SAPPER CYRIL EDWARD ROY BOMFORD
5051 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Moorina, Tasmania was the birthplace of Cyril Edward Roy Bomford on May 26, 1887 the son of Francis Edward and Ellen Gray (nee Richardson) Bomford. He was educated at Moorina state school and the following article mentions the family:
Roy married Clementine Cecil in 1907 and two years later they were living at South Mount Cameron. They had four children.
At the Recruiting Depot in Ross, Tasmania on January 8, 1916 the twenty-eight year old mining clerk (timekeeper) applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Forms of Attestation were completed giving his description on enlistment as 185cms (6ft 1in) tall, weighing 73kgs (161lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-95cms (34-37½ins). Fair was his complexion with grey eyes that tested to good vision and had brown hair. A distinguishing mark was a scar across his right biceps. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Clementine Bomford of 136 Balfour Street, Launceston, Tas. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced with allotment to the No. 5 Tunnelling Company (6th Military District) at Claremont camp on January 15. He returned home for the Funeral of his father which appeared in the:
Training was completed on April 23, 1916. The next day their section of 3 officers and 76 Other Ranks plus 8 Reinforcements were transferred to Broadmeadows Camp, near Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) to join the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.) and also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic.)
Early in May 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld 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 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. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 5051.
The 7713-ton transport Warilda sailed from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Vic the No. 5 company departing 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 Tunnelling Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs, set forth on their voyage 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 Parkhouse camp.
On September 21, 1916 the Reinforcements proceeded to France marching in to the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot five days later. On October 12 they left for the Aust Corps Depot where Sapper Bomford left two days later as he was taken on strength with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company on October 14.
Service continued until January 6, 1917 when the following disciplinary action occurred:
Crime:While on Active Service absent without leave 1 day
Award:Fined 1 day’s pay by O.C. commanding 172nd Company R.E.
Total forfeiture:2 day’s pay
He went sick to the 109th Field Ambulance on February 27, 1917 then to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station being admitted with Nephritis (Inflammation of Kidneys). He was conveyed on A.T.10 to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne on March 2. The following day travelled to England on the hospital ship Cambria entering the 1st Eastern Hospital in Cambridge.
Discharged to furlough on June 14 he was to report to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on June 29, 1917. Medical Report from the Aust Medical Corps states:
Disease:Nephritis
Remarks:Feels fairly well. Occasional pain in back. Urine now clear.
4/7/17Albumin neg. Sugar neg. Debility class B1AIII.
On July 9, 1917 marched out to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs where his medical report continued:
10/7/17Little pain back. Albumin. Debility class B1a2.
Dentally fit 7/8/17.
Sapper proceeded overseas to France on August 22, 1917 from Southampton arriving at the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles and returned to his unit on August 30 and rejoined a day later on September 1, 1917.
The remainder of his service was without incident and was counted in an audit of the company on July 18, 1918.
On October 14, 1918 he was attached to the 355th E & M Co, R.E. and was with this company when Peace was declared.
He marched out to rejoin his unit on March 23, 1919 and orders for demobilisation were given three days later. On April 2, 1919 they departed from the A.I.B.D. in Havre and crossed the English Channel the next day and marched into the No. 3 Group camp at Codford.
The voyage to Australia commenced on May 11, 1919 on board the H.T. Borda and arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on June 27, 1919 and a few days later disembarked in Tasmania on June 30, 1919.
At Launceston, Tas on July 24, 1919 he went before a medical board and the facts of his medical history were:
WoundsNil
SicknessJanuary, 1917 at Ploegsteert – Nephritis
Present conditionIn good health
UrineAmber, 1018, Alk, No albumin, no sugar.
(sgd) R. Bomford.
Approval was given for discharge on July 26, 1919 in Hobart. Later that year his address was Arbroath, Trevallyn, Tas with the occupation of clerk.
Military Discharge was issued in Hobart (6th M.D.) on September 5, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. A memo was sent from Anglesea Barracks, Hobart on August 26, 1919 to Base Records advising them the date of his discharge and demobilisation.
For serving his country Sapper 5051 Cyril Edward Roy Bomford, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (4072) and the Victory Medal (4061).
His surname changed to de Bomford sometime after the war.
Receipted delivery of the Victory Medal was dated at Yallourn, Victoria on December 4, 1922.
In 1936 he was a foreman at Queenstown, Tas and by 1949 was a works supervisor in the Aust Capital Territory with the family living at 6 Lindsay Street, Griffith up to about 1963. His address is recorded that year at Hillside Hostel, A.C.T. with the occupation of draftsman.
Cyril Edward Roy de Bomford died on August 2, 1963 aged 76 years. Interment was in the Old R.S.L. portion of the Woden Cemetery, Canberra, A.C.T. in section 48B. Plaque is inscribed with:
His wife Clementine de Bomford died on October 30, 1974 aged 90 years and her grave is located in the Longley Anglican Cemetery, Kingsborough, Hobart. Her headstone reads:
His name appears on the following Rolls of Honour for service in the 1914-18 War
South Mount Cameron Honour Roll – Ringarooma – Launceston, Tasmania
Moorina Roll of Honour – Ringarooma – Launceston
© Donna Baldey 2012
NOTES:
Further information that may be relevant to him: