John
Winston Elliott was born on 8 November 1893 in
Hobart, Tasmania, a son to William
Ernest Elliott and Ada
Maria Bellette. John was the eldest of four children and the only
boy. William and Ada married on 3 June 1893 at the Church of St
Barnabas at South Arm Tasmania. William had been born on 20 September
1857 in Hobart, was a civil servant and unfortunately died on 19
January 1910 at 64 Hampden Road, Battery Point, Tasmania. He was
buried in Queenborough Cemetery on 22 January. Hannah Mary Elliott
was born on 23 May 1896 in Hobart. In the 1919 electoral roll she was
living at 152 Melville Street with her mother Ada Marie. Hannah was a
cashier and Ada was doing domestic duties. She married Neil Henry
Jensen (1896-1971) on 12 December 1921 in Hobart. Hannah passed away
on 26 March 1960. Rita Florence Elliott was born on 27 November 1898
in Hobart. She married Edwin Ernest Excell on 10 June 1924 in New
Town Tasmania. Rita passed away on 8 April 1979 in Tasmania. Brenda
Eliza Elliott was born in 1900 in Hobart. She married Robert Clarke
Dreaper (1884-1948) on 27 February 1924 in Tasmania. She passed away
on 31 January 1927 in Tasmania. Ada (born 16 December 1860 in Hobart)
was still living at 152 Melville St Hobart in the 1928 electoral
roll. She passed away on 15 July 1946 in Hobart. His parents’
graves were relocated.
The
plaque reads ‘Sacred to the Memory of those who were re-interred at
Cornelian Bay from the Queenborough Cemetery 1960 – 1963’. Their
names are on the 3rd
panel from the left as shown above. Other headstones from the
original Queenborough Cemetery have been removed to a dedicated area
at Cornelian Bay Cemetery in New Town.
John
enlisted on 11 January 1915 at Claremont Tasmania. He was given the
service number 3804 and joined the 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade. On his attestation paper he stated his full
name, that he had been born in Hobart and was a British subject, with
his age as 21 and 2/12. John stated he was a clerk, had not been an
apprentice nor was he married. His next of kin was listed as Ada
Elliott (mother) of 152 Melville Street Hobart; the same address that
he was living at. He had no civil convictions, nor had he been
dishonourably discharged from any military force. John had served
with the AGA for 4½ years and was still serving when he enlisted in
the AIF. His terms of service was for the duration of the war and 4
months. He signed the first page Jack Elliott, and also on the next
page after taking the oath on the next day. His description on
enlistment shows he was 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighed 158 pounds, had
a chest measurement of 34 to 36½ inches and had a fair complexion
with grey eyes and light brown hair. Church of England was his
religious denomination. He was examined medically on 11 January and
found fit for service. The Commanding Officer appointed him to the
3rd
Field Artillery Brigade on 1 February 1915 (the date the officer
wrote).
The
3rd
(Army) Brigade AFA embarked from Australia on 29 December 1915 at
Melbourne on HMAT Runic
A54, as recorded in one entry in his service records, but 2 February
1915 was recorded in his service records as date of embarkation in a
few documents. In the embarkation roll, the 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd
and 3rd
Reinforcements embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A54
Runic on 19 February 1915 with John listed as a Corporal. His other
details were the same as in his service record, except his enlistment
date which was stated as 6 January. He was paid 5 shillings a day.
John
joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 30 April 1915 with
2nd
Section Divisional Ammunition Column. He was transferred to the
Gallipoli Peninsula on 14 July 1915 with 1st
Battery. On 6 September 1915 he was transferred to 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade and taken on their strength on that day from
Divisional Ammunition Column. He was transferred to the 9th
Battery on 3 November 1915. The War Diary for the 9th
Battery, 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade 1st
Australian Division at Anzac on 7 November 1915 reads ‘About 1610,
several 8.2” shells from N.E. or E. fell near BROWNS DIP &
VICTORIA GULLY. One landed in our No. 4 gunpit & exploded 7
rounds of shrapnel & 2 H.E. setting fire to brushwood overhead
cover. No one was hit though Lieut. Evans & Gr. Miller were
scorched and suffered from shock. Lieut. A.A. Evans & Gnrs. J.W.
Elliott & C Faulkner assisted by 3 men of 10th
Btn. Inf. put fire out before big magazine exploded, though under
shell fire all the time.’ On 18 December 1915 he was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal for ‘acts of gallantry and devotion to
duty’ on the Gallipoli Peninsula. John disembarked from Ulysses
from the Gallipoli Peninsula at Alexandria on 18 December 1915.
While
on Gallipoli and in Egypt, John took a series of photos. These two
have nothing written on the back:
A
lot of others do have writing on the back of them.
‘In
Alan Pitts’ dugout Anzac. Bob Goyen. Lav White Alan Pitt &
gundy.’
On
2 December 1915 a Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st
Australian Division wrote to Divisional Artillery stating ‘With
reference to the recommendations for immediate recognition of the
actions of : – Lieut. Evans, A.A. Gnr. Elliott, J.W. and Gnr.
Faulkner G. the Army Corps Commander is prepared to forward the names
of Lieut. Evans and two men only – one Gunner from the 9th
Battery and one Private from the 10th
Bn. Please inform me which of the two Gunners above named you desire
to bring forward for immediate recognition.’ A handwritten letter
from the Lieutenant General Commanding the A&NZ Army Corps on 6
December to the Australian Army Secretary at Army Headquarters
advising him ‘The attached recommendations which I consider worthy
of immediate recognition are submitted for consideration. I agree
with the recommendations of the Divisional Commander of a Military
Cross to Lieut. AA Evans 9th
Bty A.I. F. and Distinguished Conduct Medals to Gunner J.W. Elliott
9th
Bty A.I.F. and Private GEA. Baker 10th
Battn A.I.F.’ The recommendation originally listed 3804 Gunner John
Winston Elliott and 3009 Gunner Christopher Faulkner of 9th
Battery A.F.A. (with another for the 10th
Battalion soldiers) on 7 November 1915 at Anzac; and gave the reason
for an award as ‘An enemy 8.2” shell fell and burst in a gun-pit
of the 9th
Battery, demolishing a portion of the pit, exploding 7 rounds of
18-pdr., and setting fire to the brushwood covering of the pit. This
fire threatened the safety of the magazine, containing 300 rounds of
18-pdr., The Officer, (Lieut. Evans) was dazed by the first
explosion, but assisted by Gunners Elliott and Faulkner and three
Infantrymen beat out the fire. During this time the Detachment were
in danger of being blown up by their own magazine and were also
likely to be again shelled by the enemy.’ They were both
recommended for the DCM (with neither having a previous
recommendation), with a note for order of merit stating ‘The above
two men are equal in merit and also of equal merit with Ptes 890
Edwards, & 816, Lindop, & 882, Baker, whose names are
submitted herewith.’ This was then crossed out and a pencil remark
written by Brigadier General H G Chauvel, Commanding 1st
Australian Division on 5 December 1915 which stated ‘Gr Elliott J.
W. Selected by unit’ and was signed by him. Gunner J W Elliott 9th
Battery AIF was recommended for an immediate award in Despatch No 40.
A letter sent to Headquarters 1st
Australian Division adds ‘The names of Lieut. Evans, Gunner Elliott
and Pte. Baker have been forwarded to A.H.Q. with recommendations for
immediate recognition.’ It was signed by a Captain DAA&QMG A&NZ
Army Corps on 6 December 1915.
At
Tel-el-Kebir on 24 February 1916, John was promoted to provisional
Bombardier without pay. He proceeded to join the British
Expeditionary Force, embarking at Alexandria on 23 March 1916 and
disembarking at Marseilles on 29 March 1916. On 30 March he was
absent without leave and was reprimanded without any forfeiture of
pay by the Commanding Officer.
On
the back: ‘Members of our happy family bent(?), now nearly all
separated. Alan & Self on left of snap. = two Melb. pals. *little
Curly Devlyn who has just developed interic (sic).’
‘Lined
up for our Irish Stew. Tel-el-Kebir.’
‘My
pal “Fluffy” & I at Cleopatra Camp. Egypt. June 1915.’
6-inch
Howitzers attached to the 3rd. A. F. A. Brigade
Having
our mid-day meal. Our tent. Tel-el-Kebir 14.2.’16
I
am not the main figure in this photo, but poked my nose in. This was
the morning after the night before; Boxing morn. after our Xmas Day
spree. I reckon me look very fresh, don’t you.
Taken
inside our hut I am right at the back on the right.
Doc.
Bucirde’s cookhouse at Anzac Mate Alb Beard on the right of
picture.
Tel-el-Kebir
Jany 1916
Some
of the boys but a bad snap. Les Ainsworth Bob Conacher Archie Robb
Bob Goyen Alb & Sid Beard. Tel-el-Kebir 14.2.’16
Our
right section tent lines at Tel-el-Kebir. Allan Pitt & another at
the door of our tent. 14.2’16
Another
one of our tent group minus Alan Tel-el-Kebir
members
of the “Dropouts” tent at Cleopatra Camp. Alex. Egypt. June 1915.
Members of the D.A.C.
His
service record states that on 14 March 1916 in the London Gazette it
was recorded that he was ‘Awarded the D.C.M for conspicuous
gallantry on Gallipoli Peninsula on 7th
Nov 1915, one of the enemys shells fell in a gun pit and exploded
seven rounds of eighteen pounder ammunition & set fire to the
brushwood, threatening a magazine containing 300 rounds of eighteen
pounder ammunition. Gunner Elliot was one of the small party that
beat out the fire, regardless of the danger of being blown up by the
explosion of the magazine.’ The Australian War Memorial notes it
was recorded in the ‘London Gazette 15 March 1916 on page 2887 at
position 1’ and ‘Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 6 July 1916 on
page 1500 at position 3’ for Gunner 3804 John Winston Elliott 9th
Australian Field Artillery Battery Australian Imperial Force.
The
Evening Echo
of Ballarat on Thursday 16 March 1916 in page 1 had:
‘DISTINGUISHED
CONDUCT MEDALS.
Private
G. BAKER (10th Inf., S.A.).; Gunner Elliott (9th Battery, Q.). For
the part they played in assisting Lieutenant Evans in extinguishing a
fire in an ammunition pit.
(REUTER’S
SPECIAL CABLES.)’
His
mother was sent a letter from Base Records on 8 July 1916 stating ‘I
have much pleasure in forwarding herewith copy of extract from
Supplement No. 29508, to the “London Gazette” of 14th
March, 1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your
son, No. 3804, Gunner J.W. Elliott, 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade. “HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously
pleased to approve of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to
the undermentioned soldier for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty
in the field :- No. 3804 Gunner J.W. Elliott, 9th
Battery, Australian Field Artillery- For conspicuous gallantry at
Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsula on 7th
November, 1915. One of the enemy’s shells fell in a gun-pit,
exploded seven rounds of 18-pr. ammunition, and set fire to the
brushwood, threatening a magazine containing 300 rounds of 18-pr.
ammunition. Gunner Elliott was one of a small party which beat out
the fire regardless of the danger of being blown up by the explosion
of the magazine.” The above has been promulgated in Commonwealth of
Australia Gazette, No. 79, of 6th
July, 1916.’
The
Examiner
of Launceston on Saturday 15 July 1916 in page 8 had:
‘FOR
VALOUR A TASMANIAN D.C.M. HOBART, Friday. Private advice has been
received that his Majesty the King has approved of the award of a
Distinguished Conduct Medal to Gunner J. W. Elliott. 4th Battery,
Australian Field Artillery, a son of Mrs. A. Elliott, of Hobart, for
conspicuous gallantry at Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsula, on November 7
last. One of the enemy’s shells fell in a gunpit, and exploded seven
rounds of 18 pounder ammunition, and set fire to some brushwood,
threatening a magazine containing 300 rounds of 18-pounder
ammunition. Gunner Elliott was one of the small party which beat out
the fire, regardless of the danger of being blown up by the explosion
of the magazine. Gunner Elliott was clerk at Jones and Co.’s when he
enlisted, and was a member of the Derwent Rowing Club.’
Also,
on that day, in the Mercury
of Hobart in page 8 was:
‘THE
D.C.M.
A
TASMANIAN SOLDIER RECEIVES IT.
Mrs.
Elliott, of 152 Melville-street, received the following letter
yesterday from the Defence Department, Melbourne: “Dear Madam,-I
have much pleasure in forwarding herewith copy of extract from
Supplement No. 29508, to the “London Gazette,” of 14th March,
1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, No.
3804, Gunner J. W. Elliott, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade.
“His
Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award
of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to the undermentioned soldier for
acts of gallantry and devotion to duty on the field.-
“.No.
3804, Gunner J. W. Elliott, 9th Battery Australian Field Artillery.
“For
conspicuous gallantly at Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 7th
November, 1915. One of the enemy’s shells fell in a gun-pit, exploded
seven rounds of 18-pr. ammunition, and set fire to the brushwood,
threatening a magazine containing 300 rounds of 18-pr. ammunition.
Gunner Elliott was one of a small party which beat out the fire
regardless of the danger of being blown up by the explosion of the
magazine.”
The
above has been promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia
“Gazette.” No. 79, of July 6, 1916.
Gunner
Elliott was in the clerical department of Messrs Jones and Co. when
he enlisted, and was a member of the Derwent Rowing Club.’
John
was promoted to Bombardier with 3rd
FA in France on 30 April 1916. He was promoted to Temporary Corporal
on 18 November 1916 and Corporal on 30 November 1916.
An
extract in his service record on 22 January 1917 shows that 3804
Corporal J W Elliott 3rd
FAB changed the allotment of 4/6 to 6/- daily from 10 December 1916
to Mrs A M Elliott of 152 Melville Street Hobart.
152
Melville St, Hobart is a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with 2 parking
spaces and was built in 1893. The property has a land size of 118m2
and floor size of 220m2. While the property is not currently for sale
or for rent, it was last sold in Mar 2005.
A
letter to the 1st
Australian Division Headquarters on 16 March 1917 ‘Reference my
91/284 of 10th,
inst. relative to presentation of medals by the Corps Commander at
FRICOURT FARM on 17th,
inst. the parade for this purpose has been postponed until Sunday,
18th.
inst. A Church parade of the 1st.
Infantry Brigade will be held at FRICOURT FARM Bde. Camp at 10 a.m.
on 18th.
inst. at which the Corps Commander will attend. The medals and
ribbons will be presented at the conclusion of the Church Parade. The
undermentioned officers, warrant and non-commissioned officers who
are to receive medals will parade at Divisional Headquarters,
FRICOURT FARM, on Sunday 18th.
inst. at 0945. The Divisional Commander desires that G.O.C’s,
Brigades, or their representatives, attend the parade for the
presentation of medals.’ The list included a list of Divisional
Artillery awards and included 3804 Gunner J W Elliott for the DCM.
On 23 November 1917 John was
promoted to Temporary Sergeant with the 3rd
Army Brigade AFA. He went on leave to England on 18 January 1918 and
was transferred to hospital on 30 January, as he was sick while he
was on leave. He also reverted to Corporal on that day as he was
sick.
He
was admitted to the 1st
A.D.H. Military Hospital at Bulford on 30 January 1918 with
gonorrhoea and was discharged from there on 27 March 1918 and marched
in to C.T.D. (Convalescent Training Depot). He was 8 days at C.T.D.
Parkhouse and was then discharged to unit on 13 April 1918. Another
entry on 13 April 1918 had the date 30 January 1918 and ‘gassed 4
months ago’. On 13 April 1918 he was marched in to No 1
Commonwealth Depot and classed as B1A4. In his service record is a
stamp ‘New Designation 3rd
(Army) Brigade Australian Field Artillery Auth,A.I.F.Order No 709’.
He was admitted to the Corp Clearing Hospital on 11 June 1918 with
bronchitis and was discharged from there on 17 June, ‘much
improved’. An entry on his hospital admission form noted ‘full
upper in situ partial lower supplied Dentally fit 8/8/18’. On 20
August 1918 he was marched out of the Depot and marched in to the
Overseas Training Brigade. He marched out from there on 20 September
1918 to R.B.A.A. H’bury and then proceeded overseas to France from
Southampton on 17 October 1918 as a Corporal. Landing in France on
the 18th,
he proceeded to his unit the next day. On 21 October 1918 he was
admitted to 39th
General Hospital with ‘N.Y.D’ (not yet diagnosed) and was
discharged to base ‘N.A.D.’ on 6 November. He was marched out
from A.G.B.D. to his unit on 10 November, re-joining them on 16
November. On 12 December 1918 he was sent to Base Headquarters 1st
Division. From there he was transferred to England on 21 December and
marched in to R.B.A.A. at Heytesbury the next day (Class B). On 23
January 1919 he marched out from there and marched in to No 2
Commonwealth Depot. He went AWOL on 5 March 1919 from 1500 to 1700 on
9 March at Littlemoor (a suburb of Weymouth). His award was
‘Dismissed by Lt. Col. D. A. Lane. 18.3.19’.
Corporal
3804 John Winston Elliott DCM 3rd
Army Field Artillery Brigade returned to Australia on 1 April 1919 on
HT Shropshire and
disembarked at the 3rd
Military District on 16 May 1919, for 6th
Military District. His next of kin was informed he was returning to
Australia on 23 April 1919.
Captain
Daniel, S.O.I. & R.S. 6th
Military District, sent a note to Base Records in Melbourne on 26
August 1919 from Anglesea Barracks Hobart advising them he was
sending the medical documents for ‘3804 Cpl. John Winston ELLIOTT,
9th
Batty 3rd
F. A. B. Ex
“Shropshire” 1-6-19 who had been discharged on 12 September 1919,
being medically unfit. He was discharged from the 6th
Military District.
John
married Clarissa Haydon on 23 November 1920 in Victoria. The wedding
notice appeared in The
Mercury of Tasmania
on 8 January 1921, with his name given as Jack. She had been born in
Axedale Victoria in 1890. Her parents, Charles Thomas Haydon and
Margaret Connor had both been born in Victoria, and she was one of
seven children.
The
1922 electoral roll had them living at 54 Newdgate Street in Hobart,
with John listed as a clerk and Clarissa doing home duties. By the
1931 roll they had moved to Bonnybrae
12 Taylor Street Buranda in Oxley Queensland with John a company
representative. The 1933 Post Office Directory had them living at
Sherwood Road Toowong. By the 1934 electoral roll, they had moved
back to Bonnybrae
12 Taylor Street Buranda and he still had the same occupation. The
1937 roll had the same details. In the 1938 Post Office Directory it
records his address as Sherwood Road Toowong and 12 Taylor Street
Woolloongabba.
They
had two sons, William Haydon “Don” Elliott, born 24 June 1922 in
Hobart and Brian Wilston Elliott, born 3 May 1924 in Tasmania.
On
22 April 1927 his service file was requested and sent to Brisbane.
John
has a record, NAA: BP709/1, M44539, at Brisbane which is open but not
online. It would be his medical history.
There
is a file for his WW2 service under ‘ELLIOTT JOHN WINSTON : Service
Number – Q202807 : Date of birth – 08 Nov 1893 : Place of birth –
HOBART TAS : Place of enlistment – BRISBANE QLD : Next of Kin –
ELLIOTT CLARISSA’, listed under NAA: B884, Q202807 in Canberra but
it is ‘Not yet examined’. His WW2 nominal roll shows he enlisted
16 April 1942 at Brisbane. He was living in Buranda at the time. Next
of kin was Clarissa Elliott. John was discharged as a Private in 4th
Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (Qld), but the date of discharge is
not known.
The
1943 electoral roll has them listed as living at Elldon,
Wylma Street Holland Park with the same occupations. In the 1949
roll, they have all the same details.
On
1 September 1953, John was in a list of passengers on the SS
Strathmore
that docked at Freemantle from England. He was in 1st
Class and had embarked at Colombo and intended to disembark at
Sydney.
The
1954 electoral roll had them listed at the same place and details as
does the 1958 roll, but the division and subdivision had changed. By
the 1968 roll they had moved to 15 Salerno Street Isle of Capri at
Coolangatta and he had no occupation.
15
Salerno Street.
John
passed away on 20 December 1968 at the Gold Coast. He has a plaque in
Queensland Garden of Remembrance.
Clarissa
passed away in Brisbane on 24 December 1978.
William’s
birth notice reads: ‘ELLIOTT.- At Alexandra Hospital, on 24th
June, the wife of J. W. Elliott, 54 Newdegate-street, N.H., a son
(William Haydon).’ He enlisted in WW2 at Atherton and was given the
service number QX50348. His father was listed as next of kin. There
are two service records for him at National Archies Australia, B883
and A13860, but neither has been examined and are not online yet.
In
the 1943 electoral roll William was listed as living with his parents
and his occupation was soldier. The 1949 roll has the same details.
By the 1954 roll, he was living at 33 Lloyd Street Camp Hill and was
a clerk, with Edith Lilah Elliott doing home duties. They still had
the same details in the 1958 roll. In the 1963 roll he was still
living at the same address but was with Marcia Margaret Elliott, who
was doing home duties. All the same details were in the 1968 roll. By
the 1972 roll they had moved to 14 Chartwell Street Margate, where
William was still a clerk and Marcia was a ‘comptometriste’. The
same details were in the 1977 and 1980 rolls. William passed away on
9 January 2014 and is buried in Redcliffe Cemetery in the Rose
Garden/Mixed 198. His obituary reads ‘ELLIOTT, William Haydon “Don”
Late of Nazarene Aged Care, formerly Margate. Passed away peacefully
on Thursday, 9th January, 2014. Aged 91 Years Dearly loved Husband of
Marcia. Much loved Father, Father-in-law, Grandfather and
Great-grandfather of his Family. Relatives and Friends are invited to
attend a Celebration of Don’s Life, to be held at the Traditional
Funerals Chapel, 17 Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe, Friday, 17th January,
2014, commencing at 11 a. m. .TRADITIONAL FUNERALS Redcliffe (07)
3284 7333 A Local Family Company’.
Brian
was listed in the Queensland Police Gazette Index in 1944, but as the
record is not available online, it is not known what for. In the 1949
electoral roll, he was living at the same address as his parents and
his occupation was fitter and turner. By the 1954 roll, he had moved
to 33 Mayneview Street Milton and was a commercial traveller. He was
also living with Elsa Johanne Elliott who was doing home duties. They
were still there in the 1954 roll. By the 1958 roll, he was still
there with the same occupation, but was by himself. In the 1963 roll
they were both living at 289 Ellison Road Geebung and he was a
salesman. It was all the same details for the 1968, 1972, 1977 and
1980 rolls. Brian passed away on 18 April 2014 in Brisbane.
John’s
medals are Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War
Medal and Victory Medal.
The
medal group and caption with photos are now on display in the
Gallipoli section of the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
The acquisition of this medal group for the museum was made possible
by the Copland Foundation, for which the museum is sincerely
thankful.
Display
in museum.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
‘On
the morning of the battle he knelt down before his men and received
communion from me’1
Ignatius
Bertram (Bert) Norris was born on 31 July 1880, the youngest son of
Richard Augustine Norris and Marianne (née Fennessy), in North
Sydney, New South Wales. Bert’s father was born in County Cork,
Ireland and came to Australia with his parents shortly after the
Crimean War, on
account of the
death of his brother, Surgeon Major JJ Norris of the Connaught
Rangers.
Richard Norris
entered the service of the Bank of Victoria and later moved to New
South Wales where he managed the Haymarket branch of the Australian
Joint Stock Bank and was treasurer of St Mary’s Cathedral building
fund.2 Richard
married Marianne on 1 August 1868 in Melbourne and they had four sons
and four daughters.
Ignatius
Bertram was born on the feast day of Saint Ignatius.
He was
christened with the saint’s name but was always called by his
second Christian name, ‘Bertie’ when he was young and ‘Bert’
as he grew older. His parents were devout Catholics and Bert was
always strong in his Christian faith.
Bert’s
family lived at Hunters Hill and in 1890 his parents enrolled him at
Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview where he spent seven successful
years. Bert was small in stature and fearless, jumping into the pool
without learning to swim properly. In his first year he almost
drowned in the college pool, Lane Cove River, but a fellow student,
Charles Lennon of Brisbane saved him, and Father Edward Pigot SJ3
revived him. In 1893 he escaped serious injury when he was run over
by a dray at the Lime Street Wharf, Darling Harbour. It was believed
he escaped death because he was wearing the scapular of the Sacred
Heart, over which the dray passed.
‘He was one of the many
Catholic boys who rowed or ferried across the Lane Cove River to
climb the steps up to the fine stone building that commanded such
spectacular views towards the city.’4
Bert
showed academic promise from an early age, winning prizes for Latin
and English in 1894. In 1895 he was first in aggregate in the Easter
examinations. He was also an outstanding sportsman for the school
playing both cricket and rugby in the first teams. He was recorded as
a hard-hitting batsman in the 1st
IX in 1896. He often ‘swung with the tide’ favouring the leg side
with his shots.5
In the rugby team he was a fearless forward who ‘dribbled and
heeled out well’6
He also excelled
in debating, handball and tennis. Bert joined the College cadets in
1894.
Bert
graduated in 18967
and was entitled to present himself as a candidate for the Sydney
Public Service competitive examination held 27-29 January 1897.8
He was successful and studied law, starting his career in the office
of Messrs Brown and Beeby and then qualified as a solicitor. At the
same time he studied for the bar. Bert was admitted to the
New South Wales
Bar in May 1908 and in 1910, he was appointed secretary to the
vice-president of the Executive Council,
which
is the formal, official arm of government to give legal authority to
such things as proclamations and regulations under the Acts
authorised by Parliament.
Bert
worked from the University Chambers, 167 Phillip Street Sydney, which
also housed Messrs Barry and Norris, his brother Osbourne’s firm of
solicitors. He broadened his interest and abilities in sport, playing
1st
grade hockey with the Corinthians Club9
in Sydney, as captain of the team which was successful in being
selected to play for New South Wales against Victoria in 1909. He was
also a committee member of the club.
In
the Sydney tennis competitions, Bert honed his skills, and won the
Neutral Bay Championships in 1909 against a large field of entries.
He beat Mr C Royle 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-3 in the final. He continued to
play cricket with the I. Zingari club.10
He also liked to
play golf and was a member of the Royal Sydney Golf Club, Rose Bay.
Bert
kept his devotion to his school and was the honorary secretary of the
Old Boys’ Union in 1904. He was regarded as an eloquent
after-dinner speaker at Union functions.
In
1897, Bert found time to join the New South Wales Irish Rifles as an
unpaid military volunteer. His future father-in-law, John Lane
Mullins, was a captain of the unit. He, along with other well-known
members of the Irish community, attended a public meeting at the
Sydney Town Hall in November 1896 that proposed the formation of the
Irish Rifles in Sydney. Three companies were raised and they were
initially attached to the Scottish Rifles to form a tactical
regiment, which lasted for three years before they split to form
individual units.
On
1 March 1901, after completing his examinations, Bert was promoted to
the rank of 2nd
lieutenant. In October 1903, he was promoted to lieutenant.
Three
years later, in August 1906, he was promoted to captain and between
March 1907 and June 1908, he was the volunteer adjutant of the 1st
Irish Battalion. The New South Wales Irish Rifles wore a green
uniform with black facings. Their slouch hat was also green. The
Irish Rifles remained an unpaid volunteer force, until it ceased to
exist when the Australian Army was reorganised in 1912. Bert held the
position of second-in-command at the time of the reorganisation.
Under the new system the unit became the 33rd
Infantry Regiment. At the same time Bert was gazetted major on 1
January and given command of the 40th
Battalion senior cadets. New South Wales at that time had 32,814
cadets in training. In 1910, Bert took command of the St Ignatius
College Cadets as they formed an honour guard during the procession
of the Blessed Sacrament of the Feast of Corpus Christi. In April
1913, Bert was transferred to the unattached list but soon was again
transferred to the 34th
Battalion, a new unit that was located in the Enmore, Newtown,
Marrickville and St Peters area under the Command of Lieutenant
Colonel Alexander Jobson.11
On
New Year’s Day 1914 Bert’s father, Richard, died age 71, at the
family home “Osterley”,
Stanmore, after a long and painful illness. He was buried at Gore
Hill Cemetery on 2 January, with his sons as official mourners.13
Bert’s mother
passed away on 20 October 1915 and was buried with her husband.
On
25 March 1915, Bert and Jane Elizabeth (Bessie) Mullins, the eldest
daughter of Mr and Mrs John Lane Mullins of “Killounton”,
Darling Point, were married in a military-style wedding at St Canice
Catholic Church, Darlinghurst, by Father J O’Gorman, administrator
of St Mary’s Cathedral. They had announced their engagement only a
few weeks earlier. Bert had applied for a commission with the AIF on
1 March 1915. Among Bert’s groomsmen were three officers from the
34th
Battalion. Page 4
Lieutenant
Colonel Alexander Jobson also attended. The wedding breakfast was
held at the home of Jane’s parents before the couple departed for
their honeymoon at the Blue Mountains.14
Jane
Elizabeth (Bessie) Mullins was born on 13 October 1888 in Sydney. Her
father, John Francis Lane Mullins, was a well-known businessman and
church-goer in Sydney. He was born in Sydney and educated at St
Mary’s College, Lyndhurst and St John’s College, graduating with
a
Master of Arts
degree when only 21 years old. In 1885, he was admitted as a
solicitor in the Supreme Court and was called to the Bar in August
1930. He assisted with the formation of the New South Wales Irish
Rifles, held the rank of captain, and had a long association with St
Mary’s Cathedral from boyhood and was appointed the first
treasurer. During 25 years, he was the honorary secretary of St
Vincent’s Hospital and later became the honorary treasurer. John
Lane Mullins was elected to the Sydney Council, 1900 to 1912 and was
also well-known in the arts world for his own personal collection and
as president of the National Art Gallery. He was a director of a
number of companies, including Toohey’s Ltd. John married Jane Mary
Francis Hughes, daughter of John Hughes and they had four daughters
and one son15.
Jane passed away on 15 January 1926 and John on 24 January 1939. Both
are buried at the South Head Cemetery. 16,17
John
Lane Mullins’ brother was Colonel George Lane Mullins MA MD, a
founding member
in 1913
of the Red Cross
movement in New South Wales. He was educated at St Mary’s College
Lyndhurst and Sydney Grammar School. At Dublin University, he
graduated in Arts and Medicine. He held positions at St Vincent’s
Hospital and Sydney Hospital. For ten years he was commissioner in
the Commonwealth for St John’s Ambulance Brigade. His military
service saw him hold various positions including commanding officer,
No 4 Base Hospital, Randwick. He was a member of the Australian
Catholic Congress in 1900 and held a keen interest in the Sacred
Heart Hospital for the Dying. Colonel George Lane Mullins passed away
on 19 March 1918 and was buried at Waverley Cemetery. For many years
after his death the Lane Mullins Shield, donated by the family, was
awarded to the best squad of the St John’s Ambulance in New South
Wales, in honour of the Colonel.
A
younger brother of John and George was Lieutenant Thomas Lane Mullins
who, during the Boer War, was a member of the New South Wales
Citizens’
Bushmen Contingent.
He
was promoted captain and served subsequently with the 1st
Australian Commonwealth Horse. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal
with five clasps. Thomas had been a well-known swimmer with the East
Sydney Club. He died,
in the prime of
his life, on 9 January 1912 at Wentworth Falls, New South Wales and
was buried at Waverley Cemetery.
On
1 March 1915, Bert, age 34, applied for a commission in the
Australian Imperial Force. He stood 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed
10 stone. Bert named as next of kin, his new wife who was living with
her parents in their Darling Point home. His application was not
recommended and certified by the commanding officer until 7 May 1915
(appointed major), nor by the district commandant until July (after
he had sailed). Prior to embarkation, Bert deposited his Will with
his brother Osbourne and Sir Allen Taylor18
as executors. He
was appointed to the 1st
Battalion and
led the 5th
Reinforcements on their trip to Alexandria. They embarked from Sydney
on board HMAT A40 Ceramic
on 25 June 1915. On arrival, he was appointed Commanding Officer 7th
Training Battalion.
His
expertise as a
solicitor was used as Judge Advocate in Courts Martial on a regular
basis.19
Bessie,
who was pregnant, followed her husband to Egypt so that they could be
near one another for the birth of their child.
On
18 January 1916, Major General James Spens CB, commanding officer
Cairo District, wrote a letter to Major General Sir Neville Smyth VC,
requesting Bert be transferred to a battalion and recommending him as
a commanding officer, stating he was ‘a
hardworking and trustworthy officer keen and anxious to get on, in my
opinion he is one of the best COs who have passed through my hands.’21
On
18 February, Bert and Bessie’s son, John Richard Bertram Norris,
was born in Egypt.
On
24 February,
Bert was transferred to the 53rd
Battalion as its first commanding officer.22
The
53rd Battalion was raised in mid-February 1916 as part of the
expansion of the Australian
Imperial Force
which took place in Egypt. Formed
from reinforcements sent from Australia as well as experienced men
drawn from the 1st
Battalion,
plus officers from other units, the 53rd was assigned to the 14th
Brigade, 5th
Division.
Upon
formation, they took part in the defence of the Suez
Canal against
forces of the Ottoman
Empire,
for which they would receive their first theatre
honour
(Egypt 1916), although they did not take part in any actual fighting.
During this time, Bert trained his unit and built up his officer
numbers.
On
16 June 1915, the 53rd
Battalion commenced their movement to the Western Front departing
Ferry Post, marching to Moascar and camping overnight. The following
day they entrained to Alexandria where they boarded SS Royal
George.23
On 22 June at 11am the Royal
George
put to sea with the 53rd
Battalion consisting of 32 officers and 958 other ranks. The ship
arrived at Marseilles at 8am, 27 June and the unit disembarked. The
53rd
Battalion travelled north to Thiennes where they were billeted and
undertook training as final preparation for their entry into the war
on the Western Front.
On
16
July, the 53rd
Battalion left Thiennes and marched to Estaires and then the
following day to Fleurbaix 24
replacing
the 59th
Battalion in the trenches at Fromelles.
Bert’s
battalion command group was as follows: Second in Command: Major
Oswald Mosley Croshaw25;
A Company: Captain David Thompson26;
B
Company: Captain John Joseph Murray27;
C Company: Major Victor Horatio Buller Sampson28;
D Company: Captain Charles Arblaster29.
The battalion adjutant was Lieutenant Moffitt30;
the
Chaplain, Captain John Joseph Kennedy31;
the
Medical Officer, Captain Charles Cosgrove.32
On
the morning of 19 July 1916, the chaplain, Father Kennedy,
celebrated Mass
and Bert knelt down before his men and received Holy Communion. Bert
was the first to receive the ‘August
Sacrament’.33
Bert was liked by his men. Several times a day he would visit them,
always with a smile on his face. His men were his chief care. On the
night before the battle, exhausted, Bert called for Father Kennedy
and after discussing a number of issues and concerns, he told Father
Kennedy, ‘I feel
almost convinced that tomorrow will witness my first and last fight.
Strange to say, the thought does not worry me, until I think of
Bessie and my child. My God, if ever a man was blessed with a perfect
wife, I am. Perhaps we are too happy. Should anything happen me! I
mean should the worst befall, will you write to her?’34 Father
Kennedy replied, ‘Nonsense,
Colonel. Put the silly thought out of your head. The battalion is
bound to do great things tomorrow.’35
The
attack at Fromelles had been planned as a diversion in order to
distract the enemy and keep a German division in the north, away from
the Somme where, already on 1 July, the British forces had suffered
57,470 casualties, including 19,240 fatalities.
The
14th
Brigade was the
centre unit with
the 15th Brigade
on the right and the 8th
Brigade on the left. The 14th
Brigade lined up with 53rd
and 54th
Battalions in the front and the 55th
and 56th
in support. To the right of the 53rd
was the 59th
Battalion from 15th
Brigade. The objective was to take the German trenches to the left of
the Sugarloaf,
then link up
with other units, which would be
the key to the
attack’s success. The Sugarloaf, a heavily-manned position with
many machine guns facing the British and Australian lines, had to be
taken by the battalions of the 15th
Brigade. Fire from there could enfilade any troops advancing. If this
strong German position were not taken, the 53rd
Battalion would be subject to murderous enfilade fire. The area of no
man’s land between the opposing trench lines was wide – far too
wide – for the 53rd
it was 250 yards. The land was flat, boggy and overgrown,
crisscrossed with drainage ditches and a small rivulet known as Laies
Stream.
At
4pm the 54th
Battalion joined the left-side 300 feet of the trenches. The 53rd
closed in from its original 800 feet with A and B Companies forward
and C and D Companies in support. The 2iC Major Croshaw36
had been appointed as a liaison officer between the battalion and the
brigade and would faithfully carry out his task, personally
reconnoitring the position, keeping in touch with the brigadier, and
endeavouring to furnish supplies.
At
5.05 pm Bert sent to Staff Captain Geoffrey Austin Street, 14th
Brigade, the following messagewhich was
received at 5.18pm on 19 July;
“Our trenches are being
very heavily shelled along the whole of our front AAA The wireless
station is wrecked AAA The telephone lines from my forward Head
Quarters to the Brigade forward Head Quarters are much cut AAA Until
this connection is re-established only runners can be used AAA All
ranks in excellent spirits AAA The enemy trenches have been wrecked
by our Artillery AAA”.
