Talking about Anzac tunnellers

A SERIES of talks this month will complement the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute’s current exhibition Ballarat Anzacs in the Heritage Reading Room.

A Lending Library presentation from historian and Mining Mud & Medals project lead Yvon Davis will discuss the region’s World War One tunnellers on Thursday, 14 April at 11am.

“Mining and digging tunnels under the enemy in World War One was fraught with danger, in often cramped conditions, with a possibility of being discovered by the enemy, getting killed by a collapsing tunnel, or worst of all, for an explosion to go off in the tunnel,” she said.

“Ballarat, Daylesford, Creswick, and Clunes all had Schools of Mines and an amazing mining history, however little seemed to be known about the tunnellers, that often trained [there].

“These tunnellers who formed the mining companies in World War One were mining engineers, geologists, miners, carpenters who were able to make the supports within the tunnels, and electricians, to supply power and lights.”

Ms Davis will speak about particular tunnellers like Major Lesley Jack Coulter. In the Lydiard Street Christ Church Cathedral, he’s acknowledged on a brass plaque as a mining engineer.

A graduate of the Ballarat School of Mines, Major Coulter studied mining management, chemistry, and drawing.

“Leslie Coulter received a Distinguished Service Order ‘for conspicuous gallantry during operations’,” Ms Davis said.

“On 28 June, 1917, he was involved in ‘a little stunt to blow up some enemy saps on Hill 70, near Loos’ when he was shot and killed.

“He was aged 26 and buried at Hersin Communal Cemetery in France.”

The Mining Mud & Medals book will be available for purchase at the presentation.