The skills, courage and bravery of the men of the 2nd ...



The skills, courage and fighting spirit of the men of the 2nd Tunnelling Company, especially the Nos 1 and 3 Sections during July, 1917 were documented by their Officers in the Unit War Diary; then by war correspondents, reporting their heroic feats in newspaper columns. Our Nation’s Official War History documents their achievements under the title ‘THE AFFAIR AT NIEUPORT’; and a British newspaper used the heading ‘BATTLE OF THE SAND DUNES’. A combination of all is applied here to record the Tunneller’s contribution to this event on the Western Front, and combines several documents that were written or spoken by them.

Our own comments are written in italics. Anything not in italics is verbatim from the records.

For the purpose of an introduction, relevant paragraphs from C.E.W. Bean’s Official War History – ‘The Affair at Nieuport’ opens our telling:

THE 2nd TUNNELLING COMPANY IN THE AFFAIR AT NIEUPORT

The Fourth Army’s project was a difficult one—a thrust from the narrow foothold beyond the Yser, and a simultaneous landing of one division on the coast; and General Rawlinson was particularly anxious to help it by undermining a prominent German strong-point in the dunes; Australian miners, and probably others, had assured General Harvey that they were accustomed to tunnel through sandy drift, and he concluded his report:

“It may be possible to drive a mine gallery under the Grande Dune. This work will be attended with great difficulty and will be slow, but with care, and the right sort of men, I think. . . it is worth while to make a trial. . .

“I would be prepared to recommend that half a tunnelling company be detailed. . . to make a real trial of the possibility of mining in the dunes. The company selected should be one accustomed to working in soft ground, and I recommend either 171st Company R.E., or 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company. . .”

The Australian company was chosen, and was sent to report to the 29th French Division, and made a preliminary experiment on the beach at Coxyde Bains a few miles behind the front. This was completely successful and, on the 1st British Division relieving the French, work was at once begun in the small area of the sand dune held by the British beyond the Yser.

The British dune area beyond the river was only 600 yards deep by a mile wide. Bordering the beach a long dune ran through the British line into the German line; and 250 yards inland another, known as the “Black Dune,” also ran curving across No Man’s Land, the two enclosing a curiously circular flat which had formed part of a well-known golf-links. Any digging in the level sand almost immediately ran into deep water; but by tunnelling into the dunes, and keeping a few inches above water-level, 15 or 20 feet of head-cover could be obtained, and the German strong-points on those dunes might be undermined. . .

The company, 566 strong, had been increased by the attachment of 160 of its reinforcements and working parties of 500 British Infantry. Three-quarters of this force were worked beyond the Yser, and, within two and a half weeks, their tunnels were approaching No-Man’s Land and, General Harvey’s doubts had been dispelled. In addition the battalion headquarters was practically completed, and one underground communication trench had gone 100 yards with five entrances at intervals, and was being simultaneously worked on at several points farther ahead.

. . . The story of the 1st Division and the Tunnellers is a short one. The sandbagged trenches had given little protection from the bombardment, and the infantry losses had been very severe; the Germans easily overran the position. The Australians and attached working parties in the tunnels were fairly secure, except where tunnels were broken in by minenwerfer shells; indeed, for some of these the first evidence of the attack was the non-arrival of reliefs to dig them out. Recognising then that they were cut off, Lieutenant W. M. Mortensen and Corporal M. G. Dunn with a dozen men in one of the tunnels barricaded the gallery and held out until dawn next morning, when the exhaustion of the air and its pollution by German smoke-bombs thrown from the sap-head forced them to surrender. In one of the tunneled communication trenches, which served as headquarters of the left battalion, a number of British officers and men under Captain Smith of the 2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifles offered some resistance to Germans who penetrated thither, Sapper C. G. McGlinchey playing a leading part. Another tunneller, Sapper P. Minogue fought the Germans with his rifle until wounded through thigh, abdomen, and ankle.

It was largely the survivors of this party who escaped across the river. As some could not swim, two Australians, Sappers T. F. Burke M.M. and J. Coade M.M., KIA 9 April 18. obtained a rope. Burke swam across with it and Coade remained to hold it taut while the non-swimmers escaped, and then followed them [McGlinchey, trying to escape at 1 a.m., ran into Germans and was captured]. Of necessity the wounded were left; but when a party of Germans was seen working round the river bank, and it was explained to those in shelter that it was a case of swim or be captured, an Australian, Sapper J. O'Connell D.C.M., who lay there bandaged after fighting with bombs and being wounded and burnt with a flammenwerfer, to the surprise of everyone, stood up. He made his way across part of a broken bridge, and then swam across. As he climbed out he heard a British soldier in the water calling for help. He at once swam out again, brought the man in, and then fainted. Sergeant F. Birrell and three other Australians, Sappers J. O'Neill, T. O'Neill, and L. G. Hinds, and a British working party, trapped by the falling in of a tunnel, dug themselves out by next morning only to find Germans in their rear. Their rifles had been destroyed and most of the infantrymen decided to surrender, but the four Australians and two of their British comrades asked the others to give them ten minutes start before putting up the white flag. Though they were bombed by the Germans and Birrell was wounded, the six reached the river, but Germans followed them and, having no weapons, they were captured. Of 50 tunnellers beyond the river, only Lieutenant E. P. Hargraves and the three men already mentioned escaped. 25

Footnotes:

25 The company lost only one man killed; 4 officers and 3 others were wounded. 1 officer and 41 others were missing - a few of these were wounded.

Official History of WW1, C.E.W. Bean, pp 960-964

The Unit’s official War Diary reported the events as follows:

WAR DIARY – JULY, 1917

No. 2 Australian Tunnelling Coy.

10 July, 1917

The extreme left of the British front line was at this time about 600 yards in advance of the River Yser, and consisted of a series of posts in the Dunes, and on the beach. The Reserve line, Battalion Head Qtrs, and the billets of this unit were on the Western side of the river, and connected to the front line system, by three pontoon bridges. About 8 am the enemy opened up a heavy bombardment on these bridges and by 2 pm they were destroyed, the result being that all men on the Eastern side of the river were cut off. These included 2/Lt W.M. MORTENSON and 2/Lt E.P. HARGRAVES, 47 Tunnellers and 47 attached infantry, 1 Battalion Kings Royal Rifles Corps, and 1 Battalion 1st Gloucester Regiment, with technical arms.

Throughout the day the enemy kept up an intense and destructive bombardment on NIEUPORT BAINS.

As nearly as can be estimated, at about 7 pm the enemy attacked and killed or took prisoner all on that side of the river, with the exception of a few Officers and men who swam across.

