LANCE CORPORAL DANIEL FREDERICK CORKERY 4748 – 3rd Tunnelling Company Daniel Frederick Corkery was born at Ringarooma, Tasmania on 11 June 1896, the son of Daniel Edward and Margaret (nee Kay) Corkery. Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tasmania – Wednesday 24 February 1909: LYELL LOST IN THE BUSH. On Sunday, at about mid-day, a party consisting of Jack Venn and two boys named, Corkery left with the intention of visiting Lake Beatrice. Their non-return by 10 o'clock that same evening caused some anxiety to the parents. Later on Messrs Venn, Chapman, and Corkery went out to see what they could do, but were forced to return, as the night was dark. The boys, however, turned up at their homes at about 9 o'clock on Monday morning. They had evidently become 'bushed,' and had spent the night by the side of a warm fire. The North Western Advocate and Emu Bay Times, Tasmania- Thursday 19 October 1911 FOR VALOR. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY AWARDS. TASMANIAN RECIPIENTS. HOBART, Wednesday— Royal Humane Society awards were presented by the Governor to the following recipients to-day: — Bronze Medal. — John Henry Venn, Linda, Tasmania, miner, aged 17, who risked his life in attempting to rescue John William Harding, aged 18, and Henry Lodge, aged 17, and in rescuing Daniel Corkery, aged 19, from drowning in the King River, Gormanston, Tasmania, on February 27, 1910. Several young men had been bathing, when Harding and Lodge got into difficulties, and while struggling with one another sank. Venn dived in and separated them, but as Harding attempted to swim away Lodge caught him by the legs, and the three sank together. Venn came up alone, but at once dived again, and brought both the other boys to the surface. Once more he separated them, and Harding disappeared. Another lad, D. Corkery, had joined in the rescue, and was seized by Lodge, and they both sank. Venn dived again, and brought them both to the surface, and succeeded in getting Corkery to the bank, but Lodge sank, and was drowned. As soon as Venn reached the bank he fell exhausted, but subsequently re-entered the water, and endeavored unsuccessfully to recover Harding’s body. A miner by trade, he signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ at Claremont, Tasmania on 13 February 1916, recording that he had been rejected for service with the School Cadets 5 years previously at Gormanston due to ‘lungs’. A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 19 years and 7 months of age and stood 5ft 10ins tall. He weighed 133lbs, had a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He was of the Church of England faith. He named as Next-of-Kin his father Daniel E. Corkery of Linda Valley, West Coast, Tasmania. This was later changed to his mother Margaret Corkery, of the same address. He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 14 February at Claremont, Tasmania, and was allotted Regimental number 4748 and the rank of Sapper. He was appointed to 5th Company Miners. Photos of Dan Corkery courtesy Lyn Phillips www.gravesoftas.com.au Daily Post, Hobart – Wednesday 16 February 1916: LATEST RECRUITS. The undermentioned men joined the CIaremont camp on Monday:— D. M. Spotswood, F. Rawson, R. Daniels, D. F. Corkery, O. M’Guinncss, J. T. Murtagh, A. J. Mansfield, L. F. Daley, M. J. Garland, E. Midwood, J. T. Miller, W. O. Jeffrey, V. N. Jeffrey, J. B. Jeffrey, R. T. Duffy, L. J. Sullivan, R. H. J. Witzermann, E. C. Howell, B. E. Hannon, G. A. Honslow, D. Bannister, W. T. Bannister, D. Billinghurst, R. White, R. Purdon, W. R. Bedford, H. W. Saunders, K. R. Cooley, W. J. Simmonds, A Rooney, W. C. Fazackerley, T. Ferguson. He was transferred to No.5 Tunnelling Company on 28 April 1916 at the Miners Training Camp at Broadmeadows, Victoria. Daniel embarked at Melbourne on 25 May 1916 on board Warilda. Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks (O.R.s) together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections. At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training. The 7713 ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 bound for Melbourne, Victoria, where the Headquarters and 3 Sections of No.5 Company boarded the transport. Two of those Sections, 8 Officers and 173 O.R.s, had been recruited in Victoria. The third Section, 3 Officers and 76 O.R.s, had been recruited in Tasmania. Also boarding in Melbourne were the 1st Reinforcements for No.5 Company; 17 men from Victoria and 8 from Tasmania. The ship departed Melbourne on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. where one Section of 3 officers and 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs, boarded Warilda to complete No.5 Company. Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 No.6 Company had been recruited in W.A. and the 14 Officers and 325 O.R.s, along with their 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs, were taken on board and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre. Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkably pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were entrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front. From the Historical Record of No.6 Tunnelling Company: The Companies proceeded by train to Salisbury Plains. The new quarters in Perham Downs, Salisbury Plains were excellently appointed but in spite of this measles broke out in a neighbouring unit and spread to this Company causing a certain proportion to be quarantined from August 7th onwards. No rifles and few tools being available at Perham Downs very little technical training was carried out. The sojourn in England however allowed the men to become physically fit after the long sea voyage and to become acclimatised to far more rigorous weather than that to which they were accustomed. They also had ample opportunities of seeing and hearing trench mortars at work both by night and by day, and acquiring familiarity there with. General leave was granted in England on two occasions firstly for thirtysix hours on August 2nd and again for 4 days on August 21st. Daniel was absent without leave from 2400 hours on 8 October until 1110 hours on 10 October. He was awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks and forfeiture of 2 days pay. He proceeded overseas to France on 15 October and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot, Etaples. He was placed in the Segregation Camp on 16 November, possibly due to illness. Charged with creating a ‘nuisance in the lines’ on 21 December, he was awarded forfeiture of 7 days pay. Transferred from the Segregation Camp on 30 December, he was attached to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company on 31 December 1916 and was taken on strength on 1 January 1917. In May 1917 Dan’s father wrote to Army Records advising that both his sons after they enlisted had allotted portion of their pay to him and requesting the allotments be transferred to Mrs Charles Leeman, his eldest Daughter. Daniel reported sick on 30 August 1917 and was admitted to the 18th Casualty Clearing Station with dental caries. He was transferred to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Argues for further treatment and re-joined his unit in the field on 9 September. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 17 April 1918. Daniel proceeded on leave to Paris on 8 July, re- joining his unit on 12 July. On 9 September he was charged with creating a disturbance in the billets and was stripped of his rank, reverting to Sapper. He was reported missing and wounded on 2 November 1918. 3ATC’s End of War Report: On 2/11/18, 4748 Spr. CORKERY D.F. was wounded and missing. Afterwards reported killed in action. This regrettable incident removed a young energetic and high spirited sapper from the ranks of the Tunnellers. He, with Sgt. Forsyth, was engaged in investigation work in forward areas, believed to be protected by advanced infantry patrols. They were fired on at close range and a sniper’s bullet found Sapper Corkery. He fell shot through the stomach, and insisted on Sgt. Forsyth leaving him knowing he was beyond assistance. Sgt. Forsyth when quite convinced there was no hope sought shelter followed by snipers fire. [1005 CQMS Leslie Milo Forsyth MM, 3ATC, RTA October 1919.] Red Cross files record: Corkery D.F. 4748 – Killed 2nd November 1918. “Buried by some English Soldiers and cross was put up, His Tunnelling Coy., Cpl. W. Williams 2101 took up Cross for grave. Sgt Forsyth was with him when killed. Informant: Brown 4993 W. 15th Harefield. [1201 Sapper Wesley Williams, 3ATC, RTA August 1919. 4993 Corporal Lindsay George Brown, 3ATC, RTA April 1919.] 2nd & 8th November entries extracted from the diary of 5798 Sapper George Oxman, 3ATC: Zeehan and Dundas Herald, Tasmania - 12 December 1918: KILLED IN ACTION Mrs C Leaman of Linda has been officially advised that her brother, Lance-Corporal Daniel Frederick Corkery, who was recently reported missing was killed in action on November 2nd.