Robert Theodore Watling 5857

SAPPER ROBERT WATLING 5857 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Robert Theodore (Bob) WATLING was born on 25 March 1888 at Kempton (Green Ponds), Tasmania, the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (nee Oliver) Watling.

He married Agnes Hannah Rose Williams on 31 March 1913 at Montagu, Tasmania. Agnes was born on 27 May 1896 at West Montagu. Circular Head Chronicle, Stanley, Tasmania – Wednesday 2 April 1913: A TRIPLE WEDDING. UNIQUE CEREMONY AT MONTAGU. A very unusual wedding ceremony took place in the Catholic Church, Montagu, on Monday morning last, when the Rev. Father O'Donnell married three couples at the same time. The brides were Misses Agnes and Alice Williams (sisters) and Miss Frances Hanson (their first cousin). Miss Alice Williams was married to Mr G. H. Saward, of Montagu. The bridesmaid was Miss Ada Williams and the best man Mr H. Enniss. jun. Miss Agnes Williams was married to Mr Robert Watling, of Marrawah, formerly of Kempton. She was attended by Miss Elsie Hanson, whilst Mr W. Russell assisted the bridegroom. Miss Frances Hanson was united to Mr Thomas Thorp of Scotchtown. The bridesmaid was Miss Alice Thorp and the best man Mr Thomas Hanson. The church was crowded, and the altar nicely decorated for the unique ceremony. The happy couples, together with their attendants, stood at the altar rails, completely filling it from one side of the church to the other. Rev. Father O'Donnell gave a brief address on the sacredness of the sacrament of matrimony, and showed the high esteem in which it was held by the church. He congratulated the happy young people, and hoped that they would all live to celebrate the golden jubilee of their wedding day. The ceremony then proceeded, and was taken in parts. Each couple first went through the form of consent. Then they knelt as the solemn blessing by which the church united them in wedlock was given. The rings were then blessed and placed in turn on the finger of each happy bride. After the signing of the register the young married people and their friends drove to the residence of Mr and Mrs Williams at West Montagu, where a sumptuous wedding breakfast was served, over 50 persons being present. The usual toasts were honoured. The happy couples received numerous congratulations and many valuable presents. The brides' dresses were all very handsome. Mr and Mrs Saward will reside at Temma, Mr and Mrs Thorp at Scotchtown, and Mr and Mrs Watling at Marrawah.

Agnes was the 9th child of Charles Arthur & Mary Jane (nee Enniss) Williams. When Agnes was about 14 years of age she went to work at Balfour, Tasmania and according to Electoral Rolls in 1913, Robert also worked at Balfour as a miner, and this could be where they met.

During Robert's early years he worked on the Marrawah Tram Line, and in the bush felling trees

He signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 6 February 1916 as ‘Robert Watling’. He stated he was a Miner by trade and was married with one child. He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife, Mrs Agnes Watling of Montagu West, Circular Head, Tasmania and allotted three-fifths of his pay for the support of his wife and child.

A medical examination at Claremont on 7 February recorded that he was 26 years and 11 months of age. He stood 5ft 7½ins tall and weighed 157 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was of the Church of England faith.

Robert signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ the same day.

On 24 April he was appointed to the 5th Company Miners and on 8 July he was transferred to the Miners Reinforcements training camp at Seymour, Victoria. Robert Watling c. 1916 Photo courtesy Janet Zeuschner Robert embarked for service abroad at Melbourne on board Ulysses. 516 Tunnellers Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses, Robert Watling being one of them. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. They felt the effects of the wind going around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Freetown in Sierra Leone was the next port of call where they arrived on 29 November. Their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916, as it was not safe to proceed further. Ulysses arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916, after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and entraining for Tidworth.

