Sergeant Rupert Mason

SERGEANT RUPERT MASON

1078 – 3rd Tunnelling Company

Rupert (Jack) Henry Beaumont Mason was born in 1885 in Geraldton, Western Australia the son of Henry George Bertram and Ellen Georgina (nee Taylor) Mason.

In 1904 he was in the Coolgardie district of Red Hill where the following was reported in the:

In 1906 he still a miner in Red Hill, W.A. and four years later in 1910 was mining at Paddy’s Flat Meekatharra, W.A. The following was reported in the:

Western Mail Saturday September 23, 1911:

On charges of fighting in public resorts, Edward Hicks, Cyril Minahan, and Rupert H. Mason were last week respectively fined £2, £1 and 30s at the Perth Police Court, while Frederick George and Francis J. Doherty were cautioned.

He was at Golden Ridge, Kalgoorlie goldfield working as a miner in 1914.

At the recruiting depot in Perth, W.A. on October 20, 1915 the thirty year old single miner from Aberdeen Street, Perth applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed which reveal he was 181cms (5ft 11¼ins) tall, weighed 80.9kgs (178lbs) with a chest expansion of 102-112cms (40-44¼ins). Complexion was dark with grey eyes and brown hair and Church of England was his religious faith.

Distinctive marks were three vaccination scars on his left arm, scar on the left elbow, mole on right shoulder and scar on right forearm. Next-of-kin nominated was initially his father Harry George Bertram Mason whose address was unknown then renominated his brother George Bertram Mason of Eundymie, W.A.

He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance” the same day.

Basic training commenced at Blackboy Hill camp, near Perth on November 1, 1915 with the 34th Depot Battalion until allotted to “D Coy” 4th Depot Battalion three days later. On November 30, 1915 was transferred to the Mining Corps.

Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps officially began on December 1st, 1915 therefore Sapper Mason 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. Mason was assigned the regimental number 1078 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company. On February 4, 1916 he was promoted to be Sergeant.

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. On February 22, 1916 at Broadmeadows camp he was reduced to the ranks but dated the following day stated reduced to Corporal.

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 was officially transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company in the field on December 18, 1916.

His mother, Mrs G.E. Mason Snr wrote to Base Records on July 25, 1916 from Dalkeith Road, Nedlands asking for information about her son as at the time he enlisted he did not know her whereabouts. She asked was he married or single and had any children. Who was his next-of-kin? In the case of him being killed or wounded where would she get information regarding him? She naturally felt anxious as he did not know where she was and would like to hear at once if anything happened to him.

Base Records replied on August 7, 1916 informing that her son Sapper Mason enlisted with the Mining Corps stating next-of-kin as his father Harry George Bertram Mason, address unknown and brother, George Bertram Mason residing at Eundymie, W.A., the latter would be promptly notified should any reports be received concerning the soldier.

No reports had been received to any effect and in this absence it can be assumed he was with his unit. Information concerning him could be obtained from their office. His present postal address was given and a reduction to ranks was shown for 28/2/16. The officer writing understood that her husband was living at the same address and he would be advised should any reports be received concerning their son.

On September 6, 1916 Mrs Mason confirmed that Dalkeith Road, Nedlands would always find his father and brother there to contact. Formal acknowledgement of change of address was sent on September 19.

His service continued without injury or illness. On April 15, 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant.

While on leave in England from France on May 28, 1917 he became ill and admitted to bed No. 9 in the 1st Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He appeared before the medical board on June 8, 1917 and his Statement of Case reads:

Disability:Endocarditis (mitral and aortic)

Date of disability:28/5/17

Place of disability:England (on leave from France)

Essential facts:Became ill with febricula (slight, short fever) on 28/5/17 on leave from France. Suffered muscular pains and headache. He had felt rundown before coming on leave

He is a miner by occupation and suffered rheumatism.

Cause of disability:Active Service

Caused by:Strain and exposure aggravating malady of long standing

Present condition:Patient at present confined to bed. Nourishment and muscularity very good

Complains of malaise, pain in right axilla and suffers 3 or 4 times each day

from attacks of distress accompanied by pain over cardiac area. O.E. slight

pulsation in neck. Pulse collapsing type. Some hypertrophy of left ventricle marked by emphysema. Double mitral murmur. Aortic diastolis murmur. Pupils equal; pulses equal.

Recommendations:Permanently unfit for all service – no history prior to enlistment; no rheumatic fever; no history of Syphilis.

Approved:8/7/17

On June 21, 1917 he was discharged to furlough and report to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on July 7, 1917.

Sergeant Mason boarded the H.T. Euripides on July 21, 1917 for return to Australis due to endocarditis. He was assigned a lower berth for the voyage home and the troopship left Plymouth the next day. His medical chart during transit had nothing to report. The ship arrived at Fremantle (5th M.D.) on September 11, 1917 and was taken to No. 8 General Hospital in Fremantle the same day suffering from V.D.H. (valvular disease of heart).

On his discharge from hospital on September 27, 1917 the following medical notes were recorded:

V.D.H. Double aortic and mitral valvular disease. Dizziness, palpitation and dyspnoea (breathless on exertion). Heart enlarged, diffuse impulses, apex displaced out, double aortic murmurs. No history of any illness prior to enlistment. Consider condition originated as result of “febricula” (? Rheumatism) mentioned occurring 28/5/17. D.P.U. Incapacity total for six months. 27/9/17 Approved 28/9/17

He was transferred to the Details camp at Karrakatta, Perth on September 27, 1917 for discharge as permanently unfit.

Military Discharge was issued in Perth on October 12, 1917 as medically unfit. The following day was granted a military pension care of the A.W.U. Trades Hall, Perth at the rate of 69 shillings per fortnight.

The A.W.U. had mail for him held at their office which was advertised in the:

He married in 1919 to (Louise) Artless Annie Patterson.

For serving his country Sergeant 1078 Rupert Mason, 3rd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (8165) and the Victory Medal (8130).

Rupert (Jack) Mason late of Kelmscott, Perth passed away on June 12, 1925 aged 41 years. Announcement of arrangements was published in the:

His grave is located in the Anglican portion of Karrakatta Cemetery within section MA in gravesite no. 197.

Mrs Louise A.A. Mason of West Perth died on February 27, 1951 aged 68 years and is memorialised in the Rose Garden at Karrakatta Crematorium at site WN in position 133.

A plaque commemorating his war service is located in the Garden of Remembrance, Perth War Cemetery, Nedlands on Wall 37, Row I.