This
was Bert’s last communication with brigade headquarters. A copy of
the message37
is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
The
Australians’
preliminary artillery barrage was loud and impressive but not always
accurate. The men soon discovered that shells bursting among them
were coming from behind as well as from in front. At 5.43pm the 53rd
battalion went over the parapets. Times for companies to advance were
staggered due to the width of no man’s land in front of each
battalion (only 100 yards for 54th,
but 250 yards for 53rd
Battalion).
The
53rd
Battalion which formed the right-half of the 14th
Brigade’s attack was at some disadvantage before the attack. Its
first wave is recorded to have left the trench at 5.43pm, moved
across no man’s land, and laid down in front of the German wire.
Its right, however, was exposed not only to fire from the front,38
but to the same
enfilade as the 15th
Brigade. When the bombardment lifted, the Germans, firing and bombing
from their front line, held up the right of the battalion in front of
the trench until the arrival of the second wave. Further to the left,
the other flank of the 53rd
Battalion and the
whole wave of the 54th,
swept over the enemy’s parapet without trouble, finding the front
trench somewhat dishevelled by artillery fire and the enemy cowed and
crouching in their dugouts. Two machine guns were captured. The first
wave stayed there temporarily to rout the enemy from his shelters,
while the three succeeding lines went straight on, as ordered,
seeking the trench which they were to convert into their new firing
line.
Australia’s
official war historian was to write: “In both the 53rd
and 54th
battalions, the loss of officers during the first twenty minutes of
the advance had been extraordinarily heavy. In the 53rd
the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Norris and his staff
crossed no man’s land with the fourth wave; but as the party moved
forward from that trench towards the enemy support line, a machine
gun was turned upon it and Norris, his adjutant, and several others
were killed. Shortly after the senior company commander Major Sampson
was also killed.”39
After Bert was hit, a signaller, Lance Corporal Frank Leslie Croft40
endeavoured to get him to the shelter of a trench, but failed. Croft
was later awarded a DCM for his actions. Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius
Bertram Norris last words were, ‘Here,
I’m done, will somebody take my papers.’41Captain
Arblaster was then in command. On 20 July, the Germans had regained
the trenches and re-established themselves. Bert was recorded as
missing.
Despite
valiant deeds against the well-prepared foe, the battle became a
bloody catastrophe, with no tactical advantage resulting. It is
recorded as the worst day in Australia’s military history. The 53rd
Battalion went into the attack with 28 officers and 823 other ranks
and lost 6 officers and 30 ORs killed, 10 officers and 343 ORs
wounded and 8 officers and 228 ORs missing. Many of the missing would
later be found either as prisoners of war or were recorded as killed
in action.
When
Bert went to the Western Front, Bessie sailed to live in England with
relatives, to be there when Bert was able to take leave, then she and
Bert with their baby son could all spend time together. She was
living with Mrs D’Apice at 7 The Avenue, Blackheath, London, when
she received the news of her husband. Through her brother, Brendan
Lane Mullins, who was in England as a cadet in the Royal Artillery,
Bessie sent a cable to the family back in Sydney advising that Bert
had been killed and that the news had been communicated officially to
her.42
KILLED
IN ACTION LIEUTENANT COLONEL NORRIS
Photograph
and article Evening
News (Sydney), 1
August 1916
In
Sydney, a memorial service was held at St Mary’s Cathedral, 9
August 1916, with The Reverend John O’Gorman, administrator of the
cathedral, celebrating the Requiem Mass. He was assisted by
Archbishop Kelly and a number of other clergy including The Reverend
Father Pigot of St Ignatius College, Riverview. In the course of his
address Archbishop Kelly said, “Lieutenant
Colonel Norris had shown the noblest quality of courage and the
highest form of patriotism. There could not be a more admirable
example of service and sacrifice in a time of national peril than to
die for one’s country while fighting for freedom under the banner
of justice.”43
Many family
members attended, including an uncle, Sir Thomas Hughes, and
dignitaries including Captain Antoine William M D’Apice,
aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales.
Father
Kennedy wrote to Bessie soon after Bert’s death, referring to her
son John who was only six months old when his father was killed. ‘Oh,
Mrs Norris, he died a hero’s death, and you will be able to tell
your child later how brave his father was, and above all, how noble
and conscientious a Catholic.’44‘He was a man in a
million, a gentleman to speak to, and if anyone got into Crime
Street, and came before him, he got sound advice and the minimum
penalty. I had a chat to him on the morning of the charge, and he
might have been a private, so nice and friendly was he to me.’ 45
An
enquiry by the Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing
Bureau established that Lieutenant Colonel IB Norris had been killed
in action. This was confirmed when his name appeared on a German list
of dead dated 4 November 1916. A copy of the German Army death
voucher was provided.46
Ignatius
Bertram Norris was recognised at VC Corner Cemetery, Fromelles. The
cemetery was constructed in 1920-21. It is also a memorial to 1,299
Australians, including Bert, who were lost in the battle and who had
no known resting place. Their names were inscribed on the curtain
wall, before which stands the Cross of Sacrifice. There are no
headstones in
this cemetery,
the only one devoted entirely to Australian soldiers. Beneath the two
lawn areas surrounded by gardens, the remains of 410 unidentified
bodies of Australians were buried; they had been collected from the
battlefield after the Armistice.
In a letter to Brendan Lane Mullins dated 8 October 1916, Major George Street MC47sent a copy of the last message written by Bert for him to give to Bessie.
Also
in October, the AIF Kit Store 110 Greyhound Road, Fulham, London
dispatched to Bessie, via Thomas Cook & Son, Bert’s effects
which included a valise, brown kit bag and a sealed black kit bag.
Among his kit were a copy of The New Testament and his rosary beads
and a camera in a box addressed Mrs NH Murray48
Manly New South
Wales.
On
14 June 1917, Bessie’s brother Brendan Lane Mullins was killed in
action in the Battle of Arras when a shell landed on an observation
post he was manning. Brendan was the only son and had made his own
way to England with two cousins Geoffrey Hughes49
and Maurice Hughes50
to enlist. All three were accepted as officers in the British Army.
Brendan had attended Riverview College but later completed his
education with the Jesuits in England, four years at Beaumont
College, taking both academic and sporting prizes, including the 100
yards sprint and being captain of the rowing team. Seven members of
the Beaumont College rowing eight would later be commissioned during
the war. In 1911, Bessie accompanied her parents and attended the
school’s jubilee and then the family went to Italy and were granted
an audience with the Pope. Brendan had shown a military interest in
his early years. After returning to Australia in late 1912, he
qualified for a commission with the 35th
Battalion, but was too young for active service. On his return to
England, Brendan gained a commission with the Warwickshire Artillery
Regiment as lieutenant. After training he went to France in May 1917.
The
High Commissioner’s Office at Australia House, Strand London,
advised the Officer-in-Charge, Base Records, Victoria Barracks
Melbourne on 22 April 1921 that Bessie and her son John had returned
to Australia and all further correspondence should be forwarded care
of
J Lane Mullins
Esq, Killountain, Double Bay, Sydney. The 1914-15 Star awarded to
Bert was returned to Base Records for redirection. During 1922-23,
Bessie received Bert’s medals, Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque.
Memorial
Window to 2nd Lieutenant Brendan Lane Mullins (killed in action
1917), and Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris (killed in
action 1916) in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, installed in 1921.
(Source:
St Mary’s Cathedral Bulletin 11 November 2018)
Located
in St Mary’s Cathedral are two stained-glass windows which were
donated by the Lane Mullins family. The first (in picture above)
located above the Altar of the Irish Saints in the cathedral,
commemorates
John Lane Mullins’ only son, 2nd
Lieutenant Brendan Lane Mullins and also his son-in-law, Lieutenant
Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris. It consists of two vertical lights
and three foils. In the left-side light, beneath a Gothic canopy
marked with a “B”, stands the Irish Saint Brendan “the
Navigator” (died AD 580) with his attribute, a ship, in hand.
Kneeling below the saint are John Lane Mullins and his wife Jane, in
Edwardian attire; their deceased son Brendan Lane Mullins is shown as
a military officer in khaki uniform and dark cape, kneeling in
supplication. An angel at the bottom of the light supports the Lane
Mullins armorial escutcheon. In the right-side light, beneath a
canopy marked “P”, stands Saint Patrick, who is, unusually for
him, shown clean-shaven. It may be that his visage is actually a
portrait of Cardinal Patrick Moran (Archbishop of Sydney 1884-1911).
Below the saint is an officer in uniform and cape kneeling on one
knee and unlike the officer on the left, whose face is not shown, he
faces the viewer squarely. This appears to be a portrait of Ignatius
Bertram Norris.
Below
another angel holds a plaque which reads: ERECTED
BY JOHN LANE MULLINS AND HIS WIFE, JANE, IN MEMORY OF THEIR ONLY SON,
BRENDAN LANE MULLINS, SECOND LIEUTENANT, ATTACHED WARWICKSHIRE R F A.
KILLED IN ACTION ARRAS, FRANCE, JUNE 14TH,
1917. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
51
The
Norris Memorial Window, located at the base of the south-west tower
in the cathedral was officially unveiled in September 1928, when this
section of the cathedral was completed. Archival records show that Mr
John Lane Mullins donated the window in memory of his son-in-law,
Ignatius Bertram Norris. The subject of the window is Saint Martin of
Tours (died AD 397). It recalls the event where Martin, who was a
soldier, encountered a poor beggar and dividing his cloak in two with
a sword to share it with him. Martin later comes to realise that the
beggar was Christ himself. He eventually became a bishop. In the
three quatrefoils at the head of the window are depicted, on the
left, a bishop’s pastoral staff and the saint’s initials SM;
at
the top, a bishop’s mitre; on the right a golden sword upon a
sunburst, emblem of the soldier-convert.52
Memorial
Window to Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris
at
St Canice Catholic Church, Elizabeth Bay.
In
the early 1920s, a stained-glass window in memory of Bert was
installed in the transept of St Canice Catholic Church, Elizabeth
Bay. The larger part of the window (photograph above) depicts the
four evangelists, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John with Bert, on his knees
in prayer. There are three other windows for two military officers
and a women, all praying. The two other officers are the grandsons of
John Hughes who paid to have the church built in 1889. Captain Doctor
Roger Hughes served with 1st
Australian Field Hospital in France and died on 11 December 1916, of
wounds he received when a shell hit a dressing station where he was
working. The second officer depicted is Bessie’s brother, Brendan
Lane Mullins.
Bert’s
son John Richard Bertram Norris grew up in Sydney and following his
father, he attended Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, between
1929 and 1934. He was a good student and a top-order batsman in the
School’s 1st
XI,
1933-1934.
He later attended Sydney University where he studied law, but the
Second World War interrupted his studies.
With
the 2/17th
Battalion, John saw service at Tobruk and El-Alamein. At both places,
he was wounded in action. John was commissioned in the battalion and
was promoted to captain in 1943. His former adjutant, Lieutenant
General Arthur Newton said, ’He
was a good soldier as he hobbled towards the enemy, using his rifle
and bayonet as a crutch after being wounded at El-Alamein, when he
was the battalion’s second in command. He was ordered to go the
other way and spent the rest of the war as a staff officer’53
John
Norris married Betty Barry Evans in Sydney in 1943 and they had a
daughter Prue and two sons Tony and Simon. John had lived with his
mother
until
he married. After being discharged from the Army on 21 January 1946,
he returned to his studies and practiced firstly as a solicitor and
later as a barrister in Sydney. He built a substantial practice,
specialising in personal injury work.
In
1967, John moved to Canberra and became a familiar figure in the ACT
Supreme Court. He served as a member of the Federal Police
Disciplinary Tribunal and was a formidable opponent known for his
mellifluous voice, his charm and always, his courtesy. He also showed
the qualities of a good judge. John and Betty lived at 18 Gawler
Crescent, Deakin.
John’s
mother, Jane Elizabeth Norris never remarried. She lived at New South
Head Road, Double Bay. She had ensured that her son was given the
best education and opportunities.
Bessie
died in Sydney on 12 July 1975 at the age of 86 years. She is buried
at the South Head General Lawn Cemetery, Row 37. Her
headstone
is engraved with the words: Widow
of Ignatius Bertram Norris
John
received a letter from the Secretary of the 53rd
Battalion AIF Association Mr W (Bill) Boddington, conveying their
deepest sympathy for his sad loss of his mother. ‘Our
members have everlasting remembrance of our beloved Commander.’
54
While
hearing a case as a member of the tribunal, John suffered a severe
stroke. Although semi-paralysed, he retained his cognitive faculties,
courage and quick wit during the next ten years of disability. He was
a keen cricketer even in his sixties; he had been a feared fast
bowler in the annual cricket match between ACT solicitors and
barristers who played for the IB Norris Trophy. John Richard Bertram
Norris QC, died at Bowral, New South Wales, on 30 November 1994.
John
and his mother ensured that Bert’s name was preserved at Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview. From 1916 to 1981, the Gold Medal for
Senior Debating was named in his honour. John also gifted to the
Dalton Memorial Chapel at the school, a stained-glass window,
depicting Saint Ignatius in soldier’s uniform, in
honour
of his father.
At
the base of the window are the words:
I
SERVED LOYALLY
THE
GIFT OF JOHN BERTRAM NORRIS 55
As
the years passed, commemoration ceremonies were held every year at
Fromelles. Following careful research and passionate advocacy of a
Melbourne school teacher, Lambis Englezos, a joint Australian and
British government mission was launched to organise a detailed search
of the site where evidence pointed to the existence of a mass grave
established by the German Army. The aim was to re-bury with full
military honours, Australian and British dead from the Battle of
Fromelles, 19-20 July 1916. Between May and September 2009, Oxford
Archaeology recovered 250 sets of remains from the site; each was
interred in a separate grave in the newly-built Fromelles (Pheasant
Wood) Military Cemetery, which was designed by Barry Edwards.
A
combination of forensic archaeology, archival research and DNA
testing resulted in the identification of 97 Australian soldiers, who
now have named headstones.
On
Wednesday 7 July 2010 after 94 years, Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius
Bertram Norris remains were found, but both his wife and son had
passed away.
The
cemetery was formally dedicated on 19 July 2010.56
There
were 14 officers and other ranks from the 53rd
Battalion whose names are inscribed on the screen wall at the VC
Corner Cemetery. Their bodies were found, identified and now rest in
the newly-hallowed ground at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery, in
the care of the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission.
The
search for relatives goes on, and it is hoped that further
identifications may be possible as family
members come forward
to offer tests for DNA.
Two
weeks before the planned ceremony at Fromelles, there was a press
release on 7 July 2010, from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs,
Alan Griffin.
Further
Fromelles soldiers identified
The Minister for Veterans’
Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin, is pleased
to announce the names of a further two Australian soldiers identified
as being amongst those recovered from Pheasant Wood, Fromelles,
France.
Mr Griffin said, “The two
soldiers are North Sydney-born Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram
Norris from 53rd
Battalion, 14th
Brigade, and Private Harold Charles Pitt57
from the 32nd
Battalion, 8th
Brigade, who was born in Magill, South Australia.”
“An extraordinary Joint
Identification Board was held on 5 July to consider additional DNA
evidence, made available in recent weeks. Further testing of existing
samples led to the unanticipated result.
Restoring the identity of an
additional two Australian soldiers just prior to the 19 July
Dedication Ceremony in Fromelles provides an opportunity for us all
to consider the service and sacrifice of these men.
After almost a century it is
still vitally important that we can honour those who have made the
ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Identification of these
soldiers brings the total [number of] names to 96. Of the 250 men
recovered from Pheasant Wood, 205 have been identified as Australians
(96 by name); three are British and 42 remain ‘Known unto God.’
“We will continue to take
all reasonable steps to identify the remaining 154 men by name. Their
families can then pay their last respects at a known grave as 96 sets
of families can do so now.” Mr Griffin said.
“All but one of the soldiers
have been reburied in individual graves in the purpose-built
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, with the final soldier
being laid to rest at a commemorative event on the 94th
anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.”
(Source:
The Honourable Alan Griffin MP Press Release 033/2010, Wednesday 7
July 2010)
Lieutenant
Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris is remembered on Panel 157 of the
Australian War Memorial; VC Corner; Fromelles (Pheasant Wood)
Military Cemetery; St Canice Catholic Church; St Mary’s Cathedral;
Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview on the Honour Roll and in the
Dalton Memorial Chapel; and New South Wales Solicitors’ Honour
Roll.
A
Soldier of Christ.
Lest
we forget
Medals
of Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris
1914-15
Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal
proudly
displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bean
CEW, The Official History of Australia in the War 1914–1918. Volume
III, Chapters XII and XIII.
Burness
Peter, The worst
night in Australian Military History, Fromelles. Article
on AWM website dated 18 July 2008.
Cobb
P, Fromelles 1916
History Press Ltd, 2010
Kennedy
JJ Father, DSO CF,
The Whale Oil Guards. Naval
& Military Press, England 2009, reprint of original 1919
publication.
Website
– Supreme Court of New South Wales, The War Memorial Project, WW1
Honour Roll, Solicitors as at 16 May 16, list compiled by Tony
Cunneen, (last modified
date: 28 March 2017)
includes: Norris, Ignatius Bertram. Barrister, University Chambers.
Lieutenant Colonel, 53rd Battalion, KIA, Fromelles, 19 July 1916,
aged 35.
Email
correspondence – Father Don Richardson, St Mary’s Cathedral,
Sydney, 21 April 2020
Freemans
Journal (Sydney,
1850-1932), 12 June 1913
The
Catholic Weekly is
an English language newspaper currently published in Sydney,
Australia. It is published in tabloid format. Throughout its history,
it has also been published as The
Freeman’s Journal and Catholic
Freeman’s Journal.
Press
Release, The Hon Alan Griffin MP 033/2010 7 July 2010
James
Rodgers, former student and currently Director of Students, Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Sydney. Author of book To
give and not to count the cost to
honour 60 former students killed in the First World War.
Endnotes
From
a letter to Jane Elizabeth Norris from Father John Joseph Kennedy DSO
CF, Roman Catholic Chaplain of the 53rd
Battalion. He
later
wrote an account
of the time he spent with the 53rd
Battalion at war and called it The
Whale Oil Guards,
published by James Duffy, Dublin 1919
2Catholic Press
(Sydney) 8 January 1914, page 30
3
Edward Francis Pigot (1854-1929) Jesuit priest (ordained 31 July
1889), astronomer and seismologist arrived at Riverview in August
1889. He returned to Dublin in 1892, then travelled further afield
before returning to Australia in 1907. He built an observatory of
international standard at Riverview where he undertook research while
teaching at the school. He followed Bert’s career, and attended his
wedding. Father Pigot died on 22 May 1929 and was buried at the Gore
Hill Cemetery.
4The Law at War
(1916). The author
included details of students who lived on Sydney’s North Shore and
attended Riverview College.
5To give and not to
count the cost
6
Ibid
7
Bert was a well-rounded student at Riverview College.
8
NSW Government Gazette 16 June 1897
9
The Corinthians was the first men’s hockey club formed in 1905. By
1907 there were eight clubs playing competition hockey in Sydney and
formed the New South Wales Hockey Association.
10
I. Zingari (from the Italian gypsies) cricket club is one of the
oldest clubs in Australia. It played competition until 1894 when it
was excluded as it did not meet the necessary district
qualifications. It was a founding member of the city and suburban
competition formed in 1903 and has played regular weekend fixtures
since then. It also plays invitation matches against schools and the
Army.
11
Colonel
Alexander Jobson was born in Clunes, Victoria. An accountant, he
enlisted on 10 February 1916 and was appointed brigade commander 9th
Brigade. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and MiD.
After the war he became New South Wales President of the RSSILA. He
was a financial writer and was considered one the keenest and most
searching financial critics. He also held numerous directorships. He
died of a coronary artery occlusion on 7 November 1933.
12
Now 49 Cambridge Street. A Victorian-era Italian-style villa, now
listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register.
13
Catholic Press
(Sydney) 8 January 1914, page 30
14
Daily Telegraph 26
March 1915, page 11
15
Jane Hughes was a leader, with her husband John, in Catholic society
in Sydney.
16
Sydney Morning
Herald 25 January
1939 page 13
17
Sydney Morning
Herald 16 January
1926 page 21
18
Sir Alex Taylor (1864-1940) was a timber merchant, ship builder and
politician. He was an Anglican.
19
At this time there was no legal division in the Army so officers were
selected for court martial duty and those with a legal background
found themselves in court on a regular basis.
20
Copy of the letter is on Lieutenant Colonel I B Norris’s file at
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
21
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Armstrong Crouch was born in Ballarat
Victoria on 19 June 1868 and commanded the 22nd
Battalion between March to December 1915, including at Gallipoli from
the landing on 5 September. He transferred to command the Base Camp
at Mudros in early December. Due to illness, he returned to Australia
in March 1916 and his appointment was terminated. He died 7 April
1949 at Point Lonsdale, Victoria.
22
Lieutenant Colonel Robert (‘Bob the Bastard’) Smith took command
of the 22nd
Battalion (23 February 1916 – 1 January 1917). He enjoyed his
nickname and was a close friend of Brigadier Pompey Elliott.
23
A Clyde-built
British passenger ship originally named SS Heliopolis,
renamed in 1910.
24
The attacking troops were not familiar with Fromelles because it was
held by the Germans and the nearest village was Fleurbaix. For a long
time after the war, many would name the battle site as Fleurbaix.
25
Major Oswald Mosley Croshaw was born on 11 March 1879 in Blackheath,
Kent. He was commissioned on 11 March 1896 in the 3rd
Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. Due to the
death of a lieutenant in the 18th
Hussars, he gained a commission in the regular army, as 2nd
Lieutenant and served with the regiment until he resigned in
September 1912. Because of his extensive experience with horses, he
became Remount Officer for Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire on 22
February 1913 and was appointed Captain. At the outbreak of WW1, he
left Britain as battalion 2iC 1/1st
City of London Yeomanry. He later became a staff officer and was
unhappy with the role and told Cyril Wagstaff GSO1 of the
newly-raised 5th
Australian Division;
Wagstaff then
recommended Croshaw for the position of 2iC 53rd
Battalion. He later became commanding officer and was killed in
action at Polygon Wood. He had rebuilt the battalion after Fromelles
under a guiding principle, “Your men before yourselves.’
26
Captain David Thomson later major, was born in Haddington, Scotland
on 17 February 1882 and at the age of 16, served through the Boer War
and later in India with the Gordon Highlanders. Before the Great War
he immigrated to Australia and was a warrant officer Instruction
Staff in Brisbane. He enlisted on 17 August 1917 and was the original
RSM of 1st
Battalion AIF. He was commissioned during his time at Gallipoli and
during the reorganising of the Force in 1916, he was appointed to the
53rd
Battalion. During the battle at Fromelles, his company was reduced to
3 officers and 60 men of the original 204. He later served with the
14th
Battalion. At the end of the war he suffered from the Spanish Flu,
and was offered a position with the American Army, bur problems
prevented him from taking the position. He worked for the
Repatriation Department until he died on 16 October 1928.
27
Captain John
Joseph Murray was born in Sydney on 26 April 1892 and served with the
33rd
Infantry Regiment before enlisting on 6 March 1915. He left as a 1st
Battalion reinforcement on HMAT
Ceramic on 25 June
1915 and although taken on strength, did not serve at Gallipoli. He
was transferred to 53rd
Battalion as a temporary captain in March 1916. For his courage and
leadership at Fromelles he was awarded a Military Cross. He served
the remainder of the war with the battalion, being awarded a DSO and
also MiD. After the war he returned to the Militia force and rose to
command the Australian Army Service Corps 1st
Division followed by appointment as Brigade Commander. In 1940, he
was placed in charge of the Eastern Command Recruitment Depot. During
WWII, he commanded 20th
Brigade at Tobruk and was awarded a bar to his DSO. He returned to
Australia and undertook a posting in the country until the end of the
war. He was Australia’s trade commissioner to New Zealand from
1946.
28
Major Victor Horatio Sampson was born on 12 May 1888 at Upper
Manilla, New South Wales. Victor was an outstanding rower, cricketer
and excellent rifle shot. He was a clerk living in Liverpool, a
member of the Australian Garrison Artillery and an area officer for
Pyrmont. He joined the Expeditionary Force to Rabaul and on return,
joined the officer school and became captain. He boarded HMAT
Ceramic as major in
command B Coy 19th
Battalion on 25 June 1915. He fought at Gallipoli and was
hospitalised in England with malaria and diarrhoea. On return to
Egypt, he was taken on strength of the 55th
Battalion and then transferred to the 53rd
Battalion on 28 June 1916. He was killed in action, 19 July 1916.
29
Captain Charles Arblaster was born in Victoria on 21 February 1895
and attended Melbourne High School. He spent three years at the Royal
Military College Duntroon before being promoted lieutenant and posted
to the 8th
Light Horse Regiment responsible for the machine gun section. He
served in Egypt and at Gallipoli and was promoted temporary captain
on 7 August 1915. He was wounded in action on 26 September with a
bullet wound to the foot and transferred to England for treatment.
When he returned from England to Egypt, he was transferred to the
53rd
Battalion on 11 March 1916. He was reported killed in action, 19 July
1916 but was subsequently reported as died of disease (septicaemia)
Gefangen Lager, St Clotilde, Douai 24 July 1916, while a prisoner.
30
Lieutenant Harry Lowry Moffitt was an accountant from Victoria and
was initially rejected by the AIF. On applying a second time, he was
appointed 2nd
lieutenant on 29 March 1915 and taken on strength of the 21st
Battalion on 21 October. He was admitted to hospital on 22 October
with gastroenteritis and remained there until January 1916. After
attachments to 5th
and 6th
Brigades, he was taken on strength of the 53rd
Battalion on 9 April and promoted to lieutenant on 11 May 1916. He
was
killed in action
alongside Bert Norris on 19 July after standing up in a trench
calling for volunteers to take Bert’s body back. He was shot in the
head and is remembered at VC Corner Cemetery, as he has no known
grave.
31
Chaplain 4th
Class John Joseph Kennedy was born on 28 October 1881 in Kerry,
Ireland and after being ordained in the Catholic faith, he
volunteered for the Australian Mission. He was employed in Victoria
before joining the AIF on 1 December 1915 and being posted to the
14th
Brigade and attached to the 53rd
Battalion and quickly developed a close identity with the men. During
the battle of Fromelles, he worked with the medical staff in the
aid-post and demonstrated astonishing bravery and generosity with the
wounded men carrying the wounded from the front trenches to the
dressing station under heavy shellfire. He was awarded the DSO for
his actions. He fell ill in December 1917 and left the 53rd
Battalion for the 3rd
Training Brigade and returned to Australia in April 1918. He wrote
the battalion history The
Whale Oil Guards which
was published in 1919. Before the war, he had written three novels;
after, he wrote a controversial play about the war. On return to
Australia he continued his work in Victoria before immigrating to the
United States. He died at Augusta, Georgia on 18 February 1957.
32
Captain Charles Cosgrove MC was the unit medical officer until he
left exhausted in March 1917. A well-respected member of the
battalion who was awarded the Military Cross for his work during the
battle of Fromelles. He was a Riverview College boy.
33
The Whale Oil
Guards, page 50
34
Ibid page 50
35
Ibid page 50
36
Kennedy, The Whale
Oil Guards, page
45. Major Oswald Croshaw was later awarded the DSO for his work; he
took command of the battalion which had lost 625 officers and other
ranks.
37
Copy of message held on file at Maryborough Military & Colonial
Museum, along with a letter from Major G Street. The message was sent
at 5.05pm and received at 5.18pm.
38
In particular a German machine gun firing down Rue Delvas (the road
leading obliquely across no man’s land
on the right of
the 53rd
Battalion) is
thought to have caused havoc. The fact that many dead afterwards lay
beside the road gives support to this conclusion. The gun was
captured at an early stage by the 54th
Battalion, and
progress became easier.
39
Bean, Battle of Fromelles, pages 368-9
40
Lance Corporal Francis Leslie Croft was born in Bulli, New South
Wales. He was a fireman when he enlisted on 26 June 1915 as a member
of 2nd
Battalion 11th
Reinforcements. The DCM was awarded for conspicuous gallantry in
action when he made an attempt to rescue Bert. Later he displayed
great courage and determination in maintaining communications and
laying wire under intensive fire. He returned to Australia and was
discharged on 31 March 1919.
42
Goulburn Evening Penny Post
1 August 1916 page 2
43
Sydney Morning Herald
8 August 1916 page 8
44
To give and not to count the cost
45
ibid
46
Red Cross Bureau File 1DRL/0428
47
Geoffrey Austin Street was a soldier, grazier, politician and cricket
devotee. He was born on 21 January 1894 at Woollahra and attended
Sydney Grammar School. He studied law and at the outbreak of the war
originally served as a private in the Naval, Military and
Expeditionary Force in New Guinea. He transferred to 1st
Battalion, was wounded at Gallipoli and later undertook a number of
staff appointments until he was shot in the right wrist in 1918.
After the war he purchased a property in the Western Districts of
Victoria
and developed a
sheep flock. He was involved in agricultural, Council and Federal
politics. He was later appointed Minister for Defence and was a key
member of the Menzies Government. He died with Fairbairn, Gullet,
Brudenell White,Thornthwaite and others in an air crash in Canberra
on 13 August 1940.
48
Mrs N H Murray was a well-known Catholic in Manly, wife of Norman
Hector Murray a solicitor and sailor. Her son Jack served under Bert.
49
Geoffrey Forrest Hughes was born 12 July 1895 and was an aeronautics
pioneer. He was the aide-de-camp to the governor in 1915. He went to
England via America to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. He was
awarded the Military Cross and the Air Force Cross. He continued his
interest in flying after the war and was a solicitor and a well-known
businessman. He died of pneumonia on 13 September 1951.
50
Maurice Hughes also went to England with his brother and enlisted
with the Royal Flying Corps.
51
Father Don Richardson MA, Dean of St Marys Cathedral, Sydney
52
ibid
53
Canberra Times 7
December 1994, page 8
54
Letter from the 53rd
Battalion AIF Association dated 3 August 1975
55
To give and not to
count the cost
56
www.cwgc.org
57
Private Harold Charles Pitt was only 18 ½ when he enlisted. Born in
South Australia he was a labourer enlisting on 15 July 1915. He was a
member of 32nd
Battalion when he was killed in action on 20 July 1916.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
2nd
Australian Stationary Hospital attached to 8th
Light Horse Regiment
By Robert Simpson
Stanley
Connebee Jamieson was born on 26 January 1870 in Kew Melbourne
Victoria. His parents were Francis Jamieson and Anne Hince. For more
on their story and his family, see the story on his brother, Douglas
Dunbar Jamieson.
The
Argus
of Melbourne on 23 June 1886 in page 6 had an entry under University
of Melbourne for matriculation exams, with a list of successful
candidates which included 126 Stanley Connebee Jamieson from Scotch
College Melbourne. He attended the University of Melbourne where he
studied medicine. His name appears in various Argus
newspapers; in passing a matriculation exam in the February term 1886
as number 126, on 27 October 1888 he was listed under Biology Part 1.
Third Terminal Examination as the first name in ‘Class III. (in
order of merit).- 15, Stanley Connebee Jamieson’. The Argus
on Monday 7 January
1889, page 6 had the results of a matriculation exam at University of
Melbourne for October 1888 which included under First Year Medicine
Third Class ‘Stanley Connebee Jamieson (Ormond College)’ who was
equal with another person. There were no people named for First or
Second Class. On 27 September 1889 the paper had a notice under
Materica Medica, Medical Botany and Elementary Therapeutics, result
of two terminal examinations, under Second Class was ‘9, Stanley
Connebee Jamieson, 50.5 per cent’. He was recorded in the annual
exam in December 1889 for second year medicine and was at Ormond
College. On 24 December 1894, an article from the University of
Melbourne on the conferring of degrees by the Chancellor had a
listing under Bachelor of Medicine for Stanley Connebee Jamieson. The
Weekly Times
of Melbourne on Saturday 23 March 1895 in page 35 had an article on
conferring of degrees at University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of
Surgery being awarded to Stanley.
In
the 1896 Post Office Directory, Stanley was listed as a surgeon in
Hobart. He is listed in the 1899 Medical Directory as ‘Jamieson
Stanley Connebee M.B. Melb 1894 ; ch.B. Melb. 1895 ; Hobart’. The
1900 directory has all the same information, but records his town as
Gormanston. By the 1901 directory it lists his address as Hobart
again. The Mercury
of Hobart on 16 January 1900 in page 4 had entries from the Hobart
Gazette of the day which included ‘Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson,
granted a commission as lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the
Tasmanian Defence Force.’
The
First Tasmanian Contingent for the Boer War was raised in October
1899. It was subsequently strengthened by a draft which included one
officer (Medical Staff), who was Lieutenant S C Jamieson, after it
had been decided to send a doctor to act for the whole contingent.
The draft left Hobart on 18 January 1900, embarked on the transport
Moravian at
Melbourne on 23 January and arrived in South Africa on 20 February.
In South Africa they converted to Mounted Infantry. They did very
hard riding and were involved in a number of skirmishes and
engagements. A summary of their service included operations around
Colesberg, advancing from Bloemfontein to Pretoria; including actions
at Karee Kloof, Brandfort, Vet River, Zand River, Elandsfontein,
Johannesburg and Diamond Hill. Then from Pretoria to Komati including
actions at Belfast and occupation of Kapsche Hoop. In October they
went to Pretoria and were inspected by Lord Roberts. Stanley is
mentioned in a book on the war, where the author had been wounded in
a leg and was taken to a hospital, where the bullet was removed with
three doctors and ‘Doctor Jamieson’ in attendance. The Contingent
embarked on the transport Harlech
Castle at Cape Town
on 3 November 1900 and after stopping at other Australian ports,
reached Tasmania on 7 December and were disbanded the next day. Under
‘War Service and Honours’ is listed ‘Jamieson,
Lieutenant S. C.
(Medical Staff).- Operations and actions as stated except Colesberg.
Specially mentioned in Commanding Officer’s report, 7th
December, 1900. Queen’s Medal with five clasps.’
The
1st
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry Draft Album contains the photographs of
nearly all the men who were listed as having embarked for service to
South Africa. They were known as the ‘Bloodthirsty 45’. The
photographs were extracted from John Bufton, Tasmanians in the
Transvaal War, Launceston, 1905, pp. 130 – 131. Below is the photo
of Stanley in the album.
In
the Mercury
of Hobart on Tuesday 26 February 1901 in page 3 was an extract from
the Hobart Gazette which included ‘Mr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson,
M.B., Acting Health Officer of the port of Strahan, and Government
Medical Officer, in the absence of Mr. John Hugh Mackenzie, F.R.C.S.’
The
Mercury
of Hobart on Monday 16 December 1901 in page 3 had an article which
mentioned Stanley: –
‘THE
RISDON-PARK FATALITY. CORONIAL INQUIRY.
At
the Hobart General Hospital on Saturday forenoon, the City Coroner,
Mr. Alexander Riddoch, held an inquiry into the circumstances
attending the death of Edward Morris, jockey. Mr. J. N. Pool was
foreman of the jury. Dr. Stanley Connebee Jamieson deposed that on
Wednesday afternoon last he witnessed the accident at the Risdon park
races, whereby deceased was injured’.
In
the (Queens) South African Medal roll under Tasmanian Mounted
Infantry is a listing for Surgeon Lieutenant S C Jamieson, stating
the medal was issued. Another list shows he was entitled to five
clasps, which were issued on 10 September 1903. They were for
Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony and Orange Free
State.
In
the 1902 British Army Lists he is listed as Surgeon-Lieutenant S C
Jamieson in the Army Medical Corps. He was also part of the London
Detachment for the 1902 Coronation. Stanley was listed in the
Australian Coronation Contingent, London Detachment roll, under
officers as Captain S C Jamieson, Tasmania.
In
the officer’s mess at Anglesea Barracks Hobart is a silver cup
which is inscribed: –
TASMANIAN
MOUNTED INFANTRY
12th
A.L.H. REGIMENT
SQUADRON CHALLENGE
CUP
FOR FIELD WORK
THE CO TO DECIDE ALL CONDITIONS
PRESENTED BY
CAPT. S.
C. JAMIESON
SURGEON To 1st
CONTINGENT
Wises
Tasmania Post Office Directory has the same listing for him under
Medical Practitioners in the 1905 directory as in the 1901 one.
In
1904, Stanley played in the finals of the men’s singles of the
Easter Tournament for tennis.
Original
house opposite the Court House in Yarrawonga where Dr Jamieson first
lived.
He
was listed in the 1909 Australian Electoral Roll for Yarrawonga, at
Yarrawonga, recorded as a surgeon. On 9 March 1909 Stanley married
Jeanne Emma Denis in Victoria. Jeanne had been born on 11 September
1876 in Mauritius. Her father was Dr Denis, who was another doctor in
Yarrawonga at the time. Arthur Adrien Denis registered in Victoria on
10 June 1880 and in 1927 register of Medical Practitioners for
Victoria in listed at Yarrawonga with qualifications M.D. France
1868. Stories were told of her ‘sneaking out of her Father’s
house during the pre marriage romance under threat that in no
circumstances was she to frequent the presence of that other upstart
Doctor!’ It would appear they had no children.
