This one document contains the profiles of four men:
6702 Sapper/Driver Christian NINK – 2nd Tunnelling Company – step-father of Charles Julius Doran and step-father-in-law of Thomas Henry Golding
6814 Sapper George GANNAWAY – 1st Tunnelling Company – step-father of Thomas Henry Golding
6816 Sapper Thomas Henry GOLDING – 1st Tunnelling Company – step-son of George Gannaway and the step-son-in-law of Christian Nink and the brother-in-law of Charles Julius Doran.
7146 Sapper Charles Julius DORAN – 2nd Tunnelling Company – step-son of Christian Nink
A FAMILY HISTORY
The extended family of Kerry Boyd includes four Tunnellers of WW1.
Emily Louisa Berry was born in 1871 at Ballarat, Victoria. She married James Golding in Victoria in 1888. A son, Thomas Henry Golding, was born in 1889. James Golding died in 1890 aged 25 years.
Henry Gannaway married Charlotte Hinchcliffe. A son, George Gannaway, was born in 1872.
Emily Louisa Golding (nee Berry) re-married in 1891 at Ballarat to George Gannaway and moved to Western Australia some time later. Emily died in 1914 and George re-married in 1922 to Lillian Longa.
Christina Friend was born at Jamieson, Victoria in 1876, the daughter of Isaac Friend and Christina, nee Young.
Charles Friend was born at Jamieson, Victoria in 1893, the son of Christina Friend, father unknown.
Helen Ruby Elaine Friend was born at Jamieson, Victoria in 1895, the daughter of Christina Friend, father unknown.
Frederick Doehring, born in Germany, married Christina Friend in 1895 in Mansfield, Victoria and a daughter, Charlotte Doehring born 1893; a son, Frederick George Doehring, was born in 1896, and Christina Mary Doehring (registered as Dockring) was born in 1897, all children born at Jamieson. Christina May Doehring married Benjamin George Hutchings at Perth in 1915.
After his mother’s marriage to Frederick, Charles Friend adopted the name Charles Frederick Julius Doehring.
Helen also adopted the Doehring name and moved to West Australia where, as Nellie R. Doehring, she married Brian G. Carter in Perth in 1914. Nellie Ruby Elaine Carter died in Perth in 1969.
Frederick (sometimes called Charles Frederick Julius Doehring) was killed in a mining accident at the Horseshoe Mine in Kalgoorlie in 1912. Christina re-married in Perth in 1914 to Christian Nink. (born 1887).
Thomas Henry Golding married Charlotte Doehring in Boulder, WA, in 1909.
SAPPER GEORGE GANNAWAY
6814 – 1st Tunnelling Company
George Gannaway was born at Sebastian, Vic in 1872 the son of Henry and Charlotte (nee Hinchcliffe) Gannaway. He married Mrs Emily Louisa Golding (nee Berry) in 1891 and in 1910 they were residing at 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia where he worked as a miner. On December 22, 1914 his wife passed away at Nurse Philips Hospital, Kalgoorlie.
At forty-four years of age George enlisted with the Kalgoorlie enlisting officer on August 21, 1916 for active service abroad. A day later the widower passed the preliminary medical examination and personal particulars were taken.
These include his height of 178cms (5ft 10ins) with a chest expansion of 92-99cms (36-39ins), his eyes were brown and showed fair vision and had a scar on his right side just below the ribs. On August 25, 1916 his Application was accepted when he was declared ‘fit for service’.
Attestation forms were completed adding further details of his weight 76.36kgs (168lbs) with a dark complexion and although going bald had some brown hair. Religious denomination was Church of England and dental treatment was required. An undated statement was signed by him stating “If at any time during service the varicocele (varicose veins in scrotum) come against me I consent to operation. Signed George Gannaway”. Next-of-kin nominated was his son Mr Henry George Gannaway of McDonald Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A. and he allotted three-fifths of his pay to his stepdaughter-in-law Charlotte Golding of 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie to support her. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was taken and signed the same day.
