4th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade, Australia Imperial Force

[NewmanNoggs]

Hi,

I am researching Joseph Broome Higginbottom (my Great Grandfathers Cousin) who emigrated from Manchester sometime after 1911 and in October 1914 enlisted with the 4th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade. They were 1st sent to Egypt in early December 1914 and then Gallipoli. He was killed in action on the Gallipoli peninsula on May 2nd.

would any one be able to recommend a book about this battalion in this time period,

 

Many Thanks

[rksimpson]

Hi

 

Search for this - https://booksonwaraustralia.com/battalion-histories/134-history-of-4th-battalion-1914-19-9780975835319.html

 

regards

 

Robert

[Waddell]

'The Fighting Fourth' by Ron Austin has around sixty pages on Gallipoli and Chapter 4 covers the May 1915 period. He is not mentioned in the index.

 

Would also recommend that you have a look through Bean's OH as many later books (including regimental histories) draw from his work-

 

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416845

 

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416846

 

You may want to look at this book too by Kit Cullen-

 

https://www.amazon.com/Jacks-Journey-Kit-Cullen/dp/1743317700

 

I have not read Cullen's book, but it looks to cover the period at Gallipoli you are looking at.

 

Scott

Edited 17 March , 2019 by Waddell
Added more.

[NewmanNoggs]

Many Thanks both 

[Rockturner]

The 4th landed late on the 25th April and went into the line on Bolton's Ridge. They were attached to Colonel James McCay's 2nd Brigade for the interim until the reorganization of the Anzac line had taken effect, thanks to the relief by the RMLI being the Chatham, Portsmouth, Deal and the Nelson Battalions.

It would appear that your relative was in the 4th Battalion's original 'D' Coy which with the old 'E' Coy formed the new 'B' Coy.

Late in the afternoon of the 30th the 'A' and 'D' Coys of the 4th under Major Heane relieved the Portsmouth Battalion who were holding the line south of Wire Gully to Brown's Dip on 400 Plateau. Heane, and some of his men relieved Lt's Empson and Alcock's men who had been sent to support the Chatham Battalion, which was then dug in on the Portsmouth Battalion's left flank. This detachment from 'C' Coy of the Portsmouth Battalion had been tasked with holding some badly located trenches in Wire Gully, which is where Parker won his VC.

Major Heane's men, were later relieved by 'A' and 'C' Coys from the 4th Battalion, but it is not known if anyone from 'B' Coy was put into Wire Gully. However, Kit Cullen's book Jack's Journey is quite detailed and well researched if you wish go down that path. It is known that on 1st May; at 7.30am the 4th Battalion were ordered to withdraw at 8.55am [but] this order was cancelled after 'B' Coy had already withdrawn. This  might indicate that 'B' Coy at the time were in reserve trenches and not in Wire Gully where it would have been extremely hazardous to extricate troops during the hours of daylight. In the meantime 'A', 'D' and 'C' Coys from the 4th, less 'B' Coy of course remained in support and were kept in the reserve trenches. 'B' Coy had returned to the line by 4pm.  Enemy artillery fire is described as "Hell" [and] machine guns were sniping all the afternoon. Late on 2nd May elements of the NZ Brigade, 4th Australian Brigade and the RMLI unsuccessfully attempted to recapture Baby 700, so there is fair chance there was a bit of shrapnel flying about the Anzac line. There is no Red Cross listing for him and his service docs only say he was killed in action. Because your relative is commemorated on  the Lone Pine Memorial I think it would be safe to say he was killed on 400 Plateau where his unit were in support of the Portsmouth Battalion. I would suggest that for the time being you concentrate on Charles Bean's Volume 1 of Australia's Official History and Britain's Sea Soldiers by Blumberg before you decide if it is worth investigating Ron Austin's 4th Battalion history  and Cullen's work. 

Regards

Rockturner

Edited 18 March , 2019 by Rockturner
Wrote 'D' Coy twice instead of 'D' and 'C'

[NewmanNoggs]

Many Thanks for this detailed information Rockturner