Western Front Vernon Sturdee

b company, 4th pioneer battalion shifts camp butte de warlencourt fremicourt light railway.

the 5th division moved france in june 1916, participated in disastrous battle of fromelles in july. during action, sturdee s 8th field company supported 8th infantry brigade. trench dug former facilitated latter s withdrawal across no man s land. service @ gallipoli , fromelles, mentioned in despatches, , awarded distinguished service order. heavy losses in fighting @ fromelles prevented 5th division participating in battle of somme. free division participate, ii anzac corps organised franks force take on divisional frontage in houplines sector, , sturdee became commander royal engineers (cre). when 5th division moved somme sector in november, became cre in charge of road albert montauban.

on 13 february 1917, sturdee appointed command 4th pioneer battalion, rank of lieutenant colonel. pioneer battalions organised infantry contained high percentage of tradesmen , employed on construction tasks under engineer supervision. on next 9 months 4th pioneer battalion maintained roads, built camps, laid cables , dug trenches , dugouts. 1917, australian government pushing british army officers holding australian commands , staff posts replaced australians. part of australianisation of australian corps, sturdee became cre of 5th division on 25 november 1917, replacing british army officer. on 27 march 1918, sturdee seconded general headquarters (ghq) british expeditionary force staff officer, remaining there until 22 october 1918. provided rare opportunity, australian officer, of observing workings of major headquarters engaged in active operations. service on western front, sturdee mentioned in despatches second time, , appointed officer of order of british empire work @ ghq.