Corporal Wesley Williams

CORPORAL WESLEY WILLIAMS

6076 – 1st Tunnelling Company

It was in Hugh Town, Scilly Islands that Wesley Williams was born about 1863. He came to Australia and was working as a miner in Mount Morgan, Queensland.

At the Central Queensland Central Recruiting Depot in Rockhampton, Wesley applied to enlist on June 3, 1916. Details from his application show he was a miner living at the Imperial Hotel, Mount Morgan. Deleting a few birthdays his age was entered as forty-three and a half years. He was 169cms (5ft 6ins) tall and weighed 66.8kgs (147lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). His left eye had normal vision but the right one tested to poor eyesight. The medical officer declared him fit for service and his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.

Two days later on June 5 Attestation Forms were completed adding further details about him. Fair was his complexion with grey eyes and greyish hair and a distinguishing mark was the top first joint of his forefinger on his left hand was missing. He was marked as dentally fit. Presbyterian was his religion and his sister Mrs Marion Reid of Church Street, Auckland, New Zealand was named as next-of-kin. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was taken and signed the same day.

The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Friday June 6, 1916 acknowledged the volunteers as they departed:

Basic training began at the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera camp, Brisbane, Qld on June 7, 1916 and completed on August 4, 1916 when he was sent to Corporal’s School until September 22, 1916. Home leave was taken before joining the Miners’ Reinforcements (1st Military District) on October 1, 1916 and was relocated to their Seymour camp, Vic on October 14, 1916 for further training before departure. He was assigned to the December 1916 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies with the regimental number 6076 and promoted to Acting Corporal for the voyage abroad.

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 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. The following day marched in to the Aust. Details camp at Perham Downs.

On New Year’s Day 1917 they proceeded via Folkstone to France aboard the ship SS Arundel and marched in to the Aust. General Base Depot the following day.

He was transferred to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on January 12, and a fortnight later was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on January 27, 1917.

Was taken sick on February 14, 1917 to the 47th Divisional Rest Station suffering Bronchitis then was moved to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station. On February 26 was relocated to the 5th B.R. Camp at Wimereux still experiencing Bronchitis. Later that day he went to Boulogne and conveyed to England on the hospital ship Princess Elizabeth and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich diagnosed with Bronchitis, slight.

After eighteen days he was transferred on March 15, 1917 to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, at Dartford remaining a patient for nine days until March 23. By then his lungs had cleared and was discharged to furlough and reported to Perham Down’s camp on April 7, 1917.

The following day his Kit was inspected and the following items were issued:

Sea Kit Bag, Boots, 2 Belts, Breeches, Comb, Cap Comforter, Fork, Knife & Spoon, Jacket, Knife Clasp & Lanyard, Leather Laces, Socks, 2 Singlets, W.P. Cap and 2 Towels.

Two days later he marched out for No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs where he was assessed for the Medical Board on April 9, 1917. The Report is as follows:

Age: 53 years

Disability: Senility

Origin of disability: Prior to enlistment

Place of disability: Australia

Essential facts: He was only six weeks in France when he took ill with Bronchitis & was sent to hospital and later evacuated

Caused by: Aggravated by active service conditions

Present condition: He is 54 years of age and still has signs of the Bronchitis

Disability result of: Existed prior to enlistment

Capacity to work: ¼% one quarter

Finding: Permanently unfit for general service on account of cardio-vascular changes due to age.

On April 11, 1917 he left for the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth entering the Monte Video camp where another Kit Inspection took place and all items were accounted for. His W.P. Cap was withdrawn and returned to Ordnance.

Corporal Williams departed Devonport, Eng on May 4, 1917 on the H.T. A28 Miltiades for his return to Australia. Berth during the voyage was a hammock. His next-of-kin was advised of his impending return on June 1 but the letter was returned to Sender – ‘not known by letter carrier’. As a result Base Records sent a Lettergram to Brisbane requesting name and address for next-of-kin. On July 25 they received a reply with her address but it said Auckland, N.Z.

The ship arrived in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on July 4, 1917 and he travelled overland to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.)

At the 6th Aust. General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Qld he was admitted for treatment on July 6, 1917 where he was reassessed by the District P.M.O. They sent him to a Wickham Terrace address for an eye examination on July 18, 1917. The Report stated he smoked to excess which caused problems of hypersensitivity. He was prescribed corrective lenses for each eye and advised to reduce his tobacco or better, to abstain for a few months and resume with smaller quantities.

The Board had found overage – no incapacity and recommended discharge. He was released from hospital on July 19, 1917 and sent to the S.O.I & R.S. Station.

His Military Discharge took place in Brisbane, Qld on August 4, 1917 due to medical unfitness of Senility.

For his service abroad Corporal 6076 Wesley Williams, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (24518) and the Victory Medal (23690).

The Repatriation Commission requested Base Records, Melbourne, Vic on October 29, 1923 for his Statement of Service.

From his address at 2 Francis Terrace, Holloway he requested a Silver War Badge (Cert. No.A14191) which was sent on October 13, 1928.