JOHN BOLTON JUSTICE
Lieutenant – 1st Tunnelling Company
Thomas Holmes and Delia Agnes (nee Morony) Justice had four members of their family enlist with the A.I.F. and serve abroad. Their children were:
Elizabethborn 1872St Kilda, Vic 1893 married Gardiner died 1956
John Boltonborn 1874 Elsternwick, Vic
Raphael (Ralph) Moronyborn 1876Co. Cork, Ireland
Thomas Holmesborn 1878Ringwood, Vic
Mabel Julianaborn 1884Co. Cork, Ireland
Charlotte Delusiborn 1887 married Fogarty died 1955
John Bolton Justice was born on June 1, 1874 and educated at Midleton College in Co. Cork, Ireland then studied at the Ballarat School of Mines, Vic qualifying as a Mining Engineer and Manager. His father had mining interests in Jamieson, Vic and from 1903 until 1909 John was working as an Engine driver there. By 1914 he was listed as mine manager.
At the Melbourne Town Hall on February 10, 1916 the unmarried Mine Manager applied to enlist with the A.I.F. for overseas service. The almost forty-two year old passed the medical examination and was sworn in the same day. Attestation forms reveal he was 189cms (6ft 2½ins) tall and weighed 81.8kgs (180lbs) with a chest expansion of 94-103cms (37-40½ins). His complexion was fresh with blue grey eyes and dark greying hair but vision tested as fair. A distinctive mark was a vaccination scar on his left arm. Church of England was his religion and he named his father Thomas Holmes Justice of Jamieson, Vic as next-of-kin.
He spent two weeks at the Engineers’ camp in the Domain, Melbourne then went to the Engineer Officers’ School of Instruction in Sydney, NSW from February 27 until April 30, 1916 in the rank of Corporal. While there on April 3rd he applied for a Commission of 2nd Lieutenant with the Tunnelling Company, A.I.F. and medically examined again. Passing he was recommended as 2nd Lieutenant with No. 4 Tunnelling Company two days later. His commission appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 54 on May 4, 1916.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW the 2nd Lieutenant joined the No. 4 Tunnelling Company Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
On May 22, 1916 the 7713-ton transport HMAT A69 Warilda departed Sydney, NSW 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 remarkably 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.
On August 22, 1916 they proceeded to France marching in to the 2nd Aust General Base Depot on August 30. Due to Supernumeracy in the establishment of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company he was posted to the 1st Tunnelling Company and taken on strength on September 25, 1916.
He went sick to the 47th Divisional Rest Station on December 6, 1916 and admitted with Amblyopia (Dimness of vision) and rejoined his unit three days later.
On New Year’s Day 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant. Service continued until July 25, 1917 when he was wounded in action. The following is the Unit Diary’s entry for that day:
He was taken to the 140th Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to back and right side and transferred to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station. Two days later was transported on A.T.18 to be admitted to the 2nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen. A brief notification to his father was sent on July 31, 1817 regretfully stating that his son had been wounded and gave a postal address to write to him. On August 6, 1917 the Lieutenant went by hospital ship Panama to England and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth with severe gunshot wounds to back and chest. His father was notified further the same day of his injuries, the hospital and address to correspond. Further communication to his father was issued on August 21, 1917 detailing that he had been transferred on August 8 to the above hospital and was progressing favourably. Another memo was sent on September 27 stating he was convalescent.
While recovering he received news that the family and mining business was in need of his return to Australia. As a result he approached A.I.F. Headquarters with an Application for Discharge and Statement of Service on September, 24, 1917. Four days later an internal memo from Lt Colonel Wynter was sent to Administration Headquarters replying to his request saying ‘conditions now existing are similar to those which applied at the time of enlistment, it is regretted that his application cannot be approved’. This response was forwarded to the Lieutenant care of Lady Harrison, Ashton Manor, West Exeter in Devon on October 5, 1917.
Declared fit, he left London Headquarters and marched in to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge, Deverill on October 27, 1917 and proceeded to France via Southampton on November 5. The following day he arrived at the A.G.B.D. at Havre and marched out to the 2nd Army to rejoin his unit on November 10, 1917 after being on the Seconded List - wounded.
In an undated letter to Sir Peter McBride, the Agent-General for Victoria, Melbourne Place, Strand, London, Lieut. Justice asked for his assistance with his application. It reads:
c/o English, Scottish & Australia Bank,
38, Lombard Street,
LONDON, E.C.5
Dear Sir Peter McBride,
Am enclosing application for discharge. I would esteem it a very great favour if you would endeavour to get verdict of authorities at your earliest convenience, as if there is a chance of getting back I should like to do so as soon as possible. My sister has just gone under an operation due to a fall off a horse, so with three sons over here, the life of the old people is not too pleasant. When I applied a few weeks ago, the A.A.G. said the application must go to G.O.C. Anzac. So I fancy I am still under General Birdwood.
Trusting I am not putting you to any inconvenience, and hoping to have a reply from you before long.
Yours faithfully,
(sgd) J.B. JUSTICE.
On November 15, 1917 Sir Peter McBride wrote to General Birdwood enclosed the covering letter and Application for Discharge on behalf of Lt Justice. Adding he would be glad if he could facilitate to the return of Lieutenant Justice to Australia. He knew the family very well and could vouch for the statements made.
An A.I.F. memo dated November 17 states:
Mr Ward.
Let General see this before he leaves.
Previous file herewith. The fact that another brother has enlisted cannot be accepted as a reason for his discharge, as it has been necessary to refuse many applications of a similar distressing nature in the case of men who left Australia in 1914. He left on 22/5/16 and arrived in France 29/8/16.
(sgd) T.H.B.
Sir Peter McBride sent the rejected reply to Lt Justice. In answering his letter to Sir Peter on November 19, the Lieutenant conveyed his thanks for the trouble he undertook on his behalf. He thought that General B. [Birdwood] must have misinterpreted the wording on his application, for the General’s statement of “The fact that another brother had enlisted cannot be accepted as a reason for his discharge.” He continued with clarifying his purpose to him:
“The reason why I made the application was, because the third and last brother had come away on Active Service, leaving no son in Australia – the home circle at present consisted of the old people and a couple of girls. I’m a great believer of Patriotism, pity if it should be overdone. Again thanking you on behalf of the “Old people” for what you have done.”
[Sisters at home were Mrs Elizabeth Gardiner and Mrs Charlotte Fogarty]
Sir Peter McBride forwarded Lt Justice’s response to General Birdwood on November 26 stating:
“With reference to your letter of the 17th instant in regard to Lt Justice, I duly forwarded a copy of same to that officer, from whom I have received the letter copy of which is enclosed.”
On December 1, 1917 a letter from E. Cowley at Y.M.C.A., Heytesbury camp, Wiltshire requested the address of Lt Justice, 1st Tunnelling Co. He was wounded some months ago but it is believed he has returned to duty. No further correspondence is recorded.
General Birdwood’s decision opted not to comment further to Sir Peter McBride’s forwarded copies of November 26, 1917 but an internal memo states ‘it would be seen that he had not misinterpreted his statement.’ A codicil on the memo dated the same day affirms ‘Col. Dodds, the General has decided to take no further action in regard to the letter from Sir P. McBride.’
A month later Lieut-Col H.D. Wynter rescinded his decision on December 21, 1917 as follows:
Headquarters, A.I.F.
Attd. 1st Anzac Corps
O.C.
1st Aust. Tunnelling Company.
The G.O.C. A.I.F. has reconsidered the request of Lieut. Justice of your Company and in view of the circumstances of the case approves of his return to Australia for termination of his appointment.
Please send him to report to Admin. Headqters., A.I.F. London for passage accordingly.
Colonel
D.A.G. A.I.F.
He marched out on that day from France and proceeded to Administration Headquarters, London for transfer to return to Australia. He was Struck off Strength.
On January 11, 1918 he departed England aboard the H.T. Port Darwin for the return voyage home. His father was notified on January 28, 1918 of his son’s impending return. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) and the Lieutenant disembarked on March 24, 1918.
Lieut. Justice’s appointment was terminated (medically unfit) in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on March 25, 1918 but later marked ‘for family reasons.’
For his service abroad Lieutenant John Bolton Justice, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (45357) and the Victory Medal (44581).
He returned to Jamieson, Vic and was still a Mine Manager there in 1924. The following year he is listed in the Register of Tunnelling Company Officers as:
Justice, J.B. Lieut, 1 Coy, Jamieson, Vic.
In 1931 was an Engineer residing at 10 Redan Street, St Kilda, Melbourne and in 1936 was Inspector of Mines at Ballarat, Vic. living at 8 Dawson Street, North Ballarat. The following year he was at Sandhurst House, Mitchell Street, Bendigo and still an Inspector.
From 1942 to 1949 he and his brother Rev. Thomas Holmes Justice were residing at 7 Wellesley Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne with his occupation as Mine Manager.
John Bolton Justice is registered passing away in 1951 at Hawthorn aged 76 years. He was interred in the Cheltenham Old Cemetery on January 1st.
© Donna Baldey 2010
RALPH MORONY JUSTICE
Lieutenant – 1st Tunnelling Company
Ralph Morony Justice was born in County Cork, Ireland on May 17, 1876. He was educated at St Luke’s and Carmichael’s in Co. Cork and received certification as a Mine Manager after studying at the Ballarat School of Mines, Vic. He is listed living at Jamieson, Vic from 1903 to 1909 working as an Engine-driver. In 1914 was an Assistant Railway Surveyor residing at 12 Canterbury Road, St Kilda, Melbourne. He had been rejected for service previously because of defective toes.
On January 29, 1916 the thirty-nine year old enlisted at the Melbourne Town Hall for active service and passed the medical examination. Forms of Attestation were completed and show he was single and stood 184cms (6ft ½ins) tall, weighed 80.45kgs (177lbs) with a chest expansion of 92-97cms (36-38ins). Complexion was medium with blue eyes and black hair and had good vision. Characteristic marks were a vaccination scar on his right arm and the 3rd and 4th toes on his right foot were missing. Church of England was his faith. Next-of-kin was is father Thomas Holmes Justice of Jamieson, Vic. The Railway Surveyor was sworn in but had to pass a review by the medical board on February 15, 1916 on his right foot. He was accepted.
