THRING BROTHERS
TEMPORARY 2nd CORPORAL JOHN RICHARD THRING
4997 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
John Richard Thring was born on October 7, 1877 the son of Francis William and Clara (formerly Davey) Thring in Angasten, South Australia. In 1916 he was a miner at Laverton near Kalgoorlie, W.A.
At Mount Morgan, Western Australia on February 15, 1916 the thirty-eight year old miner applied to enlist for active service aboard and passed the preliminary medical examination. Attestation Forms were completed on March 29 and show personal information of his height 161cms (5ft 3½ins) and weight of 62.7kgs (138lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and dark brown hair. A distinctive mark was a two inch scar on the inner surface of the front tibia about mid-length of his leg measuring two inches by half an inch in size. Anglican was his religion and next-of-kin was his mother Mrs F.W. Thring at Northampton, W.A. and later care of Mrs A. Box, Stanley Street, Woodville Park, Kilkenny, Adelaide, S.A. He took and signed the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
Basic training for Private Thring commenced at the 54th Depot Battalion from March 29, 1916 and finished on April 6 when he was transferred to the Reinforcements No. 6 Tunnelling Company at Belmont camp, W.A. His rank was Sapper and regimental number 4997.
Early in May, 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company consisting of six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks making up two sections, embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW 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 Warilda 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.). One 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 departed the same day. He was appointed to the rank of Temporary Lance Corporal for the voyage to Europe but on June 19 was reduced to the rank of Sapper.
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 at Perham Downs.
The Tunnelling Companies proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 arriving at the 2nd Aust General Base Depot two days later. Sapper Thring was assigned to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on September 25 and was taken on strength on five days later.
On May 17, 1917 he was promoted in the field to Temporary 2nd Corporal.
Disciplinary action was taken for the following on October 1, 1917:
Offence: Overstaying leave from 14/9/17 to 24/9/17 (Total 10 days)
Award: Reduced to ranks and forfeit 10 days pay by Major Sanderson C.O.
On October 13, 1917 he was admitted to the 16th Field Ambulance with Inflamed Right Knee Joint and moved the next day to the 18th Field Ambulance and on October 31st at the 1st Casualty Clearing Station the diagnosis was Synovitis Right Knee [Tissue lining lubricates certain joints during movement becomes Inflamed].
Conveyed on November 10 on A.T.25 to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne he was transferred to England five days later on the hospital ship Princess Elizabeth and admitted to the Guilford War Hospital in Surrey.
He was discharged on December 5, 1917 on furlough and to report to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott on December 19. He was sent sick on December 17 to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford on that date for treatment of Scabies and released on January 2, 1918 and arrived at the No. 4 C.D. two days later and finished the balance of his leave until January 7, 1918.
Departed the No. 4 C.D. for the Overseas Training Brigade at Deverill on March 9, 1918 and proceeded to France via Southampton on March 28, 1918. The following day arrived at the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles and on March 31 left to rejoin his unit joining on April 2, 1918.
In the War Report from the 3rd Tunnelling Company’s Unit Diaries he is mentioned taking part in a raid against the enemy. The extract reads:
He was taken to the 47th Field Ambulance on October 30, 1918 having been wounded in action by a mustard gas shell attack and moved to the 1st Aust C.C.S. then to the 32nd C.C.S. and the next day to the 54th C.C.S.
The War Report of the 3rd Tunnelling Company noted following:
He was transferred on November 1, 1918 to the 55th General Hospital at Boulogne and released to the 1st Convalescent Depot on November 8. The next day he was relocated to the 1st Aust Convalescent Depot at Havre and while there three days later Peace was declared. On November 20 was discharged to Base Depot with debility class ‘A’. His mother was advised by Base Records that her son was in hospital. On December 1 he rejoined his unit as the Tunnelling Companies remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their area clearing roads and bridges.
He was admitted to the 38th Stationary Hospital on December 8 with Bronchitis and Catarrh and discharged to duty after five days.
On Christmas Day, 1918 he departed on leave and due to return on January 8, 1919 but took ill with Influenza on New Year’s Day and admitted to the 11th C.C.S. until January 6. He rejoined his unit on February 15, 1919.
