SERGEANT ROY RICHARD MASON
Petty Officer 13 Royal Aust Naval Bridging Train / 5576 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Roy Richard Mason was born on January 22, 1895 in Newcastle, New South Wales the son of John
Wilson and Sarah Grace Mason. His military experience was gained from three years compulsory
training with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
His brother Ernest Mason stated that Roy was one of four winners of the Imperial Challenge Shield in
1913. Results of this competition were reported in the:
Newcastle Moring Herald and Miners’ Advocate Saturday September 13, 1913:
THE CHALLENGE SHIELD
WON BY AUSTRALIA
London, Friday
The results in the shooting for the Imperial Challenge Shield, which has just been completed, have been
announced.
The shield, with twelve silver medals, was won by No. 1 Company of the South Australian Naval Reserve, with
an average of 92.4 points. Second place was obtained by No.1 Company of the Earl Roberts’ Cadet Corps,
whose average was 92.2 points.
Albany Navel Cadets’ team with an average of 91 points, secured fifth place, with ten bronze medals, while the
South Melbourne Cadets’ team gained sixth place, which carries thirteen bronze medals, with an average of 89
points.
Article abridged
Roy had been an apprentice plumber with the Government Public Works Department at Bull Street,
Cook’s Hill and his foreman was G. Gee at Per Way Branch, Honeysuckle Point but had not completed
his three year apprenticeship.
At the Naval depot in Newcastle, NSW on March 5, 1915 the nineteen year old unmarried machinist
applied to enlist and was declared fit for active service the same day. His personal description that day
was 171cms (5ft 7½ins) tall, with a chest measurement of 89cms (35ins), light brown hair, grey eyes and
a fresh complexion. He had no distinctive marks.
His was knowledgeable in driving motor vehicles. Presbyterian was his religious faith. Next-of-kin
nominated was his mother Sarah Grace Mason of 19 Union Street, Cook’s Hill, Newcastle. Swearing in
as an Abel Seaman took place in the same day.
Being under the age of twenty-one years written consent from his father was given as follows:
“Naval Officer, Newcastle
I give my permission to my son Roy Mason to enlist in Lieutenant Bracegirdle’s company leaving for
Europe.
J.W. Mason”
On May 1, 1915 he was promoted to the rank of Leading Seaman with the 1st Royal Australian Naval
Bridging Train with the service number 13 and on May 10, 1915 promoted to Petty Officer with the 1st
Reinforcements to the 1st R.A.N.B.T.
Roy embarked for overseas on 4 June on board the HMAT A39 Port Macquarie, arriving at Lemnos on
15 July 1915.
Australian War Memorial - with extract from the diary of Able Seaman Driver Laurie John Smee:
The RANBT was being prepared to work as an engineering unit on the Western Front but in August 1915 was
diverted to the Gallipoli Peninsula to work with British troops. Here the 300 men of the RANBT were based at
Kangaroo Beach and operated the wharves that all men and supplies were landed across. They also carried out
a wide range of other engineering duties and were under constant shell fire; four men died and another 60
wounded during their five months on the Peninsula. The Bridging Train then served in the Middle East,
operating the bridges over the Suez Canal, from February 1916 until May 1917 when the unit was disbanded.
Laurie's diary commences in June 1915, with his departure from Melbourne on A39 SS Port Macquarie with
318 horses and 400 men. He landed on the Peninsula in August and describes the conditions, the many near
misses, and day to day work of the RANBT. An entry dated Monday 6th [September] reads:
This has been a sorrowful day for all hands. At 6am the Turkish battery opened fire on our camp from
Byuk Anafarta which played havoc with our men. We had 3 injured and one CPO killed outright. It
was a pitiful sight for one to see. We were all dodging schrapnels and liddite when one fell in a dugout
where the said CPO was sitting mourning over the sad news of his brother being killed when a shell
burst and took his head clean off also his right hand and knee...
Two months later he went sick from Suvla to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station on September 22 with
Pyrexia (fever) and transferred to the hospital ship Neuralia and admitted with P.U.O. (pyrexia (fever)
uncertain origin). On September 26 he was moved to the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria entering
with Enteritis then discharged to Cairo on October 1, 1915 to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital. The same day
Base Records advised his family he was sick in hospital.
On November 16, 1915 he was admitted to the Australian and New Zealand Convalescent Camp in
Helouan with enteric until December 4 when he entered the Enteric Convalescent Camp at Port Said.
