Virtual
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Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date - 23rd August......Corporal Sydney Chalmers Mountain was born at South Broken Hill, NSW in 1890. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 14th January, 1916 as a 25 year old, single, Electrician and Motor mechanic from Broken Hill, NSW.

He was appointed Provisional Corporal on 1st February, 1916 then attended N.C.O.’s School at Mitcham on 16th February, 1916.

Provisional Corporal Mountain embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on HMAT Ballarat (A70) on 12th August, 1916 with the 48th Infantry Battalion, 4th Reinforcements. He was admitted to Ship's Hospital on 16th August, 1916.

Provisional Corporal Sydney Chalmers Mountain died on 23rd August, 1916 while at Sea on board Troopship Ballarat (A70) from Chronic Interstitial Nephritis, Broncho Pneumonia & Uraemia.

The Hospital Admissions form recorded “patient has a family history of Nephritis. He has evidently been suffering for many months and should not have been passed for service.”

Corporal Sydney Chalmers Mountain was buried at Sea at 4 pm on 23rd August, 1916. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/m---o.html

"CORPORAL S. C. MOUNTAIN.

Information has been received by Mrs. A. G. Thomas, of Broken Hill, that her son, Corporal S. C. Mountain, died on board a transport on August 23, the cause of death being broncho pneumonia. Corporal Mountain joined the colors in January last. He quickly rose to the rank of sergeant, but owing to a brief illness was reduced to corporal and stayed with that rank. He was educated at St Peter's College. In civil life he was employed as electrician on the "line of lode." He was 23 years of age." - from the Adelaide Advertiser 03 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)

From the book Fallen Saints  -  Sydney Chalmers Mountain was born at Broken Hill South, New South Wales and educated at Broken Hill Central School and the Collegiate School of Saint Peter. He completed a 5-year apprenticeship as an electrician at Broken Hill and when he enlisted in Adelaide on 14 January 1916 was working as a Motor Mechanic.

Later in the month, he was posted to E Company 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition AIF Camp promoted to acting corporal at the start of February.

He attended an NCO course at Mitcham Camp 1 April -15 May and was posted to A Company as a provisional sergeant but when reallotted to the 4th quota of reinforcements for the 48th Battalion in June; he was reverted to provisional corporal in July. Although he had been unwell prior to embarkation, Corporal Mountain sailed from Adelaide aboard HMAT Ballarat on 12 August and just four days after leaving Outer Harbour, was admitted to the ship’s hospital.

He was diagnosed with chronic intestinal nephritis, bronchial pneumonia and uraemia and died peacefully at 9.05 a.m., on 23 August 1916; he was 26 years of age.

A medical practitioner later noted on his file, ‘He has evidently been suffering for many months and should not have been passed fit for service.’[i]

[i] National Archives of Australia: B 2455, Mountain Sydney Chalmers / 7988986, viewed 14 October 2005v

Sydney was born as Sidney Chalmers MOUNTAIN in 1890 in Broken Hill, NSW

His parents were John MOUNTAIN and Florence M. McKENZIE who married in Broken Hill in 1889