Flying Officer Brian Ross Appleton Coulter 401914

RAAF

by Robert Simpson

Brian Ross Appleton Coulter was born in Ballarat Victoria, the only son and child to Graham Coulter and Violet Alice Palmer, on 22^nd August 1910. Their story is noted in Graham’s records. After WW1 Graham did not go home, so Brian was brought up by his mother, with the help of others. His life and war stories are wonderfully covered by his eulogy and his own story of his involvement in the war, so this will be a summary of his life with reference to those stories needed.

He is listed in the 1931 and 1936 Electoral Rolls as living at Geelong Grammar School in Geelong North and he was the schoolmaster. In 1938 Brian was in England and he left there on the Rimutaka on 8^th December, bound for Australia. He was listed as a single schoolmaster of 28 years old with his address in the United Kingdom as c/o National Bank of Australia.

Brian enlisted in the RAAF on 26^th April 1941 and listed his wife as next of kin (although they had not married yet!). He was given the service number 401914.

Brian married Valda Beatrice Simpson on 15^th June 1942 in Victoria. Valda had been born on 16^th July 1903 in Victoria, a daughter to James Robert Douglas Simpson and Mabel Annie Davey. Before the war she was living in Camberwell, Victoria and was a nurse. Her father had been born in New Zealand and eventually became a storekeeper in Victoria.

The 1942 Electoral Roll still had Brian as a schoolmaster at Geelong Grammar even though he was in the RAAF. On 14^th October 1942 he was involved in a flying accident which occurred at Laverton Aerodrome in the afternoon. It was a Lockheed Hudson A16-224 of 13 Squadron. Brian, a Sergeant at the time, was not flying the plane which crashed from 10 feet and caught fire due to the plane stalling as a result of the port engine failing. Brian and two other Sergeants were slightly injured, but the pilot, P/O H C McDonald was seriously injured and Staff Sergeant D M Cowan of the AIF was dangerously injured. Apparently he was a stowaway on the plane. The plane was written off. He was discharged on 6^th February 1945 as a Flying Officer with 7^th Service Flying Training School.

In 1946 their only daughter and child, Susan, was born.

The 1949 and 1954 rolls have them still at Geelong Grammar and he was still schoolmaster.

In April 1957 they went on a cruise from Sydney to England on the Otranto, arriving in London on 12^th May 1957. He was listed as a teacher and Valda as a housewife and they left their address while there as c/o National Bank of Australia, Strand. On the record they intended to stay for 9 months as tourists, but on 15^th November 1957 they left on the Himalaya back to Sydney.

The 1963 and 1968 rolls have them living at 13 Jackson Street Toorak and Brian was still a schoolmaster. From 1972 to 1980 rolls they were living at Breens Terrace, Ferny Creek, Sherbrooke and he was a teacher.

Valda passed away in February 1996 and Brian on 25^th August 1997 in Ferntree Gully, Victoria.

Susan was also a teacher and married Lothar Oelze sometime after 1980. Lothar was born in 1939 and passed away in 2009.

His medals are 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

This is a copy of his eulogy.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Brigadier Roy Victor Cutler MBE MC MiD

2^nd Field Company Engineers

8th Field Company Engineers

1st Australian Divisional Engineers

Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine and Trans-Jordan WW2

Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine WW2

Chief Engineer in Palestine WW2

by Robert Simpson

Roy Victor Cutler was born on 1^st November 1892 in Melbourne Victoria (according to the England death index and one service record, but another service record has 30^th September 1892 and a birth announcement in the newspaper has 31^st October). He was a son of Charles Frederick Cutler and Elizabeth Selina Cornish who had been married in 1886. He had another brother, Charles Ebenezer Cutler who was born in 1888 in Clifton Hill in Victoria. Charles Ebenezer Cutler started off as a watchmaker and then moved into his Father’s business of importing. Charles Frederick Cutler had been born in Collingwood in 1858 and had a business in Little Collins Street Melbourne, which imported watchmakers’ and jewellers’ material and tools. He married Elizabeth Selina Cornish in 1886 in Victoria. His parents were Charles Cutler and Eliza Martha Dixon. Charles had arrived in Melbourne about 1850.and was killed on 25^th December 1881 during the collision of the S.S. Julia Percy and the S.S. Nelson. It would seem he fell between the ships after the collision and drowned. He was a builder and had a large influence in Collingwood and was at a time an auditor of municipal accounts for Collingwood and Richmond. Elizabeth Cornish’s father, Ebenezer, was an importer of glass shades and manufacturer of jeweller’s showcases. His wife, Selina, passed away in 1880 at 38 years of age.

Roy worked as an apprentice in the Public Works Department in Melbourne according to his Attestation Form. In Military Orders, dated 24^th June 1912, in the 3^rd Military District in the Corps of Australian Engineers, Roy Victor Cutler was to be a 2^nd Lieutenant (provisionally), supernumerary to the establishment pending absorption. By the 1914 Electoral Roll he was living at Shoobra Rd Easternwick and was listed as an architect. He was living with his parents, as their address was listed as 73 Shoobra Rd in the Electoral Roll and, when he married, as “Dalriada” Shoobra Rd, Easternwick. He was also in the Citizen’s Militia Force from 24^th June 1912 to 26^th August 1914.

Roy was appointed in the AIF on 26^th August 1914 and was allotted to the 2^nd Field Company Engineers as a 2^nd Lieutenant. He had previously been with the 7^th Field Company Australian Engineers in the Australian Military Forces for 2 years and 2 months as a Lieutenant; and before that 1 year in the infantry as a Private and 3 years in the Australian Field Artillery, two of which were as Corporal. He had secondary educational qualifications, was working as an architect and was single. The physical description noted he was 5 foot 9 inches tall, weighed 12 stone 2 pounds, had a chest measurement of 41.5 inches and had normal eyesight. His father was next of kin at Shoobra Rd, which was also still his address. His pay book number was 193381. A Military Order on 23^rd September 1914, under the Precedence of AIF Officers has him listed in the 2^nd Lieutenants list as number 32.

The Engineers embarked on HMAT A3 Orvieto on 21^st October 1914 and arrived at Alexandria on 5^th December. His religion was stated as Congregational on one form and Presbyterian on another. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1^st February 1915. They proceeded to join the MEF at Gallipoli on 5th April 1915. He was sent to the 1^st Australian Stationary Hospital at Mudros with neurasthenia on 14^th July, arriving there on the 17^th. It was noted as slight and he was discharged to duty on the 26^th and left on the S. S. Aragon on the 27^th. A promotion to Captain in the 5^th Field Engineers on 26^th July, upon transfer to them on that date, was recorded. After travelling on the Minneapolis to Alexandria, he disembarked for duty on 29^th July. On 4^th August 1915 he was transferred from 2^nd Field Company Engineers, 1^st Australian Division to 2^nd Division Engineers, 2^nd Australian Division. At Russell’s Top on 16^th September Captain Cutler commenced a survey of the mining system and trenches at the Top. It was decided to tunnel a new and better firing line. In November 1915, with Lance Corporal Moy, he set a charge at the end of a gallery and fired it as Turks could be heard scraping from the other side. A small charge had to be placed at the end of tunnel H1. They fired it and had to do it again in three days time. He was attached to the 4^th Field Company Engineers on 3^rd December 1915 and returned to his unit at Mudros for duty on the 18^th.

While in Egypt he was involved in the construction of an 85-foot suspension bridge on a canal near Maadi with the 2^nd Field Company Royal Australian Engineers. There is a picture of its construction. Roy was appointed Major and transferred to the 4^th Field Company on 5^th March 1916 to command it.

Informal portrait of Second Lieutenant (Lt) Roy Victor “Butcher” Cutler, 2nd Field Company Engineers. 1915.

Outdoor portrait of a group of Australian officers in Martyn’s Lane near Divisional Headquarters, Gallipoli. Identified from left to right are: Chaplain (Padre) Walter Ernest Dexter; Captain Roy Victor Cutler, 2nd Field Company Engineers; Lieutenant Thomas Hastie, 5th Battalion; Captain James Herbert Mirams, 2nd Field Company Engineers (died on 19 August 1916 of wounds received in France); and Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Henry Foott, Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General 1st Australian Division. 1915.

