SAPPER NORMAN IRWIN BOYD
5287 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Rockhampton, Queensland was the birthplace of Norman Irwin Boyd on September 13, 1889 the son of George and Minnie (nee Robetzke) Boyd. In 1907 he was working a claim at Cawarral, Qld and was still there in 1913.
At twenty-six years of age he applied to enlist for service abroad on February 3, 1916 and passed the preliminary medical examination at the Central District Central Recruiting Depot, Rockhampton, Qld. Personal particulars show he was an unmarried labourer residing at Alpha House, Bolsover Street, Rockhampton and was 180cms (5ft 11ins) tall with a chest measurement of 94cms (37ins) and passed the eye test. His application was accepted as ‘fit for service’ by the recruiting officer. Attestation Sheets were completed on February 25, 1916 giving further information about him. His occupation changed to a metal miner weighing 61.8kgs (136lbs) with fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. Methodist was his religion. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
Basic training commenced as a Private on March 2, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane, Qld and was completed on April 28, 1916 when he was transferred to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District).
On May 10, 1916 perhaps during his Final Home Leave, he married Emma Vera Megaw following the death of her husband at Blairgowrie near Jericho, Qld on April 8, 1916.
He returned to training at the Miners’ Depot where on June 20, 1916 signed a new Attestation Sheet adding next-of-kin as his wife Mrs Vera Boyd of care of Post Office Rockhampton, Qld and allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her.
Further training was gained at the Miners’ Depot, Seymour, Vic and assigned to the September Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies. His regimental number was 5287 in the rank of Sapper.
On September 30, 1916 Sapper Boyd was one of 168 volunteers who departed from Melbourne, Vic on the troopship HMAT A23 Suffolk. The ship arrived at Fremantle on October 10 and departed the same day. The South African port of Capetown was reached on October 30 and after an overnight stay left the following day. The vessel arrived at Dakar, West Africa on November 15, 1916 staying in the harbour until November 20, 1916. After 64 days at sea the voyage terminated at Plymouth, England on December 2, 1916. They marched into the Tunnelling Reinforcements camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.
The Reinforcements departed on New Year’s Day, 1917 from Folkstone to France on board the S.S. Arundel and arrived at the Aust General Base Depot the next day.
On January 13, 1917 Sapper Boyd was assigned to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.
He was taken sick to the 7th Aust Field Ambulance suffering from Pleural Neuralgia on January 20, 1917 and admitted a day later to the Anzac Convalescent Rest Station. He was sent to the 1/1 C.N.D. Casualty Clearing Station but was conveyed on A.T.21 on January 31, 1917 to Havre. On February 2 was admitted to the 2nd General Hospital at Havre with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) remaining until February 17 when sent to the Aust Convalescent Depot with a disability classed A. He returned to the A.G.B.D. on February 25 at Etaples and was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on March 10, 1917.
He went sick with Mumps on April 23 to the 71st Field Ambulance and transferred to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer graded with a slight case.
On June 13, 1917 he was invalided to England with Trench Fever on the hospital ship St Andrew from Boulogne and entered the next day the Military Hospital Boscombe, Hant. On July 4 his wife was notified by Base Records that he had been admitted to hospital. Two weeks later on July 19 further information of his condition was also forwarded to her.
Mrs Boyd advised Base Records that her address was now George Street off Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton, Qld.
On June 29, 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and released to furlough on July 5 with orders to return on July 19 to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs.
He marched out on August 11, 1917 to the No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott after his disability was reclassified as B1a1 on August 7. On August 27 his reclassification became B1a2 and on September 10 was classed as a3. He left on September 26 for the Overseas Training Brigade departing Southampton for France on October 11 and marched in to the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles later returning to his unit on October 17.
He went sick on November 21, 1917 to the 1/1 W.R. Field Ambulance and transferred to the 15th C.C.S. with Laryngitis but was sent to the 55th General Hospital at Boulogne two days later. After several days he went to the 1st Convalescent Depot and was discharged ‘fit’ on December 6, 1917 to Base Details at Rouelles arriving on December 13.
