784 (75207) - 2Nd Tunnelling Company & Aust. Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring

SAPPER WILLIAM HANLON

784 (75207) - 2nd Tunnelling Company & Aust. Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company

Born January 1866, Cambrian Hill, Ballarat, Vic.

First enlisted on 31st December 1915 at Melbourne Town Hall Recruiting centre, stating he was 43 years 11 months old, that by trade he was a ‘Drill-man’, and that his parents were deceased. He named his brother, Christopher Hanlon of 340 Elliott St, Ballarat, Vic, as his Next of Kin. William listed previous service in South Africa, 1900-1902. His statistics were 5ft 5ins tall, 134lbs, fair complexion, blue eyes with scant, light brown hair.

His Application was REJECTED on 6th January 1916

2nd enlistment at Casula, NSW, on 13th January 1916. On this Application he admitted to being 50 years 11 months old, changed his trade to Mining Engineer, and named his sister, Mrs Margaret Chatham of Rokewood, Victoria, as his Next of Kin. His previous service was detailed as ‘civilian artificer attached 24 Coy, ASC, South Africa, 1900 to Declaration of Peace. His statistics were 5ft 6ins, 136lbs, dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair (going bald).

The Embarkation Roll indicates his address at Enrolment was Breeza, NSW.

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’.

William disembarked at Marseilles 5th May 1916, and detrained at Hazebrouck 8th May 1916. Working with 2nd Tunnelling Company initially, he was transferred to the AEMMBC where he was taken on strength on 30th September 1916. He was promoted to Corporal on 25th October 1916.

William reported ‘sick’ and was admitted to the 93rd Field Ambulance on 22nd July 1917. He was transferred to 23rd Casualty Clearance Station on 1st August 1917, from where he was admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, France, diagnosed with renal colic, being then transferred to Reading War Hospital, England on 7th August 1917 for further treatment.

He was discharged from hospital to furlough on 7th September 1917, to report to Weymouth 21st September 1917.

At Weymouth, Williams’ documents were marked for return to Australia for discharge, reason ‘overage’. He embarked from England on HMAT Berrima on 31st October 1917, disembarking at Sydney on 30th December 1917. William was discharged from the A.I.F. as ‘Overage’, on 11th February 1918. He was entitled to wear the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His War Pension claim was rejected on 6th February 1918, records marked ‘There is no incapacity’.

Williams’ 3rd enlistment, for ‘Home Service’ occurred at Broadmeadows, Victoria on 2nd April 1918. His address was given as 179 Pidgeon Street, North Carlton, Melbourne and his trade had changed to Engine Driver. His previous service was shown as ‘AEMM – 2 years 20 days – discharged Med Unfit’.

William was given a new Service Number, 75207, and after 259 days service he was discharged on 16th December 1918.

In May 1921, William was living at Greta West, via Glenrowan. His Service details were forwarded to Repatriation, Melbourne, in November 1924, in regards to his ‘Home Service’.