Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert John Cyril Carmichael was born on 21 October 1896 in Geelong, Victoria. He was known as Bert or Curly (because of his curled hair in his younger years.) Along with many of his distant and close male cousins, Bert enlisted for the war in July 1916. He served in the 46th Battalion (V2636) as a Private in WWI and fought in France at Ypres, Bullecourt and the Somme. He was a scout (runner) and sustained three injuries - shot through the knee (he had darted off with a companion runner who was shot first then Bert was shot with the bullet passing through the heel of his boot causing the boot nails to penetrate into his foot) and a bullet shot through his scalp. This later injury was a 'Blighty', meaning he spent time recuperating in England.

National Archives of Australia online war service record: WWI: Enlisted at age 19 in July 1916; sent overseas in Oct 1916, and on to France; in camp hospital in Feb 1917 with appendicitis and influenza; later that month received 30 day pay forfeiture owing to 8 days AWOL; back in hospital (Rouen in France and in England) several times over coming months (influenza) in between tours of France; wounded in action in France in July 1918 (shrapnel wound, right ankle) - in camp hospital in Rouen; back in the field by Sept; late 1918 readmitted to hospital with tonsillitis; returned to Australia June 1919 and discharged from AIF in August. Medals: Star; British War Medal; and Victory Medal.

See also War Diary of the 46th on AWM website - Bert was mentioned in despatches July 1918 [page 23]: [quote] At Sailley-le-lec night of 7th/8th July guide to assaulting company. Flank out of touch with other troops, went out and established connection. Ammunition and S.O.S. signals required in front line, promptly volunteered and carried them forward through intense artillery fire. [end quote].

Bert suffered from war neurosis, or shell shock, (now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) for the rest of his life, no doubt contributing towards a nervous breakdown in later life. It was understood that no one, especially the children, were to make any loud noises or movements behind his back without his knowing. On one occasion, one of the children did so and Bert swung round in an absolute rage and they learnt their lesson very quickly!

After the war Bert obtained a soldier settlement property in the Mallee at Werrimull which he called Paisley (after what he believed to be his grandfather's birth place). He met his wife, Molly Pengilley, when she came to the district visiting her sister. Farming the Mallee was extremely tough work and he gained comfort in knowing most, if not all, of the surrounding properties were run by ex-soldiers like himself. Bert and Molly married on 6 July 1927 in Apollo Bay. Both their children were born at Werrimull.

In 1935 the family moved to Moyhu, in central Victoria, to a property they called Coonara - apparently a local Aboriginal word.

With WWII Bert was asked to establish the Citizen Military Forces 8th Light Horse Indi Division. He again enlisted (V22602) and was transferred as Captain to General Macarthur's staff in Brisbane Headquarters (COICGHQ, SWPA - Combined Operational Intelligence Centre, South West Pacific Area) as an Intelligence Officer liaising between the Australian and American Armies. His role was to supervise training. He also worked on the Kokoda campaign during which he visited New Guinea on a number of occasions. During the last trip he contracted malaria for which he spent time in Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital in Brisbane in early 1943.

National Archives of Australia online war service records: WWII: enlisted 12 Sept 1940 at Benalla; aged 42 yrs 11 mths; attended training courses for Intelligence training; promoted to Lieutenant in Jan 1941, temp promotion to Capt in Nov 1941 permanent promotion to Capt in July 1942. Worked in Cav Div 6 then transferred to Intelligence May 1942; on duty in SWPGHQ (South West Pacific General HQ) from Jun 1943 Brisbane; to Townsville and PNG in March 1943 and again in Sept 1843. To AGH in Aug with gastric colic and functional dyspepsia, and malaria contracted in PNG. Appt terminated Nov 1943 on non-medical grounds 'negligible disability' and placed on retired list Dec 1943.

During his WWII service years the children were sent to Apollo Bay to stay with their grandparents the Pengilleys. After his discharge from the army the family moved to Jamieson about 1945 to a property they called Laloki named by Bert after a place in Papua New Guinea. After Jamieson they moved to North Mooroopna, then later to East Shepparton and finally to Shepparton. He worked with stock and station agents Goldsborough Mort and with Dalgety's. He later started his own business as a State Valuer but illness forced his retirement. After a series of strokes (which were attributed to his WWI injuries) during which his wife nursed him at home for many years, he died on 26 March 1977 at Mooroopna Hospital.

There is a memorial plaque to Bert on wall 34, row J at the Victorian Garden of Remembrance, adjacent to the Springvale War Cemetery within the Springvale Necropolis (near Melbourne).