SECOND CORPORAL RICHARD GRIEVE MM
382 – 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Richard Grieve was born about 1895 in Dundee, Scotland the son of Alexander and Mary Grieve. In 1901 the family were living at 51 North Street, Dundee and was made up of Alexander (29), Mary (29), Richard (7), and Frank (5).
Richard began as an apprentice electrical engineer with G.J. MacDonald in Dundee, Scotland and continued with Warburton & Frankie in Sydney.
On September 12, 1912 the family left London, England on the Aberdeen line steamer Themistocles under Master of the Ship Captain Alexander H.H.G. Douglas and arrived in Sydney, NSW. On board were Alexander (40) carpenter, Mrs Mary (38) housewife, Mr Richard (17) carpenter, Gladys (3) and Sidney (1). News of the Liner’s arrival was reported in:
At the recruiting office at the Sydney Town Hall on January 27, 1916 the electrical engineer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination his application was accepted by the recruiting officer. A few days later at Casula camp near Liverpool, NSW on February 1 Attestation Forms were completed with personal particulars showing he was 165cms (5ft 5ins) tall, weighed 50.4kgs (111lbs) with a chest expansion of 79-82cms (31-34ins). Complexion was fresh with grey eyes that showed good vision in his right eye and poor sight in the left one and had brown hair. Presbyterian was his religious faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Alexander Grieve of ‘Tayside’, Gardner’s Road, Sydney, NSW. He was sworn in the same day.
He was assigned to the No. 1 Company of the Mining Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 382.
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.
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’.
Members of the No.1 Company became the 1st Tunnelling Company.
His civil qualifications as an electrical engineer were beneficial to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred to the company and taken on strength on September 30, 1916.
On March 27, 1917 he was to be Lance Corporal.
He was recommended for a Meritorious Service Medal by Major R.V. Morse, commanding officer of the company on June 12, 1917. His recommendation reads:
On August 12, 1917 Lance Corporal was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
Base Records advised his father on January 16, 1918 with a copy of the extract which appeared in the London Gazette dated August 21, 1917 relating to the conspicuous services rendered by his son. It read:
It was promulgated in the Commonwealth Government Gazette No. 219 of 20 December, 1917.
He entered the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance on February 5, 1918 with an eye refraction and returned to duty three days later.
A promotion to Second Corporal on August 9, 1918 came as 2/Cpl R. Coombes was promoted to Corporal with the company.
A query in his pay book was investigated on September 16, 1918 for March 9, 1916 Fine of 5/- by
Lieut E.S. Anderson. Investigation Notation: No parties available
Embarked 20/2/16 Taken on Strength A.E.M.M.B.C. 30/9/16 No action was taken.
They were in Fremantle, W.A. at the time when the pay book entry was entered.
Service continued without further incident and he was with his company when Peace was declared. The company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for suppling water to those assisting in rehabilitating their district.
Leave was granted by the Furlough Department and taken from December 2 to December 16, 1918.
He went for dental treatment on January 15, 1919 and the next day entered the 3/ 2 Lancashire Field Ambulance with scabies (a skin irritation cause by the Itch Mite whose eggs are laid under the skin’s outer layer) and transferred to the Wessex Field Ambulance for treatment. He was discharged on January 21, 1919 to duty.
Orders were issued on February 6, 1919 to return to Base to prepare for demobilisation. On February 22 they marched out for England and crossed the English Channel docking at Southampton and marching in to the 1st Training Brigade camp at Sutton Veny.
On March 6, 1919 he was taken on strength with A.I.F. Headquarters in London and granted special leave for Non-Military Employment (NME) with full military pay and subsistence to complete further experience in electrical fitting pending a letter from his employer Thos Justice and Sons Ltd, Whitehall Street, Dundee. Scotland.
The course was from March 6 to May 6, 1919 including railway warrants (twice) to and from Dundee to the value of £2 9s 0d plus a suit priced at £2 5s 6d and overalls at 14/11d. His employment was with Messrs J. Mackersie & Co. 14-16 Bank Street, Dundee. Their report on his work stated:
“This is to certify that Corporal Grieve regularly attended his employment and that his work and conduct was satisfactory.”
On May 12, 1919 at St Clement’s Church Vestry, Richard Grieve (25) of 143 Clepington Road, Dundee married Phillis Durward (19) of 18 Nelson Street, Dundee, a draper’s assistant. His father was a cabinet maker and her father the late William Durward was a ploughman.
They were married after publication by James Muirhead Benson, Minister officiating the ceremonies of the Established Church of Scotland.
Arrangements had been made for him to embark for Australia on the transport Kildonian Castle but he did not embark.
An extension of NME was accepted without the subsistence allowance and he was transferred on July 7, 1919 to Messrs W.C. Martin & Co, 159 Seagate, Dundee but was unable to carry on without the subsistence allowance after August 7, 1919. Deficiencies for the suit, overalls and tools of 9/2d were debited in the Paybook.
Next-of-kin became his wife Mrs P. Grieve of 18 Nelson Street, Dundee, Scotland.
He returned to London on August 7 and reported to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General’s office and was retransferred to the A.E.M.M.B.C. and left Headquarters for indefinite leave to await the family ship home.
On December 23, 1919 accompanied by his wife, 2nd Corporal Grieve embarked for Australia on the H.T. Port Napier. On January 13, 1920 Base Records advised his father that he was on his way home. The ship arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on February 10, 1920.
Their arrival was reported in the:
At the Anzac Buffet in the Domain he went before the Medical Assessment Board and his present condition reported defective vision with his right eye testing to fair vision and the left one showing poor sight. He was deferred for treatment.
On February 20, 1920 at the No. 4 Aust General Hospital glasses were ordered and he was found to have no disability from service or defective vision and was confirmed for discharge. Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on April 20, 1920 on termination of his period of enlistment.
Second Corporal 382 Richard Grieve, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was entitled to wear with his Military Medal, the British War Medal (33186) and the Victory Medal (32771) for service for his country.
His wife Phillis Grieve died on January 11, 1926 at 25 years of age. Family notices were published in the:
In 1936 he was an electrical fitter residing at 43 Kennedy Avenue, Belmore. By 1943 he was at 26 Marlowe Street, Belmore and from 1949 onwards was at 591 Canterbury Road, Belmore working as an electrical fitter.
Richard Grieve died in 1961 aged 66 years with his death registered at Bankstown, Sydney.
REUNIONS
Former members of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ in Sydney would meet to march in the Anzac Day parade then attend their annual luncheon. Roll Registers for newsletters of this annual event were kept and his name appears as follows:
1928 R. GRIEVE ‘Tayside’ Charlotte Street, Campsie changed to 75 Lakemba Street
Belmore
1934 R. GRIEVE 75 Lakemba Street, Belmore
1960-68 R. GRIEVE 591 Canterbury Road, Belmore Notation: Died 1961-1962
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