He embarked on the Canada from Alexandria for France on 1^st June 1916 and disembarked on the 9^th at Marseilles to join the BEF. On the 3^rd June 1916 the London Gazette recorded that Captain Roy Victor Cutler, Australian Engineers was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads: – “For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in mining operations at RUSSELLS TOP particularly on the following occasions. On Nov.10^th 1915 he crawled along a tunnel and laid and tamped a 15lb charge of guncotton against a Turkish barricade in spite of a heavy hostile fire. On the same evening he placed a 60lb. charge of guncotton against the face of an underground gallery which was only 12 inches from where the Turks were working on the other side. On Nov.12^th 1915 he, in company with another officer, crawled along a gallery and laid and tamped a 15lb. charge of guncotton against a Turkish sand-bag barricade on the other side of which was a hostile sentry who fired over it continuously.” The record was from Russell’s Top Anzac from 10^th to 12^th November 1915 while he was with the 8^th Field Company of 2^nd Australian Division Engineers and recognised his work in the birthday honours list of June 1916. Another entry in 13^th July 1916 referring to the despatch of General Sir Charles Munro’s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force mentioned Roy for distinguished and gallant services rendered during that period. A letter was sent from Base Records to his father on 22^nd September 1916 detailing the award of his Military Cross for distinguished service in the field for Major Roy Victor Cutler of 4^th Field Company Engineers, which was promulgated in the London Gazette No. 29608 of 3^rd June 1916. On 2^nd December 1916 his father was sent a letter from Base Records detailing his Mention in Despatches from General Sir Charles Munro for distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of his command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force which included the name of Major Roy Victor Cutler Engineers. It was promulgated in the London Gazette of 11^th July 1916, Fourth Supplement No. 29664. On 12^th February 1917 he was sent to Engineer Training School in England and was seconded to command the Engineering Training Depot there. At Boulogne he embarked for England on the 14^th and marched into the Depot on the 20^th. He was seconded to Command Engineer Training Depot in England on 12^th February 1917.

On 3^rd October 1917 he married Evelyn Westropp in Melford Place, Lavenham in England. The service was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. Members of Roy’s corps who were in London formed a guard of honour and they walked under a steel arch formed by their bayonets. Two Reverends officiated. Afterwards they left for London. It would appear that she was the only child of Charles Henry Westropp and Alice Maud Smee, who were married on 2^nd October 1894 in West Kensington, St Andrew. Charles was a farmer and a landowner, and employed other people on their farm which was at Melford Place. They both passed away in 1942. Roy and Evelyn had three children; Patricia R, born on 20^th August 1918 in Melford Place and died April 1998 in Essex, Nancy, born on 12^th January 1920 in Melford Place (not confirmed) and a son (according to another family tree) with the first initial R born in 1921 (possibly in India or Gibraltar, not in England). There is a record for a Rose L Cutler born in Roorkee in India in 1921, which could be their third child. Roorkee was the base for the Bengal Engineer Group and was the first town in its state to have hydroelectricity in 1920. Good reasons for Roy to be there, if he was at that time. Patricia married in 1940 and her birth in England was noted in the Argus of Melbourne which also noted that Roy was now of the British Imperial Army, India. No other details are known about the other two children.

He proceeded overseas to France on 11^th December 1917 and marched in to A.G.B.D. on the 12^th and marched out to 4^th Division Engineers on the 15th. On 16^th December 1917 he was temporarily attached to Command Company, ceased to be seconded with Engineer Training Depot and resumed regimental duty and was temporarily attached to and to command 13^th Company Australian Engineers. He relinquished temporary command on the 30^th.

The London Gazette of 7^th January 1918 has that Major Roy Victor Cutler M.C. was to be a Member of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It was also published in some Australian newspapers. A letter was sent to the Secretary of Works and Railways in Melbourne on 15^th June 1918 detailing his award of the MBE. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 4^th March 1918 on being appointed to a permanent Commission in the Indian Army. A release form was filled out with this information for him to sign in India, but it was not done. A letter dated 19^th January 1918 about him noted he had been selected for transfer on probation to the Indian Army and had been granted leave, but he had to report back when advised of his sailing date to India, so they could terminate his appointment in the AIF. He embarked on 5^th March 1918. A cablegram to Melbourne advised Administrative Headquarters AIF that he was appointed a commission in the Indian Army. A statement of active and deferred pay account was done and calculations showed he was owed over 55 pounds.

A note in his service records for particulars to go on the nominal roll is dated 22^nd October 1914, but lists him as Major R V Cutler MBE MC, with next of kin as Evelyn in Suffolk and details for her Commonwealth Bank account in England. So these would have to have been written, and apply to, after he was married in late 1917. It stated his pay book number as 142956 and with his rate of pay, 5 shillings was to be deferred, 20 shillings allotted and 10 shillings net. The London Gazette of 15^th April 1918, under Infantry General List, has an entry that Major R. V. Cuter, M.B.E., M.C., from Australian Imperial Force was to be a temporary Lieutenant on appointment as probated to the Indian Army on 5^th March 1918.

