Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Walter Archibald (Archie) Irwin HAWTHORNE #1849 42nd Battalion

Archie Hawthorne was born in Roma but his family had moved to Moore on the Brisbane Valley Line by the time of his enlistment.

When Archie presented himself for enlistment in Brisbane on 23rd March 1916, he was 22 years old. He stated his occupation as teamster and also advised that he had 10 months service in the Frontiersmen; a quasi-military organisation with emphasis on frontier (bush) skills, scouting and intelligence gathering. Archie was also a proficient sportsman of above average stature. A mate from the same company of the 42nd battalion described Archie as “a good footballer.” When Archie’s personal effects were sent to his parents in Moore, the parcel included a pair of running shoes.

Archie, as part of the 2nd reinforcements for the 42nd Battalion, boarded the ‘Boorora’ in Brisbane on 16th August 1916. The embarkation roll shows that he had allocated 4/- of his daily pay of 5/- to his mother. Upon arrival in Portsmouth the reinforcements marched out to Larkhill camp where they were taken on strength by the 42nd on 21st of November. Four days later, the entire battalion, as part of the 3rd Division AIF crossed the English Channel to France where they moved into the sector of the Western Front near Armentieres.

The 42nd began a routine of training, moving up to the front as reserve, manning the front line and being relieved to begin the process again. On 14th February 1917 while in the front line trenches, Archie received a series of gun shot wounds to his forehead, nose and forearm. The wounds were not serious and after attending the battalion aid post for attention, Archie was in a casualty clearing station for two weeks before re-joining his company at Ploegsteert Wood, which the men referred to as Plug Street.

On the 7th June 1917, the much awaited British offensive in Belgian Flanders began with the blowing of 19 underground mines under the Messines Ridge. The 3rd Division which had been training specifically for the Ypres campaign had the task of advancing through the torn ground at Messines to establish a new front line. On the 9th June, Archie was operating as company runner when a large calibre high explosive shell landed amongst a group of “D” Company ordinary ranks. Three of the group, including Archie, were killed outright with one witness claiming they were blown to pieces.

The battle raged for another two days before the remains of those killed could be recovered. A witness from the Pioneer Unit tasked with the recovery of bodies stated that Archie’s body was unrecognisable. He could only be identified by an identity disc and a scar on his upper arm which he told his mates was the result of being bitten by a horse.
Archie Hawthorne was buried on 12th June in the Bethleem Farm Cemetery at Messines with the Rev. Mills in attendance.

By the time that service medals were being distributed to next of kin in the 1920’s, Archie’s parents had moved up the line to Linville.