Sapper James Dancer

SAPPER JAMES DANCER

4866 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Maryborough, Queensland was the birthplace of James Dancer on June 22, 1890 the son of Henry and Elizabeth (nee Fleet) Dancer. Early in 1913 his address was Bell Street, Ipswich, Qld with the occupation of labourer and later that year was at Ann Street, Maryborough, Qld also working as a Labourer.

At twenty-five years of age the single labourer enlisted for active service abroad on February 3, 1916 at the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed giving his description on enlistment as 180cms (5ft 11ins) tall, weighing 66.3kgs (146lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-87cms (32-34ins). Dark was his complexion with blue eyes and dark brown hair. The eye test showed poor sight in his left eye and fair vision in the right one and distinctive marks were scars on left and right shins. Church of England was his religion. Next-of-kin was his brother Charles Dancer of Hill Street, Ipswich, Qld. He was sworn in the same day.

Basic training commenced at Enoggera camp, Brisbane, Qld on February 8, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion until March 11 then re-allotted to the Reserve Company. Private Dancer was transferred to the Miners’ Depot on March 22, 1916 to join the recruits there.

The recruits formed part of the No. 4 Company which 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. His regimental number was 4866 in the rank of Sapper and assigned to the 1st Reinforcements, No. 1 Company.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 11, 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.

At the Training Camp punishment was given for the following:

A.W.L. 4/8/16 to 6/8/16

Award: 14 days C.B. [confined to barracks] and forfeits 3 day’s pay.

Absent from Church Parade 13/8/16

Award: 7 days C.B. and 4 hours full pack drill

The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 marching into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot two days later. On October 12 they marched out to the 1st Anzac Reinforcement Camp and on October went 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.

While with the Battalion the following disciplinary action was taken:

Crime: In the field while on active service 20/10/16 Insolence to an Officer

Award: Forfeits 21 day’s pay by O.C. 1st Anzac Ent. Bn

On October 28, 1916 Sapper Dancer was attached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company in the field. Shortly after he was in trouble again with further punishment administered:

Crime: In the field when on active service 9/11/16 using obscene language in

Company orderly room

Award: 14 days F.P. No. 1 [Field Punishment] by O.C. 1st Canadian Tun Coy

He was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on Christmas Day, 1916 in the field.

Went sick to the N.M. Casualty Clearing Station on January 4, 1917 and admitted with Inflamed Ankle Joints and was transferred to the 47th Divisional Rest Station the next day diagnosed with Arthritis. On January 16 was moved to the 15th C.C.S. and returned to duty on January 26, 1917.

On February 10, 1917 further behaviour was disciplined:

Crime: W.O.A.S. Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline

Award: Forfeits 2 day’s pay

He appeared before a General Field Court Martial held on March 6, 1917 before Major Q. Watford of the 21st London Regiment for the following charge:

Offence: 5/2/17 W.O.A.S. using insubordinate language to his superior officer

Pleaded: Not Guilty

Found: Guilty

Sentence: Six months imprisonment with Hard Labour. Confirmed by Brig-General

I.T. Bailey Commanding 142nd Infantry Brigade

Sentence: Commuted to 2 months F.P. No. 1 by Brig-General Bailey confirming

Officer 9/3/17

On June 23 he went sick to the 108th Field Ambulance then to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station a day later with chronic Arthritis right foot. Conveyed on A.T.27 he received further treatment at the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux for three days and later to No. 3 Rest Camp to convalesce.

Returned to Rouelles to the A.G.B.D. on July 3 and after attending a Medical Board classified ‘PB’ [Permanent Base] and left Havre for Southampton, England on July 22. He marched in to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth the next day. From his medical assessment in Havre classification ‘PB’ due to weak ankles was noted on July 31, 1917.

Sapper Dancer embarked on September 10, 1917 on the H.T. Ulysses for discharge in Australia due to Rheumatism. The ship docked on November 9, 1917

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on March 7, 1918 as medically unfit.

In 1919 his address was Down Street, Ipswich with the occupation of labourer.

Sapper 4866 James Dancer, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (18113) and the Victory Medal (17682).

In 1925 his was still a labourer residing at Walloon, Rosewood. He married on July 23, 1925 to Isabella Mary Evelyn Thompson. Their residence in 1936 and 1937 was 7 Stephenson Street, West Ipswich, Qld.

He was a member of the Ipswich Draughts Club and was Club Champion several times. He was able to solve problems related to moves associated with Draughts which were published in the newspaper.

James Dancer died on November 12, 1938 at Ipswich, Qld aged 48 years.

A Statement of Service was issued from Base Records on November 23, 1938 to the Brisbane Branch of the Repatriation Commission.

Public advertising for the Estate was published in The Worker on Tuesday June 27, 1939:

His War Service is commemorated on a plaque in the Brisbane Garden of Remembrance at Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane, Qld on Wall 4 Row N.