SAPPER ROBERT PATRICK JACK HENNESSY
16662 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Robert Patrick John Hennessy was born on September 18, 1894 in Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Robert and Mary Hennessy. Military experience was gained from four years with the Senior Cadets and three years in the Citizens Forces. An apprenticeship of four years as an electrician was served with the New South Wales Tramways.
At Victoria Barracks, Sydney on September 14, 1916 he applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars taken reveal he was single and resided at Ethel Street, Randwick and was 169cms (5ft 6ins) tall with a chest expansion of 84-92cms (33-36ins). Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
The young recruit entered the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds camp on October 6, 1916 and Attestation Forms were completed describing him further as weighing 58kgs (128lbs) with a fair complexion, brown eyes that passed the eye test and had brown hair. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Under distinctive marks was written ‘circumcised – foreskin present’. Dental was noted on the form. Next-of-kin was his father Robert Hennessy of Ethel Street, Randwick, Sydney. He signed and took the “Oath of Enlistment” the same day. On October 9, 1916 he was sent to the Engineer Reinforcements Depot at Moore Park, Sydney for training.
He embarked from Sydney, NSW on December 2, 1916 with the Field Company Engineers - December Reinforcements on board the transport HMAT A67 Orsova, arriving at Fremantle, W.A. on December 11 and departing Australian shores the next day. Durban, South Africa was reached on December 26 and after a day refuelling left the following day. After arrival on December 30 at Cape Town the ship remained at the docks until January 16, 1917. Next port-of-call was Sierra Leone on January 29 and after four days sailed for England on February 2, 1917. Fine weather was experienced in the Tropics during the voyage of 78 days under Master of the Ship, Commander A.J. Coad and Col W.G. Thompson, Officer Commanding the Troop. Their journey terminated at Plymouth, England on February 17, 1917 and the men disembarked the same day and were detrained to Tidworth marching into the Aust Details camp at Perham Downs.
They moved to Parkhouse camp on March 6, 1917 for further training for the front. On April 11, 1917 his rank changed to Driver and was sent to the Motor Drivers’ Section at the Engineers’ Training Depot at Brightlingsea.
While at Brightlingsea the following disciplinary action was taken on May 25, 1917:
Offence:Brightlingsea A.W.L. from midnight 22/3/17 to 11 a.m. 23/3/17
Award:One day’s F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
Total forfeiture:Three day’s pay 15/- [shillings] 1 day awaiting trial.
On May 29 he proceeded overseas to France from Southampton and marched into the Aust General Base Depot (AGBD) at Rouelles the next day. A day later went sick to the 39th General Hospital in Havre and after sixty-six days curative care returned to duty at the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles on August 4, 1917.
He was taken on Supernumerary Strength on September 3, 1917 as a driver with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company (AEMMBC).
Robert was admitted to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station on December 12, 1917 for treatment of Scabies (a skin irritation caused by Itch Mite whose eggs are laid under the skin’s outer layer) and returned to duty on December 23, 1917.
For twelve months service abroad he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform.
On August 1, 1918 at his own request he reverted to the rank of Sapper and proceeded on leave on August 17 rejoining on August 31, 1918.
Punishment was administered for the following on September 7, 1918:
Crime:(1) Drunkenness
(2) A.W.L. from 9.30 a.m. 4/9/18 till 11.30 a.m. 4/9/18
Award:7 days F.P. No. 2 by C.O. A.E.M.M.B.C.
Sapper was with the company when Peace was declared and they remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service engines and pumps for water supplies to those rehabilitating their districts.
The AEMMBC, with a strength of little more than 300 men, had been employed along the entire Western Front, providing lighting and ventilation to dugouts and boring for water supplies where needed. They worked with all 5 Armies of the British Expeditionary Force.
Orders to return to the Base Depot for demobilisation had them in readiness to cross the English Channel on April 28, 1919 from France and marched into the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery Depot at Heytesbury the following day.
Sapper Hennessy embarked for Australia on June 16, 1919 on the H.T. Ormonde for the voyage home. Base Records advised his father on July 16, 1919 that he was on his way. The ship docked in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on August 4 and their arrival was reported in the:
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on September 11, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. For service for his country Sapper 16662 Robert Patrick Jack Hennessy, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (66369) and the Victory Medal (63930).
His residence continued to be Ethel Street, Randwick, Sydney and he was still there in 1930 with the occupation of labourer.
REUNIONS
Former members of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ in Sydney would meet to march in the Anzac Day parade then attend their annual luncheon. Roll Registers for newsletters of this annual event were kept and his name appears as follows:
1934 R. HENNESSEY 4 Martin Road, Guildford Notation: Letter returned unknown 1950
He married in 1935 to Olive Isobel Goodwin Stone with the marriage registered at North Sydney. The following year they are living at 17A Young Street, Neutral Bay and he was a painter’s assistant.
