: History of the 11th Field Company Australian Engineers Australian Imperial Force by Anonymous - World War 1914-1918 Regimental histories Australia; Australia. Australian Army. Australian Imperial Force (1914-1921) Engineers. 11th Field Company

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PAGE.

EXPLANATORY NOTE 75

HISTORY OF THE 11TH FIELD COMPANY

AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS.

EARLY DAYS.

The Company was formed in Australia, Headquarters and Nos. 1 and 2 sections being raised in the Fourth Military District, and two sections in the First Military District. Selection of personnel commenced in the beginning of March, 1916, but Officers had previously been selected and trained at the Engineer Officers' Training School, Sydney. The O.C. , 2nd in command , and a number of N.C.O.'s and men came from the 12th Field Company A.E., C.M.F., at Broken Hill; 2nd-Lieut. J. M. Norton from the 11th Field Coy., A.E., C.M.F. ; while 2nd-Lieut. S. W. Matters came from South Australia, and 2nd-Lieuts. R. W. Lahey and H. St. A. Murray, from Queensland.

The quotas were collected and trained separately, that from South Australia at Mitcham Camp, near Adelaide, and the Queensland sections at Enoggera, near Brisbane, until 29th April, 1916, when the Company concentrated at Mitcham. Work was then carried on with the full Company, at the same time stores and equipment were slowly collected. Horses were issued from the remount dep?t, not for overseas service but for training purposes, but proved so wild as to give the drivers more practice in colt-breaking and riding buck jumpers than in the routine of military horse mastership and drill.

The technical stores of a Field Company are very extensive, but by ransacking Adelaide warehouses to fill the gaps in the available army supplies, Ordnance succeeded in almost completing the equipment. Two tool carts came from 12th Field Company, C.M.F., at Broken Hill , and one from a Queensland Field Coy. The pontoons were made at Cockatoo Docks in New South Wales, but the Weldon trestles, bridging wagons, and water cart were not ready in time. The Sappers were issued with green leather infantry equipment, but this was afterwards changed in England for web. No rifles were issued until the unit reached England.

Embarkation took place at Outer Harbour on 31st May, 1916, on H.M.A.T. A 29, s.s. "Suevic," in company with the 11th Field Ambulance .

After a rough trip round the Lleuwin the "Suevic" arrived at Fremantle on 6th June, 1916, and embarked the 44th Battalion .

Crossing the Indian Ocean the vessel sprung a small leak which necessitated calling at Durban for the services of a diver. The stay was only twenty-four hours , but the troops had a route march through the town.

Cape Town was reached on 24th June, 1916, and left on 27th. As was expected the yellow flag was flown and no leave was granted, but the troops had a route march and a sports meeting.

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