I have chosen to write about Roy Klein as I consider the courage that would have been required by the tunnellers in France during the Great War to be almost beyond comprehension.

We can only imagine the mental toughness required to override the fear and anxiety that would have been the daily life of these exceptional men. 

Life in the trenches during Word War 1 was perilous enough for the infantry of the time but there was another type of soldier who faced danger at the next level.

The requirement to dig tunnels under enemy lines for the placement of mines and explosives as well as the need to construct very deep dugouts for command posts and troop accommodation led to the forming of Tunnelling Companies.

Could there be anything more horrific than tunnelling deep underground while the ground rumbled around you from the shock of countless artillery shells.

Roy Klein, the grandson of a Prussian immigrant, tried to enlist in the early stages of the Great War however was knocked back due to his German heritage.

Early in 1916, when the need for fresh troops increased Roy tried again to enlist and this time was successful. Roy, keen to get into the thick of it as soon as he could, volunteered to join a tunnelling unit as rumour had it they would be sent to the war immediately. Such was Roy’s enthusiasm he lied to his superiors, indicating he had mining experience in order to be accepted in the tunnelling unit.  

The exploits of the Australian Tunnellers were brought to life in the motion picture Hill 60. Roy was very much involved in that action that exploded Hill 60, as a part of the Battle of Messines, with so much force the shocks were felt in London.

Roy was severely wounded when shot in the side of his body in September 1917. He was initially thought to be dead, such were the severity of his wounds. He was evacuated to a field hospital set up by the Canadians where despite it being considered that he could not survive, he pulled through. 

When Roy left the Army in 1918 he married his sweetheart Dorothy Walsh and they purchased a farm at Valla. As well as being a successful farmer Roy also became the postmaster.

Roy went on to promote local sport and two of his paddocks were converted to playing fields with the ground lending itself to excellent spectator seating. He was known to be an absolute gentleman and although a quite man, very popular within the community.

Roy Klein was told due to his war injuries, it would be unlikely he would have a long life. Roy and Dorothy raised a family and he attended the Tunnellers ANZAC Day reunions in Sydney from 1934 to 1968. Roy passed away in 1972 at the age of 80, Dorothy lived to be 95. They are both buried at the Nambucca Heads Cemetery.

About the author: Mick Birtles is a recently retired Army Officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the welfare and well-being of veterans on the Mid North Coast.

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