2nd LIEUTENANT CARL SIDNEY HONMAN
3rd Tunnelling Company
Born on 22 October 1885 at Williamstown, Victoria, Carl was the son of Dr. Andrew and Wilhamina (Minnie) Clare Mathilde Machenbach (nee Machenbach) Honman. Two daughters, Marguerite Ellen born 1888 and Bertha Mary born 1890, and another son Andrew Victor born 1891 completed the family.
A son, John Andrew, was born to Carl and Muriel in Perth on 10 February 1915.
Carl signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ in Perth on 11 December 1916. A medical examination on the same day had found him to be ‘fit for active service’ and recorded that he was 31 years and 1 month of age. He was 5ft 9ins tall and weighed 145 lbs. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
Carl was a Geologist working for the Geological Service Office in Perth. He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife, Muriel Grace Honman, c/o Mrs. McWhae, 7th Avenue, Maylands, Perth, Western Australia
He attended the Engineer Officers Training School (EOTS) at Roseville from 24 January. He was promoted to Acting Corporal on 25 January and Acting Sergeant on 8 March.
On 10 July he joined the Tunnelling Reinforcements as an Acting Sergeant. In August 1917 he applied for a Commission in the A.I.F. He stated that he had matriculated at the Church of England Grammar School, Melbourne and was a graduate of Melbourne University in Mining Engineering.
He had been a Sergeant in the Grammar School Cadets and a Sapper in the Submarine Mining Company, Australian Engineers, before enlisting. He recorded that he had completed 6 months at the EOTS and 3 months with the Tunnelling Reinforcements at Seymour and Bendigo.
Carl was transferred to the June Reinforcements, Tunnelling Companies, and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 17 September.
2Lt Carl Honman was one of the 130 Reinforcements for the Tunnelling Companies to embark from Melbourne, Victoria at noon on November 26, 1917 aboard the SS Indarra. On November 30 at 10.15 p.m. the ship arrived at Albany, W.A. and departed at 2.10 p.m. on December 1, 1917. Colombo, Ceylon was reached by December 13 at 10.30 a.m. and departed two days later at 8.30 a.m. on December 15. Christmas Day was specially provided for by the ship and religious services were held on board. The troops disembarked at the Suez at 7 a.m. December 27, 1917. Amusements such as sports and cricket between various troop decks took place with some competitive teams made up of officers. Occasionally a religious service was held during the week. Weather was excellent and warm in the tropics.
The troops were transhipped to HMT Kashgar on January 9, 1918 and arrived at Taranto, Italy on January 20, 1918. They were entrained at Bordighira, Italy about January 27 arriving at Cherbourg, France on January 31, 1918 where they boarded H.M.T. Mona’s Queen and disembarked at Southampton on February 2, 1918. The men were entrained to Parkhouse camp and marched into No.3 Details camp the same day for further training for the front. They had gone from the tropic summer into the Northern winter.
Carl proceeded overseas to France on 22 March 1918 and marched into the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Rouelles. He marched out of the AGBD on 25 March and reported to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company (3ATC) on 27 March and was taken on strength.
The 3ATC End-of-War Report records:
‘On 27/3/18, 2/Lieut C.S. HONMAN and 2/Lieut R. DEPASSEY reported for duty and were taken on strength.’
‘On 1/8/18, 2/Lieut R. DePassey and 2/Lt C.S. Honman were promoted Lieutenants.’
On 21 December 1918 he and a Sapper were detached to the Engineering Chief, General Headquarters
He marched out of his unit for return to Australia on 21 March 1919 and marched in to the AGBD at Havre. The 3ATC End-of-War Report records:
‘On 20-3-19 Lieut R.J. Cavanagh MC, Lieut J. Dow, Lieut R. De Passey, Lieut Honman and Lieut J.O. Sternberg, with 102 ORs marched out to join Quota 21, at LE HAVRE for demobilisation and repatriation.’
Leaving Le Havre, France on 2 April, he marched in to No.3 Camp, Codford on 3 April.
Carl was granted non-military education (NME) leave with pay and subsistence from 20 May to 20 August 1919 to gain mining experience at East Pool & Agar Company, Carn Brea, Cornwall. His NME Leave was cancelled on 3 July when the course he was attending was cancelled and he reported to No.2 Group, Sutton Veny on 18 July for duty.
Carl left London on 1 August 1919 on board Argyllshire with 23 other Tunnellers for return to Australia, disembarking at Adelaide on 18 September 1919. His appointment as an Officer in the A.I.F. was terminated on 29 October 1919.
He received his British War Medal and Victory Medal on 23 May 1923.
The ‘Register of Tunnelling Company Officers – February 1925 - concerning Royal Engineers; Canadian Engineers; Australian Engineers and New Zealand Engineers’ recorded that in 1925 Carl was living at Heidelberg, Melbourne, Vic.
His military medical documents were forwarded to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne in March 1932.
Reunions
Past members of the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnelling Companies gathered on or about Anzac Day for a reunion luncheon. We have had access to some of their records, which were very well kept and are quite detailed. For a number of years, John Royle, Captain 1ATC & AEMMBC, produced a Circular distributed to former members of the Tunnelling Companies.
In the 1949 Circular he wrote:
“C.S. Honman writes from 3 Fairy Street, Ivanhoe, N.21. Vic. All glad to hear from him. I had the pleasure of meeting his son a couple of years ago at the Cement Co, Marulan, N.S.W.”
Carl Honman appears on the list of members in 1968, his address recorded as 3 Fairy Street, Ivanhoe, Victoria.
Carl Sidney Honman died at Geelong, Victoria in 22 August 1968 aged 82 and is buried at Lawn C grave 344
Grace Muriel Honman died at Geelong Victoria in 28 September 1976 aged 89 and is buried with he husband of 56 years.
Carls’ father served in the Boer War as a Major with the 2nd Victorian Contingent (Mounted Rifles).
2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles (2VMR) had an original strength of 265 in two mounted rifle squadrons. Commanded by Colonel T. Price, the Contingent left for South Africa on 14 January 1900 on Euryalus. Service included: February - December 1900 in northern Cape Colony, Orange Free State, east Transvaal then west Transvaal. The Contingent joined with the 1st Vic. Mounted Rifles for April-September 1900. 2VMR suffered two men killed or died of wounds and seven died of disease. The majority of the unit returned to Australia in December 1900 on Harlech Castle.
Major Andrew Honman was invalided to Australia per Australasian, arriving on 17 November 1900. He was entitled to wear the Queens South Africa Medal.
Dr. Andrew Honman signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 10 April 1918. Born at St Audiens, Scotland on 6 August 1858, he was 59 years and 6 months of age and a Surgeon by profession. He named his wife Minnie Honman of 85 Spring Street, Melbourne as his Next-of-Kin.
He was appointed to Lieutenant Colonel Rank (Honorary Colonel) in the A.I.F. on 16 April 1918 and embarked at Sydney on S.S. Niagara. He was to visit the U.S.A., Canada and England to inquire into and report on orthopaedic work.
Disembarking at Liverpool on 7 June, he proceeded overseas to France on 21 August 1918. Returning from France on 18 October he was attached to the Administrative Headquarters, London for medical duty. From 26 November he was performing temporary duty at Torquay. On 12 December he embarked for return to Australia per Nestor, disembarking at Melbourne on 1 February 1919. His appointment in the A.I.F. was terminated on 28 February.
He was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, receiving both on 15 October 1923.
On 18 March 1921 he arrived at Rabaul on board S.S. Melusia and was taken on strength of the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF). On 24 March he was appointed Principal Medical Officer (Temp.) with the temporary rank of Lt. Col. and with pay and allowance as approved by the Prime Minister’s Department. On 4 May he was sent to Madang via Kavieng on board S.S. Melusia on special duty.
On 14 November 1921 his appointment in the AN&MEF was terminated.
His military medical history was forwarded to the Repatriation Commission in September 1925.
Dr. Andrew Honman died at Bethesda, Richmond, Victoria on 3 October 1926 aged 68. His parents are recorded as Alexander John Honman and Helen Scott.
Minnie Clara Honman died at her residence at 1 Mountain View Road, Moutmorency, Victoria on 1 February 1949 aged 90.
Carls’ brother Andrew Victor Honman, born 27 February 1891, served 2 years as a Private with the University Rifles in 1910-1912. A Registered Medical Practitioner by profession, he applied for a Commission in the Australian Army Medical Corps on 15 August 1914. He named his father Andrew Honman of 85 Spring Street, Melbourne as his Next-of-Kin. It was recommended that he be appointed a Captain and be posted to No.2 Field Ambulance (2FA).
Andrew embarked at Melbourne, Victoria with 2FA on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 19 October 1914.
The unit was on board HMAT A47 Mashobra which anchored off Gaba Tepe, and a Bearer sub-division of 3 Officers and 113 Other Ranks landed at 5 a.m. on 25 April 1915.
Mashobra was converted to a hospital ship and by 30 April, 404 casualties had been placed on board.
On 17 May Andrew rejoined his unit after being at Point Helles with the 2nd Brigade.
On 4 July 1915 he was attached to the 7th Battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula, returning to 2FA on 20 July.
He was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 23 July 1915 with debility and was transferred to the Fleet Sweeper Clacton in the Dardenelles and was admitted to No.1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Mudros.
Andrew rejoined his unit at Gallipoli on 7 August. He was admitted to hospital at Mudros on 4 November with paratyphoid, being discharged to Base on 24 November.
He left for London on board Aquitania on 25 November and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth on 4 December.
His father was advised of his condition on 12 December. A Medical Board held in London on 28 February 1916 found him to be ‘Fit’, but he remained in England, ‘convalescent – not yet fit for duty’.
