SAPPER WILLIAM YEOMAN EASTON
5528 – 1st Tunnelling Company
William Yeoman ‘Will’ Easton was born in the last quarter of 1892 at Northallerton, Yorkshire, England the son of Ebenezer Yeoman and Ellen (nee Hadfield) Easton. In 1901 the family were residing at Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe, County Durham and were Ebenezer Y. (37) a shoemaker, his wife Ellen (29) and their son William Y. (8).
Ten years later in 1911 the family were still living in the four-roomed house at Cornforth Lane and citizens in residence were Ebenezer (47) boot repairer at Co-operative store, Ellen (39), William Yeoman (18) Coal miner at Tursdale Colliery and a boarder Arthur Dean (20) who was a postman.
The family departed London two years later for Australia on the steamer Beltana which reached Sydney, New South Wales on June 28, 1913 and were Ebenezer (49) shoemaker, Ellen (41) and son William (20) miner. A write-up of the passenger details was published in the:
At the recruiting depot at Broadmeadow Camp, Newcastle, New South Wales on June 5, 1916 the twenty-three year old storeman applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particular taken show his postal address to be care of Isaac Hadfield, Margaret Street, Tighes Hill, NSW and was 171cms (5ft 7½ins) tall with a chest measurement of 94cms (37ins).
He was declared fit for service and his application was accepted by the enrolling officer.
Attestation Forms were completed the next day and describe him further as weighing 66.3kgs (146lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-94cms (33-37ins) and medium complexion, good vision in his grey eyes and dark hair. Methodist was his religion. Distinctive marks were vaccination scar on his left arm and an old appendectomy scar. Next-of-kin nominated was his father Ebenezer Easton of Swanson Street, Weston, NSW. He was signed and took the ‘Enlistment Oath’.
For basic training he and his cousin Arthur Hadfield were allotted to ‘E Coy’ Depot Battalion as Privates on June 12 moving to ‘D Coy’ Depot Battalion on June 23, 1916. On July 5 both were transferred to the Miners’ Reinforcement training camp at Seymour, Victoria joining the October, 1916 Reinforcements. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 5528.
The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19.
Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth and marched into the Aust Details Camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.
While in camp the following took place with both cousins in company together:
Offence: Aust Details Camp
A.W.L. from 2200 8/1/17 till arrested by Police at 2000 hrs 15/1/17
Award: 168 hours detention. In custody awaiting trial four days
Total forfeiture: 19 day’s pay
The Reinforcement proceeded to France from Folkstone on board S.S. Onward on January 28, 1917 and marched into the Aust General Base Depot the next day.
Sapper Easton was attached on Supernumerary strength on February 6, 1917 with the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field.
Two days later he was admitted to the 47th Divisional Rest Station suffering from Quinsy (severe inflammation of the throat) and returned to duty on February 15. Two days later he was taken on strength with the company.
He was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
On March 13, 1918 he was taken to the 1/1 West Riding Field Ambulance after being gassed by a shell attack.
Later that day he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station for treatment of mustard gas poisoning but three days later was conveyed on A.T. 28 to Etaples entering the 56th General Hospital. He was taken to England by the hospital ship Ville de Liege on March 23 and admitted to the Woking Military Hospital for further treatment for severe shell gas poisoning.
Two Telegrams were sent on April 1, 1918 to his father from Base Records advising:
WESTON NSW
EBENEZER EASTON
SWANSON STREET VIA WEST MAITLAND
REPORTED SAPPER WILLIAM YEOMAN EASTON WOUNDED EFFECTS OF GAS. WILL
ADVISE IF ANYTHING FURTHER RECEIVED
BASE RECORDS
1/4/18
WESTON NSW
EBENEZER EASTON
SWANSON STREET VIA WEST MAITLAND
WSM
NOW REPORTED SAPPER WILLIAM EASTON ADMITTED WOKING MILITARY HOSPITAL
TWENTYFIRST MARCH SUFFERING FROM EFFECTS OF GAS SEVERE
BASE RECORDS
1/4/18
He was transferred on April 8, 1918 to the 1st Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex remaining a patient for three days then sent to the Classification Hut at Hurdcott on April 10. His statement of case stated:
8/4/18 Heart sounds weak, no murmurings, harsh cough ? [unreadable]
10/4/18 Out of bed 11 days chest feels ok – spits up blood – has spat up clot size of pea a
dozen times since being gassed. Before being gassed has spat up blood last 18
months since. Has always had weak chest. Both father and mother troubled with
chest.
