Sapper Alfred Rees

SAPPER ALFRED REES

3669 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

Alfred Rees stated his birthplace was Meyer, Staffordshire, England in 1896. His parents were Joseph Henry and Minnie Jane (nee Adams) Rees who were married in the second quarter of 1895 with their union registered at Stone, Staffordshire, England. Children born were Alfred (1896), Gladys (1897) and Minnie (1899). Their father left for Australia to work and sent for his family who departed on June 6, 1907 on board the 8099-ton steamer Runic under Master of the Ship, Captain John Mathais. The travellers departing Liverpool, England were Mrs Minnie Rees (32), Alfred (11), Gladys (10) and Minnie (7) who arrived in Sydney, NSW on July 20, 1907. The ship’s arrival was reported in the:

Released records show two more children were born to the family, Joseph (1908) and Florence (1912). Joseph H. Rees was the manager in 1910 of the East Greta Colliery in the Maitland district of New South Wales.

Alfred Rees military experience was gained in the Militia with the 14th Infantry Machine Gun Co. for two years. He also studied to be an electrician with the East Greta Company and through the Technical College in the district. His results were published in the:

On March 1, 1916 the twenty-year old applied to enlist for active service abroad at Victoria Barracks, Sydney with the consent of his parents J & M Rees as he was under twenty-one years of age. Personal particulars taken show his address as East Greta, West Maitland and were 166cms (5ft 5¼ins) tall with a chest expansion of 79-82cms (31-33½ins). Teeth required attention. Declared fit for service the recruiting officer accepted his application.

Attestation forms completed on March 13, 1916 describe him further as weighing 53kgs (117lbs) with his left eye testing to good vision but the right one had very poor sight and had a fair complexion with brown hair. Diphtheria had been contracted five years previously. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Joseph Henry Rees of East Greta, NSW. He signed and took the ‘Enlistment Oath’ the same day.

He was allotted to the NSW section of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company for training.

Early in May, 1916 recruits forming part of the No. 4 Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld 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, 1916 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 rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3669 in No. 4 Company was assigned to him.

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.

The Reinforcement proceeded to France on August 29, 1916 marching in to the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot the next day.

With civil qualification of electrician Sapper Rees’ service was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore on September 27, 1916 was attached to this company and taken on Supernumerary strength on October 7, 1916.

He entered the 12th Casualty Clearing Station on November 7, 1916 with constipation and returned to duty seven days later. On December 5 he was admitted to the 12th C.C.S. with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of uncertain origin), later diagnosed as Trench Fever and rejoined his unit on December 23, 1916.

The 15th Casualty Clearing Station was entered on May 15, 1917 with debility and was discharged to duty on May 28. He went sick to the 13th C.C.S. with Anaemia on June 7, 1917 and conveyed on A.T.18 to the 26th General Hospital in Etaples with anaemia and debility two days later. Transferred to the 6th Convalescent depot on June 26 was moved to the 5th Convalescent Depot at Cayeux four days later. On July 25, 1917 he was discharged to Base Details at the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles and rejoined his unit on August 6.

Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.

On February 17, 1918 Sapper Rees entered the 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) (gas) and discharged to duty on February 21 with V.D.H (valvular disease heart). Base records advised his father that he had been gassed.

His father wrote from the East Greta Coal Mining Company Ltd on March 7th, 1918 regarding their communication that his son had been gassed and could not judge if he was seriously ill or not. He would be pleased to hear further and if it was necessary for them to cable as he was happy to reimburse for the cable charges.

Base Records replied on March 13 stating that no further information concerning his son had been received since then. The circumstances did not warrant a cable being dispatched from their office but should he decide to send one it could be transmitted from any Post Office where particulars were regarding costs etc. may be ascertained. Records advised him the shortest address was:

3669 REES

Erlal

Ausminaust, LONDON

The writer explained that Erlal was the code indicator for the Electrical and Mechanical Mining Unit and Ausminaust being for A.I.F. Headquarters, from whence the message would be redirected. Mail addressed would be redirected on arrival abroad to wherever he may be located. Any further cable report received would be redirected to him.

On March 19 Base Records advised that his son was now reported admitted sick to hospital.