A telegram from Cutler on 20^th May 1918 reads:- “General Griffiths Adminaust London = Find Indian climate impossible kindly advise my position Australian Imperial Force should I elect be returned to England second thirtyfourth Sikhs Sialkot”, so the climate in India did not agree with him. On 23^rd May a letter is sent to Headquarters enquiring of their instructions for the reply to be sent back to him. The reply stated that provided the Indian Army authorities are willing to release him, and he returned to England, he would be re-appointed into the AIF as a Major with seniority on his re-appointment date. That reply was cabled to him on 13^th June 1918. On 24^th June Roy sent a cable asking if his original cable had been received, so he had obviously not received the reply. The Indian Government did accept his resignation and he left for England, to report to Administrative Headquarters AIF. He had to pass medical tests to be re-appointed and he arrived in October.

He was discharged from a commission in the Indian Army in London on 21^st October 1918 and appointed to the AIF on the 22nd. From England he travelled to France and was taken on strength of 1st Australian Division and posted as supernumerary to establishment. After the war he had applied for his medals through the British Army, who recorded on his Medal index Card that they referred the request to the AIF Officer who applied on his behalf and they were to be issued by the Defence Department in Melbourne. His service record also has that he was in the Indian Army from 5^th March 1918 to 21^st October 1918. He has another Attestation Form dated 22^nd October 1918, as a Major in the Engineers A.I.F. with seniority from that date. It was noted that his previous service was with 4^th F.C.E. as Major with appointment terminated on 4^th March 1918. It lists his age as 25 and 11/12 years with date of birth as 1^st November 1892. Evelyn is noted as his next of kin, at Long Melford and it also has a reference to his father at Shoobra Rd, and then 38 Were Rd. Brighton Beach and a stamp to also notify secretary at works and railway Melbourne. Their permanent address in Australia was Shoobra Rd Easternwick. Roy was described as 25 years and 11 months old, 5 foot 10.75 inches tall, weighed 182 pounds, with a chest measurement of 39 to 42.5 inches. He had a fair complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair and had a red mole in the centre of his chest and 1 vaccination mark on his left upper arm. A letter from The Secretary, Department of Defence to the Administrative Headquarters AIF in London on 29^th October 1918 confirmed the re-appointment and relinquishment of his appointment in the Indian Army. On 24^th October 1918 he reported to Engineer Training Depot for duty. He was taken on strength of 2^nd Field Company Engineers on 1^st December 1918 and posted as supernumerary to establishment. He was transferred to the Military Division of the Order as published in the London Gazette of 27^th December 1918. On 1^st February 1919 he was transferred to 3^rd Flied Company Engineers and on 2^nd April transferred to Headquarters 1^st Division Engineers as C.R.E. In February 1919 he went on leave to Paris and then had leave in England during March and April of 1919.

He also went back to France in April and May of 1919 and then returned to England in late May. The 1919 Electoral Roll has him living again at Shoobra Rd with his occupation as an architect, but it may simply be an error, carried on from the last roll before the war. A Record of Non-Military Employment for was filled out which details his work as gaining experience in farming with Mr C H Westropp, Long Melford, Suffolk (Evelyn’s father). The duration of employment was from 22^nd May 1919 to 22^nd August 1919. No date of re-embarkation from Australia was listed. He was paid at 1 pound 15 shillings a day, with a subsistence allowance of 6 shillings a day and railway warrants to the value of 13 pounds. He was not issued money for work clothes or tools. The course was completed on the finishing date, no diploma or certificate was issued and he received a satisfactory report from his employer. In September and October he had more leave and then was marched out for disposal and return to Australia.

The family did embark on the Wahehe on 30^th October 1919 from London England, listed as Major Roy Victor Cutler with wife and one child, but it does not state where their destination was, but it is certain to be Australia. A medical report was done while he was on the ship on 13^th November 1919. The report for Major Roy Victor Cutler MC MBE of 1^st F.C.E. stated he had no sickness or concerns and he was fit for general service. He was described as being 5 foot 10.5 inches tall, chest measurement of 35 to 39 inches, with fair complexion, hazel eyes and fair hair. Roy had a vaccination mark high on his left arm and no disability. His service record notes he was struck off strength. They disembarked in Melbourne on 13^th December 1919. His mother wrote to Base Records on 6^th December 1919 advising them of the change of address to 8 Were St. Brighton Beach and asking for tickets to go and admitted to the Depot when Roy came in on the Wahehe and to send them to the Brighton Beach address. A reply from Base Records on the 10^th advised her that his wife was listed as next of kin, and that is why she was not notified of his arrival (even though she knew of it) and enclosing the admission tickets. A record shows his appointment being terminated in the AIF at Melbourne on 28^th December 1919 with and address listed as c/o The Naval and Military Club of Victoria, Melbourne. Base Records replied to Mr S Alexander of 48 Walker St North Sydney with the following; “I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3^rd February, and in reply to state details regarding the special service for which the Servian (Serbian!) Gold Medal was awarded to your son, the late No. 1502, 2^nd Corporal H. de V. Alexander, 4^th Field Company Engineers, are note yet to hand. Should same be received you will be promptly advised. The medal itself will also be forwarded to you in due course. The appointment of Major R.V. Cutler, MBE., MC., to the A.I.F. was terminated in England on his being granted a commission in the Imperial Army. A communication addressed as under should be directed to him: – Ex-Major R.V. Cutler, MBE., MC., 5^th Divisional Engineers, AIF C/o War Office, LONDON.” An enquiry from Mr R Rodan of 1 Frederick St, Hawthorn was replied to by Base Records on 18^th March 1920, giving Roy’s address as 8 Were St. Brighton Beach. Another letter was acted to on 3^rd August 1920 from a Mr W B Shaw of 10 Hayes St. Northcote, looking for Roy, by referring it to Headquarters 3^rd Military District. He signed for two oak leaves on 2^nd September 1920 and his MID certificate was sent in 1921. Unfortunately all the original letters from these people are not in his service records, so what the original enquiry was is not fully known. He was qualified in Tactical Fitness for Command and passed a Course of Instruction in November 1921.

In 1921 receipt of his British War Medal was signed for and in 1922 his Victory medal, after enquiring if he would be getting it before Anzac day 1922. He wrote to them in February 1922 indicating he would be leaving Australia to take up an appointment in England in March. The medal was issued in April, although the reply from Base Records indicated they would not be ready before then. The London Gazette of 14^th February 1922, under Corps of Royal Engineers, has the following entry- “The undermentioned to be Capts. 15 Feb. 1922, with seniority 5^th Feb 1921:- Maj. R. V. Cutler, M.B.E., M.C., from Australian Engineers, with precedence next above Capt. H. E. Moores, D.S.O., M.C.” As he was commissioned in the British Army, a request was sent to Base Records for them to forward a statement showing in full his services with the AIF. His commission in the Australian Engineers was terminated on his appointment to a commission in the British Army in Army Order 160 of 6^th May 1922. A note on one of his records’ of service has 25^th March 1923 in India and no other comments, so it is not known what it means apart from him being there.

In July 1924 Roy left Colombo on the Mooltan, bound for London, where he disembarked on 16^th August 1924. He was listed as a soldier living in India. Evelyn and the children were also with him on the ship, so they had all been living in India. The record stated they intended to live in England in the future at Melford Place, Long Melford, Suffolk. The electoral register for Surrey in 1928 has him listed in Elwyn at Blacktown Barracks. (It is now known as Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut). It had been used as a training ground from the late 19^th century and was close to Long Melford. An issue of the London Gazette in March 1931 has under Corps of Royal Engineers that he was to be a Major from 5^th March 1931. In 1932, on 6^th February, he left London on the Orford, which was bound for Australia, but he was contracted to get off at Gibraltar and he was listed as an Army Officer with the rank of Major. This was the beginning of many sea voyages from London to Gibraltar and back. Evelyn left London on 30^th April 1932 on the Otranto, bound for Gibraltar. She was by herself. She left Gibraltar in June 1932 on the Chitral and arrived at London on the 24^th. Evelyn listed her country of intended future residence as England and she was going to Melford Place, Long Melford, Suffolk to presumably her parent’s place. None of the children were listed with her. This was her last voyage that is able to be found. For whatever reason, Evelyn petitioned for divorce in 1935. The records are not online, but can be ordered and copied for a fee. Presumably she was successful.

