SAPPER LIONEL GEOFFREY WOOLF
1262 – Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company
Born at Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) in 1897 the son of Michael Moses (Marriet in some records) and Harriet (nee Thorold) Woolf.
Lionel completed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 21 January 1916 stating that he was born at Alexandra, Sydney, NSW and that he was employed as an Electrical Junior with the Government Services. He recorded previous military service as 10 months with the 21st Infantry.
A medical examination on the same day recorded that he was 18 years and nine months of age, that he was 5ft 8¼ins tall and weighed 118 lbs. He had a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was of the Church of England faith.
He named as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. Michael Woolf and provided a hand written note from his father, an inmate of the State Hospital, Lidcombe, consenting to his sons joining the Commonwealth Forces.
Lionel signed the Attestation Paper and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Casula, NSW on 11 February 1916 and embarked for Active Service on Ulysses with the Australian Mining Corps.
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.
Following the farewell parade in the Domain, Sydney, the Australian Mining Corps embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on 20 February 1916 on board HMAT A38 Ulysses.
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.
Ulysses arrived in Melbourne, Victoria on 22 February and the Miners were camped at Broadmeadows while additional stores and equipment were loaded onto Ulysses. 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.
Departing Melbourne on 1 March, Ulysses sailed to Fremantle, Western Australia where a further 53 members of the Corps were embarked. 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. After a delay of about a month for repairs, The Mining Corps sailed for the European Theatre on 1 April 1916.
The ship arrived at Suez, Egypt on 22 April, departing for Port Said the next day; then on to Alexandria. 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 Mining Corps was transhipped to B1 Ansonia for the final legs to Marseilles, France via Valetta, Malta. Arriving at Marseilles on 5 May, most of the men entrained for Hazebrouck where they arrived to set up their first camp on 8 May 1916.
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’.
Lionel was absorbed into the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company and on 23 July 1916 was attached for duty to the 2nd Army Workshop, operated by the 1/2 Cornwall Company, Royal Engineers, at Bailleul.
On 7 October 1916 he was transferred to the AEMMBC and taken on strength the same day.
Lionel reported sick on 11 September 1917, and after initial treatment at the 15th Casualty Clearing Station he was admitted to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer. He was transferred to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques on 13 September with conjunctivitis in the right eye, rejoining his unit on 26 October.
His Blue Chevrons were due at this time.
He enjoyed some leave from 21 February until 7 March 1918.
Sergeant E.G. ‘Hughie’ Dodd was also a member of the company and kept a diary of his work naming some of the members of the company. His entries mentioning Lionel Woolf are as follows:
1918
July 26
The SM gave me a wire, stating Morgan and Woolfe were to be picked up the following day. Sent up for them. Fry and myself went out tonight and sapped some Pomme-Au-Terre. When I got home Morgan had come down without Woolfe.
[Pomme-Au-Terre – good old fashioned Australian spuds].
July 27
Got out of bed at 5 o'clock this morning to catch lorry. Walking up from Annequin to Munster, the bag of spuds got heavy. Just as we got in the trenches one of our 'planes flew over at about 100'. Some shrapnel was flying about as Jerry was shelling pretty severely at this 'plane. Woolfe left before we hit the dugout.
August 24
Walker out today, Burns and Page are to go down to Minse on Monday. There has been a fair amount of shelling today. Woolfe and myself was out and getting some potatoes when Fritz spotted out and he sent about 50 over in quick order, made us move some!
September 2
McLean and Woolfe went out to Annequin for rhubarb. Pick and myself went to Barts. Everything Jake. On getting home found Fernandez missing. He was eventually found buried in a latrine. Shall try for a congratulation for Pick and Taylor, both kids. Johnny shelling pretty heavily when these two and Maxwell went out and dug him out. He was not hurt very badly if all reports be true. McLean and Lionel put up a fine tea tonight. This division never put over gas last night but at 3.30 Maxwell was on shift. Came in with a "stand-to" as Johnny was over and at 4.30 we tried to advance our lines, and you never saw anything like it in the whole of your life! One great big mess. One platoon of Black Watch got over and could not get back.
September 7
Two new men came out this morning, a couple called Hillman and Christenson. Woolfe and myself went to Barts this morning. Davis going on with Austin. Had some trouble at Coldstream with blown fuses, could not find the trouble so had to cut half the lights.
September 12
Took Cairns up to the aeroplane to see if we could get the magnetos but could not unscrew the nuts. Woolfe and McLean went out to Maisnel.
September 15
Charlie Walker brought big end out this morning. Taylor and myself erected it and gave her a kick off about 11.30 tonight. Woolfe and McLean came back tonight. Johnny putting a lot of gas in Auchy.
September 18
Woolfe and Cairns went to Saville Row and everything Jake there although not too many troops knocking about.
September 29
Page and myself went to Barts. Fry went out to Maisnel. McLean on driving. Woolfe crook.
October 14
Chrissen and Woolfe went out this morning for a few days. Luke Olsen came just after they had left. Fry and Chrissen to go in. Changed him a Burbury for another coat.
October 16
McLean went out to Noeux-les-Mines to buy stuff for the mess. Borrowed my coat and Woolfe claimed it. Left it with Woolfe. Charlie Walker out.
October 17
We shall probably start running 17 hours a day shortly. A runner has just been up to get all the attached infantry back to their Company. The peace proposals seem to have come a horrible cropper. Woolfe came back from Noeux. Jack LeRoy came out to get Taylor.
October 18
Woolfe and myself walked to Noeux for rations as none came up. Went and had a look at a patient digger. Scorgi I/C just been made an SS. Walked back Vermelles to Bill Davis's job. Found Cairns there. Hulluch cut out at 11 o'clock. Great war news!
October 23
Woolfe, Page, Cairns and myself went to Brickstacks and started to rip the job out. Page and myself down Marlybone and Old Kent, Woolfe and Cairns on Engine Room and Coldstream Tunnels.
November 7
Lorry out today. Sent engines in. Another one for tomorrow. Piper out. McLean, Woolfe, Cairns and Page to go to Vermelles to give Bill Davies a hand out.
Lionel proceeded on leave to England on 29 January 1919, rejoining his unit in France on 12 February.
Hughy Dodd Continues:
1919
May 26
Have put in for a job with the Mansion Motor Garage. Could have been on the SS Somalia but turned it down owing to this job. Lionel Woolf has put in for a job at the same place, he is a fine chap and the best tempered lad I ever came in contact with.
Lionel left France on 30 April 1919 and marched in to No.1 Group at Heytesbury. Lionel was granted Non-Military employment leave, with pay and subsistence, from 3 July until 3 October 1919 to attend Mansions Motor Garage, 78 York Street, London. Fees of £8-11-0 were also paid for him.
Late in July 1919, his father wrote to Headquarters, 2nd Military District advising his current address at Watson Street, Bondi, to ensure that cards for the Anzac Buffet were sent to the correct address.
Lionel left London on 15 November 1919 on board Ypringa for return to Australia, disembarking in Sydney on 9 January 1920. He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 9 March 1920 entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In Sydney in 1922 he married Annie Elizabeth Thelma Jelfs, born in Balmain in 1897, Annie was the daughter of William and Catherine Jelfs.
The Electoral Rolls for Gladesville, NSW for the years 1930 and 1933 record Lionel, electrician, and Annie living at ‘Dalblair’, Blaxland Street. In 1936 their address is 50 Blaxland Street. The Rolls for the years 1943 and 1949 record their address as 58 Blaxland Street and from 1954 through to 1977 it is 70 Blaxland Street.
Lionel was the Treasurer of the Gladesville Returned Services League in 1943. From 1944 through 1956, he was the Secretary of, part of his duties being advising members through the newspaper of funeral arrangements for ex-servicemen.
In August 1950 Lionel wrote to A.I.F. Records, Canberra, requesting that campaign medals for his service in the 1914-18 war be forwarded to his Blaxland Street address. The medals were forwarded by registered post on 17 August.
In April 1963 his service records were forwarded to the Repatriation Department, Sydney
Lionel Geoffrey Woolf died at the R.G.H., Concord, on 17 May 1980 aged 83. Notices appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of 19 May 1980.
Annie Elizabeth Woolf died at Gladesville, NSW on 23 January 1987 aged 89. Notices appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of 26 January 1987.
Reunions
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.
Lionel first appears on the list in 1928 giving his address as Blaxland Street, Hunter’s Hill. He is also registered for the years 1934 and 1968 at Blaxland Street. He is mentioned in the Minutes for the 1960 Reunion Report moving a motion to that “the previous officers be re-elected” No reply was received to the notice sent out for the 1974, and possibly last, reunion.
Lionels’ brother David also served in WW1:
PRIVATE DAVID WOOLF
2747 – 45th Infantry Battalion
At 18 years and 7 months of age, David enlisted on 22 May 1916 at Barrool, Kiama, NSW and named as his Next-of-Kin his sister Mrs. Florence Knauer of Bathurst Street, Woollahra, NSW.
He embarked on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916, disembarking at Plymouth England on 21 November 1916, marching in to the 12th Training Battalion the same day.
He proceeded overseas to France on 8 January 1917 and on 16 January he was charged with offences committed in England in early January and was awarded 2 days forfeiture of pay. David was taken on strength of the 45th Battalion on 18 January.
He was treated for trench feet at the 14th Australian Field Ambulance on 25 February. David was returned to England on 24 March 1917 for treatment of ‘trench feet’ and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. He was discharged to furlough on 4 May, to report to the Training Depot, Wareham at the completion of his leave. He marched in to the Overseas Training Depot at Perham Downs on 27 June.
He was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital (1st ADH) on 18 July and was discharged to duty on 14 November 1917. He was re-admitted to the same hospital on 26 November and was discharged to the Convalescent Training Depot on 4 January 1918.
On 11 January 1918 at Parkhouse, England, he was charged with neglecting to obey an order and was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No.2. He was again admitted to the 1st ADH on 23 January and was discharged on 4 February, marching in to the Overseas Training Depot on the same day.
He proceeded overseas to France on 21 February 1918 and joined the 45th Battalion on 27 February.
From 1 August until 12 September 1918 he attended the 20th Division Signal School and received the Divisional Commanders congratulations on a satisfactory report obtained at the 4th Australian Division Signal School.
He reported sick on 5 December 1918 and was admitted to the 39th General Hospital at Havre on 11 December. He was discharged from hospital on 6 January and marched in to the Australian Infantry Base Depot the same day.
On 12 April 1919, David was attached to the Australian Base Depot at Havre. He left France on 25 May and marched in to No.2 Group at Sutton Veny the next day.
David left London on 3 September 1919 on board Barambah for return to Australia, disembarking in Melbourne on 25 October. He was discharged in Sydney on 11 December 1919 entitled to wear the British war Medal and the Victory Medal.
He married Vera MacShane in NSW in 1925. He service records were forwarded to the Repatriation Commission, Sydney in April 1929.
David Woolf died at R.G.H . Concord, NSW on 2 July 1976. Notices appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 3 July.
© Donna Baldey 2013