Sapper Harold Grabham

SAPPER HAROLD GRABHAM

118 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Harold Grabham was born in Dark Corner, Rydal, New South Wales in 1892 the son of Abraham and Wilmott (nee Curnow) Grabham. His birth was registered at Sunny Corner, NSW.

At the recruiting depot in Sydney, NSW the twenty-two year old gold miner applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination on July 27, 1915. Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.

At Liverpool camp on August 8, 1915 Attestation Forms were completed which describe him as 166cms (5ft 5¼ins) tall, weighing 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest expansion of 81-94cms (32-37ins). Complexion was fresh with his blue eyes testing to good vision and had brown hair. Religious faith was Methodist. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Abraham Grabham of Dark Corner, via Rydal, NSW. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ on August 4, 1915.

Basic training commenced at Liverpool camp as a Private until October 7, 1915 when he was allotted to the 4th Reinforcement to the 3rd Battalion for further training with the regimental number 3302. While on Final Home Leave Harold and his brother Tom were farewelled which was reported in:

He was crossed off the 3rd Battalion’s Roll of the 11th Reinforcements on October 28 and assigned to the No.1 Company of the Mining Corps training at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW due to his occupation of gold miner. The Corps were in their establishment phase preparing for embarkation. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 118.

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 ship was reluctant to 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 Grabham was killed in action in the field on June 20, 1916 along with Sapper Archie Kennedy by shell fire, the Company’s first battlefield casualties. Burial took place the same day in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, situated 1 mile South South East of Ypres, Belgium with the service conducted by Rev. A. Madden of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade.

The Unit Diary of the 1st Tunnelling Company for that day only gives the following brief details:

ARMENTIERESJune 1916

All 3 p.m.20thTrench 88Trenches 95 to 101Ploegsteert 5’ 10”

2 men killed; 1 wounded

Captain O.W. Woodward, an Officer with the 1st Tunnelling Company wrote in his autobiography for his children My War Story of the Great War their movements in the Armentieres Sector during that time in more detail:

The Report of Death from the Front to Headquarters was forwarded on July 1, 1916 and a cable sent to Australia to Base Records. Confirmation on receipt of the Cable was dated July 3, 1916 and his parents notified. Announcement of his death appeared in the local paper:

A copy of his service was made for the War Pension department on July 12, 1916. His name appeared in the 184th Casualty List published in:

His father received a condolence and explanation letter for the death of his son by the Officer in charge, possibly Lieut A. Cohen, which was re-printed in the:

On behalf of Mrs Grabham, the Secretary of the Mining Corps Comforts Fund forwarded her letter to Base Records on September 25, 1916 inquiring about the personal effects of her deceased son as his mother had received a letter from the Officer Commanding his unit saying he was sending them.

Six to seven weeks had passed and she wanted to know who to contact in regards to receiving them. Base Records replied on October 6 stating that so far no advice of the despatch of any effects had yet been received.

The Officer-in-Charge at Records further wrote that sufficient time had not elapsed for any personal effects that may have been recovered to have filtered down through the usual channels between France and Australia but anything to hand would be promptly transmitted.

Base Records officially advised by letter on August 26, 1916 to Mr A. Grabham of the regrettable loss of his son and could now advise the death details and burial place of their son and who officiated at his burial. These details were furnished by direction of Department Policy in connection with deceased members of the A.I.F.

A Military Pension was applied for by Abraham Grabham at Sunny Corner in respect of the death of Harold but it was marked as withdrawn.

Base Records posted to his Mother on February 5, 1917 one registered mail package containing inventory and personal effects of her late son which had been transported on the troopship Wiltshire. The Inventory stated the following items:

Bible, Note book, Training manual, Pipe, Mouth Organs (2), Silk handkerchiefs (3), Brush,

Cards, Coins (5) and Badges.

Mrs. Grabham dated the Consignment Receipt on February 13, 1917.

A Memorial Service for Methodist soldiers was held in Sydney and a report of the service was published in:

The Circular and Booklet regarding War Graves was despatched to his father on December 8, 1919. A Final Notice was issued on February 2, 1922.

For his supreme sacrifice Sapper 118 Harold Grabham, 1st Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (32073) and the Victory Medal (31850).

Photographs in triplicate of his grave were transmitted to his next-of-kin on March 12, 1921 and receipted on March 24. A Postal Note of three shillings was remitted for further grave photographs the same day. Base Records replied to the request for 12 additional copies of the grave photo and referred this to London for processing.

A Memorial Cross was erected in Aeroplane Military Cemetery and trio of photographs of this Cross went to his parents on August 31 and the further 12 photographs were sent on September 28, 1921. Later the Cross was removed to his original grave at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in plot 6, row C grave no. 22.

The War Medal was forwarded from the Medals Section on November 18, 1921 to the Commandant at Victoria Barracks (2nd Military District) for distribution to his father.