Extract from Unit Diary No 2 Tunnelling Coy

Public Record Office, London

Ref: WO 95 / 490

(continues further below)

One of the Tunnellers taken Prisoner of War that evening was 3988 Sapper Patrick MINOGUE who was born in the mining town of Bendigo, Victoria on 16th August, 1878. A Miner by trade, he left his wife Mary and family in Collingwood, Victoria, and enlisted on 21st March, 1916 in Melbourne, Victoria. As a thirty-seven year old Sapper he departed from Melbourne, Vic on the troopship A69 Warilda on 25th May, 1916.

He was a member of the 2nd Tunnelling Company working on the 10th of July, and his account of events that took place, upon his release as a POW seven months later is on file at the Public Record Office, London, filed as Ref: WO 95 /491 within the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Coy War Diary.

STATEMENT OF REPATRIATED PRISONER OF WAR

Administrative Headquarters,

Australian Imperial Force.

“B” Records Sec.

February 20, 1918

Reg No. 3988

Rank. Sapper

Name. MINOGUE, P.

Unit. 2nd Australian Tunnelling Coy.

CIRCUMSTANCE OF CAPTURE

(a) Date. July 10th, 1917

(b) Place. Nieuport

(c) What happened before Capture.

We Australian Tunnellers arrived in the Nieuport Sector from the Ypres Sector about June 1917. We were making saps in the front line and building dugouts behind. There were three shifts of us employed – about 30 men to a shift. With others I was captured during the course of the German counter-attack on July 10.

It was about 7 o’clock in the evening when the Germans actually came over. There was a canal behind us crossed by pontoon-bridges. It was that part of the canal just near its entrance to the sea. Before they came over to us the Germans had already shelled and destroyed these pontoon-bridges. The Germans who took us prisoners came across from in front of us, though I afterwards learned that there were Germans behind us when we were taken. We were all armed, each carrying rifle and bayonet and 60 rounds of ammunition. There had been a heavy enemy barrage in front of us. It lifted, and when we came out of the sap to see what was doing we found ourselves confronted by a body of German soldiers. They immediately opened on us with hand-grenades, I was not hurt, nor do I know of any of our chaps that were hurt by these first bombs. I opened fire on the enemy with my rifle; we had no bombs. The Germans replied with hand-grenades.

One bomb burst on my thigh, severely shattering it. I was badly wounded in abdomen, my left ankle stopped a machine gun bullet, I was struck in the left arm by a revolver bullet, though the latter was not a wound of any consequence. Anyhow my “issue” was a pretty substantial “poultice”. They had bropped me pretty heavy and I was completely out of action. The land was an area of sandy hillocks and I crawled into one of the hollows. I lay there till after-dark — about three hours, when some Germans came along and I was a prisoner.

What happened immediately after Capture?

The Germans placed me on a ground sheet and carried me back into the sap. They fixed up my wounds as well as they could with the “first field dressing” that I carried on me. The Germans who had captured me appeared to be a machine gun section of Marines. I think all our chaps that were across the canal must have been captured. Our Red Cross Advance position across the canal must have been captured into German hands. I was carried to a place not far behind the enemy lines called Middlekirke. . . (to be continued)

In the Red Cross file of 5281 Sapper Cyril Berry is the following:

“The Germans came over on us at Nieuport about 7.30 p.m. on the 10th July. I was in a tunnel with 16 other men at the time. This tunnel had an entrance facing the Yser. We first knew that the Germans were there when they called down the shaft and told us to surrender. 67 of our men Berry included, were cut off in a sap, and it is not known whether they were killed or taken prisoners. I heard that an officer in the K.R.R.C. said that he saw 4 Australians filing out of the sap with their hands up, and the Germans threw bombs among them. I knew Berry well, as I was in camp in Australia with him. He was married in England last December.” Informant 5362 Sapper G. Lehman, No 53 Stationary, Boulogne – 14.8.17

Cyril disembarked at Plymouth 2 December, 1916 and married Ida Rose MAY at Southend-on-sea 27 December, 1916, prior to proceeding to France on 1 January, 1917.

WAR DIARY – JULY, 1917

No. 2 Australian Tunnelling Coy.

Report of events continues for 10/7/17

The following members of this Company escaped. 2/Lt E.P. HARGRAVES. He remained on enemy side dressing wounded men and destroying papers in Company Headquarters, until the last moment, then swam across at 9 pm. No 2432 Sapper James O’CONNELL was in the Company cook house near the front line, when the enemy advanced. He retreated bombing until he reached the canal bank, when he was shot in the head by a rifle bullet. He fell into the canal but managed to drag himself out and get a further supply of bombs, from a dugout near by, and again made a determined stand. After a time he was severely burnt with a flammenwerfer and again fell into the canal where he remained for about half an hour. He then got out and crept down to a dugout where his wounds were dressed by 2/Lt HARGRAVES, E.P. On the situation being explained to him, that it was necessary to either swim for the other side or be taken prisoner, he elected to try to swim. Although severely wounded and burnt he succeeded in reaching the other bank. Just as he was getting out of the water he heard a cry for help from the middle of the canal, without hesitation he plunged in again and succeeded in reaching the soldier who could not swim. On reaching the bank he collapsed, and was taken to the dressing station. He has been recommended for the VC. (Later awarded the D.C.M.)

No. 2441 Sapper BOURKE, F. and No. 2442 Sapper COADE, J. crossed the river about the same time also. Finding a number of non-swimmers on the enemy side they procured a rope and swam across with it, and remained holding it taut until all present had safely crossed. They were later awarded the Military Medal.

The casualties for the day for the Company were –

Killed Wounded Missing

Officers O.R. Offs O.R. Offs. O.R.

AUSTRALIANS 1 4 3 1 41

ATTACHED INFANT _ _ _ _ 47

TOTAL 1 4 3 1 88

The undermentioned Officers were slightly wounded in NIEUPORT BAINS but remained on duty.

Lieut F.H. Hooper

Lieut C.H. Blumer

2/Lieut S. Halford

2/Lieut J.A. Reid

11/7/1917

Unit resting.

12/7/1917

Men shifting Camp from COXYDE BAINS to St IDESDALDE. W. 5c 3.1.

13/7/1917

The following account of the action for which No 2432 Sapper Jas O’CONNELL has been recommended for the V.C. was contributed to the Daily Mirror by Captain C.E.W. Bean, the Official War Correspondent with the A.I.F.

FACED FLAME JET

Wounded Australian who plunged into

River and escaped enemy.

GRAPHIC BATTLE STORY

The gallant part taken by the Australians in a recent battle between the FLANDERS FLATS and the sea is graphically described by Mr Bean, official Press correspondent with the Australian Imperial Force in France.