He applied for a Duplicate Discharge Certificate on April 23, 1940 while residing at 4 Trenton Road, Guildford. A Statutory Declaration was completed and he declared the circumstance in which his original certificate was lost was due to ‘accidentally burnt on the death of my mother.’ Base Records replaced the Certificate and also issued a Statement of Service.
During World War II he enlisted at Paddington, Sydney on June 28, 1940 for duty with the 11th Garrison Battalion. Attestation Forms reveal his residence was 18 Punch Street, Artarmon and he named Olive Hennessy as his Next-of-Kin. He stated he was a Painter by occupation and was aged forty-five years.
His hair was fair with brown eyes and had no distinguishing marks. He was sworn in the same day after passing the medical examination.
He was taken on strength with the 31st Garrison Battalion on April 11, 1942 with the service number N75820.
On August 2, 1942 he was disciplined for the following:
Crime:A.W.L. [unreadable date]
Award:7 days C.B. [confined to barracks]
In February 1943 he went before the Medical Board and was approved to be discharged due to ‘D’ Class debility. Private Hennessy was discharged on February 26, 1943 being medically unfit for duty, not occasioned by his own fault after two years and 244 days.
Their residence was 68 Woodpark Road, Merrylands in 1943 and his occupation was given as military.
Two years later his wife Olive passed away on May 1, 1945 and family arrangements and notices were printed in the:
The Duplicate Copy of his Discharge Certificate was returned to Base Records on July 7, 1947 and received without inquiry and returned to his Service File. His Certificate of Discharge for service during the Second World War was returned and filed with his records of service also.
Robert Patrick John Hennessy died May 4, 1953 aged 58 years. Funeral notices were published in the:
The State Secretary of the Sydney Branch of the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. wrote to Base Records on May 22, 1953 requesting identification of the deceased ex-serviceman stating the details they had were he was 58 years of age, Roman Catholic and enlisted in 1914 from the Randwick Tramways Depot and served with the A.I.F. presumably with the Light Horse Regiment.
He also enlisted in a Garrison Battalion during World War II and served for a period in 1941 at Berry’s Bay. His wife’s name was Olive Isobel Goodwin Hennessy and she received her allotment (1939-45) at Artarmon Post Office.
They were endeavouring to identify him in order that a funeral grant may be claimed from the Repatriation Commission.
Base Records replied on May 26, 1953 advising that No.16662 Sapper Robert Patrick Jack Hennessy – A.E.M.M.B. Co. served in 1914-18 under these particulars and was discharged at Sydney on 11th September, 1919.
A Statement of Service was issued by Base Records to the Sydney Branch of the Repatriation Department on June 17, 1953.
One of his brothers also served in WW1:
SAPPER JAMES HENNESSY
16543 – 2nd Field Company Engineers
The NSW BDMs record James Hennessy was born in 1891 at Redfern, Sydney, the son of Robert and Mary.
On 24 November 1915 he signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Casula, Liverpool, NSW.
He stated he was born in Redfern and was a Milk Carter by occupation. He named as his Next-of-Kin his father, Mr. Joseph Hennessy of 38 Ivy Street, Redfern.
A medical examination at the Town Hall Recruiting Depot on 8 November had recorded that he was 21 years and 2 months of age. He was 5ft 9ins tall and weighed 149 lbs. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. He was of the Roman Catholic faith.
On 25 November he was appointed to the 14th Reinforcements of the 6th Light Horse Regiment. On 16 December he was discharged as ‘medically unfit, not due to misconduct’.
On 14 September 1916 at Victoria Barracks, NSW, apparently with his brother Robert, James completed an Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He gave his occupation as a Fitters Labourer and his address as Ivy Street, Randwick. The medical examination this time recorded that he was 5ft 6ins tall and weighed 132 lbs. His complexion was medium, eyes grey and hair brown.
His application was accepted and on 16 October he again completed the Attestation Paper, this time recording as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. Robert Hennessy of Corner Ivy and Ethel Streets, Randwick. He recorded his previous service as 3 months A.I.F. He signed the Oath at the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds on the same day.
He was appointed to the Engineer Reinforcements on 19 October and commenced training at the Engineer Depot, Moore Park.
James, like his brother, was a member of the Field Company Engineers - December Reinforcements which embarked at Sydney on 2 December 1916 on board HMAT A67 Orsova, disembarking at Plymouth, England on 17 February and marching in to Nos.6&7 Camps at Perham Downs.
On 28 February 1917 he marched out of Perham Downs to the Infantry Training Depot at Brightlingsea. He proceeded overseas to France on 16 May and marched in to the AGBD at Etaples on 17 May.