Two weeks were spent at the Melbourne Domain Camp for Engineers before attending the Engineers Officers’ School of Instruction in Sydney, NSW from February 28 until April 30, 1916. A commission with the Tunnelling Company A.I.F. as 2nd Lieutenant was applied for while attending the School on April 3, 1916. He was recommended on April 5 to be allotted to the No. 4 Tunnelling Company and his commission appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 54 in April, 1916.
The 2nd Lieutenant joined the No. 4 Tunnelling Company Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training at Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW.
The 7713-ton transport HMAT A69 Warilda 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 proceeded to France on August 22, 1916 marching in to the 2nd Aust General Base Depot on August 30. Due to Supernumeracy in the establishment of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company he was posted to the 1st Tunnelling Company and taken on strength on September 25, 1916.
He was admitted sick 47th Divisional Rest Station on December 29, 1916 then sent to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station with influenza.
A few days later on New Year’s Day 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant with the 1st Tunnelling Company. He recovered and was discharged to duty on January 9, 1917.
Service and camp life continued until he proceeded on leave on to Nice on February 5, 1918 and rejoined on February 25. Service continued without incident and he was granted leave again on October 21, 1918 and rejoined on November 6.
After the Armistice his company remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of safe roads and bridges. He was still listed with his company in an audit on December 31, 1918.
On February 12, 1919 he was again granted leave and returned on March 8, 1919.
His father received a letter dated February 25, 1919 advising him of his son’s Commission as temporary Lieutenant in the British Army for services against the time of his return from active service. This was receipted on March 18, 1919.
His company prepared for demobilisation and marched out on April 3, 1919 to return to England. They returned to the A.I.B.D. at Havre on April 10 crossing the English Channel and disembarking at Southampton then marched in to the No. 1 Group camp the following day.
On May 31, 1919 he departed England on board the H.T. Aeneas for the return voyage home and was Struck off Strength. His father was advised on June 24, 1919 that he could expect his son to disembark in Melbourne shortly. It is not recorded when the vessel docked in Melbourne (3rd M.D.)
His Appointment was terminated on October 4, 1919. Twelve days later his Will was returned to the A.A.G. (3rd M.D.)
Lieutenant Ralph Morony Justice, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (45353) and the Victory Medal (44582) for serving his country. The War Medal was receipted at Mansfield on September 25, 1921 and the Victory Medal on February 12, 1923 also at Mansfield, Vic.
His name appears on the 1928 Register for the Alphabetical and Tunnellers Association. His address was 23 Fairfield Avenue, Camberwell, Vic.
A Statement of Service was sent to the Repatriation Department in Melbourne on October 26, 1934.
He returned to Jamieson, Vic as a Mine Manager for awhile in 1919 then went to 12 Canterbury Road, St Kilda. In 1924 he was an Engineer residing at 39 Albert Road, South Melbourne. The following year he is listed in the Register of Tunnelling Company Officers as:
Justice, R.M. Lieut., 1 Coy., Jamieson, Vic.
From 1943 until 1954 was at 23 Fairfield Avenue, Camberwell listed as an Engineer.
Ralph Morony Justice died in 1959 at Camberwell, Vic aged 83 years.
© Donna Baldey 2010
CAPTAIN CHAPLAIN THOMAS HOLMES JUSTICE
Chaplains’ Department
Ringwood, Vic was the birthplace of Thomas Holmes Justice on September 5, 1878. From 1903 until 1909 he is listed in Jamieson, Vic with Independent Means. He had been a student at the Australian College of Theology and received his Licentiate in Theology becoming a Clerk in Holy Orders of the Anglican Church. In 1914 he is at Ringwood, Vic. serving as a Clergyman. He had previously been rejected for service abroad because of defective vision.
On October 11, 1916 the thirty-eight year old applied to enlist for Chaplaincy duty at the District Headquarters C.M.F. (3rd Military District) and passed the medical examination. At the same time he applied for a Commission with the A.I.F. which gives personal particulars of his height at 170cms (5ft 7ins), weight of 67.2kgs (148lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-90cms (33-35½ins). His vision tested normal with glasses. Next-of-kin was his father Mr Thomas Holmes Justice of Jamieson, Vic. The following day his application was accepted and he was recommended for the Chaplain’s Department, A.I.F. His Commission was gazetted in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 161 in November, 1916.
Appointed 4th Class Captain Chaplain on October 26 by approval of His Excellency the Governor General through the Federal Executive Council and was immediately assigned to Chaplaincy duties for the ‘voyage only’ on HMAT A74 Marathon.
With his enlistment there were no sons left in Australia to assist the parents which is why his elder brother John Justice applied for a discharge to return to Australia.
The troopship embarked from Sydney, NSW on October 31, 1916 and arrived in Devonport, England on January 9, 1917. Soon after arriving in England he applied for continuous service as Chaplain. Cancellation of the Executive Council Minutes which appeared in Government Gazette in November, 1916 took place.