Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the war:
 
Herbert Victor Garland was 25 years and 4 months old when he enlisted into the army, he was born in April 1889; however, the exact date is unknown. Herbert was born in Adelaide, he worked as a labourer before the war. He was single; however, he had a brother named Morman Harold Garland. Herbert was the average height at the time, he had brown hair, brown eyes and a "brown complexion", he had a height of 5ft 6in (1.6 meters) and weighed 135lbs (61 kg). Herbert was religious and more specifically followed the Church of England. Herbert was also a natural born British citizen.
 
During the war:
 
Herbert enlisted into the army on the 29th of August 1914 at Morphettville, SA. He was placed into the 10th infantry battalion in the AIF (Australian Imperial Force). Even though Herbert enlisted in the first few weeks of the war, he was not the first, Herbert was the 779th person to enlist into the 10th battalion, hence his regimental number is 779. As soon as Herbert was assigned to the 10th Battalion, he started his training in the Morphettville racing track in Adelaide.
 
The 10th battalion was later assigned to the 3rd infantry brigade. This brigade was transported to Alexandria, Egypt. They were transported on the 20th of October via a ship named the A11 Ascanius, a steam passenger ship which was requisitioned in 1914 as a troop transporter. Afterwards, they went to Colombo in Sri Lanka, they then departed on the 1st of December. They completed their training at Camp Mena in Port Said, Egypt, which took place over several months. To complete their training his Brigade went to the island of Lemnos, which is found in the Aegean seas. They travelled on a ship called the Ionian; the Ionian was an armed British merchant ship that was converted into a military passenger ship in WWI. This ship along with the Ascanius shows that many ships were requisitioned in order to support the military.
 
After completing his training, Herbert boarded the Prince of Wales and went to Gallipoli. Unlike the other ships that were previously mentioned, this ship was built for war. He landed on Gallipoli on the first day with the 10th Battalion and was soon promoted to Lance Corporal. Herbert wasn't in Gallipoli very long before he contracted tonsillitis and was evacuated on the 16th of May 1915. Herbert soon returned to action. A few months later, on the 9th of October 1915, Herbert got diarrhoea, he was transferred to Malta and it was discovered on the 13th of October that he had enteritis. Herbert finally disembarked on the 15th of October 1915. Herbert got transferred to Għajn Tuffieħa on service on the 18th of December 1915. Later he moved back to Alexandria, Egypt where he got dysentery on the 4th of February 1916. Herbert's knack for getting Diarrhoea was likely caused by the unsanitary conditions he was put through during battle. Herbert was discharged back to duty on the 21st of February 1916.
 
Herbert was part of a unit called the 10th infantry battalion or “The Adelaide Rifles”, This unit was South Australian. The 10th battalion distinguished itself by landing at the Gallipoli campaign. Sometime after their landing. Diseases began taking its toll among the troops, this was mainly due to poor sanitation and deteriorating hygiene. The Battalion evacuated Gallipoli on the 21st of November 1915. They evacuated to Egypt on the 26th of February 1916.

From Egypt, the Australians left for Europe arriving in Marseilles on the 16th of April 1916. Herbert was transferred to the 1st Pioneer battalion on the 13th of March 1916. 4 months later, on the 7th of July, he joined the 2nd Australian Tunnelling company, he was added to this company because of his strength; this means Herbert must have been a good soldier/engineer to have been transferred to this company.
 
Herbert received many promotions during his time in the army. Firstly, Herbert was promoted to Lance Corporal of the 10th infantry battalion on the 15 of May 1915. Later, he was transferred to a different battalion, the 1st pioneer battalion, in this battalion he was promoted to "the second corporal" on the 1st of October 1916; then he was promoted to corporal on the 8th of June 1917. Finally, he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling company where he was promoted to Sergeant on the 30th of January 1918; the sheer plethora of promotions meant that Herbert was a good soldier.
 
By the end of the war, Herbert managed to receive multiple medals; medals he gained include a military medal, a 1914-15 star, a British war medal and a victory medal. Herbert gained the military medal because of gallantry in the field and devotion to duty. The following quote gives more in the way of specifics, "On bridge No. 60 at La Motte, East of Amiens at night on the 7th of May 1918, the bridge was struck by a shell. The bridge was charged for demolition. Ten charges and the electric leads were set alight, one charge exploded and Corporal Garland with three other NCOs, regardless of all danger, extinguished the burning charges and leads. According to sources “This action undoubtedly saved the bridge.” Herbert also received the 1914-15 Star for serving in Central Europe between 1914 and 1915; He also received a British war Medal for serving between 1914 and 1920. The final medal Herbert received was called the Victory medal, this medal was a given to all the allied forces after 1919.
 
 
After the war:
 
Herbert Victor Garland managed to survive WWI and it seems he did not join in WWII; this is known due to him not being mentioned in further records. Years later on the 26th of September 1967, Herbert's older brother, Morman Harold Garland, sent a request for a medal on his brothers’ part, the record in question also states that Herbert was dead at the time of the request. This tells us that Herbert only approximately lived up to about the age of 63 or less.