Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Sometimes the subject of my next story seems determined to “haunt” me until I get the message that now is their time. That was certainly the case with William Mineall. As I was trawling through Trove last weekend, his photograph appeared not once, but twice. Probably just a coincidence given that I was looking in newspapers where it was likely he would pop up. Then, after sharing a post on the Creswick Shire Avenue of Honour at Kingston all decked out like a winter wonderland, Megan Ferry shared a summer view of the avenue and then a photograph of her great-uncle’s tree and plaque…and it was William Mineall. So, taking the hint that he was paying a visit, I decided to tell his tale…

‘…When the joyful news that the "dove of peace" had brought back the olive branch became known, bells were rung and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The school children, carrying flags and headed by an impromptu band, marched through the street under the direction of their teachers…’

Scenes like these were played out across the globe as the news of peace signalled the beginning of healing for broken communities. In Rocky Lead the school children marched to the homes of mothers who had given so much to the war. Special mention was made by the speakers of the district families who lost more than most, including Charles and Mary Mineall, who were still grieving the loss of their son.

By the time the country was plunged into a devastating economic depression in the 1890’s the Mineall family was well established at Wombat near Daylesford. When William Mineall was born there in May 1896, he was the seventh of eight children born to Englishman, Charles Joseph Mineall, and his wife, Mary Honor Owen.

With most Australians suffering a level of hardship not seen before, there was at least a consistent amount of work for Charles Mineall, who worked in the district gold mines. Wombat and nearby Rocky Lead, two small settlements nestled in the Wombat Ranges, were on the railway line through to Daylesford, and the prospecting in both areas was particularly good. This at least ensured a regular income for those with employment.

When Billy was just two years old the family suffered the sad death of his 14 year-old brother, Joseph. The birth of their seventh son, Harry, on 20 December 1899, completed the family and helped soften their sad loss.

All the Mineall children travelled into Rocky Lead (Rocklyn), to attend the local State School. The solid timber school room catered for nearly 90 students in the early 1900’s. At the time Billy began his education, the school was under the headship of the very popular Charles Curnow Phillips and his wife, Phillipa.

Occupations in the district were rather limited for school leavers – it was either mining or farming. Two of his siblings, his only sister, Alice, and his immediately older brother, Thomas, eventually left the district to live in Ballarat, where Thomas joined the police force in 1914.

It seems that Bill also chose to move from Wombat into Ballarat in the years before the war. He worked both as a farm labourer and as a blacksmith; he also joined the ranks of the 71st (City of Ballarat) Infantry Regiment, serving with the senior cadets.

When Bill enlisted at Ballarat on 19 July 1915, he already had three years of military training behind him, even though he was just 19-years-old.

Captain-Doctor Arthur Langley conducted the routine medical examination; his findings disclosed a strongly built young man of 5-feet 7½-inches and 11-stone 7-pounds. He could expand his chest to an impressive 38-inches, which wasn’t bad for such a young man. And he hadn’t finished growing! At a later date (as part of a fitness medical), he had grown a further 2½-inches, gained 23-pounds and could inflate his chest an extra 2-inches!

Having successfully passed his medical, Bill required his parent’s consent before he could be accepted into the AIF. He approached his parents the following day and received the required document.

‘…Dear Sir, my son as (sic) asked us to let him go to the war and I am very pleased to see him go to help to fight. And I’m willing [to] give him our consent…’

At Broadmeadows Camp, Bill decided to have his photograph taken by the Darge Photographic Company that had the concession from the military to set up studios at both Broadmeadows and Seymour camps. By this time, Bill had been assigned to B Company of the newly raised 29th Infantry Battalion. He had also become mates with a 19 year-old recruit from Warracknabeal, Leslie Hayes. So, the pair had their photograph taken together. According to Warracknabeal locals, Leslie Hayes was ‘a fine strapping young fellow’ and ‘one of the most imposing of the volunteers from that centre.’ Whilst, Bill Mineall, who was sitting slightly behind young Hayes in the photo, has the look of American film star, Burt Lancaster – with clear, light brown eyes and wavy light brown hair. They made a handsome pair.

On 28 July, the people of Clark’s Hill gathered at the Dean Hall to honour seven local lads, including Bill Mineall, who had ‘undertaken to “do their bit” for the country.’ The hall was filled to overflowing and a lively evening was had by all, with music, song and ‘of course, dancing’! The usual delicious and plentiful country fare was provided for supper, after which Councillor Coleman Lee, of the Bungaree Shire, presented each young soldier with ‘a handsome wristlet watch.’

Bill spent several months training in camp at Seymour, before finally embarking on 10 November 1915. The troopship Ascanius made the trip to Egypt in good time and docked at Port Suez on 7 December.

After three months in Egypt, Bill was transferred from the 29th Battalion to the 14th Field Artillery Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir. He was taken on strength and posted to the 54th Battery on 13 March 1916. Sadly, that meant he was separated from his mate, Leslie Hayes. (The young soldier from Warracknabeal was to die of wounds only a few months later, on 26 July).

