Sapper John Wilson

SAPPER JOHN WILSON

7731 – 3rd Tunnelling Company

Bonevale, Maryborough, Victoria was the birthplace of John Wilson in 1879. He married Constance Beaven in 1912 in the Yilgarn District of Western Australia and they had two children.

At the Recruiting Office in Perth, W.A. on March 22, 1917 the thirty-eight year old miner applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars show his postal address as Darkan, W.A. and he was married. His height was 174cms (5ft 8½ins), weighed 70.9kgs (156lbs) with a chest measurement of 98cms (38½ins). When declared fit for service the Recruiting Officer accepted his application. Forms of Attestation were then filled out revealing further information of a fair complexion with blue eyes and dark brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. His wife Mrs Constance Wilson of Darkan, W.A. was nominated as next-of-kin. He signed and took the “Oath of Allegiance” that same day.

He went to the Blackboy Hill Recruiting Tent for a the final medical assessment which noted he required dental treatment and on April 5, 1917 joined for basic training with the ‘D’ Depot Battalion until June 6, 1917. Private Wilson entered the ‘X’ Depot Battalion for three days instruction before progressing to the 12th Reinforcements to the 2nd Pioneers Battalion finishing on June 15, 1917. He was transferred to the Tunnellers’ Depot the next day in the rank of Sapper with the April Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies and remained in training until August 2, 1917.

On August 5, 1917 he arrived at the Tunnellers’ Training Camp at Seymour, Vic and assigned the regimental number 7731 with the April, 1917 Reinforcements. In preparation for departure it was noted his Will had been lodged with his wife.

The April Reinforcements consisted of 168 members who embarked on the troopship HMAT A68 Anchises on August 8, 1917 from Sydney, NSW. Colds and influenza were prevalent at the commencement of the voyage. Crossing the Pacific Ocean the vessel arrived at Colon, Panama on September 2, 1917 departing six days later. Halifax, Nova Scotia was reached on the 18th and after three days in port departed on September 21, 1917.

The final journey to England was completed after a 55 day voyage when they docked at Liverpool on October 2, 1917. The troops were detrained to Tidworth. The following day they arrived at No. 1 and 3 Details Camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front.

The Reinforcements departed Southampton and proceeded to France on November 14, 1917 and marched into the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles four days later and allocated to the 1st Anzac Corps Depot the next day.

He was assigned on November 20 to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines but four days later was attached to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion in the field.

Returning on December 13, 1917 to the Aust Corps Depot he remained until January 16, 1918 when he was taken on strength with the 3rd Tunnelling Company in the field. His service was incident free with the company and received his Blue Chevrons for his service to August 1918.

On September 8, 1918 he was taken sick to the 47th Field Ambulance diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and sent to the 12th Stationary Hospital with suspected pulmonary TB but N.Y.D. [not yet diagnosed]. Three days later he was moved to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers for ten days before embarking to Devonport, England on the hospital ship Ville de Liege with general debility. He entered the Devonport Military Hospital the next day with debility (slight).

On October 31, 1918 his wife was advised by Base Records that he had been admitted to the Devonport Military Hospital suffering from debility (mild) and the address to contact him.

He was in hospital when Peace was declared and released to the No. 1 Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on December 23, 1918. After Christmas, 1918 was assessed by the Medical Board on December 28. His Statement of Case follows:

Disability: Pneumoconiosis [Fibrosis of Lungs - occupational disorder of miners]

Origin of Disability: Prior to Enlistment

Place of Debility: Australia

Essential Facts: Cough and loss of weight for a couple of years before enlistment.

Present attach 7.9.18 in hospital since. Constant cough, losing weight. Getting weaker. Night sweats.

Cause of Disability: Miners Phthisis [old name for Tuberculosis] aggravated by Active Service and Climate Exposure.

Present Condition: Emaciated, weak, constant cough, night sweats, Recekion both Apices, rales, cog-wheel sounds, sputum, no T.B. found; some diplococci.

Recommendation: C3 disability. Unfit for General Service and Home Service.

Attributed to: Aggravated by Active Service

Degree of Disability: 100%

Approved: January, 1919.

