SAPPER ALFRED JOHN WRIGHT
326 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Born about 1888 in Ranby, Horncastle, England Alfred John Wright was the son of John, a groom and gardener and later a game-keeper and his wife Mary Ann Wright. His younger siblings were sister Louisa and brother Fred. G. Wright. He came to Australia and in 1913 was working as a labourer at Mount Morgan, Queensland and staying at the Imperial Boarding House.
Two years later at the Recruiting Depot in Rockhampton, Qld on November 4, 1915 the twenty-seven year old passed the medical examination for active service abroad. Attestation Forms were completed on November 6 and reveal he was 175cms (5ft 9ins) tall, weighed 76.3kgs (168lbs) with a chest measurement of 99cms (39ins). His eyes were blue and complexion dark and had dark brown hair. Church of England was given as his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Mary Ann Wright of Donnington, On-Bain, Louth, Lincolnshire, England. Swearing of Allegiance was taken the same day.
The Mining Corps was in its establishment phase when Alfred commenced his basic training at their Casula Camp, near Liverpool, N.S.W. He was assigned to the No. 1 Company of the Corps with the regimental number 326 in the rank of Sapper.
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.
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.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. 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 troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
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’.
Sapper Wright was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company on December 24, 1916.
His service continued without sickness or injury until the following disciplinary action was taken on September 19, 1917:
Offence:W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] – A.W.L. from 1 p.m. 17/9/17 until
1 p.m. 18/9/17 (24 hours).
Award:7 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
Total forfeiture:9 days pay (£2 5s 0).
On December 5, 1917 the Roll of Honour Board for employees of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Ltd was publicly displayed. The name Wright, A appears on the Honour Board as he was an employee of the Company when he enlisted.
He was entitled to wear Blue Chevrons on his uniform for his twelve months active service.
On July 17, 1918 he was counted in an audit of his company and a few weeks later was granted leave proceeding on August 8 and returned on August 25, 1918.
The Pay Department, Brisbane requested on October 8 and 9, 1918 particulars of his enlistment from Base Records. They replied on October 15, 1918 forwarding the information they required.
When the Armistice was declared he was with his unit and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with the rehabilitation of bridges and roads in their area.
His unit was recalled to the Base Depot on February 12, 1919 and marched out for England on February 24. After crossing the English Channel they proceeded to No. 3 Camp at Parkhouse. Sapper Wright appeared before the medical board on February 27 and found to have no disability as a result of his active service and was in agreed with their finding.
The same day a Kit Inspection took place at Parkhouse camp and the following items were issued:
Singlet, Towel, 2 Collar Badges and 2 Australia Titles. His jacket was withdrawn as unserviceable and issued with a replacement. A new uniform in readiness for an important event.
On March 6, 1919 Alfred John Wright (30) of Donnington on Bair was married to Miss Dorothy Cambray (26) the daughter of game-keeper William Cambray (deceased) of South Elkington, Lincoln. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. W.A. Hughes in the Church of England Parish Church by Special Licence.
Next-of-kin was now recorded as his wife Mrs D. Wright at South Elkington, Lincoln.
On April 1, 1919 he was issued with a Khaki Drill uniform and two days later his woollen breeches were withdrawn as unserviceable from his Kit when inspected at Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery. On April 16 he left for A.I.F. Headquarters in London for demobilisation.
Sapper Wright is only recorded embarking for home but his wife would have accompanied him on April 20, 1919 on board the H.T. Boonah and probably at the Suez was transhipped to the Sardinia for the remainder of the voyage home. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 8 and he disembarked in Sydney, NSW on June 11, 1919.
Two days later he was medically assessed with ‘no disability’ in the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane (1st M.D.) and recorded as ‘never sick or wounded’ on his Medical Sheet. He was also declared dentally fit.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane, (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 at the termination of his period of enlistment.
The British War Medal (12224) and the Victory Medal (12065) were issued for serving his country to Sapper 326 Alfred John Wright, 1st Tunnelling Company.
© Donna Baldey 2011