“A sapper of the tunnellers had been with some British infantrymen in one of the dugouts when the German attack moved over the ground above them.

“The Germans threw a bomb down the entrance which killed one man and severely tore the tunnellers hands. Another German squirted the jet of a flammenwerfer down the stair and burnt him seriously.

“The German passed on and was killed at the canal bank by a fragment of one of the shells of his own field guns. The Australian managed to get out, and was attended to by the British in another Dugout, where he was put on to a stretcher to wait for the opportunity for removal.

“Shortly afterwards a party of Germans was seen working round from the trench towards the place, and as there was no hope of counter attack in sight the order was given that every man should do his best to escape.

“The situation was explained to the Australian by two officers. He was left to him to do what he preferred. To their surprise, he got up from his stretcher and walked to the river. The remains of a battered bridge still hung halfway across the stream, and from this the men were swimming.

“The wounded man walked down the bridge, jumped in and swam across. When he reached the further bank he looked back and saw a British infantryman struggling in the stream. He went in again at once, swam out and brought the man shore, and then was pulled out himself fainting.”

Extract from Unit Diary No 2 Tunnelling Coy

Public Record Office, London

Ref: WO 95 / 490

Six days later the Australian public read of the tragic events which had taken place. The extracts reproduced here come from Queensland’s The Brisbane Courier .

THE GERMAN DASH AT NIEUPORT

A POLITICAL MOVE

PARIS, Friday.

The correspondent of “Le Petit Parisien” at the British Front say that Prince Rupprecht’s attack on Nieuport seems to have had a political rather than a military aim. It was hoped to create during the German political crisis an impression that the success was a prelude to a general offensive. After an overwhelming bombardment the enemy resumed his old tactics and advanced from the sea as far as Lombaertzyde. After a fierce struggle he reached the Yser Canal. He also attempted to outflank the British from the south-west of Nieuport, but his marines were unable to cross the navigable barrier between the Yser and Lombaertzyde. At last the enemy’s stubborn attempts broke down before the unbroken resistance of a redoubtable British division, which covered itself with glory. The enemy after suffering very heavy losses gave up the attempt. It cannot be denied that the struggle was a very hot one, but it left the British calm and confident. The Germans owed their success to their large forces and an enormously heavy bombardment.

BATTLE OF THE SAND DUNES

LONDON, Friday.

The correspondent of the United Press at headquarters states: Nothing in this has surpassed the fury of the fighting on the sand dunes. The British were taken at a tremendous disadvantage, and fought to the last man, scarcely any of the survivors coming out unwounded, and these escaped by swimming the Yser. The German bombardments began at 6 o’clock in the morning upon the front line, deluging the support trenches and reserve positions all day long. The bombardment reached its intensity at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Droves of German aeroplanes came over, flying low, and machine gunning in the direction of the artillery. Already the British had suffered heavily, but the remainder stuck to their posts, awaiting the attack. The battlefield became a maelstrom of smoke, steel and flying sand. The Germans barraged the front line in the evening, while the marines charged. Hardly a British machine gun was workable, as the guns were choked with sand. Then ensued the bloodiest hand to hand battle with revolvers, bayonets, and clubbed rifles, until practically none survived of the English lads. At last a heroic wounded man swam back over the Yser with a rope, thus enabling the wounded non-swimmers to pull themselves across. The reserves counterattacked to the southward of Lombaertzyde, retaking a section of the trenches.

HEROES OF THE BATTLE

A SURPRISE ATTACK

Mr Philip Gibbs, war correspondent at the British Front, reports: The heroes of the battle of the Dunes were the King’s Royal Rifles and the Northamptonshire Regiment. Their last stand beyond the Yser Canal will never be forgotten. Among the King’s Royal Rifles were many London lads, whom we used to think over-civilised and soft, they have now consecrated the tract of sand dunes by one of the most tragic episodes of the war. The bombardment early on July 10 was unexpected. The British had only but for a short time taken over the sector, and the men were luxuriating in their position on the seashore, and some were bathing, when the attack opened up from the new trenches, tunnels, concrete emplacements, and breastworks between the coast and Lombaertzyde. The enemy began by putting a barrage down on the front line from many batteries of large howitzers. After an hour there was five minutes pause, and then the wall of shells crossed the canal and churned up the sand for another hour.

MUST FIGHT TO THE DEATH

The alternation in the tornado of steel between the front and support lines continued, and during an interval of a quarter of an hour the officers went down the line telling the King’s Rifles and the Northamptons that they must fight to the death. The bridges were broken behind, and there was no escape. It was impossible to get messages to the rear, and it was practically impossible to leave the dug-outs to reconnoitre the situation of the fight. Aeroplanes overhead flying low, poured in machine-gun fire. After 12 hours all the German batteries broke into drum fire, and poured in shells for three-quarters of an hour without pause. Then the first three waves of German marines advanced with bombing parties, and heavily outnumbered the few scattered groups of King’s Rifles and Northamptons. They came on in crescent formation, one detachment trying to work round the flank of the King’s Rifles on the seashore, while the other tried to outflank the Northamptons.

DESPERATE FIGHTING

A party of German machine gunners crept along the edge of the sands, advancing at low tide, and enfiladed the support line. Another party of marines attacked the tunnel which was the headquarters of the King’s Rifles. One man of the King’s rifles who was not killed stayed among the dead until night, and then crept out, and swam the canal. The platoons of the King’s Rifles fought to the last man, a little group of five behind a sandbank finally remaining. Meanwhile the Northamptons, who were desperately fighting sent a message to the British force at Lombaertzyde to form a barrier to prevent the enemy coming through. The Northamptons had no chance of escape, and their machine guns were put out of action and buried in the sand. One gunner got his machine gun in action, but it jammed, and with a curse, he flung it into the Yser, and then jumped in and swam back to the British lines. Another gunner was hit twice by shells, and was unable to work his machine gun, as he was lying on his side. A comrade came up and tried to drag the gunner to the canal, in the hope of swimming back with him. “Don’t mind me,” said the gunner. “Smash my gun and get back.” There was no time to discuss the matter, so the gun was smashed, and the wounded man left. The fight of an hour and a half finished at 8.30.

HEROIC NORTHAMPTONS

A wounded sergeant of the Northamptons, who swam back, saw the end of a little group of six of the Northamptons’ officers. Surrounded by marine bombers they fought to the end with their revolvers. The picture of those six boys on the sand dunes, with the dead lying around, fighting on to certain death, will be among the memories of the great war which the country, ever cherish. Meanwhile, on the banks of the canal, British soldiers, dripping with blood and over-weak to swim, were trying to get back to the Nieuport side swam with a rope, under heavy fire, and fixed it so that the surviving men of the Northamptons were able to drag themselves across. There were a few of them, but enough to reconstruct the tragic tale. The enemy did not reach the bank of the canal, but dug in 300 yards away.