He was placed on the Supernumerary List at Ismalia on December 23, 1915. He appeared before the
Medical Board on December 16, 1915 and his Statement of Case reads:
Disability:
Enteric
Disability origin:
5 Sept 1915
Place:
Suvla
Essential facts:
7 weeks in bed
Cause of disability: Infection
Caused by:
Military Service
Present condition:
Convalescent
Recommendation:
Change to Australia
Incapacity to work: Total incapacity
Approved:
21/12/15 at A.I.F. Intermediate Base
Petty Officer Mason embarked from Port Said on January 3, 1916 for a three month change to Australia
on board the Transport H.T. A38 Ulysses departing from the Suez. Records advised family on January
14, 1916 that he was returning on the troopship. He disembarked on February 5, 1916. This news from
his sister appeared in:
The Maitland Mercury Saturday February 26, 1916:
GRETA
Mrs G.G. Gain has received word that her brother Petty Officer R.R. Mason, of the Royal Naval Bridging Train,
has been invalided home and is an inmate of the Randwick Military Hospital. P.O. Mason was at the
memorable Suvla Bay landing.
After recovering he returned to duty on May 1 and went into training at Seymour, Victoria on May 5,
1916 and transferred to the Miners’ Reinforcements. Final Home Leave was taken from June 7 to June
12, 1916.
On July 1, 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the October 1916,
Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies and sworn in on August 29, 1916 at their Seymour camp.
Personal particulars taken show his age still given as nineteen years and was 173cms (5ft 8ins) in height,
weighed 66.8kgs (147lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-92cms (34-36ins). Complexion was fair with
blue eyes and fair hair. Presbyterian was his faith.
Next-of-kin remained his mother Sarah Grace Mason of 19 Union Street, Cook’s Hill. He was reassigned
the regimental number of 5576.
The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the
transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with
the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going
around the Cape and arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of
call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further.
Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at
1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth then marched into the Aust Details camp at Perham
Downs for further training for the front.
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.
The Reinforcement proceeded to France from Folkstone on board S.S. Onward on January 29, 1917
marching into the Aust General Base Depot. On February 6, 1917 he was attached on Supernumerary
strength in the field to the 1st Tunnelling Company.
The death of his father was reported in the:
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate Saturday September 22, 1917:
HAMILTON
The funeral of Mr John Wilson Mason left 32 Bibby-street yesterday. The Rev A.T. Anderson, M.A. officiated
in the Presbyterian portion of Sandgate cemetery. Messrs W. Hancock, G.G. Gain, T. Stokes and A. Moat were
the pall-bearers. The chief mourners were Mesdames Mason, and J. Wilson, Mr E. Wilson, Mesdames Gain,
Stokes, Hancock, Durham, Menzies, Court and Mr C. Mason. Wreaths were sent by employees of the Boolaroo
Sulphide Works, Messrs Armstrong and Royce, officers and men of the A.G. Artillery, officers and men of the
Naval Reserve, Mrs Dyer and family, Mr and Mrs Carpenter. The deceased, who was 75 years of age, had been
a resident of Newcastle for about 30 years. He was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and came to Australia in a
sailing vessel which his father helped to build. He was one time in business as a contractor in Hamilton in
partnership with Mr Devonport. Mr Mason is survived by a widow, seven daughters, three sons, and 21
grandchildren. One of the sons, Sergeant-major R.R. Mason, who is on active service in France, was also in the
Gallipoli campaign.
The Australian war photographer Captain Frank Hurley visited the Hooge Crater dugouts three days before the
Battle of Menin Road and described the conditions he found:
It is a wretched job as they are working 25 feet below the surface level and most of the time knee deep
in mud, which they jocularly term ‘hero juice’ on account of it percolating through tiers and tiers of
buried corpses. Most of the men are miners and they are applying their knowledge to supreme
advantage whilst the Boche shells whiz and burst around them.
Damien Finlayson ‘Crumps and Camouflets’, page 241
Captain O.H. Woodward’s My War Story of the Great War for the September - October period
records:
“In view of the approach of Winter the Army considered it essential to push on with the erection of Dugouts.
The First Australian and First Canadian Tunnelling Companies were detailed for this work. No.4 Section
was detailed to erect Dugouts for the Heavy Artillery in the area lying between Half Way House and Birr
Cross Roads, and we continued with this work until the 26th December.”
On 31 October, Sergeant 3607 Alexander Hood, who had been photographed by the Australian War
Photographer at the Hooge Crater dugout only one month earlier, was killed when a long range explosive shell
hit the unit’s forward cookhouse at the Halfway House, just south of Birr Cross Road. Killed also were Sappers
3563 Joseph Bailey, 145 Archie Ivall and 5567 Roy Mason. The deaths occurred 8,500 metres behind the
battle fron and resulted in a final October tally of twelve men killed in action or dying of wounds from the ranks
of the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company.