Basic training commenced as a Private with the 83 Depot Battalion from September 7, 1916 for six days training until he was allotted to the 6th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion on September 14, 1916. On November 2 was re-allotted to the Mining Corps Reinforcements until November 27 when he was transferred to their training camp at Seymour, Vic. On January 11, 1917 he was transferred to the Tunnelling Company’s January, 1917 Reinforcements. In preparation for service abroad is Will was noted to be with his step-daughter-in-law Mrs Charlotte Golding at 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A. His regimental number was 6814 in the rank of Sapper.
The Reinforcements consisting of 168 members departed Melbourne, Vic at 3 p.m. on January 17, 1917 on board the HMAT A5 RMS Omrah. The mail ship arrived at 8 a.m. two days later at Adelaide, S.A. and headed off at 4 p.m. that afternoon. It sailed into the West Australian port of Fremantle on January 21 where the Reinforcements were granted Day Leave ashore the next day before leaving on January 24, 1917. The ship returned to Fremantle at 7 a.m. on February 1 and put out to sea again at 5 p.m. the next afternoon February 2.
Sapper Gannaway failed to re-embark from Fremantle that afternoon and was classed as ‘Away without Leave.’ Apprehended was sent to the Clearing Hospital at Blackboy Hill camp then sent to Rockingham camp on February 6 remaining until March 30, 1917 for treatment of a social disease. He returned to duty on June 8, 1917 training with the 25th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion and they joined the troopship A30 HMAT Borda which had embarked from Port Adelaide on June 23 and docked at 4 a.m. in Fremantle on June 29, 1917. The ship departed at 12.15 p.m. and experienced very rough weather all the way to Durban where they arrived at 9 a.m. on July 18, 1917. Staying in port until 4 p.m. on July 23 left for Cape Town docking on July 26 at 5 p.m. and leaving the next day at 12.30 p.m. Travelling to Sierra Leone (Freetown) pulled in to their last port of call at 10 a.m. on August 9 and left at 10.30 a.m. on August 12. After Durban fine weather was experienced and after 64 days at sea the vessel sailed into Devonport at 9 a.m. and the troops disembarked at Plymouth on August 25, 1917. They were detrained to Amesbury and marched into the 4th Training Brigade camp at Codford the next day for further training for the front.
He was among the unfit soldiers arriving in August to the No.4 Group camp and while at Codford he appeared before a medical board on August 27, 1917 and his Statement of Case reads:
Date & Place of Disability: Prior to enlistment
Essential facts: Has been a miner for 25 years. Subject to colds nocturnal
Micturition. Slightly deaf. Chronic eczema on chest.
Present condition: Age 46. Fibrosis of Lungs. Thickened arteries. Accentuated 2nd Aortic sound.
Effect on employment: Not less than before enlistment.
Recommendation: Permanently unfit for general service and home service.
Approved: 18/10/17 A.I.F. Headquarters.
Remarks were as follows for the camp records.:
Age 45. States cannot carry on as he says his back goes and his feet swell. Looks older than his age. Says has done no training for six months. Board finding class C3
He marched out on October 2, 1917 for the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth to await the medical transport vessel to return to Australia.
On November 1, 1917 Sapper Gannaway departed Devonport harbour on the H.T. A68 Anchises for the voyage home for discharge due to overage, chronic bronchitis and fibrosis of the lungs. The ship arrived at Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.) on Christmas Day, 1917 and he entered the 8th Aust General Hospital until January 2, 1918 when he was transferred to Camp Details. His report on leaving hospital states:
Overage, Fibrosis of Lungs. General condition good. Not aggravated by service. D.P.U
No incapacity.
Approved Perth: 3/1/18.
Military Discharge was issued in Perth, W.A. (5th M.D.) on January 17, 1918 due to medical unfitness. For his service abroad Sapper / Private 6814 George Gannaway, Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies / 16th Battalion was issued with the British War Medal (17845) but as he did not get to the theatre of war was ineligible for the Victory Medal.
