Second Corporal William Perry

SECOND CORPORAL WILLIAM PERRY

1123 – 3rd Tunnelling Company

William Perry was born in Tavistock, Devon, England in the second quarter of 1876 the son of Abraham and Mary Grace (nee Combe) Perry. His father was born in 1851 in Cotamstock, Devon and in 1871 was a twenty year old ordinary 2nd class seaman with the Royal Navy at the Spithead, Portsmouth. Abraham married between October and December that year in Tavistock to Mary Grace Coombe, who was born in Cornwall in 1847. Several children were born to the union including his older brother Joseph before they embarked for Australia.

During the voyage a daughter Geneva was born at sea on August 3, 1877 and registered as a British Subject, her father being in the Merchant Navy. The family settled at Wallaroo Mines, South Australia and more children were born but only lived to under three years infancy. His father, Abraham Perry died at Wallaroo on November 5, 1885 aged 34 years. Geneva Perry married at the Methodist Manse, Wallaroo on February 18, 1901 to John Sobey.

William went to work in the goldfields on Western Australia then enlisted at the recruiting depot in Kalgoorlie on November 25, 1915. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars of the thirty-eight year old unmarried miner show he was 164cms (5ft 4½ins) tall with good vision in his hazel eyes and a chest expansion of 90-97cms (35½-38ins) and resided at 172 Burt Street, Boulder. A medical notation stated ‘marked arcus senilis’ (a whitish ring or bow-shaped deposit in the cornea). Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.

Attestation Forms were completed which describe his further weighing 71.8kgs (158lbs) with a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. Religion was Methodist. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mary Grace Perry, care of Post Office, Wallaroo Mines, S.A. He signed and took the “Oath of Enlistment” the same day.

He was allotted to the Mining Unit on November 27, 1915.

Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps had begun on December 1st, 1915 therefore Private Perry 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. Perry was assigned the regimental number 1123 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. 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’.

Four sections of the No. 3 Company were dispersed to various sectors for instructional training. The No. 3 Company would be transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on December 18, 1916.

On May 13, 1916 Sapper was allotted to No. 4 Section of the Company and attached for duty with the 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers.

On August 18, 1916 he was promoted to Second Corporal.

At intervals during the early months parties of officers and men had been sent to Mine Schools for training in Mine Rescue work, to become familiar with Proto Apparatus, and to be proficient in “listening.” The Unit Diary of the 3rd Tunnelling Company recorded the following:

“Extract from examination results of Officers and Other Ranks, who have attended course at First Army Mine School, ending 18/8/16.

ListeningSurveyingGeneral Mining

Lieut BrownVery GoodVery GoodVery Good

CorporalPemberGood

L/CplPerryGood

SapperCopelinVery Good

SapperHealyGood

SapperSmithGood28/8/16”

Corporal Perry was accidentally wounded on October 29, 1916 and admitted to the 1/ 2 London Casualty Clearing Station with an abdominal wound caused by a bayonet. He died the same day and was buried at Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery situated 2½ miles from Estaires and 1¾ miles south-west from Laventie, La Gorgue, France.

In the Unit Diary of the 3rd Tunnelling Company the following was recorded:

“29/10/16 1123 2/Cpl Perry, W. accidentally wounded & died of wounds.”

Commandants of both 4th and 5th Military Districts (S.A. & W.A.) were notified on November 6, 1916 of his demise on October 29, 1916.

His name was listed in the Roll of Honour section of the:

A copy of his War Service was made for the War Pension Department on November 10. Confirmation from Australia of the cabled message from London of his fate was returned on November 13, 1916.

A letter dated November 13, 1916 to the No. 5 Aust General Hospital in Melbourne from next-of-kin at Wallaroo Mines, S.A. requested a Certificate of Death in order for the writer to obtain death money due from the Ancient Order Foresters in South Australia and deemed it a favour by them to forward the Certificate to Wallaroo Mines, S.A.

The letter was unsigned as Mrs Perry was illiterate and the application was re-mailed to Melbourne Barracks. The Acting Adjutant-General of the 3rd Military District in Melbourne forwarded their request to Base Records dated November16, 1916 on behalf of the next-of-kin for necessary action.