The Brisbane Courier

Monday July 16, 1917

Queensland

The tunnellers only “embedded” journalist reported the affair thus:

SHARP ENEMY ATTACK

---

SOME THRILLING ESCAPES

(BY WILLIE WOMBAT)

SOMEWHERE IN FLANDERS, Nov 2. [1917]

Not many months ago a company of Australian Miners attached to Imperial corps had an exciting and trying experience. The particular place on the Flanders front at which the excitement occurred was at a point on the Yser Canal where our line was advanced for about 600 yards on the other side on a front which was not very wide. The only means of communication with this more or less isolated spot was by three pontoon bridges. And on a certain morning the enemy opened up a heavy bombardment, concentrating his fire mainly on roads and bridges. Up till 1 p.m. the enemy fire was mostly directed on the roads in the back area, after which his artillery had the range of the bridges. A regular hail of shells soon made short work of the bridges, which were all cut by 2 p.m. On the other side were 47 miners and the same number of attached infantry holding the line. After cutting the bridges the enemy maintained a terrific fire on the canal, preventing any possibility of re-establishing communications. As the afternoon advanced the fire, with a big percentage of gas shells, became more intense, especially in the region of advanced billets, and at 7 p.m. the enemy attacked in large numbers the small isolated garrison. The infantry and machine-gunners put up a splendid fight, but as the odds were against them they were unable to withstand the enemy onslaught, and those who were not killed were taken prisoners. Of the 47 Australian miners affected one officer and 41 men were taken prisoners, whilst one officer and three men escaped after considerable adventure.

Letters have been since received from the prisoners in Germany, and one stated that their position was due to enemy shells crumping the entrance to their tunnelled dugout, imprisoning them until next day, when they were dug out by the enemy. They had no fighting chance, as the enemy was in possession of this small piece of ground, and they had to submit to the inevitable.

The stories of those who escaped are of a most thrilling nature, and once more go to show the resourcefulness of the Australian when put into a tight corner. Lieutenant E.P. Hargreaves, of Melbourne, recognised that the situation was hopeless, and as everybody in the shelled portion was being affected by the severe attack, he assisted to dress the wounded, while the miners continued work down below. Later, when the attack developed, he made his way to an infantry company’s headquarters, and in the midst of heavy shellfire destroyed all papers and documents which might be useful to the enemy. At the last moment, after being cut off, he reached the canal, which he swam. Half an hour later he reached his billet in a most exhausted condition, with his feet badly torn and cut on account of having to scramble through many waves of barbed wire.

Another story is that of Sapper James O’Connell, of Bangalow, New south Wales, who has since been awarded the D.C.M. He states that he was in the company cookhouse near the front line, when the enemy attacked. As the enemy advanced in rather large numbers, and being practically isolated when he fully recognised what was happening, he started to retreat in the direction of the canal. Knowing where there was a supply of bombs, he secured some, and flung them at the enemy as he was being forced back. On arrival at the canal bank he was shot in the head, although not seriously, by a rifle bullet, and fell into the canal. After considerable floundering about he dragged himself out. He secured a further supply of bombs, and made another stand against a party of the enemy who were assailing him. The next attempt by the Huns to dislodge O’Connell from his position was by flammenwerfer, with which he was severely burned. During the pain and agony of the wounds from the liquid fire he once more fell into the canal, where he remained for nearly half-an-hour, his enemies believing that he had “gone west.” He again struggled out, and, crawling to a dugout close by, found Lieut. Hargreaves, who dressed his wounds. The situation by this time had become so serious that it was explained to O’Connell that he would either be taken prisoner or could escape by swimming the canal. And O’Connell characteristically replied, “The canal for mine,” and he jumped in. He reached the other side safely, being a strong swimmer. But just as he was getting out of the water he heard cries for help from the middle of the canal.

Despite his aching wounds, he plunged in once more, and rescued a comrade who could not swim and who was trying to escape by getting over a piece of wood. It was a most exciting rescue, for an enemy plane was flying in the dark at a low height and firing machine guns along the channel. O’Connell, however, succeeded in saving his man, and, on touching the bank once more collapsed. This brave lad, who is 28 years of age, was recommended for the V.C., but instead was awarded the D.C.M., and was warmly congratulated upon his bravery.

Two other sappers—F. Burke and J. Coade, both Victorians—also had an interesting experience as well as performing conspicuous acts of bravery and coolness. They swam the canal at about the same time as Sapper O’Connell, and finding that a number of men were getting back, and were unable to swim the canal, they procured a raft, and making it fast, swam back across the canal, paying it out as they went. When they gained terra firma they tested the rope, and, holding it taut, exhorted their comrades to get hold of the rope and pull themselves across. Both miners stood their post until the last of the party—about 20—had reached the other side and were safe from the hands of the clutching Hun. For these acts of gallantry both sappers have been presented in the field with Military Medals.

Sydney Morning Herald Thur Jan 3, 1918

Sapper Minogue’s statement as a Prisoner of War continues:

REPATRIATED PRISONER OF WAR - continued

February 20, 1918

Reg No. 3988

Rank. Sapper

Name. MINOGUE, P.

Unit. 2nd Australian Tunnelling Coy.

Account of Life as a Prisoner of War.

From Middlekirke I was conveyed by motor-transport to Ostend. I remained there only a night, going on next day by ambulance waggon to Bruges. I was kept in Bruges for three months at the “No. 1 Marine Hospital”. At any rate that was the marking on the blankets, etc.

The medical treatment at this hospital I can describe as “fair”. The German Sisters treated us all right and the German doctors, too “gave us a fair spin”. For six weeks I had a heavy weight hung on my wounded leg; at the end of that time the limb was put in plaster of Paris. They kept the strain on my leg until the plaster was taken off.

The food, however, at Bruges, was very poor. For the most part we were fed upon brown bread and a poor sort of “soup”. Now and again we had a little jam.

From Bruges I was taken to a lazarette at Hamburg. There were never any time while I was there more than four Australians in that lazarette. Among those whose names I can remember were Privates Hammell and Collett. These were both 4th Division men and from time to time they used to come and see me. I was a bed patient.

