FIELD, Herbert Booker
| Service Numbers: | 7596, VX104280 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 September 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | HQ Southern Command |
| Born: | Belle Vue, Sandal, Yorkshire, England, 27 June 1899 |
| Home Town: | Caulfield, Glen Eira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Proof Reader / Clerk |
| Died: | Cancer, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 16 September 1951, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Memorial Park, Victoria, Australia |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement Private, 7596, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked Private, 7596, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 1 Nov 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, Army Medical Corps (AIF) |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, VX104280 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jul 1948: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, HQ Southern Command |
My Grandpa.
Herbert Booker Field served at HQ Southern Command throughout WW2. He held the position of AQMG Victorian Lines of Communication Area from January 1942. He was accepted for service with the AIF on 10th September, 1942, and appointed to 14th/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, but remained on Secondment at HQ Southern Command.
He was not accommodated in Army Barracks and for the majority of his Army Service was able to return each night to the family home in South Caulfield. His duties were many and varied, and he left a written account of these following the war. He was also able to share some memories with his family. His duties had included visits of inspection to Italian Internment Camps and he expressed his regrets at having to instruct the internees to remove the hand-made rugs and wall hangings from their rooms. This was in accordance with regulations, but he had admired the beauty of their work. He also spoke of his extreme concern at not being able to source the stores so desperately needed by the soldiers in Australia.
In 1944 he was transferred to the PSL (Aust. Inf.) while still in his position at Southern Command. He applied for a transfer to the General List, and wrote "At present I am Assistant-Quartermaster General Senior "Q" Staff Officer Victoria Lines of Communication Area. (This position covers) Supply and Transport, Catering, Engineer, Postal Hiring, Ordnance, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Remount, Veterinary, Salvage, Canteens, Stationary and Labour Services in this area." [Private Papers: H. B. Field]
His request for transfer to the General List was approved.
In 1946 he travelled to WA as Officer in Charge of a liaison party which met 9th Division ex Middle East. The convoy was escorted from Fremantle to Sydney. He was also responsible for the Reception, fostering and subsequent on-movement of 6th Australian Division ex Middle East.
The AIF ceased to exist on 30th June, 1947. All personnel still on full-time duty were transferred to the Interim Army. Among his duties Herbert Booker Field organized an Army Exhibition at the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne (24 Oct - 1 November, 1947). His appointment as AQMG, H.Q., Southern Command ,ceased on 6 November, 1947, and he was placed upon the Supernumerary List (Retirement List). He was promoted to the rank of Substantive Lieut-Colonel.
He was discharged from the AIF on 7th June, 1948. Approval had been given to retain his rank and wear the ribbon of the War Medal. Following Discharge he returned to his employment with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. He died on 16th September, 1951, whilst a patient in the Repatriation General Hospital, Caulfield. He was 52 years of age.
As a child I remember visiting him in hospital before his death. He had been in very poor health for some time. I was brought up on stories of his dedication to duty and as an adult was able to read the details of his service for myself. In addition to service in both wars, he was presented with the Efficiency Decoration, awarded to Officers of the Volunteer Military Forces who had completed 20 years of service.
Of his nine children, one daughter served in the AWAS in WW2, and one son joined the Army following WW2. One grandson joined the RAAF. 'Grandpa' had enlisted in WW1 together with his father, my great grand-father. This was a family who produced four generations of people prepared to devote their lives to service for Australia.
Submitted 27 May 2022 by Larna Malone
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
Herbert Booker FIELD was born on 27 June, 1899, in Belle Vue, Sandal, Yorkshire. He was the only child of William Henry FIELD and Bertha HARTLEY. He spent his childhood in Yorkshire and by 1908 the family had moved to the village of Heath, near Wakefield. In 1911 the Field family migrated to Australia. William Henry FIELD was employed as a Book Keeper with the Victorian Railways and the family made their home in Bendigo. For some time he was stationed in Mooroopna with the Railways, but always considered Bendigo to be his home.
In 1914 Herbert Booker FIELD joined Senior Cadets, 67 Bn, Bendigo. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in 1915. In 1916 he joined the Bendigo Rifle Club. He began employment as a Proof Reader's assistant at "The Bendigo Advertiser," and was a member of St. Paul's Church and Sunday School, Bendigo. He made strong friendships among the young men of church and cadets, friendships which were lifelong. He was known to his friends as 'Herb'.
His father, William Henry FIELD, enlisted in the AIF on 17 April, 1917, aged 42 years & 11 months, and was appointed to the Army Medical Corps.