His name appeared in the Casualty List published in the:

In an audit of the Company on May 5, 1918 he was noted as still attached.

Sergeant E.G. ‘Hughie’ Dodd was also a member of the Company and kept a Diary of his service in which he mentions Sapper Rees as follows:

1918

July 22

McLean and Rees came up from Maisnel-La-Rultz where 170 Coy are now billeted. Rees and myself went to Saville Row. The SWB went over at Brickstacks tonight, 14 of them and only six succeeded in getting back.

July 23

Running a bit short of oil. Wired away for some. Dan McLaughlin and Paddy Long came up the line today. Have been at a school in Fruges. Rees and myself went to Hulluch and borrowed two tins of oil. Talk about sweat crawling through low galleries!

On August 1, 1918 he was taken on strength with the Company. Hughie Dodd continued:

August 4

This is the start of at least the finish of the fourth year of the war and I hope it will be the last. Things are very quiet here today. McLean sent up a note to say there was a crime awaiting Rees from the Red Caps at 170 Coy orderly room.

August 6

Rees and myself went around to Barts. Cut off about 16 lamps. Maxwell and myself had a argument on HP of petrol and steam. Things seem to be going pretty well down south.

August 7

McLean and Burns came back from Maisnel this morning. Rees went out for four days. Page and Burns went around to Old Kent. The Jocks are going over tomorrow morning.

August 16

Fernandez and Rees went across to Saville Row today. Welsh are going over to a crater and waiting there until Johnny brings his troops up to man the post. Had a letter from Norm today. He has been wounded in the left side. In 22nd General Hospital. Morgan has left this job and gone down south to the Somme. Johnny got well onto the 3rd Australian Camp on the 11th. Killed five and wounded nine of them.

August 21

Fernandez and Rees went to Brickstacks. 16th came in today. Some of them were in a very bad condition, they had a proper creasing up on the road up. Austin giving trouble this morning. Carburettor trouble.

August 26

There is a very consistent bombardment on today, the guns behind us here are going to beat the hand, seem to be firing away on the right somewhere. Have been going all day long. Fuses blown in Saville Row, Rees and myself went down and fixed them up. Charlie Walker was saying Morse had just come back from his month.

September 3

Went out to Maisnel with Rees. Seen a couple of people knocking around Cambrin Village. Got paid about 5 o'clock.

September 5

Rees and myself came back this morning and found that Morse and Piper had been out and Morse had roared about the engine room generally. He told McLean that we had to follow the infantry over. The Black Watch went over this morning and about 3 o'clock Johnny decided to knock them back which he did with about three men. They lost about 60 men on the road back.

September 9

Hillman and myself went to Barts. Taylor and myself went over to Coldstream to have a look at this aeroplane but he had a gun playing across the spot. Fry came back today. Rees went out today.

He entered the 12th Stationary Hospital on November 1, 1918 with Pyrexia (fever) and conveyed on A.T.12 on November 9 with Trench Fever to the 4th General Hospital five days later and was there when Peace was declared.

Invalided to England on November 23, 1918 was admitted to Northamptonshire War Hospital at Duston remaining until discharged to furlough on December 16 and to report to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott on Christmas Eve, 1918. Leave extension was granted for a further three days and he marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on December 28.

On February 11, 1919 he was admitted to the Newcastle War Hospital at Weymouth and returned to the Depot seven days later.

Sapper Rees was invalided due to Trench Fever to Australia on February 28, 1919 on the H.T. Karoa. Base Records advised his father on April 23, 1919 that he was returning home. The ship docked in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on May 10, 1919. Their arrival was published in the:

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on June 23, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. He returned to work at the Colliery. The following results were published in the:

In 1930 his was living at Hopetown Street, Kurri Kurri working as an electrician. This remained his address until 1954 when it was numbered as 80 Hopetown Street.

His parents Joseph and Minnie Rees are buried in the Stockton Cemetery, NSW.

The following was reported in the:

In 1958 Alfred retired to 89 Roxburgh Street, Stockton with his wife Rose.

Alfred Rees passed away in 1970 aged 74 years with his death registered at Newcastle, NSW.