The men of the 14th FAB eventually embarked for France on 20 June. With the ever-present danger of German submarines, the transport Huntsend took a particularly long time to make the voyage from Alexandria to Marseilles – and, for the men, every one of those ten days must have been both nerve-racking and exciting!

Bill had only been in France a short time before he met with an unfortunate and painful accident. Given the circumstances, he was lucky things hadn’t been far worse.

It was around 9:30am on 16 July, and a party of men from the 14th FAB had been detailed to take the unit’s horses out for exercise and grazing. Each man was riding a horse and leading another. Bill, who was at the rear of the group, was riding a horse that was known to require careful handling – it had a nervous nature and stumbled and shied a great deal.

Lieutenant Andrew Macallister, who was in command of the detail, heard one of his men cry out as they were passing the 55th Battery wagon lines; he turned just in time to see a horse rear and go over backwards. Bill, who had been riding bare-back, was pinned underneath the fallen horse. There were major concerns that he was seriously injured.

After extricating him, they carried Bill to the shoeing forge shed of the 55th Battery and placed him on a bed; he was dazed, but conscious. A warrant officer from the 15th Field Ambulance arrived and examined him, determining that the young soldier needed to be taken to hospital for treatment. At that stage the injuries were believed to be quite serious.

Three weeks later Bill was transferred to the 30th General Hospital in Calais suffering back pain. As the injury continued to cause concern, the decision was made to evacuate him to England. He was admitted to the 4th London General Hospital on 14 August and was to spend 47 days in hospital due to the injury.

When he was granted a furlough on 2 October, Bill must have been extremely glad to leave the confines of the hospital behind!

As was necessary, a Court of Enquiry was held into the incident on 29 November 1916, and Lieutenant MacAllister was asked if Bill Mineall was ‘in good health and sober at the time’ of the accident. He responded, ‘…I have never seen him the worse for liquor nor on any sick parade. He was a very powerful man…’ The Court found that ‘…he was injured by the horse he was riding rearing and falling on him; that the horse was one that required careful handling, but was perfectly safe to ride. There was no evidence to show what caused the horse to rear and fall backwards and no fault was attachable to Mineall or other person…’

It was only a week until Christmas 1916, when Bill returned to France. Incredibly, he was charged with being Absent Without Leave from Parade on 19 December. Given the circumstances and his character, it was more likely that he was unavoidably detained in transit rather than it being a deliberate action, nevertheless, he was confined to barracks for seven days and fined a total of eight days pay.

On Boxing Day, Bill was temporarily attached to the 5th Division Ammunition Column pending the return of the 14th FAB to the firing line. He re-joined his unit on 15 January 1917 at Naours, and was posted back to his original battery.

With the proposed offensive in the Ypres Salient, the 14th FAB moved into a new position at the Shaden Railway near the Menin Road, on 5 August 1917. Four gunners – Frank Sweetman, Robert Martin, John Carberry and Bill Mineall – had just moved their gun into position when an enemy shell fell right on them. Carberry, Martin and Bill Mineall were killed instantly. Witnesses gave conflicting reports as to Bill’s injuries – one stated that he had not a mark on him and that death had been caused by concussion, but Gunner Henry Thompson, who helped to bury his body, claimed that he had been hit all over by shrapnel.

Men who were there when Bill was buried, also gave conflicting information – it was stated that he was buried the following day in an adjacent cemetery (to where he had been killed) by the unit chaplain. And again, there were varying locations of burial suggested – one said he was buried at Vlamertinghe, near Poperinge, another insisted it was in Poperinge Cemetery itself. The witnesses also noted that the three men were buried alongside one another, and a white cross was put over the grave. The official entry in Bill’s service record states that he was ‘buried Ypres Cemetery between Poperinghe and Ypres Sheet 28 NW.’ Sadly, whilst the graves of Martin and Carberry lie side-by-side in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Bill’s grave was lost during the ensuing months.

Amongst the many statements made to the Red Cross were two particularly significant comments – one that Bill was ‘a big, strong fellow,’ and the other, that he had been recommended for the Military Medal the day before he was killed (‘for removing ammunition during heavy shelling’). Certainly, from all reports, Bill had matured into an impressive figure of a man, but, unfortunately, there was no record of him being recommended for a decoration.

When Bill enlisted, he had left his allotment of 4-shillings a day to his cousin, Miss Sarah Hines, of Richmond. Upon his death, his mother was then granted a pension of 14-shillings a fortnight. She also received the few personal effects that he had been carrying at the time – they included a German shoulder strap that he had souvenired, a French book, his wallet, and the usual letters and photographs.

On Sunday 14 October 1917, the locals gathered at the Rocky Lead Church for an In Memoriam Service to mark the passing of four local soldiers, including Bill Mineall. Reverend J. R. Hill presented an impressive sermon based on the words, ‘I have fought the good fight; I have kept the faith; I have finished my course and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of life.’

When the Creswick Shire Avenue of Honour was planted and officially opened on 10 August 1918, tree number 214 was planted in memory of the service and sacrifice of William Mineall. Not forgotten.

"For how can men die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of their fathers
And the temples of their gods."