was disbanded in March 1918.
The 3rd Division Supply Column, also known as the 20th Army Service Corps Company and formed in March 196 departed Melbourne
5 Jun 1916. It was disbanded in March 1918.
The 4th Division Supply Column was formed in France, September 1917 by Australianisation of the 4th Division Supply Column. It
was disbanded in March 1918.
The Divisional Supply Columns were disbanded in March 1918 to form the 1st to 6th AMT Companies.
The Colour Patches were the same for all Companies, with a brass number (1 to 6) inside the inner white triangle designating
the specific Company.
Harold Lapworth was appointed a (Temporary) Artificer - a trade that would later be designated 'motor mechanic', and which
presumably drew a higher pay rate.
[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
The decoration consists of a four-pointed star in bright bronze as shown, with the date 1914-15 on the central scroll.
The reverse is plain, and is stamped with the name and unit of the recipient.
The ribbon is red, white and blue, shaded and watered, worn with the red nearest the centre of the breast.
It is atached to the medal through a ring.
It is similar in shape and description to the 1914 Star, to which few, if any, Australians were entitled. Those entitled were those who had already served with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) in the operations to capture German New Guinea in 1914.
The decoration, sanctioned in 1918, was issued "to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of
the British, Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses
and others eployed with military hospitals, who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war as
defined in Appendix 'A'. Individuals in possession of the 1914 Star will not be eligible for the award of this
decoration."
Appendix 'A' included the Western, Eastern, Egyptian, African, Asiatic and Australasian Theatres of war,
with commencement dates individual to countries and campaigns.
[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
This medal was approved by King George V in 1919 to record the bringing of the war to a successful
conclusion and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces.
The medal, which is supended from its ribbon by means of a straight clasp, without swivel, bears
on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty - exactly similar to that on a half-crown - with the
legend 'Georgivus V : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp'.
The reverse bears a design which represents St George on horseback, trampling underfoot the eagle
shield of the central powers and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Overhead is the risen
sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had
borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolical of man's mind
controlling force (represented by the horse) of far greater strength than his own. The design is
thus also symbolical of the mechanical and scientific appliances which helped so largely to win the
war.
The ribbon has a orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and with borders
of royal blue. It is stated that the colours have no particular signification.
[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
This medal, of bronze, bears on the obverse a winged figure of Victory, full length in the middle of the medal and full face;
the borders and the backgound plain, without either incription or date. On the reverse is an inscription. "The Great War for
Civilization." and either the names of the different Allied and Associated Powers, or their coats of arms.
The rim is plain, and the medal hangs from a ring. The ribbon is red in the centre, with green and violet on either side shaded
to form the colours of two rainbows.
It has also been approved that any officer or man who has been "mentioned in despatches" shall wear a small bronze oak leaf on
the ribbon of this medal. Only one oak leaf is so worn, no matter how many "mentions" the wearer may have received.
The medal is designed to obviate the exchange of Allied Commemorative war medals, and is issued only to those who actually served
on the establishment of a unit or ship in a theatre of war. [This is an important distinction, as those Australians who served
only in Australia, or only in Australia and England, were not entitled to the award.]
This version of the Rising Sun Badge was worn by soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, and the badge
has become an integral part of the Digger tradition.
Worn on the the upturned brim of the slouch hat, it is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC.
There are a number of versions of the genesis of the badge, the most widely accepted being that it derived from a Trophy
of Arms - various swords and bayonets mounted on a semi-circular display in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.
The original version worn in South Africa was modified in 1904 and worn by Australian soldiers through two World Wars.
Later changes were made to the style of the crown and the wording on the scroll. The "King's Crown" is the one shown to
the left, while arches of the "Queen's Crown" rise at the same angle as the base of the crown, curve at their highest point
to a level mid-way on the orb below the cross and then down to below the orb.
In 1949 the scroll was changed to read "Australian Military Forces".
In 1969 the badge was modified to incorporate the 7-pointed Federation Star with a central Queen's crown over the Torse
Wreath (a twisted roll of fabric) from the original 1902 version, and the scroll wording changed to "Australia".
In the 75th anniversary year of the the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, there was a drive to return to traditional accoutrements
worn by Australian soldiers during the World Wars, which clearly identify the Australian Army. The Queen's crown returned to its
central position and the scroll now reads "The Australian Army'.
The brass letter 'A' to represent service related to Gallipoli (ANZAC) was authorised to be worn 'over unit colour patches on both sleeves
of the service dress jacket and greatcoat" by Military Order 354 of 18 Aug 17 and AIF Order 937 of 6 Nov 17, as amended in terms of
qualification by Military Order 20 of 19 Jan 18 and by AIF Order 1084 of 25 Jan 18.
The size of the letter 'A', introduced as one inch in height (AIF Order 994 of 30 Nov 17), was reduced to three-quarters of an inch by AIF
Order 1012 of 11 Dec 17. Provision for wearing the brass letter 'A' was also included in General Routine Order 0.815 of 17 Dec 43 and GRO 310 of 7 Dec 45.
Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916. (slightly amended for layout)
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED
The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers
and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :
Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches [2.5cm] in length sewn perpendicularly
on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.
In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be
immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.
Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on
the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the
bottom of the sleeve.
Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original
one at half inch interval.
Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department;
the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public.
A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917 (slightly amended for layout)
The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain
period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue
of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.
The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on
the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches [7.6cm] above the edge of
the cuff.
Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which
will not carry an increased pay or allowance.
One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force
from the date of embarkation in Australia.
No badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental
entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet.
Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not
the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.
A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence
involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months
good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.
The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.
[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, January 1918 (Slightly amended for layout)
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.
Chevrons of two colours have been approved.
The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red.
If earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue.
All additional chevrons after the first will be blue.
The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch [0.63cm] in width, the arms 4 inches [10.2cm] long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm:
In the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch [2.5cm] above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.
In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four
inches [10.2cm] above the bottom edge of the sleeve.
The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.
In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each
successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.
Some Government Issued Badges
Nearest Female
Relative Badge
War Widows
Guild Brooch
Silver War Badge
Discharged Returned
Soldier Badge
Government issued badge in enamel
and sterling silver issued to the wife,
mother or nearest female relative of
a serving soldier. Additional bars
were suspended below for further
individuals.
Membership badge of a Kookaburra
in sterling silver, issued by the
Government to the widows of men
who lost their lives due to their
service. Numbered on the reverse.
Awarded to service personnel who
sustained a wound, or contracted
sickness of disability in the course
of the war as a result of which
they were invalided out, or to
soldiers who had retired during
the course of the war.
First issued in 1916. Slight variations
are indicative of a number of makers.
267,300 were issued. Numbered on the
reverse but the numbers have no link with
length of service or Service Number.
[Badge information collated from Australian War Memorial, "Australians Awarded" by Clive Johnson and en.wikipedia.com]