Picture
of Doctor Denis and the bride leaving ‘Verdun’.
The
Argus
of Saturday 10 April 1909 in the Marriage column on page 9 had
‘JAMIESON–DENIS.—On the 9th March, 1909, at St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church, Yarrawonga, by the Rev. E. Forbes, Stanley
Connebee, elder son of Francis Jamieson, of Kew, to Jeanne, elder
daughter of Arthur A. Denis, of Yarrawonga. At home April 15, 16, and
20.’
Stanley
had a significant role in the Yarrawonga Rowing Club. In the 1912
British Army Lists, he is recorded as a Captain in the AAMC. The 1912
electoral roll has them both at the same address, with Stanley still
a surgeon and Jeanne doing home duties. In the 1913 roll, their
details are still the same.
The
1914 country directory has Stanley listed in ‘Yarrowee’ as a
medical practitioner.
In
the 1915 British Army List he is noted as a Captain in the unattached
list. The 1916 list just records him as a Captain, with the 1917 list
recording the same details as 1915. In the 1915 and 1917 electoral
rolls, they are both listed as previously recorded.
An
attestation paper for Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson of the AAMC
(Australian Army Medical Corps) was filled out by him on 5 September
1918, although someone has added the date 12 September 1917 in the
top of the form as the date that he ‘Joined on’. The same date
was recorded on his active service form in the in the ‘Enlisted’
and ‘Service recons from’ dates. The attestation form shows he
was a Natural born British subject, age 48 years and 8 months (born
26 January 1870), for calling he wrote ‘Physician, surgeon etc.’,
he had not been an apprentice, his next of kin was his wife Jeanne
Emma Jamieson of Verdun
Piper Street Yarrawonga, which was his permanent address. He was
still serving in the AAMC reserves and was on the Reserve Army
Officer’s List. He had never been rejected from an armed service
and had no illness or disease listed. He was prepared to be
vaccinated. For his description he was 5-foot 10½ inches tall,
weighed 182 pounds, had a chest measurement of 37 to 43 inches and
had a fair complexion with blue eyes and grey hair. His religious
denomination was Church of England and for distinctive marks he had
vaccination marks on the left arm. He was deemed medically fit for
service on 5 September in Melbourne after being examined at the town
hall. It also showed his physical development was good and his pulse
was normal. He had four vaccination marks on his left arm and had
been vaccinated in 1900. He had three TAB vaccinations between 24
August and 18 September 1918 and was shown to be immune.
Stanley
joined the AIF on 12 September 1918, and that was also the date his
pay book (611971) commenced. His application for a Commission in the
AAMC AIF noted ‘Transport’ after that. For educational
qualifications it has MBBS Melbourne and that he was now serving in
the Australian Military Forces and ‘See A.M.F. Officers List’.
The rest of his form was the same as his attestation form but
included that his eyesight was 6/6 in both eyes. He was appointed and
recommended on 5 September 1918 to be a Captain in the AAMC AIF by
the Commanding Officer and District Commandant.
In
a Nominal Roll for the Australian Imperial Force for Medical Officers
is an entry for Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson age 48, a Medical
practitioner in the 3rd
Military District. His address was Yarrawonga and his next of kin was
his wife, Mrs J E Jamieson of “Verdun” Piper Street Yarrawonga
Victoria. His religion was Church of England. He was paid 26
shillings a day, with a deferred pay of 3 shillings 6 pence, an
allotment of 5 shillings and a net pay of 17 shillings 6 pence. He
embarked at Sydney on SS Port
Darwin on 14
September 1918 for
‘Voyage only’, disembarking at Port Suez on 20 October 1918,
where he was taken on strength of 14th
Australian General Hospital at Port Said. A note in his statement of
service also says voyage only and noted his time in South Africa from
1900 to 1902 and he had the Coronation Medal for Edward 7th.
The next day he was transferred to 2rd Australian Stationary Hospital
at Moascar and was taken on their strength that day. He was taken on
strength from reinforcements on 21 October 1918.
His
statement of service in the AIF shows he was a Captain with the 2nd
Australian Stationary Hospital (attached 3 December 1918) and then
detached to 8th
Light Horse Regiment from 6 December 1918 in the Field. Another
record states he was
attached from 3rd
Light Horse Field Ambulance (Medical Officer) with (or to) the 8th
Light Horse Regiment on 6 December 1918 (another record has 8) and on
8 January 1919 he was attached from 8th
Light Horse Regiment to 14th
Australian General Hospital. His service records stated he was
marched out from 8th
LHR to Suez for embarkation on 25 December 1918, then was taken on
strength of 14th
AGH on 27 December 1918 at Abbassia.
A
certificate for his will shows that Captain Stanley Connebee Jamieson
AMC Medical Officer had his will lodged with Mr J A Hargrave, a
Solicitor of Yarrawonga.
There
is a sticky note on his copy attestation page which says ‘to O I/C
for Miss C. C. Jamieson “Overton” Pakington St Kew Vic’.
On
15 January 1919 he embarked on HT Berrima
(another record originally recorded it as Karmala
and amended the name on 21/2/19) for Australia, ex Suez as Duty
Medical Officer and was struck off strength of the AIF. Carrie C
Jamieson of Overton
Pakington Street Kew wrote a letter to Base Records on 18 January
1919, ‘I have just received a little note from Colonel Heritage in
which he tells me you are looking after my brother’s (Captain S C
Jamieson’s) luggage which is on the “Nestor”. I am so sorry you
are so much bothered but will you kindly have it sent to me at
“Overton” Pakington Street Kew, as my brother will be staying
with me on his arrival. We are so afraid he has been ill & so
compelled to miss that boat even after his luggage was on board. We
have had a cable saying he is sailing on the “Karmala”. He will
expect me to meet him, will you kindly let me know how I will get
tickets so that my sister-in-law Mrs Douglas Jamieson and I can meet
him on arrival. Feeling very sorry to trouble you so much’, she
signed the letter. Base Records replied to her on 22 January 1919: ‘I
acknowledge yours of 18th
instant, concerning your brother Captain S. C. Jamieson, Australian
Army Medical Corps, but so far have no advice that he has left abroad
for Australia. I am cabling for a report as to his present condition
and whereabouts, so as to have the matter cleared up. I’ll appraise
you of the results. As regarded his personal baggage stated to be on
the “Nestor”, I have arranged for your request to be complied
with provided the Custom Authorities will release the packages. You
will be advised re this later on.’
On
24 January 1919 Defence sent a telegram to Cairo ‘State present
condition and whereabouts of Captain Jamieson Stanley AAMC’.
Another
letter from Base Records to his sister on 30 January 1919 stated
‘Following upon my communication of the 22nd
instant, concerning your brother Captain S. C. Jamieson, Australian
Army Medical Corps, I am now in receipt of advice that he is
returning to Australia per H.M.T. “Berrima”, which left Egypt
15/1/19, and is due in Melbourne about 11/2/19. I enclose 2 cards of
admission to the Depot at Sturt Street, and can only suggest you keep
watch upon the newspapers as to the movements of this transport –
the actual date of disembarkation will depend upon the quarantine
restrictions in operation at that time.’ Carrie wrote a reply on
the same day that she received ‘a cable yesterday from Colombo
saying “all well” & he was transhipping from the ‘Karmala’
to the ‘Berrima’ & so he must be almost here now.’ She
again asked about his luggage. Another letter from her on 6 February
said she had found out that his luggage was ‘a kind of compressed
cane suit-case & a yellow cabin trunk. It is in charge of Major
Robbins (a vetinary {sic} surgeon) so I think it will be easier to
trace now, & my brother is not certain whether he sailed on the
‘Nestor’ or ‘Somali’.’ A cablegram backs that up, but has a
couple of different handwriting on it, one of which from Major
Robbins says ‘Left at Office of Medical Embarkation Staff Suez’
and a note from F.B.H. says that Stanley was his friend and could
someone look after the baggage. It also says he expected Stanley to
be on the ‘next ship to Nestor from Suez’. Base Records replied
to her two letters on 9 February 1919, saying they had interviewed
Major Robbins and the ‘baggage was left at the Office on the
Medical Embarkation Staff, Suez, for him to pick up when calling at
that port.’ Carrie replied to them on 13 February, thanking them,
but wondering how they came to be left in Suez. She said Stanley had
wired her from Freemantle about it so he would be home soon and
presumed she would have to follow them up. A cablegram from Defence
on 18 February was sent to Cairo advising them to send his trunks to
Base Records in Melbourne. The cost of the cable was written on the
form and also a note saying Stanley would pay for it if needed.
Lieutenant-Colonel Heritage, from Perth, sent a letter to Base
Records on 19 February asking about the trunks, as Stanley had asked
him to find out. He obviously knew Major Lean, as the last line reads
‘I am busy fighting the demon rum here & closing pubs’. A
reply to him from Base Records on 4 March noted that Major Lean was
‘just recovering from a severe attack of pneumonic influenza’ and
would be away for three more weeks. The officer also let him know
that they had found out where the trunks were and when ‘Captain
Jamieson arrived at Melbourne, he called at this office to see if his
baggage was here’. A reply from Cairo on 3 March said the trunks
had been located and would be sent in the next consignment to
Australia.
His
medical report, done on 17 February 1919, shows he arrived back to
Australia on that day and he was ‘perfectly well’. Nothing was
recorded but he had a loss or decay of teeth, which was aggravated by
his service. Stanley had his appointment in the AIF terminated on 3
March 1919 in the 3rd
Military District.
On
6 April 1919 Stanley wrote to Base Records ‘I have approached your
department with reference to my kit, which is lost in Egypt. It was
put in charge of Major Robin of the A.A.V.C. who when he found I was
not embarking on the Nestor handed it over to Captain Leahy of the
Head-quarters medical Staff in Cairo. That officer left it with the
Embarkation medical officer at Port Tewfik Suez, in whose office it
should be now. This information has now just come to me by Major
Robin. As the kit is a value to me – with about £150.’
He went on to say it contained valuable instruments and ‘a pair of
field glasses used by me in the Boer War’. Stanley went on to say
he would appreciate every effort to return them to him. Base Records
replied to him on 8 April acknowledging his letter and saying that
communications were being followed up and he would be let known of
any details.
Base
Records replied back to the Finance Secretary on 11 April 1919,
noting the only information they held on Stanley was as follows:
‘(1)
12/9/18 Appointed to the Australian Imperial Force as Captain vide
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 171 of 1918.
(2) 14/9/18 Embarked at Sydney per S.S. “Port
Darwin”. (3) 21/10/18 Taken on
strength of 2nd
Australia Stationary Hospital from Reinforcements, authority M.E.F.O.
No.46 of 1918. (4)
8/12/18 Attached from 3rd
Light Horse Field Ambulance (M.O) to 8th
Light Horse Regiment, authority M.E.F.O.59 of 1918.
(5) 16/1/19 Embarked from
Egypt per “Berrima” on duty for return to Australia.
(6) 17/2/19 Disembarked at 3rd
M.D. ex “Berrima”.’
On
24 April, Base Records replied to him letting him know of cables from
Cairo and that they had been located and would be sent to Victoria
Barracks in Melbourne. He wrote to Major Lean at Base Records on 27
April 1919 saying ‘I am very pleased to learn that my kit has been
located, thank you for your efforts in tracing it. These are valuable
articles which have a sentimental value as well as an intrinsic one.
I will be grateful to you if you will kindly notify me when the kit
arrives.’
Carrie
wrote to Base Records on 15 July 1919 asking if she and her brother’s
wife could have tickets to the procession that was to be held ‘next
Saturday’. She was also enquiring about Stanley’s bags. Her
address was Cooraminta
Wellington Street
Kew. On 22 July Base Records wrote back to her saying they were being
forwarded to Victoria Barracks ex Orari
and he would be advised when they arrived. They let Stanley know of
their arrival at Victoria Barracks Melbourne on 23 July in a letter
to him at Verdun
Yarrawonga on 25 July.
Stanley
received his Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers Decoration for 18
years’ service in 1920. It is recorded in the Commonwealth Gazette
No 58 of 1 July 1920 on page 932 as ‘Capt. S.C. Jamieson. A.A.M.C.
3rd.M.D.’
The
1919 Australian Electoral Roll lists them as living at “Verdun”
Piper Street Yarrawonga in Victoria with Stanley as a surgeon and
Jeanne doing home duties. Subsequent rolls in 1921, 1922, 1924 and
1928 have the same details recorded for them both. In the 1925 and
1927 rolls Stanley is listed as a surgeon at Yarrawonga with Jeanne
listed at Verdun, Piper Street Yarrawonga, doing home duties. The
1934 roll erroneously lists his surname as Jameson and shows he was
living at 45 Cotham Road Kew as a medical practitioner, with Caroline
Constance Jamieson, (his sister), listed as doing home duties. The
1936 and 1937 rolls have the same information and name error.
Base
Records sent his Commission Form out on 24 August 1920 as a Temporary
Captain in the regular forces of the British Army, to S C Jamieson of
Verdun,
Piper Street Yarrawonga. Receiving his Commission Form, Stanley
signed for it on 28 August 1920 and returned to Base Records, who
received it on 31 August. Stanley signed for his British War Medal on
28 September 1921 and his Victory Medal on 16 October 1922, both at
Victoria Barracks.
Verdun.
Apparently, it was removed illegally from its site in Yarrawonga to
Wilby, where it deteriorated severely before the present owner is
restoring the house. Wilby is 10 km south of Yarrawonga.
State
Records (Western Sydney) has a photograph of Stanley Connebee
Jamieson doctor [no date] Number NRS-9873-1-[2/721]-[349].
Unfortunately, it is not online and can only be viewed there.
The
Argus
of Melbourne on Wednesday 23 May 1928 in page 19 had
‘DR.
DENIS’S WILL.
SON-IN-LAW
IN WITNESS-BOX.
Prescriptions
Not Taken.
There
were bright passages in the cross-examination of Dr. Stanley Connebee
Jamieson, of Yarrawonga, one of the pro-pounders, of the last will of
Dr. Arthur Adrien Denis, also of Yarrawonga, in the First Civil Court
yesterday. The hearing was continued before Mr. Justice Mann of the
action over Dr. Denis’s will. A caveat was lodged by Mrs. Alice Olga
Vennermark, of Camberwell, the younger daughter of Dr. Denis, on
grounds of undue influence on the part of Dr. Jamieson and Dr.
Denis’s elder daughter, (Mrs. Jeanne Emma Jamieson), wife of Dr.
Jamieson, and want of testamentary capacity shortly before and at the
time of making the will on November 7, 1927. Dr. Denis died on
December 12, aged 83 years. He left estate valued at nearly £50,000.
Under his last will two-thirds of his estate was given to his
daughter (Mrs. Jamieson) and one-third, to Mrs. Vennermark.
Dr.
Jamieson said:-I began to practise at Yarrawonga in 1904. I became
friendly with Dr. Denis and his family, and in 1909 I married Dr.
Denis’s elder daughter. In 1925, against my wife’s wish, I sold my
practice at Yarrawonga; but at the suggestion and wish of Dr. Denis I
cancelled the sale, and paid £1,000 compensation and £60
commission. Dr. Denis asked me to remain with him until he “pegged
out.” That was one of Dr. Denis’s favourite expressions. On
November 7, when the last will was made, I had a conversation with
him. He said, “Stan, I want to alter my will. Will you please
get it from the bank. Under it Jeanne and Alice have equal shares.
That is not right. It is not fair to Jeanne. I will divide my
property into four parts. Jeanne will have three parts and Alice one
part. I want Alice to have £500 a year.” I said, “Have you
thought of the heavy probate duties? What is your income?” Dr.
Denis said that his income was between £1,700 and £1,800. I said,
“Don’t you think that it would be better if Jeanne had
two-thirds and Alice one-third.” Dr. Denis agreed. At this time
Dr. Denis was not suffering from any disease, but merely from
debility. He had a weak heart following an attack of influenza, but
mentally he was sound in every way.
Mr.
Lewis (counsel for Mrs. Vennermark).-What previous illnesses had Dr.
Denis had?
Witness
-I once asked him if he had ever been ill. He replied, “Oh, yes.
Let me see. Was it in ’83’ or ’84? (Laughter.) In 1918 Dr. Denis had
an attack of influenza and went to bed. That was the first time I had
ever known him to be in bed through illness.
You
went to Japan in 1926? Yes, on July 12. When I returned I found that
Dr. Denis had bronchitis and gout. I did not prescribe for him. I had
prescribed for him in 1918, but he never took the medicine.
(Laughter.)
He
was a medical man? Yes, he knew. (Laughter.)
Docs
not influenza recur each year similar to snakebite, of which there is
a recurrence on exactly the same day in each year? That is absurd.
The theory about snakebite is a relic of the dark ages. (Laughter.) I
have heard about the theory, but scientists ridicule it.
“Always
Feared September.”
You
say a person is susceptible to influenza? There in a susceptibility
to influenza. Dr. Denis always feared September. He feared it since
September, 1918, when he had an attack of influenza.
Was
Dr. Denis’s whole attitude to you and your wife inconsistent with his
ever having made a statement that he was being “bossed”?-Dr.
Denis was the “boss”. He used to say, in a jocular way,
that he was being “bossed” by me and by my wife.
Twenty-four years ago, when I first met him, he told me that he was
being “bossed” by his wife. (Laughter.)
Your
wife and Mrs. Vennermark were not on friendly terms? I do not think
so.
Jessie
Maud Hargrave, solicitor, of Yarrawonga, said:-My father practised as
a solicitor at Yarrawonga for many years before he died in 1926.
During the latter part of Dr. Denis’s life I was on particularly
friendly terms with him. On my visits to him we discussed all kinds
of subjects. I never found any deterioration in his intellect. His
will of November 7 was drawn by me. Dr. Denis was as perfectly able
to make a will as any person for whom I have ever made a will.
The
case for the propounders had not closed when the Court adjourned.’
TheRegister
of Adelaide on Tuesday 22 May 1928 in page 13 continued the story:-
‘SISTERS
AT LAW Doctor’s Will Disputed. MELBOURNE, Monday.
Two
daughters of the late Dr. Arthur Adrien Denis, who practised as a
doctor at Yarrawonga for many years, and who accumulated a
considerable estate, are parties to an action in which his will is
being contested before Mr. Justice Mann, in the First Civil Court.
Mr. Dixon (for the propounders) said that the action was the return
of an order nisi calling upon the caveatrix to show cause why probate
of the will of Dr. Denis should not be granted, notwithstanding the
caveat. Dr. Denis died, on December 12, 1927, aged 83 years. The
propounders of the last will were Dr. Denis’s elder daughter (Mrs.
Jeanne Emma Jamieson) and her husband (Dr. Stanley Connebee
Jamieson). Dr. Jamieson was also a medical practitioner at
Yarrawonga. The will which the Court was asked to admit to probate
was dated November 7, 1927, and had been made some five or six weeks
before Dr. Denis died. The caveatrix (Mrs. Alice Olga Vennermark)
was the younger daughter of Dr. Denis, and had for 20 years lived
away from home. In 1919 she had married, and after marrying had lived
in Adelaide and Melbourne. The will, which was propounded, in
substance, divided the estate into, one-third and two-thirds. Dr.
Denis gave two-thirds of his estate to Mrs. Jamieson, and one-third
to Mrs. Vennermark. The estate was worth nearly £50,000. The probate
duty was likely to be large, and the difference between one-third and
one-half of the estate would probably amount to some £8,000. Under a
previous will the caveatrix had been left one-half, and that really
was the dispute between the parties. The grounds upon which caveat
had been lodged were undue influence on the part of Dr. and Mrs.
Jamieson, and want of testamentary capacity confined to a period
shortly before and at the time of the execution of the last will. The
hearing was adjourned.’
The
Argus
on Friday 25 May 1928 on page 13 had a discussion of the case again,
with a conclusion in that ‘Mr Dixon said that that matter had been
considered by his clients and himself it was submitted that it was a
clear case where the caveatrix should be called upon to bear the
whole of the costs of the proceedings, but his clients had for
reasons of family relationship decided not to ask for that order. Mr
Justice Mann accordingly made an order that each side bear its own
costs but the propounders to receive their costs out of the estate.’
The
Daily Telegraph of
Sydney on Friday 20 July 1928 in page 12 had “IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF NEW SOUTH WALES.— PROBATE JURTSDICTION. — In the Will of
ARTHUR ADRIEN DENIS late of Yarrawonga in the State of Victoria
Doctor of Medicine deceased. APPLICATION will be made after 14 days
from the publication hereof that the Probate granted to JEANNE EMMA
JAMIESON Married Woman and STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON Medical
Practitioner both of Yarrawonga in the State of Victoria by the
Supreme Court of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction on the 24th day
of May 1928 In respect of the above Estate may be sealed with the
Seal of this Court and all notices may be served at the offices of
the undersigned. Dated the seventeenth day of July 1928. ABBOTT TOUT
CREER and CO. 67 Castlereagh Street Sydney Agents for HARGRAVE and
HOLROYD-SERGEANT Yarrawonga Victorian Proctors for the Applicants.’
Jeanne
passed away on 29 July 1930 at Yarrawonga and was buried in the
Jamieson family plot. Probate for her will was published in the
Sydney Morning
Herald on Monday 23
February 1931 in page 2 ‘IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES
-Probate Jurisdiction -In the Will of JEANNE EMMA JAMIESON late of
“Verdun ‘ Yarrawonga In the State of Victoria Married Woman
deceased-Application will be made after 14 days from the publication
hereof that the Probate granted by the Supreme Court of Victoria in
its Probate Jurisdiction on the fifteenth day of September one
thousand nine hundred and thirty to THE TRUSTEES EXECUTORS and AGENCY
COMPANY LIMITED of 412 Collins-street Melbourne In the State of
Victoria and STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON of “Verdun”
Yarrawonga aforesaid Medical Practitioner in respect of the above
Estate may be sealed with the Seal of this Court and all notices may
be served at the offices of the undersigned. Dated this 16th day of
February. 1931. J. RELPH. Solicitor. 160 Castlereagh-street. Sydney.’
The
Cobram Courier
of Victoria on Thursday 25 September 1930 in page 2 had a couple of
entries in general information for ‘Dr. Jamieson, with his sister.
Miss C. Jamieson, left Yarrawonga recently for a trip to Fiji’ and
‘Probate of the will of Jeanne Jamieson, late of Verdun,
Yarrawonga, married woman, who died on 29th July, has been applied
for by the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company Limited, and Dr
Stanley Connebee Jamieson. The estate, which is valued for probate at
£23,550, consists of realty £2186 and personalty £21,364, and is
held in trust for her husband and Relatives. There are also assets in
New South Wales.’
He
was a doctor in Yarrawonga from 1904 to 1930 and enjoyed an excellent
reputation there.
Stanley
Connebee Jamieson died on 10 February 1938 at his home in Kew and was
buried in the family plot.
His
service records note his death after discharge. It was recorded there
as 4 February 1938, and noted ‘Major S.C. Jamieson “V.D.”
Retired list of R/O.’ Probate to his will was granted on 1 April
1938.
The
Argus
on Thursday 31 March 1938 in page 4 had: –
‘BEQUESTS MADE TO COLLEGE
Under
Doctor’s Will
Scholars
of Scotch College will have new prizes in French and chemistry and a
new racing boat as a result of the will of Dr. Stanley Connebee
Jamieson, of Nirvana, Cotham road, Kew, who died on February 10. Dr.
Jamieson left real estate of a gross value of £100 and personal
property of a gross value of £28,307.
Dr.
Jamieson’s will dated February 5, 1937, and five codicils were lodged
for probate yesterday. Provision is made for the payment of £100 to
the Presbyterian Church of Victoria Trusts Corporation to provide the
French prize, to be known as “The Jeanne Jamieson Prize”, a
similar sum to provide the chemistry prize, to be known as “The
Stanley Jamieson Prize,” and £150 for a racing boat, to be
known as The Jeanne Jamieson Provision is also made for £100 to
found a prize, to be known as “The Stanley Jamieson Prize,”
for natural philosophy for first year medical students at Ormond
College.
Subject
to legacies to relatives, friends, his nurse, and his housekeeper, Dr
Jamieson left the residue of his estate to his sister, nephew, and
niece.’
The
Sydney Morning Herald
on Thursday 9 June 1938 in page 2 had ‘IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW
SOUTH WALES-Probate Jurisdiction-In the Will and live Codicils of
STANLEY CONNEBEE JAMIESON late of Nirvana 45 Cotham Road Kew In the
State of Victoria Medical Practitioner deceased -Application will be
made after fourteen days from the publication hereof that the Probate
granted in respect of the last Will and Testament (with five Codicils
thereto) of the abovenamed deceased by the Supreme Court of Victoria
on the First day of April One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight
to DOUGLAS RONALD JAMIESON and SHEILA EVELEEN MCBRYDE the Executor
and Executrix named in the said Will may be sealed with the seal of
this Honourable Court and all persons having any claims against the
Estate of the said deceased are hereby required to forward
particulars within the said period of fourteen days to the
undersigned at their undermentioned address BARKER and JONES Proctors
for the Executor and Executrix. Perpetual Trustee Chambers 33-39
Hunter Street Sydney.’
In
1919 the committee of the Yarrawonga Avenue of Honour published a
list of names who enlisted and embarked from the district which
included Dr S C Jamieson. The Tungamah
Express of 11
September 1919 had an article on the Avenue of Honour which reads: –
‘The Yarrawonga Shire Councils plan for commemorating the memory of
the soldiers (dead or living), who inlisted {sic} from this district
will, among other things, take the form of an Avenue of Honour. Over
230 Kurrajong Trees will be planted in certain streets of the town,
along Belmore Street from McNally Street to Telford Street from
Belmore Street along Lott Street along Telford Street to the railway
crossing. If these trees are well and truly planted and properly
cared for until they are soundly established, they will greatly add
to the attractiveness of Yarrawonga. As, we presume each tree will
eventually bear a plate with the name, etc. of the soldier it
represents, it becomes a solemn duty on the part of the townspeople
to see that every tree survives. The best way to ensure this would be
to delegate to the relatives or friends of the soldier the privilege
of seeing that his particular tree is well cared for. We are sure
those concerned would gladly undertake this labour of love. The holes
for the trees have been dug by Returned Soldiers employed by the
council from the Federal Government Repatriation Vote, and the trees
will be planted out almost immediately.’
The
three last remaining kurrajong tees of the Avenue of Honour in Lott
Street Yarrawonga.
His
identification plate from his kurrajong tree. The plate is currently
at the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Pioneer Museum.
A
book of ‘The History of the Midwives, Medicos and Matrons of
Yarrawonga and District from 1859 to 1978’ by Olive Hardgrave,
titled ‘A Whiff of the Past’ contains stories on Dr Davis and
Stanley. Dr Adrian Arthur Denis was there from 1879 to 1927. The book
says he was ‘a likeable, loveable eccentric, a man of compassion.
He served in the Franco-Prussian war, and was a. M.D. graduate of the
French Medical School. His wife “Madame” was French Swiss… who
kept strictly to the rules of etiquette.’ ‘Madame and her
daughters were extremely artistic.’ They had two daughters only.
Stanley arrived at Yarrawonga in May 1904. When it was suggested Dr
Denis meet with him the reply was “Consult with that boy! – Never.”
Jeanne became his partner in the mixed foursomes at the local golf
course in 1905. “The friendship … soon became a budding romance.
They were known as Stan and Jan by their friends in and around Tom
Street. With the help, and encouragement of these friends the romance
flourished, and when at last they were married, the whole town
celebrated.’ When Dr Denis died, he was buried in Mulwala Cemetery,
the only monument facing west, facing a friend. The book also
discusses the issues around his will and the problems following his
death.
Arthur
Adrien Denis M.D., B.A.
Born
at Sens France 28th
May 1844
Died
Yarrawonga 12th
December 1927
Former
Medicin Majeur to the 6th
Regiment Chasseurs Cheval For 48 years
Medical
practitioner in this District.
The
book also has a page on Stanley, as follows: –
‘Captain
Stanley C. Jamieson served as a young man in the Boer War attached to
the A.A.M.C.. The war ended in 1902. In May 1904 Dr. Jamieson
purchased the practice of Dr. O’Sullivan in Yarrawonga. Soon after
that doctor’s departure, he moved into his house in Piper Street
opposite the Court House, and from there he conducted his practice.
This fair young man, big and athletic, enjoyed life himself, and
infected others with his good humour. Jovial and generous, he was
ever ready with a kindly word, a kindly deed. He was soon loved and
trusted by one and all. Lawn tennis was the first sport to receive a
boost from his activities. Other members of the club were inspired by
his skill and enthusiasm, thus laying the foundation for Yarrawonga’s
famous Easter Tournaments. At golf, which in those days was played at
the Show Grounds, he was on scratch. When competing in the mixed
foursomes, he always presented his partner with a box of chocolates.
Miss Denis became his partner in the mixed foursomes, so in less than
a year, he had put an end to the feud between the two practices. To
the delight of all their friends this partnership blossomed into an
interesting romance. Madame Denis, being something of a tyrant, “Stan
and Jan” did their courting at a friend’s home nearby in Tom
Street. They were married by the Presbyterian Minister Rev. Mr.
Forbes, and lived in the house in Piper Street, until they moved into
the Denis home, “Verdun”, where Dr. Jamieson conducted his
practice until 1930. After their marriage, they continued their work
in the community. Dr, Jamieson became President of the “First
Autumn Flower Show” of the Yarrawonga and Border Association. They
both rode bicycles. By 1910 the rowing club was established, and Dr.
Jamieson was appointed judge of the races. He had been active in the
Committee of Mechanics Institute for some time, and continued to be
re-elected. The Agricultural Show, and the Turf Club were fortunate
to have him as Honorary Surgeon at their races. He would escort his
wife to the Christmas Prize Distribution and Concert of Miss Thomas’
Alexandra College, adding life and zest to the presentations and
speeches. His wife assisted him with his many commitments, taking
great pride in her own artistic entries in many sections of the Show,
and assisting with concerts and other entertainments, especially
where children were participating. Her piano playing and
exceptionally lovely singing voice continued to thrill her audiences.
The Doctor himself managed to prepare a few entries for the Show, and
on one occasion won a special prize for his chokoe.. As a change from
tennis, golf, rowing and horse racing, Dr. Jamieson would travel to
the north of the continent shooting buffalo. Hunting these animals
could be dangerous, but he found it exciting and exhilarating. He
brought back the best and biggest horns of his quarry for display on
the walls of his house. As Health Officer for the Shire, he was
continually battling for better drains. He believed the epidemics of
typhoid fever and diphtheria were due to the unsatisfactory drainage,
and advised the Council to get rid of the wooden drains, and replace
them with brick. After many years of happy married life, his wife
became seriously ill and died in a hospital in Melbourne. Dr.
Jamieson then turned to travel, but always returned to Yarrawonga to
visit his friends, and the place where he had lived a full and happy
life. Having no family, he was faced with a very lonely existence. He
visited Yarrawonga for the last time in 1934, after which he became
ill and was admitted to the Austin Hospital. Many of his Yarrawonga
friends visited him there, and when the end came he slipped away
peacefully in the company of those who were dear to him.’ The book
also mentions him in the midwives’ section, in that he inspected
their premises.
His medals are Queen’s South
Africa Medal with clasps Belfast, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Orange
Free State and Cape Colony; British War Medal, Victory Medal, Edward
VII Coronation 1902 and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers
Decoration.
The
medal group is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial
Museum.
His picture in a book on the contingent to the Boer War.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
‘He
was a very capable and popular officer and fought well under most
trying circumstances’ 2
Clifford
Clapcott Barclay was born on 25 April 1893 at Waimate, Canterbury, a
town on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. He was the
elder son of Herbert Clifford Barclay and Ruth Annie (née Clapcott).
He had an older sister Dorothy and two younger siblings – Ruth (known
as Marjory),3
and George.
Herbert
Clifford and Ruth Annie were married at St Paul’s Cathedral Dunedin
on 30 September 1890, by The Venerable Archdeacon George Barclay
(brother of Herbert) assisted by The Reverend Mr Yorke.
Ruth,
who was born on 3 June 1867 in Otago, was the second daughter of
Henry Clapcott Esq, BA (Cambridge) of Halfway Bush, a suburb of
Dunedin. He was a businessman and trustee
of the Dunedin
Savings Bank. In the role of politician, he was the elected member
for Wakatipu in the Provincial Council of New Zealand.
He
married Mary Jane (née Power) in 1858. She gave birth to a son on 27
October 1859, but died a week later; the baby died on 13 November.
On
18 January 1862, Henry Clapcott married Annie Harriet (née
Bedborough) at Dunedin.
Herbert
Clifford Barclay (the father of Clifford) was one of the first two
New Zealand-trained doctors to be appointed to hospital service. In
1889, Dr HC Barclay and Dr GA Copland, graduates of Otago Medical
School, were registered on 1 May and appointed to the staff of
Dunedin Hospital.
Herbert
was surgeon-superintendent at Waimate Hospital between 1890 and 1914
and in 1891 was appointed public vaccinator for Waimate. He was
surgeon-captain with Waimate Rifles Volunteers, appointed captain on
10 April 1901 and between 1898 and 1900, was mayor of Waimate.
He
transferred to the 2nd
South Canterbury Regiment on 28 February 1911 and was promoted major
on 17 March. During his service with the New Zealand Territorials he
received medals representing five long service awards. He was
promoted to lieutenant colonel on 21 March 1914 and then worked
with the Russian
Red Cross for four months at Warsaw from September 1914 to January
1915. He had a profound admiration for the people of Russia, though
not necessarily for the government.
Herbert
was appointed to the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1915 until the end
of the war, retiring on 4 July 1919, which saw him provide a total
commissioned service of 21 years 46 days. After the war he
practised in
London, then in Kent before relocating to Hampshire after 1923.4
His name was removed from the New Zealand Medical Register in 1921.
Herbert never returned to New Zealand. He passed away on 1 December
1932 and was buried at Pine Road Cemetery, Hampshire, England. His
wife Ruth passed away 26 November 1938 at her residence, Onslow
House, St Kilda, Dunedin. She was cremated two days later.
Clifford
was educated at
Waimate and
Waitaki High Schools where he was recognised as a very good rifle
shooter, winning a number of shooting medals and gaining the rank of
sergeant during his five years with high school cadets. After leaving
school, he obtained employment as a stock agent with the
auctioneering and commercial firm, Guinness Le Cren in Shearman
Street, Waimate. Clifford joined the 13th
(North Canterbury
and Westland) Regiment 5
and was appointed
2nd
Lieutenant on 18 April 1913.In December, due
to a change of residence, he transferred to the 2nd
(South Canterbury) Regiment.
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was formed on 7 August 1914, when the New Zealand Government cabled the Imperial Government in London offering the services of the headquarters staff and personnel of a division of two brigades, one of mounted rifles and the other of infantry. The offer was accepted on 14 August and mobilisation began immediately. Major General Sir Alexander John Godley, KCMG, CB was appointed to command the Division.6
Clifford
was one of the early volunteers. The infantry brigade was recruited
on a Territorial basis. The Canterbury Battalion consisted of the 1st
Canterbury, 2nd
South Canterbury, 12th
Nelson and 13th
North Canterbury and Westland Regiments.7
The battalion strength was 33 officers and 977 other ranks, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Douglas McBean Stewart who at the time
was commanding officer of 1st
Canterbury Regiment. Clifford was appointed lieutenant in August 1914
in the 2nd
(South Canterbury) company which was commanded by Major David Grant.
Clifford stood 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 141 pounds and had a
fair complexion. At the time of appointment he was 21 years 4 months,
Presbyterian faith and had a small scar over his right eye.
Addin
Major
David Grant and
subalterns
at Addington, September 1914.
L
to R , back row: Lieut Francis Maurice, Lieut Clifford Barclay Lieut
John Hill: Front Row: Lieut Douglas Fraser, Major David Grant, Lieut
Raymond Lawry. (South
Canterbury Museum)
Training
began at Addington showgrounds immediately the troops marched in,
with the bulk of the training carried out by the officers and
non-commissioned officers of the battalion. At the beginning of
September, bad weather made the showground camp uninhabitable, so the
battalion moved to the adjacent ground of the
Metropolitan
Trotting Club. On 7 September they moved again, this time to the
Plumpton Park Trotting Ground at Stockburn. They remained there until
23 September, when at noon, they entrained and travelled to
Lyttelton, from where they embarked on HMNZT 11 Athenic,
bound for the harbour at Wellington.
The
departure date from New Zealand for the Expeditionary Force was
postponed due to the presence in the South Pacific of enemy warships
and the lack of a naval escort sufficiently powerful to protect the
transports.
The
escort ships arrived on 14 October and the New Zealand fleet left
Wellington Harbour at 6am on 16 October. The fleet called at Hobart
on 21 October before steaming to Albany, Western Australia. On the
morning of 1 November, the Australian and New Zealand
transports put to sea. There was widespread expectation that the
destination would be England.
The
convoy arrived at Alexandria on 3 December and the New Zealand force
was ordered to camp at Zeitoun, four miles from Cairo. When the first
troops arrived, they found that the camp existed in name only. During
December, training and many ceremonial parades were held. By the end
of January, the troops were well advanced in their training and the
New Zealand Infantry Brigade was considered fit to support the 11th
(Indian) Division, which was holding the defence of the Suez Canal.
