William (Billy) O'SHEA

William (Billy) O'SHEA Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

O'SHEA, William

Service Number:	3048
Enlisted:	16 June 1916, Brisbane, Queensland
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	47th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia, 11 February 1890
Home Town:	Stanthorpe, Southern Downs, Queensland
Schooling:	Christian Brothers College, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Occupation:	Assistant Station Manager
Died:	Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 28 May 1966, aged 76 years
Cemetery:	Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland
Memorials:	Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, East Brisbane War Memorial

World War 1 Service

16 Jun 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3048, Brisbane, Queensland
27 Oct 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3048, 47th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: ''
27 Oct 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3048, 47th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Brisbane
11 Apr 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3048, 47th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (First), Shell wound (groin)
5 Apr 1918:	Imprisoned Villers-Bretonneux
1 May 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3048, 47th Infantry Battalion

Help us honour William O'Shea's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Bronwyn Dickson

Private William O’Shea

11 February 1890 – 29 May 1966

William Shea was born in Stanthorpe, Queensland on 11 February 1890, the son of a railway ganger.[1] He was educated at the Christian Brothers College in Ipswich.[2] William Shea (O’Shea) joined the Queensland Department of Railways as a night officer before becoming the assistant station master at Gatton Station in Queensland.[3]

Australia entered the First World War upon the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and Germany on 04 August 1914.[4] From 1914-1918, Australia raised an army of ‘over 417 000 individuals from a population of less than five million.’[5]

O’Shea enlisted in the A.I.F. at Brisbane on 16 June 1916 at 26.[6] According to O’Shea’s attestation papers, his physical description recorded his height as 5 feet and 5 ½ inches tall.[7] Roman Catholicism was his religion.[8] One potential factor contributing to the delay of his enlistment could be due to his height. O’Shea fell short by half an inch in meeting the prescribed height criteria for volunteering in the A.I.F.[9] However, in July 1915, the minimum height for volunteers had been decreased to 5 ft 2 inches.[10] Several other aspects likely contributed to the delay in O’Shea’s enlistment. For example, his working-class background, his association with the railway union, his Irish Catholic upbringing, and his occupation as an essential worker.[11] Hence, a combination of lowered entry standards and increased social pressure aimed at males who had not enlisted, branding them as ‘shirkers’ failing to do ‘their bit’ or ‘duty’ within the community, may have pushed O’Shea into enlisting.[12]

Upon enlistment, O’Shea was assigned the rank of private in the 47th Battalion.[13] At training, he was promoted to corporal on 22 June 1916.[14] However, after completing his training overseas at the 12th Training Battalion, he was returned to the rank of private and assigned to the 47th Battalion 7th reinforcements.[15] He arrived in France with the battalion and was taken on strength on 07 April 1917.[16]

The lifecycle of an A.I.F infantry soldier in trench warfare involved rotating shifts of daily living activities, such as bird bathing, toileting, meal preparation and cleaning rifles and other equipment used in battle and time spent on duty in the trench parapet.[17] Further, soldiers were rotated from front-line duty to working in trenches or behind the front line at base camp, working on tasks like water collection, infrastructure building or re-supply duties.[18] On rostered days off, sports and shooting competitions were sometimes organised for soldiers in base camp, likely aimed to build camaraderie and prevent boredom.[19]

In April 1917, British and Commonwealth forces launched a major offensive around Arras, supporting a major French offensive in the south.[20] Bullecourt, a village to the southeast of Arras, was among a series of villages that underwent substantial fortification and integration into the defensive structure of the German Hindenburg Line.[21]

During the First Battle of Bullecourt, France, on 10th and 11th April 1917, elements of the battle plan failed. For example, soldiers “stood to” for the battle to start; they lay on the frozen ground all day until HQ delayed the battle for a further 24 hours, leaving the soldiers exhausted.[22] The tanks were late to their position or broken down.[23] The Hindenburg Line barbed wire was still fortified and not cut in places where the soldiers were tasked to break through. Once the battle started, friendly fire shelling fell on the battalions of soldiers. Further, the weather conditions continued to be poor – freezing and snowing.[24] According to war correspondent C.E.W. Bean, Bullecourt significantly shattered Australian soldiers’ confidence in the British command’s capabilities, particularly on April 10th and 11th.[25]