Movement Sounds over 2 R at cartilage near sternum & over R chest. Breath
sounds lessened and not good entry of air. Percussion dulled.
17/5/18 Group Hospital No. 3 Command Depot
Rhonchi (wheezing) over both chest – Transfer to Fovant Hospital
1/6/18 Military Hospital Fovant, Wiltshire
Bronchitis - 18 days – Recovered chest clear
18/6/18 Feels well
3rd Command Depot
12/7/18 Still occasionally spits a little blood, chest shows old traces, no rhonchi
18/7/18 P.R. little & looks well
13/8/18 Transferred to Training Brigade
His name appeared in the Casualty List printed in the:
The Joint Secretaries of the Weston Red Cross Branch wrote to Base Records on May 7, 1918 inquiring about Sapper Easton as no information has been received since he became a casualty in March. Base Records replied on May 14 advising that the soldier was now convalescent and this information was transmitted to Mr Easton on May 9, 1918.
His name also was published in the 404th Casualty List in the:
On June 16, 1918 he marched in from Fovant Hospital to the No. 3 Command Depot and the address for his correspondence was recorded as Register General, Somerset House re Hospital condition.
At Mt Sion Chapel, Cattle Street, Great Harwood on July 31, 1918 William Yeoman Easton (25) married Lily Clarissa Frith (25) according to the rites of the United Methodist Church in the presence of Thomas Naylor. Lily was the daughter of John Frith, a coal miner of 10 Nuttall Avenue, Great Harwood and her occupation was assistant dressmaker and Will was a railway storeman residing at No. 8 Camp, No. 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott.
He was transferred on August 13, 1918 to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge, Deverill and proceeded overseas to France from Folkstone on September 7, 1918 arriving two days later at the A.G.B.D. and marched out to his unit rejoining on September 15, 1918.
He was with his unit when Peace was declared and they remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of roads in their district by defusing booby traps left by the enemy.
Leave was granted from France from February 2 and returned on February 23, 1919. He rejoined his unit on April 15.
Orders were received to prepare for demobilisation and to return to the A.G.B.D. and they marched out on May 6. The English Channel was crossed on May 15 to Southampton the next day marching into camp at the No. 1 Group at Longbridge, Deverill. On June 3 he marched out to Sutton Veny camp and joined No. 2 Group the next day.
Accompanied by his wife, Sapper Easton embarked for Australia on August 8, 1919 on the H.T. Katoomba. Base Records advised his father on August 28 that he was returning home. News of his return was announced in the:
The ship docked in Sydney (2nd Military District) on September 25, 1919. News of the arrival was published in the:
At the Anzac Buffet Sapper Easton appeared before the Discharge Medical Board where he signed a declaration stating ‘I am not suffering from any disability due to or aggravated by War Service, and feel fit and well. (Sgd) W.Y. Easton.’ His present condition was noted to have been good and was recommended for discharge and fit for vocational training.
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on termination of his period of enlistment on November 9, 1919.
On January 24, 1920 a copy of his Will was returned for filing in Sydney (2nd M.D.)
For serving his country Sapper 5528 William Yeoman Easton, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (60062) and the Victory Medal (58180).
In 1930 their residence was in Marsden Street, Sandgate, NSW with his occupation as a fibrous caster. This remained their home which was numbered as 24 Marsden Street in later years.
William Y. Eastman passed away on September 25, 1963 aged 71 years. Burial took place in the Methodist portion of Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle within section 13 in lot 64. His wife predeceased him the previous year on August 4.
During the Second World War his son William Easton, who was born at Tighe’s Hill on January 21, 1923, enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on May 11, 1942 in Newcastle. His rank was Leading Aircraftman with the service number 64472. Next-of-kin nominated was William Easton. He was serving with the 5th Operational Training Unit when discharged on April 30, 1946.
© Donna Baldey 2015
www.tunnellers.net
with the assistance of Sharon McDermott