I remained at Hamburg till January 4th, 1918. Then I was removed to a big prisoners’ camp at Gustrow. I only remained at that camp for three days. Apparently I had been taken there to be examined with a view to being exchanged. I passed the doctors there and was taken back to Hamburg. Thence I came to the frontier town of Aachen where I remained for three days and underwent another examination by German doctors.

From Aachen, with other returning Australian Prisoners of War, I crossed Holland to the Port of Rotterdam. The Dutch people extended a splendid welcome, the Dutch sisters and nurses in particular, endeavouring to assist us in every way. At Rotterdam I embarked for England reaching Boston on January 20.

At Gustrow Camp there is an unwounded Australian sergeant working in the Post Office, I received no Red Cross parcels while I was a prisoner. You see I spent a great part of my time in Bruges in Belgium and from Bruges, prisoners are not permitted to write letters carrying any address. In any case an Australian Prisoner of War is very lucky if he receives his first Australian Red Cross parcel inside three months.

In Bruges the hospital appears to have been at one time a convent. In this institution the scrubbing of corridors was done by Belgian women, but I cannot say whether they were paid for their work or not. At Hamburg the medical attention was very poor, there was only one civilian doctor. The bandages used were of paper. These bandages were alright unless applied to a running wound, in which case they soon become “soppy”.

At Bruges I saw Walter Young of my Company. He left Bruges seven weeks before me to go to Gustrow, but I found out there afterwards that he had been sent back to Belgium to work.

At first the Germans seemed greatly surprised to learn that I was an Australian. They cannot understand Australians taking part in the War. They do not understand our having volunteered and have not much time for us on that account. They can understand – and they prefer – conscripts.

(Signed). P. MINOGUE.

Extract from Statement of Repatriated Prisoner

3988 Spr Minogue, Patrick, 2nd Tunnelling Coy

Public Record Office, London

Ref: WO 95 /491

Mrs Mary Minogue was duly advised that her husband was reported missing and then notified he was a Prisoner of War. The Red Cross’ General List of Prisoners dated 29th August, 1917 stated: “POW captured Lombartzyde 10/7/1917, interned Limburg.”

He was allowed to advise that he was a POW through a card sent on 15th September, 1917 and upon his release into Holland in January, 1918 the Red Cross Bureau card files follow his movements via Holland to recuperation hospitals in England.

After repatriation in England he was declared fit enough to return to Australia and left England on the Hospital Ship ‘Dunluce Castle’ on 8th April, 1918 changing to ‘Karoola’ at Suez on 27th April, 1918 for his voyage home. He disembarked on 26th May, 1918. His military service was completed with his discharge in the 3rd Military District on 27th November, 1918.

Ref: Embarkation & Nominal Rolls Tunnelling Coys

AWM: Red Cross Society Wounded & Missing

Enquiry Bureau file1914-1918 War 1DRL/0428

Personnel Files - National Archives of Aust.

Victoria Death Index

STATEMENT MADE BY REPATRIATED PRISONER OF WAR

Taken at No. 1 Rest Camp, Dover, 21.12.18

Administration Headquarters,

Australian Imperial Force,

“B” Records Section.

27th December, 1918.

Reg. No. 2830

Rank. Sapper

Name. McGLINCHEY, C.G.

Section. No. 3.

Company. 2nd. Australian Tunnelling Company.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF CAPTURE

(a). Date. 10.7.17.

(b). Place. NIEUPORT.

We were engaged in cutting a communication trench between the supports and the canal at NIEUPORT BAY. We had broken through on the flanks and came up behind the trench. We managed to get away and made for the canal when I ran into a German patrol and was captured about 1. a.m. on July 11th, 1917.

I was not wounded.

OFFICERS SEEN DURING ACTION.

Lieutenant Mortison 2nd Tunnelling Coy.

This Officer was in the sap in the front line pumping air to the men below. He became a prisoner of war. I last saw him at COURTRAI.

I was marched to BRUGES where I spent four days. Here I was questioned for information by German interpreters, I did not answer any questions. Then I was moved to COURTRAI where I was again questioned. This was the Headquarters of the German Intelligence Staff. I remained here for a fortnight. Here I saw:

Sergeant. F. Bissett.

Corporal. J. Halfpenny.

Sappers. T. O’Neil.

J. O’Neill.

Lieut. Mortison. all of the 2nd Tunnellers.

These men were all unwounded.

Our research failed to identify a Sergeant F Bissett associated with the Tunnellers, and we therefore believe that the entry should read Sergeant F Birrell

From COURTRAI, I was taken to FERMONDE. I remained here for five weeks and during that time I was starved. The daily ration was one thin slice of black bread, two ladles of thin soup and coffee substitute. I was issued with one blanket and slept on filthy straw. I was not asked to work while here.

On September 2nd. 1917., I was sent to DULNEN Lager, 3. in Germany and spent a fortnight here. While at DULMEN I saw,

Lance-corporal D. Cochrane

Sergeant C. Angus

Corporal Dunne

Sappers J. Lewis

F. Thring

Matherson

K. Maddock

W. Hinds all of the 2nd Tunnellers and Private

F. Pike. 14th Battalion.

Our research failed to identify a Sapper K Maddock associated with the Tunnellers, and we therefore believe that the entry should read Sapper J K Middap

On September 19th, 1917., I was taken to BAYREUTH where I remained until the Armistice was signed. While here I worked at a Pottery and was fairly well treated. While here, about January, 1918., I received my Red Cross Parcels.

After the Armistice was signed, conditions became bad and the Military Authorities lost all control powers. The result was, nobody was in authority. The sanitary arrangements about the camp were neglected and were allowed to get into a filthy condition. A lot of men became sick. None of the Australians suffered.

About October last, Sapper J. WESTWOOD, 2nd A.T.C. died in Hospital at BAYREUTH. He was buried in Bayreuth Cemetery.

We did no work after the Armistice was signed. At about 11.30. pm. On December 12th, 1918, we were marched to Bayreuth Station where we remained to 10. am. next day. Then we entrained and left for Switzerland, reaching CONSTANCE at 5. am. on Dec 15th. The Swiss Authorities took charge of us here and sent us on. Arrived at Calais on December 20th. and sailed for Dover on December, 21st, 1918.

(Signed) 2830 Spr G. McGlinchey

Witness. (Sgn). K. Fleeter. Lieut.

This letter was filed in Sapper McGlinchey’s records.

30th January, 1924

The Official Secretary,

(Military)

Australia House,

Strand,

LONDON, W.O.2

With reference to your communication A.U.S. 2/6/1 of 11th December, relative to the identity of an Australian soldier of the name of McGRADY mentioned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his publication “The British Campaign 1917” a comparison of the records of this office in conjunction with certain manuscript in the Australian War Memorial disclose that among other members of the 2nd Tunnelling Company employed in the cutting of the communication between the supports and the canal at Nieuport Bay on or about the 10th July 1917, appears the name of No. 2830 Sapper Charles Garfield McGLINCHEY who in company with his comrades was compelled by enemy action to evacuate the position, and succeeded in reaching the canal only to be made prisoner of war the following day.

