Sapper Herbert Albert Powe

SAPPER HERBERT ALBERT POWE

6043 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Brisbane, Queensland was the birthplace of Herbert Albert Powe on December 1, 1890 the son of Albert & Marian (nee Parkins) Powe. He was a carter working at Kingsthorpe, Qld in 1913.

As a miner he applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination at Balrowin, Qld on July 31, 1916 and completed his application at Ackland, Qld. Personal particulars show he was a single, twenty-six years and seven months and lived at Kingsthorpe. He was 174cms (5ft 8½ins) in height, weighed 68.1kgs (150lbs) with a chest expansion of 90-94cms (35½ -37ins).

Attestation Forms were completed after the recruiting officer accepted his Application at the Darling Downs Central Recruiting Depot in Toowoomba, Qld. Further information shows his complexion was medium with brown eyes and black hair. His vision was good and religious faith was Church of England. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Marian Powe of Kingsthorpe, Western Line, Qld and later changed to his father Mr Albert Powe of the same address. He was sworn in on August 1, 1916.

Basic training commenced at the 11th Depot Battalion at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane on August 16, 1916 in ‘A’ Company and finished on September 8. He was transferred to the Miners’ camp (1st Military District) and went to the Corps School from September 18 until September 30, 1916. After Home Leave was taken he went for further instruction on October 14 to their training camp in Seymour, Vic and was placed with the December Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 6043.

The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy conditions were experienced going around the Cape arriving at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth. They marched into the Aust Details Camp at Perham Downs the next day.

The Reinforcements proceeded via Folkstone to France on January 29, 1917 on board S.S. Onward and marched into the Aust General Base Depot the next day. Sapper Powe was attached to the A.G.B.D. on February 8 until April 3 when he was transferred to the 2nd Tunnelling Company and taken on strength on April 8, 1917.

He suffered no sickness, wounds or injury and apart from Blue Chevrons being due had no details on his card until the audit on July 16, 1918 marking him still with his Unit. When Armistice was declared he was with the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their district by repairing roads and bridges and defusing delayed-action mines and booby traps left by the enemy.

He went on leave from France on December 10 and returned on December 30, 1918.

His unit received orders on May 10, 1919 to return to the Aust Base Depot 1 to prepare for their return to England. They departed France on May 16, 1919 and crossed the English Channel to Southampton marching into the No. 2 Aust Group Camp at Sutton Veny the next day.

The transport H.T. Chemnitz departed England on July 7, 1919 with Sapper Powe on board returning home. His next-of-kin was advised of his impending return on August 5, 1919.

The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 8, 1919 and he returned to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) and was assessed at the 6th A.G.H. at Kangaroo Point the following day. His Medical Report stated that he had ‘no disability’ and recommended he be demobilised.

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on October 24, 1919.

The British War Medal (24555) and the Victory Medal (27115) were issued to Sapper 6043 Herbert Albert Powe, 2nd Tunnelling Company for his service abroad.

He married on April 12, 1923 to Agnes Dickson Zuille and they lived in South Street, Toowoomba, Qld and he was a Grocer. In 1943 their address became Consort Street, Corinda, Brisbane and was a Railway Employee to 1954.

His wife Agnes died aged 74 years and was buried on March 12, 1963 in Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane in Portion 30, Section 45 in Grave no. 33.

Herbert Albert Powe passed away aged 95 years on May 1, 1986. No funeral details were published.

His grave is situated in the Lawn section of Hemmant Cemetery, Brisbane in Portion 8, Grave no. 955.