SAPPER EDWARD ALBERT PETERSON
236 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Edward Albert Peterson was born in Gunnedah, NSW on September 2, 1885. From 1908 to 1913 he is listed as a labourer at Normanton, Qld.
At thirty years of age the single miner enlisted in Townsville, Qld at the Recruiting Depot on November 1, 1915. Passing the medical examination forms of Attestation were completed and his description on enlistment was 163cms (5ft 3ins) tall, weighing 51kgs (114lbs) with a chest expansion of 71-85cms (31-33½ins). Complexion was ruddy with blue eyes and light brown hair. Religion was Church of England. Next-of-kin was his father Mr J. Peterson of Taree, Manning River, NSW. He was sworn in the same day.
The Mining Corps had almost completed its establishment phase when he arrived at their training camp at Casula, near Liverpool, NSW. He was assigned to train with the No. 1 Company of the Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 236.
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. 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.
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.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
On June 21, 1916 he went sick to the 1st N.Z. Field Ambulance suffering Mumps then moved on June 29 to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer. On July 11 was discharged to Base Details then rejoined the No. 1 Company several days later.
He was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on December 24, 1916.
Service continued without incident until July 15, 1917 when at the 2nd Army Rest Camp the following took place:
Offence:Wimmereux 15/10/17 W.O.A.S. Drunk while in town
Award:14 days F.P. No. 2 by Lt-Col E Stankey C.O.
On October 31, 1917 with one day remaining of Field Punishment the following was dealt with:
Crime:W.O.A.S. [While on active service] AWL from 11 a.m.
25/10/17 to 6.30 p.m. 25/10/17
Award:7 days F.P. No. 2. by C.O.
Total forfeiture:8 day’s pay
He went sick on November 9, 1917 to the 2nd Aust Casualty Clearing Station with a Social Disease then two days later conveyed on A.T. 30 to the 7th Convalescent Depot but was admitted to the 39th General Hospital in Havre on November 14. After forty-one days curative care was discharged to Base Details in Rouelles on December 19, 1917 and rejoined his unit on Christmas Day, 1917.
Base Records received a letter from Miss Rose Werner of Omagh, Dudley Street, Roseville, NSW dated January 31, 1918 advising the change of her address in connection with Sapper E.A. Peterson. Base Records replied no alteration was necessary as he had nominated his father as next-of-kin.
He was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for twelve months service.
Sapper attended the First School of Musketry for the fortnight ending June 9, 1918 and achieved an excellent score. The following is an extract of his scores from the 1st Tunnelling Company’s Unit Diary:
He was counted in an audit on July 17, 1918 as still with his unit.
On September 30 he proceeded on leave and rejoined his company on October 15, 1918. Less than a month later Peace was declared and the Tunnelling Companies remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with the rehabilitation of roads and bridges in their area by defusing delayed-action mines and booby traps left by the enemy.
The unit was recalled to Base on February 12, 1919 to prepare to return to England. They left the A.G.B.D. on February 24, 1919 and crossed the English Channel entering the No. 3 Group camp at Parkhouse the next day.
He passed his last medical check-up on February 27 and found to be fit for General Service. The same day a Kit Inventory was taken at Parkhouse camp and was issued with the following articles:
Hat Badge, Tooth Brush, Singlet, Towel, Two Collar Badges & Two Australia Titles.
The following were withdrawn and replaced:
Woollen Breeches and Jacket and Putties.
On March 30, 1919 they marched out to the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp in Heytesbury to await their return home. A further Kit Inspection took place on April 1, 1919 and was issued with the Khaki Drill set and replacement of his Greatcoat. Sapper Peterson embarked on board the H.T. Boonah on April 20, 1919 for the voyage to Australia. Next-of-kin was advised on May 22, 1919 that he was on his way home. The vessel docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 8, 1919 and he was transhipped on the Sardinia to Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) arriving on June 11, 1919 then on to Brisbane (1st M.D.)
At the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane on June 13, 1919 he was medically examined. His Statement of Case reads:
Had Mumps. Quite Recovered. Now no disability. (sgd) E.A. Peterson
He also required dental treatment. Recommendation by Headquarters was demobilise as fit. Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. He married at Grafton, NSW to Jeanetta Rosina Werner the same year and was a miner at Kuridala, Western Queensland later that year. In 1925 he was still mining at Kuridala.
For serving his country Sapper 236 Edward Albert Peterson, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (12197) and the Victory Medal (12038).
His address in 1936 was 298 Severn Street, Cairns, Qld with the occupation of a miner and the following year they were residing at 37 Dutton Street, Cairns.
He enlisted for duty during the Second World War with the Australian Army on May 1, 1942 in Cairns, N.Q. Next-of-kin was Jeanette Peterson and birthplace Gunnedah, NSW. His regimental number was Q219627 serving with the 17th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps until discharged on September 8, 1944.
His occupation changed during war to a Watchman living at 47 Grove Street, Cairns in 1943. In 1954 his address was 90 Water Street, Cairns and was a Tally Clerk. By 1958 his residence was listed as 60 Water Street and remained there with the same occupation until 1968 when recorded as 18 Reservoir Road, Enmore continuing to reside there until 1977.
Edward Albert Peterson passed away on April 14, 1977 aged 92 years. Family Notices appeared in the:
Interment took place within the Lawn Section of the Martyn Street Cemetery, Cairns in Row P10, Plot 56.
© Donna Baldey 2011/2012