Aubrey Rattray-Wood (1894-1969) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in February 1916, at age 21. , He spent more than three years overseas with the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (ATC), seeing active service in Belgium and France at Hill 63 and Hill 60. Although his health was greatly affected, Aubrey survived and thrived post-war, always maintaining that his army years were a highlight of his life.
Why Aubrey chose the Queensland city of Rockhampton to enlist, rather than his hometown of Melbourne, is unknown. Perhaps he was rejected in Melbourne and kept moving north. On the other hand, his appointment as a sapper in the 4th ATC could suggest a history of working in mines, possibly the flourishing Mt. Morgan gold mines …show more content…
Their goal was to complete and maintain the excavation of deep tunnels under enemy lines, fill them with explosives and eventually blow up sections of the German defences, thus pushing the Germans further back into Belgium. Tunnelling had to occur even more quietly and in more confined spaces than at Hill 63; there was also the possibility of meeting the enemy underground. Few soldiers could maintain long stretches under these conditions. Aubrey was no exception. Late November, he was admitted to hospital in the French coastal town of Wimereux, with diagnoses of DAH (disordered action of the heart) and VDH (valvular disease of the heart). These conditions – also called ‘effort syndrome’ and ‘soldier’s heart’ - were thought to result from overexertion, fatigue and mental stress. By the time Aubrey was repatriated to England and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital (19th December 1916), he had been re-diagnosed with Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. Many WW1 soldiers contracted trench fever through lice infestation, but conditions on the front line were such that numerous fever-producing infections were …show more content…
He married in 1922, had four healthy children, and eventually settled in the Melbourne seaside suburb of Frankston. There he contributed to community organisations, including the RSL, Frankston Mechanics Institute and Frankston Summer Carnival Committee. Despite his WW1 experiences, Aubrey attempted to re-enlist in 1939 but was rejected on the grounds of age and infirmity. Nevertheless, he served at the Citizens’ Military Forces base at Portsea (Victoria) for the duration of World War 2. Perhaps following their father’s patriotic example, his two older children enlisted for WW2 service as soon as they were old enough. Aubrey died in 1969 of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) aged 75, four years older than the average life expectancy for Australian males at that time.
Why Aubrey chose the Queensland city of Rockhampton to enlist, rather than his hometown of Melbourne, is unknown. Perhaps he was rejected in Melbourne and kept moving north. On the other hand, his appointment as a sapper in the 4th ATC could suggest a history of working in mines, possibly the flourishing Mt. Morgan gold mines …show more content…
Their goal was to complete and maintain the excavation of deep tunnels under enemy lines, fill them with explosives and eventually blow up sections of the German defences, thus pushing the Germans further back into Belgium. Tunnelling had to occur even more quietly and in more confined spaces than at Hill 63; there was also the possibility of meeting the enemy underground. Few soldiers could maintain long stretches under these conditions. Aubrey was no exception. Late November, he was admitted to hospital in the French coastal town of Wimereux, with diagnoses of DAH (disordered action of the heart) and VDH (valvular disease of the heart). These conditions – also called ‘effort syndrome’ and ‘soldier’s heart’ - were thought to result from overexertion, fatigue and mental stress. By the time Aubrey was repatriated to England and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital (19th December 1916), he had been re-diagnosed with Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. Many WW1 soldiers contracted trench fever through lice infestation, but conditions on the front line were such that numerous fever-producing infections were …show more content…
He married in 1922, had four healthy children, and eventually settled in the Melbourne seaside suburb of Frankston. There he contributed to community organisations, including the RSL, Frankston Mechanics Institute and Frankston Summer Carnival Committee. Despite his WW1 experiences, Aubrey attempted to re-enlist in 1939 but was rejected on the grounds of age and infirmity. Nevertheless, he served at the Citizens’ Military Forces base at Portsea (Victoria) for the duration of World War 2. Perhaps following their father’s patriotic example, his two older children enlisted for WW2 service as soon as they were old enough. Aubrey died in 1969 of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) aged 75, four years older than the average life expectancy for Australian males at that time.