Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Brothers:

2570 Pte Harold HINDLEY, 5th Bn, returned to Australia, 19 October 1918;

2747 Pte John James HINDLEY, 4th Machine Gun Company, died whilst Prisoner of War, 6 May 1917.

Francis Grant Hindley was born in Hamilton, the son of John and Margaret Hindley.   The family had emigrated from Liverpool, England, and settled at Coleraine, in the district of Hamilton.    By 1914 John and Margaret Hindley were living in Boort, where John worked as a Draper.

Known as “Frank”, Francis Grant Hindley was the first man to enlist from St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo.   He was also amongst the first men to enlist in Bendigo, enlisting on the first official date of 18th August, 1914.     At the start of the war he was employed as a Mechanic, and lived with his sister, Mrs T. W. Griffiths, at ‘Ivanhoe’ Mitchell St, Bendigo.   He was 19 years and 6 months old, 5’ 8” tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.   He was appointed to the 7th Battalion, and allocated Service No. 790.   He embarked for overseas on 19.10.14.   

The battalion disembarked in Egypt for a further period of training and then embarked for Gallipoli.   Francis Grant Hindley was with the Machine Gun Section of 7th Battalion when it participated in the Landing at Anzac Cove on 25.4.15.    He was wounded on 6.7.15, while the battalion was in the trenches at Steele’s Post.    Sustaining Shock Concussion he was admitted to hospital in Lemnos and then in Malta.   He was also suffering from influenza and piles.    He was discharged from hospital and entered the overseas base in Cairo on 28.11.15.    He was not present during the evacuation of Anzac, and re-joined the battalion in Egypt on 9.1.16.

During February, 1916, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was re-organized.   A new Division was formed, with each battalion containing a ‘core’ of veterans.    ‘Frank’ was one of the veterans transferred to the newly formed 59th Battalion. (24.2.16)     He embarked for France on 24.6.16.

On 23.7.16 he was transferred to the 58th Battalion.   He was appointed Acting Sergeant on 1.4.17, promoted Sergeant on 20. 6.17, and on 5.8.17 reverted to Private at his own request.   He was appointed Lance Corporal on 15.9.17.

He embarked for Australia on 5.4.18 on Furlough (i.e. Special 1914 Leave) and was then discharged Medically Unfit, with Haemorrhoid.

“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone

Francis Grant Hindley, known as ‘Frank’, with previous military service in 67th Infantry, was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14.   He was appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.   The battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’.   Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)      

In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized.   In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company.    This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.   

The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.   Francis Grant Hindley was with the Machine Gun Section of 7th Battalion when it participated in the Landing.  

In May, Lieut.-General Sir W.R. Birdwood, in command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, was asked to provide part of the Australian force to assist in a British offensive at Cape Helles.    The 2nd Australian Brigade, which included the 7th Battalion, was one of two brigades provided.    The 7th Battalion left Anzac and disembarked at ‘V’ Beach, Cape Helles, on May 6th.  The battalion moved forward on May 8th in what was later known as the “2nd Battle of Krithia”  (8-11 May).   This battle achieved minimal gain and casualties were extremely high.   

The 2nd Brigade returned to Anzac Cove on 17th May, 1915, and went into Reserve.   The Brigade sent 4 companies and 2 Machine Gun sections to the firing line each night, in support of the 1st Brigade.

Hindley : “At this game you live just like rabbits.   I have been getting it very hot during the last few weeks, and getting quite an old soldier in learning how to bury my head when I hear shells coming.   I can tell you it does not take long to learn.   I did not think I would take to this as well as I have done.   We have so long to stay in the trenches, and then get relief, and have a spell beyond the trench.   As for “tucker”, we are living well – biscuits, cheese, bully beef, bacon and jam.   Don’t worry, I am just jogging along.   If I have the bad luck to stop one it cannot be helped.   The first mail arrived yesterday, but, unfortunately, many were not here to get their letters.   I do not think this business will be over by Christmas.   I am crouching in the trench now.   Shrapnel has been flying all the morning, and we have to keep low.  All along I have been in the machine gun section, so I have been in the thick of it.   I have had some close shaves, but glad to say have not been hit.   I do not know but I feel sure that I am not going to be hit.   There have been a few times when I would have sold out very cheaply all the same.”    [Letter.   Bendigonian.   July 22, 1915] 

On July 3, 1915, the battalion moved into the trenches at Steele’s Post.   The downward slope behind Steele’s Post was directly overlooked by the Turks, who were in position on the higher ground.   Turkish riflemen made this area particularly unsafe.  Most days were spent repairing the trenches and continually sniping at the Enemy’s loopholes.   They repaired the trenches during the night.    They were also fired upon by the Enemy Howitzer.    The strain of the constant bombardment, and explosions which buried men, was beginning to show.   Francis Grant Hindley was Wounded on  6/7/15, sustaining Shock concussion.       He re-joined the 7th Battalion in Egypt on  9.1.16.   

He went on to serve on the Western Front and RTA on 5.4.18.   

“The First Lot.   7th Battalion.   The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone