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Albert Victor Ricketts

Albert Victor Ricketts was born on 6 June 1897 in Geelong, the youngest son of William Ricketts (1859-1945) and Sarah Woods (1862-1939). As a young man Albert worked as a plasterer and lived at home at 6 Westcott Street, Chilwell, Geelong.  He also fulfilled his service obligation as a member of the 8th Company, Australian Garrison Artillery at Fort Queenscliff.

On 3 July 1918 Albert applied to join the AIF at the recruiting office in Geelong but was rejected on medical grounds. The following week he travelled to Melbourne where he again applied again and this time whatever was wrong the first time was overlooked.

Albert enlisted on 15 July 1918 and joined his fellow recruits at the training camp at Broadmeadows. After completing his basic training, he was transferred to the Broadmeadows Depot Battalion on 7 August to await the availability of a troop ship. It was a long wait as nearly two months passed before a ship was available to take the waiting reinforcements to Europe and the war.

On 21 October the reinforcements boarded a special train that would take them to Adelaide overnight where they would board the HMAT BOONAH.

BOONAH had been built in Germany in 1912 for the Australian trade and known as the MELBOURNE. Stranded in Sydney at the outbreak of war in 1914 the ship had been seized by the Commonwealth Government, renamed BOONAH and hastily converted to a troopship. As the BOONAH left Adelaide’s Outer Harbour to sail down the gulf into the Southern Ocean the men had no inkling that theirs would be the last troop ship to leave Australia for the war.

The ship’s first port of call was Fremantle where she departed on 29 Oct carrying about 1200 soldiers, heading west for Africa.

Private Ernest “Bill” Bailey was an English-born recruit who had enlisted in Melbourne in May 1918 at the age of 36. Travelling on the BOONAH as a member of the same reinforcement group as Albert Ricketts, Ernest Bailey documented the voyage in a diary now kept in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2012/D16128/a5676.htm

BOONAH arrived in Durban, South Africa on 8 November 1918 and the troops were allowed ashore for a welcome break from the shipboard routine and cramped conditions before resuming their journey to reinforce the ANZACs in France.

After Johannesburg, the Durban Metropolitan Area ranks second among the most populous urban areas in South Africa, almost equal to Cape Town. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. As a result of the importation of Indian labourers, Durban has the largest Asian community on the African continent and has the largest Indian population outside of India. The city's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches would have reminded the Australian soldiers of home.

On 4 March 1918 an American soldier, a company cook in Fort Riley, Kansas, reported to the infirmary with a fever. By noon more than 100 soldiers had reported to the infirmary and within a week that number had grown to 522. Several dozen soldiers died there that spring before the contagion seemed to ebb. The official cause was pneumonia but this is believed to be the beginning of what would become known erroneously as the Spanish flu, killing more than half a million Americans and an estimated 50 million people worldwide in a single year. (It became known as Spanish flu only because the Spanish news media was the first to widely report the epidemic, which had been hushed by wartime censors elsewhere.)

As US soldiers fanned out in 1918 to join in the war the virus made its way around the globe, from European battlefields to remote areas of Russia and Greenland, spawning two more pandemic waves that were even deadlier than the first.

The first wave had resembled typical flu epidemics; those most at risk were the sick and elderly, while younger, healthier people recovered easily. But in August when the second wave began in France, Sierra Leone and the United States, the virus had mutated to a much deadlier form.

This increased severity has been attributed to the circumstances of the First World War. In civilian life, natural selection favours a mild strain. Those who get very ill stay home and those mildly ill continue with their lives, preferentially spreading the mild strain. In the trenches, natural selection was reversed. Soldiers with a mild strain stayed where they were, while the severely ill were sent on crowded trains to crowded field hospitals, spreading the deadlier virus. The second wave began and the flu quickly spread around the world again.

The fact that most of those who recovered from first-wave infections were now immune showed that it must have been the same strain of flu. This was most dramatically illustrated in Copenhagen, which escaped with a combined mortality rate of just 0.29% (0.02% in the first wave and 0.27% in the second wave) because of exposure to the less-lethal first wave. On the rest of the population it was far more deadly now; the most vulnerable people were those like the soldiers in the trenches – young previously healthy adults.

http://time.com/3731745/spanish-flu-history/

On 14 September 1918 the first case of the Spanish flu in South Africa was diagnosed in Durban. The virus quickly spread across the country making South Africa the fifth nation hardest hit by the virus. By the time the BOONAH arrived in Durban with its cargo of young, fit Australian soldiers thousands had been infected.

Three days after the BOONAH’s arrival the news came through that the Armistice had been signed. The war was over. Already the longest serving Australian soldiers were on their way home on what was referred to as ANZAC Leave. Another troop ship, the WYREEMA, travelling from England with a contingent of Australian Army Nurses on board, was with the BOONAH in Durban.

Since there was no further need for the reinforcements in France the BOONAH was ordered to turn for home. The WYREEMA left Durban two days ahead of the BOONAH, local stevedores still moving to and from the vessel as it prepared for departure.

After leaving Durban, the BOONAH experienced harsh weather conditions as it headed out into the southern Indian Ocean with cold temperatures, icy decks, and rough seas. For the soldiers, two thin issue blankets in an unheated ship in a swinging hammock, life was very uncomfortable. The conditions confined the ships company and the troops below deck for many days of the return voyage home.

After five days the first indications of the flu appeared. At first medical staff suspected it to be mild tonsillitis but later symptoms of lower back pain which spread to other limbs, raging headaches, nose bleeds and fever often exceeding 104°F (40°C) soon forced all on board to assume the worst. The troops' responses were varied with many showing gradual withdrawal into themselves, maintaining a wall of isolation for themselves and the virus. Every night as they prepared for sleep, each was faced with the dreadful uncertainty of waking next morning in the grip of the fearful disease. Each day the sick parades got longer and longer, a fumigation chamber was hastily constructed and routines established to manage the spread of the flu throughout the ship.

The BOONAH's Captain had a dilemma. With 37 members of his crew affected, many of them stokers, he had to reduce speed as there was insufficient crew to load the boilers. Volunteers were called for from among the troops. The reduction in speed also meant the rationing of provisions and drinking water for the longer voyage.

The first casualty was Staff Sgt Thwaites of the Medical Corps who would have been among those looking after the sick and becoming exposed himself. Ahead the WYREEMA was in constant contact with the BOONAH by radio, its own medical staff monitoring the situation but powerless to assist as it made its way to Fremantle.

The WYREEMA’s Commanding Officer wrote:

"The Western Australian Commandant asked me to land twenty nursing sisters at the Quarantine Station. Volunteers were called for and there was not only a ready response but so many offered that it was necessary to place the names in a hat and draw the twenty required. They knew perfectly well the enormous risk they were taking. Yet they were eager to undertake the work and those whose names were not drawn were disappointed."

By the time the BOONAH had arrived back at Fremantle on the 12th of December, more than 300 cases (nearly 25% on board) had been reported. Commonwealth immigration authorities initially refused to allow the soldiers to disembark, knowing of the pandemic under way, but had until then spared Western Australia.

The ship anchored in Gage Roads and after some delay before approval was granted the 300 most unwell soldiers were ferried ashore to the Quarantine Station at Woodman Point, south of Fremantle. Three men died on the first day at the station. The condition of some deteriorated further with more dying as well as nursing and medical staff becoming infected.

Meanwhile, on board ship where most of the men remained, conditions were said to be deplorable. A seven-day incubation period with no new cases was required to prove that the disease had burnt itself out, but new infections and deaths continued, caused by the cramped and close living conditions.

West Australian, Thursday 12 December 1918

PHEUMONIC INFLUENZA.

THE BOONAH CASES

DISEASE IN A VIRULENT FORM

RIGID QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS

The troopship Boonah, which was farewelled from Fremantle on October 30 last, laden with reinforcements for the front, returned to this port yesterday with most of her passengers and crew suffering, either as patients or contacts, from pneumonic influenza. When the vessel arrived at South Africa, the armistice having been signed, her commander received orders to return to Australia, and it was during the discharging of her Cape cargo that some of her passengers and crew went ashore and brought back with them the germs which, as days went by, spread through the ship's complement and laid more than one-third of those on board on sick beds. So far only one case has proved fatal, but of the patients who were taken ashore and located in Woodman's Point Quarantine Hospital, several are in a very serious condition and are suffering from the disease in a virulent form. Dr Mitchell said last night that some of his charges were very low indeed, and he had doubts as to whether they would all recover.

When the vessel dropped anchor in Gage Roads at an early hour yesterday morning, Dr. F. E. Cox (chief quarantine officer) ordered her into strict quarantine, anid no person, having once set foot on board was allowed to return to the mainland except at the quarantine station. Dr. Mitchell who has been stationed at Woodman's Point during the epidemic, went aboard the vessel with one member of the quarantine staff, and took charge of the sick men, making provision for their comfort and preparing them for transport per tug to Woodmans Point. In all there were 331 patients out of the ship's complement of about 1,000 passengers and crew. Twenty three are seriously ill, 150 are classed as ill and 164 are in the convalescent stage. On the voyage there was one death, that of Sergeant A. C. Thwaites, who jumped overboard while delirious, on Monday. The deceased came from the Eastern States. The Boonah carried two doctors on the trip.

