Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

HMT Boonah quarantined at Torrens Island, 1919

 

 Quarantined on Torrens Island, 1919.  Sergeant Norman Gillies in is the centre. 

 

Marilyn Kenny has told the story of Troopship-Boonah-and-the-1919-influenza-epidemic ending it with the quarantine station at Woodman Point, Fremantle.

 

From that point, after having been quarantined for a fortnight, the Boonah continued its homeward voyage, stopping next at the Torrens Island Quarantine station near Adelaide, with a further period of quarantine.

 

Sergeant Norman Gillies, of the Australian Flying Corps, was quarantined on Torrens Island, and the following photos taken either on the Boonah or on Torrens Island, are from the Norman Gillies collection, courtesy of Maurice Austin.

 

 Sergeants on the Boonah, with a ship's officer.  2 HMAT Boonah.  3 HMT Boonah.  4  Durban Harbour. 

 

AFC men in life jackets.

 

 

 

Washing day on the Boonah.

 

 

Boxing match on the Boonah.

 

Possibly Norman Gillies.

 

 

 

Lifeboat drill on the Boonah.

 

Possibly St Paul Island, mid Indian Ocean.

 

Snoozing on a paravane, Boonah.

 

Possibly 3780, Sergeant Reg Mawson of Burnie, on the Boonah.

 

Unknown Australian Flying Corps Corporal, Boonah.

 

Unknown Australian Flying Corps Sergeant, Boonah.

 

African labourers on the wharf at Durban.  It is thought that wharf labourers brought the influenza onto the Boonah.

 

African labourers on the wharf at Durban.

 

Troops disembarking at Torrens Island. 

 

Doctor at the Torrens Island Quarantine Station.

 

Unknown Australian Flying Corps corporal on Torrens Island. 

 

2nd Lieutenant Robert McIlroy, a schoolteacher from Geelong, on Torrens Island.

 

Norman Gillies is on the right hand side of this group at Torrens Island. The troops are looking fairly relaxed.

 

Norman Gillies on Torrens Island. #Behind him is a row of store-rooms.

 

#These beds are presumably on the veranda of the several hospital wards scattered about the quarantine station.

 

YMCA representative aboard the Boonah, Albert W Bean, who was also a Baptist minister,  but not serving as a Chaplain.  His uniform cap has a YMCA badge.  He is standing in front of the makeshift stage, shown in the previous image.  https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+11282

 

Alfred Bean denied that the influenza had been brought on board the ship at Durban:

 

Y.M.C.A. ON BOONAH.

Chaplain Rev. A. W. Bean, of Norwood, who is on the Boonah, the epidemic of influenza on

which vessel proved so serious, in a recent letter to Mr. Maddern, of the Y.M.C.A.,- said —

 

"I hope the trying conditions imposed by quarantine authorities keeping us on this unhealthy boat do not slowly break down the patience and resistance-power of the 650 remaining. Great has been the mental strain. I think the weariness of waiting, the uncertainty, and the 'keep-off-the mainland' attitude of the authorities to be conducive to a mental state calculated to increase the trouble for which the outbreak of influenza was partly responsible. It is not true to say that we contracted it at South Africa, because no one was allowed ashore except three officers, who were going on to England, and did not return to our ship. A statement that there was intercourse with Durban is not the truth, and should be publicly retracted and officially contradicted. I suppose you received my earlier letters giving some idea of the opportunities on the troopship. Although the conditions have been so unusual, the boys have appreciated the Y.M.C.A. efforts to brighten their lives and help them on a most tedious voyage from a young fellow's standpoint. The two chaplains and several officers having come down to it. I am single handed, but have organized fresh sports and diversions, and we have prizes for competitions. I have also been giving any help I could to the doctors and A.M.C. staff, preparing comforts for the patients, providing tea for the guards, and so on. It is work I thoroughly enjoy."

"Y.M.C.A. ON BOONAH." The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) 24 December 1918: 8. Web. 5 May 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60534185>.

 

Possibly waiting to re-embark on the Boonah for Melbourne.

* The jetty and tramway were the only access point from ship to the island. The tramway was used to transport luggage, stores, fuel and building materials. The jetty was built in 1879 and widened in 1923.

# The shed on the beach next to the jetty is the boatshed.  The house on the far left of the photo is the Caretaker's Cottage. 

 

* A Guide for Friends of Torrens Island Assisted Tours of the Quarantine Facilities.  Friends of Torrens Island.  Undated but circa 2021. Revised 27 July 2022. Courtesy of Cynthia Ryan.

# Plans for Torrens Island at the National Archives of Australia.  NAA: D1051, FOLDER 57 DRAWING 13 Page 1. 

See also Friends of Torrens Island Facebook