5798 Sapper George Oxman, (later of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company) recorded the voyage in his Diary:

Dec 5. It took 1½ hours to take 1000 men ashore for the afternoon. We have to pay 6d each for the loan of the punts. We were fastened with ropes with one punt to the other coming back, the rope broke and we were drifting out pretty quick but the tug boat soon had us back again. Not too clean of a place. The women stand in a stream and wet their clothes they are washing and place them on a flat stone and then belt into them with a flat piece of wood like a bat. Dec 9. Had to get some coal and fresh water. The officers went ashore to buy some fruit to sell to us they wouldn’t let us buy off the natives so when they came back with the fruit - none of us would buy it off them. Dec13. 29 Big boats in here now. Dec 14. Left for England with four other transport auxiliary cruiser escorting us. Dec 25. On the sea between Gibraltar and England it has been very foggy. We had roast pork for Christmas dinner and some baked scones. They were as hard as rock. Dec 26. Very foggy torpedo boats came to escort us in the rest of the way. Got our kit bags out of the holds. Dec 28. We had nothing to eat from 7.30am to 3.30pm. We had to buy some cakes during the last week on the boat. We held the Dead March on a roast they gave us (250 of us) for our dinner. We marched up to the top deck with it, all the rest of the men were watching us and laughing. We got roared up a bit after it but we didn’t care. Got on the train at 4pm. Got to Perham Downs camp at 11pm. Nothing to eat from the military until 8 or 9 the next morning. Then we had two tablespoons of boiled salmon and spuds and a mug of tea. Mud from 1-6 inches deep.

He proceeded overseas to France on 1 January 1917 on board s.s. Arundel and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot on 3 January. On 12 January he was attached to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion.

The 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot. Formed at La Motte, France on June 6, 1916 with Captain N. Macrae being seconded from the Mining Corps as Adjutant and Quartermaster, the Battalion had an initial strength of 21 Officers and 1003 Other Ranks, mainly Infantry. The Battalion organised works near the lines and through duties would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.

For a time, all infantry reinforcements were drawn from this unit. Heavy losses at Pozieres in July through September 1916 caused all infantry to be directly absorbed into their fighting units.

The Battalion continued to be a transit unit for tunnelling reinforcements and in October 1916 there were 9 officers and 203 men in the Battalion which now served as a tunnelling company, working with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company at St Eloi, The Bluff and the Ravine (near Ypres). On 5 November 1917 the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion was abolished.

On 15 March he was attached to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) and was taken on strength of that unit. He was due his first Blue Chevron about this time. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.

Robert enjoyed some leave from France from 10 to 24 December 1918, rejoining his unit in the Field on Christmas day 1918.

2ATC had relieved the 172nd Tunnelling Company, R.E. in May 1916 in the Neuville St Vaast/Vimy area. They supported the Australian 5th Division at Fromelles and relieved the Canadians at the Bluff in January 1917. The Company moved to Nieuport in the same month, to construct subways for Operation Hush. Involved in enemy attack - Operation Strandfest - in this coastal sector in July 1917, recorded in the official histories as ‘The Affair at Nieuport Bains’. In April 1918, troops of the Company fought a large fire in Peronne.

Following the Armistice, members of the company were involved in the clearance of mines and delayed- action booby-traps and in the re-construction of civilian infrastructure until the Company was recalled to Base on May 23, 1919 to organize their departure from France.

Robert marched out of 2ATC on 3 March 1919 for return to Australia and demobilisation.

On 1 April he was admitted to the 39th General Hospital and was discharged after 3 days treatment. He marched in to the Australian Infantry Base Depot on 6 April and marched out to England on 8 April where he marched in to No.2 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, on 9 April.

He left England on board Nestor on 29 May 1919, disembarking at Melbourne on 2 July. Robert was discharged from the A.I.F. on 29 July 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Following the war he returned to his wife and now two children at Montagu, Tasmania, but was a very sick man, after being gassed in the War in France, according to Central Army Records.

The 1922 Electoral Roll records Robert working as a labourer at Montagu West. In 1928, 1936 and 1943 the Rolls record the same information and include Agnes Watling performing home duties at Montagu West.

In June 1929 his medical and military documents were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Hobart.

When they moved to Smithton in the early 1930s, Robert became an active member for the Labour Party. Records show him to have been Secretary and the party built up to a membership of 400.

Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania – Wednesday 21 June 1939: SMITHTON NEW A.L.P. SECRETARY - At a meeting of the Smithton branch of the A.L.P., Mr. Robert Watling was appointed secretary in place of Mr. James Bradmore, resigned. A tribute was paid to the manner in which Mr. Bradmore had carried out his duties.

Robert and Agnes reared a family of 2 sons and 7 daughters, Charles the elder of the 2 sons served in World War 2 in the 2/40th Battalion.

The other son, Alfred, died in 1942 at the age of 18 as the result of an accidental shooting while on a fishing and hunting excursion with friends.

Irishtown Public Cemetery Photo courtesy Janet Zeuschner Robert Theodore Watling died on 5 May 1944 at Smithton aged 57 years. He was buried at Irishtown Public Cemetery, Irishtown, Tasmania

Circular Head Chronicle, Stanley, Tasmania – Wednesday 10 May 1944: OBITUARY. MR. R. WATLING. The death occurred at his residence, Smithton, on Friday of Mr. Robert Watling, who had suffered a long time as a result of gas from the last war. The funeral took place at the Irishtown Catholic cemetery on Saturday afternoon, Father Lynch officiating, the chief mourner being the widow, daughters (Mesdames W. Boag, F. Saward and Leo Tuck), son, Mr. Charlie Watling, and Messrs. W. Boag, F. Saward and Leo Tuck, sons-in-law, and Mr. E. Watling, brother. The casket was carried by returned A.I.F. 1914-1918 men, Messrs. P. Bugg, M.H.A., Arch. Grey, C. Glover, G. Barber, H. Wainwright and D. Luck, and the pall-bearers, also returned men, were Messrs. M. Humphries, T. Gardiner, M. Lynch and Ross Atkinson. Among the many floral tributes were wreaths from Smithton A.L.P., Fathers’ Association, Directors Circular Head Amalgamated Timbers Pty. Ltd., Circular Head branch of the A.C.F., President and Members of the Smithton Club, R.S.S.A.I.L.A., Farewell and Welcome Home Committee, Employees Circular Head Amalgamated Timbers Pty. Ltd., Burnie Ladies’ Branch A.L.P., Boiler Shop and Staff T. G. Railways (Launceston), Management and Staff of Dewpoint Factory (Smithton), Women’s Auxiliary R.S.S.& A.I.L.A., Ward & Wells, Grey Bros., President and Members Red Cross Society. Mr. Watling was a great worker for the A.L.P. and was secretary up till the time of his death.

Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania – Thursday 3 August 1944: LATE MR. R. WATLING There was general regret at the death of Mr. Robert Watling, of Smithton. Although he did not enjoy good health, he was ever ready to assist in a worthy cause. In his younger days he was a noted footballer, and in later life continued to take an active interest in sport. He fought in the last war, enlisting in 1914. He was eventually discharged from the Army, with his health impaired. In the latter years of his life Mr. Watling was secretary of the Smithton branch of the A.L.P. When a branch of the Fathers' Association was formed in Smithton, he was elected vice-president.

Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania – Saturday 5 Mary 1945: WATLING. - In loving memory of my dear father, who passed away at Smithton on May 5, 1944. A tender cord of memory Is sadly touched to-day. Loving thoughts of you, father, Death cannot take away. -Inserted by his loving daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Leo, also grand- children, Yvonne and Robert, Evandale.

WATLING. - In loving memory of our dear father, Robert Theodore Watling, late member of First A.I.F., who passed away on May 5, 1944. Sweetest memories are all that is left Of a wonderful father, whom we shall never forget. -Inserted by his loving daughter, Eva, son-in-law, Bill, and grandson, Graham and Allan Boag, Smithton.

Agnes Hannah Rose (nee Williams) Watling died on 26 February 1984 at Hobart, Tasmania.

Three of Robert’s brothers also served in WW1:

PRIVATE EDWARD WATLING 2528 – 15th Infantry Battalion Edward was born at Kempton, (Green Ponds), Tasmania on 18 April 1896. A labourer by trade, he signed the Attestation Paper at Claremont on 1 June 1915 naming his father Theodore Watling of 95 Bathurst Street, Launceston as his Next-of-Kin. A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 19 years of age and stood 5ft 6½ins tall. He weighed 140 lbs, had a fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair.

