SAPPER FRANK PLATT
398 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Wallsend, Newcastle, New South Wales was the birthplace of Francis Platt in 1891 the son of William Platts, coal miner foreman and his wife Jane Ann (nee McLean) Platts.
When aged twenty-four years the unmarried miner applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. It appears that his early Attestation Papers became lost as he was partially re-attested on February 10, 1916 as the Mining Corps were in their final preparations for embarkation.
Personal details show next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Jane Ann Platt of Pittown, Wallsend, Newcastle, NSW.
He was allotted to the No.1 Company of the Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 398 and trained at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW.
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’.
The No.1 Company became the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (1ATC) in the field.
His service continued without incident until April 26, 1917 when he was taken to the 71st Field Ambulance then on to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station suffering from the effects of mine gas poisoning and shock.
Unit Diaries for the 1st Tunnelling Company for that time are as follows:
Poperinghe
April, 1917 26th 1 man wounded: trench H.Q. crumped in. All normal both surface &
below.
27thBelow normal. Surface heavy shelling
There was also an accidental explosion on April 25, 1917 which covers in more detail the events and destruction of Headquarters under the title Easter Raid in the 1ATC section on this site.
Base Records advised his mother on May 17, 1917 that her son was suffering from gas poisoning and shock. Sapper was discharged to duty on July 2, 1917.
He was granted leave to England and while there disciplinary action was taken for the following:
Offence:London 14/8/17 (1) Absent without leave from 7.30a.m. 14/8/17 till 11.30
p.m. 22/8/17
(2) Being in possession of a falsified pass
Award:Forfeits 28 day’s pay by Lt-Col Bruggy 23/8/17
Total forfeiture:37 day’s pay
He was admitted to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford on August 23, 1917 for treatment of a social disease while on leave in England. After treatment of 35 days, was discharged on September 27 and marched into the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on October 3, 1917 where he was classed with B1a4 debility. Further classified on October 23 to B1a3 debility and sent to Sutton Veny camp where his debility was reduced in class to A3 on October 31, 1917.
On November 22, 1917 Frank, (26) mining engineer married Jane Cardno Miller (29) the spinster daughter of the late David Melville, ships steward, after banns at St John’s Episcopal Church, St John’s Place, Aberdeen, Scotland. Service according to the rites of the Episcopal Church of Scotland was officiated by the minister, Rev William Charles Wood.
Next-of-Kin now became his wife Mrs J. Platt, 355 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, Scotland.
He marched out on December 3, 1917 to the Overseas Training Brigade at Deverill for re-training and proceeded to France from Longbridge, Deverill via Southampton on December 28, 1917. Sapper arrived at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day and marched out to return to his company on January 2, 1918 rejoining four days later.
He was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
Further discipline was given by the Officer Commanding the 1st Tunnelling Company as follows:
Crime:W.O.A.S. [while on active service] Being in Poperinghe without a pass
contrary to orders 25/1/18
Award:Admonished by C.O.
He went sick on February 2, 1918 to the 15th Field Ambulance with Dermatitis and transferred to the Divisional Rest Station attached to the 8th Aust Field Ambulance. On February 22 he was transferred to the 1st Aust Casualty Clearing Station diagnosed with Ichthyosis (hereditary condition – dry and scaly skin creating horny substance on skin surface). He rejoined his company on March 14, 1918.
Leave was granted on November 8 and while away Peace was declared and he returned to duty on December 14, 1918.
The Company remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation with clearing roads and bridges by defusing booby traps left by the enemy.
Sickness struck and was taken on February 10 to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza then moved to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station with Pneumonia. The following day was listed on the dangerously ill list and conveyed on A.T.31 to the 83rd General Hospital and admitted on February 20.
Two days later was invalided to England entering King George Hospital, Stamford Street with severe Broncho-pneumonia.
Base Records advised his mother on February 22, 1919 that her son had been admitted to hospital.
On February 28, 1919 he was moved to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and his mother advised his condition was stationary on March 1 by Records. They further advised on March 6 his removal from the Ill List which was printed in the:
He remained convalescent at Dartford until discharged on furlough on March 17.
He reported to the No. 2 Command Depot on March 31, 1919 as ordered, marching in from Headquarters, London to Sutton Veny.
On April 8, 1919 his mother received word from Base Records that he was Convalescent.
Accompanied by his wife, Sapper Platt embarked for Australia on H.T. Indarra on July 12, 1919. His mother was advised by Base Records on August 4 that he was returning home. The ship docked in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on September 9, 1919. News of the transport’s arrival was published in the:
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on November 1, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
For serving his country Sapper 398 Frank Platt, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (84045) and the Victory Medal (33611).
A copy of his Will was returned to the 2nd Military District on February 9, 1920.
Their residence was 36 Leonora Street, Earlwood, Sydney with his occupation of labourer.
Statements of Service were requested by the Sydney Branch of the Repatriation Department from Base Records and forwarded on June 6, 1933 and August 24, 1966.
His wife Jane passed away on December 14, 1971 and a private interment was held.
Frank Platt died on May 24, 1981 aged 89 years. A family notice was published in the:
Their grave is located in Woronora Cemetery, General Plaque Lawn section within Lawn 1 in grave no. 42.
REUNIONS
Former members of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ in Sydney would meet to march in the Anzac Day parade then attend their annual luncheon. Roll Registers for newsletters of this annual event were kept and his name appears as follows:
1934Platt, F. 36 Leonora Street, Earlwood
1960-68Platt, F.36 Leonora Street, Earlwood 2206
1970-71Platt, F.36 Leonora Street, Earlwood 2206
His name appears on the Wallsend 1914-1918 War Memorial, Newcastle, NSW.
© Donna Baldey 2014