The
New Zealand Brigade was divided into two portions, with the
headquarters and the Auckland and Canterbury Battalions being sent to
Ismailia, on Lake Timsah, midway between Port Said and Suez. The
remaining battalions went to El Kubri, near Suez. The troops
entrained at Palais de Koubbeh and Helmieh stations on 26 January and
reached their destination the same day.
Clifford’s
2nd
South Canterbury company was stationed at Ismailia Ferry Post as a
general reserve. On 3 February the expected attack was made by the
Turkish forces on other posts along the defence lines.
Although
the Turks were found to be entrenched about half a mile to the east,
no attack was made on the Ismailia Ferry Post, but the New Zealanders
were exposed to shellfire during the day. On the night of 3 February,
a half-hearted attack was made by the Turks, after which they
withdrew the bulk of their forces to Kataib El Kheil.
No
further attacks were made on the Suez Canal, but the battalion
remained in garrison of its posts until 8 February when it was
relieved by the 1st
Australian Brigade. The battalion remained in the canal area, manning
a few posts north of Ismailia, but continued training until 26
February, when it returned to Zeitoun.
The
New Zealand and Australian Division, under the command of Major
General Sir Alexander Godley, was part of the force entrusted to
attack the defences of the Dardanelles. The main fleet of transports
left Alexandria at 6pm Monday 12 April and entered Mudros harbour, on
the island of Lemnos, early in the morning of 15 April with
Clifford’s company travelling on Lutzow.
The
time at Mudros was spent in company and battalion training ashore and
practising boat drill in preparation for the landing.
The
Australian Division, under the command of Major General William
Bridges sailed from Mudros harbour on the afternoon of 24 April and
arrived at the Gallipoli shore at dawn on Sunday, 25 April 1915.
Meanwhile, the first transports of the New Zealand and Australian
Division left Lemnos at 1am and Lutzow
with Clifford’s company arrived off Anzac Cove at 7am. Due to the
confusion caused by the alteration of the landing place and the
casualties incurred, the first troops of the Canterbury Battalion did
not leave the ship until 10am. Disembarkation was completed by
12.30pm and although the landing was made under shrapnel fire, no
casualties were incurred.
Clifford’s
battalion was immediately ordered to reinforce the left flank of the
3rd
Australian Brigade and to fill the gap between the flank and the sea.
There was much confusion while the order was being carried out and
thus, the two Canterbury companies became mixed.
Lieutenant
Colonel Stewart with Clifford’s company got well forward and took
up a position on the upper portion of Walker’s Ridge, which ran
north-east from Pope’s Hill down to the sea and immediately, they
became involved in heavy fighting.
Lieutenant
Colonel Stewart, who went back to bring up reinforcements, collected
a large group of Australians. Being at that time in an exposed
position, he was killed while leading the Australians up to the
firing line. There, Clifford’s company and the Australian
reinforcements repulsed with bayonets, three Turkish attacks. They
then withdrew slightly to more suitable ground, where they dug in.8
The
casualties of the Canterbury Battalion on the day of landing totalled
198, including one officer missing, Lieutenant CC Barclay.9
Clifford’s
official records show that on his 22nd
birthday, 25 April 1915, he was recorded as ‘Wounded and Missing’.
It
was not until 16 January 1916 that an official Court of Enquiry was
held at Ismailia by the New Zealand Infantry Brigade headquarters.
Lieutenant Clifford Barclay was officially recorded as dead, causes
unknown.
Of
interest is a letter from Private W O’Brien to his relatives in New
Zealand, written on 21 May 1915 from hospital in Alexandria, which
reads in part; ‘I
suppose you know that Lieutenant Barclay, from Waimate, was killed
the first day.’ 10
Lieutenant
Colonel Albert Edward Loach (Canterbury Battalion) wrote; ‘He
was a very capable and popular officer and fought well under most
tryingcircumstances’.
Lieutenant Still said, ‘I
have met some of Lieutenant Barclay’s men; they give glowing
accounts of how bravely he led them into action; his bravery and
coolness under fire was wonderful. We are all proud that he wasone
of us.’11
Also
revealed later was a strange account that while in Egypt, Clifford
had been told by a fortune-teller that he would be killed on his next
birthday, which happened to be 25 April 1915. On the eve of the
landing at Gallipoli, he said goodbye to each man in his platoon,
telling them that he would be killed next day and sure enough the
prophecy was fulfilled. 12
Lieutenant
Clifford Clapcott Barclay has no known grave and is commemorated on
the Lone Pine Memorial (panel 73) at Gallipoli with so many other
Anzacs. He is also remembered at the Auckland War Memorial Museum,
World War 1 Wall of Memories.
Waimate
World War 1 Memorial.
Clifford
Clapcott Barclay is listed on the left-hand side panel
(Source:
nzhistory.govt.nz)
Clifford
is remembered on the Waimate World War I
memorial and also on the Te Kuiti World War
I
memorial. It is presumed that because his job as a stock agent for
Guinness Le Cren took him to Te Kuiti on many occasions, he was
sufficiently well regarded by the community to be listed on their
memorial, although he had no family links to the town. He is also
remembered on the memorial wall, Timaru, and at St Augustine’s
Church as G C Barclay [sic].
In
memory of her son Clifford, Mrs Ruth Barclay donated a stained-glass
memorial which was unveiled on Anzac Day 1926 at St Augustine’s
Anglican Church, Waimate. The window (in two panels), manufactured
by the London firm Morris & Company, depicts
young
Galahad
in a scene from Tennyson’s epic poem “Idylls of the King”
(1869). The figure of the knight was recognised as the embodiment of
heroism and devotion to a righteous cause.13
Lieutenant
Clifford Clapcott Barclay’s Memorial Plaque is proudly on display
at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
New
Zealand Expeditionary Force, Form No 2 Clifford Clapcott Barclay
New
Zealand Defence Force Form No 4, Appointment of Territorial Officer,
Clifford Clapcott Barclay
New
Zealand Military Forces Form R 68 Officers (Territorial Forces)
Transfer 1268
Brereton
Major C B, Tales
of Three Campaigns
Endnotes
Auckland
War Memorial Museum
UK,
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1919 Volume 2, page 19
Marjory
became the first registered female doctor on 3 May 1897 in New
Zealand. She graduated with MB ChB from Otago Medical School and
specialised in diagnostic radiology. She passed away in 1978.
The
Barclays in South Canterbury
The regiment was formed in
1911
The
History of the Canterbury Regiment, Chapter 1
Ibid.
The
History of the Canterbury Regiment, Chapter 3
Ibid.
Canterbury Times
7 July 1915, page 56
UK,
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1919, Volume 2, page 19
Brereton,
page 121
The Barclays in South
Canterbury
Additional information was gained after a phone call to the Vicar of
St Augustine’s Church, Waimate, with an extract from The
Anglican Church in Waimate 1844-1972 by
The Reverend LE Cartridge and D Kenyon.
“In
January 1972, Professor KL Goodwin of the University of Queensland
came to New Zealand to look for examples of stained-glass windows
made by the English firm of Morris and Company and one of its leading
designers, Sir Edward Burne-Jones. So far as Professor Goodwin knows,
St Augustine’s, Waimate is one of only four churches in this
country with such windows. Although many hundreds of churches in
England contain glass by this firm, only eight of their windows came
to New Zealand, and two of these are in St Augustine’s. Professor
Goodwin came to Waimate and identified the windows on either side of
the sanctuary in St Augustine’s as having been designed and
manufactured by Morris and Company. The window on the north side of
the sanctuary depicts Sir Galahad’s vision of the Holy Grail, the
cup used at the Last Supper… The window consists of two separate
panels or “lights”…. Professor Goodwin said that the design was
based on part of a set of tapestries designed by the famous English
artist, Sir Edward Burne-Jones. The tapestries depicted six scenes
from the legend of the Holy Grail, of which the scene in this window
is one.”
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
Herbert
Gerald Hinton was born in Brisbane on 23 February 1879, the second
son of John Edward Hinton and Mary Elizabeth (née O’Reilly).
Herbert was one of eight children.
John
Edward Hinton was born in Buckinghamshire, England and after leaving
school, age 12, he followed a seafarer’s life. At 16 years, he
served on HMS Oberon
on the west coast of Africa.
He
came to Australia in 1868 on the ship Young
Australia and
obtained employment in the Charleville district. Not liking the
country life, he went to Melbourne and joined the permanent
artillery, serving for three years.
John
then returned to Queensland where he worked on the staff of the
Governor of Queensland for a number of years, before moving to the
Registrar-General’s Office.
Still
interested in military duty, John joined No 1 Artillery Battery in
Brisbane as a gunner. When he retired, he held the position of
captain and adjutant. Following the passing of an Act in 1882 to
constitute a properly organised fire brigade (there was only a
voluntary brigade till then), he applied for the job of
Superintendent.
Herbert’s
father, John Edward Hinton, was known as “The Grand Old Man” of
fire services in Brisbane, with a career spanning 43 years, firstly
as Chief Officer of the Brisbane Fire Brigade, then Senior Assistant
Superintendent from 1882 until 1883, Superintendent from 1883 until
1921 and finally Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade from
1921 to 1925.
John
Hinton built the Brisbane Fire Brigade into a fine fire-fighting
force, recruiting firemen and purchasing horse-drawn reels and
establishing branch stations in the suburbs. John, like many firemen,
had a number of close escapes. On one occasion his death was reported
in the morning newspapers. Fortunately, the report was greatly
exaggerated!
On
18 November 1933, John became ill before retiring to bed and he died
at 8:15 the following morning, at his home in Chelmsford Avenue,
Lutwyche (where he had an exceedingly well-kept garden).
Superintendent
Hinton was accorded a formal fire brigade funeral. The service was
held at All Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane
followed by burial at the South Brisbane Cemetery.
Herbert
was educated at Brisbane Boys’ Central State School, Spring Hill.
Soon after leaving school he became a citizen soldier, serving in the
ranks with Queensland Volunteer Rifles and Queensland Field
Artillery. He was a keen and capable shooter, a member of the
Queensland Volunteer Rifles, (second rifle team) and a member of the
No 2 Battery, Queensland Artillery Rifle Club.
Herbert
enlisted to serve in the Boer War, being accepted as a private in B
Company, (Regimental Number 110), the First Queensland Mounted
Infantry Contingent. After a special parade through the streets of
Brisbane and a banquet on Saturday 28 October 1899, followed by a
camp open day on the Sunday, the unit loaded its horses and
equipment.
At
midday on 1 November 1899, they marched to Pinkenba Wharf. They
departed Brisbane for South Africa on SS Cornwall
the same day, reaching Port Elizabeth on 11 December.
The
first opportunity for the men of the
unit to
distinguish themselves occurred on New Year’s Day at Sunnyside in
Cape Colony where they received orders to attack alongside a party of
Canadians, a company of Munster Fusiliers Mounted Infantry and a
section of Royal Horse Artillery. Two Australians were killed in the
action.4
In
a letter written by Private Hinton dated 12 January 1900, he tells of
the battle.
“We were advancing in
skirmishing order near the position to be attacked, when I saw eight
men galloping off, and obtained permission to try a shot, I landed a
pony in the leg with the rifle sighted at two thousand yards. I shall
never forget the climb we had, and without a drop of water. The sun
was terribly hot. I and another chap were behind a fair-sized rock,
and were about to blaze away when it occurred to me to try their own
dodge, 5
and I put my hat on top of the rock. It was not there ten seconds
when a bullet went through it. If it had been on my head I would have
been with poor McLeod and Jones.”6
On
25 July 1900, Herbert was medically evacuated and invalided to
England on board SS Gascon
with enteric fever (typhoid) and received treatment, 16–24 August
at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. He then resided at Miss Bradley’s
home, Middle Claydon, Winston, Buckinghamshire for a month to
recover, whilst on furlough. On 16 January 1901, arrangements were
made via Queensland’s Agent-General in London for Herbert to be
attached to the Royal Horse Artillery for instruction while he was
there.
However,
the attachment did not proceed as Herbert obtained a commission as
Lieutenant with Warren’s Mounted Infantry 7
which was raised by the Cape Colonial Government in January 1901 and
taken over by the Imperial Government on 20 July 1901. After
arranging his own travel, Hinton served with the unit from 18 January
until 8 August 1901.
He
then secured a commission in the South African Light Horse and served
with the unit until June 1902, after which he returned to Australia,
leaving the Cape on SS Yarrawonga
on 18 July 1902.
Herbert
fought in ‘numerous engagements, including Sunnyside, the first
time the Queenslanders came in contact with the Boers. His 21st
birthday was celebrated at Paardeberg and he also fought at Douglas
and Bloemfontein.’8
For his Boer War
service, Herbert was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with
four clasps: Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Paardeberg, Transvaal;
and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps: South Africa
1901 and South Africa 1902.
On
returning to Australia, Herbert applied to the Under Secretary,
Foreign Office, London for appointment with either the Somaliland
Expedition, West African Field Force or the
Central African
Field Force. He attached a reference from Major CH Carrington-Smith
of the South African Light Horse, dated 7 July 1902 which said that
Herbert had, ‘given every satisfaction as a steady, trustworthy,
hard working and reliable officer.’9
Neither
appointment was gained in Africa.
Herbert
then obtained work in the pearling industry, working on the schooner
Wanetta
as a sheller for Mr Hockings in Dutch New Guinea and later Thursday
Island. A few years later, he returned to Brisbane and worked for
Edward Butler and Sons,10
saddlers and
leather products, which had its head office opposite the Customs
House in Queen Street. He moved to Warwick in 1909 for his employer.
Herbert
married Mabel Cecilia Mahony in Brisbane on 9 August 1909, at All
Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane and spent
their honeymoon at Southport. His brothers were his groomsmen. Mabel
was the daughter of Mr Henry Thomas Mahony of Indooroopilly who, for
many years, was Queensland manager of Central Agency Ltd of Glasgow,
the Scottish sewing cotton firm.
Herbert
and Mabel lived in Canning Street, Warwick before returning to
Brisbane in 1913, to live at Station Street, Indooroopilly. Herbert
worked as a salesman, and later as a commercial traveller, for Butler
and Sons.
Mabel
Cecilia Hinton (née Mahony)
Source:
Family file
Herbert
and Mabel had four children, three sons and a daughter. Having
returned to Brisbane, Herbert rejoined
the militia in
1912, serving two years with the 2nd
Australian Light Horse.
Herbert
received a Queensland Police Commendation11
for the actions
he and his patrol took during the 1912 Brisbane Strike.The Queensland
Government swore in a number of defence force personnel to be special
constables and issued them with batons.12
On 12 January, in
Mary Street, an offender against the law took refuge in a crowded
room of waterside workers and Herbert, as Sergeant in command of a
patrol displayed ‘very plucky and exemplary performance of duty on
the occasion.’
Soon after the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, Herbert volunteered for a commission on 20 August. He had recently passed his examinations to be appointed 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron. Herbert was 35 years old, 5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall, 10 stone in weight, religious denomination, Church of England. His wife Mabel and the children were living at “Wanetta”, Graceville in Brisbane. Mabel was recorded as Herbert’s next of kin.
After
a short period of training under the commanding officer, Lieutenant
Colonel Robert Mackay Stodart, at Enoggera13
and a farewell parade in the streets of Brisbane, the 2nd
Light Horse Regiment left Pinkenba on board HMAT
Star of England
on 24 September 1914. Due to the German Pacific Fleet being active in
the area, the ship was diverted to Melbourne where it waited a month
before continuing its journey.
During
the time in Melbourne, Lieutenant Colonel Stodart sought and obtained
approval from the Prime Minister for the emu plumes to be worn as an
official part of the dress.14
The
regiment re-embarked on 20 October 1914 and reached Albany, Western
Australia on 26 October, where the fleet took on water and supplies.
On 1 November, Star
of England sailed
as part of a convoy of forty large transport ships escorted by
British and Japanese warships.
At
that time, the destination was presumed to be England. While in
transit, the regiment learnt that their destination had been changed
to Egypt. The ship arrived at Alexandria on 9 December, after a
voyage of seventy days. The modern equipment on the quays was an eye
opener to the Queenslanders and unloading progressed smoothly, with
most of the horses giving little trouble.
Colonel
Henry George (Harry) Chauvel arrived from England and assumed command
of the 1st
Light Horse Brigade which included the 1st
Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales), 2nd
Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) and 3rd
Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania) and commenced
training the Brigade.
Chauvel
trained his regiments hard. ‘All day and every day was spent in the
desert….protection on the move….at rest…..attack and
defence…..night operations, etc ….till we could have found …..the
landmarks blindfolded.’ 15
The men of the
1st
Light Horse Brigade were not traditional British Cavalry, but Mounted
Infantry who were trained to fight on foot.
Soon
after 25 April 1915, casualties from Gallipoli began arriving back at
the hospitals in Egypt. The Anzacs called for 1,000 volunteers from
the mounted regiments to help fill the terrible gaps in the ranks of
the exhausted infantry battalions.
Chauvel
and Brigadier General Andrew Hamilton Russell (commanding officer,
New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade) volunteered their brigades as
dismounted units. Despite the protests of the frontline commanders,
their proposal was accepted and the 2nd
Light Horse avoided dissolution.16
The
troopers handed in the saddlery and equipment used by mounted
soldiers and were issued with improvised infantry equipment. On 8
May, they marched to Helmiah railway station where they entrained for
Alexandria. The following day, the 1st
and 2nd
Light Horse Regiments embarked on SS Devanna.
At 7am on 12 May 1915, the troops were taken aboard
destroyers
before transferring to lighters, which were towed to the beach at
Anzac Cove, landing at about 11.15am.17
While
on board Devanna,
Herbert wrote what was to be his last letter18
home to Mabel.
On
board transport
May 1915
My
Darling Beloved Wife
We
are on board the transport & bound for the front which is where
Father mentioned in his letter. I expect to meet Arty who has been
there some time. Everybody is quite happy about it & looking
forward to some excitement.
You must be very brave
darling and not worry unnecessarily about me. We are all in the hands
of the Almighty & one might be just as safe as anyone at home. I
place my trust entirely in Him who controls everything & pray for
His guidance in the execution of my duty, that I may do it without
fear, & well. We must make up our minds darling that His will is
all for the best & I pray for His protection & blessing for
us all.
I cannot give you any
particulars of our doings as it is strictly forbidden.
God bless you my darling &
my darling children & may He bless you & lead you in all
things.
Fondest love and kisses
sweetheart from
Your loving husband
Herbt. G. Hinton
That
night, the 2nd
Light Horse Regiment bivouacked in Monash Gully before taking over
from the 15th
Battalion which had held Quinn’s Post since 29 April. At noon on 13
May, the regiment assumed responsibility for Quinn’s Post. That
afternoon and the following day Lieutenant Hinton, Lieutenant Boyd
and 32 men were wounded from hand bombs. Herbert was slightly wounded
in the eye but returned to duty.
The
regiment had little understanding of bombs. Because the Australian
trenches were wide, it was nearly impossible for any bombs that were
thrown by the enemy to avoid dropping into them. The men quickly
learned how to smother the bombs, or better still, throw them back.19
Following
the failure of an attack by the regiment on 15 May, it was relieved
by the 15th
Battalion and a system of 48-hour rotation of units through the post
was introduced.
On
6 August, attacks were planned in several locations including Quinn’s
Post, Pope’s Hill, Russell’s Top, German Officers’ Trench and
Lone Pine. The 2nd
Light Horse Regiment’s task was to capture Turkish trenches
opposite Quinn’s Post. The regiment attacked on 7 August 1915 at
4.30am.
Preparation
activities included the taking of other objectives, the firing of a
mine, the provision of artillery support and the element of surprise.
Then, the troops were to emerge from tunnels.
Surprise
was impossible and the enemy were perfectly prepared. Extracts from
the Official History20
provide more detail;
…The 2nd
Regiment knew before dawn … that German Officers’ Trench was
still in the hands of the enemy. As for the bombardment ….the fire
of the field guns against such a position was useless, except to
repel attack. It followed that … the assault would be dependent for
success solely upon surprise, and since all night long the enemy had
been roused not only by the fighting at the Pine and German
Officers’, but also by demonstrations – intended to cover the
advance of the
main columns – loyally and thoroughly carried out by the very troops
who were to attack at Quinn’s, Pope’s and Russell’s Top, there
was small chance that surprise would be achieved….
Nevertheless,
the troops who were to make the assault, though their intelligence
showed them that every condition was against them, faced their task
with grim determination. …
But
here, as at The Nek, the enemy was perfectly prepared. As the troops
scrambled from the trenches, intense fire was opened upon them. One
Turkish machine gun was shooting from the direct front, two from Dead
Man’s Ridge and a fourth from German Officers’.
Major
Thomas James Logan, who led the line, was killed before he could go
five yards. … With one exception, every man of the first line was
killed or wounded, the majority before they had gone six yards. Many
owed their lives to the fact that they were struck when on the
parapet and fell back wounded into the trench. … In this action
Major Logan, Lieutenants Burge and Hinton and 14 others had been
killed.21
Lieutenant Norris and 36 others wounded.
Lieutenant
Herbert Gerald Hinton, age 36 years, was killed while firing over the
parapet, providing covering fire during the withdrawal of the
wounded.
After
the failure of the first line, any further assault would result in
annihilation. Major George Herbert Bourne22
ordered the second line to stand fast and sought further orders from
Colonel Chauvel who deferred any further attempts. The regiment all
day continued to provide rifle and bomb support to their front, but
it was now obvious that the offensive had failed.
The
official grave of Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton.
Source:
John Meyers
Lieutenant
Herbert Gerald Hinton was buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Plot
IV, Row D, Grave No 14, Anzac, Gallipoli. He is remembered on Panel
3, Australian War Memorial, the Honour Board of the United Service
Club, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, The Fire Brigade Roll of Honour,
23 Sandgate
Honour Roll located in the town hall, and the Booroodabin Bowling
Club Roll of Honour.24
Booroodabin
Bowling Club Roll of Honour United Service Club Honour Board
1914-1918
The
Great War 1914-1918 Their Name Liveth For Evermore
It
is worthy of note that Hinton’s Post at the head of Monash Valley
is named after Herbert. ‘Lieutenant Herbert Hinton held an
important post in Monash Valley early in the campaign, which became
known as Hinton’s Post.’25
When
Herbert embarked for Egypt, his wife Mabel and children, Kenneth,
Stanley, Norman and Frances Doris, moved to live in Brighton Terrace,
Sandgate. Mabel received many letters and telegrams of sympathy when
Herbert’s death was announced. Mabel and the children each received
a pension dated from 16 September 1915.
Mabel
received £91 per annum and the children received £13 each.
Herbert’s medals, Form of Commission, Memorial Plaque and Memorial
Scroll and Identity Disc were all forward to Mabel over the following
years, along with his personal belongings.
On
30 September 1918, Mabel wrote to the Officer in Charge, Base
Records advising that she had a large quantity of military books
which had belonged to her husband. She sought advice as to how to
dispose of them, along with his uniforms and Sam Browne. She received
a reply dated 10 October stating
that Base
Records could not advise her on this matter.
Mabel
passed away in 1953 and is buried with members of her family at the
Sherwood Cemetery, Brisbane. The Hinton family grave at South
Brisbane Cemetery includes memorial inscription for Herbert: Not
dead: Alive in Christ26
Herbert’s
brother Francis James Hinton was born in Brisbane on 22 February
1882. After completing his education in both State and Catholic
schools, he worked from 1901 for the Queensland National Bank,
initially as a clerk at Muttaburra. In 1909 he joined the Bank of
North Queensland at Cairns and served at several branches including
Atherton. While Francis moved around with his job, he was, from 16
August 1901, a lieutenant with the Queensland Rifles, until being
placed on the Reserve of Officers, in December 1904.
On
20 February 1915, he was commissioned as Captain in the 25th
Battalion. On reaching Egypt, Francis was transferred to the 54th
Battalion on 13 March 1916 and again shortly afterwards he was
transferred to the 14th
Training Battalion. Francis departed Alexandria for Southport,
England
on 29 July 1916,
to be taken on strength of the battalion at Larkhill, Salisbury
Plain, on 2 September.
On
13 February 1917, Francis embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses
for Australia with an injury to a knee joint that made him
permanently unfit for General Service, but still fit for home
service. On return to Queensland, he rejoined the service of the Bank
of North Queensland, which meantime had amalgamated with the Royal
Bank under the name of the Bank of Queensland. Francis married
Margaret May Largey on 3 November 1917. In 1919 they moved to
Toowoomba, where Francis was appointed accountant in the local
branch. Then he was sent as manager to Imbil, Kalbar, Laidley and
Texas before transferring to Woolloongabba in 1934.
n Anzac Day 1938, Herbert Gerald Hinton’s brother, Francis James Hinton passed away at his home at Cracknell Road, Annerley. He had been in ill health for some months.27
Medals
for Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton
Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4
four clasps; King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps; 1914-15
Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, proudly displayed at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
Lieutenant
H G Hinton’s Identity disc and Memorial Plaque are
also on display
at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
‘Lest
we Forget’
The
Memorial Plaque
and
Identity Disc
of
Lieutenant
Herbert Gerald HINTON
are
also on display
at
the
Maryborough
Military
& Colonial Museum
Bibliography
Akeroyd,
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher (Ret’d), United
Services Club, History and heritage notes, The Men on the Board
1914–1918, Honour Roll Great War. Bean
CEW, Official
History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918,
Vol II,
Chapter
XXI
Bourne G H, The
History of the 2nd
Light Horse Regiment
Calthorpe KD and Capell K, Brisbane
on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925.
Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, 1997, page 146.
Clark,
Major Rex, First
Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War.
Published
circa 1977 by the Military Historical Society of Australia, ACT
BranchHolloway
David Clare, Combat
Colonels of the AIF in the Great War,
Big Sky Publishing, NSW, 2015, page 233.
McLachlan M, Gallipoli:
battlefield guide
Starr J, Sweeney C, The
History of the 2nd/14th
Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry)
References
The
Brisbane Courier 18
January 1901
The
Telegraph(Brisbane)
25 January 1907
The
Queenslander 21
August 1909
The
Queensland Times 1
June 1915
The
Telegraph (Brisbane) 18
November 1933 page 15
The Telegraph
(Brisbane) 26 April
1928
NAA:
B2455 Hinton Herbert Gerald
NAA: B2455
Hinton Francis James
NAA: J1795
7/442 Hinton Francis James
1
Photo provided from the family collection; a further picture can be
found in The
Queenslander
Pictorial Supplement, 5 June 1915, page 25.
2
The Brisbane
Courier Family
Notices, Roll of Honour, 7 August 1916 page 6.
3
Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery; also Calthorpe KD and Capell K,
Brisbane on Fire: A
History of Firefighting 1860-1925,
Preface.
4
Private David Cumming McLeod and Private Victor Stanley Jones were
both killed during the attack. Victor Jones, a native of Mount
Morgan, Queensland, was the first Australian to be killed on active
service in South Africa.
5
‘dodge’ is slang for a shifty trick.
6
First
Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War,
p8
7
Lieutenant Colonel F J Warren, a corps of three squadrons.
8
The Queensland
Times 1 June 1915
page 6.
9
The original reference is located in his file at the Maryborough
Military and Colonial Museum.
10
Edward Butler & Sons (originally Edward Butler and Frederick
Rathbone) were located at 424-426 Queen Street from 1899 till 1948.
They were importers of wholesale saddlery.
11
The Commendation letter, date 20 February 1912, is kept on his file
at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
12
Robert Stodart (later CO of the 2nd
LHR) was one of the special constables; his baton is held at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
13
The 2nd
Light Horse Regiment camped at the Rifle Range. Enoggera.
14
The
practice of light horsemen adorning their slouch hats with emu plumes
was first adopted by the Queensland Mounted Infantry during the Great
Shearers’ Strike in the 1890’s. They chased emus on horseback to
break the monotony of long patrols and decorated their hats with the
birds’ feathers. The
plumes were worn with pride by the Queenslanders during the Boer War
and the Great War.
15
Bourne G H, The
History of the 2nd
Light Horse Regiment,
page 13
16
The History of the
2nd/14th
Light Horse, page
62.
17
ibid., page 62
18
The letter is located on his personal file at the Maryborough
Military & Colonial Museum.
19
The History of the
2nd/14th
Light Horse Regiment,
page 65.
20
Bean, Chapter XX1 pages 629-631.
21
The History of the
2nd/14th
Light Horse Regiment,
page 70.
22
Bourne had taken temporary command of the regiment and would later
be appointed commanding officer on 1 July 1916.
23 Brisbane on Fire:A History of Firefighting 1860-1925. In 1915, an honour board was erected at the Brisbane Fire Brigade, in recognition of firemen who volunteered to join the armed forces. Sadly, it was to become a silent reminder of the death of the Superintendent’s son, Lieutenant Herbert Hinton who was killed in action at Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, page 146. List of names, page 209. Diligent enquiries were made by copyeditor Diane Melloy to Fire Brigade headquarters at Kemp Place Brisbane and to the Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, to ascertain the present whereabouts of the honour board, to no avail. Officers at both places advised that they had no knowledge, ever, of such a memorial item.
24 Newsletter-New Farm and District Historical Society, April 2017 Vol XXIII, Booroodabin Bowls Club at Newstead is Queensland’s oldest bowls club, established in 1888. In November 2016, the restored Honour Board, which had been found under the building, was recognised as a valuable heritage item.
25 Gallipoli: the battlefield guide, page 75.
26 Ancestry.com
27 The Telegraph 26 April 1938 page 14, Francis James Hinton has a lengthy repatriation file in National Archives.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
Herbert
Cooper was born on 9 January 1874 in Norwood, Surrey. His parents
were Thomas Cooper and Mary Ann Pocock. A marriage reference for them
cannot be found, so it is not known where or when they married.
Thomas had been born on 27 August 1844 in Chiswick, London and Mary
had been born in early 1849 in Newbury, Berkshire. Herbert was their
first child and only son. On 28March 1875
Herbert was baptised in West Dulwich Emmanuel Church in Lambeth,
England with their address stated as Ivy Villa, Hamilton. Thomas was
listed as a gardener. A record for Salters Hill School, Gypsy Road,
Lambeth, for an admission for Herbert Cooper on 7 July 1879, lists
his parents as Thomas and Mary of 6 Cleveland Terrace but gives his
date of birth as 23 January 1875. It also records he left the school
on 8 September 1879. This is the only record which gives a different
birth date, all his service records have the above date.
Grace
Cooper was born in 1877 in Norwood and was baptised on 28 January
1877 in the same church and their address had changed to 6 (hard to
read?) Terrace, Hamilton Road and he was still a gardener.
Edith
Cooper was born in 1883 in Chiswick. She died in 1925 according to
another family tree.
Elizabeth
Cooper was born in 1885 in Chiswick.
Their
last child, Florence Cooper was born on 17 January 1886 in
Hammersmith, London. According to another family tree she died in
Wandsworth London on 19 April 1975.
In
the 1891 census they were all living at 14 Carthew Road, Hammersmith,
London. Thomas was listed as jobbing gardener; Herbert was a
provision porter and three of the girls were scholars. Sometime
between this census and the 1901, Mary passed away. There is a record
for a Mary Ann Cooper born about 1849 who died in late 1897 in
Whitechapel, London but it is not known if she is the right person.
By the 1901 census, they had moved to 6 Garrick Grove Chiswick.
Thomas was listed as a domestic gardener and was living with the
three youngest daughters, with Edith and Elizabeth being packers in a
soap factory. According to another family tree, Thomas passed away in
1924. No other details can be found on the family.
Herbert
attested with The Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow on 9 September 1892 for
short service and was given the Regimental Number RF 4391. The
newly formed regiment was established as the city regiment for London
and started numbering from 1 in 1881. He stated he was born in
Norwood London and was an 18 year 8-month old porter. Herbert
was already serving with the 5th
Royal Fusiliers and was not married, not an apprentice and had no
sentence or discharge. His physical description showed he was 5 feet
6 inches tall, weighed 131 pounds, had a chest measurement of 32½ to
34½ inches and had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown
hair. His religious denomination was Church of England and his
address on enlistment was 86 Stowe Road, Shepherds Bush, London. He
took the oath and was considered fit for the army on that day.
Herbert received a conditional discharge of militiaman which showed
he had been in 5th
Battalion Royal Fusiliers and had performed 71 days of drill whilst
with them. It was dated 10 September 1892. A medical history also
shows his physical development was good, he had two vaccination marks
in the left arm from infancy and he was fit. He was also
re-vaccinated with two injections in the right arm on 22 September
1892.
On
30 September 1896, a court of inquiry was held at Station Hospital
Curragh in accordance with para 253 Curragh Standing Orders 1896, the
purpose of was to enquire into and report on an injury sustained by
No. 4391 Corpl. H. Cooper 2/Roy. Fusrs. Herbert stated ‘On 22nd
Sep. I was playing football & in trying to kick the ball I
sprained my knee. I took no notice of it at the time, but on Sep 26th
I had to go sick & reported to hospital the following day.’
Medical evidence was supplied. It was considered ‘I. That Corpl
Cooper sustained the injury to his knee when not on duty. II. That it
is the result of an accident. III. That it is not likely to affect
his efficiency as a soldier. I do not recommend the remission of
hospital stoppages.’ Whilst stationed at Gibraltar, on 23 February
1900, Herbert completed a form asking to extend his army service to
complete 12 years with the colours. He was recorded as 4391 Sergeant
Herbert Cooper, who had served 7 years and 6 months, had a very good
character and was awarded two good conduct badges. He had been
promoted to corporal on 7 January 1895 and to sergeant on 4 April
1898 and his army service was to expire on 9 September 1904.
Herbert
is possibly one of the middle Sergeants.
His
medical record from 1892 to 1903 shows he mainly had no admissions
apart from his right knee sprain in 1897 at Curragh and ‘Syph Prim’
while at Guernsey for which he spent 53 days in hospital. It lists
various places he was at including Belfast, Dilwara and Bermuda and a
few ships.
Herbert
married Rose Hannah Martin on 14 July 1905 in Bermuda, West
Indies and was recorded in General Register Office Index
for Army Marriages. Rose had been born on 14 February 1879 in
Cirencester, Gloucestershire and was baptised there in the Church of
England on 23 March 1879. Her parents were listed as Henry and Jane,
with Henry being a labourer. They were living in Gloucester Street.
While
at Prospect, Bermuda, Herbert filled out a re-engagement paper
stating that 4391 Colour Sergeant Herbert Cooper 3rd
Battalion The Royal Fusiliers had enlisted for 7 years with the
colours and 5 years with the reserve and desired to re-engage with
the Royal Fusiliers to make up a total continuous period of 21 years
of army service. His commanding officer recorded Herbert had 11 years
and 316 days service towards discharge and signed the form on 22nd
July 1904. He was also medically examined and found fit for service
on the same day. He was re-vaccinated on 20 November 1909 with two
injections in the left arm.
In
the 1911 census they were recorded as with the 2nd
Battalion The Royal Fusiliers with Herbert a Sergeant Major aged 36,
married, ‘none’ for trade or occupation and born in Norwood
Surrey. Rose was listed in ‘Return of Wives and Children of
Officers and Soldiers, who passed the night of Sunday, April 2nd,
1911, in these barracks or quarters’ as a wife aged 31, who had
been married for 5 years and had no children and was born at
Cirencester England. The cover of the census book shows it was an
enumeration book for military establishments for 2nd
Battalion The Royal Fusiliers at Hugh Rose Barracks Jubbulpore. The
commanding officer was Major C H D Lyon-Campbell. The Delhi Durbar
1911 medal roll for the 2nd
Battalion the Royal Fusiliers (city of London Regiment) lists that
4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper was in the army allotment and it was
sourced from the adjutant general in India. Herbert received an
anti-typhoid inoculation on 24 October 1911. The Long Service and
Good Conduct Register for the Royal Fusiliers Regiment in 1911 lists
that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper was recommended for the medal
on 1 January 1911.
Sergeants
2nd RF Jubbulpore June 1913 “Tennis at Home” Herbert on far-left
standing.
On
4 January 1913 he was examined and found fit for continuance of
service over 21 years. In January 1913, Herbert signed a form to
continue for longer than 21 years in service at Jubbulpore. It showed
that 4391 Sergeant Major Herbert Cooper had served 20 years and 4
months, his character was exemplary, he was entitled to four Good
Conduct Badges, he had been promoted to a warrant officer on 25 March
1908, his date of birth was 9-1-74 and his period of army service
expires on 8 September 1913. It was signed by a medical officer and a
captain at Hounslow on 4 February 1913. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant
General 5th
Mhow Division sent a memorandum to General Officer Commanding
Jubbulpore Brigade about the retention in the service of Sergeant
Major Cooper 2nd
Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 4 April 1913. He was permitted to
continue the service as a warrant officer on that date. On 19 August
1913, he signed an insurance form to continue his insurance under the
National Insurance Act of 1911 and for 1½d per week to come from his
pay. It was signed at Jubbulpore by the officer commanding D Company.
On 12 December 1913 he was in Calcutta.
Herbert
appears in British Army Lists, with the 1912 list showing him as a
sergeant major in the Royal Fusiliers with a birth date of 9 January
1874. In the 1915 list he was a 2nd
Lieutenant, by the 1916 list he was a Lieutenant, which continued in
the 1917 and 1918 lists.