The removal of the patients to the quarantine station was carried out yesterday with extreme difficulty owing to the adverse weather conditions which prevailed. About 150 patients were landed during the day, the severe cases being given first consideration. The rest will be landed today. Dr. Cox stated last night that as far as he knew at present the balance of the ship's complement would remain on board and be inoculated. He believed that in course of time the ship would become "clean" by reason of the quarantine precautions which were being insisted upon.

Two further deaths and nineteen additional cases of influenza were reported on the following day bringing the total number of deaths in quarantine six.

By Saturday 14 December the public of Perth, some of whom had sons aboard the BOONAH were asking questions about keeping so many men on the ship.

(To, the Editor.)

Sir, – May I urge through your columns that something be speedily done to place our soldier lads, who are kept confined on the S.S. Boonah, on some safe quarantine location on shore? We all agree that they cannot be set free among the community as yet, but some responsible authority should get the lads released from their dangerous confinement on the ship, whereon so many cases of sickness have been incubated, and some with fatal results. Common sense tells us that the complaint has a greater chance of spreading among men who are kept in a confined space on board ship. Let any sane person ask himself if he would care for any son of his to take his chance on the S.S. Boonah. Yet to keep large numbers of men so confined is tantamount to dooming them to infection or its possible fatal issue. Where is the hitch? What interests or considerations are preventing these soldier lads from getting their due chance of health or life? How many more cases of sickness and death are required to make the authorities do a strong common-sense thing? These lads went forth to stake their all for us in, the great war, and surely they should not be told that of the million square miles in Western Australia there is no spot where they can be landed to get their chance of escaping infection. As a parent who has a son on board, may I warn those in power that it is not desirable that any weakness, when the strong hand is needed, should lay them open to the charge of blood-guiltiness. — I am, etc

ALBERT W. BRAY.

Wesley Manse, Claremont,

December 14, 1918.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81827368

Mr George Foley, chairman of the Hospital Advisory Board for the 5th Military District (WA) recommended that all influenza contacts, including the men from the BOONAH, be quarantined on Rottnest Island. Personal cleanliness being one of the principle defences against the disease, the ability to bath in the ocean and the sunshine on the island’s beaches would help greatly.

The Victorian Board of Health released a statement that the best preventatives of pneumonic influenza were fresh air, an avoidance of crowds and a healthy body, conditions not available to the BOONAH men.

In 1918 the treatment for the symptoms of influenza included a serum made from the virus itself in two strengths. The first dose contained only 25 million influenza organisms to a cubic centimeter while the second contained 175 million. This was to allow the person to become accustomed to the preparation before injecting the stronger dose after an interval of seven days. A nasal douche of one teaspoon of salt, baking powder and boric acid diluted in one quart of water was said to clear out germs. The throat and nose could be disinfected by sprays such as a solution of potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide. But these douches, sprays and inhalants only served to disinfect the nose and throat. They did not prevent entry of the virus.

“In desperation,” the Perth Sunday Times reported on 15 December, “the Melbourne muddlers are beginning to send WA ANZACs on to the East. What an almighty mess they will land themselves in presently and the public as well. Picture the consternation of a wife or mother who has come down from the country to greet a loved one when she learns that he has been carried on to the East.

Public outrage grew against the refusal of the immigration authorities to allow all of the soldiers ashore, even to Rottnest Island, with casualties growing each day. Wrangling between the State Minister for Health and the Federal immigration authorities continued, and tensions increased to the point where people were fed up.

A mass meeting of returned soldiers and citizens held on Perth’s Esplanade on Tuesday 19 December unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Federal authorities for their “cruel and Inhuman action” in detaining the men of the BOONAH and informing the Government that unless the men were put on Rottnest Island by Saturday, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, with the aid of the State Government and the people of Western Australia, would make and carry out the necessary arrangements themselves. The State Government would be asked to provide a vessel to remove the men from the ship and if the men manning the boat were afraid to take the men off they would do it themselves. The BOONAH was compared to the Black Hole of Calcutta and the use of the bayonet to get some of the men off the vessel was suggested.

After nine days of acrimony, and despite breaking quarantine regulations, the ship was ordered to depart presumably to defuse the situation. Another 17 cases were discovered between Albany and Adelaide and the remaining men were disembarked at Torrens Island Quarantine Station.

No further deaths occurred and after being given the all-clear, the remaining men returned to their homes. A total of twenty-seven soldiers and four nurses at Woodman Point died of influenza during the crisis.

Albert Ricketts was eventually discharged in Melbourne on 1 February 1919. Albert married Rosina Myrtle Pardon in 1921 and the couple raised three children. Rosina died in 1971 and Albert on 1 September 1987.