SAPPER CYRIL GORDON JOLLEY
4368 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
Cyril Gordon Jolley was born in 1895 at Goodwood, South Australia the son of William James and Annie (nee Robins Jolley.
At Blackboy Hill recruiting tent on January 31, 1916 the almost twenty-one year old enlisted for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Forms of Attestation were completed on February 24 which reveal he was 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighed 64.5kgs (140lbs) with a chest expansion of 83-92cms (32½-36ins). Complexion was fair with his blue eyes testing to good vision and had brown coloured hair. Religion was Church of England. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Amy Jolley of Northam, W.A.
For basic training he was allotted to Area 3 camp immediately on entry but four days later was re-allotted to the 52nd Depot Company until March 3, 1916. A week later on March 10 he was transferred as a member of the 6th Tunnelling Company and assigned the regimental number 4368 in the rank of sapper. The company were at Belmont camp near Blackboy Hill on March 29, 1916.
Early in May, 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company consisting of six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks making up two sections, embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). One Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departed the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Down’s camp.
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 arriving at the 2nd Aust General Base Depot the next day where Sapper Jolley was transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company and a day later was taken on strength.
During his service he was fortunate not to be wounded, injured or suffer from illness.
He was issued on June 1, 1917 with two Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform showing he had served twelve months service. An audit of the company on April 26, 1918 confirmed he was still with his unit.
On June 26, 1918 he went sick to the 34th Field Ambulance and admitted with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) Uncertain Origin) then moved to the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. The following day he was conveyed on A.T.4 to Camiers and entered the 22nd General Hospital. Recovered by July 5, 1918 he was discharged to duty.
Leave to the United Kingdom was granted from October 21 and returned to duty on November 7, 1918.
He was with his unit when Peace was declared and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of the area by clearing roads and bridges of debris and removing explosives and traps left by the enemy.
Sapper Jolley marched out on November 28, 1918 for attachment for Instruction with 1st Field Bakery on December 9 and remained until February 6, 1919 when he was reattached to the 3rd Tunnelling Company to prepare for demobilisation.
On February 16, 1919 crossed the English Channel disembarking at Southampton and ordered to report to Warminster, Southampton.
His last payment was received in England on June 25, 1919.
He marched into the A.A.S.C. Training Depot at Parkhouse on July 14, 1919 to await his return to Australia. Ten days later the following occurred and disciplinary action was administered:
Crime:A.W.L. from 2400hrs 22/7/19 until 2300hrs 23/7/19
Award:Admonished by Capt T.C. Berryman 27/7/19
Total forfeiture:1 days pay.
The H.T. Plassy embarked on the voyage to Australia on September 5, 1919 with Sapper Jolley on board. His mother received advice from Base Records on September 16 of his impending return home and the ship docked at Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.) on October 17, 1919.
Military discharge was issued in Perth, W.A. (5th M.D.) at the termination of his period of enlistment on December 10, 1919.
He married Ada Louise Taylor on February 16, 1920 and their residence was recorded as 171 York Road, Northam, W.A. where he was a railway employee up to 1949.
The British War Medal (11158) and the Victory Medal (11031) were issued to Sapper 4368 Cyril Gordon Jolley, 3rd Tunnelling Company for serving his country.
Cyril Gordon Jolley passed away on December 22, 1961 aged 66 years. His grave is located in the Church of England portion of the Mandurah Old Cemetery in Row 1, Section 2 in grave number 28.
His photo (top of profile) and extract below were published in the book Australia’s Fighting Sons of the Empire:
© Donna Baldey 2011