The first Hindenburg Line campaign saw 8295 soldiers killed and 23 280 wounded.[26] Private O’Shea was wounded in the First Battle of Bullecourt, France.[27] O’Shea was shot in the groin area, with wounds to his right testicle and left thigh.[28] Stretcher Bearers would have carried O’Shea from the battlefield to the Regimental Aid Post (RAP), which was the initial stage in the medical evacuation network.[29] The RAP was situated 640 meters from the front line.[30] The RAP controlled all medical triage in front of its position.[31] The field ambulance unit was responsible for managing the medical evacuation process in the rear area.[32] O’Shea’s wounds were classified as severe. Therefore, he would have been conveyed from the field dressing station by the personnel of the field ambulance and then undergone triage at a casualty clearing station located around 16 – 32 kilometres beyond the primary dressing station.[33] After thoroughly evaluating his injuries, he was transported by the H.S. ‘Grantually Castle’ from Havre to the 2nd Southern General Hospital in England, arriving on 26 April 1917.[34]

Back home in Australia, O’Shea’s Mother received a cablegram on the 29 April 1917. The message stated, ‘Reported Private William O’Shea wounded will advise anything further received.’[35] A further cablegram sent to his Mother on 10 May 1917 stated, ‘Private William O’Shea admitted to hospital twenty-six April gunshot wound to the testicle (severe).’[36] There is no further correspondence home until 07 August 1917, cablegram reads, ‘Private William O’Shea convalescent base records to NOK Mother.’[37]

On 01 September 1917, O’Shea re-joined the 47th Battalion. Next, he was detached to the 4th Division Signal School for training to acquire the necessary skills to become a signaller on 20 January 1918.[38] On 18 Feb 1918, O’Shea reunited with his battalion as a signaller.[39] A signaller’s skills would have included proficiency ‘in Morse code signalling using flag, lamp and heliograph;’ and the ability to read and interpret maps effectively.[40]

On 05 April 1918, O’Shea and other ranks were reported missing in action during an attack at Albert, Somme, France.[41] O’Shea would become one of the 4,000 Australian combatants who were taken captive as prisoners of war (POWs) by enemy forces.’[42] On 22 August 1918; a German list was received stating ‘Prisoner of War’ interned at Gustrow, Germany.[43] Within a few days of becoming a POW at Gustrow, O’Shea sent a Postcard to his mother in Australia stating his health was sound.[44] Gustrow was one of many large internment camps in Germany.[45] It could house an estimated population of 20,000 prisoners.[46]

Under the principles established by international law - The Hague Conventions, it was stipulated that prisoners of war were entitled to receive rations of equivalent quantity or quality as those provided to the captor army’s forces.[47] However, as early as 1915, the German military administration recognised the potential scarcity of food supplies due to the prolonged Allied maritime blockade throughout the ongoing war.[48] Therefore, many POWs were allowed to receive Red Cross and other Care packages to help feed the prisoners.[49] Approximately 288 out of the 397 Australians who died while captive met their demise because of injuries sustained during their time in action.[50]

The Germans perceived their POWs through an economic rather than a military lens.[51] ‘The Hague Convention of 1907 protected officers’, whereas individuals of lower ranks within the military could potentially be utilised as industrial or agricultural labourers by their captors.[52] The level of violence directed towards prisoners in the German camps fluctuated depending on the phase of the war, as well as differing between camps and among prisoners of different nationalities.[53] The German wartime state saw individual prison camp commandants exert significant authority over their captives. Hence, the extent of cruelty or violence experienced within each camp was contingent upon the personal attributes and inclinations of the respective commandant overseeing the POW Camp.[54]

On 11 Nov 1918, a declaration of peace was made.[55] On 07 December 1918, O’Shea arrived at Dover, England, following his repatriation from captivity as a prisoner of war in Germany.[56] O’Shea returned to Australia in 1919.[57] After the war, he was medically discharged from the A.I.F on 01 May 1919.[58]

William O’Shea died on 29 May 1966 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He is buried at the Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane.[59]

[1] Birth Registration of William Shea, born 11 February 1890, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Queensland, 1890/C/11397; Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 1.

