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Battle of Somme/ Vincent Preparing to Sail
The 'Battle of Somme' was fought in France between 'The Triple Entente' and 'The Triple Allience', when Vincent was preparing to sail from Sydney. -
Battle of Dover Strait/ Enlisted
Vincent had enlisted on this date, when Great Britain and Germany were engaged in naval battle. -
German Air Force New Army Branch/ Ship Arrived at England
The German air forces were established as a separate branch of the German arm, when HMAT A72 Beltana Arrived in England. -
K13 Sank in Scotland/ Vincent arrived in Davenport England.
British submarine K13 sank in Gaire Loch, Scotland; 32 of her crew died. The ship arrived carrying Vincent arrived at Devonport near Portsmouth, England, and he joined the 4th Training Battalion at Codford in Wiltshire on the Salisbury Plains. -
Battle for Bullecourt/ Vincent Active in 15th Battalion
British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front and Vincent was officially active in the 15th Battalion. -
Boxing Tournament Night 1
Divisional boxing tournament -
Boxing Tournament Night 2
Divisional boxing tournament -
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo Begins/ Boxing Tournament Night 3
Italy attacks Austria-Hungary and final night of divisional boxing tournament -
Austria Navy v Britain Navy/ 15th Battalion Moved
Action between Austrian and British naval light forces in the Straits of Otranto: 14 British drifters sunk. Vincent's battalion was moved by train to south of Doulieu Village. -
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Heightened Training
Men in 15th Battalion were given specialist training, route marching, bombing and rifle grenade practices, bayonet fighting and organised games. -
Air Force Count /Vincent Sent to Belgium
442 German to 271 Allied aeroplanes brought down in May and 15th Battalion were marched to the bivouac ground west of Neuve Eglise just inside the Belgium border. -
Period: to
Experience in Trenches
The battalion moved to relieve trenches occupied by New Zealand troops from Otago and Canterbury. Reconnoitring patrols were sent out and they found an unoccupied farm but diggers came across machine guns and snipers in the surrounding trees. The enemy shelled the front line and support trenches. Were relieved by the 11th Cheshire Regiment and moved to underground galleries and tents. -
Period: to
Back in the Trenches
A week later they moved to the bivouac ground taking part in fatigues. End of the month, the battalion relieved the New Zealanders from Wellington and Auckland battalions. Working parties improved the front line system, communication trenches and also supplied working parties to the 4th Field Coy for work on supports. Patrols failed to contact the enemy but they were shelled in the subsidiary line from 7.00 pm to 3.00 am. -
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End of July
Remainder of the month was spent training, route marching and inspections. -
Supply Shipment and Weather Extremes
The various companies were involved in support, carrying rations and water to the front line. The trenches were in very bad condition owing to the heavy rain. -
Relieved From Front Line
They were relieved by the 13th Battalion and moved to billets at Neuve Eglise where much welcomed baths were available. -
15th Relieved 16th
They relieved the 16th Battalion in support lines towards the end of the month improving the dugout accommodation which was in great need of repair -
Back Off Front Lines
Relieved by 16th Manchesters and moved to Le Motte area. -
Period: to
Battalion Moved south to Predefin, France
A 30 target rifle range was built and it was found that the skills of the divisions musketry was very poor. A lot of training loading live ammunition took place and there was a marked improvement. The battalion left Predefin by motor bus and was billeted in poor accommodation at Etaples, France. From there they were marched north to the Steenvoorde area. It was evident from preparations that an attack was imminent and Vincent’s platoon was warned to be ready to move to a forward area. -
Vincent at Belgian Chateau
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Vincent Absent from Belgian Chateau
In the ensuing battle, 3 officers died and 6 were wounded and 20 enlisted men died, 5 went missing and 129 were wounded. -
Vincent Arrested
Whilst his mates were fighting, Vincent was in Steenvoorde where he was arrested on the 2nd October, 1917, by Squadron Sergeant Major T C Wilkinson of the Australian Provost Corps. -
Vincent sentenced to two years imprisonment and forfeited 16 days pay. He was moved to No 1 Military Prison, Rouen, where conditions said to be harsh and squalid.
He was tried by a General Court Martial for desertion when on active service. The court comprised of the President, Major G F Dickinson of the 15th Battalion, Capt E Moseley of the 13th Battalion and Capt E M Johnson of 1st Anzac Headquarters. The court found him not guilty of desertion but guilty of absenting himself without leave from 23rd September to 6.00 pm on the 2nd October, 1917. He was moved to No 1 Military Prison, Rouen, where conditions said to be harsh and squalid. -
Period: to
Vincent in Jail
Vincent held in No 1 Military Prison, Rouen. Conditions said to be extremely unfavourable. -
Australian Prime Minister Visits Battalion
The 15th Battalion would attack including G Coy of the 132nd American Regiment, on the north side of Hamel Woods and Vaire. Their final objective was to place themselves forward of the German front line. The battle was planned and commanded by Lt General Monash of the Australian Corp. -
Vincent's Sentence Suspended
He rejoined his battalion which comprised now of 42 officers and 701 other ranks. -
Period: to
Battalion’s activities of training, relieving in the trenches, being subjected to artillery shelling, wet and cold weather and working in support lines.
In July, the battalion was visited by the Prime Minister of Australia, Billy Hughes, who spoke at a special parade. Planning was once again under way for an attack on the enemy at Accroche Wood. The general scheme of the next attack was to capture Vaire and Hamel Woods. -
Preparing for Battle of Amiens
the men were forming up for another attack near the village of Morcourt in what was the beginning of the Battle of Amiens. The weather during this month was particularly beautiful. On this operation the battalion captured about 50 prisoners and guns. Eight diggers were killed, 27 wounded and 6 gassed. Morcourt Valley was a major bivouac area for German reserves and its sides were honeycombed with terraced dugouts and horse lines. -
Period: to
Preparing for Attack
The men were resting, training, the weather was ideal and the men were looking like themselves again. Spirits were boosted by the battalion boxing team winning a tournament at Allonville. Preparations were once again in place for another attack. -
15th Battalion in Battle
The weather turned miserable. Zero hour was on the 18th at 5.20 am. Everything was finally decided and nothing was left unexplained. Rations arrived in good condition and hot on arrival. The battalion was formed up in battle order on the tape line at 4.35 am. The barrage commenced at zero hour and was “splendidly” placed. The whistles blew and the men moved forward into the battle. -
Vincent Killed in Action
He was wounded by a piece of shell entering his neck. His good mate from Pomona, Private William Wright, Service No 7069, was standing beside him waiting for the order to proceed. A shell landed quite close to them. William stayed with his wounded mate for a while and held him in his arms but soon had to leave him to seek medical attention. He went back later to try and have a last look at him before going himself to the dressing station.
