Born in Ballaarat to David and Rachel Findlay, Colin was one of ten children. Living at Harkway (near Berwick) and then Moving to Macoorna, where they lived for a short period of time before moving to land allotted by the services. (think this was Pyramid). While in Marcorna Colin played football for the local team and were Premiers in 1914
Colin's first job at the Marcorna general store 10/- per week, apart from working on the family farm. At 23 years old he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) at Bendigo Victoria, Australia.
On the 15th March 1916 Colin enlisted becoming a member of the 3rd Division, 10th Brigade, 38th Battalion, Company C. #1041.
The 38th Ballation was formed on the 1st March 1916, once sufficient recruits enlisted training commence at Epsom racecourse. In May 1916 came the first of many challanges with an outbreak of meningitis. With illness spreading quickly through the ranks all personell received a stringent health check. Those cleared were transferred to Cambellfield on the 5th June and the ranks replenished with fresh recruits. On the 20th June 1916 the 38th Battalion along with the Tenthfield engineers and tenth field ambulance embarked HMAS Runic A54 to Plymonth arriving on the 10th August 1916. Just prior to embarking Colin was promoted to Lance Corporal (13th June 1916) .
(information on the 38th Battalion from "The Story and Official History of the 38th Battalion AIF" by Eric Fairey, Published by the Bendigo Advertiser Pty. Ltd and Cambridge Press 1920).
Post war he
worked on Great Ocean Road Koo Wee Rup
Soldier Settlement and had
Life membership at the
Blind Home
Benovolent Home for the aged
38th
Bendigo East Bowls
Sayings:
more lights on than Luna Park,
"only doing it for her",
as soon as you go through the gates (heidleburg Repat) your cloths falls off.
With the herendously high casulty rate of the first world war Colin was unable to escape horrors of such an experience. He was injured from a gun shot wound to the left shoulder on the 2nd June 1917 (France). After a period of recovery he was cleared to rejoin his unit on the 10th of July. On the 14th July 1917 he marched to his unit in Rouen.
On the 24th of August 1917 Vice Captain Burke promoted Colin to Lance Corporal. He was further promoted to T/Cpl (unsure of this abbreviation). Unfortunately Colin was wounded for a second time on the 4th of October 1917. In this injury he received shrapnel to the head. On evacuation to the twelfth General Hospital, Rouen Hospital from the Field because of his wounds he was demoted to Lance Corporal. On the 16th Novemberl 191 he was trasfered to the Royal Vicoria Hospital Netly England arriving on the 17th November.
On the 4th February 1918 he was transfered to the 3rd Auxiliary.
Verelle Walters