Flag of the 7th Reinforcements to 45 Battalion, AIF : Lieutenant H N Griffin

Silk flag, divided vertically into two even parts, dark blue (left) and blue/grey (right), to represent the colours of 45 Battalion, AIF. The flag carries silver painted lettering, edged in blue, across its width, '7th Reinforcements/ 45th Battalion.'. A strip of heavy herring bone weave cotton with 13 brass eyelets (one missing) is sewn down the right side of the flag, through which a suspension cord of twisted blue, grey and white polished cotton is threaded.

Henry Norman Griffin was born in Brisbane, Queensland on 11 April 1893. Educated at Broken Hill, New South Wales, he was working as a clerk in an engineering firm at Helensburg, NSW, when he enlisted for service in the AIF on 25 July 1916. He had previously served with the 37th (Illawarra) Infantry Regiment for three years and had been the officer commanding B Company.

Griffin was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements of the 45th Battalion as a lieutenant, and was placed in command of the group when they sailed from Sydney for service on the Western Front aboard the troopship SS Port Nicholson, on 8 November 1916. The men carried this flag with them, which they presented to Griffin as a souvenir of the voyage when they reached England. They also gave him a pair of glass dogs (see REL39739), which further represented the battalion and its service in France.

After training in England, Griffin joined his battalion in France on 13 May 1917. He was wounded in the neck by high explosive shrapnel fragments at the battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, and was evacuated to the 3rd London General Hospital in England for treatment. Two of the metal fragments could not be removed, as they were too close to the laryngeal nerve. He had also twisted his leg badly in a shell hole, and this injury was still troubling him in 1918, causing him to walk with a slight limp.

Griffin returned again to his battalion in France on 22 September 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres. On 12 October he was blown up during the Second Battle of Passchendaele, injuring his hand. He was again evacuated to England, this time to the 4th London General hospital. Although his hand had almost healed, three weeks later he was diagnosed with neurasthenia (shell shock) and a decision was made to repatriate him to Australia in January 1918.

In Sydney, Griffin was treated, first at the 4th Australian General Hospital at Randwick, and then at the 21st Australian Auxiliary hospital at Georges Heights. He was noted as having a high pulse rate, and showing general nervousness, insomnia, dizziness, marked tremors and general apprehension. Some months later it was noted that while his physical health was good he was slightly 'nervy' and still subject to intermittent bad dreams. He was considered unfit for further active service and discharged.

During the Second World War Griffin served again, between 7 March 1940 and 18 October 1943, as a captain with the service number N60223 . He served with the Royal Australian Engineers (Works) attached to the NSW Lines of Communication Area. He died in Sydney on 15 May 1964.