Roy continued to travel between Gibraltar and England, but his address in England changed to Jersey. He returned to London on 12^th August 1932 from Gibraltar on the Mooltan, as an army officer with his address to be Victoria Club St. Helier, Jersey. On 15^th August he arrived in Southampton on the Baloeran, staying at the same place. He departed London on the Strathnaver on 6^th October 1933 as a soldier from St. Peters, Jersey, bound for Gibraltar. He boarded the Comorin at Southampton on 18^th August 1934, again a soldier from Jersey, bound for Gibraltar. Arriving in London on 2^nd May 1935 on the Strathaird from Gibraltar, he was listed as an army officer and was residing at United Services Club, Pall Mall. He departed at Southampton on the Kaisar-I-Hind for Gibraltar on 7^th June 1935. On 13^th July 1936 he arrived in London on the Katori Maru from Gibraltar as an army officer and was residing at United Service Club 116 Pall Mall UK.

In the July quarter of 1936 he married Gladys Watson Jean at Westminster Middlesex. She had previously been married to Thomas Harrison (in September 1922). They then departed Liverpool on 15^th August 1936, bound for Gibraltar on the Elysia. He was still listed as an army officer living in Jersey. This is the last record of him travelling, so it is not known what he did afterwards or how long he served in Gibraltar, only his service records would answer that. On 9^th June 1939 Base Records replied to Mr A. McD. Ferguson of Oban St South Yarra stating that the only address they had for Major Cutler was C/o Naval and Military Club of Victoria. However they also stated that he had subsequently left to take up a permanent appointment in England and they suggested writing to the High Commissioner, Australia House in London. On 17^th February 1939 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.

It is not known what he did there but, after World War 2, Gibraltar’s roll as a fortress became superfluous and tunnelling had stopped. He was still in the Regular Army, Corps of Royal Engineers in 1939 as in the London Gazette of 24^th February he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel from 17^th February. Another entry in 20^th February 1942 has “Lt.-Col. R. V. Cutler, M.B.E., M.C. (1222), on completion of tenure of serv. As Regtl. Lt.-Col., remains on full pay (supernumerary). 17^th Feb. 1942.” During World War 2 he initially served as Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine and Trans-Jordan in 1941, then as Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine from late 1941 to 1943 and finally as Chief Engineer in Palestine from 1943 to 1944 according to one site, but it does not give any other information. He retired on full pay on 3^rd June 1947 and was granted the honorary rank of Brigadier. Another entry in the London Gazette on 6^th April 1948 has that Lieutenant-Colonel (Honorary Brigadier) R V Cutler MBE MC (1222) having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 7^th April 1948.

His mother passed away on 25^th September 1944 in private hospital Easternwick. Her address was given as 11 Menzies Ave Brighton and Roy was noted as a Colonel, Royal Engineers. His father passed away on 11^th August 1945 and was privately cremated. Their ashes are both at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

On 31^st March 1967 he wrote to Base Records enquiring on applying for an Anzac medallion and lapel badge and lists his particulars of service. It also states “I was later (1922) commissioned in the Royal Engineers with whom I served until retired in June 1947”. He also headed the letter Brigadier R V Cutler UK.

In February 1986 he passed away on the Isle of Wight at the age of 93. Gladys passed away in November of the same year. They are both buried on the Isle of Wight.

When WW1 began, a booklet was produced of the First Contingent from Victoria in September 1914. In it, Under the heading Lieutenants, was R V Cutler, numbered 29, whose photo appears above.

His medals are MBE, MC, 1914-15 Star, British War medal, Victory medal with MID oak leaf attached, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal and 1939-45 War Medal. He was one of only four AIF Officers to receive the MBE, MC combination.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Brigadier James Frederic Bowtell-Harris OBE, MC, MiD

7th Battalion, AIF

3^rd Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment, Indian Army,

Indian General Service Corps Depot, Indian Army.

by Robert Simpson

James was born at Prahran, St. Kilda on 9^th May 1895 and was registered twice, as the index notes, Jas Fredk Harris and Jas Fredk Bowtell, a son to Laura Susannah Bowtell and an unknown father. An older brother, William Campion has a Thomas Harris listed as his father, but he had possibly passed away in 1889, and his mother was listed as Flora Bowtell. They had married in 1879. He also had 3 sisters. So, even his birth is a bit confusing. His Mother worked as a nurse or midwife. He certainly used Thomas Harris as his father later on. Not much is known of his early life. He attended Essendon Primary School as he is mentioned on their Honor Board. The family moved to Essendon so his Mother could be close to her Brother, who had moved there. The first document that mentions him, tells of his occupation as a Clerk in St. Kilda. He had also served for two years in the senior cadets and he was serving in the 58^th Infantry Regiment in 1913. He held the rank of Lieutenant while he was in the Militia.