He marched out of the AGBD on 23 May and was taken on strength of the 2nd Field Company Engineers in the field the same day.
He reported sick on 5 July and was admitted to the 2/2 H.C. Field Ambulance with scabies, rejoining his unit on 16 July.
James was wounded in action on 1 October 1917.
He was admitted to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station with a shell wound to his right side.
On 2 October he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Havre and was then transferred to England on 11 October on board Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen, where he was admitted to the 4th Stationary General Hospital at Plymouth on 13 October.
On 22 October his Next-of-Kin was advised that he had been wounded and on 30 October advice was forwarded that he was in hospital.
On 14 November he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford and then transferred to No.3 Command Depot, Hurdcott on 16 November.
On 18 November he was classified B1 ‘A2’. [B1: Able to march 5 miles, see, shoot with glasses and hear well. – A2: Fit for overseas duties, as regards physical and mental health]
He marched out to No.4 Command Depot, Hurdcott on 10 December. On 16 January 1918 he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge-Deverill. He marched out to the Engineer Training Depot at Brightlingsea on 25 January.
He proceeded overseas to France on 13 April 1918 and marched in to the AGBD at Havre the next day. He marched out on 16 April and rejoined his unit in the field on 20 April.
James was detached to the Tank Corps Central Workshop on 28 December 1918, rejoining his unit on 17 January 1919.
He began some leave to England 9 February 1919. On 19 February he was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, with bronchitis.
He was discharged from hospital on 3 March and granted leave, to report to No.1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny on 7 March. He marched in to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth on 7 March.
He left England on 5 April 1919 for return to Australia on board Armargh, disembarking at Sydney on 20 May.
James Hennessy was discharged from the A.I.F. on 27 June 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In 1925 at Canterbury, Sydney, James married Ethel Sarah Hardman. Ethel was born in Armidale in 1898, the daughter of Alfred Ernest and Sarah Louise Hardman.
The Electoral Roll for 1930 records James Hennessy, Tramway Employee, and Ethel Sarah Hennessy, home duties, living at 9 Luke Street, Randwick.
In 1934 through 1937, James and Ethel were living at 10 Evaline Street, Campsie. In 1943 the Electoral Roll records James, Tramway Employee, and Ethel living at 46 South Parade, Campsie.
On 15 June 1949 his medical and service records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Sydney.
James Hennessy died on 19 June 1949 at Concord, aged 52 years. He was buried in Section 16, grave 1312 in the Independent Cemetery, Rookwood.
His death was recorded on his military records indicating it was connected to his war service and he was added to the Imperial War Graves List on 14 February 1950 and he was afforded an IWG headstone.
In 1954 Ethel Sarah Hennessy is recorded at 46 South Parade, Campsie, performing home duties. In the 1963 Electoral Roll, Ethel Sarah Hennessy is recorded as a Saleswoman living at 191 Marsden Road, Carlingford.
Ethel Sarah Hennessy died on 9 Mar 1963 at Concord Repatriation General Hospital, aged 65 years.
© Donna Baldey 2013 / 2015
with the assistance of Kerrie Miller, granddaughter of Robert Hennessy.
Photos courtesy Dave & Kerrie Miller
Note:
Dave Miller:
“When researching James Hennessy, I found that his documentation had him as enlisting in 1915 then being discharged three months later. I believe that Robert Patrick J. Hennessy may have enlisted and signed up under his brother’s name. Family history had always reported that Robert Hennessy had been underage when he enlisted into the Light Horse during the first World War. When looking at the enlistment records for James, a false name for his next of kin has been used. A comparison of the signatures found disparities between it and James’ signature while there are similarities to Robert’s signature. There are also disparities with the height. This was stated as being 5ft 9ins tall, the same height as Robert when he officially enlisted. James was recorded as being 5ft 6ins tall, meaning he would have had to have shrunk by 3 ins. Robert Hennessy would have been just under 21 at the time of enlistment. I believe his ruse was discovered and he was then discharged. I cannot think of any other reason that James would have been discharged and then accepted for re-enlistment at a later stage.”
James or Robert enlisted in 1915?
James born 1891Robert born 1894
Robert possibly underage in November 1915 and enlisted as his brother James
Considerations:
James signed with initials in 1915 and was 5ft 9 ins tall – 21 yrs 2 mnths in Nov 1915
James signed with written name in 1916 and was 5ft 6ins tall - 24 yrs 10 mnths in Sept 1916
Robert always signed with initials and was 5ft 9ins tall – 21 yrs 8 months in Sept 1916
Robert’s signature – open top of ‘J’ – 1915 signature closed ‘J’