SAPPER HUBERT SHEPHEARD DOWN
1352 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Geelong, Victoria was the birthplace of Hubert Shepheard Down in 1884 the son of Charles Boon and Sarah Ethel (nee Shepheard) Down. Previous military experience was gained with R.A.G.A. 1st Infantry Regiment, Sydney.
Results of a Sydney shooting competition mentions the following results:
His profession was musician and at twenty-two years of age is reported participating as a saxophonist in the following concert in Sydney, NSW:
At the recruiting depot at Casula, near Liverpool, NSW on January 6, 1916 the thirty one year old musician applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination personal details taken show he was 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighed 6.9kgs (145lbs) with a chest expansion of 81-90cms (32-35½ins). Dark was his complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Distinctive marks were two vaccination points on his left arm and a scar at the ball of left thumb. Church of England was his religion. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Sarah Ethel Down of Beamish Street, Campsie and later of Scarborough Street, Campsie, NSW. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
Basic training was with the Mining Corps at Casula camp where he was assigned the regimental number 1352 with the rank of Sapper in the 1st Reinforcements of the Corps.
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.
While in camp at Blackboy Hill, W.A. the following occurred on April 1, 1916:
Offence:(1) Breaking Camp
(2) Late on Parade
Award:(1) Fined 10/- [ten shillings]
(2) Fined 5/- [five shillings] by C.O. Lt-Col A.C. Fewtrell
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’.
On May 22, 1916 Sapper Down was detached for duty in the field with the 177th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers.
He was taken on strength with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company on October 7, 1916.
On January 3, 1917 he was attached to the 2nd Army Workshop at Bailleul with the 1/2nd Cornwall Army Troop Coy, R.E. but five days later went sick to hospital. He rejoined his unit on January 26, 1917.
Service continued without incident until disciplinary action was taken:
Crime:Absent from duty without leave during enemy bombardment 9/8/17
Award:28 day’s F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment] Forfeits £7 pay by order O.C.
While on leave in England he became sick on January 14, 1918 and was admitted to the 2nd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Southall suffering Bronchitis. He was discharged to the No. 1 Command Depot on February 12, 1918 and from Headquarters in London was sent to the No. 1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny on February 14.
On May 15, 1918 he moved to the Overseas Training Depot at Deverill. While there further discipline was administered on June 6, 1918:
Crime:Sandhill 31/5/18 A.W.L. from midnight 30/5/18 till taken by M.P. about
8 p.m. 31/5/18
Award:Forfeits 1 day’s pay by Capt E. Clyde O.C.
Total forfeiture:2 day’s pay
After a month Sapper proceeded to France from Southampton on June 14. The following day arrived at the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles where he remained with the debility classification B1.
During his time there the following took place:
Crime:A.G.B.D. Havre W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] A.W.L. from
9.30 p.m. until 10.55 p.m. (1hr 25mins)
Award:Forfeit 7 day’s pay by C.O. A.G.B.D. Investigated 14/9/18
He was still there when Peace was declared. Two days later he was in trouble again.
Crime:A.G.B.D. Havre W.O.A.S. 13/11/18 Conduct prejudice to good order
and military discipline at about 10.30 at A.G.B.D. on 13/11/18 he used
offensive language to an Orderly Room Clerk – Geo Watson.
Award:Forfeits 2 day’s pay by Capt Watson.
He was attached to the A.B.D. on February 25, 1919 and the next day marched out to Headquarters for duty.
Leave was granted to Paris from May 8 and returned May 22, 1919. During that time the following occurred:
Offence:W.O.A.S. A.W.L. from 0700 hrs on 19/5/19 to 22 hrs 21/5/19 (3 days)
Award:5 day’s forfeiture of pay
Total forfeiture:8 day’s pay by C.O
Sapper returned to England and marched into the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury on June 3, 1919 to the No. 1 Group camp to await his transport home.
He boarded H.T. Ormonde on June 16, 1919 for the voyage to Australia. His mother received advice from Base Records on July 16, 1919 that he was on his way. The ship arrived in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on August 4, 1919. The following arrival was published in the:
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 26, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
For serving his country Sapper 1352 Hubert Shepheard Down, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (34122) and the Victory Medal (33688).
He married in 1925 to Lillian Nicholson with the marriage registered at Annandale, NSW and worked as a musician in association with the Sydney Musician’s Club.
A Statement of Service was issued to the Sydney Section of the Repatriation Department on February 26, 1929.
In 1930 they were residing at 2 Grove Street, Earlwood with his occupation as musician and their address in 1954 was 13 Claremont Street, Campsie.
Hubert S. Down passed away on September 26, 1954 at 70 years of age. Arrangements were published in:
Hubert ‘Bert’ Down was a member of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Co and Tunnellers’ Anzac Day Reunion who met for lunch after the Anzac March in Sydney and his details appear in their Registers:
1928B. Downc/o Masonic Club, Harris Park, Sydney letter returned not known
1934Bert DowneMusician’s Club, Castlereagh Street, Sydney
1960-68B. DownMusician’s Club, Castlereagh Street, Sydney letter returned 24/4/1958
not known.
A War Grave plaque commemorating his service is located at Rookwood Crematorium at Niche 55XH.
© Donna Baldey 2013