On January 2, 1918 he marched out to be taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company and rejoined his unit three days later. Blue Chevrons were due at this time.
He went sick to the 100th Field Ambulance with diarrhoea on April 16 and sent to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance on April 21 and four days later was admitted to the 1st Aust General Hospital at Rouen. A transfer to convalesce at the 2nd Con. Depot began on April 30 before transferred to the Base Depot on May 15, 1918.
A Medical Board reviewed his case at Havre on June 18, 1918 and classed as B2 disability and returned him to England the following day to the No. 2 C.D. at Weymouth. On June 25 he was sent to the No. 2 C.D. at Hurdcott.
He was reported Absent without Leave on September 3, 1918 but his case was dismissed and returned to Hurdcott.
On October 4, 1918 he returned to the Overseas Training Brigade at Deverill and proceeded overseas to France on October 27, 1918 via Southampton and arrived at the Rouelles A.G.B.D. then marched out to rejoin his unit on November 10, 1918. The following day Peace was declared and he arrived back to a calm front. His unit remained on duty as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of roads, bridges and drainage in their area.
He went sick to the 48th Field Ambulance on January 1, 1919 with Scabies and was transferred to their Divisional Rest Station and returned to duty on February 3, 1919. He went sick with Influenza to the 20th C.C.S. and was conveyed on A.T.21 and entered the 14th General Hospital on February 24. Two days later he transferred to England and was admitted to King George Hospital at Stamford-street, London with severe Influenza.
He was released to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on March 3, 1919 and a Kit Inspection was conducted and issued with these items in hospital pending discharge:
Braces, Brushes – Hair, Shaving & Tooth, Comb, 2 Drawers, Fork, Knife & Spoon, Greatcoat, Holdall, Housewife, Jacket, Razor & Case, 2 Flannel Shirts, 2 Singlets, 2 Socks, Chin Strap, Towel, 2 Collar Badges, Woollen Breeches, Service Dress Jacket, Puttees, 2 Australia Titles, Sea Kit Bag & 2 Identity Discs with cord.
He was discharged to furlough on March 7 and to report to the No. 1 Command Depot Dartford on March 21. Reporting to Dartford received orders to proceed to the No. 2 C.D. at Weymouth.
In London on April 2, 1919 following a Kit Inspection he was issued with these items:
Universal Kit Bag, Dungaree Jacket and Trousers, Singlet, Towel, 2 Australia titles, Cap & Gloves.
Sapper Boyd departed Devonport on April 5, 1919 after demobilisation on the H.T. Armagh for the return voyage to Australia. While at sea he was admitted to the ship’s hospital on April 28 (N.Y.D.) and was discharged on May 15, 1919. Meanwhile on May 5, 1919 his wife was advised by Base Records that her husband was returning home. The ship docked in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on May 18, 1919.
At the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane (1st M.D.) on May 22 he appeared for a medical assessment before discharge. His details were:
Influenza – France Fit 1919
No disability.
(Sgd) N. Boyd.
Discharge was recommended and took place in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on June 29, 1919. Later that year he is recorded working at Walterhall, near Mount Morgan, Qld as a boiler cleaner.
A year later Norman Irwin Boyd died on June 12, 1920 aged 30 years at Mount Morgan and was buried the following day in the Mount Morgan Cemetery in Section A. In the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Tuesday June 15, 1920 this announcement was published:
Although his name appears in the Burial Register of the Mount Morgan Cemetery there is no location recorded for the site of his grave.
The following year a notice of remembrance was placed in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Tuesday June 14, 1921:
Sapper 5287 Norman Irwin Boyd, 1st Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (22244) and the Victory Medal (21609) for his service for his country.