Recalled to Base on March 27, 1919 to prepare for Repatriation to England and left the Aust Infantry Base Depot on April 4, 1919 arriving at No. 3 Group camp in Codford the next day for demobilisation.
The H.T. Somali departed London on June 1, 1919 for the voyage to Australia with Sapper Thring on board. On June 21 Base Records notified his mother that he was returning home. He disembarked at Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.) on July 8, 1919.
Military Discharge on termination of his period of enlistment was issued in Perth, W.A. on August 22, 1919.
The British War Medal (11272) and the Victory Medal (11141) were issued to T/2nd Corporal 4997 John Richard Thring, 3rd Tunnelling Company for serving his country.
He did not collect the medals from the nominated Barracks and they were returned to Base Records on September 30, 1924. A circular was sent to his mother on October 25, 1924. He completed a form dating it as April 29, 1924 [1925] requesting his medals to be sent to his address at 7 Rowlands Road, Hilton, South Australia and the form was received and stamped at the Records Office on May 2, 1925. His medals were issued per registered post (3333) on May 8, 1925.
A Statement of his Service was forwarded to the Repatriation Commission in Adelaide, S.A. on November 27, 1935.
He married Miriam in South Australia and they resided at 437 Esplanade, Henley Beach and she predeceased him in 1950. Her passing was noted in The Advertiser (Adelaide) on Saturday August 5, 1950:
John Richard Thring passed away on October 15, 1962 aged 85 years. His war service is commemorated in the Garden of Remembrance, Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide, S.A. on Wall 19, Row Q. Commonwealth War Graves note his remains are located at Western X 51E-N9115.
SERGEANT JAMES EDWARD THRING
1187 / 4222 – MINING CORPS
Born on August 25, 1879 at Angaston, S.A. James Edward Thring was the son of Francis William and Clara (nee Davey) Thring. In 1910 he was a miner at Sandstone in Coolgardie district and for 1915 he was working as a miner at Northampton via Geraldton, W.A. but had spent three years in the Northern Territory.
At the recruiting office in Geraldton, W.A. on October 8, 1915 the thirty-seven year old miner applied to enlist for service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. He presented the Application at Blackboy Hill camp near Perth, W.A. on November 26, 1915 where it was approved by the medical officer and his application was accepted. Forms of Attestation were completed on December 2, 1915 revealing personal details of his height of 177cms (5ft 9½ins) and weight 74.5kgs (164lbs) with a chest expansion of 88-100cms (34½-39½cms). Medium was his complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. Distinctive marks were vaccination points, a scar on the front of his right thigh and a small scar inside his left kneecap and one over the kneecap. Religious faith was Church of England. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs F.W. Thring of Stanley Street, Woodville Park, Kilkenny, Adelaide, S.A. and he allotted two-fifths of his pay to support her. The following day he signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’.
Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps had begun on December 1st, 1915 therefore Private Thring was placed for basic training at the Helena Vale camp at Blackboy Hill, W.A. with the newly forming Corps. The Unit’s title was the No. 3 Company with a major portion of No. 3 Company recruited by 2nd Lt. L.J. Coulter, A.I.F. who was sent from N.S.W. to W.A. for that purpose. They were made up to strength with 1 Officer and 274 Other Ranks and embarked from Fremantle, W.A.
On December 18, 1915 the company sailed for Sydney, NSW on board the troopship SS Indarra. His name appears on the passenger list which was published in:
On Boxing Day (Dec 26th), 1915 the Unit arrived in Sydney and marched into Casula Camp, near Liverpool, NSW. They were joined by the 4th Section of the Tasmanian Miners, bringing the establishment strength up to 15 officers and 349 Other Ranks under the command of 2nd Lieutenant L.J. Coulter.
Mining Corps Units from all Military districts came together at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW to complete training as a Corps. Thring was assigned the regimental number 1187 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company.
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt.
Corporal Thring did not embark with the Corps and was transferred to the No. 6 Tunnelling Company on April 1 which was being established. On May 1 went to train at Belmont, W.A. being reassigned regimental number 4222. The No. 6 Tunnelling Company embarked for Europe on June 1 from Fremantle, W.A. but he remained at the Depot. On June 26, 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant.