Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Eric Inglis, a soldier who served in WW1 from 1914 to 1918. Born on the 19th of August 1893, he was born and raised in South Australia, and was baptised shortly after his birth. He lived in Roseworthy, where he became a clerk, filing reports and managing business transactions. TAt the time of enlistment, he was 5 feet 11 ¼ inches in height, and weighed 143 pounds. He enlisted on the 19th of August 1914, on his 21st birthday. He probably did this because then he didn’t have to get a permission slip from his parents. Before he went to war, he had to train. Eric Inglis already trained with the AIF before the war and was a captain as the war started. After the training, Eric Inglis on the HMAT Ascanius on the 20th of October 1914, which sailed to Adin, Saudi Arabia, a trip that took roughly one and a half months, landing there on the 5th of December 1914.

Inglis's first contributions in the war was in the Gallipoli Campaign, where he was promoted to a Corporal and then a Lieutenant.

He then moved from Gallipoli to France to fight in France. The 10th battalion arrived in the small town of Marseilles, and trained in Strazeele, Godewaersvelde, and Sailly-sur-la-Lys, all towns in Northern France.  The Battle of Pozieres started on the 23rd of July 1916, and ended on the 7th of August 1916, and had over 23,000 casualties, including Eric Inglis , who received a gunshot wound on the 25th of July 1916 to his right leg. The Battle of Pozieres was a major German ground, and if the Allies could capture it, the Allies would be given a huge advantage over the Central Power, since the small town served as a defence for German lines, filled with heavy artillery.

The 10th Battalion participated in the Battle of Bullecourt in the July of 1916, in which Eric Inglis participated in most of it. After Eric Inglis was discharged from Hospital, he returned to his unit at Bullecourt, where he got a gunshot wound to his face in Abbeville on the 27th of August 1916. He then was transported to England where he was treated until the 24th of September 1916. He then was Taken On strength, to join the First ADBD (Australian Division Base Deposition), which was formed in March 1916 on the Western Front, the went to La Havre in June 1917, but disbanded on the 15th of December 1917.

Shortly after, Eric Inglis got a certain disease and a mild concussion on the 31st of December 1916, and the 9th of January 1917 respectively. After that, he got mustard poisoning on the 20th of January 1917. Mustard gas was a chemical used in WW1, and when encountering the skin, it would cause blisters and burns. If inhaled, the mustard gas would cause blisters in the lungs, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema, which was fatal. Mustard Gas could also cause long-term illness, including skin damage, eye problems, and respiratory issues.

On the 3rd of March 1917, when still in training, he was punished for failing to report to the Admin Headquarters, and as a punishment, had to forfeit two days’ pay. Still in training, he contracted influenza, and was transported to Wimereux and then to Havre for treatment. He was then granted one-month sick leave, which then extended to special leave on the 10th of October 1918, shortly before the war ended.

He was given a Military Medal for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When under heavy hostile shell fire, a bomb dump was set on fire. He at once dashed forward and assisted to remove the boxes and extinguish the fire, thus preventing a serious explosion. His prompt action undoubtedly saved many lives”, stated by the Commonwealth Gazette. He was probably given this award in Pozieres, according to the date it was given. Eric Inglis also was Mentioned in Dispatches at Pozieres, France on the 24th of July 1916, for “leading a team of bombers, which he organized from the infantry, with very great gallantry, continuing to do so until he was badly wounded”, stated by the Superior Officer.

After the war, Eric Inglis was awarded a victory medal and a 1914-1915 cross, which was given to everyone to enlisted between those years. He was returned to Australia in September 1918. Eric Inglis sadly passed away in 1961, at the age of 71.