Crumps and Camouflets – Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front: Damien Finlayson – p. 258
Red Cross Files:
“Informant described Hood as about 5ft. 6 inches high, medium build, slightly bandy legged, very jovial
disposition, aged about 45/6. Came from Auburn. Married with 8 children.
Informant stated that he had received a letter from Sergeant Shores that Hood and Sergeant Mason were both
killed by the same shell at Zillebeke about 30/10/17. They were supervising road building at the time. Shores
added that he had buried them in the cemetery at Zillebeke.
Informant stated in addition that Hood was a very good chap, and was a particular pal of his.”
Informant: 188 Sergeant J.H. Mitchell, 1ATC
“Informant described Hood as about 5ft 6 inches high, slight build, fair complexion, aged about 44/45. Came
from Sydney, married with 7 or 8 children. Left Australia with Informant per “Warilda” on 22.5.16.
Informant states that they both belonged to the 1st Tunnelling Company. On 31.10.17 the Company was at Half
Way House Menin Road sinking a shaft. The Germans started to shell them and Hood and Sergeant Mason
took cover in a Cookhouse when a shell came over right into the Cookhouse killing the two of them instantly.
Hood appeared to have been killed by concussion as no marks were to be seen on his body.
Informant was close by and saw them two minutes afterwards. He was also present at burial just outside Ypres
and saw a cross being made for the grave.
Informant added that Hood was well thought of by all.”
Informant: 3658 Sapper John O’Bryne, 1st Tunnelling Company, A.I.F.
The four men were buried the next day in adjacent graves in the
Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres by Captain Chaplain
Rev. Percy Baker, Church of England minister who had been
attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company the previous day.
Roy Mason’s grave is located at Plot III, Row K, grave 23.
Photo of headstone & cemetery by kind permission of
The War Graves Photographic Project www.twgpp.org
A Field Service Report was dated November 3, 1917 and forwarded to the Anzac Section 3rd Echelon on
November 21, 1917. Advice was cabled on November 7 and confirmed by mail seven days later. A copy
of his service was made for the War Pension Department.
His mother was advised by Base Records and a small Obituary for the soldier appeared in the:
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate Monday November 19, 1917:
LATE SERGEANT-MAJOR MASON
Sergeant-major Roy Mason, whose death in action is announced in district’s casualties’ to-day, saw service at
Gallipoli with the Naval Bridging Train, of which unit he was a petty officer. He returned to Australia last year
and was transferred to the Miners’ and Tunnelling Company, which sailed in October last year. Sergeant-major
Mason was at Hill 60, with the miners, and had a narrow escape, a piece of shell piercing his mess tin, which
was slung on his equipment. He was mentioned in despatches for his excellent work. The late soldier’s father
died last September.
Australian Metropolitan Life Assurance Company Ltd of 30 Castlereagh Street, Sydney wrote to Base
Records on November 26, 1917 requesting the usual Death Certificate in due course for the soldier.
Formal acknowledgement was sent dated December 12, 1917.
News of his demise was also reported in:
The Maitland Weekly Mercury Saturday December 1, 1917:
NEWCASTLE
Mrs S.G. Mason, of 32 Bibby-street, Hamilton, has received official notice that her son, Sgt-major Roy R.
Mason, of the Tunnelling Corps, was killed in action in France on 31st October, 1917. He was 22 years of age.
His name appeared in the Casualty List published in:
The Sydney Morning Herald Friday January 4, 1918:
OTHER STATES
The following are the names of New South Wales men who enlisted in other States:
KILLED
VICTORIA—Pte Roy Richmond Mason, Cook’s Hill, 31/10/17.
Article abridged
A pension was granted to his widowed mother Sarah Grace Almeda Mason to her residence at 32 Bibby
Street, Hamilton of £2.13.9d per fortnight from January 11, 1918.
Australian Metropolitan Life Assurance Company Ltd wrote to Base Records again on April 4, 1918
stating that the required Certificate had not come to hand and would be pleased to receive it without
delay. This was forwarded and dated April 11, 1918.
A Promotional Reconciliation after his death occurred and about July 29, 1918 after investigation all
entries and movements from his embarkation on October 25, 1916 until his death were to be ranked as
Sergeant. A form was returned to his Unit on February 11, 1919.
Fellow soldiers who departed with their late comrade were welcomed home which was reported in the:
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate Monday May 12, 1919:
CURRENT NEWS
The Newcastle West and Cook’s Hill Solders’ Welcome Home Committee have recently welcomed the
following soldiers: Sergeant A. Hales, Railway-street; Private Hollinshed, Church-street; Private Peterson,
Union-lane; Private Phillips, Darby-street; and Private S. Herbert, who left with the late Sergeant-major R.R.