On January 5, 1919 Sapper Wilson departed on the hospital ship Kanowna from Southampton, England for the voyage home to be discharged due to Pneumoconiosis. His wife was notified by Base Records of his impending return on January 22, 1919. Being an invalid his berth was a cot and medical treatment during the journey included a urine test and pathological test for T.B. and was noted on 15.2.19 to have ‘a frequent cough and joint pain. Massage for joints. Some improvement during voyage.’

The ship docked at Albany, W.A. (5th M.D.) on February 21, 1919 and he was taken to the Albany Quarantine Station. Less than four days later John Wilson died on February 25, 1919 while still in service from his illness. A Death Certificate was issued stating the cause of death was Pneumoconiosis. {Fibrosis of the Lungs]

This notice appeared in the West Australian on Wednesday February 26, 1919 and Western Mail (Perth) on Friday February 28, 1919:

District Headquarters, Perth (5th M.D.) forwarded March 3, 1919 in duplicate his Death Certificate and on March 7, 1919 Army forms and a pathological report to Base Records, Melbourne, Vic.

On March 19, 1919 the Statement for the location of his Will was forwarded to the 5th Military District for their reference.

Correspondence from Mrs Wilson at Hillman River, Darkan, W.A. to Base Records concerning the need by the Military for her to send a Death Certificate of her husband, which she asked for in her letter dated March 18, 1919. She understood that she was entitled to the accruement of the one shilling per day kept for his return as she had two children to support trusted that they would send her what was owing to him and would be glad to receive any papers and personal effects of her husband’s. No reply was forthcoming therefore a month later she wrote a desperate letter on April 18, 1919 pleading for answers as she had two children with no means of support. She had seen Dr Blackburne in Albany who told her she would not need a Death Certificate as he had sent the Authorities two Certificates but she was told in Francis Street she required one and had written to them last month about it. She hoped she was not causing too much trouble but her husband had given his life for his country and she had two children to keep with no money at all.

Base Records replied on April 10, 1919 acknowledging her letter of the 18th ultimo enclosing the requested Certificate of Report for her husband’s demise. They also advised her that financial matters were not handled by them and suggested she contact the Military Paymaster in Perth who would adjust matters regarding Deferred Pay. No personal effects had been received at their office to date but anything that came to hand would be promptly forwarded to her in accordance with the terms of his Will.

Mrs Wilson wrote to Base Records on May 29, 1919 requesting a copy of her Husband’s Will which had been made and dated August 4, 1917. Base Records reported back on June 11, 1919 stating that they had no record there of his Will but he had lodged a statement to the effect that he had lodged his Will with her. They enclosed a copy of this statement.

The location of the Kit Bag and a Box belonging to Sapper Wilson was the subject of a search on July 30, 1919 when Perth Office (5th M.D.) sent an urgent telegram to Base Records if they could trace it from the Kanowna in February, 1919. Base Records replied that they had no records of his belongings having been received and the matter had been referred to the S.O.I. & R.S. Section (3rd M.D.) and reply back to them.

The Circular and Booklet re Graves was sent on December 29, 1919 to his widow.

A letter from Mrs Wilson from Belvidere Street, Bayswater, W.A. dated December 31, 1919 informed Base Records she no longer lived at Darkan as this residence was within walking distance of a school as she had two school aged children. A formal acknowledgement was issued by the Deceased Section.

Mrs Wilson wrote from Guildford Road, Bayswater, W.A. on February 13, 1920 advising Base Records of her current address. In the letter she noted that she was buying the house and would not be changing her address again.

Sapper 7731 John Wilson, 3rd Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (59198) and the Victory Medal (58157) for his sacrifice in serving his country. On June 24, 1921 the War Medal was forwarded to the Commandant 5th Military District for distribution to Mrs Wilson and the Victory Medal was forwarded by registered package (8919) on November 2, 1923 with receipted delivery given on November 8, 1923.

The Memorial Scroll (597313) was sent to his widow on July 5, 1921 but was returned and readdressed on October 18, 1921 to her and receipted on November 3, 1921. The Memorial Plaque (597313) was forwarded on February 8, 1923 and also returned then re-forwarded on November 14, 1923 and signed for on November 23, 1923.

The grave of Sapper John Wilson is located in the Old Public Cemetery, Albany, W.A.

LEST WE FORGET