[2] ‘Corporal William O’Shea’, Catholic Advocate, (Brisbane), 20 December 1917, p 34, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258325428, accessed 29 July 2023.

[3] Electoral roll entry for William O’Shea, Subdivision of Laidley, Division of Moreton, Queensland, 1913, in Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Ancestry.com, accessed 19 September 2023; Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 1.

[4] Australian War Memorial, ‘First World War 1914-18 – Summary’, Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/first-world-war, accessed on 19 September 2023.

[5] Bill Gammage, ‘The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War,’ ANU Press, Canberra, 1974, p 7.

[6] Professor Joan Beaumont, Dr John Connor, and others, 'Centenary of the First Conscription Referendum', [public lecture], National Library of Australia, 28 October 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20220325184308/https://www.nla.gov.au/stories/audio/on-war-1, accessed 19 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, ‘First World War 1914-18 – Summary’, Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/first-world-war, accessed on 19 September 2023; Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 1.

[7] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 7.

[8] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 7.

[9] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 7; Bill Gammage, The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War, ANU Press, Canberra, 1974, p 7.

[10] Bill Gammage, The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War, ANU Press, Canberra, 1974, p 14; K. H. Jobson, ‘First AIF enlistment patterns and reasons for their variation’, Australian Defence Force Journal, 1998, 132, p 62.

[11] Bart Ziino, ‘Enlistment and Non – enlistment in Wartime Australia: Responses to the 1916 Call to Arms Appeal’, Australian Historical Studies, 2010, 41 (2), p 222; Professor Joan Beaumont, Dr John Connor, and others, 'Centenary of the First Conscription Referendum', [public lecture], National Library of Australia, 28 October 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20220325184308/https://www.nla.gov.au/stories/audio/on-war-1, accessed 19 September 2023.

[12] Bart Ziino, ‘Enlistment and Non – enlistment in Wartime Australia: Responses to the 1916 Call to Arms Appeal’, Australian Historical Studies, 2010, 41 (2), p 222; Professor Joan Beaumont, Dr John Connor, and others, 'Centenary of the First Conscription Referendum', [public lecture], National Library of Australia, 28 October 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20220325184308/https://www.nla.gov.au/stories/audio/on-war-1, accessed 19 September 2023; ‘Corporal William O’Shea’, Catholic Advocate, (Brisbane), 20 December 1917, p 34, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article258325428, accessed 29 July 2023.

[13] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 1; Embarkation record of William O’Shea, 47 Infantry Battalion – 2 to 10 Reinforcements, First World War Embarkation Nominal Rolls, 1914-1918 War, Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1910184, accessed 22 September 2023; ‘47th Australian Infantry Battalion Collection Summary Page’, Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51487, accessed 22 September 2023.

[14] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8.

[15] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8.

[16] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8.

[17] Peter Jackson (director), ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’, [archive footage documentary], 14-18 Now, BBC UK website, 2018, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0brzkzx, accessed 20 Sep 2023.

[18] Peter Jackson (director), ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’, [archive footage documentary], 14-18 Now, BBC UK website, 2018, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0brzkzx, accessed 20 Sep 2023.

[19] Peter Jackson (director), ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’, [archive footage documentary], 14-18 Now, BBC UK website, 2018, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0brzkzx, accessed 20 Sep 2023.