His
service record from 1892 to 1913 reads: –
Attested The Royal Fusiliers as Private 4391
on 9 September 1892 Posted to 2nd
Battalion as Private on 30 November 1892
Appointed Lance Corporal 12 May 1893
Granted Good Conduct pay at 1d on 9
September 1894 Promoted to
Corporal 7 January 1895
Posted to Depot as Corporal on 1 October 1896
Posted to 2nd
Battalion as Corporal on 9 November 1897
Appointed Lance Sergeant on 4 April 1898
‘Elected to come under new
messing rates Special Army order of 2nd
April 1898’ on 18 April 1898
Posted
to 3rd
Battalion as Sergeant on 1 November 1898
Promoted to Colour Sergeant on 15 January 1900
and granted Class 1 Service pay at 7d on 1 April 1904
‘Re-engaged for “The Royal Fusiliers” at Bermuda on
the 22nd
July 1904 for such term as shall complete 21 years service’ as a
Colour Sergeant Posted to 4th
Battalion on 19 December 1905
Posted to Permanent Staff 4th
Battalion on 18 September 1906
Posted to 4th
Battalion on 1 January 1908
Promoted to Sergeant Major, dated 16 January
1909, on 25 March 1908 Posted to 2nd
Battalion on 4 March 1909
Paid
£16.15.0 Deferred Pay on February 1909
Permitted to continue in the Service
beyond 21 years, dated 4 February 1913
The
2nd
Battalion was stationed at Calcutta, India, and on 4 August 1914
returned to England. They arrived there in January 1915 and moved to
Nuneaton to join the 86th
Brigade of the 29th
Division.
The
London Gazette of 15 January 1915 on page 483 had an entry under War
Office for that date for Regular Forces that the ‘undermentioned
Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers to be Second Lieutenants’
from 7 December 1914 and included an entry under Infantry, ‘The
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)’ for Sergeant Major
Herbert Cooper as one of eight entries for that regiment. His service
record noted he was granted a commission as 2nd
Lieutenant ‘in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers with effect from
10.11.1914 (vide Gazette of India, 10.11.14)’.
In
the graduation list of officers for 1915, Herbert is listed in the
2nd
Lieutenants as Herbert Cooper, born 9 January 1874 and it records he
was in ranks for 15 years and 197 days and a Warrant Officer for 6
years and 227 days.
The
War Diary for the 2nd
Battalion Royal Fusiliers starts at Stockingford on 18 January 1915,
where they were mobilised. On 21 January their colours were handed
over to the Lord Mayor of London by Lieutenant J V Scudmore and 2nd
Lieutenant H Cooper. The rest of the month was spent marching, having
medicals and inoculations and building up to War Establishment. In
February they had more routine marches and companies were changed to
X, Y and Z instead of A, B, C, and D. Having received rifles, they
commenced to practice on Kingsbury Rifle Range. They also had weekend
passes and continued with marches and attack practice. In March they
did a route march to Coventry, where they took up new billets. On 12
March, the King inspected them. Half the Battalion left by train on
15 March and the other half on 16 March, reaching Avonmouth and
embarking. Some went on SS Alaunia
(a requisitioned Cunard liner) and the rest went on SS Mercian,
with both ships leaving late in the afternoon. While at sea they did
physical drill and ordinary routine. The ships passed Gibraltar at
about midday on 20 March and reached Malta at 10.30am on 23 March.
The
next entry in the diary says they were at MEX Camp on 30 March. In
early April they were practicing embarking and disembarking from
boats at a beach near Adami Fort. On 6 April, they were inspected by
General Sir Ian Hamilton. On 8 April they struck camp after breakfast
and went by rail to the wharf at Alexandria docks. At 3pm they
embarked on SS Alaunia,
with the transport section boarding SS Marquette.
They left the dock the next morning at 10am and ‘steamed straight
out to sea. Destination unknown.’ Arriving at Lemnos on 11 April,
they noted a ‘good number of troopships including Australians and a
number of battleships were already in the harbour’. Over the next
few days, they practiced boat and ladder drill, physical drill and
rowing. They had issues with the ship crew not lowering the boats
some of the time as they were ‘neither under Military nor Naval Law
it was difficult to deal with them.’ Training and practice
continued through the month. On the morning of 21 April officers had
a conference.
The
Battalion landed at X Beach
They
arrived off Gallipoli at 3am on 25 April. While disembarking into
cutters from HMS Implacable
at 4am, a general bombardment of the shore by the battleships took
place. ‘The Implacable covered our landing with every available gun
& except for distant rifle fire there was no opposition to our
landing & we suffered no casualties’. The 2nd
Battalion The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) landed
at Gallipoli as part of the 86th
Brigade in the 29th
Division. They scaled the cliff and took the top with no opposition.
Two companies were sent out to attack Hill 114 and trenches on the
left and met with heavy fire and suffered many casualties. After
initial heavy contact positions were taken and consolidated. During
the night the Turks attacked the positions in considerable force but
they withdrew before dawn. Large attacks by the Turks on 26 April
were repulsed by artillery and machine gun fire. The next day was
quiet and they went into reserve. During the day of the 28th,
they were involved in battle that took them to within a mile south of
Krithia. (This was the First Battle of Krithia, which due to an
overly-complex plan, poorly communicated and the terrain, by 6pm the
attack was called off.) They rested on the 30th
and on the 1st
the Turks attacked at 10.30pm, penetrating the line, so they were
used to counter-attack and hold the trenches. They took 250 Turk
prisoners and killed 2000. Finally, on 3 May the whole battalion was
in the reserve trenches and rested all day and night, their first
‘real nights rest since they landed.’ Due to the whole Brigade
having heavy losses, battalions were linked to other battalions. On 7
May an attack took 700 feet ahead of the old trenches but they had to
entrench as they could advance no further. Attacks early in May
advanced the line but at a heavy cost. (This was the Second Battle of
Krithia which was swiftly halted by strong Turkish resistance and
about one third of the allies in the attack were casualties.
Australians and New Zealanders were also used in the attacks.) They
were relieved back to X Beach on 10 and 11 May, where their total
strength was 5 officers and 384 men.
Half
the battalion landed in boats provided by HMS Implacable;
half from boats from other ships. HMS Implacable
provided a very efficient shore bombardment with its 12-inch guns,
getting close inshore. Depicted
in a painting (RFM.926 on display at The Fusilier Museum London) by
the renowned British marine painter Montague Dawson. (Also in the
book With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A Chaplain’s
Experiences)
Lt
Herbert Cooper MC on left with Lt Mundy
From
6 June 1915 2nd
Lieutenant Herbert Cooper took over writing the War Diary. The first
line he wrote was ‘Battalion still occupying trenches they captured
4th.’
He then described the trench and what was going on around it and
noted their effective strength was 2 officers and 278 other ranks.
(This was during the Third Battle of Krithia, which although planned
better than the first two, still led to large losses for not much
ground captured). In the book ‘The Royal Fusiliers in the Great
War’ by H C O’Neill it mentions the three attacks on page 96, and
after the first attack there ‘were now only six officers left’,
but it only lists five including Herbert. After the 3rd
Battle, ‘Very soon the Battalion was taken from the left rear. Many
men were shot in the back. Only one officer 2/Lt Cooper, remained.’
Again, it disagrees with the war diary. Herbert is also mentioned in
the book ‘With the Twenty Ninth Division in Gallipoli – A
Chaplain’s Experiences’ by Reverend Oswin Creighton. The author
uses a lot of letters for officers’ names and Herbert was ‘G’.
On page 68 (dated 3/5/1915) ‘They had just come out of the firing
line for the first time since landing. But the were wonderfully
cheerful. It was quite a joy to be with them again. They had just
lost four officers, Shafto and Anstice killed, M and B wounded, and
this left J in command, and Mundy as adjutant, Huggett was machine
gun officer and with Z, T and G they made a very happy little
family.’ Later in page 128 (dated 8/6/1915) ‘I went to Gully
Beach where I found what was left of the RF’s and stayed with them
till Friday. It was so tragic. I came out with such a magnificent
regiment, with such regimental pride, and such a delightful band of
officers. Only one left, G, the former Sgt. Major, besides the
Quartermaster. He was asleep when I arrived.’ Later he added ‘G
was quite played out’ and ‘I slept with G in his dug-out, and
tried to cheer him up.’ After being relieved they made their way
to Y Beach on 7 June. While there they were refitted and reinforced
with 6 officers including a temporary commanding officer. On 9 June
they received more officers and other ranks bringing the strength to
11 officers and 409 other ranks. At 3.45am on 12 June they moved into
reserve trench and spent the next few days in trenches before being
relieved on 17 June. At 3am on 23 June they moved back into the
trenches. Herbert finished his stint of writing the diary on 24 June
with a report of some enemy moving close but being observed. On 25
June an acting adjutant took over writing with a bombing party being
sent out at night. On 27 June they were relieved and attack orders
were issued for an attack on Turkish trenches ‘J12 & J13 and a
hill just in front of J13 & to consolidate position gained’.
The next day a heavy bombardment commenced the attack with the attack
being successful and the position was consolidated. They were
relieved the next day. On the 29th
the war diary stated ‘The men were for the most part in a terribly
exhausted condition having had 24 hours fighting under the most
trying conditions with very little water. The heat was very trying.’
Their effective strength was then 3 officers and 412 other ranks.
In
early July they were on the beach north of Gully Beach, ‘resting,
refitting & reorganising,’ On 4 July they moved into the
trenches. The next day the Turks bombarded the area but was way
behind the trenches. They also had men moving in front of their lines
in the afternoon and ‘afforded great amusement to our snipers who
claim to have knocked over twenty or thirty during the afternoon.’
They only had three machine guns in the line. The next days were
quiet. On 12 July another battalion near them was involved in an
attack which failed due to heavy machine gun fire. Mid July they
marched to the beach and embarked on mine sweepers and a destroyer to
Lemnos. Arriving there the next day they went into bivouacs and it
was the first days they had not been under fire so they all had a
good night’s rest. They built up their strength and had classes of
instruction. On 21 July they were ordered back to Gallipoli and went
to bivouacs near Gully Beach. A general attack by ‘the enemy was
expected any time after 4am on the 23rd
‘. During the next few days, they worked on terraces along the
beach. Late in the month they moved back into the trenches. As the
trenches had been run down, a great deal of work was put into them.
On 30 July they heard a great victory had been made against the Turks
and the road to Baghdad was now open.
In
early August an attack by the 88th
Brigade caused them to suffer heavy casualties for not much ground
gained. The Royal Fusiliers occupied the trenches they left but it
was bombarded heavily and they suffered considerable casualties. On
10 August a demonstration was made all along the line as a deterrent
to prevent the Turks withdrawing troops to send to the new landings
at ANZAC. They took over a stretch of trenches near the sea on 16
August and as the Turks seemed to have the upper hand there, they
took steps ‘to deal with them & to make the Turks understand
that we will not allow it to continue.’ On 20 August they embarked
on a sweeper for Suvla Bay. A general attack was ordered for the next
day. Again, troops ahead of them came under heavy fire and suffered
very heavily for little ground gained. The rest of the month was
spent digging and expanding new trenches.
In
early September they mainly worked on the trenches. A message from
General de Lisle reached them on 7 September and ‘expressed his
appreciation of the good work done by the brigade (86th)
and their landing at SUVLA BAY. He was particularly pleased with the
2nd
Bn Royal Fusiliers’. On 8 September they marched down to the beach
and embarked on the Osmania
for Imbros. They arrived there the next day and pitched camp near
where they landed. This was their first rest in six weeks during
which time they had spent mainly in the trenches under fire. On 11
September, General Sir Ian Hamilton visited them. They did some
training and noted in the diary that they had a lot of diarrhoea
cases over the week. A calculation of killed, missing, wounded and
sick from the period of their landing until 17 September showed they
had a total of 1736 men. Of all those who landed on 25 April, no
officers survived and only 66 other ranks who had been present ever
since and 2 officers and ‘about 100 men returned recovered from
wounds’. On 21 September they boarded SS Princess
Aless and ‘arrived
off West Beach Suvla Bay at midnight & disembarked’. They moved
up to the firing line the next day. For the rest of the month they
improved the trenches.
In
early October they continued the same with the weather continuing ‘to
be perfect, warm sunny days & cool nights’. On 6 October the
navy and artillery fired over 100 shells at the Turkish trenches, an
‘excellent view of this was obtained from our fire line’. They
had two large catapults which sent ‘a cricket ball bomb for
distances for up to 150’ yards. Turkish snipers were active during
the month. In the middle of the month a couple of attacks pushed
their front line ahead. The diary recorded on 20 October ‘We now
have two rifles fitted with telescopic rifles. The two snipers in
charge of them claim to have shot several Turks with them during the
last few days.’ On 24 October they received a message of
congratulations for minor operations they had done. A comment in the
diary seems to lament that they only knew of drafts arriving when
they turned up. They worked on shelter trenches and a diagram of what
they looked like was included in the diary.
Sketch
of trench positions at end of October 1915
There
is a gap in the diary between the end of October and 26 November
1915. A heavy downpour on that day filled the trenches with 2 feet of
water. Then a cascade of water from the Turkish positions converted
some of their area into a river, drowning some men. Eventually they
communicated with the battalion headquarters who told them to hold
their position. A cold wind came up the next day which caused the
death of some men due to exposure and exhaustion. Snipers also killed
a few, including officers. The next day the wind got colder and it
snowed. It was decided to pull the battalion back to a drier area and
one more sheltered, which they did with some losses and difficulty.
The weather for the rest of the month was not better.
On
1 December 1915 an inspection showed the strength of the battalion
was 84 men but only 42 were effective. In early December they worked
with engineers in improving and draining trenches. Drafts of officers
and men began arriving and for the first two weeks of the month they
held the position called ‘Dublin Castle’ and continued working
with the engineers. The weather was improving. On 14 December at 8pm
they embarked on SS Barry
arriving at Mudros the next morning and then boarding SS Southland.
They were then ordered to Helles, boarding SS Brighton
at noon and arriving there at 11pm. They took over positions and
started doing work with engineers, including drainage and trenches,
which they continued doing until the end of the month.
On
31 December 1915 they were ‘First told of evacuation’. The next
couple of days they worked on defences. On 2 January 1916 they were
ordered to the beach at 6pm, which was being shelled. They embarked
with 2 companies on each trawler which took them to the Caledonian.
On 3 January they arrived at Mudros. On 5 January they sailed for
Alexandria, arriving on 8 January and disembarking at 9am where they
entrained for Suez. Arriving at Suez at 6am, they camped in the
desert about 2 miles from town. On 10 January they ‘Found that the
Implacable
was in the harbour. This ship had covered our landing at Helles on
the 25th April 1915.’ The next couple of days they settled into
camp life and started training. It was hot during the days and cold
at nights. January was spent with work as usual and inspections,
including one on the 17th
by C-in-C Sir Archibald Murray.
February
was much of the same and included a boxing tournament. On 14 February
they moved across the Suez Canal to El Kubri and pitched their camp
there. Marches and training continued. The diary finished on 24
February with ‘No difference in programme. Very hot day.’ After
that the War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers continues
from France. They landed in Marseilles in March 1916 for service on
the Western Front.
Herbert
is not mentioned in the war diaries again. The battalion was involved
in the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. ‘Very few of our men
reached as far as the enemy barbed wire’. The Germans resisted all
on their front line and at midday ‘the few remaining men in “no
mans land” were forced to retire.”
A
cover sheet of the Battalions’ War Diary
Major
engagements involving the battalion including the Battle of the Somme
in autumn 1916 and the Battle of Arras in spring 1917.
A
full list of actions the Division was engaged in various actions on
the Western Front include;
During
1916 – The Battle of Albert and The Battle of the Transloy Ridges.
During 1917 – The First, Second and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The
Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of
Poelcapelle, The Battle of Cambrai.
During 1918 – The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of
Messines, The Battle of Hazebrouck, the defence on Nieppe Forest, The
Battle of Bailleul, The Action of Outtersteene Ridge, The capture of
Ploegsteert and Hill 63, The Battle of Ypres, The Battle of Courtrai.
By the end of the war, they
were in Belgium, at St. Genois south east of Courtrai.
Group
of 6, Lt Herbert Cooper third from left
In
the Supplement to the London Gazette of 1 April 1916 on page 3521,
under Infantry, The Royal Fusiliers, it reads the ‘promotion to the
rank of Lieutenant of the undermentioned Second Lieutenants is
antedated as follows: – H. Cooper to the 21st
June, 1915.’ Also in the Gazette of 2 May 1916 on page 4428 was an
entry from the War Office on that date stating ‘His Majesty The
KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned
rewards for Distinguished Service in the Field, with effect from the
1st
January, 1916’ and included under ‘Awarded
the Military Cross’,
‘Lt. Herbert Cooper, R. Fus.’
The
Birmingham Daily Post of 3 May 1916 had on page 4 under the headings
‘DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE FIELD’, Officers honoured by The
King and The Military Cross an entry for ‘Lieut. Herbert Cooper. R.
Fus.’
The
London Gazette of Friday 5 May 1916 had a list of names ‘added to
the list of officers and men mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton’s
despatch of 11th
December, 1915’ and included 2nd
Lieutenant H Cooper of the Royal Fusiliers.
In
the Graduation List of Officers of the British Army, under
Lieutenants on page 1326 is a listing for ‘Cooper, Herbert, MC …
9 Jan 74 In Ranks – 15 yrs. 198 days, Wt. Off.- 6 yrs. 227 dys. 2nd
Lt. R. Fus. 7 Nov 14’ and Lieutenant ’21 Jun 15’. War Service
of Officers of the Army etc. listed ‘Cooper, H. (Lt.
R. Fus.)- The War
of 1914-7. – Despatches. Lond. Gaz., 5 May16, MC.’
An
arrival report filled out by Herbert on 26 February 1917 stated he
was a Lieutenant in the 2nd
Battalion Royal Fusiliers attached as Adjutant Cyclist Base Depot
BEF, his address in the UK was c/o Mr Luff, 25 Upper Station Road
Rainham Kent, he left his unit abroad on 30 January 1917, embarked
for England on 15 February 1917 from Rouen to Southampton, arriving
on the next day on St
George and his
cause of return was ‘Debility- Neurasthenia’.
The
admission and discharge book for 10 Palace Green Hospital in
Kensington shows that Lieutenant H Cooper was patient number 12333
and was with 2nd
Royal Fusiliers attached to Base Depot on sick leave. He was 44
years, had 25 years in the service and had completed 2 years ‘Service
in the Command’. He was admitted there with neurasthenia on 16
February 1917 and was discharged from there on 9 March 1917 after 21
days of treatment. His religion was listed as Church of England. His
case sheet was sent to 11 Palace Green. His pay was stopped for 12
days in February and 9 days in March. Herbert seems to have been in
and out of hospitals from February 1917 to January 1918. He was unfit
for general duties, then fit for light duties and he applied for
leave.
In
the Supplement to the London Gazette of 5 April 1917 in page 3307 is
an entry ‘The undermentioned to be temp. Lts.’ For another
officer who was employed ‘as Adjt., Cyclist Corps, vice Lt. H.
Cooper, M.C., R. Fus. 15th
Feb. 1917.’
Herbert
wrote a letter on 29 April 1917 asking, ‘Dear Sirs – Pardon my
writing direct to you if its wrong- I have returned the enclosed for
correction if incorrect my leave by board from 11 Palace Green Hosp
was for three weeks counting from 8th
March 17 to 29th
March 17 – I am only claiming 3 weeks allowance and have attached
to duplicate to allowance form – I wonder if it would be asking too
much to ask you ?? (hard to read) this authority for 3 weeks sick
leave which I was granted from No 2 Red Cross Rouen B.E.F. (from 3rd
Dec to 23 Dec 16 for which I should like to claim the allowance for
fuel and light etc – as without authority I cannot do so –
Thanking you in anticipation’. Their reply on 4 May 1917 stated ‘
In reply to your letter of the 29th
April, 1917, I am directed to return the annexed Leave Certificate,
and to inform you that the same is correct, as your sick leave recons
from the date of your Embarkation to England, to the date on which
you were found fit for duty by a Medical Board. With reference to
your request for Certificate covering period of sick leave granted
you at Rouen in December last, you should apply for this to the
Authorities at that Station.’ The address they sent it to was
‘Lieutenant H. Cooper, 5th
Reserve Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, North Fall Meadow, Dover.’
There are a few pages in his service record that seem to relate to a
Medical Board on 28 April 1917 but they are faded and unable to be
read. A letter from the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel T F
Legge of 5th
Battalion Royal Fusiliers to the War Secretary stated that Herbert
appeared before a Medical Board on 21May and was found
fit for ‘Temporary Home Service’. Another letter on 23 August
1917 stated the same finding from a Medical Board on 17 August. A
letter to his commanding officer on 8 November 1917 stated that
Herbert ‘should have been re-examined by a Medical Board on the
19th
October 1917’. The letter from the War Secretary was forwarded to
No 1 (Southern) Aircraft Repair Depot RFC at South Farnborough, who
advised him that ‘Lieut.H.Cooper is now serving in the Unit under
my command’ and a request was sent to have a Medical Board examine
him. A letter to his commanding officer from the War Office directed
him that a Medical Board would be assembled ‘on or before 3.2.18.’
It was held at Aldershot on 4 February.
The
Supplement to the London Gazette of 24 November 1917 on page 12278
listed under the undermentioned to be Acting Captains, ‘Temp. Lt.
H. Cooper. 20th
Aug. 1917.’
His
RFC record shows he was posted to 71 Wing on 7 November 1917, SARDS
at Farnboro’ on 10 November 1917, to SARD on 20 November and 1 ARD
on 15 December. His address was stated as 25 Station Road Rainham
Kent. Under Special Qualifications it listed his military experience
as ‘(a) 5 yrs 5 mths Commissioned regular officer (1) Adjutant to
Batt at Front (11) Adjutant to Batt Depot (b) 7 yrs (Formerly)
Regular Serg Major. Total Service 26 yrs nearly all abroad. Since
joining R.F.C. – Assistant Adjutant for nearly 5 months to A.R.S.
Farnborough.’
He
was posted to No 1 (South) Aircraft Repair Depot at South Farnborough
on appointment as EO3 (Equipment Officer aero repairs) on 15 December
1917. A records query sheet from the Air Ministry on 24 June (year
not stated) asked three questions: 1. Where posted please – No. 3
(W.) A.R.D. (Aircraft Repair Depot), 2. Date of posting – 22.4.18 and
3. In what capacity – Acting Adjutant. In January 1918 the War
Office requested the proceedings of a Medical Board held on 13th
November 1917 ‘for Second Lieutenant H. C. Cooper, 2nd
Battalion, Royal Fusiliers’. It was sent to them on 26 January from
RAMCT. It showed he had been examined at Eaton Hall, Chester.
A
medical board on 4 February 1918 stated he was permanently unfit for
general service but was fit for home service with ground duties only.
A letter from the War Office to officer commanding 5th
Reserve Battalion Royal Fusiliers at Dover referred to a Medical
Board he had in November 1917 and how he was presently situated and
that he should have been re-examined on 18th
December 1917. The reply stated that ‘I have no trace of the
Officer referred to on the strength of this battalion.’
An
entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 11 January 1918
under Equipment Officers 3rd
Class on 15 December 1917 was an entry for ‘Lt. H. Cooper, M.C., R.
Fus., and to be secd.’ In the Gazette of 26 April 1919 in page
5274, under Infantry and Royal Fusiliers was an entry for’ Lt. H.
Cooper, M.C., to be temp Capt. 1st
Oct. 1918.’
On
16 January 1919 he was sent to a military hospital at Hyde Park
Plymouth, transferred to a military hospital at Devonport on 11
February 1919 and discharged for duty on 17 February 1919.
In
the London Gazette of 29 July 1919 on page 9593 is a list of
‘undermentioned 2nd
Lts. to be Lts’ and the list included, from 21st
May 1919, Herbert Cooper MC. A document from the Air Ministry, dated
25 July 1919, informed the Army Council that Lieutenant (Temporary
Captain) H Cooper MC Reg. Bn. Royal Fusiliers attached to RAF is
available to return to his unit and was to be informed of where he
should report for duty.
A
minute sheet noted that as Herbert was 45 ‘years of age we do not
wish to further employ.’ It also listed his total service and
showed he was employed under Air Ministry from 1 April 1918 and as
‘T. Capt. R.A.F. 1 Oct. 18.’ He exceeded the aged fixed for
compulsory retirement and was to be placed on retired pay at £110 a
year or a gratuity of £1000. The next page changed the values to
£210 and £1500 respectively on 30 September 1919. It also showed he
was ‘serving with 3rd
Bn. at Borden’ and to ‘Write Aldershot Command as drafted’.
‘The
undermentioned relinquish their commns. on ceasing to be empld.: – …
2nd
Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt., Royal Fus.) 20th
Oct. 1919.’ was an entry in the Supplement to the London Gazette of
4 November 1919 on page 13423. Another entry on 19 December 1919
corrected that previous entry with ‘2nd
Lt. (Hon. Lt.) H. Cooper, M.C. (Lt. (temp Capt.), R. Fus.). 20th
Oct. 1919 (Substituted for notification in the Gazette of 4th
Nov. 1919.)’ An entry on 12 November 1919 on page 13766 records
under ‘Infantry’ the entry ‘R.
Fus. – Lt. H.
Cooper, M.C., is restd. To the estabt. 20th
Oct. 1919.’ He was restored to the establishment of the Royal
Fusiliers. The last entry in his RAF service file showed he returned
to 3rd
Royal Fusiliers on 20 October 1919.
The
Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 January 1920 on page 687 has
an entry under Infantry for ‘R.
Fus. – The
undermentioned Lts., having reached the age fixed for compulsory
retirement, are placed on ret. pay:- H Cooper, M.C. 15th
Jan. 1920.’ In February 1920 a letter asking him to commute some of
his retired pay shows his address was ‘The Thicket, Haslemere,
Surrey.’ He was trying to raise £700 to get a home and start his
civilian life. He had been unable to get any employment. Herbert
stated he was ‘of thrifty and economic habits’ and did not smoke
or drink much. His savings had been used up for living costs during
the war. He noted his ‘last Commanding Officer before being
commissioned was now Brigadier-General H.E.B. Newenham, C.B., now
commanding Hounslow District, who would no doubt speak of my
steadiness.’ In May 1920 his address was recorded as ‘C.O. R Luff
Esq. 25 Upper Station Road, Rainham, Kent.’ A note recording
‘Officer Retired 15/1/20 can you obtain Gazette date please’ was
answered ‘2/Lt. H. C. Cooper 2nd
att 5th
Royal Fus. L.G. 15-1-20’.
Herbert
applied for his medals on 3 February 1922. The EF9 form was returned
to the Medal Office dated 28 April 1923. His Medal Index Card shows
that Herbert Cooper MC of the Royal Fusiliers held the rank of RSM
with regimental number 4391, then 2nd
Lieutenant and finally Lieutenant. The 1915 Star was recorded in the
medal roll ‘Off 38’ on page 26D and the British War and Victory
medals in the same roll on page 55. His medals and emblems were
issued under Issue Voucher X6716 on 18 June 1923. The card shows the
theatre of war he first served in was Alexandria (2B), disembarking
on 29 March 1915. Two addresses are listed on the back of the card,
firstly 5 Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, then Cozy Nook Bungalow
Century Road Rainham, Kent.
Herbert
wrote to the War Office on 10 December 1923 asking for an interview
‘on a matter relating to my retirement’. A minute sheet records
Lieutenant H Cooper MC RARO Class 2 Royal Fusiliers was born on
9.1.74 and his age now was 49 11/12 years. He ‘will attain the age
limit of liability to recall on 9.1.24, in accordance with Article
519 R.W. for Pay & Promotion 1922. Remove from R.A.R.O. from
9.1.24, and inform officer.’
A
memorandum was filled out ‘on the case of:- Lieutenant Herbert
COOPER, M.C., Retired Pay, late Royal Fusiliers.’ It showed: –
‘Date of Birth
9.1.1874.
Enlisted 9.9.1892, Age 18 years 8
months.
In ranks 9.9.92 to 24.3.08 – 15 yrs 198 dys. (recons half)
Warrant Officer (Sgt.Maj.)
25.3.08 to 6.11.14 – 6 yrs 227 dys. Commissioned
– 2nd
Lt. Royal Fusiliers 7.11.14
Lieut. .. ..
21.6.15
empld with R.F.C. 15.12.17 to 31.3.18.
empld
with R.A.F. 1.4.18 to –
Temp. Capt. R.A.F.
1.10.18 –
Compulsorily retired (Age) 15.1.20.
Total Service. Yrs. days.
Ranks (half time)
7. 281
W.O.
6. 227
Commissioned
5. 79
19
222
Was
compulsorily retired for age 15th
January 1920. He was then over the age of 45. He was eligible for a
gratuity of £1500 or for retired pay at £210 a year. He elected
retired pay and commuted £50 for which he was awarded the sum of
£642.3.0. On mobilisation in 1921 he joined at Hounslow on 9.4.21
but as he was not required, he was released 11.4.21 and sent home. He
is due to leave the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 9.1.24 on
attaining the age of 50. There are no medical documents in the War
Office papers and if he has been awarded any disability grant or if
he is receiving medical treatment on account of a War disability the
matter would be in the hands of the Ministry of Pensions. The War
Office papers do not disclose any case and it is not clear what
matter he wishes to speak about at the interview he seeks.’
Lieutenant Herbert Cooper Royal Fusiliers was awarded retired pay for
disability on 29 April 1920. A Duty Certificate shows H Cooper
‘served continuously in the emergency from 9-4-21 to 11-4-21 with
unit Depot Royal Fusiliers in the rank of’ Lieutenant and was sent
home on 11.4.21. His home address was 173 Folkestone Rd Dover.
Another
sheet stated he called in at the War Office for an interview on 19
December 1923 and asked if he could be granted the rank of Captain
but was informed he could not as he never held the rank and there was
no promotion in Class II RARO. They went on to state it was ‘noted
that he held the rank of Captain in the RAF from 1.10.18 – Oct-19 so
might have been granted that rank by RAF when he retired on 15.1.20.
He states that when he was retired he was unfit – neurasthenia
contracted in Gallipoli.’ The army sent a letter to Air Ministry on
22 December 1923 asking about Herbert being granted the rank of
Captain on retirement as he held ‘the Temporary rank of Captain’
while serving with the RAF. They gave his address and asked to notify
him of what Gazette it would appear in. Their reply stated he only
held the rank of Lieutenant in the RAF and the temporary rank was
that of Captain in The Royal Fusiliers and it would be for the army
to deal with. The London Gazette of 15 January 1924 on page 470 has
an entry under Regular Army Reserve of Officers for ‘R. Fus. –
Capt. H. Cooper, M.C., ret. pay, having attained the age limit of
liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Off. 9th
Jan. 1924.’ A letter was sent to Herbert saying he was granted the
rank of Captain on retirement and was sent to his Cozy Nook address.
On
27 July 1924 Herbert wrote to the War Office from ‘Cozy Nook’
Century Road Rainham Kent asking ‘I am respectfully writing to ask
assistance in obtaining some kind of light employment to assist my
pension. Through ill health contracted in military service I have
been unable to follow any employment since January 1920 (4½ years).
My disablement has now been assessed at 40%. I was commissioned Roy
Fus 7-11-14 before which I was No 4391 Sergeant Major H Cooper 2 R
Fus, Calcutta. Perhaps an interview may be granted me as to
suitability.’ An internal note asked if there was any suitable
employment for him, to which a reply said ‘We much regret that we
have nothing to offer.’ A reply sent to him on 13 August 1924
advised him that there was no employment available for him and no
useful purpose to have an interview. A copy of ‘Army Council
Instruction 406 of 1922’ was enclosed for his reference.
In
the 1939 register, Herbert and Rose H Cooper were living at 182
Marina (Basement) in Hastings. Rose was listed as a female, born 14
February 1879, married and was doing unpaid domestic duties. Herbert
was recorded as a male, born 9 June 1874, married and ‘Soldier Capt
MC retired’. On the part of the other page that is showing it also
recorded ‘Royal Fusiliers regular Captain – retired’.
Captain
Herbert Cooper MC (Retd) wrote a letter to the Secretary of State of
War in London on 10 January 1957 stating ‘I have the honour to
enclose paper just received from ‘Minister of Pensions’ asking me
to fill up a form of many questions which I put of my age 83 and
condition I find it impossible to do. So
am asking The ‘War Office’ to answer them to prove I am genuine
and honest. I spent
nearly 30 years in the regular army from the age of 18, and before
being commissioned had nearly 7 years Regimental Sergeant Major of
the 2nd
Batn Roy Fus, my number was 4391. At the time of commission I was
recommended for QWMR which The War Office holds. This I gave up when
asked by my CO to take commission in Calcutta owing to shortage of
officers. My disability was not due to my 2 separate wounds at
Gallipoli but due to long and very active work as a soldier
interested in his work. I never had employment since yet!’ His
address was ‘Mudros’ 8 Marshall Road Rainham Gillingham Kent.
Their reply on 25 January 1957 stated his date of birth as on his
service documents and they told him to take the form to the manager
of the local office for assistance. On 26 February 1957, Herbert
signed a form which stated he had never been employed in a Government
occupation and was not receiving any pension through that employment.
A form from Ministry of Pensions at Tunbridge Wells shows that
Herbert was given a pension rise to £248/12/10 on 1 August 1959 as
his whole award.
Herbert
passed away on 24 March 1961. It was also recorded in his service
record. Probate for ‘COOPER
Herbert M.C. of
Mudros 8 Marshall Road, Rainham Mark, Gilligham Kent’
at ‘London
4 May to Rose Hannah Cooper widow. Effects £726 17s.’ In his
service records his cause of death is listed as (a) acute cardiac
failure, (b) myocardial degeneration and (c) chronic bronchitis.
Mrs
Rose Cooper of 8 Marshall Road Rainham, Kent wrote a letter on 14
July 1962 asking ‘if you could give me any information of my late
husband’s place of birth and home address, when he joined the Army,
he was Capt. Herbert Cooper M.C. 2 Royal Fusiliers City of London
Reg: he died March 24, 1961. I am trying to find his relations, and I
do not know where to make enquiries’. She enclosed a stamped
addressed envelope and thanked them. A reply in August stated they
had no details but had forwarded the letter on to the Army Pensions
Office. An internal note shows they had ‘no objections to this
information being furnished.’ A letter dated 30 August 1962 was
sent to Rose stated ‘that according to records held in this Office
your late husband’s place of birth is shown as Norwood, Surrey, and
his home address on enlistment was given as 86, Stowe Road, Shepherds
Bush, London.’
Rose
passed away in mid-1968 in Dover, Kent. This death has to be
confirmed. A record shows she was cremated on 4 July 1968 at Medway
Crematorium, Chatham and her ashes were strewn near tree 34. She was
described as retired, age 89 and lived in Dover. An entry in the
Probate Register of 1968 shows a Rose Hannah Cooper ‘of Kearnsey
Manor Nursing Home Temple Elwell with River Kent
died 29 June 1968 Probate London
11 October. £4423.’
His
medals are Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star
(2. Lieut. H. Cooper. R. Fus.); British War and Victory
Medals, MiD Oak Leaf (Lieut. H. Cooper); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver,
unnamed as issued; Army LS & GCM, E.VII.R. (4391 S. Mjr: H.
Cooper. R. Fus.)
Medal
group is on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial
Museum.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
Lieutenant
Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD ** (1871-1954) was a gallant and
distinguished soldier, a dedicated father and grandfather, the
grandson and great-grandson of soldiers, and the grandson of a
convict. He played an active role in several of the key events in
Australia’s military history, both pre- and post-Federation.
Stephen
Midgley was with the Queensland militia during the Shearers’ Strike
in Central Queensland in 1891 and subsequently at the garrisons on
Thursday Island and Fort Lytton with the Queensland Permanent
Artillery. During the Boer War, he served with the 2nd
Queensland Mounted Infantry, followed by periods with the Bushveldt
Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. He remained in South
Africa and served again during the Bambatha (Natal) Rebellion in
1906.
During
the Great War, he fought at Gallipoli with the Australian 5th
Light Horse Regiment before becoming commanding officer of the 54th
Battalion AIF on the Western Front. He completed his association with
military activities in the Second World War at the age of 70 as CO of
the 6th
Battalion, VDC, with a component of almost 1,000 men, based on the
Sunshine Coast.
Stephen
Midgley (misspelled in some records as Midgelly, Midgeley, and
Midgely) was born at Darkwater Creek, Macleay River, New South Wales,
on 29 May 1871, the seventh of 13 siblings: six boys and seven girls.
His father was the son of a permanent soldier whose occupation was
variously recorded as clerk, teacher, farmer, mechanic, and
gentleman. His mother was the daughter of Ann Brown (née Sheppard
aka Shepherd) who, at the age of 17 in 1832, had been convicted in
London of stealing a pair of shoes worth two shillings and sixpence.
Ann was sentenced to seven years and transported to Australia on HMS
Buffalo.
