Samuel Mathew TANCRED
‘S. Tancred’, in The Queenslander Pictorial (p. 26), supplement to The Queenslander, 23 February 1918. Photograph courtesy of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland Image number: 702692-19180223-s0026-0048. http://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/415959 (Please refer to this web address for a higher resolution photograph)
Per his initial military service record (Depot), Samuel Mathew Tancred was born at Waterloo, Sydney, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 25 years and 10 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs Tancred, Botany Street, Waterloo, N.S.W. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He listed his postal address as ‘Geurie Post Office’, on his initial Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 140 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
The Wellington Times reported that ‘S. Tankered’ was one of five recruits that left Geurie by train to join the Coo-ees on Monday night 25th October 1915.[2] They stopped at Wellington for their medical examinations, then caught the train to Blayney to join the contingent.
Samuel Tancred completed his medical examination at Wellington with the other Geurie recruits on Tuesday 26th October 1915, and was attested the same day by Captain A. C. Eade at Blayney.
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 1st Light Horse Regiment.
On 10th January 1916 Trooper Tancred was charged with being absent from Musketry Parade on 7th January 1916, and being absent without leave on 8th and 9th January 1916. He was fined 20 shillings for the first offence, and 3 days pay for the second.
On 29th January 1916 Trooper Tancred was charged with being absent from 9.30 am parade without leave. He was fined 1 pound and confined to barracks for 4 days.
On 1st February 1916 Trooper Tancred was charged with being absent from duty. He was fined 1 pound and confined to barracks for 14 days.
On 7th February 1916 Trooper Tancred was charged with unlawfully disposing of Government Property. He was fined 2 pounds and sentenced to 14 days in Darlinghurst Gaol.
On 21st February 1916 Trooper Tancred was charged with breaking from guard tent whilst under arrest. He returned to the camp 2 days later and was held for discharge.
On 22nd March 1916 Trooper Tancred was discharged with Ignominy.
Samuel Tancred re-enlisted in the A.I.F. on 1st April 1916 at Bathurst, N.S.W, under the name of Samuel Mathew Bousfield. He was assigned regimental no. 2269, and allocated as a reinforcement for the 45th Battalion.
On 10th May 1916 Private Bousefield was charged with overstaying his leave by 44 hours from 0100 on 7th May 1916 till 2100 on 9th May 1916. He was fined 2 days pay.
On 5th June 1916 Private Bousefield deserted from Kiama Camp, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. [This warrant was withdrawn on 30th January 1919].
He re-enlisted in the A.I.F. again on 29th October 1917 at Brisbane, Queensland, under the name of Samuel Mathew Tancred. He gave his age as 21 years and 9 months in this application. He was assigned regimental no. Q21677, and allocated to the Engineers and sent to the Engineer Depot.
On the 20th of November 1917 Sapper Tancred was transferred to the Miners.
On the 11th of December 1917 Private Tancred was transferred to the 2nd Military District Engineer Reinforcements, and sent to Moore Park Engineer Depot in Sydney.
Sapper Tancred was discharged medically unfit on 8th February 1918 due to Tachycardia ‘probably due to excessive cigarette smoking’.
Note: A statement from his mother Mrs Bousfield dated 11th January 1945 in his service record states that her son’s name was ‘Samuel Matthew Bousfield’, and that he had ‘enlisted in 1915 at the age of 18 years’ under her maiden name.
[1] NAA: B2455, TANCRED SAMUEL MATHEW
[2] Round the Wellington District. Geurie. (1915, October 28). Wellington Times (NSW : 1899 – 1954), p. 7. Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143392877
1915 Coo-ee March 