[20] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories, Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[21] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[22] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[23] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[24] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[25] Diary entry for 10-11 April 1917, Australian Imperial Force Unit war diary, 1914-1918, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War Memorial, AWM4 23/64 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339182 accessed 22 September; Diary entry for April 1917, Field Returns, Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; Diary entry for 10 – 11 April 1917, Unit Manuscript Histories: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion: Operations, AWM224 MSS178, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2626104, accessed 22 September 2023; Australian Imperial Force, 47th Infantry Battalion, Australian War memorial, AWM2018.8.111, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2614277, accessed 22 September 2023; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[26] KH Jobson, ‘First AIF enlistment patterns and reasons for their variation’, Australian Defence Force Journal, no. 132, p 6, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual War memorial of Australia ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt,’ France, Virtual War Memorial of Australia website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 , accessed on 20 September 2023.

[27] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8; K.H. Jobson, 'First AIF enlistment patterns and reasons for their variation', Australian Defence Force Journal, no. 132, 1998, p 65; CEW Bean, ‘First World War Official Histories , Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917, Chapter IX – the First Battle of Bullecourt’, 11 ed, 1941, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416595, accessed 22 September 2023; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84354, accessed on 21 September 2023.; Virtual Australian War Memorial, ‘World War 1 Campaigns: First Battle of Bullecourt, France’, Virtual Australian War Memorial website, n.d., https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/4 accessed 18 September 2023.

[28] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8.

[29] Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal – Australian Army Medical Corps in World War 1 - Regimental aid posts’, Department of Veteran Affairs website, n.d., https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/australian-imperial-force/army-medical-corps accessed 18 September 2023.

[30] KH Jobson, ‘First AIF enlistment patterns and reasons for their variation’, Australian Defence Force Journal, no. 132, p 6, accessed 22 September 2023.

[31] Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal – Australian Army Medical Corps in World War 1 - Regimental aid posts’, Department of Veteran Affairs website, n.d., https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/australian-imperial-force/army-medical-corps accessed 18 September 2023.

[32] Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal – Australian Army Medical Corps in World War 1 – Field and Light Horse Field Ambulances’, Department of Veteran Affairs website, n.d., https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/australian-imperial-force/army-medical-corps accessed 18 September 2023.

[33] Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal – Australian Army Medical Corps in World War 1 – Casualty Clearing Stations’, Department of Veteran Affairs website, n.d., https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/australian-imperial-force/army-medical-corps , accessed 20 September 2023; Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8.

[34] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 8, p36.

[35] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 31.

[36] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 30.

[37] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 29.

[38] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 10.

[39] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 10.

[40] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 10; Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal – Australian signallers in World War 1’, Department of Veteran Affairs website, n.d.,

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/personnel/army-life/signallers , accessed 20 September 2023.

[41] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 10; Australian War Memorial, ‘Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files – William O’Shea’, Australian war memorial website, n.d., https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1502669, accessed 22 September 2023.

[42] Department of Veteran Affairs, ‘Anzac Portal - Australian Internees and Prisoners of war in World War I’, https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/personnel/australian-pows accessed 18 September 2023.

[43] Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 24.

; Aus Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files.

[44] Aus Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, Post Card sent to Mother from POW German Camp. 10 April 1918; Australian War Memorial, “Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war – The First World War,’ https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/stolenyears/ww1, accessed 21 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, ‘Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war – Prisoners of the Germans’, https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/stolenyears/ww1/germany, accessed on 21 September 2023; Service Record of William O’Shea, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia, B2455, AAGARD – ZYGAS, p 37; Geneva Convention of Hague Convention on treatment of POW; ‘Personal Notes’, Week (Brisbane), 30 August 1918, p 23, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188929315, accessed 22 September 2023.

[45] ‘Australian Internees and Prisoners of war in World War I, https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/personnel/australian-pows accessed 18 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, “Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war – The First World War,’ https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/stolenyears/ww1, accessed 21 September 2023; Australian War Memorial, ‘Stolen Years: Australian prisoners of war – Prisoners of the Germans’, https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/stolenyears/ww1/germany, accessed on 21 September 2023; Heather Jones, Uta Hinz,‘Prisoners of War (Germany)’, 1914-1918-online, International Encyclopedia of the First World War website, https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/prisoners_of_war_germany , accessed 21 September 2023.

[46] Heather Jones, Uta Hinz,‘Prisoners of War (Germany)’, 1914-1918-online, International