SAPPER WILLIAM JOHN CAIRNS M.S.M
375 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Petersham, Sydney, NSW was the birthplace of William ‘Bill’ John Cairns in 1894 the son of Robert and Fidelia Cairns. He stated he served a six year apprenticeship as an Electrician with Hanby and Lewis, 105 Pitt Street, Sydney. Military experience was gained with 2/53 Infantry and 33rd Infantry Citizens’ Forces and resigned to take the position of Junior Engineer in transport.
At the Board of Health Recruiting Depot in Sydney, NSW on January 13, 1916 the twenty-one year old applied to enlist for service abroad and passed the medical examination. On February 3 Attestation Forms were completed at Casula camp, near Liverpool and his description on enlistment was 168cms (5ft 6ins) in height and weighed 70kgs (154lbs). Complexion was fair and his blue eyes passing the eye test with good vision and had brown hair. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his father Robert Cairns of 196 Albany Road, Petersham. He took the ‘Oath on Enlistment’ the same day.
The Mining Corps had been established at Casula camp and he was assigned to the No.1 Company of the Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 375.
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’.
His civil career of electrician was valuable to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore he was transferred for service on September 30, 1916 and taken on strength the same day.
On November 2, 1916 he was taken to the 113th Field Ambulance suffering from Carbonic gas poisoning and after treatment for two days sent to the 16th Divisional Rest Station at Mont-de-Cats.
The Report into the incident by the Commanding Officer of the 250th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers stated:
Admitted Carbonic Oxide poisoning 113 Field Ambulance 2/11/16. Trivial. On duty. Injured 1/11/16 at P.P.11. Electrician on duty not to blame. Petrol fumes from exhaust of petrol engine blowing into dugout.
He rejoined his unit on November 19, 1916.
On June 12, 1917 he entered the 53rd C.C.S. with a Social Disease and the following day sent to the 7th Convalescent Depot. On June 16 was admitted to the 39th General Hospital at Havre and after several days a patient marched into the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles and returned to duty on June 27.
He is mentioned for Recognition in the Report by the C.O. Major Morse in the Unit Diary which states:
He was recommended with two members of the A.E.M.M.B. Company on August 5, 1917 for the Meritorious Service Medal with the following citation:
The M.S.M. was awarded on September 18, 1917. Base Records advised his father on February 7, 1918 that he had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuous services rendered by his son. A copy of the extract which appeared in the London Gazette on September 14, 1917 also was quoted as follows:
The extract also appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 9 on January 24, 1918.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for twelve months service. Service continued without incident and he was counted in an audit of the company on July 18, 1918.
He proceeded on leave on August 13 and returned to his unit on August 27, 1918.
Sergeant E.G. ‘Hughie’ Dodd of the same company kept a diary and mentions Sapper Bill Cairns as follows:
September 12 [1918]
Took Cairns up to the aeroplane to see if we could get the magnetos but could not unscrew the nuts. Woolfe and McLean went out to Maisnel.
September 17
Bill Cairns and myself went to Old Kent. Found everything o.k.
September 18
Woolfe and Cairns went to Saville Row and everything Jake there although not too many troops knocking about.
September 24
McLean went out this morning to procure some stuff for the mess. Cairns and myself went over to the Brickstacks. The push in Palestine will just about finish the Turks.
October 18
Woolfe and myself walked to Noeux for rations as none came up. Went and had a look at a patient digger. Scorgi I/C just been made an SS. Walked back Vermelles to Bill Davis's job. Found Cairns there. Hulluch cut out at 11 o'clock. Great war news!
October 20
Cairns and myself went over for rations. None there so went to Givenchy and saw Bill Millar. Met McLean as we were coming back. He went to Vermelles and found Givenchy's and our rations were there.
October 22
Bill Cairns went to Vermelles for rations. While he was there Piper came in. Cairns came back and told me that we were going to pull out. Piper came up here and told us to pull out. Starting at the Brickfields first.
October 23
Woolfe, Page, Cairns and myself went to Brickstacks and started to rip the job out. Page and myself down Marlybone and Old Kent, Woolfe and Cairns on Engine Room and Coldstream Tunnels.
November 7
Lorry out today. Sent engines in. Another one for tomorrow. Piper out. McLean, Woolfe, Cairns and Page to go to Vermelles to give Bill Davies a hand out.
He was with his unit when Peace was declared and they remained on the front assisting with rehabilitation by continuing to supply electricity and small pumps and engines for pumping water etc.
His last payment in France was paid on December 23, 1918.
Orders were issued to return to the Aust Base Depot on April 28, 1919 for return to England and the next day crossed the English Channel and marched into the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury.
After demobilisation Sapper Cairns embarked for Australia on board H.T. Ormonde on June 16, 1919. Next-of-kin were advised on July 19 that he was on his way. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on August 4, 1919. News of their arrival was printed in the:
He went before the Domain Medical Board the same day and essential medical facts taken and declared:
“I am not suffering from any disability due to or aggravated by War Service and feel fit and well.
(Sgd) W.J. Cairns”
Having no disability the Board recommended discharge.
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on September 26, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
In addition to the Meritorious Service Medal, the British War Medal (33114) and the Victory Medal (32699) were also issued to Sapper 375 William John Cairns, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country.
He married in 1922 to Margaret Irving with their marriage registered at Randwick, Sydney. In 1930 their residence was 82 Brighton Street and he was an electrical fitter. Margaret passed away in 1931 with her burial in the cemetery section at Woronora. His Notice of Thanks was printed in the:
He remarried in 1933 in Sydney to Margaret Teresa Gooden and their residence was 36 Lawson Street, Paddington with his occupation as electrician.
The Editor of Reveille on May 7, 1937 wrote to Base Records requesting copies of citations awarded to four recipients. Sapper Cairns was one of the requests for his M.S.M. citation.
In 1958 home was in Marrickville at 72 Renwick Street and an electrician.
William ‘Bill’ Cairns passed away on March 28, 1962 aged 68 years. Family announcements and arrangements were published in the:
His grave is located in the Roman Catholic Monumental portion of the Woronora cemetery within section 3 with his first wife in grave no. 217.
Bill Cairns was a member of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ Anzac Day Reunion and his name and address is listed in their Roll Registers for newsletters of their annual function after the Anzac Day March in Sydney, NSW.
1928W. CairnsHill Street, Marrickvillechanged to 2 Wyuna Street, Kogarah
1934W. Cairns2 Wyuna Street, Kogarahchanged to 36 Lawson Street, Paddington
1960-68W.J. Cairns72 Renwick Street, Marrickville
© Donna Baldey 2013