He left England on 15 March to rejoin his unit, disembarking from Grantully Castle at Alexandria on 27 March 1916. Andrew was taken on strength of 14th Field Ambulance at Ferry Post on the Suez Canal on 29 May 1916.
8 June 1916 he was promoted to Temporary Major with the 5th Division and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force on 28 June, disembarking at Marseilles on 30 June.
The London Gazette of 11 July 1916 promulgated:
On 13 October he was transferred to 9th Field Ambulance, 3rd Division, and was taken on strength on 17 October. On 14 November Andrew was promoted to Major and on 23 November 1916 he proceeded overseas to France.
He was transferred from 9FA to the 37th Battalion and was taken on strength as the RMO on 18 May 1917.
Andrew Victor Honman died on 20 May 1917 at the 9th Field Ambulance from gas poisoning received in action against the enemy. He was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France; Plot 6, Row A, Grave 26.
The pamphlet “Where The Australians Rest”, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll acknowledging Andrew’s death were received by his father in the following years. The 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with Oak Leaf to which Andrew was entitled were also received by his father.
He is commemorated at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour at Panel 182.
Carls’ son John Andrew Honman completed the ‘Attestation Form for Persons Voluntarily Enlisted in the Militia Forces’ on 13 April 1934. He served with the Mounted Victorian Rifles with the Army No. 212851. He named his brother Carl Sidney Honman of 3 Fairy Street, Ivanhoe, as his Next-of-Kin.
He enlisted at Ivanhoe, Victoria, for service in WW2, again naming his father Carl Honman as Next-of-Kin. NX166023 (N447336) Lieutenant Honman was serving with the 2/124 Brigade W/S when discharged on 7 August 1946.
John married Kathleen Mary James at St Jude’s Church of England, Brighton, South Australia on June 7 1947.
John Andrew Honman died at Geelong, Victoria on 28 July 2003. Kathleen Honman (nee James) died at Highton, Victoria on 12 March 2007.
In June 1913, Carls’ sister Marguerite Ellen applied for the position of School-mistress at Woodlark Island, Papua. She stated she was 24 years old and in sound health. She had matriculated in 1906 in English, French, German, History and Algebra and took 2nd class honours in drawing. She stated she had sound knowledge of Arithmetic, Geography and Callisthenics. She had no teaching experience apart from taking charge of junior classes at her school, but could obtain a testimonial from the principal of the school. Since matriculating she had pursued art studies at the National Gallery, her name being on the prize list in 1912.
She was given the appointment of Schoolmistress at a salary of £200 per annum, without quarters, to take effect from the date of her arrival in Papua. She was directed to Messrs John Sanderson and Company who had been instructed to reserve a first class through passage to Port Morseby for her on the Van Linschotan, leaving Melbourne on 10 July.
On 4 January 1915, Margeurite left Bonagai, Woodlark Island, on board Maisina to return to Sydney via Brisbane.
Margeurite married Albert Nurton sometime after her return to Australia. She died at Box Hill, Victoria in 1975 aged 87.
Albert Nurton was born in Montacute, Somerset, England in 1890. He enlisted at Nanango, Queensland in April 1915 and served at Gallipoli with the 26th Battalion, Machine Gun Section, and in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force with the Camel Corps and Light Horse Regiments. He returned to Australia and was discharged on 24 April 1919.
During the 1920s and 1930s he worked as a patrol officer (Kiap) in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Kiaps occasionally received serious wounds during conflict with tribesmen. Albert Nurton, Assistant District Officer, on 24 September, 1936, Rai Coast hinterland, Madang District, Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Nurton was so severely wounded that a leg had to be amputated.
One source records:
Albert retired in 1938 and in his later years lived in Victoria where he died at Cowes in 1967 aged 76.
The NLA holds his papers in MS 2885 relating to Papua New Guinea. The papers include patrol reports, correspondence, manuscript maps, photographs and other material pertinent to Albert Nurton's work as a patrol officer. The collection includes approximately 70 photographs of native life on the Rai Coast, south of Madang, taken about 1935 by Nurton. There are, in addition, approximately 60 photographs of Rabaul, neighbouring islands and the Sepik from the collection of Dr Andrew Honman. The collection also includes three printed maps of war campaigns that took place in New Guinea in 1944-1945. Miscellaneous material consists of a 1927? government booklet on the Territory of New Guinea, a newspaper cutting reporting the native attack on Nurton in 1936, and a (damaged) copy of the New Guinea gazette (30 July 1938). The papers relating to Williamstown, Victoria, include photographs from the collection of Dr Andrew Honman of Commander Thomas Caradoc (Tom) Price, leader of the 2nd Victorian contingent to the Boer War, and of the house to which John Giles Price had been taken following his murder by convicts in 1857, and in which Honman had resided for twenty years.
Carls’ second sister Bertha Mary married Lewis Lett in 1916. June Maria Victor was born at Richmond, Victoria in 1917 and Richard Lewis in 1919.
Bertha Mary Lett died at East Melbourne in 1945 aged 55.
© Donna Baldey 2012