SAPPER DAVID PATRICK BOLAND

926 – Mining Corps

David Patrick Boland stated he was born in Hergott Springs, South Australia. His birth was registered at Frome, S.A. and his birthplace was noted as Quorn on March 22, 1887 the son of David and Mary Ann (nee Lysaght) Boland. In 1912 he married in Boulder, Western Australia to Rhoda Laurine Saunders.

On November 18, 1915 the twenty-seven year old miner and stockman applied to enlist for active service abroad at the recruiting depot in Kalgoorlie, W.A. and passed the medical examination. At Blackboy Hill camp near Perth, W.A. on November 26 he attested and is described in Attestation Forms as 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall, weighing 66kgs (146lbs) with a chest expansion of 81-88cms (32-34½ins). Complexion was dark with his blue eyes passing the eye test with good vision in his left eye and fair sight in the right one. His hair was brown and a distinctive mark was a scar in his right instep. Religion was Roman Catholic. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Rhoda Laurine Boland of 143 Witternoon Street, Boulder, W.A. and gave four-fifths of his pay in support of her and their two children. He was sworn in the same day.

Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps had begun on December 1st, 1915 therefore Private Boland 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 form all Military districts came together at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW to complete training as a Corps. Boland was assigned the regimental number 926 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company.

While in camp at Casula disciplinary action was issued for the following:

Offence:Casula 17/1/16 Drunk

(1) Riotous Behaviour

(2) Resisting arrest

(3) Obscene language

(4) Breaking camp

Award:(1) Fined £1/-/- with 21 days C.B. [confined to barracks]

(2) Fined £1/-/-

(3) Fined £2/-/-

(4) Fined £1/-/-Total of £5 by the C.O. of the Corps

He had been in service 55 days and general character was noted as good.

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. Sapper Boland failed to embark.

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.

At the No. 8 Aust General Hospital, Fremantle, W.A. on March 23, 1916 he was a patient and assessment of his disease took place which was noted as follows:

Disability:Bronchitis (chronic)

Origin of disability:Before enlistment

Place of disability:W.A.

Essential facts:Has suffered from recurrent cough & catarrhal attacks for

some time in camp at Broadmeadows (Vic) and again on

transport

Cause of disability:Conditions of occupation

Attributed to:Not due to military service

Present condition:Has constant cough, little expectoration, no definite chest

signs

Board examination:Chronic bronchitis, Fibrosis, General debility, not fit for

Service

Labour market:Not impaired as result of service

Recommendations:Discharge as medically unfit – no pension

Approved:Perth 26/3/16

Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt and Sapper Boland remained hospital due to illness.

Military Discharge was issued in Perth (5th M.D.) on April 6, 1916 due to being medically unfit. As he did not leave Australia he was ineligible for War Service Medals.

In 1925 he and his wife were residing at 13 Ada Street, South Fremantle and his occupation was a lumper. Their address in 1931 was 20 Charles Street, South Fremantle which changed to 6 Charles Street by 1936. The following report appeared in:

By 1943 their residence was 2 Martha Street, South Fremantle and was still a lumper.

David Patrick Boland died on November 16, 1953 aged 66 years. Family arrangements were published in

His wife passed away on February 23, 1970. Their graves are located in the Roman Catholic area of the Fremantle Cemetery, Perth, W.A. in the Monumental C3 section in grave no. 167.

© Donna Baldey 2014