Sapper James Frederick Counter

SAPPER JAMES FREDERICK COUNTER

7496 – 3rd Tunnelling Company

Hobart, Tasmania was the birthplace of James Frederick Counter on August 26, 1878 the son of Henry and Emily (nee Stanley) Counter. Previous military training was five years with the Defence Force in Gympie, Qld leaving on his own account. Further service was in South Africa.

Private James Frederick Counter enlisted in the Boer War with the First Intake of the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent. He served from November 1, 1899 to January 17, 1901 in ‘A’ Company with the regimental number 168.

Returning members of the contingent were named in The Queenslander on Saturday January 5, 1901:

He married Margaret Weston McLean on December 1, 1902 in Queensland and they were living at Wotton Hill, Gympie in 1903 where he was a miner. By 1905 were at Laurence Street, Gympie and in 1908 at Tannymorel then Blackstone, Bundamba, Qld. In 1913 he was mining at School Hill, Mt Perry.

At the Brisbane Recruiting Depot on May 22, 1917 the thirty-eight year old miner enlisted for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed and his description on enlistment states he was 173cms (5ft 8ins) in height, weighed 61.8kgs (136lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-97cms (34-38ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and brown hair and had good vision. Distinctive marks were one vaccination scar on his right arm and three on his left. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Margaret Counter of 135 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane and later of ‘Evelyn Cottage’, Clayton Street, Sandgate, Brisbane and allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her and their children. He was sworn in the same day.

Basic training took place at Enoggera camp, Brisbane at the Rifle Range camp from June 1, 1917 until June 9 when he was transferred for further training with the 8th Reinforcement to the 42nd Battalion finishing on June 23. During this time Home Leave of two days was granted from June 8. From there he went to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) until July 17 then transferred to their training camp at Seymour, Victoria. He joined ‘B’ Coy April Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies and training concluding on August 5. His rank was Sapper and regimental number 7496.

The April Reinforcements consisted of 168 members who embarked on the troopship HMAT A68 Anchises on August 8, 1917 from Sydney, NSW. Colds and influenza were prevalent at the commencement of the voyage. Crossing the Pacific Ocean the vessel arrived at Colon, Panama on September 2, 1917 departing six days later. Halifax, Nova Scotia was reached on the 18th and after three days in port departed on September 21, 1917. The final journey to England was completed after a 55 day voyage when they docked at Liverpool on October 2, 1917. The troops were detrained to Tidworth. The following day they arrived at Nos. 1 and 3 Details Camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front.

Leaving Parkhouse the Reinforcements proceeded to France from Southampton arriving at the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles on November 15, 1917. Five days later he went to the 1st Anzac Corps Depot and was attached to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion on November 24 and joined them in the field on December 13, 1917.

Sapper Counter was taken on strength with the 3rd Tunnelling Company on March 10, 1918.

On April 16, 1918 he went sick to the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance with Bronchitis and transferred to the 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. Moved to the 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on April 19 with Chronic Bronchitis was treated until sent to the 6th Convalescent Depot on May 4, 1918. Two days later went to the Medical Board Depot.

Moved out on May 20 from the A.G.B.D. at Rouen and rejoined his unit two days later.

The day Peace was declared he left on leave and rejoined his unit on November 29, 1918.

He went sick on December 19, 1918 to the 39th Stationary Hospital admitted with TB Bronchitis and was evacuated to the TB Branch on January 2, 1919. Two days later was admitted to the 56th General Hospital but was conveyed to England on the hospital ship Brighton on January 11, 1919 entering the Essex County Hospital affiliated with the Colchester Military Hospital with Bronchitis.

On January 29, 1919 was released to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. His wife was advised by Base Records on February 1 that he had been admitted to hospital. On February 4 was sent on Furlough and report to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on February 18, 1919.

He reported to Headquarters and was granted an extension until February 25 as the Depots were full. This was extended again until March 4, 1919. A further extension of leave was granted to March 11 and he marched in from Headquarters to the Depot.

On March 14, he went sick to hospital and returned on March 23, 1919 to Weymouth to prepare for the voyage home.

Sapper Counter embarked from Avonmouth on April 1, 1919 on the H.T. Shropshire as an invalid for the journey to Australia.

While at sea was admitted to the ship’s hospital on April 14, 1919 and discharged on May 12. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on April 24, 1919 of his impending return.

The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on May 16, 1919 and he re-embarked the next day on the steamer Dongala arriving in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on May 22, 1919.

Military Discharge was issued on June 14, 1919 in Brisbane (1st M.D.) as medically unfit.

His address was given as Tannymorel in 1919 but later that year in Rockhampton, Qld The Capricornian on Saturday October 18, 1919 published applicants for land and their address changed to Block 62, South Yaamba, Qld:

For his service for his country Sapper 7496 James Frederick Counter, 3rd Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (31007) and the Victory Medal (29331).

Further applications appeared in The Capricornian on Saturday September 13, 1924 and:

In 1925 they were still at Block 62, South Yaamba and his occupation was a farmer.

Further property news appeared in the Morning Bulletin Rockhampton on Wednesday September 12, 1945:

They retired to Hall Cottage, West Street, Rockhampton, Qld.

James Frederick Counter died on April 24, 1954 aged 76 years. Family Notices were printed in The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Monday April 26, 1954:

The following notices were placed in the Morning BulletinRockhampton on Friday May 7, 1954:

His Commonwealth War Grave can be seen in the North Rockhampton Cemetery within Section 4 of the Church of England Compartment in Row 13, Grave no. 38.