It is significant that the circumstances surrounding the escape of Australian Miners as narrated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle should coincide with McGlinchey’s account of his adventure, and the probability is that the two are identical, and that the name was mutilated in type. Credence would doubtless be given to the report of McGlinchey’s death in view of his subsequence disappearance – the result of being made captive.

Captain.

Officer i/c Base Records.

STATEMENT MADE BY PRISONER OF WAR INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND

Administrative Headquarters,

Australian Imperial Forces,

LONDON, S.W.1.

14th November, 1918

Reg. No. 478

Rank. Sergeant

Name. Angus, Charles Henry

Unit. 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company

Circumstances of Capture.

(a) Date. 10th July, 1917

(b) Place. Nieuport (on Belgian Coast)

(c) What happened immediately before capture?

After about 12 hours bombardment by the enemy, starting about 8 a.m. the British resistance was broken.

Officers seen during engagement.

Lieut. Morten, Lieut Hargraves, (2nd Aust. Tunn. Coy) the latter officer escaped across the canal by boat, leaving myself and L/Cpl. Window on the canal bank. Lieut Morten was captured with his men in the front line.

What happened after capture?

We were marched to Dendumond in Belgium, about 35 miles from place of capture. I stayed two months in Dendumond being starved, then two weeks in Dulman where we received medical attention and were subjected to vaccination and five inoculations. Then I was taken to Lechfeld in Southern Bavaria where I remained for about 12 months. I was then exchanged into Switzerland. I did no work in Germany. Twenty-two of my shift were also captured but I am unable to give names as the Germans took all my correspondence.

(Signed) C. H. Angus, (Sgt)

2nd Aust. Tunnelling Coy

16.9.1918

COPY OF LETTER SENT BY PRISONER OF WAR

No. 492. Sgt. F. Birrell.

2nd Australian Tunnelling Company

Barake Nr. 7

3rd Compagnie.

Kriegsgefangenenlager Bayreuth (Bayern)

DEUTSCHLAND.

1/11/1917

Dear Sir,

I beg to inform you I am a prisoner of war at the above address and I am in need of money I should be pleased if you could send me £2. by international money order there are 3 other Australians here from my company and we are the only ones who have not received any assistance from the Red Cross their names being Halfpenny, McGlinchey and Westwood and we would be glad if you could have something done for us trusting to hear from you soon.

I remain

(Signed) 492. Frederick BIRRELL. Sgt

No. 2 Australian Tunnelling Company.

Four of Mrs Browns’ five sons enlisted in the A.I.F:

1025 George Brown age 25 enlisted 03-Sep-14 : served with 6th Battalion

1385 William John Brown age 21 enlisted 10-Jul-15 : served with 12th FAB

3491a Frederick Brown age 25 enlisted 12-Dec-15 : served with 2nd Tunnelling Company

5056 Clarence Walter Brown age 18 enlisted 11-Jan-16 : served with 46th Battalion

Advice to File notes

Next of Kin from their files

04-Jun 15 George wounded 4-May-15 at Dardenelles, GSW to leg

20-Jun 15 George returned to duty at Dardenelles

02-Aug-15 George evacuated to Malta : sick

10-Sep-15 George suffering rheumatism

13-Oct-15 George in Hospital in London

09-Mar-16 George returned to duty

12-Sep-16 George wounded (2nd time) multiple GSW

19-Sep-16 George died of wounds 16-Aug-16

13-Nov-16 Clarence wounded : GSW left foot severe

04-Dec-16 Clarence in Hospital

14-Dec-16 Clarence convalescent

27-Dec-16 William sick 13-Nov-16

04-Feb-17 William returned to duty

08-Jun-17 Clarence wounded (2nd time) : GSW legs, multiple,

L/leg amputated

23-Jun-17 MC3 advised Clarence died of wounds 14-Jun-17

31-Jul-17 Frederick missing since 10-Jul-17 at Nieuport

08-Oct-17 William wounded 22-Sep-17 : GSW

23-Nov-17 William returned to duty

13-Jan-18 Frederick officially Prisoner of War

22-Jan-18 William returning to Australia

13-Mar-18 William returned to Australia

30-Dec-18 Frederick arrived in England

08-Jan-19 Frederick arrived in England

18-Mar-19 Frederick returning to Australia

25-Apr-19 Frederick returned to Australia

Between September, 1914 and March, 1919, Trentham Post Office was possibly Mrs Brown’s least favourite place.

INFORMATION FROM RED CROSS FILES

Several Red Cross files exist for the POWs as parcels from home, and postcards to home, flowed through the system. The files also contain statements from witnesses to the capture, wounding or death of a soldier. Accessible through the Biographical section of the AWM website, most record simple messages from the POWs reporting that their health was good, or otherwise, and in some cases, what they were up to. It was through the postcards from the men that we were able to record the different camps they were kept in. On most occasions the cards also identify the name and address of the recipient.

Williams, Halfpenny, Green, Mortensen, Middap, Matheson, Morton, the O’Neill brothers, Finch, Lewis, Berry, Morteson, Wiedmer, Herrick, Brown, Davey, Withers, Hinds, Dunn, Baxter, Angus and Crittenden all have Red Cross files.

March 1918, from Archie Matheson:-

“I received my boots today which makes the fourteenth parcel from you. I am well”

In April 1918 John Middap wrote from Lechfeld:-

“Thanks to you all I am getting on in first class style. Have received clothes and grocery parcels”.

Howard Morton had received at least 6 food parcels by June 1918 and in August he sent a post card from Hammelburg:-

“Beg to acknowledge five food parcels. Am still enjoying splendid health. Have met a March 1918 prisoner so we had quite a long chat”

John (Jack) O’Neill’s file contains an informants’ report

“After a heavy bombardment of our lines at Nieuport on July 10th the Germans made an attack in order to cut off our retirement by destroying the canal bridges in the rear. At the time O’Neill was working in the same line trench with Herrick and Nielson and no doubt shared the same fate. O’Neill was tall and of medium build and about 36 years old. He came from Perth, Western Australia and before the war worked in an iron foundry. I think he was R.C. in religion.”

