Enlistment 24 October 1916

Answering the Call.

Three days before the second referendum on conscription was held, Bernie signed his papers and was assigned to the 5th Battalion of Pioneers.


His brother James, had enlisted in January of the same year. James was assigned to the 31st Battalion as a reinforcement, by June he is aboard HMAT Malakuta A57 on his way to France.

The HMAT A57 Malakuta weighed 7,430 tons with an average cruise speed of 12 knots or 22.22 kmph.
It was owned by the T & J Brocklebank Ltd, Liverpool, and leased by the Commonwealth until 24 January 1917.

By March, Uncle George was in Marseilles.

The Militia - Compulsory Service 

Military service was, in 1909, compulsory. The Deakin government had legislated the as part of the Defense Act that all 12-14 year old (males) were to serve as junior cadets, all 14-19 year old served as senior cadets and those aged from 18-20 were to join local citizen forces called Militias. They were to remain in reserve until they turned 26.


In Bernie's attestation paper he recorded his service with the Nuriootpa Citizen's Military Forces (CMF) for 12 months. The CMF was largely a weekend a month affair, soldiers would learn basic drill and use of firearms.

27th Battalion 

The 27th Battalion was known as the South Australian Battalion. The Battalion formed part of the 7th Brigade in the Second Division. The 25th Battalion, from Queensland, 26th Battalion comprised of 4 companies, two from Queensland and 2 from Tasmania and the 28th Battalion was raised in Western Australia.

The Battalion was also known at the "Dinkums", following Gallipoli where the 27th was said to have recognized the "dinkum soldiers job" ahead of them. A large number of men from the suburb of Unley volunteered, and the Battalion was also named as "Unley's Own".

The battalion was also known as the Blue and Brown Diamond, this was a recognition of the Battalions colour patch. Each Battalion had its own patch with a distinguishing shape.


Gallipoli was a year old by the time Bernie had enlisted, the heroes of the debacle were on their way to France.


As a member of the 5 Battalion Pioneers, Bernie would have started his training at the Mitcham Camp. By the time he arrived the camp had become a model camp for the Commonwealth. The early years of poor sanitation, poor food and poor management had gone. The Quartermaster's Branch was kept busy issuing clothing arms and equipment.



The Cheer Up Society, founded to provide cheer to local and visiting soldiers made the comfort of the soldiers their particular concern. A music hall, sing-a-longs and general well being were their main focus. This was a role mainly women fulfilled. The Red Cross Society was a newly formed organisation with its headquarters in Melbourne. The Cheer Up Society was a precursor to the Red Cross. Often the Society raised funds to provide coffee and tea shacks near the front line.