BONSER FAMILY..A CONVICT HERITAGE

MY FATHER AT WAR

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Jim Bonser's war record

Convict John makes good

My father, Ruben James (Jim) Bonser never told us anything about his experience in the First World War and it was not until long after his death that I was able to obtain information about his war service, mainly from his service records obtained from the National Archives in Canberra. I was impressed with the amount of information I received from the Archives office. For instance there were photo copies of original letters from his father and mother seeking more information about the condition of their son who had been wounded at Gallipoli

Jim was 26 years of age when war was declared on the 4th of August 1914 and his low army number, 654, proves that he lost no time in enlisting. He joined F Company of the 7th Infantry Battalion and on the 21st October 1914 they left Australia. After some months of training in Egypt,the 7th Battalion embarked on the ship "Galeka" for what turned out to be an ill-fated voyage to Gallipoli.

An article in the Age Newspaper on Anzac Day 2002, describes the debacle. The plan was for the Galeka to go to a predetermined off-shore position at 4.45am on April 25 to meet with a number of pinnacles. The plan was that these steam powered pinnacles would tow the row boats of the 7th Battalion to shore. Like so much of the Gallipoli planning it was a stuff up; the Galeka was at the rendzvous on time but the pinnacles were not there, so instead of being towed by powered vessels the soldiers had to row to shore. It was a disaster.

When they got to within 50 yards of the shore they came under heavy Turkish rifle and machine gun fire. Of the 140 men in the first four boats only 35 reached the beach unscathed and by nightfall this number had shrunk to 18. Jim Bonser was one of those wounded in that landing and in retrospect he was probably fortunate in that the bullet wound was to his foot and necessitated a return to Alexandria Hospital in Egypt. Two months later (25 June 1914) he rejoined his unit at Gallipoli.

When the Gallipoli operation was abandoned and the troops returned to Egypt, Jim was transferred from the 7th Battalion to the newly formed 1st Pioneers Battalion, which shortly afterwards went directly to France. Jim was promoted to Corporal and less than five months later he was promoted to Sergeant. On the 20th March 1917, Jim performed a dangerous deed which earned him the Meritorious Service Medal.

The citation reads:
For rescuing a comrade from a 60 feet well.

About 11pm on 19/3/17, Pte Campbell, a groom from the 6th Infantry Brigade Headquarters in charge of 2 horses on the ALBERT-BAUPAUME Road, got off the main road and entered the village of LE SARS, and with the horses fell down a 60 feet well. A party of men spent all night trying to rescue Pte Campbell but were unsuccessful. Sergeant Bonser at 9am on the 20/3/17 heard what was wrong and volunteered to rescue him.
He was lowered down the well, but found it necessary to move one of the horses before Pte Campbell could be reached. After some trouble owing to the rope frequently breaking the horse was removed. Sergeant Bonser again descended and after several attempts was successful in having Pte Campbell who was unconscious, hauled up, himself remaining at the bottom of the well whilst this was being done.
Owing to the condition of the rope, and having to remain in the bottom of the well in the mud and water for half an hour, Sergeant Bonser reached the top in an exhausted condition.

Sd H.B. Walker Major General. Command 1st Aust Division
Sd W.R. Birdwood Lieut-General Command. A-NZ Army Corps

The Army sent a letter to Jim's parents advising of the Award.

"HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased to award the Meritorious Service Medal to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officer for gallantry in the performance of military duty:-
No. 654 Sergeant RUBEN JAMES BONSER"

In September 1917 Jim Bonser entered the Fovant Hospital in England and although he was discharged from hospital a month later, it was another five months of recuperation before he was declared fit to rejoin his unit. What was he in hospital for? There is nothing in the records to answer this, it simply says "sick". Was it gas? We'll never know.

Jim was discharged from the Army on the 24th of January 1919 and soon married my mother Emma Darcy. They had three children, Darcy who died in New Guinea in 1943, me (Alby) and my brother, Fred.

After the war Jim resumed employment as a miner in a gold mine in Daylesford, Vic. but lost his job when the depression hit hard.

Date created: November 12 2004.
Last Modified: January 8, 2007
Author Albert Bonser

2002 A.Bonser.