Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The birthplace of Reginald George Francis was Frome, Somerset, England about 1881. He was the son of James Richard Francis and came to Australia. Occupation was a miner.

On November 6, 1915 the single thirty-four year old enlisted at Townsville, Queensland and passed the medical examination being sworn in the same day. Attestation Forms show he stood 175cms (5ft 9ins) tall, weighed 66kgs (145lbs) with a chest expansion of 85-92cms (34-36ins). His dark complexion complimented his grey eyes and brown hair and four vaccination scars on his left arm were distinguishing marks. Church of England was his religion. Next-of-kin nominated was his father James Richard Francis of Spring Gardens, Frome, Somerset, England.

Basic training commenced at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane, Qld on November 28, 1915 then was transferred to the Mining Corps camp at Casula near Liverpool, NSW for further instruction. Was assigned the regimental number 109 and placed with No 1 Company Mining Corps in the rank of Sapper for departure.

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 ship was reluctant to 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’.

A promotion to 2/Corporal was given on December 1, 1916 and on Christmas Eve, 1916 was assigned to the 1st Tunnelling Company.

Went to hospital sick on January 7, 1917 and admitted to the NS Casualty Clearing Station the next day suffering from Synovitis (Tissue lining certain joints becomes injured or inflamed). Ten days later was admitted to the 47 D.R.S. diagnosed with Myalgia (Muscular Pain) and discharged to duty on January 26, 1917 rejoining his unit the following day.

On February 7, 1917 was taken to 47 D.R.S. then brought to 17 C.C.S. before a transfer to Wimereux and admission to 14 General Hospital suffering a recurrence of Synovitis on February 15, 1917. The hospital ship Princess Elizabeth evacuated him from Boulogne to England on February 16, 1917 and the next day admitted with Synovitis right knee to 3 London General Hospital at Brighton.

A transfer to 3 Auxiliary Hospital on March 5, 1917 to convalesce for several days then discharged on furlough from March 9 to report to Perham Downs on March 24, 1917. Two days later marched into No 1 Command Depot with his injury classified as B1a. He marched out from the H & D Depot on May 9, 1917 for camp Headquarters the following day.

On June 4, 1917 proceeded to France and after two days reported to the Aust. General Base Depot at Rouelles. 2/Corporal went to rejoin his unit on June 12 arriving the next day.

Was promoted to Temporary Corporal on October 27, 1917 which reverted to 2/Corporal the following year on June 20, 1918.

He was taken to 9 Aust. Field Ambulance sick with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) Pyrexia (Fever). Three days later was discharged to duty and rejoined the Unit.

Proceeded on leave on October 23, 1918 and returned on the day Armistice was declared.
The unit remained on duty to assist with rehabilitation of the country restoring roads and bridges until recalled on February 12, 1919 to Base Depot. Marched out for England on February 24, 1919 and arrived at No 3 Command Depot, Parkhouse, Eng a day later.

On March 17, 1919 R.B.A.A. reported him AWL but no disciplinary action was taken and he returned from leave of absence to Heytesbury on March 31, 1919.

2/Corporal reported to No 2 Group at Sutton Veny on April 10, 1919. An extension of leave was granted from June 10 - 13, 1919. Marched out for the Demobilisation Depot, Sutton Veny on June 10 and arrived at A.I.F. Headquarters soon after.

Departed for Australia aboard HT Anchises on August 22, 1919 and arrived in 2nd Military District (NSW) on October 13, 1919 returning to the 1st Military District (Qld) on December 6, 1919 for discharge from the A.I.F.

For active service overseas 2/Corporal 109 Reginald George Francis, 1st Tunnelling Company was decorated with the British War Medal (12146) and the Victory Medal (11987).

On October 1, 1941 his Statement of Service was sent to the Repatriation Department in Brisbane, Qld.

© Donna Baldey 2009
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