In
1874 and 1875, the Midgley family had been granted two selection
blocks, each of 40 acres, at Macleay River in northern New South
Wales, but moved steadily northwards to where, in 1883, Stephen’s
elder brother Frank had been granted a number of selections near
Tallebudgera, Queensland. As a portent of a later adventurous life,
Stephen had an early brush with danger at the age of three. On 24
October 1874, he had a narrow escape when a cart carrying all the
family overturned near Grafton, New South Wales, killing his
59-year-old maternal grandmother Mrs Brown, the former convict.
Page
2
Physically,
Stephen was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 134 pounds when he was
fit. It seems that small stature was inherent in the family as his
maternal grandmother was only 4 feet, 11½ inches tall. He was
educated privately by a tutor named McFarlane as the family moved,
and later he attended the Brisbane Normal School as a mature-age
student.
Five
of the brothers, Frank, Richard and Edward, Stephen and his younger
brother Harry were all members of the part-time Queensland Defence
Force (QDF) and were regular participants in public parades and rifle
competitions. Stephen shared this family interest enthusiastically
and was a member of the QDF 1889-1899.
A group of
Queensland Field Artillery Sergeants. Back Row: Richard Midgley
(left), Edward Midgley (second from right) (twins). Centre front
row: Sergeant-Major Catchpole. In the group are two sets of twins
and one set of triplets (info from Clyde Love’s family history).
Undated. Probably 1897. Original without caption with Victoria
Barracks Historical Society. Provided
by Mrs M Burton, Corinda Queensland 4075
Stephen
moved around while serving in the QDF. He joined D Company,
Queensland Volunteer Rifles (QVR) in 1889, serving as No 78 and was a
corporal in the military contingent sent to Barcaldine to help
control the Shearers’ Strike in 1891. The contingent left Brisbane
by train on 26 March, then had to disembark and march between Eumundi
and Cooroy because the
Page
3
railway
had yet to be completed. The contingent met with a hostile reception
at the Gympie railway station where miners were unsympathetic to the
military being used as a tool against the shearers.
The soldiers
fixed bayonets to disperse a menacing crowd. After travelling by ship
from Bundaberg to Rockhampton, the unit travelled again by train, to
Barcaldine.
In
1892, at the age of 21, Stephen was promoted to sergeant regimental
number 13, and later that year he signed up for a three-year term as
a gunner with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, resigning at the
end of 1895. His service with the Permanent Artillery included stints
on Thursday Island and Fort Lytton and community relief during the
great Brisbane floods of 1893 when he rowed a boat up George Street.
Following his resignation from the Permanent Artillery, he
immediately joined No 2 Battery of the Queensland Field Artillery.
His 5 years with the Field Artillery gave him invaluable experience
with horses – a skill that was to stand him in good stead through
several wars. In General Order 6, of 29 December 1899, immediately
prior to his departure for South Africa, his long service was
recognised as “Number
13, Sergeant S Midgley, No. 2 Battery, Field Artillery,
Non-commissioned
Officer, having completed five years’ service as an efficient
[soldier]
, awarded the Long-service Gold Badge (Reg. 141)”.
Following
his service with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, Stephen had
aspirations to become a solicitor and worked as a clerk with the law
firm WB Shand in Queen Street, Brisbane, until late 1899, combining
this with his part-time interests with the No 2 Battery Field
Artillery.
As
a response to the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in 1899,
the Queensland Government quickly made commitments to assist Britain.
Historians observed “To
Queensland belongs the credit of being the first colony to make an
offer of assistance to the mother country in connection with the
South African War”.
Already a sergeant in the Queensland Field Artillery, Stephen
volunteered to join the Queensland contingents to be dispatched to
the Boer War. Unsuccessful with the oversubscribed 1st
Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry, Stephen and his elder brother
Frank enlisted with “C” Company, 2nd
Contingent QMI. Those enlisting were encouraged to bring their own
horses and were reimbursed for doing so.
After
preparatory camps at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds and a public
parade through Brisbane, the 2nd
QMI embarked on SS
Maori King at
Pinkenba on 13 January 1900 for service in South Africa; Stephen as a
sergeant (regimental number 22) and his elder brother Frank as a
private (regimental number 5). Page 4
Only
50% of the 2nd
QMI had previous military experience. Stephen, as a senior,
29-year-old sergeant with 11 years’ military experience, was a
valuable member of the unit. A month earlier, their sister Ann had
painted “The
departure of the first Queensland contingent for South Africa, [on]the SS Cornwall”,
(ART50111), which now hangs in the South African War Gallery of the
Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
This
early South African experience would begin his long association with
Harry Chauvel, Hubert Harris (who would later command the 5th
LHR), William Glasgow, Robert Stodart, Lachlan Wilson (who would
later command the 3rd
LH Brigade) and several other distinguished soldiers.
Maori
King stopped in
Sydney briefly before sailing to Cape Town where she arrived on 22
February 1900. The contingent disembarked with equipment and horses
on 24 February. After a few days in camp under canvas at Maitland,
close to Cape Town, the 2nd
QMI, comprising 10 officers, 142 other ranks and 175 horses (4 had
died on the trip), left by train on 28 February and travelled 900 km
north to the Modder River where the British had just won a very
hard-fought battle in late November, 1899.
They
arrived on 3 March and camped amid blood-stained trenches on the
battlefield of Magersfontein, before joining Lord Robert’s Field
Force of about 2,500 men on 4 March for their march towards Osfontein
and the Battle at Driefontein on 10 March. The 1st
QMI and 2nd
QMI were combined from April to November 1900 bringing Stephen
together with Major Chauvel, Captain Harris and Lieutenant Glasgow,
distinguished soldiers who would remain part of Stephen’s story
Following
the occupation of Bloemfontein by British forces in early April 1900
and the retreat of the Boer forces to the Transvaal, the 2nd
QMI, along with other Australian units, was absorbed into the 1st
Mounted Infantry Brigade, part of the 3rd
Mounted Infantry Corps.
The
advance on Pretoria followed with action seen at the Vet and Zand
Rivers near Johannesburg (5-6 May, 1900), Diamond Hill (11–13
June), Riet Vlei and Zilikat’s Nek (April–September). During the
occupation of Pretoria on 5 June, the Australians noted the broad
streets and the attractive Australian eucalypt, silky oak and wattle
trees.
Following
further action in Transvaal, Stephen, along with privates Thomas
Stibbards and Thomas Laffan, was invalided to England and embarked on
SS Lake Erie
in Cape Town
on 19 July 1900
arriving in England on 13 August at Royal Albert Docks.
Page
5
The
reason for being invalided remains unclear; there are no records of
his being sick or wounded, however both malaria and enteric fever
were common afflictions (and frequently fatal) in the lowland areas
of eastern Transvaal and illness was the major cause of soldier
casualties.
There
is no record of how Stephen spent his six weeks’ sojourn in
England. Undoubtedly he would have received medical attention and
used his furlough to see some of the sights of London. He visited the
Queensland Government’s Agent in London to receive his allowances.
On
18 October 1900, he departed Southampton to return to Cape Town,
arriving about 5 November, eager to rejoin his comrades after an
absence of two months.
By
this time, the war had entered its third and longest phase, from
September 1900 to May 1902, when it
was mainly a
guerrilla conflict between British mounted troops and Boer
irregulars. The Boer forces were not numerous but the Boer General
Beyers adopted guerrilla tactics and their mobility and operations as
‘commando’ units more than made up for their lack of numbers.
The
areas and distances to be controlled by the Imperial forces were vast
and anti-guerrilla methods were devised through the creation and the
deployment of counter-insurgency units in strategic localities as the
roving arms of larger garrisons.
By
March 1901, the time had arrived for the 2nd
QMI to return to Australia. Members were offered the opportunity to
remain in South Africa and enlist with the irregular Imperial forces.
Acting on Lord Kitchener’s instructions, a younger Birdwood met and
interviewed returning colonial soldiers to persuade them to stay in
South Africa and join Imperial units. Stephen was among these men and
this began an association with Birdwood that was to last for many
years. On 31 March 1901, the 2nd
QMI including Stephen’s elder brother Frank, departed
Cape Town on
Tongariro
for Australia.
On
1 April 1901, Stephen joined the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) in
Pretoria as a lieutenant (the same day as Lieutenant Harry “Breaker”
Morant) in time to participate in the march north with General Plumer
to claim the temporary Boer headquarters at Pietersburg.
The
BVC was a diverse lot and contained men of many nationalities:
English, German, Swedish, English South African, Boer South African,
Australian, Scottish, Irish, Canadian, US American, New Zealander and
one Britisher born in India (Oudh).
Page
6
There
was a wide array of skills and occupations recorded in the
enlistments, a selection of which includes: publican, confectioner,
barman, auctioneer, electrician, cook, butcher, cigar-maker, baker,
hairdresser, artist, seaman and many others; one soldier even listed
his trade or occupation
as “a
gentleman” – The Honourable Aubrey Bruce Cooper-Cecil, formerly
of Queensland
Bushmen’s
Contingent.
Surprisingly,
yet consistent with Stephen’s earlier experience with 2nd
QMI, only 35% of the BVC had any military experience prior to
enlistment. Stephen’s proven leadership and 12 years of military
experience would prove invaluable.
Stephen
served with his squadron primarily around Chuniespoort, southeast of
Pietersburg. In September 1901, Stephen unarmed, along with his
sergeant and a guide, undertook an epic 250 km, three-week journey on
horseback, through rugged bushland from Pietersburg to Chuniespoort
to Balmoral, to deliver Lord
Kitchener’s
despatches to General Viljoen and Colonel Trichardt. This journey was
described vividly in the “The
Queensland Digger” in
1937 (a publication of RSSILA).
During
the saga of Morant’s arrest and subsequent execution, Stephen was
at some stage in charge of the security detail in Pietersburg
responsible for Morant and his colleagues during the court martial
and was one of several from the BVC to offer Morant a horse to escape
– offers which Morant foolishly declined.
Following
Morant’s arrest, the Bushveldt Carbineers was renamed the
Pietersburg Light Horse (PLH) from 1 December 1901. In March, 1902,
Stephen was promoted in the field, to Captain. He was mentioned in
Lord Kitchener’s Despatches of 18 July, 1902 (LG 27455) and awarded
the Distinguished Service
Order for “For
good service in operations east of Pietersburg, 25th March, 1902, to
21st April, 1902”;
the only DSO to the PLH for the Boer War.
At
the end of the war he was in command of Fort Edward, north of
Pietersburg, Transvaal and resigned his commission on 6 July 1902
after the PLH was struck off strength on 30 June 1902.
After
the cessation of hostilities, Stephen joined the Repatriation
Department of the Transvaal Colony. It was a department which had
responsibility to deliver agricultural equipment, seed, building
materials and other essentials to assist the rural economy of
Transvaal to rebuild after years of war. His record with the
Repatriation Department in 1903 includes an annotation:
Page
7
“S. Midgley, DSO has been
in the Pretoria Depot since the end of July 1902. His work has been
confined entirely to sales and he has done a great deal of very good
work. He has a thorough knowledge of all sorts of book-keeping
accounts, having at one time trained as a solicitor. He came out with
the 1st
Australian Contingent [sic;
it should be 2nd
Australian Contingent]
in Jan 1900, and for the last 8 months of the War was a Captain in
the PLH. He is a very hardworking and most capable man. He is a good
horse master and having been for some years in the Australian
Artillery, has a very fair knowledge of vehicles. He is desirous of
obtaining permanent employment.”
The
endorsement includes the following annotation:
“A very excellent
officer. He has the reputation of having been exceptionally gallant
in the field. He should not be lost sight of.” Signed
A. St. J. Hooks, Capt. D. of T., T. R. D.
Following
the disbandment of the Repatriation Department in 1905, Stephen made
a failed attempt at establishing a transport business around the
Zoutpansberg in northern Transvaal where his horses and mules died of
various fevers.
Subsequently,
he tried farming near Nylstroom (north of Pretoria) which also failed
due to unseasonal drought and then spent an unhappy period working
with de Beers at the Kimberley mines.
In
1906, the imposition of new taxes in the Colony of Natal provoked a
clan of Zulus to protest violently through the Bambatha Rebellion
(also known as the Natal Rebellion or the Zulu Rebellion). The
military was called in and Stephen was commissioned as lieutenant
with a unit, Royston’s Horse on 26 April 1906.
His
bravery was once again acknowledged in action at Momo Gorge where he
became one of a small group of officers nicknamed the “Four
Musketeers”. However, he suffered the ignominy of being shot in the
buttocks with a stick fired from a musket as the Zulus had run out of
ammunition. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was part of a
small field party to advise Captain Stuart who compiled the official
history of the rebellion.
Stephen’s
time in Royston’s Horse cemented one of his longest friendships,
that with Ivor Thord-Gray who went on to become a Lieutenant General
in the White Russian Army in 1919. During Stephen’s lifetime,
Ivor’s photograph remained always on his desk.
Page
8
Lieutenant
Stephen Midgley with Royston’s Horse at Bambatha Rebellion,
1906. Photo taken by Ivor
Thord-Gray and annotated “The Old Bird”
Civilian
life again beckoned and in 1907, Stephen moved to Southern Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe) where he was based at the small town of Eiffel Flats
in the Gatooma – Umsweswe – Battlefields gold mining area. He was
a shareholder in a number of gold-mining claims including the Big
Blow Mine on the Umsweswe River.
He
operated as a cordwood and labour contractor to the mines and had to
travel great distances to find labour to support both the cordwood
and labour business.
At
one stage in 1912, he travelled across Portuguese East Africa
(Mozambique) to recruit people from Nyasaland (now Malawi) to work in
the Rhodesian mines – an adventure described in an entertaining
article written under his nom
de plume “Birdlime”
published in the Gatooma
Mail, August 10,
1912.
Page
9
Stephen
Midgley and his friend Hastings at their camp near Umsweswe River,
Southern Rhodesia 1910. Photo by BW. (B. Winter)
After
14 years in southern Africa, the debilitating effects of lingering
illnesses including black water fever (an unpleasant variant of
malaria) persuaded Stephen to return to Australia for a well-earned
break. On 19 March 1914, as one of 162 passengers, he embarked on SS
Afric
in Cape Town for return to Brisbane where he arrived on 6 May 1914.
Africa
had left its mark on Stephen. Percy FitzPatrick’s classic South
African book Jock of
the Bushveld was to
become a favourite for his children and grandchildren in later life.
Apart from memories and friendships, Zulu and Afrikaans vernacular
punctuated his everyday speech; “Dingus
fontein” for a
town with a forgotten name; pass the “Dingus”
(colloquial “thingo” in English); “Toola”
(quiet). Toola wena
(quiet you or shut-up, if spoken forcefully when the dogs barked at
night); Sakabonewena
(Good day), and Brother
Kuwaina (brothers
together).
Stephen
settled into Brisbane’s social life with his sister Ann who owned
and ran a girls’ school, “St Clair”, at 135 James Street, New
Farm. The school buildings stand to this day. His relaxed recovery to
full health was not to last for long. By mid-1914, Australians were
aware through their newspapers of the rising tensions and dangers of
war in Europe. Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914
and thus Australia was committed to the British cause. Once again
military life beckoned.
Page
10
On
26 September 1914, Stephen applied for a commission in the
Expeditionary Force and on 30 September, as a Captain, joined the 5th
Light Horse
Regiment, a mounted infantry regiment which had been raised in August
1914. This appointment suited his experience
and skills with
horses and brought him back into the company of many old comrades
from South African days.
Captain
Stephen Midgley, 1914. Portrait taken by Thos. Matheson Co.
Opposite Opera House, Brisbane. Prior to embarkation in 1914. Note
the Artillery buttons on the tunic – possible borrowed his elder
brother Richard’s tunic while waiting for his own uniform from
Ryders’ Employees in Adelaide Street, Brisbane (they made
Stephen’s uniforms for WWI
and his son Hamar’s for WWII)
Following
training and preparation at Enoggera and the Brisbane Exhibition
Grounds, 550 officers and men of the regiment travelled by train to
Liverpool, New South Wales on 12 December 1914. On 21 December the
5th
LHR departed Sydney on HMAT A34 Persic.
Stephen travelled separately, having been detached from the regiment
for transport service as Officer in Charge of HMAT A43 Barunga, a
horse transport. Whilst en
route to Egypt,
Stephen was promoted to Major. The regiment disembarked at Alexandria
on 2 February to spend three months training before the decision was
made to leave the horses behind and the Light Horse units to join the
infantry for the Gallipoli campaign. On 16 May the regiment left
Alexandria on the ship A25 Lutzow
with the rest of the Brigade and the 10th
LHR, arriving off Cape Helles on 18 May and landing at Anzac Cove on
20 May from the trawler Clackton.
Page
11
Stephen’s
experience and reputation led him to be nick-named “The Bird” or
“The Old Bird” a nickname which had followed him from South
Africa.
His
soldierly gallantry was noted formally several times during the ANZAC
campaign through a Corps Complimentary citation, Mentions in
Despatches and a CMG. After five short weeks on Gallipoli, his
services were recognised in an extract from the supplement to Army
Corps Routine Orders MO 570 dated 2 July 1915, which noted:
“158: Complimentary –
The Army Corps Commander has much pleasure in publishing the names in
the attached supplement of Officers, N.C.O’s and men, which have
been brought to his notice for good service performed during the
operations on our Right Flank on 28th
June 1915. He wishes to thank them for the good services they
rendered, and to congratulate all ranks on the successful carrying
out of the task allotted to them by the G.O.C.- in-Chief, which
prevented the enemy reinforcing the Krithia position from troops
opposite our front.
5th
Light Horse Regiment: Major Midgley, S., D.S.O. Led his squadron
throughout the action under heavy shell and rifle fire”
His
first MiD on Gallipoli appeared in General Hamilton’s Despatches of
28 January, 1916 published in London Gazette 29455:
“Mentioned in Despatches.
I have the honour to forward the names of officers and men whose
services I wish to bring to your Lordship’s notice in connection
with the operations described in my despatch of 11th
December 1915.”
The
full recommendation for the MiD states:
“From 21 May to 21
September, 1915. This officer led the advanced squadron of the 5th LH
when that Regt made a demonstration to the right on 28 June last and
did so gallantly & well, & even in the unexpected situation
created by the sudden attack made on him by his own HE shells from
the rear, he controlled his men well. He has been in charge of
Chatham’s Post since 8 July. On the 20 August last he personally took
out his Sqn which was detailed to raid the BIRD TRENCHES. He did this
so well that his Sqn had only one casualty (wounds) although the raid
was completely successful. He has shownparticular
enterprise in dealing with snipers on the right flank & in
preparing his post for any attack that may be made upon it. Period
ending 25th September. 1915. ANZAC.
Page 12
Commands an important point
on the right flank of the Division. Full of go and dash. He has
organised and carried out several minor operations with success. He
has shown particular enterprise in dealing with snipers. Watchful and
alert he has from time to time supplied much valuable information.”MiD certificate
signed by Winston Churchill.
Another
MiD followed and appeared in General Munro’s Despatches of LG29664
published on 7 November, 1916:
“Mentioned in Despatches.
With reference to the despatch published on the 10th
April (London Gazette No. 29541), the following is mentioned for
distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of
General Sir Charles Monro’s Command of the Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force.”
The
full citation for this MiD (his third) states:
“3/9th November, 1915.
ANZAC. On the night 3/4th Novr, a forward movement in a pre-arranged
plan was made from Chatham’s Post towards the Bird Trenches. The
arrangements involved the reconnaissance by night of the enemy’s
front and the construction of a tunnel towards a knoll 100 yds
distant. The forward movement, the unopposed occupation of the knoll
and the construction of a fire trench were completed on 3/4th Novr.
On the night 4/5thNovr., the enemy
made 4 unsuccessful attempts on the new position, which was improved
and consolidated during the 5th under heavy rifle and shell fire. On
the night of the 7/8th Novr, a further advance of 30 yards was made
under enemy bombing and rifle fire and the position finally secured.
Major Midgley displayed his usual initiative and energy. With great
coolness and gallantry he remained the whole time at the head of the
advanced traverse, which was 4 times attacked. He was frequently
under heavy bomb fire.” MiD
Certificate signed by Winston Churchill.
His
CMG was announced in the London Gazette Issue 29608 of 2 June, 1916
and announced publicly the next day in the King’s Birthday Honours
List, reading:
“C.M.G. The King has been
graciously pleased to give directions for the appointment to the Most
Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for services
rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field.”
Page 13
Several
other Australian officers were similarly honoured with the CMG in
that Honours List, including his friends and colleagues, Lieutenant
Colonel Lachlan Chisholm Wilson, 5th
Light Horse Regiment and Major Thomas William Glasgow DSO, 2nd
Light Horse Regiment.
His
full recommendation for the CMG states:
“3-8th November, 1915. 20
December, 1915. Upon the occupation of Wilson’s Lookout on Harris
Ridge between these two dates, this officer was in charge of the
operations at the advanced traverses and again conspicuously
displayed his usual initiative and energy. At the evacuation of ANZAC
on the night of 19-20 December upon the commanding officer taking
charge of the Brigade “C” parties, this officer was placed
in charge of the Regimental “C ” parties and came off with
“C3” party. This officer was present on the Peninsular
without a break from 31st May to 20th December – slightly wounded 8th
November 1915.”
Recommended
for the CMG and initialled by General Sir William Birdwood, Commander
of the ANZAC Forces.
Major
Stephen Midgley, 5th
LHR . Chatham’s Post, Bolton’s Ridge, Gallipoli, 1915. Photo
taken at the same time as negative P1541/07 at the Australian War
Memorial.
His
brave and inspirational role was also noted by his peers in their
writings. In an early letter home dated 5 July 1915 to the Hon. A. J.
Thynne (former Lieutenant Colonel with the Queensland Volunteer
Defence Force, Queensland Attorney General and Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Queensland), Lieutenant Colonel Harris, the CO of the
5th
LHR, wrote shortly before he was killed in action on 31 July 1915:
Page 14
“Major Midgley (you will
remember him, no doubt, an old Q.V.R. man) distinguished himself at a
time when many brave deeds were being done, and your field glasses
(you will remember you presented him with a pair) were in the
thickest of the fight. He has been specially mentioned in Orders; and
is the same old Midgley that I knew in South Africa.”
Lieutenant
Oliver Hogue of the 6th
Light Horse Regiment, writing as “Trooper Bluegum” made reference
to Stephen as a “gallant
major who the troops would follow anywhere”
and refers to him in his books Love
Letters of an ANZAC
and Trooper Bluegum
at the Dardenelles.
In Love Letters of
an Anzac, he
observed:
“Did I tell you about
Major Midgley? He is one of the very best officers in our Brigade,
got the DSO in the Zulu War, went through the South African War, and
is a regular little fire-eater. He is in charge of Chatham’s Post
and is always pulling the Turks’ leg. He conceives the most
wonderful ruses to worry the Turks and draw their fire. He sends out
fiery arrows and rockets and flares, and by simulating preparations
for attack at all times, he has the Turks in the Gaba Tebe zone
worried to death.”
Ion
Idriess wrote in 1932, in his book The
Desert Column, of
his experiences as a sniper with the 5th
Australian Light Horse.
According
to Harry Chauvel in the foreword, it is the only book of the campaign
that to his knowledge was “viewed
entirely from the private soldier’s point of view”.
Idriess recalled when reflecting upon the penchant for ‘stunts’
or tricks played on the enemy that:
“The “Old Bird” is a
holy terror in these raids. He’s only an exceptionally small chap
and no youth either, but he is about the most murderous old devil in
the regiment. He leads these raids with a hell of a yell as he jumps
down into the trench, blazing to the right and left with a sawn-off
shotgun. An ordinary service revolver is no good for him.”
Australia’s
official historian for the First World War, CEW Bean mentions the
shotgun incident during one of the raids on the Turkish trenches.
Family oral history relates that Stephen’s 5th
LHR friend and colleague Lieutenant Bolingbroke (who had served with
3rd
QMI in South Africa (later promoted as Major Archdale George
Bolingbroke, DSO) borrowed Stephen’s sawn-off shotgun during a
‘stunt’ and reported that he was able to “clear
the trenches with a blast from the left (barrel) followed by a blast
from the right (barrel)”.
Page
15
One
of the original members of the 5th
LHR, Lieutenant Henry Armstrong Hammond, who served as adjutant to
the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Wilson, (and later was appointed
aide-de-camp to the Australian Governor-General, wrote about Major
Midgeley [sic] in his unpublished reminiscences:
“Anzac had its share of
great characters and we had two most extraordinary officers in the
Fifth – one was Major Midgeley. He commanded our A Squadron and he
was a skinny little fellow who was afraid of nothing. He did not
weigh more than eight stone and looked like a monkey on a stick.
Even for his build, Major Midgeley was very narrow across the
shoulders and his chest was completely covered with battle ribbons
through all the wars he had been engaged in. He had been in
everything, all over the world from the age of fourteen. Wherever
Britain had been involved in some sort of brawl, there had been
Midgeley. He was a born leader and he used to call the squadron his
“birds”.
“He was all for battle
and he used to call it “lead-chewing” and that is just how he
regarded it. He said that he could just as soon make an attack in
broad daylight as at midnight because there was just as much chance
of being hit and during the day you had the advantage of at least
seeing where you were going.”
“There was a very strong
position facing from all around the right at Anzac called Gun Ridge
(the Turks had it) and it was the dominating feature looking down
over the top of Lone Pine, right down almost to Gaba Tepe. One day
General Walker, who commanded the Anzac Division, asked him, “Well,
how are you Midgeley? What do you think of things around here?” Old
Midgeley said, “Tell you what I think of it, you give me 6,000 men
and I will have bloody breakfast on Gun Ridge”. He would have too,
but he did not get his men and nobody got as far as Gun Ridge. He
eventually left Anzac after getting sick or wounded. How anyone could
wound him, I do not know. They would have to have been a very good
shot. Eventually he was given command of one of the infantry
battalions in France and he got all sorts of decorations and,
finally, came back to Australia.”
On
Gallipoli, Stephen’s A Squadron was responsible for the right flank
at Chatham’s Post where the exploits of the “Gallipoli Sniper”,
Billy Sing, contributed to the unit’s reputation along with the 5th
LHR penchant for ‘stunts’, some of the best known of which were
raids on the Bird Trenches and the Balkan Pits Operations.
Page
16
In
Bean (Volume II),
these actions are described in detail, including:
“Accordingly the 5th
Light Horse regiment undertook what would later been have called a
“trench raid” against the Bird Trenches on the seaward ridge
south of Chatham’s. Occasionally between midnight and 3 a.m. the
destroyer “Colne” which was maintaining the usual watch on that
flank, bombarded the Bird Trenches & keeping them under her
searchlight. At 3.30 just after the set of the moon, Maj. Midgley
with one squadron went south from Chatham’s along the ridge towards
the Turkish post. To cover Midgley, Maj. H. H. Johnston (of Casino
N.S.W.) with another squadron worked along the coast-line and lay
down opposite the Bird Trenches, facing inland. Midgley’s squadron
was within a hundred yards of the same trenches when a Turkish sentry
fired at it. The squadron kept low and crept forward to within
fifteen yards, when the sentry fired again. At this stage-about 4.15
– the destroyer, by arrangement, bombarded the trench for five
minutes. Midgely’s(sic) squadron then hurled a volley of some forty
bombs and rushed the position. The enemy garrison, about 100 strong,
had left the trench in order to shelter from the destroyer’s fire.
The trench was seized, and about thirty of the enemy were shot.
Before daylight the enemy’s reserves began to approach, and the
light horse, after firing upon them withdrew without any serious
casualty.”
Stephen
was wounded in the actions on 9 November but remained on duty before
being taken to hospital for treatment and being included
on the Casualty
List. Fortunately he recovered quickly and rejoined his Squadron 11
days later on 20 November. At some stage during the Gallipoli
campaign, it is likely that Stephen would have met with his younger
brother Harry who served in the campaign with a Howitzer Battery2.
At
the evacuation, Major Midgley commanded the Regiment’s ‘C’ parties,
the last to leave, who boarded the boats at about 3:30am, 20 December
1915. The “C” party transferred to a trawler which took them to
Lemnos where they joined the “A” Parties on the HMTS A72 Beltana
which arrived in Alexandria on Christmas Day, 1915. The regiment
then travelled by train to Cairo, arriving on 26 December.
Stephen’s
role in Anzac is recognised in the painting Farewell
to Anzac 20th December 1915 (ART09582).
It was
commissioned by
the Australian War
Memorial and
composed by WB McInnes in 1927.
2
In one of the many quirks which characterise Gallipoli, Mary
Margaret Williamson, the daughter of Lieutenant George McKay
Williamson, who served as Quartermaster with the 14th
Battalion (Jacka’s Mob( on Gallipoli, married Stephen’s son,
Stephen Hamar in 1942.
Page
17
This
painting shows a scene in the saloon of the transport ship Arran
where leaders of the Australian Imperial Force are depicted,
including Major General J Paton, Captain CA Littler, General Sir
John Monash, Major General W Holmes, Brigadier General Duncan
Glasfurd, Major General J Antill, Lieutenant Colonel WEH Cass,
Lieutenant Colonel S Midgley, Major WJM Locke, Major FL Biddle, and
Lieutenant Colonel EJH Nicholson. The reason for Stephen’s
inclusion in this historic painting, which was to show those who had
influential roles in the evacuation of Anzac, remains unclear.
In
his official biographical records, when responding to the question
“Period during service in the AIF considered most important”,
Stephen answered:
“The seven months I was
on Gallipoli Peninsular I consider the most important. For close on 6
months I was holding a section on the extreme right. I feel certain
that the Turks had great respect for the 5th Light Horse. One of my
snipers, Private Sing, DCM, accounted for close on three hundred of
them. His sniper’s post was at last located and soon became a
pulverised heap. I don’t think I spent an idle moment from the time
I landed until the evacuation. My men were always in good spirits and
very keen. Raids were our specialty which were always successfully
carried out with very small losses. This I put down to the fact of
the men being thoroughly acquainted with the lie of the land and
knowing exactly what to do. Another thing that the men deserve a lot
of credit for was the sapping. Few of my sappers are now alive I am
sorry to say. This work was hard and done under difficulties. During
the last two months we had no place of safety owing to what was
called by the men, the broomstick bomb. This particular weapon was a
field gun cartridge filled with gelignite, a long stick was fixed
into the base. It was fired from a gun of sorts. The range was 800
yards. We had at times five hundred of these arrangements fired into
us during the day and sometimes with disastrous effect.”
The
safety of being in Egypt saw a decline in Stephen’s health and he
spent time recovering, both in and out of hospitals, in Cairo and
Heliopolis. He rejoined the regiment in February 1916 with Idriess
recording that “The
Old Bird is back; all of the old hands are glad to see him”.
The strategy had been adopted of transferring cadres of experienced
personnel to the newly formed battalions and combining them with
recently recruited personnel who had been dispatched as
reinforcements from Australia and so, Stephen moved on from the 5th
LHR.
Page
18
His
recovery to good health was slow. On 12 April 1916, he was posted to
the Supernumerary List and on 24 June embarked from Alexandria for
England, first class, on HMNZHS
1 Maheno for 3-4
months of further treatment for dyspepsia and a duodenal ulcer. Upon
reaching England, he was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital,
Wandsworth on 3 July, suffering from dyspepsia and neurasthenia. As
his health improved, he was assigned as 2iC of the 54th
Battalion, 5th
Australian Division.
While
recovering in London, the Mackay family (friends from Melbourne),
provided an introduction to Katherine Emily May Evans (née Hamar)
from Eardisley, Herefordshire who was a member of the Voluntary Aid
Detachment (VAD), a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing
care for military personnel. Katherine and Stephen married on 26
August 1916 and had a brief 8-day honeymoon in their cottage
“Hurstway” before Stephen travelled to France to join the 54th
Battalion as 2iC on 5 September. The battalion was in bad shape,
recovering after the disaster at Fromelles, 19-20 July, “the
worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history“.
3
Katherine
Emily May Midgley (née Hamar, formerly Evans) in about 1914.
With the Voluntary Aid Detachment when Stephen Midgley was in
hospital in London. Introduced by Dr John Mackay, formerly of
Melbourne. Stephen and Katherine (“Boo”) were married 26
August 1916.
Given
temporary command of the 54th
in October and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given full
command in December, Stephen remained the longest-serving CO of that
Battalion. His service with the Battalion can be traced in Ross St
Claire’s
excellent book
Our Gift to the
Empire. On 12
October 1916, the 54th
was engaged in a notable action when 60 men attacked enemy trenches
between Clapham Junction and Corner Post – an attack bearing all
the hallmarks of the ‘stunts’ on Gallipoli.
The
record bitter winter of 1916 was felt acutely by everyone on the
Western Front and especially by Stephen who had not fully recovered
from his various illnesses. At Birdwood’s insistence, he was
evacuated sick on 19 January 1917 and hospitalised for two weeks.
“… the
worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history.
The Australians suffered 5,533 casualties in one night.”
Page
19
Stephen
was dogged by ill-health. He was in hospital several times during
1917 and it is
likely that he
never recovered fully from the various African fevers and the rigours
of an active Gallipoli campaign.
Stephen’s
CMG investiture by the King at Buckingham Palace on 2 May 1917 took
place during 10 days’ leave from the front.
On
10 May 1917, Stephen returned to the Battalion in time to join the
Second Battle of Bullecourt – arguably the most significant
engagement of his military career as the 54th
defended a part of the Front against a major sustained gas barrage
and several intense artillery bombardments on 14-15 May followed by a
major infantry attack by two battalions of the crack 91st
Lehr Infantry Regiment and Sturmtruppen which was successfully
repulsed with the help of the 55th
Battalion and two companies from the 2/3rd
Battalion, London Regiment.
Stephen’s
codename in this battle was “Bucket” and his original order book
from those busy days is in the Maryborough Military & Colonial
Museum. His medical records suggest that he had been buried alive
several times during the barrages. The battalion’s casualties were
heavy, losing four officers and 181 other ranks, but the tenacity and
bravery of the 54th
in successfully holding the line was acknowledged in the first
instance by a personal handwritten letter (reproduced here), received
from headquarters of the 14th
Australian Infantry Brigade, dated 17 May, 1917:
“My dear Midgley
Will you please let your
officers and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work
they did in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy
so effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant
battalion on your success.
Yours very sincerely,
C. J. Hobkirk, Brig Gen”
Page
20
Formal
congratulatory messages followed, from Lieutenant General Birdwood
(ANZAC Corps Commander), Major General Hobbs (Commanding 5th
Division) and again, from Brigadier General Hobkirk (commanding 14th
Australian Infantry Brigade, which comprised the 53rd,
54th,
55th
and 56th
Battalions).
From
Lieutenant General Birdwood. “Please
convey to Major Lecky and all ranks of the 54th
Battalion and others of the Brigade my congratulations on the
excellent work they did in repelling with such heavy loss to the
enemy the counter attack on our position”.
From
Major General JT
Hobbs. “The
Divisional Commander wishes to express his high appreciation the
splendid work and gallant conduct of all ranks of the 54th
Battalion and the personnel of the 24th
MG Coy and 14thL.T.M.B., who
assisted in smashing the Bosche in his determined attacks on May
15th.
Please convey to Major Lecky how much his prompt and gallant action
on this occasion was recognised and our united hopes of his speedy
recovery and return to duty.”
From
Brigadier General CJ Hobkirk. ‘Will you please let the officers
and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work they did
in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy so
effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant
Battalion on their success.’
The
action brought a recommendation for another MiD, made by Brigadier
General Hobkirk and endorsed by Major General Hobbs:
“For the successful
manner in which he commanded his battalion in the operations prior to
and during the general advance by Bapaume in March 17 and also during
the fighting in the Hindenburg Line by Bullecourt where, on the 14/15
May ’17, his battln, after severe fighting repulsed an attack by
more than twice its numbers of a Prussian Guard Divn and retained its
position in the Hindenburg Line. For this good conduct in the field I
recommend him for Mentioned in Despatches.”
The
men who served with Stephen in the 54th
held him in high esteem; Lieutenant Lawrence writing home observed:
“Our Col. Midgley of whom
I cannot speak too highly, he was a good soldier and a good leader….”
and “Col. Midgley
too deserves praise for his splendid leadership & total disregard
for danger”.
In
another of the war’s quirks, Stephen’s nephew, Richard Midgley
joined the 54th
briefly as a Lance Corporal on 20 May 1917 and soon departed for
officer training. He was granted a commission in October 1917.
Page
21
As
brave and capable as Stephen was, the stresses of battle began to
show and ill health continued to dog him. In today’s language, he
was suffering severe PTSD and he was relieved of his position. His
subsequent history of illness after his return to Australia
reinforces the wisdom of this seemingly harsh decision. Following
Bullecourt, the 54th
was transferred to Belgium with the 5th
Division. The physical demands of the action in the Ypres salient,
including a supporting role around the Menin Road, and a major attack
in September during the Battle of Polygon Wood, could well have been
fatal for a CO in poor health.
Stephen
Midgley did not go lightly and his Service Record includes several
pages of correspondence with General Hobkirk and his superiors on the
subject of this decision, including a request from General Birdwood
to General Chauvel to absorb Stephen into the AIF forces in
Palestine.
