SAPPER ARTHUR GODFREY PEARSON
3349 – 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Laidley, Queensland was the birthplace of Arthur Godfrey Pearson about 1894 the son of Peter (Per) and Agusta Wilhelmina (nee Anderson) Pearson. His parents were selectors in the Burnett Region at Murgon, Qld and Arthur’s occupation was farmer at Redgate, Murgon. The following letter from his father was published in:
At the recruiting depot in Brisbane on January 24, 1916 the twenty-two year old applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation Forms were completed and describe the farmer as 171cms (5ft 7½ins) tall, weighing 61kgs (135lbs) with a chest expansion of 86-93cms (34-36½ins). Complexion was fair with fair hair and his grey eyes tested to good vision. Distinctive mark was a scar on the left cheek. Presbyterian was his religious faith and nominated as next-of-kin his father Mr Per Pearson, Rose Holm, Murgon. He was sworn in the same day.
For Private Pearson basic training commenced with the 11th Depot Battalion at Enoggera, Brisbane from January 26 until February 23, 1916 moving to the 13th Depot Battalion for further instruction concluding on March 22, 1916. From there he was transferred to the recruits forming part of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company (1st Military District). His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 3349.
After training the No. 4 Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 12, 1916 they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport 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 at Perham Down’s camp.
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 arriving at the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot two days later. On October 12 they marched out to the Anzac Reinforcement Camp and four days afterwards Sapper Pearson 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.
On October 25, 1916 he was attached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company and on return was attached as a Motor Driver with the 1st Tunnelling Company. This was later crossed out on his service card and his rank marked as Sapper.
With his civil qualifications (able to drive farm vehicles and engines) his service was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was taken on supernumerary strength with this company on January 23, 1917.
His service continued without incident and was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
In an audit of the company on March 23, 1918 he was counted as a still serving member.
He was accidentally injured on June 25, 1918 and taken to the 8th Casualty Clearing Station with an incised wound to his cheek and was discharged to his unit on July 6.
On August 1, 1918 Sapper was taken on strength with the Company.
He was admitted to the 12th Stationary Hospital on November 8, 1918 with Influenza and was there when Peace was declared.
The company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies for those rehabilitating their districts.
Discharge from hospital took place on November 17 and two days later leave to the United Kingdom was granted from November 19 until December 3, 1918.
Orders were received to report to the Aust Base Depot to prepare for demobilisation on May 10, 1919 and he departed for England on May 22 crossing the English Channel and arriving the next day at A.I.F. Headquarters, London where he was granted further leave and report to Codford camp on June 5 and entered the No. 3 Group camp.
After demobilisation Sapper Pearson embarked on the H.T. Konigin Luise on June 21, 1919. Base Records notified his wife on July 23 that he was returning home. Their son cabled them with news which was reported in:
The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on August 16, 1919 and the Queensland members entrained for Brisbane. News of their arrival was published in:
A memo from the Paymaster (1st Military District) dated September 9, 1919 to Base Records was made after Arthur Pearson made a declaration that he was appointed from May 22, 1916 as M.T. Driver and carried the above rank right through. Records from their department showed him as a Private and wanted to know his correct rank. Base Records replied on September 10, 1919 stating that according to the nominal roll he was recorded as a Sapper and there was nothing on his records to show that he at any time served as a Driver. In all, Army Form B103 he is shown as a Sapper.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on October 2, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
He returned to Mountain View, Mount Perry, Qld to work as a grazier then had his own property named ‘Katoomba’ at Mt Perry.
On December 5, 1919 the Finance Officer (1st Military District) enclosed two copies of a Declaration submitted in support of his claim for an extra 2/- per diem from embarkation and would be glad to know if Base Records would have same forwarded to Lieutenant J.E. Armstrong and Major T.H. Vincent in order that Pearson’s statements be verified and the officers to reply to his office.
Records sent the Finance Officer’s Memo on December 17, 1919 to the A.A.G. (2nd M.D.) stating that addresses of both officers of the 4th Tunnelling Company were not known there and kindly take necessary action as requested above.
The Finance Officer wrote again to Base Records on January 13, 1920 inquiring whether they had been able to ascertain the present whereabouts of Major T.H. Vincent and Lieutenant J.E. Armstrong so they could forward a reminder to them regarding their inquiry.
Base Records replied on January 21, 1920 that the addresses were not available there and his correspondence of 5/12/19 was referred to the A.A.G. (2nd Military District) for necessary action in accordance with his request. This was dispatched from his office on 17/12/19
The untimely death of his father was reported in the:
Some of Arthur’s stock sales were recorded in:
In 1925 he is recorded as a grazier at Katoomba, Mt Perry. Five years later the following was reported in the:
He is listed in 1936 and 1937 as a mechanic at Mt Perry, Qld and from 1943 to 1949 working as a carpenter residing at Orsova Street, Yeronga. The following news was printed in the:
He was married to Wilhelmina Amelia after 1938 and they were residing in 1954 at 57 Orsova Road, Yeronga.
Registered in Electoral Rolls for 1958 they are living at 360 Brisbane Corso, Yeronga and this remained his address until 1972.
A Statement of his Service was requested by the Repatriation Department in Brisbane from Base Records which was forwarded on November 23, 1965.
Arthur Godfrey Pearson passed away on December 21, 1973 aged 79 years. A Death Notice appeared in:
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:
1960-68A. PEARSON360 Brisbane Corso, YerongaMarked: Notices 1968 Reunion
1970-71A. PEARSON360 Brisbane Corso, Yeronga
© Donna Baldey 2013