Sapper John Lancaster

SAPPER JOHN LANCASTER

3407 – 1st Tunnelling Company

John Lancaster was born in Brisbane, Queensland on April 1, 1879 the son of James and Sarah (nee Giles) Lancaster. He married Sarah Stratford on June 26, 1907 but deserted her in June 1913. The following year The Brisbane Courier on Tuesday December 15, 1914 reported:

On February 9, 1916 the thirty-six year old carpenter applied to enlist at the Brisbane recruiting depot for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Personal particulars taken were his address at Geoffrey Street, New Farm and occupation. Attestation forms were completed and describe him as 164cms (5ft 8½ins) tall, weighing 60.4 kgs (133lbs) with a chest expansion of 79-86cms (31-34ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and grey hair. Eyesight tested to very poor sight in the left eye and poor in his right one. Methodist was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were a scar on his left forearm and moles on his back and right shoulder. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Sarah Lancaster of Church Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane and three-fifths of his pay was allotted for support. Swearing in took place the same day.

At the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera camp, Brisbane he commenced basic training from February 11 until March 20, 1916. The next day was sent to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) for further training and recruited to the No. 4 Tunnelling Company on April 19, 1916 in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 3407.

The recruits formed part of the No. 4 Company which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, 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 Aust. & Tasmania made up of 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 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 departing 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. They arrived for further training at No. 3 camp at Parkhouse.

The following was dealt with on October 11, 1916 in London:

Crime: Parkhouse 9/10/16 AWL from 2400 to 0630 10/10/16

Award: 7 days C.B. [Confined to Barracks] by Lt Kennedy C.O.

Total forfeiture: 2 days pay

On October 15, 1916 the Reinforcements proceeded to France arriving at the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples on October 19.

Sapper Lancaster was assigned to the 1st Tunnelling Company and left to join them in the field on November 21 and taken on strength two days later.

Service continued without incident until August 6, 1917 when he was admitted to the 50th Field Ambulance with broken dentures and rejoined his unit three days later.

Disciplinary action was taken on November 19, 1917 for the following:

Crime: WOAS [While on Active Service] AWL from 2 p.m. 16/11/17 to 2 p.m. 17/11/17

Award: 4 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]

Total forfeiture: 6 days pay.

For service of twelve months abroad he received Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform.

On June 30, 1918 went sick to the 9th Aust Field Ambulance with Pyrexia (Fever) NYD (not yet diagnosed) and transferred to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. Two days later was conveyed on A.T.25 to the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. He was transferred to England on the hospital ship St Denis entering the Ilford Emergency Hospital at Colchester on July 12, 1918 with Bronchitis.

A transfer to Dartford to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary hospital followed on July 22 and three days later left on furlough and report to the No. 4 Command Depot on August 8, 1918.

London was notified he was Away without Leave when he did not report and six days later marched in from Headquarters after disciplinary action was taken.

Offence: London 8/8/18 AWL from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. 14/8/18

Award: Forfeits 14 days pay by Major Howard 15/8/18

Total forfeiture: 20 days pay.

Offence: Hurdcott 9/10/18 AWL from midnight 8/10/18 to 3.45 p.m. 12/10/18

Award: 6 days F.P. No. 2 by Lt-Col A. Jackson 16/10/18

Total forfeiture: 10 days pay.

Sapper marched out to the Overseas Training Depot at Deverill on October 21, 1918 where he remained and was there when Peace was declared. He proceeded overseas to France on November 22, 1918 from Southampton arriving at the Aust General Base Depot at Havre the next day. He marched out to rejoin his unit on November 28 and returned on December 5, 1918.

On February 12, 1919 they were recalled to the Base Depot to prepare for their return to England which took place on February 24 and crossed the English Channel arriving at No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse the next day.

Relocated to the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury on March 20, 1919 remained to await his voyage home.

After demobilisation Sapper embarked on H.T. Boonah on April 20, 1919 for his journey to Australia. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on May 22, 1919 that he was on his way. The ship arrived in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 8, 1919 and was transhipped to the transport Sardinia to sail to Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) arriving June 11.

Listed in the arrivals published in The Queenslander on Saturday June 14, 1919 to Brisbane was:

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.

For serving his country Sapper 3407 John Lancaster, 1st Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (18117) and the Victory Medal (17686).

In 1925 he was a soldier settler at Spring Creek, Stanthorpe.

The following article was in The Brisbane Courier on Tuesday March 10, 1931:

Statements of his service were issued to the Repatriation Department on May 17 and September 19, 1932.

John Lancaster passed away on September 9, 1935 aged 56 years. Arrangements were announced in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday September 10, 1935:

His unmarked grave is located in portion 10 of the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane in grave no. 9 within section 72.