On November 20, 1916 a Forwards Court of Inquiry for the G.O.C., 1st Army, records the Inquiry did not propose to take any further action. Corporal Perry was wounded by 9581 Private W. Boreham of the 8th Middlesex Regiment by a bayonet thrust.

Witnesses were: 9581 Pte W. Boreham and 3195 2/Cpl G.W. Palmer, 8th Middlesex Regiment. Private Boreham was not to blame. Signed C. Hull, Major-General commanding 56th Division.

His name was listed the Casualty Lists in both South Australian and West Australian newspapers in the:

A Christmas parcel to the value of 5 shillings was forwarded to him and a list of recipients was printed in the:

Base Records was able to complete the Report of Death Certificate on January 15, 1917 when Military Reports arrived from France and this was sent to his mother the same day.

On March 10, 1917 Base Records wrote to Mrs Perry about the regrettable loss of her son and were now in receipt of advice for her of the place of death and burial location of the late soldier. This information was furnished by direction being the policy of the Department to forward all information received in connection with deaths of members of the Aust. Imperial Forces.

Major A. Sanderson, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Tunnelling Company forwarded on April 10, 1917 to his mother photographs of the last resting place of her son, who gave his life faithfully for his country. He trusted that these would give some comfort to her.

The Kit Store in London packaged his personal effects to be returned to his mother and their inventory listed these items:

Wallet, Tobacco pouch, Pipe, Identity disc, Metal watch (damaged), Religious medallion, Letters, Photos, Postcards, Cotton bag, Pocket knife and Coin.

These were returned to Australia on the transport Miltiades to Base Records and sent out by registered post to his mother on July 24 and receipted delivery by her was dated August 16, 1917.

His mother passed away on August 21, 1918 aged 80 years at Wallaroo, S.A.

The Deceased Soldiers’ Section in Sydney requested on September 11, 1918 from Base Records in Melbourne the death notification date for the late soldier. Records replied that both military districts (S.A. & W.A.) had been advised; with his enlistment in the latter and next-of-kin residing in the former and date of death was shown as October 29, 1916.

The Sydney Branch of the Deceased Soldier’s Section requested on September 3, 1918 from Base Records the late soldier’s district of Enlistment. Their reply on September 9 gave information the deceased soldier enlisted in the 5th Military District on November 25, 1915.

In the After War Report of the 3rd Tunnelling Company the following was listed with the casualties:

“No.Rank NameNature of CasualtyLocality Date Buried at

1123 2/Cpl Perry, W. Shell Pont-du-Hem29/10/16 Pont-du-Hem”

The Circular and Booklet re Graves of the Fallen were dispatched to his mother on December 12, 1919 with a final notice sent on February 11, 1922.

Photographs of his grave were posted to next-of-kin in triplicate on March 31, 1921. His grave location was given as plot 2 in the Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery within row C. Mrs Geneva Sobey as next-of-kin for her mother receipted the slip for photos on April 25, 1921. She noted on the form that her mother was dead.

For his supreme sacrifice 2/Corporal 1123 William Perry, 3rd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (32117) and the Victory Medal (31894).

On November 9, 1921 Medals Section of Base Records wrote to the 4th Military District noting that next-of-kin for the deceased soldier was now marked deceased in his file. As they were desirous to dispose of War Medals due for his service they requested his lineal next-of-kin. The writer noted he enlisted in the 5th Military District.

The Commandant from Keswick Barracks in Adelaide, S.A. replied on December 2, 1921 that the eldest surviving brother was Joseph Perry of Stansbury, P.O. Yorke Peninsula, S.A. and the eldest surviving sister was Mrs J. Sobey, Moonta Road, Wallaroo Mines, S.A.

The War Medals Section deemed his brother Joseph Perry the recipient of all war memorabilia on December 19, 1921.

The War Medal was forwarded to the Commandant in the 4th Military District for distribution to his next-of-kin on December 30, 1921.

The Booklet ‘Where the Australians Rest” and the Memorial Scroll (320493) were sent to his brother on February 6, 1922 and receipted by him on May 18. The Memorial Plaque (320493) was also despatched to him on August 4, 1922. The Victory Medal left by registered post on February 19, 1923.

On June 5, 1926 an outstanding form in regards to Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery was posted out to his brother in Stansbury, S.A. but was returned “unclaimed and unknown’ by the postal service.

