Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Ross Devlin #3060 47th Battalion / 25th Battalion

William Devlin does not fit the usual stereotype of the men who volunteered for the Great War. He was somewhat older than the average volunteer, giving his age at enlistment as 31 years and 2 months on 12 August 1915. He was married to Mary Devlin and they lived at McIlwraith Avenue, Coorparoo. He gave his occupation as wharf labourer.

In completing the Roll of Honour card, Mary stated that she thought her husband was 34 and given that documents were not required at enlistment, William may well have lied about his age. Mary also stated that William had been born in Ireland (William also stated this on his attestation papers, naming Dublin as his birthplace), and had seen service in the Navy and the Black Watch (Scottish Regiment) before coming to Australia at age 30. On his attestation papers, William stated that he had been a member of the Cameron Highlanders (not Blackwatch); and had purchased his discharge; but there was no mention of the Navy, Royal or other.

A search of British family history sites revealed a comment that William had been born to parents of Irish ancestry in Glasgow (which gives greater credence to the claim of being a member of a Scottish Regiment) and that his real Christian names were William John; Ross being his mother’s maiden name.

At his medical, the examining officer noted that although William was relatively short at 5’6”, his chest measurement was 39 inches. This is born out in a photograph of William held in the AWM collection which clearly shows him in a tunic wearing arm bands to shorten the sleeves. His larger than average chest probably meant he was issued a tunic that was too large. Also noted in his medical records was the fact that he had tattoos on both forearms and the back of each hand, again an indication of a possible seafaring connection at some point in his past.

William was drafted into the 7th reinforcements of the 25th Battalion and embarked on HMAT “Itonus” on 30th December 1915. Upon arrival in Egypt in March 1916, William was transferred to the 47th Battalion.

In early 1916, the decision had been made to expand the AIF into a larger force before being deployed to the Western Front. The Gallipoli campaign had brought a flood of new recruits (which would soon slow to a trickle after Pozieres) who were now in staging camps in Egypt. Battalions from the original 1st and 2nd divisions which had been on Gallipoli were split to create new battalions which would comprise the 4th and 5th divisions. One of the original 1st division battalions, the 15th, was to be divided to create a new battalion, the 47th. Official histories describe the methodology for dividing the existing battalions as varied, but it is noted that in the case of the 15th Battalion, instead of dividing the competent officers and NCOs evenly, the 47th was left with a compliment of veterans who were perhaps not up to acceptable standard. To exacerbate this situation, to bring the 47th up to strength, men were transferred into the battalion who had been on garrison duty in Egypt, had been sick in hospital and in a couple of instances, men who had been released from the stockade.

When the rest of the AIF (minus the Light Horse) were sent to France, the 47th remained behind for further training and garrison duty on the Suez Canal. The battalion was involved in a highly embarrassing incident which illustrated the lack of discipline within the battalion. The Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII, visited Egypt on an inspection tour. Included in the tour was a review of the 47th battalion. Instead of giving the usual three cheers, the men broke ranks and surrounded the young prince and proceeded to count him out, much like a boxing referee. The Prince was quite shaken according to his own account.

When the 47th finally departed for Marseilles, the battalion history records that the Commanding Officer and other senior officers became roaring drunk as they crossed the Mediterranean; apparently having discovered that alcohol could be purchased on credit whilst at sea. Similar episodes of drunkenness were reported when the battalion arrived at Outersteene near Armentieres and the first pay for several months was issued. To William’s credit, he had allotted almost all of his five shillings a day pay to his wife, leaving himself with sixpence a day for his own needs.

Whilst in the northern sector, William spent a brief period of time in hospital with renal colic, before being transferred with the rest of the 4th Division for the Somme offensive. The 1st and 2nd Divisions were thrust into the struggle for Pozieres first during late July and early August, and had secured the village and the important blockhouse on the site of a windmill above the village. It was now the turn of the 4th Division to continue the offensive towards a ruined farm which the Germans had heavily fortified by extending the cellars and creating a line of three defensive trenches. The farm was depicted on the maps as “La Ferme du Mouquet” but the Australians referred to it as “Moo Cow Farm” or “Mucky Farm.”

The assault of the farm was conducted on an ever decreasing front that was enfiladed by German artillery and machine guns. The ground was so churned up that advancing troops could not recognise a trench line when they reached it. Attempts to dig new trenches were unsuccessful due to the loose ground caving in. The 47th was finally withdrawn from the battle for Mouquet Farm without the objective being reached and held at considerable cost. The 4th Division had sustained 4650 casualties, amongst them was Private William Devlin.

Military records indicate that William Devlin died of wounds at a Field Ambulance on 1st September 1916. He was buried nearby at Puchvillers Military Cemetery near Albert. In due course, his widow received his personal effects which included a bullet and a rosary. She was also sent three copies of a photograph of his grave and his medals. By this time Mary Devlin had remarried and was living at Gibb Street, Wynnum. There is no record of Mary being granted a war widow’s pension.