SAPPER CULBERT CHARLES GRIEVES
6083 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Culbert Charles Grieves was born in Beaufort, Victoria in 1882 the son of John and Theresa (nee Fisher) Grieves. In 1902 he married Walberg Madeline Brock at Mulline, W.A. and are recorded living there up to 1906 with his occupation as a labourer. During 1905 Charles was a subscriber to the Easter Sports Club and selected for jury duty. It seems that the couple separated and his address was the West Boulder Lease, Fimiston, W.A. working as a miner.
At Kalgoorlie, W.A. on November 21, 1915 the thirty-four year applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars taken reveal he was 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall, had good eyesight and a chest expansion of 84-92cms (33-36ins). His address was care of the Post Office, Boulder City. Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer. Attestation Forms were completed adding further information of weight at 70kgs (154lbs) and hair was brown. Church of England was his religious faith and next-of-kin was his cousin Ada Mary Hutchinson of 6 Lindsay Street, Perth, W.A.. He signed at took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
Acknowledgement to the departing volunteers to the Miners’ Corps was published in the:
A few days later on November 29 at Blackboy Hill camp near Perth, W.A. he was assigned to the No. 3 Company, Mining Corps with the regimental number 1015. It appears that he was re-allotted to the Engineers’ Reinforcements until May 10, 1916 then rejoined the Miners’ Reinforcements and transferred for further training to the camp at Seymour, Victoria. Under unit order No. 15 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal until June 1 rising to the rank of Corporal.
He was re-attested on June 5, 1916 and is described as thirty-four years of age, 176cms (5ft 8¼ins) tall, weighing (162lbs) with a 97cms (38ins) chest. Complexion was fair with blue eyes and had fair hair. Church of England was still his religious faith. Next-of-kin now nominated was his father John Grieves, Superintendent of Railways, Railway Station, Ballarat, Vic. He was sworn in the same day and assigned to the December, 1916 Reinforcements with the new regimental number 6083 in the rank of Sapper.
On June 16 became Acting Sergeant for the unit and the ‘voyage only.’ In preparation for departure he made a Will which was lodged with Base Records.
The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth marching in to the Aust Details Camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.
He reverted to Sapper on January 16, 1917 becoming E.D.P. Sergeant [Extra Duty Pay] in preparation for transfer to France.
On January 28, 1917 the Reinforcement proceeded to France from Folkstone arriving at the Aust General Base Depot the next day. On February 8 he was attached to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion as Acting E.D.P. Sergeant, 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 went to the C. Scabies Hospital on March 7, 1917 for treatment of scabies (a skin irritation caused by Itch Mite whose eggs are laid under the skin’s outer layer) and was discharged to duty on March 19.
Disciplinary action was taken on September 3, 1917 for the following:
Offence:W.O.A.S. [While of Active service] Absent without leave from
2 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. when warned for duty with another unit.
Award:To revert to his permanent rank of Sapper by Capt Butterworth
Total forfeiture:1 day’s pay including E.D.P.
The same day he was transferred pending absorption to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and taken on Supernumerary strength the following day.
Service continued without incident and Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
Further disciplinary action was issued on December 20, 1917:
Crime:W.O.A.S. Contra-action of G.R.O. Order no. 1252 & 1557 1st Army
Award:7 day’s F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment] by C.O. A.E.M.M.B.C.
Sapper Grieves has two entries for the following:
Statement of Service Sheet:
On April 16, 1918 was admitted to hospital sick and two days later on April 18 admitted to General Hospital wounded.
Discharged to Line of Command Hospital from F.M. Unit “W” gassed.
Service card states:
On April 16, 1918 he went sick to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station with myalgia (muscular pain) and two days later was sent to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples being admitted with Rheumatism.
Was discharged on April 26, 1918 to the M.B.D. [Medical Board Depot] and three days later returned to the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles until May 6 when he was discharged to his unit. Duty resumed on May 10, 1918.
A gas attack did occur on April 16, 1918 with two members of the company suffering the effects of gas poisoning.
He was sent to the 34th Field Ambulance on June 10, 1918 and admitted with V.D.H. (valvular disease of heart) and quickly conveyed on A.T.66 entering the 20th General Hospital at Camiers two days later. On June 18 he departed for England on the hospital ship Ville de Liege and admitted to Richmond Military Hospital, Spove Road, Richmond, Surrey with severe nephritis (inflammation of kidneys).
Base Records advised his father on July 4, 1918 that his son had been admitted to hospital.
His name appeared in the Casualty List printed in:
On July 19, 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and discharged to furlough on July 27 and report to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott on August 10 and marched in from Headquarters London as ordered.
News from Base Records to his father dated July 24 stated that his son was convalescent.
Admitted to the 1st Dermatological Hospital at Bulford on October 5 was treated for three days and discharged to the Convalescent Training Brigade camp at Parkhouse.
While at Parkhouse the following punishment was issued:
Offence:Parkhouse 9/10/18 Absent from 7 a.m. parade
Award:Forfeits 1 day’s pay by Capt A. McLennan
When Peace was declared he was at Parkhouse camp.
He marched out on November 29, 1918 to the No. 4 Command Depot to await his voyage home.
On December 29, 1918 Sapper Grieves embarked on the hospital ship Orontes as an invalid for discharge in Australia due to nephritis. Base Records advised his father on January 11, 1919 that he was on his way home. The ship’s arrival was published in:
Military Discharge was issued in Perth (5th M.D.) on March 12, 1919 as medically unfit.
On July 8, 1919 his Will was forwarded to the 5th Military District for filing.
Sapper 6083 Culbert Charles Grieves, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (8120) and the Victory Medal (8086) for serving his country.
Early in 1920 he made applications as an agent on behalf of a group of men for Gold Mining Leases which were published in the press for objections as follows:
In 1925 Charles was a miner at Herdman’s Lake, West Leederville. In 1943 he was at 20 Aberdeen Street, Perth and still a miner. He was fined for the following offence which was reported in:
A Statement of Service was issued from Base Records on October 14, 1946 to the Perth Branch of the Repatriation Department.
By 1949 he was retired at Merredin, W.A. and in 1954 was living at 282 Newcastle Street, North Perth and in 1958 he and his second wife Margaret Ellen were at 122 Lake Street, North Perth.
Culbert Charles Grieves passed away on December 6, 1960 aged 80 years. After cremation at the Karrakatta crematorium his ashes were placed on Rose Gardens, in accordance with his wishes, and is memorialised in Karrakatta Cemetery at site R position 51.
Margaret Ellen Grieves died at 79 years in Perth on February 8, 1964 and is in the Roman Catholic part of Karrakatta Cemetery in section MA, gravesite no. 264.
His first wife Walberg Madeline Brock / Grieves resided in Corio, Geelong and died at Kew, Victoria in 1963 aged 81 years.
© Donna Baldey 2013