On August 18, 1926 the form was sent to his sister Mrs J. Sobey at Wallaroo Mines, S.A.

The Curator of Intestate Estates, Supreme Court in Perth wrote to Base Records on September 6, 1926 for a Death Certificate and the Report of Death was completed and returned to them on September 14, 1926.

The war grave can be located in portion 2 of Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France within row C in grave no. 4.

Names of servicemen to be inscribed on tablets for the State War Memorial were published in:

LEST WE FORGET

His brother also served.

PRIVATE ALFRED PERRY

5176 – 10th Battalion

Alfred Perry was born in Kadina, South Australia in 1880 the son of Abraham and Mary Grace (nee Coombe) Perry.

At the recruiting depot in Adelaide, S.A. on January 26, 1916 the thirty-six year old miner applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed which reveal personal details of his height 160cms (5ft 3ins), weight 58.6kgs (129lbs) with a chest expansion of 83-88cms (32½-34½cms). Complexion was dark with good vision in his brown eyes and had dark brown hair. Distinctive marks were three vaccination scars on his right arm. Religion was Salvation Army. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Mary Grace Perry of Wallaroo Mines, South Australia.

Basic training took place ‘A Coy’ 2nd Depot Battalion from February 9 to February 29 then moved to the 17th Reinforcements to the 10th Infantry from March 1 to March15 and final placement was with the 16th Reinforcements to the 10th Battalion. His rank was Private with the regimental number 5176.

The Reinforcements embarked from Adelaide, S.A. on March 25, 1916 on board the transport HMAT A9 Shropshire. During the voyage he was admitted to the 2nd Aust General Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on May 19, 1916 then transferred to England entering the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for 53 days then joined reinforcements at the 3rd Training Brigade. They proceeded to France on October 1, 1916 arriving at the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples the next day and on October 11 proceeded to join the 32nd Battalion in the field and was taken on strength two days later.

On November 2, 1916 Private Perry was wounded in action receiving multiple gunshot wounds and taken to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station. From there transferred to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen for treatment of wounds to his left shoulder and face. He was evacuated from Havre to England on the hospital ship Astorias entering the V.A.D. Hospital in Exeter on November 11, 1916. When recovered was discharged to furlough and to report to Perham Downs’ camp on December 29, 1916.

He returned to France from Folkstone on March 13, 1917 to the A.B.G.D. at Etaples and was taken on strength with the 10th Battalion on March 21.

He was wounded in action for the second occasion on May 9, 1917 with a gunshot wound to his neck and taken to the 3rd C.C.S. then to the 2nd General Hospital. Convalescence was at the 1st Depot in Wimereux then to Boulogne to the 3rd Rest Camp. On June 2 he joined the Base Depot in Havre but later on June 19 transferred to England disembarking at Southampton classed with CI debility.

Private was detached to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford on June 27, 1917 attending a cold shoeing course at the Farriery in Romsey. He remained at Codford for the remainder of the war.

At the No. 4 Command Depot he appeared before a Medical Board on December 5, 1918 and his Statement of Case reads:

Disability:Shell shock crossed out to Neurasthenia (nervous condition, constantly worried to point of exhaustion)

Origin of disability:8 May, 1917 in France

Essential facts:Buried a couple of times last May. In hospital 9 weeks – is nervous;

has tremors.

Cause of disability:Explosion

Attributed to:Active Service

Present condition:Is nervous and tremulous

Recommendation:Temporarily unfit for general service under 6 months but fit for home service

Private Perry returned to Australia on December 18, 1918 from Liverpool on the H.T. Aeneas. Base Records advised his next-of-kin that he was returning home on January 16, 1919. The ship docked on February 5, 1919 disembarking in Melbourne (3rd Military District) to Broadmeadows camp to await the first available transport to South Australia.

On February 13, 1919 he attended the Disembarkation Medical Board and two days later was admitted to the No. 15 General Hospital at Torrens Park, S.A. where he remained for treatments of neurasthenia until discharged from hospital on February 27.

Military Discharge was issued in Adelaide (4th M.D.) on April 13, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment after serving three years and thirty-eight days of which two years and 326 days were served aboard.

For serving his country Private 5176 Alfred Perry was issued with the British War Medal (11329) and the Victory Medal (11234).

© Donna Baldey 2016