SERGEANT VERE DOWNIE
4754 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Vere Downie was born at Scottsdale, Tasmania on September 25, 1892 the eldest son of William Alexander and Amy (nee Dawson) Downie. His father was a schoolteacher and later headmaster at Zeehan. Military experience was eighteen months with the Senior Cadets. At fifteen years of age he applied for a four year apprenticeship with the Municipality of Zeehan, Tas which was reported in the:
Further news of his success a few years later was printed again in the:
At twenty-three years of age the Electrical Engineer applied to enlist for active service abroad on February 11, 1916 passing his medical examination at Hobart, Tas. His description on enlistment was 170cms (5ft 7ins) in height, weighing 62.7kgs (138lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-90cms (33-35½ins). His complexion was fair with blue eyes that tested to good vision and had dark brown hair. Distinctive marks were a scar on his right forearm and a scar on his left foot near the base of the big toe. Religion was Church of England. Next-of-kin nominated was initially his father but changed to his mother Mrs Amy Downie of 23 Mona Street, Battery Point, Hobart, Tas. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ at Claremont Camp on February 15, 1916.
Basic training commenced the same day and he was assigned to the No.5 Tunnelling Company (6th Military District) in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 4784. Promoted to Acting Lance Sergeant was detailed to attend the School of Instruction for Non-Commissioned Officers who were listed in:
He was appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant on April 14, 1916.
The Company was at Claremont camp (5th M.D.) on April 24, 1916 and then on April 29 their section consisting 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 collected in Melbourne, Vic the No.5 company departing 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 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.
Meanwhile in Tasmania he was acknowledged to be one of the power station employees doing their duty:
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on October 15, 1916 and marched in to the Aust General Base Depot four days later. On October 22 he was sent to the 24th General Hospital with Mumps remaining until discharged to the 6th Convalescent Depot at Etaples with the debility classification ”A” on November 22, 1916.
Being a civilian electrical engineer would benefit the company and on December 12, 1916 Sergeant was attached to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining at Boring Company in the field.
Sergeant Edward Gilmore ‘Hughie’ Dodd kept a brief daily account of his service with the A.E.M.M.B.C. and his entries that mention Sergeant Downie are as follows:
December 17 [1916]
Went to Bailluel for a joy ride in motor lorry. Should like to see this country in the spring. Sgt Viv Downie went out to Proto School to run small Austin set.
June 5 [1917]
Viv Downie is going to be attached to this Coy. He is a hard doer, comes from Tasmania.
June 18
Went down to Noeux-les-Mines thinking it was pay day but was put off on account of horse show. Jack Penn going to Boulonge Rest Camp. Downie coming down on Wednesday.
For twelve months service abroad he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform and was taken on strength on August 28, 1917 with the Company.
Hughie Dodd Diary continues:
October 29
Viv Downie came back from Boulonge today. Went over to Munster to see him. Curtiss, our SM was telling him he was going on leave shortly. I wonder where I come in. Kidded Downie to come over to Barts with me and he stayed all night.
October 30
Downie and myself went out this morning. Sent cablegram home for £20. Met Ted Newton tonight and had some joy in a fish and chips shop. Never laughed so much in my life!
November 2
Sent Sandy and Newton to Munster for some wire, but they brought Downie back instead and he slept here instead of going back.
November 6
Jerry caught seven French civilians while he was shelling last night. It makes one's blood boil to hear a shell come over and then see the French kiddies and women with babes in arms cutting off down the road to the dugouts provided. I had to laugh, when he put a shell into a house at the cross roads, a little boy and girl came running over to Downie and myself, the girl holding a piece of red hot shrapnel weighing about three pounds and she said "Allemand No Bon!" (Germans no good). So that's about all the fright Jerry can put into these kiddies here.
November 11
Moody came out today. Sent Newton across to Downie.
November 18
Went to Bethune for a change with Sanderson and Downie, tried to find the skating rink, but it has been pulled up.
November 29
Went to Brickstacks with Downie, find things anyhow.
December 2
Viv Downie, Newton and Marriott have been rewiring Old Kent Road today. It was a bit funny yesterday, Downie said he would go to Candbrin to see where some of our stuff had gone and while there promised to act as Push Party for 170 Coy that might to Old Kent Dump, he went to Candbrin with Sanderson, Hollingsworth and Marriott and got caught in the tail end of this strafe. Old Kent Tunnel is right under the Brickstacks in the world famed Brickfields. If he had not promised the chap at the dump he would do this, none of the men, would have gone with him as I do not believe in being a Push Party for any Coy but our own.
December 4
Piper came out today and told me to send Downie to Wings Way (Hulluch) and put in a new switchboard.
January 4 [1918]
Went to Noeux this morning. Viv Downie came out to relieve me to go on leave, but had to refuse. He was in Scotland. He had a good time while there. Tom Dowling came back from Blighty. Downie tells me he had all the swank and bounce in the world.
