Bertie Ernest Albert Henderson was born at Naringal in 1891 and was 24 at the time of enlistment. He fought in France and died from injuries in France on June 1, 1918. The entries relate to matters which relate to military procedures and duties, places visited in France and England, time spent at the front and on leave.For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.* Australian War Memorial Website Bertie Henderson was but one of these casualties and this diary gives an insight into the life of the average soldier. He records events from the mundane to conditions common to the war experience. Front page has photograph and typed enlistment details, followed by copy of enlistment paper and numerous pages of typed diary entries dated from July 1916. Other entries give day only with no year. Back cover has basic family tree.warrnambool, naringal, ernest albert henderson, 5th pioneer batallion, world war 1, amiens, crouy-sur somme

Private Bertie Ernest Alfred Henderson served in the 5th Pioneer Battalion, 5th Division of the AIF. He died of wounds In France on 29/5/1918 or 1/6/1918. His burial place is Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme. The framed 'In Memoriam' has been in the custody of family members until presented to W&DHS in 2013 by Mrs Beris Porter. Pte BEA Henderson, 1866, 3 Pioneer Battalion(2 Reinforcement Group) was a farmer and single. His father was Mr HH Henderson of Naringal. He enlisted on 27/5/1916 then sailed on the Themistocles on 28/7/1916 and transferred to the 5 Pioneer Battalion. His name is recorded on the War Memorial, Artillery Crescent, Warrnambool as having made the supreme sacrifice.Mass produced Memorial page with a sepia original half portrait photograph of a soldier surrounded with two mounts,narrow white and dark/grey brown, and a thin gold gilt surround next to an inward angled plain, wooden frame with clear glass. Hand white painted name, rank, number, battalion, division with decorative flourishes. A. tarnished plaque is on the mid lower frame Front- White hand painted dedication: 1866/PRIVATE B.E.A. HENDERSON/5th Pioneer Batt 5Division/A.I.F. The mass produced decorative mount has battle place names and a bird's eye view of battlefields in France. In sepia 'Glory' stand atop a rock and cross with a laurel wreath in her right hand and a scroll with ANZACS falling from her left hand. A verse is written Anzacs, you've graved your name upon Immortal Scroll/Naught can compare with what the World a claims/Zenith of a fighting patriotic soul./A host of heroes, you have but echoed back with Clarion tongue/the Spartan Sires from who you fitly sprung Coo-ee! Comrades, 'Kia-Ora' you didn't ant couch will ever be./Sacred to all Eternity. An oval cut-out holds a half portrait of the soldier in uniform. Plaque on lower wooden frame FRANCE/29.5.18 Reverse- in pencil handwriting: ? o/c/... ... A. Henderson/of ...T/Yar..galin memoriam, wwi, 5th pioneer battalion, 5th division, aif, private bea henderson, warrnambool, anzac