The War Service Homes Commission wrote to Base Records on October 10, 1923 requesting the details of Service for Sapper Boyd as his wife was an applicant for assistance under the War Service Homes Act. On October 10, 1923 Base Records replied listing the service and next-of-kin of the Sapper.
On April 2, 1934 Mrs Boyd wrote to Base Records from 41 Cooper Street, Redfern, Sydney, NSW requesting the War Medals of her husband Norman I. Boyd and her son Thomas Megaw 3874, 49th Battalion stating that they were both killed in action.
Base Records replied on April 9, 1934 stating that she was evidently under misapprehension as to the fate of her husband as he returned to Australia and was discharged in 1919. Her son Thomas Megaw had nominated his father as next-of-kin and they required a sworn affidavit to the effect that the gentleman was now deceased before consideration was given to her request.
On May 18, 1934 at Redfern, NSW Mrs Boyd signed a Statutory Declaration declaring she was the widow of Sapper Norman Boyd who died in 1922 and also the mother of Private Thomas Samuel Megaw, whose father Thomas Megaw died on April 8, 1916 at Blairgowrie, near Jericho, Qld. She wrote a covering letter the same day enclosing the required document after sending to Queensland for the necessary data to complete the Declaration.
Base Records replied on May 20, 1934 confirming receipt of the Declaration and she would be advised in due course of the steps taken by the Department of the disposal of the said medals.
Base Records then wrote in confidence to the Commissioner of the Repatriation Commission trying to ascertain whether their records showed if Private Thomas Samuel Megaw had any brothers or sisters, and if so the name and address of the eldest. The writer outlined that he nominated his father as next-of-kin but the gentleman died on April 8, 1916 and his re-married mother had lodged an application for the medals. Mrs Boyd was identical to the widow of Sapper N.I. Boyd who is reported to have died in 1922 and he made a statement at the time of his enlistment she was then living with him and they had a child prior to the death of Mr Thomas Megaw. She married Boyd immediately following the demise of her first husband. By virtue of her marriage to Boyd she was entitled to claim his medals, but on account of her former improper relations with this man, her equal right to the medals of her son, Private Megaw was open to question. Consideration was being given to the alternative of allotting his medals in favour of other relatives of the deceased.
No copy of the reply from the Commissioner is in the Boyd file and no other relative claimed to be eligible for his war medals for on June 20, 1934 Base Records advised Mrs Boyd that arrangements were being made for the above items and also the Memorial Plaque and Scroll issued on account of Private Megaw.
Mrs Emma Vera Boyd receipted delivery of her late husband’s medals on June 25, 1934.
© Donna Baldey 2010
www.tunnellers.net
PRIVATE THOMAS SAMUEL MEGAW
3874 – 49th Battalion
Thomas Samuel Megaw was born in Tambo, Qld about 1894 the son of Thomas and Emma Vera (nee Eather) Megaw.
At twenty-one and a half years of age he enlisted for service abroad at Rockhampton, Qld on September 29, 1915. His father Thomas Megaw, a contractor of Jericho, Qld was nominated as next of kin.
He was 169cms (5ft 6½ins) tall, weighed 57.2kgs (126lbs) with a chest measurement of 93cms (36½ins). Fresh in complexion with grey eyes and light brown hair. Religion was Church of England. Basic training was with the 5th Depot Battalion, the 46th Battalion and assigned to the 9th Reinforcements to the 25th Battalion for service abroad. Allotment was to the 49th Battalion.
He was wounded in action in September 1916 suffering a gunshot wound to the neck and right thigh and was invalided to England and when recovered returned to duty.
Wounding in action for the 2nd Occasion occurred in May, 1918 and he was evacuated to England with a gunshot wound to his chest diagnosed in a dangerous condition and admitted to the 1st London General Hospital. Private Megaw died on June 4, 1918 from the gunshot wound to his chest, emphysema and cardiac failure. He was buried on June 8, 1918 in Brookwood Cemetery in grave no. 1811 in the Australian Portion of the Military Burial Ground which the had been consecrated for burials.