The
reality was that ill-health brought Stephen’s active service to an
end. Following the decision of 25 October 1917 that Stephen was to be
invalided to Australia on medical grounds, arrangements were made for
him to depart England on HMAHS
2 Kanowna
on 16 December 1917. On board he struck up a strong friendship with
Lieutenant Colonel Brockway, the doctor in charge of the contingent
who had a home and a cottage at Redcliffe, which was later used by
Stephen and his wife Katherine (always nicknamed “Boo”).
Kanowna
arrived in Melbourne on 13 February 1918 and in Sydney three days
later.
Interviews with
Stephen were published in the newspapers in both cities. The troops
then travelled in two trains to Brisbane, arriving in the late
evening of 17 February 1918. They were taken to the Kangaroo Point
Military Hospital where, the following day, they were offered a warm
welcome home by the mayor and mayoress and by the minister for mines.
After
an absence of almost three-and-a-half years, Stephen
was reunited
with his family and able to introduce his wife. Boo had left the cold
of an English autumn and departed on her two-month voyage from
Portsmouth on HMAT Osterley
along with 26 other first-class “Military Passengers”, mostly
dependants. The ship reached Fremantle on 28 November.
On
8 December 1917, the passengers disembarked at Sydney. Boo appears to
have stayed there until 12 February when she boarded AUSN Wyreema
for Brisbane, arriving at the Mary Street Wharf on 14 February 1918.
The
social pages of the Brisbane
Courier reported on
the movements of Colonel and Mrs Midgley.
Page 22
1918
Thursday 21 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel
and Mrs. Midgley have arrived from England, and are staying at Selby
House,4
Wickham Terrace, after which they will spend some time at Redcliffe.”
1918
Tuesday 26 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel
Midgley, D.S.O.,C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley are staying at Colonel
Brockway’s cottage, Redcliffe, for the next two or three weeks.”
1918
Friday 8 March: The
Week (Brisbane,
Queensland)
Ladies’ Page “Lieutenant-Colonel
Midgley, D.S.O., C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley, are spending some weeks at
Redcliffe.”
Recovery
was a slow process. Acting on advice to find a quiet place with few
stresses, Stephen and Boo spent time in a fisherman’s hut at Boreen
Point. Peaceful and remote, Boo would light a kerosene hurricane
lamp of an evening at the hut window to guide Stephen as he rowed
back from a day’s fishing on Lake Cootharaba.
Later
in 1918 they temporarily settled at Runcorn, near Wynnum, where their
first child Stephen Hamar was born. Stephen’s old friend and
compatriot Brigadier General
Lachlan Wilson
accepted responsibility as godfather. In 1920, they moved onto 20
acres of “pineapple plantation” at National Park Road, Nambour,
which had been established and then
sold by the
Brockhurst family. An old and trusted friend from 2nd
QMI and 5th
LHR days, Major Archie Bolingbroke5,
lived in a cottage6
on the property after his return from the war.
The
visit to Australia by General Birdwood in 1920 offered the
opportunity for several reunions, during which Birdwood agreed to
become godfather of Stephen’s second child, Stephanie May.
There
was considerable excitement in Nambour with the visit from His Royal
Highness the
Prince of Wales on Monday 2 August 1920.
Lieutenant
Colonel Midgley, CMG, DSO, whose tunic flashed several medals, was
among the first Diggers to meet the Prince. He was presented on the
platform by Mr Groom. The Prince remarked, (glancing at Stephen’s
medals), “I see
that you were also in South Africa.”7
Family
history relates that His Royal Highness gave Hamar, Stephen’s
twenty-month old son a kiss on this occasion. Later that year Stephen
was appointed to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Honorary
Lieutenant Colonel.
4 Selby House was a private
hotel at 135 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane’s ‘dress circle’ for
visitors’ accommodation. 5 Major Archdale Bolingbroke
DSO who later became postmaster at Woombye.
6 The cottage became the temporary clubhouse for the first Nambour
Gold Club which rented the land in 1927.
7 The
Telegraph (Brisbane),
4 August 1920, page 4.
Page 23
Despite
the calm of civilian life, Stephen suffered ongoing ‘turns’ as a
result of his service – blank periods during which he might faint
or become extremely weak. His medical records make interesting
reading and describe frequent trips to the Rosemount Repatriation
Hospital in Brisbane. He no longer had the strength or fitness to
maintain regular employment. Fortunately his wife had independent
means and Stephen’s pension was sufficient to maintain a
comfortable life.
Untitled
family photo, early 1920. Stephen, Boo and Hamar. Taken at
National Park Road, Nambour. Note eyeglass, military jacket,
patched trousers and work boots.
Stephen
Midgley receiving his Service medals from the Governor of Queensland,
Sir Matthew
Nathan at the Nambour Show, 1925. Midgley Collection
Page
24
The
year 1924 saw Boo’s purchase of a block of land at Coolum where
they built a small cottage. Fishing
was Stephen’s
passion and he possessed infinite patience, a skill that had served
him well in active service. He always collected his own bait, was
clever at catching sand worms and kept the bait in the lid of his hat
while he fished.
Stephen
enjoyed shooting duck and snipe (12-gauge shotgun with #10 shot) in
the swamps near Coolum and ground quail along the track north from
the current lifesavers’ clubhouse. In 1929 he took his son Hamar
to witness the blasting of the exit for Stumers’ Creek which
effectively drained the swamps where the current camping ground is
located.
Coolum
remained a favourite getaway for Stephen, his family and friends. The
most convenient way to travel down was by the cane tram from Nambour
and the terminal was on the ridge just above Coolum. The family would
order meat, bread and supplies from Nambour and have them sent down
by tram. In later years the bus driver who went to Yandina would
bring down orders from the store and the butcher in town.
It
was at Coolum that Stephen became re-acquainted with Trooper
Perry-Keene, a former 2nd
QMI trooper who was one of the leading citizens.
Stephen,
Hamar and Stephanie. At the base of Point Perry, Coolum.
December 1924.
Although
limited by his poor health, Stephen and Boo played an active role in
Nambour society. Newspaper clippings of the era record him presiding
at a meeting of the Nambour branch of the Returned Sailors’ and
Soldiers’ Imperial League Australia on 24 October 1924.
In
May 1927, the couple played an integral role in the formation of the
Nambour Golf Club on Stephen’s farm. The official opening, which
their friends the Bolingbrokes attended, occurred on 6 June 1929.
Page
25
Searches
using Trove reveal several instances of Stephen’s ongoing
leadership and contribution to community life:
1927,
July 27: His Excellency the Governor. (Sir John Goodwin) and Lady
Goodwin arrived at Nambour this morning to open the annual show. The
vice-regal party was received by Mr. E. B. C. Corser, M.H.R.,
Councillor J. T. Lowe. (Chairman of the Maroochy Shire Council), Mr.
W. Whalley (president of the Chamber of Commerce and Show Society),
and Mr. N. N. March, and Colonel Midgley, C.M.G., for the R.S.S.I.
L.A.
1928
Friday 27 April: Lectures to Nambour Rural School on Loyalty,
Patriotism, and Anzac Day and attended the unveiling of the Nambour
War Memorial and the burial of a memorial tablet.
1929
Monday 9 December: Golf Carnival at Nambour – mentions the
Bolingbrokes
1929
Tuesday 17 December: Won a golf trophy at the Nambour Golf Club
1929:
Senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.
1929
Friday 8 February: Auditor for the Nambour Soldiers’ League
1930
Friday 25 July: Pall bearer at Thomas Gorman’s funeral
Their
children were sent to boarding school; Stephen Hamar to The Southport
School as a boarder in 1930 at the age of 11, and Stephanie May to
The Glennie School in Toowoomba.
Circumstances
changed for Stephen and his family in 1930. His father-in-law, Thomas
Hamar Esq. died in Herefordshire in late 1930; his wife was bedridden
and had to be attended by two live-in nurses. This, plus the emerging
impacts of the Great Depression encouraged Stephen and Boo to move to
England, and in February 1931 the family left Australia. They were
farewelled from Nambour, embarked in Brisbane on Mongolia
for Sydney, where they sailed under the partly completed Harbour
Bridge. During a trip ashore, they were welcomed respectfully at the
fledgling Australian War Memorial. At another stop in Melbourne,
Stephen took his children ashore to see the museum and Phar Lap’s
heart.
Mongolia
arrived at London docks on 3 April 1931 and the family made their way
to Boo’s large and comfortable family home on the outskirts of
Eardisley, Herefordshire. The children were sent to boarding
schools; Hamar to The Warwick School and Stephanie to The Warwick
Girls School. Stephen enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as hunting otters
with the hounds, shooting and fishing for red fin and rainbow trout
at the nearby Upcott Pool outside Eardisley.
Page
26
Perhaps
it was the call of Australia’s open spaces or the demands of a
complex English hierarchy, but the family grew restless after two
years in England and returned to Australia on the Orient Line’s
Ormonde
in late 1932 having been farewelled by the Queensland Government
Agent in London. The family visited Gibraltar on the way, where they
were given a personal and deferential escort around the colony in an
official car with Stephen’s military friends. A visit to Pompeii
preceded Christmas in Aden. They disembarked in Adelaide at the time
of the Bodyline cricket series and stayed with Doctor Penny, formerly
of Nambour, who had assisted greatly with Stephen’s recovery.
Again,
the Brisbane Courier
reported their movements and on 3 January 1933 announced their
expected arrival in Brisbane on 23 January 1933. They travelled
directly to Coolum and their beach-side retreat, as the house in
National Park Road Nambour was being rebuilt.
Once
again, Stephen and Boo settled into a quiet but satisfying life in
and around Nambour. His occasional encounters with royalty continued
when on 8 December 1934, both Stephen and his old friend Major
Bolingbroke DSO shook hands with His Royal Highness, Prince Henry,
Duke of Gloucester, (third son of King George V), who visited
Nambour. Prince Henry was later to serve as Governor-General of
Australia from 1945 to 1947.
Stephen
was actively involved with occasions such as Anzac Day and frequently
offered speeches at schools and public gatherings. There were
Military Balls in Yandina and Debutante Balls at Eumundi where
Colonel and Mrs Midgley were guests of honour and they opened their
house for charitable events for the Red Cross. In 1938, Stephen was
senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.; patron of the
Coolum Beach lifesaving club and in 1946, vice-president of the
Nambour Branch of the St George Society.
The
outbreak of World War ll was no surprise to Stephen and other
students of international politics. Stephen and Boo’s son Hamar was
among the first to enlist. In July 1940, the Volunteer Defence Corps
(VDC), a part-time volunteer military force modelled on the British
Home Guard, was established by the Returned and Services League of
Australia (name changed in 1940).
The
VDC was initially composed of ex-servicemen who had served in World
War I. Queenslanders with South African and WW1 experience figured
largely: General Sir
Harry Chauvel
was appointed national Inspector General; General Lachlan Wilson was
OiC for Queensland and Stephen was the initial CO of the 6th
Battalion, VDC, a unit with a strength of almost 1,000 men with its
headquarters
and Stephen’s
office in Nambour.
Page
27
The
Palmwoods unit of the VDC was led by Frank Nicklin MM who was
Stephen’s successor as CO and who went on to become Premier of
Queensland. Stephen’s retirement from the VDC at the age of 70
marked the formal end of his full and impressive military career.
Stephen
Midgley and his daughter Stephanie, at the wedding of his son Hamar,
29 April 1942, to Mary Margaret (née
Williamson), with Mary’s father, George Williamson.
During
wartime, there were some brief dramas for the family. Stephen
remained close
with his younger brother Harry and his elder brothers until their
deaths. There was embarrassment in 1944 over the public argument
within the family, played out in the courts, regarding his sister
Ann’s estate and the closure of Ann’s school, St
Clair. Ann had died
intestate and some of the siblings argued over the division of the
estate, leading Stephen to observe that “God
gave you your family, but thank God you can choose your friends.”
The
home in National Park Road was too small for a family with growing
grandchildren and in 1947 a new house was built on Image Flat Road in
Nambour. Unfortunately, in 1949 Stephen suffered a mild heart attack
which prompted the decision to move to Redland Bay which would suit
his ongoing interests in fishing. Another heart attack followed in
1951 at a time when he was host to his two granddaughters. Stephen
was an excellent writer and maintained a good correspondence with his
friends.
Page
28
This
biographical project is a direct result of a letter written by
Stephen to me, his seven month-old grandson, in early 1951. His
networks enabled him to reach out to his lifelong friend General
Thord-Gray, then in the USA, to obtain passage back to Australia for
his daughter Stephanie after she became stranded in London at the
outbreak of the Korean War.
In
October 1954 Stephen suffered his final heart attack and died in
Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital on 25 October 1954.
One
of the most disappointing stories in this journey through a full and
fascinating life was the burning of his typed memoirs by Boo after
his death because “they mentioned names”.
Reflections
on my grandfather.
Stephen
Midgley DSO CMG was a product of his times. He valued his family and
loved his children and ensured that they were well educated. He had a
deep sense of social responsibility and duty. His wife Boo took
enormous care with his health and general well-being, particularly
his diet. Family history recalls an anecdote that on one occasion,
after a delicious meal of roast pork and roast vegetables at the home
of a friend, he complimented the hostess by announcing that “….if
one ate as well as this each day, he would be a well man in no time!”
His convict antecedent was
never mentioned
as this was an embarrassment in those times. He smoked (Manahan’s
ready-rubbed tobacco) but did not drink (other than a very occasional
brandy when he was having one of his ‘turns’. Quinine was always
kept in the house and Stephen would dose himself when not feeling
well, when he suffered from “the old complaint” (his own
expression). Family and friends remembered him as an amusing
companion with a mischievous sense of humour.
Stephen
never drove a car. Boo and Stephanie were the family drivers. Their
first car was a red Morris 8 purchased in 1938 (named Mehitabel
– taken from Kipling’s Departmental
Ballads). This soon
became too small and following a display at the Nambour Show, Boo
purchased a Morris 14 which they named Dollinger.
The family had the habit, as with horses, of conferring names on
their cars. This led to an amusing anecdote from World War II
when Stephen and Boo wanted to tell their son Hamar (serving in Papua
New Guinea) where they had hidden family documents and valuables at
the Nambour house in case of a Japanese landing. They wrote “they
are buried under Dollinger’s right eye”;
[family code for]
‘buried under the floor of the garage below the
right hand headlight!’
Centre
top: CMG (Companion of St Michael and St George.
L to R; DSO (Distinguished Service Order QV);
QSA (Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and
unofficial Mention in Despatches emblem; KSA (King’s South
Africa Medal with two clasps); Natal Medal (with clasp 1906);
1914/15 Star; BWM (British War Medal); Victory Medal
(with two MiD clasps for Gallipoli)
Page
30
Maryborough
Military & Colonial Museum Display cabinet
Lieutenant
Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD**
Boer
War, Natal Rebellion,5th
LHR, 54th
Battalion AIF
From
L to R:
Gavin
Leggett; Darrell Blackley; John MacIsaac;
Stephen
Midgley (grandson); Margaret MacIsaac (granddaughter); Lyn Larsen;
Alan Larsen; Allan Woodward and John Meyers.
Photo
taken at display unveiling 11 June, 2017
References
and Selected Reading
Africa.
Bjovord, S. (2008). Ivor
Thord-Gray: Soldat
Under 13 Fanor.
(Swedish language)
Likeman, R. (2004). From
Law to War: the life of Brigadier General Lachlan Wilson of the 5th
Light Horse: with biographical roll of the 5th
Light Horse Regiment, AIF.
Stuart, J. (1913). A
History of the Zulu Rebellion 1906 and of Dinizulu’s Arrest, Trial
and Expatriation.
London: Macmillan & Co.
Woolmore, W. (2002). The
Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse.
Slouch Hat Publications. 320 pages.
World
War I.
Hamilton, J. (2008). Gallipoli
Sniper: The Life of Billy Sing.
340 pages.
Hammond, R. (2005).
Unpublished reminiscences.
Hogue, O. (1916). Love
Letters of an Anzac
Idriess, I. D. (1932). The
Desert Column.
Page 32
St Clair, R. (2006). Our
Gift to the Empire – 54th
Australian Infantry Battalion 1916 – 1919.
ISBN-10: 0646458973 ISBN-13: 978-0646458977
Wilson, L. C. & H.
Wetherell, (1926). History
of the Fifth Light Horse Regiment (Australian Imperial Force) from
1914 to October 1918,
(Sydney: The Motor Press of Australia, 1926).
Acknowledgements.
This summary is an extract
from a larger biography in progress of Stephen’s full and
adventurous life and represents a small cross-section of the large
volume of biographical material now assembled. I have received a
great deal of help from many generous people on this journey over 30
years. My late parents shared long, intimate and mostly entertaining
recollections of Stephen, as have my sister Margaret, my brother Rob
and my cousin Annie. Family friends offered anecdotes and hints for
further research. Many others have freely given their time and
patiently shared their materials and knowledge of grandfather’s
times. They include:
John
Burridge MG from Western Australia (who started it all off with a
chance remark after re-hanging grandfather’s medals);
John
Meyers FMHSA for his gentle persistence in having grandfather’s
career acknowledged and his medals and memorabilia curated and
displayed in the Maryborough Military
&
Colonial
Museum;
Leo
Walsh OAM of the Victoria Barracks Historical Society and the
Queensland Military Memorial Museum who showed me just how much
material was available and gave loads of encouragement;
Jane
Meadows, Heritage Collections, State Library of Queensland, who is
the granddaughter of General Lachlan Wilson;
Brian
Rough, Colonial Forces Study Group (Queensland) who generously
offered information and leads on Stephen’s time with the QDF;
Ross
St Clair, a man of rare enthusiasm, who wrote the excellent book on
the 54th
Battalion;
Robert
Likeman CSM, whose thorough biographies of grandfather’s friends
and colleagues, Lachlan Wilson and Espie Dods, remain an
inspiration;
Page
33
The
late Peter Breen of Parramatta: my scholarly friend who edited a
newspaper and had a great historical fascination for the life of
Stephen’s close friend, General Ivor Thord-Gray;
John
Hamilton, with whom I trudged up and down the hills above Anzac Cove
and stood in the trenches of Chatham’s Post as he researched his
book on Billy Sing;
Rupert
Hammond, son of Lieutenant Hammond, 5th
LHR, who generously shared his father’s unpublished reminiscences;
and
Captain
Adele Catts, formerly curator of the 2/14th
Light Horse Regiment (QMI) Museum at Enoggera.
Currently Manager, Army
Museum, South Queensland.
In
South Africa.
Helen Hall, granddaughter of
Stephen’s close friend Ivor Thord-Gray.
Audrey Portman, a historical
researcher from Pretoria whose efficient research helped me to
understand the period 1902 – 1905.
Najwa Hendrickse, Principal
Librarian, Reference and Information Services, National Library of
South Africa, for her efforts through library research.
In
Zimbabwe
Nicholas Vumbunu, whose
knowledge of the archival system in Harare has been invaluable to me.
Completed
by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.04.08.2242hrs
“Well,
what could a chap do? A chap could not stop out”.
(Response
from Hunter when asked why he enlisted
when he could have so
easily have sat out the Great War)1
Page
1
Herbert
Humphreys Hunter was born on 18 November 1881 in Bendigo, Victoria.
The birthplace stated on his birth record is Sandhurst, because
Bendigo went by that name in 18812
He was
the youngest of
ten
children (five
daughters and
five sons) born to George Frederick Hunter and local resident,
Elizabeth (née Humphreys), who were married on 11 September 1862.
Herbert’s
father was born about 1831 in Ramsgate, Kent, England and was
employed as a civil engineer. He subsequently immigrated to
Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1854. He travelled to Bendigo
where he purchased and ran the established Kent Brewery in McRae
Street. An interesting entry in the 1898 Victorian Police Gazette
advised that George Hunter reported the theft of a gold watch valued
at five pounds, from his residence. There is no reference to indicate
whether it was recovered, or not.
Herbert
received his schooling at Caulfield Grammar School, Church of England
Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School. His outstanding sporting
career started while at Melbourne Grammar School. While still there
as a
student, he
played three AFL* senior matches for Essendon in 1900. These were
the only first grade games he played and he resumed playing school
football as a member of Melbourne Grammar’s First XVIII.
Another area of excellence was
athletics. On
4 January, 1901, at a special Commonwealth Celebration Championship
competition, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground to mark the
proclamation of the Federation of Australia on 1 January, 1901,
Herbert Hunter,
competing for the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA),
registered some outstanding performances:
First
place: (AAGPS)3
running broad jump: 21 feet 11
inches
(a
world schoolboy record)
First
place: (AAGPS) 100 yards: 11 seconds
First
place: (AAGPS) 120 yards hurdles: 17.6
seconds
Second
Place: (open age) 100 yards (winner’s time 10.6 seconds)
Second
Place: (open age) broad jump: 21 feet 4½ inches
* Australian
Football League
Page 2
On 2 January 1901,
at the 33rd gathering of the Highland Society of New South Wales,
again representing the VAAA at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he had
taken the significant open age amateur sprinter’s handicap double.
First
place (running off 5½ yards): “Hopetoun Sprint” 100 yards
amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final:
9.8 seconds
First
place (running off 11½ yards): “Federation Plate” 200
yards amateur handicap (NSWAAA) Final: 22.2
seconds
Following
his school years, Herbert
enrolled to study dentistry while a resident of Trinity College at
the University of Melbourne. There, he continued to excel at sport,
and was awarded a double blue in football and athletics. In December
1904, he graduated from the
University
of Melbourne with a diploma for Licentiate of Dentistry.
In 1905,
Herbert
travelled
to England and then to America. He
continued his studies at the
University of Pennsylvania4
where, in 1906,
he gained the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.
He
became a member of the Australian College of Dentistry in 1906 and on
20 December
1907, was
registered to practise in Victoria.
He then moved back to Bendigo where he established his own dental
surgery in Williamson Street.
He kept his practice until the outbreak of war in 1914. Herbert’s
keen participation in sport had continued following his years of
study and
he was still president of the Bendigo Football League. He was also a
keen amateur boxer and refereed many local contests.
His
military career started in the 67th
(Bendigo) Infantry Battalion in the Citizens’ Military Forces
(CMF). As a member of this battalion, he was granted the following
commissions.
2nd
Lieutenant – 9 April 1908
1st
Lieutenant – 20 March 1911
Captain
– 1 November 1913
Britain declared
war with Germany on 4 August 1914 and Hunter wasted no time in
applying, on 29
August, for a commission in the 7th
Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, which had been formed on
15 August 1914. His application was accepted.
Page 3
The battalion commanding
officer, Lieutenant Colonel Harold (‘Pompey’) Elliott recommended
that Herbert Hunter be appointed as captain of G Company. His
application form states:
height
5ft 9¾ ins,
weight
11st
10lbs. His eyesight was rated at 6/9; his chest measurement was an
extraordinary 39 ins, the
mark
of an athlete. Although his hair colour is
not listed,
his school nickname was ‘Rusty’ and, while a captain in the 7th
Battalion, his troops referred to him as ‘Captain Ginger’, which
suggests a specific hair colour.
Prior to
leaving for the front,
Captain Herbert Humphreys
Hunter was presented with a beautiful sword, suitably inscribed by
the Bendigo Football League. The following report of the speech made
by him in returning thanks for the gift, serves to indicate the
unhesitating manner in which he offered his services to his country.
“I
appreciate very much the gift that has been handed to me and hope I
will be able to do some good work with it. My action in volunteering
my services to the Empire is, I consider the culminating point of my
athletic career. I loved my athletics and when my training was
finished and my character formed, I tried to show the younger
generation the benefits to be derived from amateur sport. In my
opinion, one of the objects of athletics is to fit the mind and body
to defend one’s country. Had I not held a commission in the
Citizen Forces, I think I would have volunteered my services anyway
but as I was an officer in the military, it was not, I considered, a
matter of option but of duty, and I consider it a pleasant duty. I
am pleased to know I have done my duty so far and, if I can lead the
Bendigo boys alright, I will be satisfied. They will no doubt have
to bog in and, if they do, I feel confident they will come off best.
I am going out to do my duty and not to look for VCs. I trust that
with the sword that has been presented to me, I will be able to
uphold the honour and dignity of Australia and the British Empire”.
The
7th
Battalion was one of the first units raised, formed less than a
fortnight after the declaration of war and, with the 5th,
6th
and 8th
Battalions, comprised the 2nd
Brigade of the 1st
Division AIF. The battalion initially comprised eight companies
designated A to H. Initial training was undertaken at Broadmeadows,
20
kilometres
north-west of
Melbourne.
On 25 September,
the battalion marched through the city of Melbourne.
Page
4
It
was reported as “A Stirring Spectacle”, the greatest parade that
had ever been seen in the city, with huge crowds lining the streets.5
The
Governor-General was most favourably impressed with the steadiness of
the Light Horse, the swinging step of the Infantry and the physique
of the entire force.6
On
18 October, after reveille at 5am, the 7th
Battalion marched to Broadmeadows station, travelled by train to Port
Melbourne and
was aboard the
troopship HMAT A20
Hororata which it
was to share with the 6th
Battalion, by midday.
On
28 November, while the ship was moving along the Red Sea towards
Suez, a significant decision affecting the Australian Imperial Force
was announced. Instead of continuing on to England as many expected,
their destination would be Egypt, for further training. Since the AIF
troops had departed Australian waters, Turkey had entered the war as
an ally of Germany.
Hororata
arrived in Egypt on 2 December 1914. The troops began additional
training and acclimatisation activities, including desert route
marches and mock attacks.
Captain
HH Hunter, centre, on horseback, Cairo 1914.
Page
5
On
1 January 1915, the men of the 2nd
Brigade were addressed by the commander, Colonel James
McCay and told
of the new battalion organisation. The Australian battalions were
reorganised from eight-company battalions to come in line with recent
changes adopted in the British Army.
This
amalgamation meant that each battalion now had four companies
consisting of six officers and 221 men, at full strength.
The
new organisation resulted in Captain Hunter being 2iC of D Company
with Captain Blezard being appointed OC.
Captain
Herbert Humphreys Hunter, Mena Camp, 1914.
The
Turkish Government now took steps to attack the Suez Canal. If
successful, shipping from Australia would be forced to take the long
voyage around the Cape of Good Hope. In early January, the Turks
began their advance across the barren and almost trackless Sinai
Peninsula. On 3 February, the Turkish army began their attack on the
canal near Serapeum. This led to the 7th
and 8th
Battalions being sent from Cairo on that same day to bolster the
defence.
The
7th
Battalion left Mena at 10.30am and marched the 16 kilometres to the
Cairo railway station for transport to Ismailia. They arrived at
Ismailia the next morning, but took no part in direct combat during
the Turkish assault.
Page
6
It
had already been repulsed by Indian troops and the New Zealand
Infantry Brigade, which caused a heavy loss of Turkish soldiers.
The
7th Battalion was subsequently sent back to the base camp, to
continue training in preparation for their forthcoming active
service.
The
7th
Battalion training, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel
Elliott was brutal. Elliott had a reputation for being outspoken,
impulsive, excitable and straight as a ruled line. Intensely
headstrong, he worked his men harder than any commander in the force.
Bean
states in his official history that if a heavy or dangerous task had
to be undertaken for the common good, Elliott’s troops would be
offered to do it. Regardless of this, he was a very popular
commanding officer. The tough attitude Pompey showed towards his men
had strengthened them and would soon be proved worthwhile when the
battalion was tested on the hills and the rugged terrain of
Gallipoli.
Page
7
Captain
Herbert Humphreys Hunter Egypt 4 April 1915. Page 8
The
7th
Battalion, as part of the 2nd
Brigade, landed with the second wave on the morning of 25 April.
Unlike the first wave which was landed from battleships and
destroyers via their ship’s boats, the second wave disembarked from
transports into small boats for the journey ashore. The 7th
Battalion disembarked from the transport ship Galeka
to the small boats.
Upon
landing, the battalion was fragmented and Elliott was initially able
to muster only
a portion for an
advance up to 400 Plateau where they were urgently needed to support
the scattered units of the 3rd
Brigade (which had comprised the first wave).
As
D Company landed and Hunter leapt from the boat to the beach, he
sprained his ankle but would not give in and though his foot was
badly swollen, he limped along at the head of his men up the slope to
support the 3rd
Brigade.
The
first troops of the 7th
Battalion to reach 400 Plateau were two platoons of D company but, at
this point, the company commander Major Blezard was shot in the
chest.
The
command of the company therefore passed to Hunter. Elliott continued
working to collect the remainder of the 7th
Battalion and send them to support the line on 400 Plateau. Elliott
recorded that from his position in White’s Valley, he could make
out the distinctive figure of Captain Hunter on the high ground
ahead, with D Company.
The
7th
continued to maintain a position in the line on 400 Plateau although
their positions were completely intermingled with men of the 5th
and 6th
Battalions. To their left, the units of the 3rd
Brigade were judged to be reaching the end of their endurance and
were relieved by men of the British Royal Marine Naval
Brigade.
On
Thursday night, it was finally time for the 5th,
6th
and 7th
Battalions to be relieved. Their position in the line was taken over
by the Deal Battalion of Marines. The losses to the 7th
Battalion were found to be:
Killed
– 2 officers and 68 others
Wounded – 15
officers and 229 others
Missing –
0 officers and 227 others
The
total number of casualties for the 7th
Battalion from the initial landing (on Sunday 25 April) until Friday
morning was 541 officers and men. Page 9
Of
the missing, some were found to have been wounded and sent to the
rear without record taken, and the remainder had been killed.
Following
the stabilisation of the line around Gaba Tepe, it was decided to
move the 2nd
Brigade as well as the New Zealand Brigade further down the peninsula
to Cape Helles
to participate
in an attack on Krithia.
Early
on 6 May, the battalion embarked on the Folkestone,
a deep sea trawler for a two-hour journey to ‘V’ Beach where,
under the shattered stone bastions and battered village of Sedd el
Bahr, they disembarked to the shore via moored lighters, forming a
makeshift jetty.
The
attack on Krithia was to follow the line of a series of spurs. The
New Zealand Brigade was to advance via the left spur (Krithia Spur),
the 2nd
Brigade on the central Spur and the 2nd
Naval Brigade, along with French troops, on Kereves Spur on the
right. The order of advance for 2nd
Brigade for the attack was to be 7th
on the right, 6th
on the left, with 5th
and 8th
in reserve.
On
the morning of 8 May, the brigades moved forward toward their
respective objectives. They passed through the reserve trenches
manned by the 14th
Sikhs toward Tommies Trench, 300 yards forward. As soon as they
emerged from sheltering olive trees they were heavily shelled by
Turkish guns and then came under intense rifle fire.
They
had a short breather at Tommies Trench and then went forward once
more. They moved in hundred-yard rushes with men falling fast and
eventually were brought to a halt approximately 500 yards in front of
Tommies Trench and about 500 yards short of the Turkish trenches.
Hunter,
still in command of D Company, was wounded in the foot as they were
advancing over open ground, making him unable to continue forward.
He was quickly picked up and carried to the rear by the battalion
stretcher bearers. Finding a spot behind the battle area that they
considered safe, they put the stretcher down and commenced to dress
his wounded foot.
At
that moment, in what can only be described as a freak accident, an
almost spent bullet passed between the stretcher bearers and struck
Hunter in the head, killing him instantly. Thus died a brave,
energetic and soldierly man who had earned and commanded the respect
of all.8
He was 33 years of age.
Page
10
The
attack on Krithia continued but was a costly failure and the
Australian and New Zealand forces were withdrawn by boat back to
Anzac.
There
is no record of Hunter’s body being retrieved and buried. The
location remains unknown. He is commemorated at the Helles
Memorial which stands atop the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Herbert Hunter’s name is listed on
Panel 201 to 204.
At
left:
Helles Memorial Gallipoli Peninsula
Hunter
had survived his father, who passed away in 1907 and his mother who
died in 1911. His personal effects were forwarded to his older
brother Fred Hunter, sent by Thomas Cook & Son over an extended
period of time (1915 to 1920), as recorded on his dossier.
One
paper parcel contained “note book, Standing Orders”. Receipts
were signed by one or other of Herbert’s brothers for a kitbag, a
cabin trunk and valise. The kitbag and cabin trunk were despatched in
November 1915.
In
Herbert’s dossier, there is one page with a long list of effects.
Some of the items in the kitbag indicate that Herbert had prepared
for deployment to the Western Front. He had brought from home
gumboots, puttees, muffler, and French books. In a
separate parcel containing personal grooming items, there was one
photo. An item not listed (evidently because it was in the sealed
cabin trunk) is a flask (white metal) engraved Capt. H.
H. HUNTER 7TH
Bn.
Page
11
On
20 December 1917, Hunter’s sister Esther Elizabeth began receiving
pension payments due to his death of 40 shillings per fortnight.
Herbert
Hunter’s Form of Commission was sent to his next of kin in August
1916, his 1914–15 Star was sent in October 1920 and his Victory
Medal in July 1922. The Memorial Scroll and King’s Message were
received in September 1921 and Memorial Plaque in December 1922.
Interestingly,
in November 1921, a letter (which is part of Hunter’s dossier) was
received by the Army from
Lieutenant
J U Leask, 11th
Light Horse Regimentadvising
that he was in possession of a belt owned by Hunter and requesting
information on his next of kin so he could return it.
Herbert
Humphreys Hunter was not the only member of the family to serve in
the Great War. Cedric Evan Hunter, the third son of his brother
Frederick Evan Hunter enlisted in the 4th
Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) (2nd
Reinforcements) 1st
AIF on 9 November 1915 at the age of 22. He was sent to Egypt and
taken on strength in the brigade on 14 February 1916 at Zeitoun. He
was then posted to 19th
Battery and stationed at Tel el Kebir, not far from the Suez Canal.
Cedric
proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force and embarked at
Alexandria for Marseilles on 14 March 1916. He arrived in Marseilles
on 19 March and was transferred to 22nd
FAB on 13 May but, on 28 August was evacuated to England with
synovitis (right knee) and a sprained right ankle. He returned to
France on 19 December and was transferred to 5th
FAB (13th
Battery). He then spent four months in 4th
FAB (10th
Battery) before being transferred to 5th
FAB (10th
Battery). He was with this unit when he received a mortal shrapnel
wound to the head on 27 August 1917. His grave can be found in the
Voormezele Cemetery, four kilometres south of Ypres.
Herbert
Hunter was mourned, not only by citizens of Bendigo, but also in the
wider world of sport. In
July 1920, a beautifully designed shield, now generally known as The
HH Hunter Memorial Shield,
carved in Australian blackwood by the prominent South Yarra artist Mr
Robert Prenzel, was presented to the Victorian Amateur Athletic
Association (now known as Athletics Victoria) by Marmion Percy Adams,
on behalf of a group of subscribers, to be a perpetual challenge
trophy for the Association’s annual track championship competition.
Page
12
The
shield’s carving depicts Herbert
Hunter
beating the (later) Olympian athlete Nigel Barker by six inches in
the 1901 national championship 100 yards race. Beneath the carving is
a
representation
in
copper,
of an open book, upon which the names of the annual winners are
inscribed.
At
the 1904 National championships, Hunter was involved in a dramatic
run-off for the 100 yards title, which he won against a great New
South Wales athlete Nigel Barker. Two years earlier Hunter had run
9.8 seconds to equal the Australian record, a time which stood until
1930. 7
Since
2001, when the Victorian Athletic League was discontinued, the Hunter
Shield represented the best performing male club in Victoria
and
since
2009, the winner is based on female and male performances at the
Victorian open
championships. In
2008, Athletics Bendigo renamed its Athlete of the Year trophy “the
HH Hunter Athlete of the Year” in Herbert
Hunter’s
memory.8
IN
MEMORIAM
How
oft we marked him as he led the race,
with flying leap, quick blow or bounding stride
But
never did he set so true a pace,
as when he led
the battle charge –
and died.
Extract
from poem 8
by G H Freeman
to commemorate
Herbert Humphreys Hunter
Detail
of the
HH HUNTER MEMORIAL SHIELD
Herbert
Humphreys Hunter’s name is located at panel 50
in the Commemorative
Area at
the Australian War Memorial
and his name is listed on the memorial in Bendigo, the
city of his birth.
Page 13
Medals
for Captain Herbert Humphreys Hunter
1914-15
Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal,
proudly
displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
7th
Battalion AIF Colour Patch
Horizontally
aligned, rectangular wool flannel colour patch, divided brown over
red.
Motto:
Cede
Nullis
= Submit to None.
Bibliography
AustinRon, Our Dear Old Battalion: A History of the 7th
Battalion AIF, 1914–1919 Slouch
Hat, 2004.
Bean
CEW, Official
History of Australia in the War 1914 – 1918, Volume
I and Volume II,
The Story of Anzac
Dean
Arthur and Gutteridge Eric W,
The Seventh Battalion AIF,
1933.
Kiddle
JB (ed), War
Services of Old Melburnians 1914-1918,
1923, p.90.
Page
14
References
Australian
Military Forces – Staff and Regimental Lists
Australian
Marriage Index 1788 – 1949
National
Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1,
Cedric Evan Hunter
National
Archives Australia – War Service Record WW1
– Herbert Humphreys Hunter
AIF
Burials, Gallipoli 1915
England
Census 1841
The
Age (Melbourne),Saturday 10 July
1920 p19, Hunter
Memorial Shield
Bendigo
Advertiser, Wednesday
24 September 2008, Chook
caps Great Season
Bendigo
Advertiser, 24 May
1915 p5, Bendigo
officer killed – Captain HH Hunter.
