Alexander Duncan - Part Two
On 27th August 1917 Alex Duncan rejoined the 42nd Battalion. The weather according to the War Diary was dull and showery and the Battalion was engaged in training at Remilly-Wirquin for the Ypres offensive. On 25th September they started to march. By 3 October they had reached Ypres. Extracts from the War Diary read as follows: During this period the weather was extremely bad and both men and animals suffered severely. During the first 4 days 64 men were evacuated to hospital suffering from trench feet, exhuastion and shell-shock.....Never since the Battalion has landed in France has it been called upon to face such abnormal conditions. Never have the men had to face such hardships or to show such endurance and never have the Officers and men risen so well to the occasion and upheld so well the honour of the Battalion and the best traditions of the Australian Forces. Ypres 18 October 1917 courtesy of AWM Alex Duncan was wounded fo...