SAPPER THOMAS OWEN CHORLEY
4747 – 2nd Tunnelling Company
Thomas Owen Chorley was born in St Helena, Tasmania on September 24, 1871 the son of Mathew and Isabella (nee Daley) Chorley. He had been a member of the Citizens’ Forces.
He married Ella Tottie Dickensen in May 1908 in Ringarooma, Tasmania. A small announcement appeared in The Examiner (Launceston, Tas) reporting this event:
They had four children Emma, Eileen, Isabel and Thomas Chorley. In 1914 the family was living at Ringarooma and he was a miner.
In the Ringarooma Municipal Office on February 18, 1916 at forty-four years of age the married miner applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Forms of Attestation were completed revealing he was 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall, weighed 80.9kgs (178lbs) with a chest expansion of 102-107cms (40-42ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes and black hair. Church of England was his faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Tottie Chorley of Ringarooma, Tas. He took ‘The Oath of Allegiance’ at Claremont Camp (6th Military District) on March 6, 1916.
Basic training commenced on March 4, 1916 as a Sapper with the regimental number 4747 in the No. 5 Tunnelling Company (6th M.D.) continuing until April 28, 1916. The next day their section of 3 officers and 76 Other Ranks plus 8 Reinforcements were transferred to Broadmeadows Camp, near Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) to join the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.) and also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic.)
Early in May 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld 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. At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW 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 Warilda sailed from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and added in Melbourne, Vic the No. 5 company. Departing on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. collected another 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 Tunnelling Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs, set forth on their voyage 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. They marched into the No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse for further training for the front.
The Companies proceeded to France on September 26, 1916 and marched into the 2nd Aust. General Base Depot and on to the 1st Anzac Reinforcements camp. Four days later Sapper Chorley 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.
On the tenth day he was attached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company on October 26, 1916 remaining for three months until January 26, 1917 and on his return was taken on strength with the 2nd Aust. Tunnelling Company.
Sapper Chorley continued with the Company and suffered no accidents, injury or wounds and received his Blue Chevrons.
Mrs Chorley notified Base Records on September 17, 1917 that her address was now Longford, Tasmania
The Unit War Diary for February, 1918 gives the following account of a shell attack towards the end of the month:
By March 3, 1918 effects of gas poisoning by a shell had caused problems for Sapper Chorley and was taken to the 149th Field Ambulance then moved to the 48th Casualty Clearing Station and transferred the next day to the 57th Field Ambulance. Two days later he was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen suffering from gas poisoning and classed as wounded in action.
He was invalided to England on March 8, 1918 on the hospital ship Panama and entered the Northampton-shire War Hospital in Duston diagnosis being gas shell poisoning, remaining as a patient for eleven days. His Medical History stated:
Pte was gassed about Feby 26th about 5 days later he reported sick. Pte was then complaining of loss of voice, pains in his left side and his eyes were sore but are practically alright again now. He is now seen violent coughing at night which prevents him from obtaining sleep. Cough dry. Very little expectoration.
15/3/18
Hoarse, but feels fairly well. Transfer Aust Aux. Hospital
His wife was notified by Base Records that her husband had been gassed and classed as wounded in action on March 18, 1918.
He was transferred on March 21, 1918 to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford occupying bed 38 and after thirteen days was discharged to furlough on April 2, 1918. Remarks about his condition were:
He was gassed about 26.2.18. Some slight hoarseness of voice exists still and slight Dyspnoea [breathless on exertion]. Disability classed: Ba3.
22/3/18 Dartford – A.A.H
He states he feels fairly well but coughs principally at night. There is still some hoarseness of voice. Pulse 82. Heart and lungs sound clear. To get 2 inhalations morning and evening.
23/3/18 Pulse 72
27/3/18 Pulse 72
31/3/18 Pulse 66 Disability B1b. To furlough and Hurdcott 2 C.D.
Base Records on April 6, 1918 advised Mrs Chorley that her husband has been transferred to hospital in England.
At conclusion of furlough was to report to the No. 3 Command Depot at Dartford on April 16. After receiving orders he marched into the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott. While there several assessments on his health and disability were done:
April 17Gassed on 28th Feb 1918 left unit on 3/3/1918. Age 47 but states he is fit
to carry on, looks younger than his years. Disability B1a2.