Herbert Booker FIELD volunteered at the Recruiting Office, Town Hall, Bendigo, on 26th June, 1917, the day before his 18th birthday. He was described as being 5' 9 1/2" tall, with brown hair, a fresh complexion and greyish brown eyes. He was farewelled by the officers and staff of senior cadets and a special Farewell Service was conducted at St Paul's Church. The proprietors and employees of "The Bendigo Advertiser" presented him with a radium dial wristlet watch and a military mirror. He arrived at the Recruit Depot at Broadmeadows on 11 July, 1917, and on 30 July he was allotted Regimental No. 7596 and appointed Private in 25th/14th Reinforcements.
'Herb' and his friend, Norman McLaren Young (known as 'Mac') were in the same unit, i.e. B Coy, No. 3 Platoon, 25th/14th. The men were given Final Leave prior to Embarkation, but Herb and Mac were informed that they would not be embarking. (The British authorities had ruled that youths under the age of 19 should not be in the firing line.) They immediately began a campaign to have this decision reversed, and on 3 October wrote to the Prime Minister, William M. Hughes, for support. They argued that they were only two months short of the required age of 18 1/2 years, and that they would reach this age by the time they arrived in England. Their argument succeeded and they were granted permission to embark with the 25/14th Reinforcements.
They Embarked on HMAT Nestor on 21 November, 1917. Herb's father, William Henry FIELD, was also on board, although with a diffent unit. The 25/14th disembarked at Port Suez, Egypt, on 15 December, and spent three days in the Australian Military Camp before moving to Alexandria for immediate embarkation on board HMS Sarnia. Because of the risk of attack they sailed a zig-zag course, in company with another transport and an escort of four destroyers. Instead of the usual route by sea to Marseilles they sailed for Taranto, in the south of Italy, and travelled by train across Italy into France. Then sailed to England.
On 5 January, 1918, they arrived at 12th Training Battalion, at Codford. Here, Herb and Mac were again informed that they were under the permissable age to be sent to the front. Again they protested, but were refused permission to embark for overseas and were transferred to 4th Division Signal School to be trained as Signallers. In June, 1918, they each qualified as First Class Signallers. They were put on a Draft for France, but did not embark as Signallers were not required in France at this time.
On 18 July, 1918, they were transferred to the 13th Battalion and embarked for France on 29 July. They arrived at the front line just after the start of the Battle of Amiens on August 8th. On arrival at Battalion Headquarters, on 9 August, they were added to the strength of B Company. They moved forward to the Support Lines with Headquarters, but the battalion moved back into Reserve later that day.
On the night of August 15 the batalion moved into the Line near Rosieres. B and D Companies were in the Front Line. On 20 August Herb was transferred to No. 5 Platoon, working on Lewis Gun. The battalion was Relieved at the Front on 23 August. On 26 August Herb was transferred to No. 6 Platoon as a Lewis Gunner. He participated in the attack of September 18, aimed at the Hindenburg Outpost Line. The battalion was Relieved on 21 September and moved to the rear for a rest. Herb applied to return to the Signallers, and this was approved on 29 September.
After the Armistice the 13th Battalion moved to Florennes, in Belgium. Herb was attached to 13th Battalion Headquarters as Orderly Room Clerk and typist, and acting Orderly Room Sgt. In February, 1919, he was granted UK Leave, and on 13 March was detached to AIF Headquarters, London. On 2 May he was attached to 1st AD Hospital, at Bulford, working as a stenographer and typist, with orderly room duties and the preparation of the official history. He was transferred to AAMC Details in June.
On 10 July, 1919, he was granted three months Leave through the Non-Miltary Employment Scheme, to work at "The Yorkshire Post" in Leeds, as a Proof Reader. On completion he was transferred back to AAMC and embarked for Australia on HMAT Nestor on 1 November, 1919.
He resumed his employment at "The Bendigo Advertiser", and although invited to resume his Commission in Senior Cadets he declined due to the demands of his employment. Later, he passed the examination for appointment to the Victorian Public Service and was apppointed to the staff of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Bendigo. He married Winifred Eva RANDALL in 1923 and the couple produced nine children.
On return to Australia he had resumed his membership of the Bendigo Rifle Club and was extremely involved in Rifle Club matters, both as participant, secretary and captain. He was also a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the Victorian Rifle Association.
In 1933 he was transferred to Head Office, Melbourne, State Rivers and Water Supply. The family moved into a house in South Caulfield.
In 1936 Herbert Booker FIELD enlisted in the AMF Militia. He was appointed to 14 Battalion (Prahran Regiment), as No. 189871. He was immediately appointed Battalion Signalling Sergeant. He was Commissioned as Lieutenant in 1937 and appointed Signal Officer 14 Bn AMF. On 12 December, 1939, he was appointed as Militia Adjutant, Southern Command, and called up for continuous duty as from 28 December, 1939. On 21 March, 1940, he applied to be appointed to 2nd AIF., and on 2 July was seconded for Staff Duties and posted Captain "Q" Branch, Southern Command. He was transferred to AIF with Service No. VX 104280.
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