In 1922 George re-married Lillian Longa and they resided at his residence at 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie and he worked as a miner.
His War Medal was returned from the collection Barracks on September 30, 1924 and a letter sent from Base Records advising him on November 13, 1924 where to collect his medal. George applied for his medal which was sent on December 4, 1924 to him at 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A.
George Gannaway died in 1927 at about 55 years of age. His demise was recorded at East Coolgardie, W.A.
SAPPER THOMAS HENRY GOLDING
6816 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Coburg, Victoria was the birthplace of Thomas Henry Golding in 1890 the son of James and Emily Louisa, nee Berry, Golding.
His mother had re-married to George Gannaway in 1891 and the family relocated to the Kalgoorlie district, Western Australia.
On March 9, 1909 Thomas H. Golding married Charlotte Doehring at Boulder, W.A. and resided at his step-father’s residence 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A.
At the recruiting depot in Kalgoorlie, W.A. on August 24, 1916 the twenty six year old applied to enlist with the A.I.F. Personal particulars taken show he was twenty-six years of age, 165cms (5ft 5ins) tall with a chest expansion of 84-95cms (33-37½ins) and his blue eyes tested to fair vision and declared fit for service the same day.
Attestation Forms were completed a day later when the enlisting officer accepted his Application. Further information shows he weighed 76.8kgs (168lbs) and had a ruddy complexion and brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were four vaccination scars and a scar at the base of thorax. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Mrs Charlotte Golding of 11 Charles Street, Kalgoorlie, W.A. He took and signed the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
At the 83 Depot Battalion Private Golding commenced military service on September 7, 1916 but was allotted six days later to train with the 6th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion until October 27, 1916. With the occupation of miner he was transferred to the Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies the next day for further instruction until November 27 when he was sent to the Miners’ Training camp at Seymour, Victoria to train with the January, 1917 Reinforcements until January 11, 1917. His regimental number was 6816 with the rank of Sapper.
The Reinforcements consisting of 168 members departed Melbourne, Vic at 3 p.m. on January 17, 1917 on board the HMAT A5 RMS Omrah. The mail ship arrived at 8 a.m. two days later at Adelaide, S.A. and headed off at 4 p.m. that afternoon. It sailed into the West Australian port of Fremantle on January 21 where the Reinforcements were granted Day Leave ashore the next day before leaving on January 24, 1917.
The ship returned to Fremantle at 7 a.m. on February 1 and put out to sea again at 5 p.m. the next afternoon February 2. Durban, South Africa was reached at 7 a.m. on February 16 and sailed at 6 p.m. the following evening. The next port of call was Cape Town on February 20 arriving at 8 a.m. where two days later the men were granted Day Leave ashore until 11 p.m. on the 22nd before departing at 5 p.m. on February 24.
The sights of Sierra Leone were seen closely on March 9, 1917 as the vessel docked at 8 a.m. and after refuelling left at 7 a.m. on March 12, 1917.
The voyage concluded at Devonport on March 27, 1917 and the troops disembarked at Plymouth after 74 days at sea.
The three officers and 165 other ranks were detrained to Tidworth and marched into the Drafting Depot camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.
The Reinforcements proceeded via Folkstone to France on April 14, 1917 arriving at the Aust General Base Depot the next day. Sapper Golding was transferred to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on April 21.
The Entrenching Battalion was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.
On May 22, 1917 he was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company (1ATC) in the field and taken on strength three days later.
Service continued without incident and he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for completing twelve months service.
He was sent sick to the 15th Field Ambulance on February 7, 1918 then transferred to the 2a Casualty Clearing Station and conveyed on February 10 on A.T.8 to Havre entering the 39th General Hospital two days later for treatment for a social disease. After 55 days curative care he went to Rouelles to the A.G.B.D. and returned on April 14 to his unit and was taken on strength on April 27, 1918.