SAPPER JAMES WILLIAM RICE Jnr

SAPPER JAMES WILLIAM RICE Jnr

3364 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Brisbane, Queensland was the birthplace of James William Rice Jnr on June 23, 1889 the son of James William and Annie (nee Griffin). In 1913 he was residing at Hill Street, Clayfield, Brisbane.

At twenty six years of age the labourer enlisted on January 8, 1916 for active service abroad at the Brisbane Recruiting Depot. Passing the medical examination Attestation Forms were completed and his description on enlistment was 163cms (5ft 3½ins), weighing 61.3kgs (135lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-92cms (34-36ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes which tested to good vision and light brown hair. Distinctive marks were a tattoo on the back of his left arm and on right foot. Church of England was his faith.

Next-of-kin was his father Mr James William Rice of Hill Street, Clayfield. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.

At Enoggera camp, Brisbane his basic training commenced on January 17, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion concluding on February 29. The next day he was transferred to join the recruits at the Miners’ Depot. His regimental number was 3364 in the rank of Sapper.

The recruits formed part of the No. 4 Company which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 10 they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.

The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.

Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.

Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front. They marched into Perham Downs’ camp for further training for the front.

On August 29, 1916 the Reinforcements proceeded to France and marched into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot the following day. A month later Sapper Rice was taken on strength on September 30, 1916 with the 1st Tunnelling Company.

Service continued until he went sick on November 28, 1917 to the 15th Aust Field Ambulance with Chancre (painless ulcer first symptom of Syphilis) and transferred to the 2nd Aust Casualty Clearing Station a day later. On December 5 he was sent to the 39th General Hospital in Havre and after treatment for a social disease was discharged to the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles for Base Details and left to rejoin his unit on January 5, 1918 arriving two days later.

He was admitted to the 5th Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on April 9, 1918 for treatment of Gas poisoning and returned to duty on April 14.

On July 8, 1918 he was admitted to the 9th Aust Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) of Uncertain Origin) and returned on July 11, 1918.

Taken to the 12th C.C.S. on September 2, 1918 was admitted with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) then conveyed on A.T.38 with Diarrhoea entering the 28th Stationary Hospital with suspected Dysentery.

Transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot on September 13 but fell ill and was moved to 11th Convalescent Depot at Budhy remaining until discharged to Base Depot “A” at Rouelles on September 25, 1918. He rejoined his unit on September 28.

Proceeded on leave on October 19 and returned to duty on November 5, 1918. Six days later Peace was declared and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with the rehabilitation of their area by defusing delayed-action mines and booby traps left by the enemy.

On February 12, 1919 the company received orders to return to the Base Depot and they marched out on February 24 and crossed the English Channel arriving the next day at No. 3 Group camp at Parkhouse.

They moved to the Royal Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury on March 20 for demobilisation and prepared for their return to Australia.

A month later on April 20, 1919 Sapper Rice embarked on the H.T. Boonah for the voyage home. Next-of-kin were advised by Base Records on May 22 that he was returning home. He was treated for Tonsillitis in the ship’s hospital from May 26 and discharged on May 28, 1919.

The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 8 where he was transhipped to the Sardinia for Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) arriving on June 11. His journey was completed when he returned to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on June 14, 1919.

The troops’ arrival and names of soldiers returning was published in the:

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.

He returned to live at Hill Street, Clayfield and worked as a labourer.

A full Statement of Service was sent to the Department of Repatriation in Brisbane on August 24, 1924.

In 1925 he was living at Avondale, Sandgate Road, Clayfield with the occupation of a labourer.

On January 22, 1927 he married Jessie Fogarty in Brisbane.

A Statement of Service was issued by Base Records on December 5, 1928 to the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane.

James William Rice Jnr died on May 29, 1935 aged 45 years. Funeral arrangements appeared in:

His grave is located in Nundah Cemetery, Brisbane in Portion 3 within Section 1 in grave No. 14. A plaque commemorating his war service can be located in the Garden of Remembrance at Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery at Bridgeman Downs on Wall 1 Row Q.