SAPPER PETER GRANT
1013 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
Kenmore, Perthshire, Scotland was the birthplace in 1887 of Peter Grant, son of Joseph and Catherine Grant. In 1891 the family were living at the Police Station, Methven, Scotland and were Joseph (34) police constable, wife Catherine (35) with children Catherine (12), George (10), Jessie (8), Isabella (6), Peter (4) and Alexander (2).
A decade later in 1901 they were residing at Dunning on Perth Road, north side going east and citizens of the household were Joseph (44) police constable, Catherine (45), Isabella (16), Peter (14) painter’s apprentice, Alexander (11), Joseph (9) David (7), Maggie (3) and Christina (1).
When aged 24 years Peter embarked from Liverpool, England and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on November 23, 1912 on the S.S. Belgic the 9714 under Master of the Ship, Captain Thornton.
In 1915 he was a labourer at 82-mile camp, Trans Australian Line, W.A.
At the recruiting depot in Kalgoorlie, W.A. on November 5, 1915 the twenty-eight year old single labourer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars taken reveal he stood 186cms (6ft 1in) in height with a chest expansion of 89-97cms (35-38ins) and passed the eye test with good vision. Medical notation states a scar for operation of varicocele (varicose veins in scrotum) and enlarged left testicle. Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
Attestation forms were completed which describe him further as weighing 79kgs (174lbs) with a fair complexion, blue eyes and reddish hair. Religion was Presbyterian. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Mrs Catherine Grant of 12 Church Place, Errol, Scotland. He was sworn in at Blackboy Hill camp, near Perth on November 8, 1915.
Basic training commenced on November 8 as a Private with the 35th Depot Battalion until the end of the month.
Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps officially began on December 1st, 1915 therefore Private Grant was placed for basic training at the Helena Vale camp at Blackboy Hill, W.A. with the newly forming Corps. The Unit’s title was the No. 3 Company with a major portion of No. 3 Company recruited by 2nd Lt. L.J. Coulter, A.I.F. who was sent from N.S.W. to W.A. for that purpose. They were made up to strength with 1 Officer and 274 Other Ranks and embarked from Fremantle, W.A.
He went to the Blackboy Hill Clearing Hospital on December 18, 1915 but was not admitted.
Later that day the company sailed for Sydney, NSW on board the troopship SS Indarra. His name appears on the passenger list which was published in:
On Boxing Day (Dec 26th), 1915 the Unit arrived in Sydney and marched into Casula Camp, near Liverpool, NSW. They were joined by the 4th Section of the Tasmanian Miners, bringing the establishment strength up to 15 officers and 349 Other Ranks under the command of 2nd Lieutenant L.J. Coulter.
Mining Corps Units from all Military districts came together at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW to complete training as a Corps. Grant was assigned the regimental number 1013 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company.
While at Casula Camp the following Offences occurred:
18/1/16A.W.L.Awarded CB [confined to barracks] Fined in Civil Court
29/1/16A.W.L.Award – leave stopped 14 days Fined 6 shillings
1/2/16 Drunk & breaking a disturbance in lines Award Fined 2 shilling 6 pence
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.
At Blackboy Hill camp punishment was awarded for the following:
15/3/16 Offence:A.W.L. from Reveille 13/3/16 to Reveille 16/3/16 – 3 days
Award:6 days close confinement from 10am 16/3/16 to 10am 22/3/16
General character:Fair
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. But Sapper Grant was disembarked from the ship as medically unfit.
Military Discharge was issued on April 4, 1916 at Fremantle (5th Military District) as medically unfit.
It appears he returned to work at the Trans-Australian Railway residing at 82-mile camp in 1916 and 1917.
As Sapper 1013 Peter Grant, No.3 Company, Mining Corps did not serve in a theatre of war he was ineligible for any War Service Medals.
© Donna Baldey 2016