Mason, with the Naval Bridging Train. The committee will shortly hold a social, when medals will be
presented to a number of returned soldiers.
Photographs in triplicate were also forwarded to his family on June 14, 1920. His brother replied on June
20 from 104 Church Street, Newcastle advising receipt of these. He also advised giving particulars for
the grave some time ago and hoped the same would appear on a permanent headstone. He advised that
his mother was now deceased. Base Records responded on June 29, 1920 noting that his name and
address had been added to his brother’s records. Records pointed out that his brother’s rank was Sapper
and not Sergeant as quoted by him.
In accordance with the Deceased Soldiers’ Act 1918 Base Records forwarded a form dated September 30,
1920 inquiring if the deceased soldier had any older brothers still alive other than himself and to reply at
his earliest to them.
Ernest R.W. Mason wrote to Base Records on October 7, 1920 after receiving official communication and
stated that he was the nearest blood relation of the deceased soldier being the eldest brother and gave his
address as 104 Church Street, West Newcastle. The Commandant 2nd Military District was sent his
medal on October 15, 1920 to issue to next-of-kin.
For his supreme sacrifice Petty Officer 13 Roy Richard Mason, Royal Aust Naval Bridging Train, also
served as Sergeant 5576 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, was issued with the 1914/15 Star (17545),
the British War Medal (13998) and the Victory Medal (13940).
The Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 23 July 1921:
ENGINEERS' ROLL OF HONOUR
The Royal Engineer War Memorial Committee are arranging to deposit a roll of
honour of all ranks of the Royal Engineers whose names were officially
published as killed in action or died of wounds or disease in the war in the
chapel of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Engineer corps of the dominions,
colonial, and Indian armies have been invited to deposit similar rolls of honour
in St. Paul's, to be attached to that of the Royal Engineers. This invitation has
been accepted in Australia. The roll will be inscribed on vellum and enclosed in
a casket of Australian timbers to rest on a slab of Australian marble.
This extract from Tunnellers Roll of Honour included in profile with the kind
permission of the
Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Photos courtesy of Robin Sanderson, Paris
The War Medal was sent to the Commandant 2nd Military District on July 29, 1921. The Pamphlet
‘Where the Australians Rest’ was issued on August 19, 1921.
The Memorial Scroll (337645) was posted to his brother E.R.W. Mason on August 22, 1921 and the
Memorial Plaque (337645) was sent direct to him on October 10, 1922. The Victory Medal was also
mailed by registered post (102) on December 19, 1922. The Memorial Scroll was receipted on September
2, 1921.
Mr C.W. Mason of The Tower, Rose Street, Annandale wrote to Base Records on November 6, 1922
after seeing an article in that evenings paper to see if they held any medals for his brother. He inquired
that in the event of a claim for Gratuity Bond not being sent in by his eldest brother could claim be made
by anyone else. Base Records sent a copy of this paragraph to the District Finance Office for their
attention and reply to him. Records replied to Mr Mason on December 8, 1922 that medals had been
allotted to his eldest surviving brother Mr Ernest R.W. Mason in keeping with instructions with the
Deceased Soldiers’ Act 1918. The portion in regards to the War Gratuity had been referred to the District
Finance Officer at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne and all correspondence on the matter should be
referred to them.
On February 24, 1925 Base Records advised Mr Ernest Mason that his brother was officially recorded
being interred in Plot 3, Row K, in grave no. 23 of the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres,
Belgium.
On September 7, 1948 the Public Trust Office at 19 O’Connell Street, Sydney, NSW wrote in connection
with their administration of the Estate of Robert McNeall and required proof of kinship of Sergeant
Mason. Base Records forwarded on September 8, 1948 a Certificate of Report of the Death for the
deceased member of the A.I.F.
The Eastern Command, Victoria Barracks in Paddington, Sydney wrote to Base Records on August 1,
1956 after failing to locate any records of the deceased soldier. Further representations had been made on
his behalf and requested any advice on the matter. Base Records replied to their memo on August 6, 1956
forwarding a Statement of Service for both terms of his duty and quoted his War Gratuity Schedule
number.
His name appears in the Commemorative area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra on Panel 27.
The Hamilton Superior School Honour Board, Newcastle Central Methodist Mission and the Newcastle
Methodist Church also bear his name.
In the Presbyterian portion of Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle within section 4NE on grave no. 20 his
name is also recorded on the family headstone.
Photos sourced from Sandgate Cemetery Project
LEST WE FORGET
© Donna Baldey 2014
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