Sapper Allan Robertson

SAPPER ALLAN ROBERTSON

793 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

Hawthorn, Victoria was the birthplace of Allan Campbell Robertson in 1894 the son of Allan Bowie and Catherine Ann (nee Campbell) Robertson.

At twenty-two years of age the motor driver applied to enlist for active service abroad at the Sydney Town Hall on August 31, 1915 and passed the medical examination. Details taken reveal he was 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall, weighed 67.7kgs (149lbs) with a chest expansion of 88-97cms (34½ -38ins). His complexion was bright and tested to good vision in his blue eyes and had brown hair. Presbyterian was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Katherine Robertson of 22 Australia Street, Newtown, NSW.

He was allotted on January 13, 1916 to the No. 2 Company of the Mining Corps at their Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW and took the Enlistment Oath the same day. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 793.

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’.

The No. 2 Company became the 2nd Tunnelling Company in the field.

Disciplinary action was taken for the following while with the company:

Crime: When on active service 18/7/16 Drunk in town

Award: Fined 10/- by Capt J.B. Shand 19/7/16

Crime: Disobeying a lawful command by a superior officer in that he refused

to get out of bed at Reveille when ordered to do so 22/7/16

Award: 7 day’s F.P. No.2 [Field Punishment] by Capt Shand 22/7/16

While attached to the 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers at their Base the following occurred:

Crime: (1) Irregular conduct (2) Being out of bounds after 9 p.m. without a pass

Award: Forfeit 2 day’s pay 23/8/16 by C.O. 254th Tun Co R.E.

Offence: In the field conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline 4/9/16

Award: Forfeits 10 day’s pay by Lt Bayes, R.E.

With his civil qualifications of motor driver his service was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred to this company on September 29 and taken on strength the next day.

On the night of March 22 to 23rd, 1917 while with the 254th Tunnelling Company R.E. Sapper Robertson was wounded in action suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg and taken to the 2/3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance. Later was sent to the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station in a dangerous condition remaining until March 27 when he was transferred to Barge 108.

Next-of-kin were notified by Base Records on April 1, 1917 that Sapper had been wounded and on April 3 were further advised he was dangerously wounded. On April 9 they were informed he was still dangerously ill and on April 27 news came that his condition was stationary.

He left the 9th Red Cross Hospital in Calais on April 29, 1917 and transferred to England on the hospital ship Cambria entering the next day Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot with gunshot wound left leg.

Base Records advised his mother on May 1, 1917 that he was ‘pronounced out of danger.’

On July 5, 1917 was transferred to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Southall. During his time there the following was dealt with:

Offence: Southall 1/8/17 Absent without leave from 10 p.m. 1/8/17 till 11 a.m. 8/8/17

Award: Admonished by Col T. Marling 9/8/17

Forfeiture: 8 day’s pay

On August 30, 1917 was discharged on furlough and report to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital on September 13, 1917. He was admitted to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital on September 18 for amputation of left leg.

Offence: Southall 26/8/17 (1) Absent without Leave from 9 p.m. 26/8/17 to 11 p.m.

Crime: 28/9/17 (2) Drunkenness (3) Being in unlawful possession of kaki whilst

a patient in hospital

Award: (1) Admonished (2) Admonished (3) Forfeits 2 day’s pay by Lt-Col Gordon

1/10/17

Total forfeiture: 3 day’s pay

On November 1, 1917 he was discharged to furlough and to report to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital, Southall on November 15. He was admitted to Southall on November 20 (amputation left leg) and discharged to the Depot for return to Australia.

Sapper Robertson embarked for home for discharge due to amputation to left thigh, on the hospital ship No.1 Karoola on November 25, 1917. Base Records advised his next-of-kin on December 9, 1917 that he was on his way home. A small description of the voyage was published in:

The ship arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on January 13, 1918 and then he proceeded overland to Sydney (2nd M.D.)

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on June 27, 1918 as medically unfit due to disability of amputation of left leg to thigh.

His Will was forwarded to the 2nd Military District on February 16, 1920 to be filed there.

A copy of the medical board proceedings were sent to on September 27, 1920 for filing at military records in Sydney.

The British War Medal (33262) and the Victory Medal (32847) were issued to Sapper 793 Allan Robertson, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country.

A full Statement of Service was forwarded on May 17, 1923 from Base Records to the Repatriation Department, Chalmers Street, Sydney.

He married in 1924 to May Winifred Murphy with their marriage registered at Randwick, Sydney, NSW. Their residence in 1933 is recorded as 21 Malva Street, Dolls Point and he was a lift attendant. This changed in 1943 to 15 Keith Street, Clovelly having the same occupation.

Base Records in Canberra wrote on June 4, 1945 to the District Finance Officer in Sydney enclosing a letter dated May 29, 1945 from Mr Robertson concerning the refund of forfeitures and for them to take necessary action and reply directly to him.

A Statement of Service was requested by the Repatriation Commission in Sydney from Base Records and forwarded on February 1, 1955.

In 1958 his address was 108 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst with his occupation as lift driver.

Allan Campbell Robertson passed away on October 11, 1975 aged 81 years. Family announcements were published in the:

REUNIONS

Former members of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ in Sydney would meet to march in the Anzac Day parade then attend their annual luncheon. Roll Registers for newsletters of this annual event were kept and his name appears as follows:

1928 A.C. Robertson South British Insurance Coy, O’Connell St changed to: 45 Forsyth St,

Kensington

1934 Robertson, A.C. Liftman, South British Ins Coy, O’Connell St changed to: 21 Malva St, Dolls

Pt, Sandringham

changed to: 15 Keith St, Clovelly

1960-68 ROBERTSON, A.E. 15 Keith St, Clovelly notation: Letter returned April, 1960

In brackets against his name on the Roll is: (Givenchy Listener) – possibly indicating that he had undergone training as a ‘Listener’ while in France.

May Winifred Robertson died on September 27, 1991 and lived at Matraville, Sydney.