The Pamphlet ‘Where the Australians Rest’ was posted to Mr A. Grabham on November 24, 1921 along with the Memorial Scroll (320453). The Memorial Plaque (320453) went directly to his father on August 4, 1922 and receipt dated August 11. The Victory Medal was sent by registered post (3985) on February 19, 1923 to his father.

A request for a copy of the Death Report was made in August, 1948 and a Certificate of the Report of Death was issued to his brother Mr E. Grabham of Raglan, NSW on August 25, 1948.

Solicitors, V.F. Gordon, John Wilson & Co. of 122 William Street, Bathurst, NSW wrote to Base Records on October 28, 1959 acting in connection with the Estate of Abraham Grabham and required a Certificate of Death for the Probate Office for his son Harold. This Certificate was forwarded to them on November 9, 1959 at no charge.

Harold was photographed with his unit during training at Casula.

Harold’s grave is located in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) in plot 6 within Row C in grave no. 43.

Australian War Memorial records state he was serving with the Aust Mining & Boring Company but the grave registration book listing his burial give ‘1/Co. Aust Mining Corps’ and letters from the front also confirm this. The 1st Australian Tunnelling Company was not officially formed until August 1916, until then the men were still technically members of the Australian Mining Corps.

Harold’s name is commemorated on Panel 26 in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial.

His brother also served in WW1

PRIVATE / DRIVER ABRAHAM THOMAS GRABHAM

1642 – 7th Light Horse Regiment / 10th Field Artillery Battery

Dark Corner, NSW was the birthplace of Abraham Thomas Grabham in 1894 the son of Abraham and Willmott (nee Curnow) Grabham.

On August 8, 1915 at the recruiting depot in Sydney Tom applied to enlist for active service abroad. His application was accepted on being declared fit for service and Forms of Attestation were completed. These describe the twenty-one year old labourer as 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighing 67.2kgs (148lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). Fair was his complexion with good vision in his hazel eyes and had brown hair. Religion was Methodist. Next-of-kin was his father Abraham Grabham of Dark Corner, via Rydal, NSW. Swearing in took place at Holdsworthy camp on August 25, 1915.

He was allotted to 12th Reinforcements to the 7th Regiment Aust. Light Horse at Liverpool, NSW. His rank was Private with the regimental number 1642. During a brief trip home on Final Leave the following took place and published in:

The Reinforcement embarked from Sydney on November 18, 1915 on board the transport HMAT Persic and the voyage ended at the Suez and was taken on strength at Maadi with the M.E.F.

On February 7, 1916 he went sick at Maadi then sent to the 4th Auxiliary Hospital at Cairo with a mild case of Mumps remaining until discharged to duty on February 28 then taken on strength on March 1 with the 2nd Reserve Regiment. His name appeared in the List of Casualties printed in the:

Taken on strength with the 10th Field Artillery Brigade was attached to the 37th Battery on March 26 at Tel-el-Kebir.

He went sick to hospital at Serapeum on April 12, 1916 and rejoined his unit on April 22. Transferred back to the 10th Brigade on May 22 he was taken on strength five days later. They proceeded to join the B.E.F. in France embarking on HMT Oriana from Alexandria on June 6, 1916 and arriving at Marseilles on June 13 and mustered as a Driver on June 29, 1916.

On May 4, 1917 was transferred to the Field Artillery Brigade and taken on strength.

He was wounded in action on October 8, 1917 and transferred two days later to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport with a gunshot wound to the right arm. Conveyed to England on the hospital ship Panama on October 19 was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Monyhull the next day. He was discharged on January 11, 1918 and reported to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott the next day. On January 18 left to report to the 2nd Command Depot at Weymouth. During this period his father was advised many times by Base Records that he was progressing favourably and of convalescence.

On April 4, 1918 he returned to Australia on the H.T. Borda for discharge due to gunshot wound to his arm. His father was advised by Base Records on April 19 that his son was on his way home. The ship arrived in Sydney (2nd Military District) on June 1, 1918.

He returned to his home district and was welcomed home by residents with the function reported in:

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on August 12, 1918 due to wounds.

A copy of his Will was forwarded to the 2nd Military District for filing on November 27, 1919.

Driver 1642 Abraham Thomas Grabham, 7th Light Horse / 10th Field Artillery Brigade was issued for serving his country the 1914/15 Star (1775), the British War Medal (26989) and the Victory Medal (26597).

He married in 1923 to Alice May Johnson Corney at Lithgow, NSW. In 1930 they were residing at Stewart Street, Kandos with his occupation as a miner. Two years later they were at Angus Avenue.

The Returned Serviceman was mentioned in the following:

In 1943 were at 9 Stewart Street working as a shire worker. In 1949 he was a miner and living at 9 McDonald Street, Waratah. From 1958 onward they lived at 61 Young Street, Waratah and he was a labourer.

Abraham Thomas Grabham passed away in 1976 aged 82 years with his death registered at Waratah, NSW.

© Donna Baldey 2015

with the assistance of Bruce Grabham, great nephew of Harold Grabham