Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

France, Amiens, 4052 PRESTON, 28 Battalion, 1917

« Prev Item Next Item »

1917

Subcollections

"Treasured" - World War 1 Photo Portraits - Identified

Overview

Studio portrait of 28 Battalion officers on leave in Amiens, including Lieutenant Raymond Preston

Historical information

4052 Raymond Preston of Subiaco enlisted on 28 July 1915 and embarked as part of 10th Reinforcements, 28 Battalion on HMAT A38 Ulysses on 1 April 1916. During service in Egypt and France he was successively promoted to Sergeant and Commissioned as a 2/Lieutenant on 22 November1917. Promoted to Lieutenant on 22 March 1918 he was wounded a second time with a severe gunshot wound in the leg. He returned to Australia on 30 June 1918. Subsequently served in WW2.
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=245451
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6469067

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P1900.1925

Item type

Postcards

Themes

War and Conflict

Contextual Information

The 28th Battalion, formed on 16 April 1915 in Western Australia, was initially composed of recruits designated for the 24th Battalion. Departing Australia in June 1915, the battalion trained in Egypt for two months before landing at Gallipoli on 10 September as part of the 7th Brigade. At Gallipoli, they bolstered the exhausted New Zealand and Australian Division, experiencing a relatively quiet deployment before withdrawing in December with minimal casualties.

Following Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt before moving to the Western Front in France as part of the 2nd Australian Division. Their first major engagement was at Pozieres, from late July to early August 1916. After a quieter period in Belgium, the battalion faced tough fighting near Flers, in the Somme Valley, in October. Throughout 1917, the 28th Battalion primarily served in supporting roles but participated actively in the second battle of Bullecourt, and notably, captured its objectives within seven minutes during the third phase of the battle of Menin Road. They were also engaged in the muddy battle of Poelcappelle.

In 1918, the 28th played a key role in countering the German spring offensive and later joined the Allied counteroffensive starting on 8 August, which led to the German retreat. They were instrumental in securing crossings over the Somme River and advancing beyond Mont St Quentin. The battalion's final actions involved breaking through the Beaurevoir Line in early October. The unit began demobilizing in January 1919, and was formally disbanded in March 1919.

Year

1917

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback