2Nd Tunnelling Company

LIEUTENANT MARTIN TIERNAN

2nd Tunnelling Company

Born on 5 April 1882 at North Melbourne, Victoria, Martin was the son of James Alfred and Catherine, nee McGlynn, Tiernan.

A single Surveyor and Civil Engineer, qualifications gained at the Victoria Parade College, Victoria, he signed the Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad, and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Melbourne on 18 February 1916. He recorded his postal address as c/o Major Murdoch, Oak Avenue, Elsternwick, Victoria.

A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 33 years and 9 months of age. He was 5ft 6¼ins tall and weighed 142 pounds. He had a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He was of the Roman Catholic faith. Small scars and moles were recorded as distinguishing marks.

He named as his Next-of-Kin his mother, Mrs. Catherine Tiernan of Oak Avenue, Elsternwick, Victoria.

From 27 February until 24 April 1916 he attended the Engineer Officers School of Instruction at Moore Park, Sydney. On completion of the course he applied for a Commission in the Tunnelling Company, A.I.F.

On 3 April, towards the end of the course, he applied for a Commission in the Tunnelling Company, A.I.F. and on 24 April 1916 at Broadmeadows, Victoria, he was appointed to No.5 Tunnelling Company and appointed 2nd Lieutenant rank.

Martin embarked at Melbourne on 27 May 1916 board Warilda.

Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.

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 departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 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 No.6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre.

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 soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkably pleasant weather and terminated 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.

Martin enjoyed some leave in Paris from 2 to 9 November 1918. He went on leave to England on 21 December 1918, re-joining his unit on 11 January 1919.

2ATC relieved the 172nd Tunnelling Company, R.E. in May 1916 in the Neuville St Vaast/Vimy area. They supported the Australian 5th Division at Fromelles and relieved the Canadians at the Bluff in January 1917.

The Company moved to Nieuport in the same month, to construct subways for Operation Hush. Involved in enemy attack - Operation Strandfest - in this coastal sector in July 1917, recorded in the official histories as ‘The Affair at Nieuport Bains’. In April 1918, troops of the Company fought a large fire in Peronne.

Following the Armistice, members of the company were involved in the clearance of mines and delayed-action booby-traps and in the re-construction of civilian infrastructure until the Company was recalled to Base on May 23, 1919 to organize their departure from France.

Martin left France on 22 March 1919 and was granted non-military employment leave from 20 March until 17 May, with pay and subsistence, to attend the AIF Survey School. An extension of leave was granted until 18 August, but this was later cancelled on 9 June 1919.

He left London on 20 June 1919 on board Konig Frederick August for return to Australia for demobilisation.

Disembarking at Melbourne on 6 August, his commission as an Officer in the A.I.F. was terminated on 28 October 1919. He was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal which were counter-issued to him on 14 March 1924.

His service and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Department, Melbourne in December 1952.

Martin Tiernan died on 16 September 1956.

His estate, amounting £6,738/18/9, was administered by his brother Victor.

Past members of the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnelling Companies gathered on or about Anzac Day for a reunion luncheon. We have had access to some of their records, which were very well kept and are quite detailed.

His name appears on the list in 1968, his address is recorded as Post Office, Mount Eliza, Victoria.