Wikipedia
– Herb
Hunter (footballer), Footnote
15: War Services of
Old Melbournians 1914-18, 1923,
p.90.
Notes
1Our
Dear old Battalion
p.12.
2
Bendigo was
originally named after Bendigo Creek. The name of Sandhurst (after a
military college in England) was adopted in 1854, but changed back to
Bendigo in 1891 when residents voted (1,515 in favour and only 267
against).
3
AAGPS is the acronym for Athletic Association of the Great Public
Schools of New South Wales; the association was formed on 30 March
1892.
4
The military service of Captain HH Hunter is noted in America at
the University of Pennsylvania. The record
states
incorrectly
that
he was killed by shellfire. University
of Pennsylvania, United States College Student Lists 1763–1924,
Herbert Humphreys Hunter.
5
The Argus
(Melbourne) Saturday 26 September 1914, page 13.
6
Message of
appreciation from His Excellency the Governor-General, after the
parade.
9
Extract from sports report “Chook caps Great Season” in Bendigo
Advertiser:
Athletics
Bendigo has renamed its Athlete of the Year award the H.H. Hunter
Athlete of the Year. The award honours Dr Herbert Humphreys Hunter, a
brilliant all-rounder in many sports, who was killed at Gallipoli.
Hunter was long jump and 100 yards champion of Australasia, and the
H.H. Hunter Memorial Shield is awarded each year to the premier
division one, men’s team in
Athletics Victoria action.
10
Poem published in
Bendigonian
(Bendigo, Victoria 1914-1918), 27 May 1915, p.4. This poem is also
published on website of Athletics Victoria
Page
15
Hunter
Clan Motto: Cursum
Perficio
= I accomplish my course.
Completed by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.03.29.0900hrs
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
672
Warrant Officer (Class I) John James SLOAN MSM
4th
Battalion AIF
John
James Sloan pre-1897
By
Robert Simpson
March
2020
Hannibal
Sloan was the first born of John Hannibal Sloan and Isabel Whyte,
born on 11th
May 1871 in Kilmore, Victoria. Kilmore has a claim as Victoria’s
oldest inland settled town. John had been born in Greenock Scotland
in 1841 and Isabel had been born in 1850. John had come to Australia
with his family in 1859. They had married in Albury, New South Wales
on 28th
March 1870. Hannibal was the first of eight children to them. Next
born was Katie in 1873, then Emily in 1876, John James in 1878 in
Molesworth Victoria, Agnes in 1881 in Yea, Isabel in 1883, Georgina
was born and died in 1885 and James Sloan in 1888 in Alexandra,
Victoria. John Hannibal Sloan was a son of Hannibal Sloan, who had
been born in Scotland. His death was recorded in Alexandra and Yea
Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (a Victorian newspaper)
on Friday 3rd
July 1885 in page 2 under Deaths: “SLOAN.-On the 30th June, at
Molesworth, Hannibal Sloan, aged 76, formerly Trinity pilot,
Scotland.” The same newspaper on Saturday 23 February 1878 in page
3 under GAZETTE NOTICES, had an entry in “Issue of new licenses
under the 49th section; -“for “Hannibal Sloan, 20s, Molesworth
John H. Sloan, 20s, Molesworth”. The Argus (Melbourne) of Friday
2nd
April 1886 on page 10 under the heading “LAW REPORT. SUPREME COURT.
THURSDAY, APRIL 1. EQUITY COURT. (Before His Honour Mr. Justice
Molesworth, Acting Chief Justice.) PROBATES AND LETI’ERS OF
ADMINISTRATION The registrar granted probates to the wills of
Hannibal Sloan, £75.” The Kilmore Free Press (Victoria), of
Thursday 19th
August 1886 on page 2 had “The following applications for leases
under sec. 2 are gazetted approved :- John H. Sloan (administrator to
estate of Hannibal Sloan, deceased), Molesworth, 20s.”
Isabel
(nee Whyte) Sloan with her first-born child Hannibal
John
(aka Jack) Sloan aged approx. 14 with his sister Emily
The
Sydney Morning Herald of Wednesday 16th
July 1919, on page 11 under Funerals was “SLOAN.-The Relatives and
Friends of Mrs. JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN and FAMILY are kindly invited to
attend the Funeral of their beloved HUSBAND and FATHER; to leave the
residence, Whanregarwan, Centennial-avenue, Randwick, THIS DAY,
WEDNESDAY, at 3.15, for Randwick General Cemetery; W. CARTER,
Undertaker, Waverley.”
In
the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 3rd
November 1930, on page 7 under the title Funerals “SLOAN -The
Relatives and Friends of the late Mrs ISABEL SLOAN widow of the late
John Hannibal Sloan of Randwick are kindly invited to attend her
funeral to leave her son’s residence 10 Centennial avenue Randwick
THIS DAY (Monday) at 2 pm for Randwick General Cemetery. Motor
Funeral. W CARTER Undertaker Waverley.” Also, under deaths on page
8 were two entries “SLOAN.-November 1, 1930, at the residence of
her daughter. Mrs. A. Horne, of Asquith, Isabel, widow of the late
John Hannibal Sloan, of Randwick, and dearly loved mother of
Hannibal, Katie (Mrs. A. McLennan), Emily (Mrs. A. Horne). John,
Agnes (Mrs. G. Rudd, Isabel (Mrs. J. Martin), and James, aged 80
years.” and “SLOAN.-November 1, at Asquith, Isabel Sloan, the
dearly loved grandmother of Isabel, Jessie. Sandy, Sheila, Donald,
Jean, Norman, and Maizie McLennan, Edith Sloan, Jack, Charlie,
Douglas, and Wilson Sloan, Annie, Dorothy, and Elsie Martin, John
Horne and Judith Rudd, and the great-grand-mother of Donald. Doreen,
and John Donaldson, aged 80 years.”
A
picture of Hannibal Sloan, age 17
Hannibal
married Martha Jane O’Donnell in Newtown, New South Wales in 1900.
Martha had been born in 1871 in Yass. They had a girl, Edith Isabel
Sloan in 1902 in Sydney. The Evening News (Sydney) of Friday 30th
March 1900, on page 8 under “MILITARY MATTERS. General French has
approved the appointment of Mr. Hannibal Sloan to the Permanent
Staff, as third-class color-sergeant instructor, on probation, with
pay at the rate of 6s 8d per diem, and the usual lodging allowance of
his rank. C.S. Sloan will be attached from this date to the Seventh
Regiment (St. George’s Rifles).” Hannibal was involved in a court
case in 1910 involving a person named Piggott, to do with a shooting
competition in New Zealand. The newspaper stated “Hannibal Sloan,
sergeant-major and instructor to St. George’s Rifles, stated that
on the day following the last stage of the King’s match Piggott
received £100 in notes at the pay window. Afterwards the £100 was
returned and he was led to believe it came from Piggott.” More
evidence was given, but the case was extended for a week and the
verdict was not noted. In the 1913 electoral roll, they were living
at Hampden Road and he was an instructor. Military Order 566 of 1913
is a seniority roll of Instructional Staff (Warrant and
Non-Commissioned Officers) and shows that Staff Regimental
Sergeant-Major H Sloan in the 2nd
Military District had Corps Seniority which was to date from 1st
May 1913.
Martha
Jane (Fan) and Edith Sloan in 1910
Hannibal
as a Sergeant Major
The
Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal was
awarded to Warrant Officer H Sloan, Staff RSM, Instructional Staff
2MD and recorded on Commonwealth Gazette (CG) Number 99, dated 28th
August 1915.
On
12th
August 1915, Hannibal enlisted as a Lieutenant in the 30th
Battalion (as part of the 8th
Infantry Brigade). It was raised in Liverpool on 5th
August 1915. His term of service was for the war and 4 months.
Hannibal reported for duty as Adjutant on 19th
August 1915 with the rank of Lieutenant, being promoted to Captain on
18th
October 1915. He embarked on HMAT Beltana A72 with the 30th
Battalion as Captain Adjutant at Sydney on 9th
November 1915, after being promoted on 18th
October. While being Adjutant, he was responsible for writing the War
Diary of the Battalion. Before going overseas, the diary was typed up
and it was signed H W Sloan, for some reason. No middle name is
documented for him. He was listed as a 44-year-old solider who was
married. His next of kin was his wife, Jane Sloan, and their address
was “Archray”, Hampton Road Artarmon, NSW. His religion was
Presbyterian and his rate of pay per day was 22 shillings and 6
pence. In his records, his Attestation Paper was missing, and a file
was put in stating that. It also had on the page Major Hannibal Sloan
30th
Battalion, with next of kin as Jane Sloan “Archray” “Handen”
Road Artarmon NSW. His Application for a Commission in the AIEF form
showed his educational qualifications were Superior Public School,
and his military qualifications were 3 years in the Victoria Mounted
Rifles, 3 years 3 months in Permanent Artillery (R.A.G.A.) and 15
years 3 months in Instructional Staff. His present civil employment
was S.R.S.M. (Warrant Officer) Instructional Staff, C.M. Forces. He
was a British Subject and was married. He dated it 24th
July 1915. The medical certificate stated he was 6-foot-tall, had a
chest measurement of 35½ to 40 inches, weighed 13 stone 2 pounds and
had good eyes. He was initially recommended to be a Lieutenant, but
that was crossed out with Captain and Adjutant written. They arrived
at Suez, where they disembarked on 11th
December 1915. On 16th
June 1916, he embarked at Alexandria to join the B.E.F., disembarking
at Marseilles on 23rd
June from HMAT Hororata. The 30th
Battalion headed for the Western Front, where their first major
battle was at Fromelles on 19th
July 1916. Initially tasked with carrying parties for supplies and
ammunition, the Battalion was soon drawn into the battle and was
involved in vicious fighting. After that battle, the Battalion was
rotated in and out of the front line, but was not involved in any
major offensives for the rest of the year.
His
signature on a page of the 30th
Battalion War Diary in April 1916.
On
4th
October 1916, he was promoted to Major and relinquished his
appointment of Adjutant. Hannibal was admitted to hospital with
bronchitis on 23rd
December 1916, re-joining the 30th
Battalion on 10th
January 1917 from the NZ Stationary Hospital at Amiens. He was
seconded for duty with 8th
Infantry Training Battalion in England on 1st
February 1917. On 25th
February 1917, he was admitted to Fovant Hospital at Hurdcott, being
sick. He was marched in to the 8th
Training Battalion at Hurdcott on 17th
March 1917.
A
note about allotments was sent by District Paymaster in Sydney on
29th
November 1916 from Staff Paymaster, which said “Herewith I forward
for necessary action allotments as follows: – Major, H. SLOAN, 30 th
Btn, 20/- p.d. from 4/10/16 in favor of (Wife) Mrs. J Sloan,
“Achray”, Hampden Road, Artarmon N.S.W. This cancels previous
allotment of 17/- p.d. in favour of the same allottee.”
On
9th
January 1917, Base Records sent Mrs M J Sloan at Archray, Hampden
Road Artarmon NSW a letter stating that “Major H.Sloan, was
admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital 25/12/16 suffering
from Bronchitis Mild.” A postal address was given as “SICK …
Major H.Sloan 30th
Australian Infantry in New Zealand Stationary Hospital. C/o A. I. F.
Headquarters, 130 Horseferry Road, Westminster, LONDON. S.W.” Also
a note saying that “SICK” should be written in red to “ensure
speedy delivery”.
A
Medical Board at Tidworth on 15th
October 1917 found him permanently unfit for general service and
unfit for home service for 6 months. He was to be invalided to
Australia.
The
District Paymaster at Victoria Barracks in Sydney on 23rd
August 1917 sent Base Records a note confirming their telegram
previously which said “AdminAust cables telegraph dates rates
allotment paid after embarkation Major S Sloan no trace here please
advise”. The reply from Base Records on 24th
August, stated “With reference to your telegram, E.47778, of the
23rd
instant, the nearest on records is Major Hannibal Sloan, (late 30th
Battalion), who joined the Australian Imperial Force at Sydney on
12/8/15, and embarked from the same District on 9/11/15, attached to
Head Quarters, 30th
Battalion.”
On
8th
December 1917, Jane signed for his Commission Form on a form from
base Records which noted Captain H Sloan 8th
Infantry Training Battalion (30th
Battalion).
He
returned to Australia on HT Ormonde on 25th
November 1917 “for Asthma Term of Appointment Struck off strength”.
At Durban, he re-embarked on Medic. In the Sydney Morning Herald NSW
of Saturday 29th
December 1917 on page 12, had under the heading: “RETURNING
SOLDIERS. The following invalided New South Wales soldiers have been
listed for return to Australia, and are actually on route from abroad
– Col. Reginald Spencer Browne, Lieut. Hy. Jas. Cox, Major Hannibal
Sloan, Pte John Alfred Hy. Annetts, Cpl Geo Fredk. Bidgood, Ptes
Phillip Brown….” On 22nd
January 1918, he disembarked at Melbourne, bound for Sydney. On 16th
April 1918, he was found unfit for further service at Sydney. His
appointment was terminated on 20th
April 1918.
An
application for war service leave gratuity was processed on 14th
March 1919.
A
short list of his appointments and promotions was produced by Base
Records on 10th
May 1921, which was issued to I.G.’s Department. His particulars to
his AIF service were recorded by Base Records on 10th
March 1924 and again on 23rd
August 1924. The second one was a shorter description of his service.
Hannibal
was awarded the Meritorious Service medal as Quarter Master &
Honourable Major H Sloan, Australian Instructional Corps (AIC) 2MD on
CG Number 38, dated 4th
May 1922.
After
the war, he published a book, “The Purple and Gold: a history of
the 30th Battalion, compiled by H. Sloan”.
In
1925, they must have visited England, as Major H Sloan, Mrs F Sloan
and Miss E Sloan boarded the Orient steamship Ormonde at London on
17th
October 1925, bound for Australia. He was a soldier aged 53, his wife
aged 52 and daughter 23 (both home duties). They were heading for
Sydney. Their address in England was listed as Australia House,
Strand.
He
wrote an article in Reveille in September 1935, an obituary for
Sergeant Robert Barnes, who had served with the Lancers in the Zulu
War and was with the First Field Ambulance on Lemnos during WW1. At
some stage after the war, he was the President of the 30th
Battalion Association.
In
the 1928 New South Wales directory and 1933, 1936 and 1937 electoral
rolls, they were living at 192 Hampton Road Artarmon, North Sydney
and he was a drill instructor. His service records were listed in
1928. Edith was still living with them and was a stenographer. No
other records are known for Edith. Martha passed away in 1941 in
Chatswood, New South Wales. They were still living there and he had
the same occupations in the 1943 roll.
“Reveille”
of 1st
June 1933 had an article on ““YOUNG” ROWLEY: 30th
BN MOUNT. On the march of the 30th
Bn. from Morbecque to Estaires in 1916 a halt was not called for many
weary miles owing to the column being longer than the distance
between estaminets. “Young” Rowley having dipped his feet in the
ditch to ease swollen feet, was unable to get his boots back on again
and continued on the march with these strung around his neck. In
compassion, Major Sloan lent his horse to “Young” Rowley, and so
the battalion was let into Estaires by two horsemen – Colonel
Clark, most immaculate; and “Young” Rowley, in bare feet with
boots around his neck. Colonel H. Sloan, ex-major-adjutant,
affectionately known as “Ted”, and Mr. R. E. Lording, Baksheesh
sig. corporal, then 16 years old and known as “Young” Rowley
recently met again (after seventeen years).” 81 Private Rowland
Lording embarked with the 30th
Battalion on 9th
November 1915 on HMAT Beltana A72 as well. He was an 18-year-old
bookkeeper from Burwood. In 1917, he was wounded and dangerously ill.
He returned to Australia, leaving England on 22nd
February 1917. The wounds were so grave, that he endured 53
operations, as a newspaper article in his medical file recorded. He
died in October 1944 of pneumonia, after suffering with hysteria and
delusions for a period of time. Alcohol and morphine played a role in
his demise. He left a wife and three children.
Hannibal
passed away on 10th
August 1945 in Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards. The Sydney
Morning Herald of 13th
August 1945 had “SLOAN. – August 10 1945, at Royal North Shore
Hospital, Hannibal, of 194 Hampden Road, Artarmon, dearly loved
father of Edith, aged 74 (late 1st
30th
Battalion, A.I.F.). Privately cremated.”
He
was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals, the
Permanent Forces of
the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal and Meritorious Service
Medal.
His
medals are named:
1914/15
Star. CAPTAIN H.
SLOAN. 30 BN. A.I.F.
British
War Medal. MAJOR H.
SLOAN A.I.F.
Victory
Medal. MAJOR H.
SLOAN A.I.F.
Permanent
Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas.
WAR.OFF. H. SLOAN INST STAFF.
Meritorious
Service Medal. Q.
M. & HON MAJ. H. SLOAN
John
James Sloan was awarded the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal for
being part of the NSW Contingent to England in 1897, to be part of
the Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria.
This
photo taken in 1908 shows three generations of the Sloan Family.
Isabella
Sloan (1850-1930) aged 58, Mother of Jack Sloan.
Jack
Sloan (1878-1961) aged 30.
John
Hannibal Sloan (1907-1972) aged 1 year, son of Jack Sloan.
He
married Alice Ridd in 1906 in Victoria. Alice had been born in 1873
in Molesworth too. Her father had come from England. They had 4 sons;
John Hannibal born 29th
July 1907 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Charles Lindsay born on 21st
March 1910 in Tamworth, Douglas Sloan born in 1912 and Wilson Sloan
born in 1914.
He
was also listed in the same Seniority Roll as his brother, as Staff
Sergeant-Major J Sloan in the 2nd
District, with Corps Seniority to date from 16th
August 1910.
John
enlisted on 27th
September 1914 at Holsworthy Sydney as 672 Staff Sargent Major in the
4th
Battalion at Kensington. The 4th
Battalion was one of the first battalions raised for the AIF,
recruiting in NSW. It formed the 1st
Brigade with the 1st,
2nd
and 3rd
Battalions. (A copy has the date the 27th
crossed out and 28th
written and ticked for his enlistment). He was a 35-year old military
instructor who was married to Olive Sloan. She lived at Douglas
Street Armidale NSW. He had just stated his name as John Sloan. He
was a Natural Born British Subject of 36 years old, as recorded on
another copy of his Attestation Form. John served for 8 years in the
RAA before transferring to Instructional Staff for 10 years and was
then still serving. On the embarkation roll for the 4th
Battalion, he was a 35-year old soldier, who was married and living
at Douglas Street Armidale. His wife, Alice Sloan of the same address
was his next of kin and his religion was Presbyterian. The
embarkation roll stated he joined on 28th
August 1914. Before embarking, he was entitled to a pay of 12
shillings a day. They embarked on 20th
October 1914 on HMAT Euripides A14 from Sydney. There was a brief
stop in Albany before proceeding to Egypt.
A
rather poor newspaper picture of him during the war.
They
arrived at Suez and disembarked on 6th
December 1914. He embarked on Lake Michigan on 5th
April 1915 at Alexandria to join the MEF for the Gallipoli Campaign.
The Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 25th
April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. Their Commander was
killed the next day. The battalion then took part in the defence of
the beachhead.
On
15th
June 1915, John was admitted to 1st
Clearing Station on Gallipoli and transferred to the fleet sweeper.
After being sent to HMS Clacton on 16th
June 1915, he was sent to No 1 Stationary Hospital on the 17th.
From SS Minewaska, John was admitted to No 15 General Hospital in
Alexandria on 21st
June 1915 with a nervous breakdown. He was listed as a 37-year old
with 19 years’ service and 9 months service in the Field Force.
John was admitted with neurasthenia and was transferred on 20th
July 1915 on HMT Wandilla to England. John was admitted to 3rd
London General Hospital at Wandsworth on 1st
August 1915 with neurasthenia. Another record has him entering the
hospital on 31st
July 1915 with debility and being discharged on 5th
August 1915 to Depot. 672 Sergeant Major J. Sloan of the 4th
Battalion was admitted to 1st
Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park from MEF at
Dardanelles on 20th
August 1915, with shell shock. A medical report done at Harefield on
23rd
August 1915 showed that 672 Staff Sergeant Major John Sloan of the
4th
Battalion, whose former trade was regular army, had a disability of
nerve shock. It started on 15th
June 1915 at Gallipoli, while on active service, where he was badly
shocked by an explosive shell and since then was weak, nervous, had
bad headaches etc. The repost said currently he was “nervous,
sleeping badly- tremor hands- unable to do anything the least
arduous”. It was recommended he be discharged as he was permanently
unfit for war service. John was rated at half capacity to earn a full
livelihood. He was discharged from hospital on 21st
September 1915 after 33 days of treatment for furlough as he was
unfit.
His
wife was sent a letter from Base Records on 13th
August 1915 advising her that John was sick and had been admitted to
a hospital in London, and with no other reports it was assumed that
things were progressing favourably.
On
20th
November 1915, he returned to Australia on A29 Suevic with nerve
shock, after leaving Plymouth on 8th
October 1915. On 5th
January 1916 at Sydney, a medical history continuation form stated
his capacity to earn a livelihood in the general labour market was
lessened to one half. The Board recommended that at present he did
not need to be discharged as permanently unfit and recommended
one-month further treatment. Another review on 2nd
February 1916 stated he was at ½ to ¾, was not to be discharged at
present and the general recommendations recorded “He is still below
par, some muscle tremor, and tachycardia, pulse 108. He might be
discharged to take up his usual work on the instruction al staff.
some occupation may be good for him, but he is not fit to take up
arduous duty. We would advise that he be kept under medical
observation for another month as an out patient.” On 1st
March 1916, his capacity was lessened to ¼ and he was to be
discharged as permanently unfit. The general recommendations stated
“Fit for home service though not for the more arduous forms. Some
employ ment will be beneficial ,to his health.” It was signed by a
Colonel PMO in the 2nd
Military District. He was discharged at Sydney as medically unfit on
2nd
March 1916. His disability was listed as shell shock and
neurasthenia. A letter from District Headquarters in Sydney to the
Secretary, Department of Defence in Melbourne containing information
from his Medical Board proceedings, which were finalised and were to
be sent to Base Records for filing. Base Records received them on the
14th.
John
applied for an incapacity pension, but it was rejected. The form
stated 672 Warrant Officer J Sloan 4th
Battalion of Roscrae Avenue Randwick had the claim rejected as
“Claimant is not incapacitated in view of employment on Home
service.” The forms also listed John H Sloan as a child, Charles L
Sloan as a child, Douglas L Sloan as a child and Alice Sloan as his
wife. The form was dated 27th
July 1916 in Sydney.
He
was awarded the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long
Service Medal as Warrant Officer J Sloan, Staff RSM, Instructional
Staff 2MD on CG Number 82, dated 7th
June 1917. His application for war service leave gratuity was passed
on 4th
April 1919. He also has a collection of letters at the AWM –
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C261941
.
On
11th
June 1919 at Holsworthy, John enlisted in the Special AIF as 86045
Warrant Officer (Class I). His pay book number was 518148. He was a
natural born British Subject of 41 3/12 years (born 3/4/78) current
occupation was listed as a solider, had not been an apprentice, was
married, with his wife Alice Sloan being next of kin. Their address
was Arabian 13 Avoca Street Randwick NSW. His will, number 35476, was
held by Base Records. John had 9 years in RAGA, 12 5/12 years with
Instructional Staff and 1 7/12 years with the AIF as his previous
service. His height was 6-foot, weight 168 pounds, chest measurement
35 inches and he had a dark complexion with hazel eyes and black
hair. His religion was Church of England. He was involved with
special transport and embarked at Sydney on Ypiringa on 13th
August 1919, with deportees for Europe. He disembarked at London on
12th
October 1919 and reported to AIF Headquarters in London and was
granted leave to report to AIF HQ, for transfer to No 2 Group Sutton
Veny. He was granted a couple of extensions, to 10th
November 1919, when he marched into the Depot at Berwick. On 6th
December 1919, he left on the Shropshire, disembarking at Sydney on
30th
January 1920. While at sea on the ship, he was admitted to the ship’s
hospital on 5th
January 1920 and discharged on the 13th.
John was discharged in the 2nd
Military District on 14th
February 1920. Another service record has his service number as
85876, crossed out with 86045 written above and also below N97357 and
N97171, both crossed out. His unit was listed as Escort German
Repatriation. A military conduct sheet for him for that time had no
entries on it.
On
16th
July 1920, Base Records replied to Finance Member about No. 86045 WO
Class 1 J Sloan, Special Services, and stated that “Certified Copy
of Attestation Sheet for abovenamed soldier herewith. Nominal roll at
embarkation shows ranks as W.O. (Class 1.) with rate of pay 14/- per
diem.”
He
was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as Warrant Office Cl 1 J
Sloan, Australian Instructional Corps 2MD on CG Number 46, dated 25th
May 1922.
There
are two records at National Archives under the name John Sloan, one
dated 1926 for an “Application for Letters Patent for an invention
by John Sloan” titled, “Improvements in or relating to rock
packs, pillars or like supports for use in mine workings” in
Canberra, and the other in 1942 for “Department of Supply and
Development- Staff – Sloan, John” in the Darwin records. Neither
are online, so it is not known if either are the same John Sloan.
On
9th
July 1925, Base Records sent the Department of Repatriation in Sydney
documents relating to the service of John Sloan in the AIF. There
were records from his period of service as 672 SSM in the 4th
Battalion and also included a list of what he did as 86045 WOI in
Special Service.
Between
the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls, they were living at 10 Centennial
Avenue, Randwick North, and John was a drill instructor. Alice wrote
to Base Records on 20th
January 1942, asking “I have been unfortunate to lose the Badge
that was issued to me (and all wives & mothers) of men who served
in the Great War 1914-1918. I feel the loss of it keenly & would
be very grateful if you would let me know if there is any chance of
me getting a duplicate of same.” A letter from Base Records to Mrs
A Sloan of 9a Avoca Street Randwick Sydney on 28th
January 1942 read “In reply to your letter of the 20th
January, 1942, relative to the replacement of a Next of Kin Badge
issued in respect of the service in the A.I.F. of No.672, W.O. Sloan,
J., 4th
Battalion, I have to advise that the cost of replacement of this
badge is 6/4d., and on receipt of your remittance for this amount
together with the enclosed form of Statutory Declaration duly
completed, a new badge will be forwarded to you.” She sent the
postal note and declaration back with the original letter. In the
statutory declaration she stated that she lost the next of kin badge
during alterations to their home about two years before. She was
wearing the badge at the time and thought it must have fallen from
her dress and been lost in the builder’s debris. She had searched
since, not being able to find it. It was also signed by a JP. By the
1943 roll, they had moved to 9A Avoca Street, still in Randwick North
and he was still a drill instructor. On 8th
March 1944, Alice passed away at Randwick. For subsequent rolls, he
was still there and had the same occupation, up to and including the
1958 roll. He passed away on 4th
January 1961 in Wentworth Hospital in Randwick and his funeral was
held at, and he was cremated at Eastern Suburbs Crematorium on 6th
January. His ashes were taken from the Crematorium.
His
medals are 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, the Queen
Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Permanent Forces of the Empire
Beyond the Seas Long Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
His
medals are named:
1914/15
Star. 672 W.O. (CL
2) J. SLOAN 4/BN. A.I.F.
British
War Medal. 672
W.O/2. J. SLOAN. 4/BN. A.I.F.
Victory
Medal. W.O.2. J.
SLOAN. 4 BN. A.I.F.
1897
Diamond Jubilee Medal. Unnamed
Permanent
Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas. W
O J SLOAN S R.S.M. IS 2ND
MD
Meritorious
Service Medal (GV). W.O.
(1) J. SLOAN A.I.C.
Their
brother James Sloan also enlisted. James had been born on 25th March
1888 in Molesworth Victoria. He enlisted as 1679 Private James Sloan
in the Reinforcements of the Australian Naval and Military
Expeditionary Force. He was a single 36-year old, and Area Officer in
the 2nd
Military District, living at Randwick and his next of kin was his
mother, Mrs I Sloan of Centennial Avenue Randwick. He joined on 29th
October 1918 in Bathurst with a daily rate of 6 shillings. He
embarked on 18th December 1918 aboard SS Melusia from Sydney and went
to Rabaul. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He was 5
foot, 9½ inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, had a chest measurement
from 34 to 37 inches, and was of dark complexion, with brown eyes and
dark hair. He signed for two years’ service. James was promoted to
Sergeant on 20th
February 1919 and CQMS on 5th
June 1919. On 27th
May 1919, he was taken on strength of Rabaul Garrison from Kokopo.
While at Kokopo, he was Police master. After being of furlough, he
embarked on SS Marsina at Sydney on 22nd
May 1920. He was discharged in New South Wales on 24th
December 1920. Afterwards, he complained of being debilitated, the
result of malaria. He married Thelma Phairess Barnes in 1933 and they
had one child, Emily (that is known of). In 1941, he applied for war
medals, only to be told he embarked for New Guinea after the signing
of the Armistice, and so was not entitled to any. At that time, he
was living at “Eurangai” 251 Oxford Street Bondi Junction. James
died on 30th
March 1948, as a result of an accident when he fell off a scaffold at
the construction site for the Hay War Memorial High School. He was
privately cremated.
James
Sloan
With
the rest of their family: –
Agnes
Sloan, born on 20th
August 1880 in Yea, married on 14th
September 1921, as noted in Sydney Morning Herald, of Wednesday 2nd
November 1921 on page 10 “RUDD-SLOAN.-September 14, at the
Methodist Church, Randwick, by the Rev. F. E. Fletcher. George
Wilson, son of the late Henry Watson and of Mrs. Rudd, of Cherry Tree
Hill, Inverell to Agnes (Nancy), daughter of the late John Hannibal
and of Mrs Sloan, of Randwick.” She died in 1966 in Inverell. Her
husband was a farmer and they lived in Cherry Tree Hill at Warialda
in the 1949 electoral roll. He predeceased her on 1st
September 1949 in Lewisham Private Hospital and was buried in
Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.
Katie
married Alex McLennan (1868-1945) and passed away in 1945 in New
South Wales.
Emily
married Arthur Horne (1876-) and died in 1958.
Isabel
died in 1961 in Chatswood. Nothing else is known about her.
With
John James Sloan’s sons: –
John
Hannibal Sloan, born on 29th
July 1907, had a court case in 1927, where he was accused of
assaulting a female and committing an act of indecency to a Moya
Olsen. He was tried in court on 5th
August 1927 and was acquitted. It was recorded in the New South Wales
Police Gazette of 21st
September 1927. The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 6th
August 1927 on page 12, also recorded the result under the heading
“QUARTER SESSIONS. (Before Judge Scholes.) Crown Prosecutor, Mr L
J. McKean
ACQUITTED.
John
Hannibal Sloan, 19, clerk, was charged with Indecently assaulting a
little girl, 12 years and three months of age, at a picture show in
Sydney on July 12. Mr. J. W. Abigail appeared for the accused. At the
close of the Crown case, the jury acquitted the accused without
leaving the box, and he was discharged.”
In
the 1930 electoral roll, he was living at 10 Centennial Avenue and
was a clerk.
In
1932 in Randwick, he married Elizabeth Linn. Elizabeth had been born
in about 1896 and had migrated to Sydney with her daughter Muriel,
leaving London on 22nd
December 1927 and arriving at Sydney on 30th
January 1928. She was stated as being Mrs. on the passenger list, but
there was no Mister. She was about 9 years older than him.
Unfortunately, nothing else is known about her or if they had a
family. In the 1935 electoral roll, they were living at 1 Calmray,
Thorpe Street Clovelly in New South Wales and he was a clerk.
John
enlisted on 19th
July 1940 as Private NX59848 in Paddington New South Wales. His
nominal roll says he was born in Waratah and was living in Randwick
when he enlisted. Elizabeth was listed as his next of kin.
Unfortunately, his service records are not yet examined and are not
open for viewing, so not much else of his war service is known. He
was discharged as a Private in the 2/4 Australian Pioneer Battalion
on 5th
January 1946. He received no gallantry awards and was entitled to the
medals below.
He
wrote a copy of the family genealogy, which had been handed down to
him from his Grandfather and showed the family heritage back to James
Lusk, an officer born in London in 1610. It showed where the name
Hannibal came from and how it carried through the family. Stories of
various family members were also written.
Between
the 1949 and 1963 electoral rolls, they were living at 9 Avoca Street
in Randwick North and he was a clerk. John died on 9th
January 1972 in Newtown, New South Wales. The Sydney Morning Herald
published his death notice twice, on the 10th
and 11th
of January, noting he was late of Randwick.
His
medals are 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War
Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Charles
Lindsay Sloan, born 1910, lived at 10 Centennial Avenue, Randwick
North between the 1933 and 1937 electoral rolls and gave his
occupation as printer. He married Muriel Dorothy Linn in 1938 in
Randwick. She could be the daughter of Muriel Linn, who married his
brother John.
Charles
enlisted in the Australian Army on 27th
June 1940 at Paddington as Private NX55188, and was living in
Randwick at the time. Muriel was listed as his next of kin. His
service records also have not been examined yet and are not online to
view. He was discharged on 23rd
October 1945 from the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion. The outline of what the
2/3 Pioneer Battalion did is listed here from the AWM –
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56187
.
In
1946, he was living in Randwick as a painter. Charles passed away on
15th
May 1947 at Prince Henry Hospital in Randwick. He was buried in
Randwick General Cemetery, South Coogee in the Methodist Section
Vault 72. The plaque has Private NX55188 Australian Infantry A.I.F.
2/3 Pnr. Bn. on it and his grave is looked after by CWGC. His will
reads “329050 SLOAN CHARLES LINDSAY LATE OF Randwick near Sydney in
the State of New South Wales- Printer. THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT of me CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN of 9 Avoca Street, Randwick
near Sydney in the State of New South Wales Member of the Australian
Imperial Forces I REVOKE all former Wills heretofore made by me I
GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the whole of my estate both real and
personal of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situate to my Father JOHN
HANNIBAL SLOAN AND I APPOINT my Father the said JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN
Sole Executer and Trustee of this my will IF HOWEVER my father the
said John Hannibal Sloan should predecease me THEN I GIVE DEVISE AND
BEQUEATH the whole of my estate to my brother JOHN HANNIBAL SLOAN
Junior and in that event I APPOINT my brother the said JOHN HANNIBAL
SLOAN Junior sole Executor and Trustee of this my will. IN WITNESS
whereof I have hereunto set my hand to this my will at Sydney this
twenty eight day of April one thousand nine hundred and forty-four.
CHARLES
LINDSAY SLOAN. SIGNED
AND ACKNOWLEDGED by the Testator the said CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN as
and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us both
present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in
the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as
witnesses; – ALFRED J. MORGAN, Solr. & Notary, Sydney. J. Brown,
Clerk, Sydney. 7th
August 1947. On
this date Probate of the last will of the above-named deceased was
granted to JOHN JAMES SLOAN (in the will called John Hannibal Sloan)
the sole Executor in the said will. TESTATOR died on the 15th
May, 1947. ESTATE SWORN at the sum of £1,276;17;5 nett.” The
Sydney Morning Herald published his death notice on 17th
May 1946. He is on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial
on panel 74 in the Commemorative Area. The memorial states he died of
unspecified causes. He is buried in Randwick General Cemetery, NSW,
Australia, in the Methodist Section, Vault 72.
There
were two entries in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday 17th
May 1947 in page 38 under the section headed “DEATHS
SLOAN, Charles Lindsay.-May 15, 1947, at Prince Henry Hospital
(suddenly), Charles Lindsay Sloan (late 2,3 Pioneer Battalion),
dearly loved son of J. J. and the late Alice Sloan, of 9 Avoca
Street, Randwick, aged 37 years.
SLOAN, Charles Lindsay.-May 15,
1947. Charles Lindsay Sloan (late of 2/3 Pioneer Battalion), dearly
loved brother of Jack. Douglas, and Wilson, loving brother-in-law of
Betty and Monica, and dear uncle of Betty. John. Alice, and
Lorraine.”
The
next newspaper entry for him is in the Sydney Morning Herald on
Thursday 22 May 1947 in page 19, under “LEGAL NOTICES
IN
the Will of CHARLES LINDSAY SLOAN late of Randwick near Sidney in the
State of New South Wales Printer deceased. Application will be made
after 14 days from the publication hereof that Probate of the last
Will and Testament dated 28th April 1944 of the abovenamed deceased
may be granted to John James Sloan (in the Will called John Hannibal
Sloan) the solo Executor in the said Will named and all notices may
be served at the undermentioned address All creditors in the Estate
of the deceased are hereby required to send in particulars of their
claims to the undersigned Alfred J Morgan & Son. Proctors for the
Executor, Federal Mutual Chambers 129 Pitt Street, Sidney.” Probate
was granted on 7th
August 1947 and is recorded at the Western Sydney Records Centre in
Kingswood.
His
medals are 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th
Army clasp, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and
Australian Service Medal.
There was also Douglas Luton Sloan born about 1912 and died in 1977, and Sidney Wilson Sloan born about 1918 and died in 1956. No other records can be found for them apart for them being mentioned in the death notice record in the newspaper as above for Charles.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.
