Isaac Joseph Berry 8037

SAPPER ISAAC JOSEPH BERRY 8037 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Isaac was born at Mt Seymour, Tasmania on 20 December 1892, the son of Joseph and Maria, nee Bond, Berry.

A single Farmer, he signed the ‘Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’, on 2 July 1917 at Hobart.

A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 22 years of age. He was 5ft 9ins tall and weighed 11 stone. He had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and red hair. He was of the Church of England faith.

He named as his Next-of-Kin his mother Mrs. J Berry of Colebrook, Tasmania. Later amendments to his Next-of-Kin named his father, Mr. Joseph Berry of Rhyndaston, Tasmania.

Isaac admitted that he had preciously evaded service and that he had previously been rejected due to an injury to his leg.

His training began at the 1st Depot Battalion, 6th Military District, Claremont on 10 July. On 6 August he was transferred to the 3rd Military District and appointed to the Reinforcements Tunnelling Company at Seymour, Victoria.

On 28 August he was transferred to the Miners Training Camp at Bendigo until 2 November when he was transferred back to Seymour. On 20 November he was transferred to Broadmeadows and, after some Final Leave, embarked for the Western Front on board Nestor.

The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Victoria on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day. They entrained for Alexandria on January 4, 1918 and marched into the Australian Camp, Gabbary, in Alexandria on January 5 then boarded on January 8, 1918 the Transport E620 Abbasiah, disembarking at Taranto, Italy on 12 January. It was an unusual journey for the troops to undertake the weeklong train travel from Taranto to Cherbourg, France, and to then cross the channel to Southampton, England disembarking on January 24, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No.3 Details Camp at Parkhouse.

Isaac proceeded overseas to France on 2 March 1918 and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD), Rouelles on 3 March. He marched out to the Australian Corps Depot on 11 March and was attached to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) on 15 March.

He reported sick on 23 March and was treated at the 56th Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport. On 31 March he was transferred to Ambulance Train 27 and was then Isaac Joseph Berry transferred on 1 April to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen. Photo courtesy Helen Sonners On the same day he was transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot.

On 9 April he was transferred to 11th Convalescent Depot at Rouen. He was discharged from hospital on 30 April to the AGBD at Rouelles. Isaac rejoined his unit on 15 May 1918.

He reported sick on 5 July and after initial treatment at the 15th Australian Field Ambulance he was transferred and admitted to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station. On 21 July he was transferred by Ambulance Train 14 to the 12th General Hospital, Rouen.

His condition on 6 July was recorded at the 12th Casualty Clearing Station as: “K.J. only on reinforcing, slight tremors hand, pupils irregular and sluggish, right pupil greater than left. Heart 90 per minute.”

Isaac stated: “ France Jan 1918. March 21st 1918 blown up treated Can. Gen. Hpl. Yesterday barrage upset him, nearest shell 3 yards away.”

The O.C. of 2ATC, Major Mulligan, made a statement on 10 July: “ I certify that the above-named was not subjected in the course of his duty to exceptional exposure. Sapper Berry was working on Machine Gun Positions 2000 yds behind the line. The trench was in good condition and had a deep dugout off it. His working mate states that the shelling never exceeded 6 shells a day and they never dropped nearer than 100 yds to Berry. This sapper used to frequent the dugouts and made it difficult for the sappers to get on with their work. As soon as it was discovered that Sapper berry was of a nervous temperament he was sent back pending his removal to a back area job.”

On 12 July he was classified with neurasthenia (nervous condition, constantly worried to point of exhaustion).

On 26 July he was discharged from hospital to the AGBD at Rouelles and marched out to his unit on 18 August. Isaac rejoined his unit on 20 August and was taken on strength of 2ATC.

On 7 February 1919 he was granted leave to England, rejoining his unit on 23 February.

He reported sick and was admitted to the 5th Field Ambulance on 18 March 1919. He was transferred to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station the same day and then to Ambulance Train 42 on 21 March. On 22 March he was admitted to the 7th General Hospital at Wimereux. He was evacuated to England on board St Andrew and admitted to the Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford on 18 April.

Discharged from hospital on 21 May 1919, he marched in to the Conversion Training Depot, Parkhouse the same day. He marched out to No.2 Group, Sutton Veny, on 30 May 1919.

In the last quarter of 1920 at Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Isaac married Hannah Emily Mortimer. Hannah was born on 7 December 1893, the daughter of George and Catherine Mortimer.

Isaac was granted leave on 11 November 1919 awaiting a family boat for his return to Australia.

Isaac and his wife left London on 2 December 1919 on board Shropshire, disembarking at Melbourne on 22 January 1920.

The 1919 Electoral Roll records Isaac Joseph Berry as a labourer living at 8 Argyle Street, Hobart East.

He was discharged in Tasmania on 1 March 1920 entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In the 1922 and 1928 Electoral Rolls Isaac Berry is recorded as a farmer living at Burns’ Creek, Colebrook.

At Colebrook on 26 May 1924 Isaac received his British War Medal and his Victory Medal.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania – Tuesday 22 October 1929: PUBLIC Notice. I hereby notify the public that Isaac Joseph Berry is a lawful single man. Isaac Joseph Berry, 65 Brisbane Street.

In November 1938 his military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Hobart.

The Electoral Roll for 1943 records Isaac Joseph Berry, Farmer, and Ivy Beryl Berry, home duties, living at Mt. Lloyd, New Norfolk.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania – Friday 20 July 1945: DEATHS BERRY.- On July 19, 1945, at Royal Hobart Hospital, Isaac Joseph, beloved son of the late Joseph and Lorna Berry, of Oatlands, late 3rd Tunnelling Co., AIP, aged 50 years. Requiescat in pace.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania –Saturday 21 July 1945: FUNERAL NOTICES BERRY. - Funeral of the late Mr Isaac Joseph Berry, late of 3rd Tunnelling Co., AIF, will move from the Funeral Parlours of the undersigned on Saturday (This Day), at 10 am, arriving Cornelian Bay Cemetery 10.25 am. HOOPER AND BURGESS, Funeral Directors. (H. J. HOOPER, Manager), Phone 6107. 195 Elizabeth St.

The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania –Saturday 18 August 1945: PUBLIC NOTICES PURSUANT to Sections 17 and 20 of the Public Trust Office Act, 1930, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, after the expiration of fourteen (14) days from the publication hereof the Public Trustee intends to apply to the Supreme Court of Tasmania for Letters of Administration of, or to file an Election to Administer the estate of, the undermentioned person, intestate: Isaac Joseph Berry, late of Sandfly, no occupation. C. CROFT, Deputy Public Trustee.

Hannah Emily Berry died at Pontypridd in May 1983, aged 91 years.