He enlisted on 15^th August 1914 with the 7^th Battalion at Moonee Ponds in Victoria, and was assigned to D Company as Private 467, and he was now using the surname Bowtell-Harris and had dropped the k from Frederick. It would seem a few officers in the Militia gave up their rank to join the A.I.F. The 7^th Battalion was one of the first infantry units raised for the AIF and formed part of 2^nd Brigade. It was raised by Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. “Pompey” Elliott. It would seem that men from the 58^th Infantry A.M.F. regiment joined up to this Battalion. James’ address was given as 710 Mt. Alexander Rd. Moonee Ponds, Victoria and his Mother as Flora Susanah Harris. His pay was 5 shillings a day. He was described as 19 years and 5 months, 5 foot eleven inches tall, chest 32 to 34.5 inches, fresh complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. He had 3 vaccination marks on his left arm. His older brother William also joined on 31^st July 1915 as Private 3762 in the 14^th Infantry Battalion.

The 7^th Battalion embarked on 19^Th October 1914 on HMAT Honorata A20. They embarked per Galeka from Alexandria with the M.E.F. on 5^th April 1915. The battalion was involved with the second wave of attack at Gallipoli on the 25^th. Ten days after landing the 2^nd Brigade was transferred to Cape Helles to help in the attack on Krithia. The Brigade lost a third of its strength for hardly any ground captured. They returned to ANZAC. James was promoted to Lance Corporal on 15^th May 1915, then to Corporal on 18^th May 1915 and to Sergeant on 19^th June 1915. He was admitted to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital at Lemnos on 17^th July 1915 with a slight debility from Gallipoli, and was transferred to Alexandria on the H.S. Soudan on the 19^th, arriving at the No. 17 General Hospital on the 22^nd. He was discharged from there for duty on the 28^th and rejoined the Battalion on the 2^nd August. The 2^nd Brigade fought at the battle of Lone Pine. He was commissioned as 2^nd Lieutenant on 28 Sep 1915 and this was noted in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 24^th December. They were evacuated in December and he took a leading part in the evacuation of the battalion from Gallipoli. He was one of the last to leave the trenches in his area and helped set up the automatic rifle firing devices to help hide the evacuation (invented by Bill Scurry).

The Battalion left Lemnos to Alexandria on 7^th January 1916 and from there to Marseilles on 21^st March to join the B.E.F. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 12^th March 1916. He received a Mention in Despatches on 31^st March 1916 for participation in a very successful raid on the enemy trenches on 30^th September 1916. He was promoted to Captain on 1^st August 1916 and was marched in to 6^th Training Battalion at Rollestone on 9^th August 1916. On 25^th October 1916, he was recommended the Military Cross and it was awarded 20^th January 1917. The award was for Pozieres operations on 15^th to 24^th August 1916 for conspicuous gallantry in action. This was the Battalion’s first major action in France. He led a raiding party under very heavy fire displaying great courage and determination. His leadership was largely responsible for the success of his party. It was also written “Captain Harris commanded a successful Raiding Party, which he had personally trained, on the German Trenches near Hollmbeke on the night of 30^th September/1^st October. He took his post on the enemy parapet which was under shell fire and controlled his party with coolness and determination. This officer’s party killed thirteen Germans and bombed several dugouts. His leadership was to a great extent responsible for the success of his party.”

In his will, he states leaving all to his Mother, Flora Susanah Harris, known as Flora Susanah Bowtell-Harris, dated 19^th July 1917.

On 4^th March 1917, he was admitted to the 2/1 Casualty Clearing Station, then to 2^nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen for an oesophagotomy, it looks like he got his tooth plate stuck in his oesophagus. He was sent back to England to recover. He rejoined his unit on 1^st November 1917. The battalion spent much of the winter in the Ypres mud. In March and April 1918, they helped to stop the German spring offensive. He had served the battalion successively as platoon commander, bombing officer and company commander. It is stated that “the name of Captain Bowtell-Harris is and always be associated in the Battalion with deeds of daring carried out with more than ordinary coolness and skill.”

Group portrait of officers of the 7th Battalion.

Front row, 2^nd from right Captain James Frederick Bowtell-Harris MC.

Taken on 20^th February 1918 in Belgium.

