Sapper Alfred Quacker

SAPPER ALFRED QUACKER

1136 – 3rd Tunnelling Company

Alfred Quacker was born as Alfred Couacaud about 1873 the son of Ignace Edouard (Edward) and Eliza Margaret (nee Maddocks) Couacaud in Bulldog, Victoria. He had an elder brother Joseph Henry Couacaud (b.1861). In 1891 at Footscray, Melbourne, Vic at eighteen years of age he appeared in the Court which was reported in the:

He went to the goldfields of Western Australia where he was a prospector at Warrawooma, W.A. in 1912. In 1915 he was working as a council employee at the Catalpa Lease in Cue, W.A.

At the recruiting depot at Day Dawn, W.A. on November 26, 1915 the forty-one year old miner and shearer applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attestation forms were completed and describe him as 179cms (5ft 10½ins) tall, weighing 74.5kgs (164lbs) with a chest measurement of 94-100cms (37-39½ins). Sallow was his complexion with dark eyes and dark hair and distinctive marks were two to three circular scars at the back of the neck and one on the left side of his back. An old scar was on the base of his fingers of the back right hand. With both of his parents deceased he nominated a relative as a friend Mr H. Couacaud, 26 Hotham Street, Footscray, Vic. He signed and took the ‘Oath to Serve’ at Blackboy Hill camp, near Perth on December 2, 1915.

Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps officially began on December 1st, 1915 therefore Sapper Quacker 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. Quacker was assigned the regimental number 1136 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company.

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’.

Four sections of the No. 3 Company were dispersed to various sectors for instructional training.

Disciplinary action was issued for the following:

Crime: In the field while on active service Drunk in billets 31/7/16

Award: 7 days C.B. [confined to billets] by C.O. 1/8/16

Crime: In the field while on active service (1) Drunk (2) Absent from billet

(3) Insolence 13/8/16

Award: (1) Fined 10s (2 & 3) 7 days F.P. No.1 [field punishment] by C.O. 15/8/16

The No. 3 Company was officially transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company in the field on December 18, 1916.

He was admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance on July 23, 1917 with scabies (a skin irritation caused by Itch Mite whose eggs are laid under the skin’s outer layer) and transferred the next day to the Scabies Station at the 16th Field Ambulance to convalesce. He was discharged to duty on June 1, 1917.

Sapper was wounded in action on August 12, 1917 and taken to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station for treatment of gas poisoning.

The incident was reported in the Unit Diary of the 3rd Tunnelling Company as follows:

Two days later he was conveyed on Ambulance Train 12 to the hospital ship Stad Antwerpen for England and admitted to the Ontario Military Hospital at Orpington, Kent the same day. Medical remarks noted during the forty-five days there were:

Frontal pains in head. Pain in chest. Cough with some sputum. Some crackles in lower base

of left lung. Occasional abdominal pains. Treatment symptomatic.

Base Records advised H. Couacaud on August 21, 1917 that Sapper Quacker had been reported suffering from gas poisoning. His address for correspondence was included. Records sent an update on August 28 advising that he had been admitted to Ontario Military Hospital on 17/8/17 and would report if any further news was received.

His name was among the casualties listed in the:

On October 5, 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and during the eight days treatment his medical chart noted these details:

Tightness in chest and pain under left shoulder blade. Heart, lungs good.

He was considered fit to report on October 12 to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. A further note after a health check stated:

Pains in shoulder and left side. Heart and lungs clear.

On October 17 Sapper marched out to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott.

Discipline was issued for being absent without leave as follows:

Offence: Hurdcott A.W.L. from 7.30a.m. 15/11/17 to 10.30a.m. 17/11/17

Award: 7 days F.P. No.2 by Lt-Col Wanliss 20/11/17

In custody awaiting trial 2 days

Total forfeiture: 12 day’s pay

Sapper appeared before the Medical Board at Hurdcott on December 28, 1917 and his Statement of Case records:

Disability: Rheumatism

Date of disability: Antecedent

Origin of disability: Australia

Essential facts: Gassed – Aug 1917 – previously has suffered from Rheumatic pains in

the body. After being gassed began to suffer from shortness of breath

on exertion. Evacuation in Aug and has been in and out of hospital

ever since.

Cause of disability: Antecedent

Caused by: Aggravated by active service

Present condition: Looks pale and debilitated. Suffers from pain in back and legs – dyspnoea

on exertion. Low systolic aortic murmur. [enlarged heart also noted]

Recommendation: Discharge permanently unfit. 30/12/17

Approved: 21/1/18

Sapper marched out to return to Weymouth on January 14, 1918.

On January 31, 1918 Sapper Quacker boarded the troopship H.T. Osterley and embarked from Plymouth the next day for discharge in Australia due to Rheumatism. His berth for the voyage was a hammock.

The Unit Diary recorded the following on his departure:

Base Records advised his next-of-kin on April 3, 1918 that he was returning home. News of his return was reported in the:

The ship docked at Fremantle (5th Military District) on April 6, 1918. Sapper entered the No. 8 Aust General Hospital for further treatment of Rheumatism, Slight Dilation of Heart. His Statement of Case reads:

Rheumatism: still present in scapular muscles and left leg. Slight dilation of heart. Chest normal.

General condition good. D.P.U. Incapacity ½ for six months. Desires discharge.

He was discharged from hospital on July 15, 1918 and report to the Staff Officer for Invalid and Returned Soldiers possibly at the Details camp at Karrakatta.

Military Discharge was issued in Perth (5th M.D.) on July 29, 1918 as medically unfit.

He married in 1919 to Amelia ‘Millie’ Sharpen. In 1921 their residence was 44 Hopkins Street, Boulder with his occupation as a miner.

Sapper 1136 Alfred Quacker, 3rd Tunnelling Company was issued for serving his country the British War Medal (8209) and the Victory Medal (8174).

Alfred Couacaud alias Quacker died suddenly on January 4, 1922 aged 49 years. News of his demise was reported in the:

Funeral arrangements were announced in the:

Mrs Couacaud placed the following notice of thanks in the:

His Victory medal was unclaimed at the designated barracks and was returned to Base Records on September 30, 1924. A letter and form were sent care of the last known address of his next-of-kin on October 23, 1924. H. Couanaud of 23 Browning Street, Sedden wrote to Base Records in reply that A. Quacker (brother) “dropped dead in the street in Kalgoorlie. The cause of death was the effects of a badly gassed heart. I am next-of-kin and would be very glad to receive on his behalf his Victory Medal in remembrance of him, if you would forward it to the above address.”

Base Records replied on November 15, 1924 noting it was regretted to learn that Sapper Quacker had since died after discharge from the A.I.F. They required information if the late soldier had married on his return to Australia and the name of the widow; then listed persons required under the Deceased Soldiers’ Act of 1918, which prescribed that War Medals etc. may only be handed over to next-of-kin in certain order of relationship, unless good and sufficient reasons for varying the procedure are stated for consideration of the Minister.

His G.R.I. Badge No. A35924 was returned to Base Records on August 7, 1942 and marked ‘in store.’

Burial is listed under the name Conacaud and his grave is located in the Anglican portion of the Boulder (New) Cemetery. There is no headstone.