significance

Australian War Stories ALL SIGNED UP William Thomas EXTON signed-up to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at the Brisbane QLD recruitment office. William duly completed the AIF enlistment form – called the ‘Attestation Paper’. He confirmed his age, occupation, and marital status and noted that his home was in New South Wales. William advised that his next of kin was ‘(Wife) Exton Eva’. On the second page of the Attestation Paper he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, William Thomas EXTON … swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” William was assigned the AIF service number 3162 which would appear on his active service and medical records. Source: memories.net/timeline/williamthomas-exton-49793

Australian War Stories FIT FOR ACTIVE SERVICE Like all new recruits William underwent a thorough medical examination. He was found to be free of a wide range of conditions that would “unfit him for the duties of a soldier”. Nor did he bear the tattooed letters D or BC, with which the British Army marked deserters and those of “bad character”. The Examining Medical Officer stated that William: “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service”. Source: memories.net/timeline/williamthomas-exton-49793

Australian War Stories TRAINING BEGINS William was issued with his uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet. Source: memories.net/timeline/williamthomas-exton-49793

Springsure is a pleasant rural service center nestled below the Capricorn Highlands with the local landmark Mount Zamia, of which Virgin Rock is the most prominent feature, looming above the town. The area around Springsure is characterized by a rich black clay soil which, in recent times, due to extensive irrigation, has produced a range of crops including sunflowers, sorghum, wheat, and chickpeas. The area is also known for its cattle. The town was named after a local property which, in turn, was named Springsure for the unsurprising reason that it had a reliable, permanent spring. Located 10 km out of Springsure on the Wealwandangie Road, Old Rainworth Station was built in 1862 by George Goldring, an English stonemason for Jesse Gregson. The Fort is a stone storehouse that was built to store food for the staff and families of Rainworth Station, a 100,000-acre cattle property at a time when the closest source of food was Rockhampton, which was a 4-month return trip. It was also built for shelter if an Aboriginal attack occurred (the Wills massacre had just occurred) although there is no evidence any attacks ever occurred. Since its construction, the "fort" has served as a magistrate's office and a post office. Inside Rainworth Fort there is a box titled "Relics from Garden Creek Wills Massacre 1861. Collected then preserved at Cullin-la-Ringo Homestead until 1950 when the then owners sold out. Source: www.aussietowns.com.au/town/springsure-qld

“X” – The Life and Death of a Courageous Digger 1 JULY, 2016 BY QUEENSLAND STATE ARCHIVES Private William (Billy) Elsdale. Believed to be the first Aboriginal digger to die during action in France, Billy’s sacrifice is acknowledged in this letter from W P Vance to Anthony Ogden: “I read in the papers some queer British names amongst those volunteering from Australia, Ah Chay and Ah Foo. Britishers these, yes, more British in spirit than many who bear old English names and Billy Elsdale, aboriginal half-caste, killed in France, and hundreds of our men with German names, more British than many of our own race.” It is estimated that over 1000 Aboriginal Australians enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, although many were rejected on the grounds of race. Billy Elsdale found himself accepted and he enlisted on 10 September 1915, at the age of 28. A recipient of exemption from the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 since 1910, Billy gained employment in 1913 as a police tracker. Working under the command of Sub Inspector Graham of Charleville, Billy was described by Graham as “25 years old … 10 stone 9 lbs … and a good horsemen and bushman”. However, Billy wanted to enlist, and his AIF enlistment papers offers some insight into the man. The Army Medical Officer wrote the term “Half cast” for Billy’s “complexion” on his certificate of medical examination. At just over 6 feet, Billy was taller than average. He had black hair and brown eyes, and his religious denomination was Roman Catholic. For his next of kin, Billy nominated his friend, Jack Cockrane of Charleville, instead of his parents. Billy pledged with an “X” to truly serve his Sovereign Lord the King, in the Australian Imperial Force, for the duration of the war. Source: blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/07/01/x-the-life-and-death...