'Australia Hill' Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England

With the armistice, the AIF had over 160,000 men in France and England, all immediately thinking of coming home to Australia. Demobilisation was placed in the capable hands of General Monash, who organized the return to Australia for the soldiers on a first come first served basis. The Salisbury Plain, where the Commonwealth and British armies had worked up to operational status during the war, now became a major staging area for the Commonwealth forces demobilisation. The population of AIF soldiers in the area swelled mightily, and those now demobilised soldiers and airmen were now left with nothing much to occupy their time.

At Hurdcott were the Australian Imperial Forces 15th Battalion in December 1918. In April 1919, the men of 4 Sqn AFC also staged through Hurdcott on their way to Australia after service at Bickendorff in Cologne, Germany. With 4 Sqn AFC was "Digger" the young Belgian boy that was smuggled out of Germany in an onion sack, and was to be smuggled back home to Australia with Private T.W. Tovell.

To keep the now impatiently waiting to go home men and women of the AIF occupied, there were sporting events continually in Australian Rules, Field Hockey, Athletics, Tug of War, Grease Pole and numerous other activities. One activity though left a permanent mark on the chalk hill at Hurdcott. The soldiers cut a huge trench into the side of the hill in the shape of Australia, with the word Australia in the center. The shape took 17 weeks to complete and was cast with cement. The hill now bears the unofficial name, "Australia Hill".

"Australia Hill", Hurdcott from the cockpit of a 1944 U.S. Army Piper L4H Cub liason aircraft. Image courtesy of Bob Gauld-Galliers

"Medal Hill", Hurdcott from the cockpit of a 1944 U.S. Army Piper L4H Cub liason aircraft. Image courtesy of Bob Gauld-Galliers

"Australia Hill", Hurdcott from the cockpit of a Nieuport 17. The V-strut and sesquiplane wing are visible in the lower right corner. Image courtesy of Bob Gauld-Galliers