April 23Disability B1a3.
April 30Disability B1a4.
May 2Rheumatism Disability C3.
His name was in the 387th Casualty List, A.I.F. which appeared in The Mercury (Hobart) on Monday April 1, 1918:
He left on May 5, 1918 for the No. 2 C.D. at Weymouth and medically assessed the following day. His Statement of Case is as follows:
Disability:Chronic Rheumatism
Date of Disability:About 9 years ago
Origin of Disability:Tasmania
Essential Facts:Had pain in neck nine years ago. He has been subject to attacks of
varying degrees of severity since then. At present pain present back
muscles & right hip.
Aggravated by:Patient states condition not aggravated by service. Existed prior to
enlistment.
Constitutional or Hereditary:Constitutional
Present condition:Pains severe in back and thigh at present.
Recommendation:Unfit for General Service and Temporarily Unfit for Home Service.
Degree to work:20% Disability
The Director of Medical Services approved his return to Australia on May 21, 1918.
On June 7, 1918 he departed Liverpool, England on board the H.T. D12 Essex for discharge in Australia due to chronic Rheumatism. His medical notes on board state ‘No admission. General health good during voyage.’ On June 28 his wife was advised by Base Records that he was returning home. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on August 2, 1918 and he disembarked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on August 6, 1918.
He entered the No. 12 Aust General Hospital in Launceston, Tas with chronic Rheumatism where his condition was assessed by the Permanent Medical Referee Board with a permanent military disability and a temporary civil disability of one half (½) for six months.
Military Discharge took place on October 11, 1918 in the 6th Military District on a Pension. The following members of his family also received these pensions as from October 12, 1918:
Wifegranted $1.50 (15/-) per fortnight
Daughter Emmagranted $1.00 (10/-) per fortnight
Daughter Eileengranted 75cents (7/-) per fortnight
Daughter Isabelgranted 50cents (5/-) per fortnight
Son Thomasgranted 50cents (5/-) per fortnight
Four days before Peace was declared and barely a month after his discharge Thomas Owen Chorley died on November 7, 1918 in Launceston, Tasmania and was interred in the Ringarooma General Cemetery.
Due to the death of their husband and father their pensions were increased as from November 8, 1918:
Wifegranted $3.00 (30/-) per fortnight
Daughters:
Emmagranted $2.00 (20/-) per fortnight
Eileengranted $1.50 (15/-) per fortnight
Isabelgranted $1.00 (10/-) per fortnight
Son Thomasgranted $1.00 (10/-) per fortnight.
On June 30, 1920 Mrs Ella T. Chorley made application for her husband’s War Gratuity which had accrued at the rate of 15 cents (1/6d) per day for 1130 days of service to amount to $165.50 (£84/15/-). Her ‘Information in Support of Application’ was as follows:
Dear Sir,
Just a line would you kindly forward my War Gratuity Money to the Commercial Bank of Australia to Ringarooma Branch which I want to purchase a few cows with War Gratuity.
I remain yours faithfully,
Ella Tottie Chorley
Ringarooma.
On November 16, 1920 Mrs Chorley declared in a Statutory Declaration that:
In the matter of the Estate of my late husband, ex-Sapper Thomas Owen Thorley, 2nd
Tunnelling Company, no Probate of Will or Letters of Administration have been obtained
by me.
(Sgd) Ella Tottie Chorley.
Payment of the War Gratuity of $165.50 (£84/15/-) was paid on December 2, 1920 from the Commonwealth Audit Centre in a cheque numbered 8345 to his widow.
The British War Medal (4076) and the Victory Medal (4065) were awarded to Sapper 4747 Thomas Owen Chorley, 2nd Tunnelling Company for his service abroad. These medals were sent for collection to the 6th Military District Headquarters but were returned unclaimed on March 29, 1924 and subsequently were issued to his wife on April 17, 1924.
Thomas Owen Chorley is included on the Nation’s Roll of Honour for the Great War and his name appears on the Honour Roll in the War Memorial Hall and on the War Memorial in Ringarooma, Tasmania.
LEST WE FORGET
© Donna Baldey 2010