January 5
Still in Noeux. Piper was coming out today. Didn't come as arranged. Downie should have gone back to HQ. Marriott and Ayres walked back to trenches 3 am this morning.
January 7
Had them out at 7.30 this morning. Ayres and Marriott went to Barts. Newton and I to where lateral is in. They have not holed through yet. Two of the Hulluch boys over this afternoon. Hobbs takes Buckingham's (on leave). Hobbs some boom. Told them to go back and tell him, he had enough to look after his own job and not take the wind and send men out to another job. Downie took over paybooks to HQ on account of faked rolls. Morse has £150 pay in his book. I'm told all the officers are putting £25 in each to help him out. Ruff 170 draftsman being recalled Patented Gas arrangement.
January 8
Marriott, Ayres to Barts. Myself and Hollingsworth to Blow Miners have put in two sets since it happened, 48 hours. Could do more myself in three hours. Old Gadget pretty mad. The Bosche put in two listening Tees badly. Closs in today, Lloyd George's peace terms in paper. By what he said I'm wondering why England came into the war, Ayres and Newton dopey. Want to sleep whole time. Closs saying Lieut. Woods is trying to get Hollingsworth absorbed by 170. Downie landed out with two men (Doyle and Clarke) to take out Barts engines. Downie saying Hollingsworth has to go. Ayres and Hollingsworth had to go to Old Kent as lights have been out all day (blown fuses).
January 9
Newton and myself went to lateral (blown in). Cannot get through yet. Came back and went down to give Downie a hand with engines. God alone knows what some of these chaps would do if they never had someone else to rely on. Marriott and Newton did most of the bullocking. Viv could not even make arrangement for mules to pull him down. Eventually we got them away and we (Munster) came back. After being home for an hour one of our Saville Row Tunnel Wardens to say lights were out. Marriott and Newton went down. Wire broke.
January 10
Newton and myself went to main lateral which is knocked in and was told Robertsons was in darkness, but as main lateral is in on the north of tunnel also it is impossible to get Juice through. The first appears to be more of a blown (mine) to me than anything else. Hollingsworth and Ayres went to Barts to pull out cable which has to come down now that engines have been taken out. Downie and his two men left at 2.30 pm to load engines at Vermelles. No water in tanks today. Jerry bumping a bit today.
June 9
The lorry picked us up at 5.30pm and we then went to 251 RE 37 and picked Downie up and then beat it for home, after passing Auchel we got away from where he has been shelling Auchel, is at least 20 klms away from the line. The drive down was beautiful, nicely wooded hills and valleys most of the way. Arrived in at 10 pm.
June 10
Downie and myself went to a place called Lumbres, in the afternoon we went to a cricket match at Hallines, walked home. This is lovely country and wouldn't mind putting in a few months here.
Vere was reported to still be with his unit on July 18, 1918 during an audit. On August 1, 1918 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant to complete establishment of the company. He was with the company when Peace was declared and they remained on the front continuing to supply electricity, pumps and servicing mobile equipment as they had previously done during the war.
Hughie Dodd Diary continues:
November 14
Downie came back from Assinghem this morning. Sinclair pretty crook, went to hospital.
November 18
Downie had to go to Montigny-en-Gohelle to take over Aster set. I'm now Billet Sergeant. Don't know for how long.
Leave was granted to England from December 14 to December 28 where the post war Christmas season would have been a joyous occasion. He became ill while on leave and on December 27 was admitted to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment of a social disease. After 91 days curative care he was ready to be discharged and was attached for duty with the 1st A.D. hospital extension on March 27, 1919.
Base Records wrote to the Paymaster (6th M.D.) on December 30, 1918 requesting the date and place of enlistment. A reply on January 3rd, 1919 gave enlistment as Claremont on 15/2/1916.
He went sick on May 22, 1919 to Delhi Military Hospital and transferred the next day to Tidworth Military Hospital with appendicitis. On June 20 he was transferred to the 1st A.G.H. at Sutton Veny remaining until July 8 when he entered the Training Depot.
From No. 2 Group camp on July 17, 1919 he marched out to 44 St George’s Square, London and taken on strength with A.I.F. Headquarters for leave granted to attend Non-Military Employment with pay, subsistence and fees £9.8.8 for training at Wyndham Garage, St John’s Hill Road, Clapham Junction, London S.W.
Leave expired on October 17, 1919 and returned to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General’s office and assigned by the furlough department for re-transfer to the A.E.M.M.B.C. A report issued from the firm stated:
Sgt Downie, made very satisfactory progress on the course. He applied himself diligently to the work and obtained good results. Conduct good.
On November 15, 1919 Sergeant embarked for Australia on H.T. Ypiringa. Base Records advised his parents on December 2, 1919 that he was on his way home. News of the troops returning was published in the: