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“Since that ‘meeting’, and a subsequent WA article printed, the Australian War Memorial has officially recognised Vic Boothey and named and locationed him within the ‘Lost Diggers’ exhibit.
“Definitely an interesting process.”
Much of Vic Boothey Sr’s family still live on the island, descending from his children, Joan Murton, Marnie Budarick and Jack Boothey.
During 1916, Vic underwent signals training and eventually he was allocated to the 43rd Battalion and left Adelaide aboard the Berrima in December of that year.
He spent time training in England before leaving for France in late September and joined the 43rd Battalion near Ypres salient in Belgium on October 8, 1917.
The day after he joined the Battalion, it marched to the front line and over the next few days, they were heavily shelled, including gas shells and Vic was evacuated with gas-related wounds on October 12.
He rejoined his unit on November 22, but was again sent to the hospital.
During February 1918, Vic underwent further training, and was reunited with his Battalion as they were rushed to the Somme to stop the German advancement.
He was a gifted stonemason and a hard worker, and his skills can be seen in many public buildings including the ANZ Bank, Wisanger Park Homestead, Ellson’s Seaview, RAOB Hall, the Pioneer Memorial overlooking Kingscote, and finally, to the Soldier’s Memorial Gates at the oval.
“I think it’s really important to acknowledge Steve Budarick for the years of quiet work he’s been doing to get the acknowledgement for our grandfather, who built many iconic buildings in Kingscote,” Mr Boothey said.
“I also have to thank my partner Judith Hamilton for dragging me to the exhibit in the first place!”
An article published in last year’s The Islander spawned an interesting journey of discovery for Vic Boothey, grandson of Kangaroo Island’s World War I soldier of the same name. “On attending the ‘Lost Diggers’ exhibit in Perth, it was that memory of that dog and Grandad’s pose, that caught my eye and found him hanging in the museum,” Mr Boothey said.
Islander, 21 April 2016 http://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/3857720/chance-meeting-for-bootheys/?cs=1525
Surname: BOOTHEY picture in Ancestry.com
Christian Names: Victor Rupert Sydney
Date & Place of Birth: 9th September, 1882 Blackwood SA (d 23rd June, 1950)
Service Number: 2780
Service Unit: 43rd Battalion
Date & Place of Enlistment: 5th January, 1916, Adelaide, age 32
Profession prior to Enlistment: Motor Mechanic
Date of Return to Aust. & Date of Discharge: Ret. 27th August, 1919, Disch. 4th October, 1919
Nature of Casualty: Gassed twice
Next of Kin (NOK) Address
Father: William Boothey
Mother: Emily Boothey (nee Broadbent)
Sister(s): Beatrice Mabel Boothey (Mt Gambier) b 1884
Service
France: Yes
Campaign Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Bravery Awards, Citations, MID:
If Died, Plaque & Scroll received by NOK:
Rank: Driver
Kingscote Honour Board Yes
Penneshaw Honour Board Yes
KI Connection: Working at Kingscote. Residence Kingscote at time of death.
Vic Boothey was born at Blackwood in 1882, but his family must have moved to Mount Gambier before the turn of the century. In February 1905, the Advertiser reported that Vic was riding his bicycle from Kalangadoo to Mount Gambier when he was overtaken by a bushfire in a stringybark forest. Surrounded by fire and nearly suffocated by smoke he just managed to escape. Three months later Vic was again the subject of an article in the Advertiser when he almost severed his ear in a bicycle accident. Apparently he was a keen cyclist who competed in road races in the south-east.
Vic was living at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island and working as a motor mechanic when he travelled to Adelaide to enlist in January 1916 at the age of 32. He played for the Kingscote Football Club. His next of kin was his sister Beatrice, who lived in Mount Gambier.
After spending most of 1916 undergoing signals training and being transferred from one set of reinforcements to another, Vic was eventually allocated to the 6th reinforcements to the 43rd Battalion and embarked at Adelaide on the 'Berrima' in December 1916. After disembarking at Devonport, Vic spent time training in England before shipping out to France in late September and joining the 43rd Battalion at the 'Toronto' camp near the Ypres salient in Belgium on 8 October 1917.
The day after he joined the battalion it marched to the front line and entered the support trenches in the rear of the 44th Battalion. Over the next few days the 43rd Battalion was shelled heavily, including with gas shells, and on 12 October 1917 Vic was evacuated with gas-related wounds. He rejoined his unit on 22 November, and in late January went to hospital sick. He attended a two week training course in late February 1918, and not long after he returned to the Battalion it was rushed south to the Somme to help stop the German spring offensive. After a short rest, on 24 May 1917 the 43rd Battalion re-entered the frontline near La Bizet, and two days later Vic was gassed for the second time. He quickly recuperated, rejoining the Battalion on 8 June 1918 when it was in reserve near Villers Bretonneux.
After stints in the reserve and support trenches the unit was withdrawn for training alongside tanks, and on 4 July 1918 participated in the highly successful Battle of Hamel. During the training for and conduct of this attack a company of American troops were attached to the 43rd Battalion. During the battle the unit advanced 1700 yards, and captured over 300 prisoners and 20 enemy machineguns. On 8 August 1918 the unit participated in the hugely successful Battle of Amiens, and during the remainder of August helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg line.
Vic was granted leave in the UK between 29 August and 16 September, and after he returned the Battalion was committed to the capture of the Hindenburg Line on 30 September 1918. This was the last action of the 43rd Battalion in the war.
After the fighting ended on 11 November, the battalion wintered in the Picardy region of northern France, and in 1919 began returning to Australia in drafts for demobilisation and discharge. Vic was transferred to the 5th Australian Mechanical Transport Company from 12 March to 3 July 1919, before embarking on the 'Persic' in July and disembarking in Adelaide on 27 August 1919. He was discharged on 4 October 1919 and it is believed that he returned to Kangaroo Island.
His name is inscribed on the Kangaroo Island Council and Dudley District (Penneshaw) honour boards on Kangaroo Island. He died on 23 June 1950 at the age of 67 and was buried at Centennial Park.
Birth index
Birth index
Given Name(s): Victor Rupert Sydney
Last Name: BOOTHEY
Birth Date: 1882, September 09
Gender: M
Father: William BOOTHEY
Mother: Emily BROADBENT
Birth Place/Residence: Cherry Gardens
District: Morphett Vale
Symbol:
Book/Page: 290/292
Marriage Index
Marriage Index
Groom Given Name(s): Victor Rupert Sydney
Groom Last Name: BOOTHEY
Bride Given Name(s): Sarah Ann
Bride Last Name: ADAMS
Marriage Date: 1920, July 19
Marriage Place: Methodist Church Goodwood
Groom Age: 38
Groom Approx. Birth Year: 1882
Groom Marital Status: S
Groom Father: William BOOTHEY
Bride Age: 29
Bride Approx. Birth Year: 1891
Bride Marital Status: S
Bride Father Name: William ADAMS
District: Adelaide
Symbol:
Book/Page: 284/180
Death Index
Death Index
Given Name(s): Victor Rupert Sydney
Last Name: BOOTHEY
Death Date: 23 Jun 1950
Gender: M
Age: 67y
Approx. Birth Year: 1883
Marital Status: M
Relative 1:
Relative 2:
Residence: Kingscote KI
Death Place: Daw Park
District: Adelaide
Symbol: H
Book/Page: 755/3018
https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3099301&I=1&SE=1 plus 21 more documents
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