Tom O’Neill told his sister in July 1917

“Jack and I are together, both in best of health, treated well”

The file of John Lewis, makes interesting reading:

In September 1917, one informant reported:-

“It was officially reported at the inquiry at Headquarters at Coxsyde about July 18th that J H Lewis was seen to be blown to pieces by a “whizz Bang” shell during the bombardment at Nieuport about July 9th just before the German attack. This could be verified by Major Mulligan of 2nd Tunnelling Coy., AIF. His initials were J.H. He was a short nuggety man of about 25 and had worked at Broken Hill NSW”

Another:-

“I knew J H Lewis well. He had a low number being on of the original number 2 company. I was told by Sapper T Burke, who was Lewis’ mate, that he had seen him blown to pieces during the action of the 10th July at Nieuport Bains”

And a third:-

“I was told by Sapper Tom Bourke of the same company that he saw Lewis killed by a shell as they were endeavouring to get across the canal at Nieuport just before the Germans attacked. Burke, Lewis and another man left the sap where they had been tunnelling and Burke and the other man escaped, but he told me that he was certain that Lewis was killed. I knew Lewis in Adelaide and we came across together. He was a miner and worked at Broken Hill before the war. He appeared to have a slight limp, was about 30, clean shaven and dark.” Informant 2489 A Groves, No. 2 Aust General, Boulogne – 11.9.17

In September 1918, John Lewis wrote from Hammelburg

“Will you kindly send me some simple remedy for a bad chest. I have developed a bad cough”

The file of Cyril Berry is extensive and records many written exchanges between his mother and the Red Cross. Of particular interest was her first letter of 19 July 1917, just 9 days after the ‘Affair at Nieuport’:-

“Dear Sirs,

I should be very grateful if you could obtain any information for me re my son, Sapper C. Berry, No. 5281, No. 2 Australian Tunnelling Coy., A.I.F., France, who has been missing since July 10th. I have heard from Belgium that my son went with a working party on to the Belgian sand dunes on the 9th inst., and was among the poor fellows cut off through bridges being blown away. I may say that my son Sapper W. Berry, No. 5280, carried the despatches at midnight on the 10th instructing the boys to return, but he arrived too late, finding the bridges gone. I know of course that it is not long since my son was missing, and that time is needed for investigations, but I should be very grateful if you could secure any news of him for me.

It is suspense that kills.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully

E. Berry

On 20 September 1917, Berry’s wife wrote to the Secretary of the Red Cross:

Dear Madam

I have the good news to tell you that I heard from my husband. 5281 Sapper C Berry, 2nd Australian Coy, France. I received a field post card from him this morning saying he is a prisoner of War in Germany, but at present he cannot give me his address.

He was taken (with one Officer and 20 men) on July 11th 1917.

If there are any means of sending parcels to Prisoners of War, I should be pleased

if you could give me particulars, thanking you for your kindness and sympathy.

Yours faithfully

Ida Berry

One Postcard from Cyril reveals something of the life of some of the POWs when he reported in September 1917:-

“I am off this morning to start work in an orchard, fruit picking. There is a party of 50 going split up into small parties. There are five in my party all very decent fellows. We are going to a Town about 40 miles from the Camp”. A year later he wrote:- “Am now engaged on a rather dirty job among oil grease etc. Am receiving my grocery parcels regularly and am keeping in good health

Andrew Morteson also gave an insight into the activity of the captured men when postcards in June/July 1918 read:-

“When I wrote for the draughts I had four more English mates but now I am on my own and nobody to play draughts with. I am getting very homesick. A gallop after a kangaroo would suit me better than ploughing with milking cows” and “I am still alive and well. The clothes have all landed safely. Am still a farmer’s boy, we are cutting the crops now and they are very fair”

John Wiedmer adds to the story in March 1918:

“We are on a working party here, the work is easy but the hours are long but we will survive it O.K. It takes a lot to hurt the A.I.F. Pte. Greenlees and me are doing fairly well as far a health is concerned, shut in a Prisoner of War camp doesn’t do you any good but the work we are doing now is exercise out in the fresh air. At work on the rail, which will do us good, although it goes against the grain to work for the people”

John Baxter also wrote in July 1918 from Hammelburg camp:-

“Have received the last 10 food parcels in good condition also three clothing parcels. This leaves me in the best of health”

After his repatriation, Alfred Withers brought the news

“Sapper No 5770 Lewis G K, 2nd Tun Coy died of Spanish “Grippe” on Dec. 5th 1918 and was buried at Lechfeld Cemetery, Germany. I (&) Sapper Middap have a photo of his grave”.

Charles Angus sent his first post card from Limburg camp on 16 July 1917 advising:-

“I am quite well”.

It was therefore a little surprising to find another card in his file reporting:-

“Casualty was killed at Vermelles, Belgium on the 10th June 1917, blown up by a mine in my presence” – Informant 4870 Sapper G H Leadley, 1st Tunn Coy., of Blackall Town, Queensland.

Nieuport Now

(from an unknown source)

The Belgian town of Nieuwpoort is in danger of collapse, because a network of tunnels built by military engineers in the First World War, and long forgotten, is now giving way beneath the town. A research team from the University of Greenwich, the Association for Battlefield Archaeology and Conservation (ABAC) and the Nottingham Trent University (NTU), published their findings in December, identifying a link between increasing subsidence in Nieuwpoort and military activity by British, Australian, French and Belgian engineers during the third Battle of Ypres, known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

Miles of tunnels, lined with heavy timbers, were constructed beneath the town and surrounding areas to protect troops from German shelling. Now the timbers are rotting and the town is beginning to collapse: many areas show serious signs of subsidence and several properties are at risk, with the potential for many more along the Belgian coast.

“A secret menace lurks beneath a landscape once torn by war,” says geologist Professor Peter Doyle, from the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Greenwich. “Along the line of the old Western Front, much of Flanders – the land over which the Battle of Passchendaele was fought – is sitting on a time bomb. Timbered chambers and galleries, built to shelter servicemen, were forgotten in the chaos of the post-war period. Now, 85 years later, they are rotting and beginning to give way on a large scale.”

The results of the scientists' initial investigation were published in the December issue of Geoscientist, the monthly magazine of the Geological Society. The team has uncovered “compelling evidence” to explain “total and catastrophic” structural failure in one group of houses. They have found long-forgotten military maps and wartime photographs to show that the line of present day subsidence matches the line of a shallow “cut and cover” subway created by French military engineers.

A second fault line traces the course of a deep-mined tunnel built by the Royal Engineers in 1917 to protect the 10,000 British troops who arrived in Nieuwpoort at the start of the Passchendaele offensive.