He signed the Oath on 4 June at Claremont. On 27 July he was appointed to the 7th Reinforcements to the 15th Infantry Battalion and embarked at Melbourne on 17 July 1915 on board HMAT A67 Orsova.

Edward embarked at Alexandria on 18 October and joined the Battalion at Lemnos on 23 October. The 15th Battalion were at about that time in the Hay Valley in the Sari Bair area at Gallipoli. They left Hay Valley on 13 December on board s.s. Carron and disembarked at Lemnos where they marched to their camp site at Mudros East. The Battalion left Mudros Bay on H.M.T. Ascanius on 27 December, disembarking at Alexandria on 29 December where they entrained for Moascar. By 31 December their camp site had been established at Ismalia.

Edwards’ records show that he disembarked at Alexandria, ‘ex Anzac’, on 25 December 1915.

Edward was late on parade on 4 May 1916 and was awarded 24 hours Field Punishment No.2.

On 1 June 1916 from Alexandria he proceeded on board the Transport Transylvania to join the British Expeditionary Force, disembarking at Marseilles on 8 June.

On 9 August 1916 at Pozieres, Edward was wounded in action, receiving a gun shot wound to his right arm. He was treated at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station and was then transferred to the 14th General Hospital at Boulogne.

He was evacuated to England on 14 August on board Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital at Norwich the same day. On 27 November he was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield. On 5 December he was discharged from hospital and marched in to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth, to be returned to Australia.

On 13 February 1917 Edward left England on board Ulysses for return to Australia as medically unfit, disembarking at Hobart on 12 April.

Discharged from the A.I.F. on 12 June 1917, Edward was entitled to wear the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The 1919 Electoral Roll records Edward, returned soldier, living at Kempton. Also at Kempton were Alice Phoebe Watling, James William Watling, storeman, Theodore Watling, labourer, and Elizabeth Watling. The 1922 Electoral Roll records Edward, farmer, living at Spreyton with his wife Clare Dorothy May.

In May 1924 his Victory Medal was forwarded to him at “Woodrising”, Spreyton, Tasmania.

The 1936 Electoral Roll records Edward Watling, shopkeeper, living at 1 Brewer Place, Launceston North with Clare Dorothy May Watling.

In November 1937 his military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Hobart.

The 1943, 1949 and 1954 Electoral Rolls record Edward Watling, boilermaker’s assistant, living at 98 Goderich Street, Launceston North with Clare Dorothy Mary Watling. On 23 May 1968 his daughter Joan Kathleen applied for the Gallipoli Medallion in respect of her fathers’ service. As military memorabilia is normally issued to the surviving male children, Joan included a letter stating that she had her brother Bruce’s consent to apply for the medallion, all of her fathers medals and military papers having been passed over to her. Her brother was a bachelor and moved from place to place and wished her to have them. She included his then address if the Department wanted to check with him.

PRIVATE ARTHUR WATLING 1255 – 15th Infantry Battalion Arthur was born at Green Ponds, Tasmania in 1892.

The 1914 Electoral Roll records Arthur employed as a billiard marker and living at Queenstown, Tasmania.

A medical examination on 3 September 1914 at the Claremont Camp recorded that he was 21 years and 2 months of age. He was 5ft 6½ins tall and weighed 146 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. ‘A W’ tattooed on his right arm was recorded as a distinguishing mark.

He completed the Attestation Paper on 30 September 1914 naming his father, Mr. T. Watling of 1 Barrow Street, Launceston as his Next-of-Kin. He signed the Paper and the Oath at Claremont on 3 October.

On 18 December at the Broadmeadows, Victoria camp he was appointed to “H” Company, 15th Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade.

PRIVATE ALFRED WATLING 1117 – 15th Infantry Battalion Alfred was born at Kempton (Green Ponds), Tasmania on 4 April 1894.

A labourer by trade, he underwent a medical examination on 30 October 1914 at the Claremont Camp which recorded that he was 21 years and 7 months of age. He was 5ft 9ins tall and weighed 11 stone 8 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. Vaccination marks on his left arm were recorded as distinguishing marks.

He named his father, Mr. Theordore Watling of 95 Bathurst Street, Launceston as his Next-of-Kin. He signed the Attestation Paper and the Oath at Claremont on 30 October.

On 15 December at the Broadmeadows, Victoria camp he was appointed to “G” Company, 15th Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade.

Alfred and Arthur embarked with the 15th Battalion at Melbourne on 22 December 1914 on board HMAT A40 Ceramic.

War Diaries of the 15th Infantry Battalion:

From 3 February to 11 April 1915 the Battalion camped at Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis and was trained in Battalion, Brigade and Divisional training. From 15 April H.M. Transport Australind was at anchor at Mudros in the island of Lemnos. The troops were practised in disembarkation by cutters and horseboats. On 25 April at 5.30 a.m. the Transport Australind with Headquarters, “B” & “D” Companies on board reached the entrance to the Dardenelles and witnessed the bombardment and landing of British troops. At 11.45 a.m. the Transport left the entrance to the Dardenelles and anchored opposite the disembarkation point at 4 p.m. A Destroyer took off two companies but these were not land until about 10.30 p.m. due to schrapnel fire from the shore. At 12.30 a.m. on 26 April Lt. Col Cannan took command of all 15th Battalion which had disembarked at that time. At 10.20 p.m. on 6 August the Battalion moved out of its’ Bivouac Lines in Reserve Gully to take part in an attack on Abdul Rahman Bair 1117 Private Alfred Watling was wounded in action on 7 August, receiving gun shot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He was admitted to the 4th Field Ambulance and transferred to Base. Initially listed as ‘Missing’, a Court of Inquiry in 1917 determined that Alfred had died of wounds received in action on or about 7 August 1915. He is commemorated in the Hill 60 Group of Cemeteries at the Embarkation Pier Cemetery, Gallipoli.

1255 Private Arthur Watling was wounded in action on 9 August. He died of his wounds and it was ruled that he had been killed in action. It was recorded that he was buried by Rev. F.W. Wray at Kiajiack Dere, Gallipoli Peninsula. A second entry records he was buried in the Norfolk Cemetery, about 2¼ miles N.N.E. of Anzac Cove. He is commemorated in the Hill 60 Group of Cemeteries at the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Gallipoli.

The Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour records that the 15th Battalion lost 29 men killed in action on 7 August; 162 on 8 August and 26 on 9 August.

The Battalion, which had on 6 August numbered Alfred Watling 850 officers and men, was now reduced to 280. Photo courtesy Philip Kaufman

Arthur Watling Photo courtesy Philip Kaufman

Photos of headstones by kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project - www.twgpp.org The Watling brothers are commemorated on the Congregational Church Roll of Honour.

The Mercury (Hobart), 8th August 1918: The fourth anniversary of the war was observed at Kempton on Sunday by special intercessory services in the churches, which were largely attended. Holy Communion was celebrated at the Anglican Church at 8.30 a.m., many communicants being present. At the evening service the Rev. C. Allen preached on "Duty" to a large congregation. The Rev. Mr. Vertigan preached at the Presbyterian Church in the morning, and the Rev. R. F. Crocker at the Congregational Church, in the evening. The Union Jack was hung in each church, and in the Congregational Church the roll of honour, which has recently been hung, was draped.

This roll of honour that was formerly in the Kempton Congregational Church commemorates those who served in World War One. It lists 14 names and is now housed at the Kempton Memorial Hall. War memorabilia I respect of Arthur and Alfred was received together by the boys father. British War Medals and the pamphlet ‘Where The Australians Rest’ were received in May 1921; Memorial Scrolls and King’s Message in July 1921; Memorial Plaques and Victory Medals in September 1922.

Arthur and Alfred are commemorated on the Kempton Memorial Arch.

Arthur and Alfred Watling's names are located at Panel 78 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.