SAPPER ERIC ARNOLD HIRST
1254 – Mining Corps
Penistone, Yorkshire, England was the birthplace of Eric Arnold Hirst on March 23, 1896 the son of Frederic Arthur and Ellen Elizabeth Hirst. In 1911 the family were living at 160 Queens Road, Peckham, Camberwell, London in a nine-roomed house and consisted of Frederic Arthur (45) Congregational Minister, wife Ellen Elizabeth (41) and children Eric Arnold (19) Motor Car Mechanic, Clifford Cresswell (16), Stanley Ewart (12) and a domestic general servant Ellen (21). He served three and a half years as a motor mechanic with Arul Works, London. Military experience was two and a half years with the London Scottish Volunteers. He came to Australia.
In 1913 he was a mechanic at Muttaburra, Queensland and two years later in 1915 was residing at Hughstonia, New South Wales.
At the recruiting depot in Sydney, NSW on July 23, 1915 the twenty-three year old motor mechanic applied to enlist for active service abroad. He has previously been rejected due to Varicocele (varicose veins in scrotum). Passing the medical examination Attestation Forms were completed giving personal details of his height of 177cms (5ft 9½ins), weight 76.6kgs (168lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-97cms (34-38ins). Complexion was ruddy with good vision in his blue eyes and fair hair. Religion was Congregational faith. Medical notations were slight Varicocele and a snake bite mark two years ago. His postal address was Benelong, NSW. Next-of-kin was his father Rev. Frederic Hirst F.R.G.S., Hythe, Kent, England. He was sworn in the same day.
Leave was granted from July 23, 1915 until August 1 then spent seven weeks at Liverpool camp, NSW with the Motor Transport Depot.
At Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW on January 28, 1916 he re-attested with the A.I.F. and sworn in the same day. Basic training began with ‘E Coy’ Depot Battalion until February 9 when changed for a day to ‘C Coy’ Depot Battalion and on February 11, 1916 assigned to the No. 3 Company of the Mining Corps. His rank was Driver with the regimental number 1254.
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. Driver Hirst suffered illness while in camp requiring treatment from March 23, 1916 until April 5.
The Mining Corps departed Fremantle on April 1, on the transport Ulysses voyaging via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. Driver Hirst was disembarked the troopship due to illness remaining in the camp hospital. He appeared before the Medical Board on April 3, 1916 and his Statement of Case proceedings reads:
Disability:Varicocele and Haemorrhoids
Origin of disability:Two years ago, piles bleeding, never noticed Varicocele till
enlistment
Place of disability:North Queensland
Essential facts:Two years ago while in camp in North Queensland had painful
attack of “bleeding piles” due to riding in wet saddle. Has had
recurrence on several occasions, when sweating heavily or
getting damp. Attacks last about a week.
Cause of disability:Varicose diathesis and habit of life
Caused by service:Not due to Military Service
Present condition:Marked Varicocele; Haemorrhoids well marked
Disability: Not a wound or injury
Operation advised:Yes, advised and declined
Recommendation:Discharge
Board description:Marked Varicocele; Haemorrhoids not protruding at present\ Condition: Permanent without operation
Labour market:Not lessened since enlistment
Discharge:Return to own military district
Recommendations:Operation. No compensation. Discharge
Approved:5/4/16 Blackboy Hill
His application for discharge stated:
“CAMP COMMANDANT
Blackboy Hill
I beg to request that my discharge be granted in Western Australia, I clearly understand
that the Defence Department will not at any future time be responsible for my fare to my district
of enlistment.
Signed: E.A. Hirst
At appears about the same time a further declaration was signed as follows:
“CAMP COMMANDANT
Blackboy Hill
I hereby state that if enlisted for Home Service in 5th Military District I will not hold
the Defence Department liable for any aggravation of my disabilities as shown on Medical Board
proceedings by such service.
Signed: E.A. Hirst”
Military Discharge was issued at Blackboy Hill on April 8, 1916 as medically unfit. He went on to serve Home Service until 1918.
He married at Williams, W.A. on October 10, 1916 to Ella Wilhelmina Hicks.
As he did not serve overseas Sapper Hirst was ineligible for War Service Medals.
In 1925 he was a farmer and their residence was at Williams, W.A. Four years later the following articles were published in the:
In 1931 they had returned to live at 5 Norfolk Street, North Perth and his occupation was traffic inspector. In 1936 he was working at Boolaloo Station, Onslow as a motor mechanic and the following year was a motor engineer at Onslow, W.A.
During World War II Eric enlisted at Perth, W.A. on June 20, 1940 with the Royal Australian Air Force. Next-of-kin was his wife Ella Hirst. His service number was 17011 serving with the 7th R.H. Staff until discharged on December 25, 1944.
A Statement of Service was requested by the Repatriation Commission in Adelaide, S.A. from Base Records and forwarded by them on December 21, 1944.
In 1949 he is registered in Electoral Rolls at Gregory Bay, Darwin, Northern Territory working as a stockman and in 1954 was a clerk at W & II, Katherine, N.T.
A request for his personnel dossier was dated on August 7, 1959 and a further request from the West Australian Repatriation Department in Perth for his Statement of Service from Base Records was dated the same day.
Base Records memorandum dated August 11, 1959 advised that all documentation had been forwarded on December 21, 1944 to the Repatriation Department, Adelaide, S.A.
In 1963 he was residing at 6 Venn Street, Perth and retired. His wife Ella died on August 5, 1963 aged 69 years. Her ashes were dispersed at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, W.A.
Six years later in 1968 Eric was at 81 Drabble Street, Scarborough, Perth, W.A.
Eric Arnold Hirst passed away at Inglewood, W.A. on February 7, 1976 aged 80 years. In accordance with his request ‘his ashes were scattered to the wind’ at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, W.A.
© Donna Baldey 2014