The defensive tunnels and chambers, or “elephant shelters”, were built to shelter men from the heavy shelling that had virtually flattened the town – Nieuwpoort lay on the near static front line for most of the war. Bert Fearns, a veteran of the 2nd/6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers who died in 1997 aged 99, remembered the tunnels well, said Prof. Mike Rosenbaum of NTU, who interviewed him as part of his research.

“The most terrifying place he'd ever been was Nieuwpoort. It was so close to the front line that you had to turn down streets which were straight in line of the German guns. In six months the Royal Engineers had built tunnels and he never had to go on the surface again.”

The British vacated the sector to the French in November 1917. After the war the shattered town was demolished, leaving the tunnel network buried under 10ft of soil and debris. Peter Barton, of ABAF, said: “The tunnels were not filled in because people did not know about them.”

Eighty-five years on, Nieuwpoort is once again inheriting a bitter legacy from the worst battle of the First World War. On the site where surviving military records, tracked down by the research team, indicate the path of the Royal Engineers' tunnel, a row of houses reveals evidence of progressive collapse. One typical property is 54 Kokstraat, where a well and garage floor have collapsed, cracks are widening in the walls and the living room floor is becoming increasingly uneven.

Jean-Pierre Haemers, whose house is experiencing severe subsidence, said: “The problems started this year, and have just got worse. We didn't know who was going to pay for this, as nobody seems to know what is going on.”

Professor Mike Rosenbaum of NTU, an expert in ground engineering, is seeking to identify fracture patterns and quantify the probability of structural damage. He said: “Probing beneath the ground with rods met with little or no resistance along the line of the tunnel, suggesting open voids below and that the original timber supports are in an advanced state of decay. The preliminary research suggests that subsidence is increasing. Decay in the tunnel support timbers is probably being exacerbated by fluctuations in the water table which encourage fungal rot to take hold.”

Prof. Doyle warned that the tunnels under Nieuwpoort are just part of the problem: an extensive strip of land along the coastal dunes from Nieuwpoort towards De Panne is under threat, an area on which many new developments have been built. He said: “Along the length of the Western Front, covering hundreds of kilometres, the soldier-engineers of both sides cut subways and chambers for shelter. These underground excavations, which have not been adequately researched and surveyed, represent a significant hazard to development and public safety.”

Peter Barton added: "When we searched for the evidence in archives all over the world, we were surprised at the wealth of information still available. The military had kept highly detailed maps and plans of their excavations, and comprehensive weekly progress reports. The situation at Nieuwpoort is by no means unique but the vast scale of workings in such a restricted area is certainly unusual."

Ultimately, the researchers aim to identify the risk of ground collapse and recommend strategies for minimising the impact on local residences.

Information Sources:

AWM Embarkation & Nominal Rolls, Red Cross files, Photo Collection.

NAA Personal Files.

PRO – London Unit Diaries.

Newspapers:

Sydney Morning Herald

The Brisbane Courier

Official History of Royal Australian Engineers. 1902-1919

Research and compilation by Donna Baldey, 2007

Further reading of interest is at dealing with Operations ‘Hush’ (British) and ‘Strandfest’ (German) leading up to the ‘Affair at Nieuport’

Some of the images of Nieuport-Bains available in the Collections section of the Australian War Memorial website at .au

E01902 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium October 1917

A cellar in the ruins of a house used as a headquarters by the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, whilst employed with the British troops in that sector during the latter part of 1917. Captain F G Phippard of the unit is seen at the entrance to the dugout with Mr Malcolm Ross, the New Zealand War Correspondent (right).

E03867 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium 14 November 1917

A view of two machine gun posts and their field of fire. The position was given the name of 'Broken Hill' by members of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC), who were attached for tunnelling duties to the British troops defending the sector. Nieuport-Bains is seen in the distance on the left. Identified are: Captain G L Smith MC, 2ATC (bottom right), and Major Webb, Australian Engineers (top right).

E01166 Nieuport-Bains13 November 1917

Two unidentified members of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company fitting up bunks in the tunnels under the dunes near the Belgian coast. The unit was at the time attached to british troops operating in this sector.

E01167 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium November 1917

A view of shell wrecked buildings in the Belgian town, showing the steel framework of the Casino, the ruins of which were in a portion of the British Reserve line in this vicinity. The 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company was working in this sector during the period in which the photograph was taken, and some of their mining timber is stacked in the foreground.

E01243 Nieuport-Bains14 November 1917

View of the ruined railway station in the Belgian town. In the distance is the Yser Canal, the area beyond which was held by the enemy. The 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company at this time was constructing dugouts in this sector for the British troops engaged in its defence.

E01244 Nieuport-Bains14 November 1917

Looking from the old lighthouse at Nieuport-Bains across the river Yser to the enemy territory on the far side, showing the shell smashed jetty and the French pillbox. The 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company performed valuable work in this sector, whilst attached to British units defending the area in 1917.

E01245 Nieuport-Bains14 November 1917

A view of no man's land looking towards the Yser Canal, showing, beyond the canal, the area occupied by the Germans. The Yser enters the sea a little to the left of the area seen here. When the picture was taken 2nd Australian Tunnelling company was employed with British troops in this sector. Note the sandbagged communication trench in the foreground and to the left.

E01246 Nieuport-Bains14 November 1917

A deserted communication trench in no man's land near Nieuport-Bains, at the point where the Yser enters the sea. The pile of ruins on the left is all that remains of the lighthouse. Many of the dugouts and entrenchments in this sector were made by the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company in the latter end of 1917.

E04633 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium12 August 1917

The pier at the southern mouth of the Yser River, in no man's land, and the esplanade at Nieuport-Bains. The farther pier had just previously been shelled by our artillery and a German sniper was reported to have been dislodged. At this time the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company was engaged in constructing defensive works in this sector.

E01262 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium 13 November 1917

Officers of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company watching a shell burst near the dressing station on the road leading from Coxyde Bains to Nieuport Bains (left background) in Belgium. Alongside the road is the light railway used for transporting stores and material to the forward area, whilst the track shown in the centre of the photograph is made of wire netting laid upon the sand for the passage of infantry. Left to right: Major E W Webb MC, 7th Field Company; Captain Garnett J Adcock; Major Edric Noel Mulligan DSO, Officer Commanding 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company.

E01897 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium October 1917

A cellar in the ruins of a house at Nieuport Bains, being used as No. 3 Section Headquarters for the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company. Captain F. G. Phippard (centre) is seen with two English officers.

E04632 Nieuport-Bains, Europe; Belgium12 August 1917

View of the entrance of a tunnel in the sand at the Belgian town. Unidentified men of the 2nd Tunnelling Company are seen at the entrance to a system of dugouts in the sand.

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