He is listed on the Essendon Primary School Roll of Honor.

Also, listed on St Thomas Church Roll of Honour.

He was granted leave on 29^th May 1918 pending commission in the Indian Army.

On 2^nd July 1918, his appointment with the A.I.F. was terminated having been appointed to a commission in the Indian Army. He also had a rank reduction to Lieutenant. He served in the Indian Army in the 3^rd Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment, from 29^th July 1918 and returned to Australia for visits. He was promoted to Captain on 28^th June 1920. On the way back to India one time he met his future wife, Joan Pringle Finlay, on the ship they were both on.

They were married in Karachi, India on 8^th November 1927 with a full military wedding. The wedding notice in the Sydney Morning Herald has James as the “son of the late Thomas Bowtell-Harris and of Mrs. Bowtell-Harris, Mornington, Victoria, to Joan Pringle, second daughter of Mr. & Mrs. T. J. Finlay, Bundella, New South Wales”. In 1929, he writes to the Governor-General of India against his Commanding Officer, Colonel Whitworth. The Commander’s wife had taken his wife along to help her with Infant Welfare work and as his wife was young and had no experience, he felt it was something she should not do or be exposed to. She was already involved with other charity works and had enough to do. On stating this to his Commanding Officer, he said she must do it and when told he would not permit it, Whitworth threatened to send him to the Training Battalion at Multan. He then changed his mind and sent him to Dalbandin as Major Waller was also going there. James was complaining that he had been unfairly treated and it would affect his studies for the Staff College. It is not known what the outcome of the letter was.

In 1932, he returned on the Narkunda to spend a portion of his furlough from the Indian Army in Victoria. He retired from the Indian Army on 1^st April 1933 and moved back to Victoria. He managed a timber yard. Joan seemed to be interested in golf and was noted in various games from 1933. She was also involved in various committees. In 1934, he must have helped his brother out setting up a company as noted in the Argus under New Registrations is “William Campion Pty. Ltd. Manufacturers, wholesale and or retail traders, and dealers in general merchandise, &c. Capital 5000 pounds in 1 pound shares. Names subscribed in memorandum – James Frederic Bowtell-Harris, 1 share * Allan Bruce Ferguson, 1 share * Adrian James Court, 1 share.” The 1936 and 7 Electoral Rolls have them living at “Bentwood” in Barkly St, Frankston and he was listed as a Director of a Company. He was elected president of the United Australia organization in 1937.

In WW2, he was recalled to the Indian Army in 1939. He was presented with a wrist watch by his friends before he left. His wife must have remained in Australia for a while as she visited her Mother and Sisters at her Mother’s home in New South Wales for the New Year. By 1942 she was in India as she sent a telegram to her younger sister’s wedding. During World War 2 he raised and commanded the Indian General Service Corps Depot. Joan formed and ran an Officer’s Mess Catering School for domestic men-servants. In a letter to a friend dated 1^st October, he asks if his friend could help him get the paperwork to re-apply for his medals, which he seems to have lost. He wanted the “authority for his M.C. and bar” as well. He was on the S.S. Otranto in Adelaide, waiting to sail. The officer writes back stating the promulgation of the Military Cross, but states that there is no mention of the bar, so he presumes it was awarded while he was in the Indian Army and for him to enquire with the Army Department at Calcutta. At the end of the war he was presented with a booklet containing picture of the “V” day celebrations at the I.G.S.C. and it notes his rank as Brigadier. In 1946, he received an O.B.E. as Major (temporary lieutenant-Colonel) James Frederic Bowtell-Harris, Indian Army. His wife was also awarded an O.B.E. as Junior Commander (temporary) Jean Pringle Bowtell-Harris (W.A.C.135) Women’s Auxiliary Corps (India). In March 1947, he was on leave and travelled to Sydney on the steamer Marella. With the unrest in India after the war, he stated that no one was in any personal danger, but that the Indians wanted the British Government to leave so they could govern their own country. He returned to duty in India on the Canara and it was mentioned he was officer commanding the Ourangadab station, near Hyderabad. After the war, they had decided to retire in India and run a model farm in Hyderabad state. They got machinery from Australia in 1947, but when they were there India was granted independence. On their return, due to the unrest there, they lost their land and after working for 13 months at a newsprint mill he resigned due to others manipulating the funds and left for Australia. They left India “poorer but wiser”.

This is an Inter-Battalion Sports Cup presented to the Officer’s Mess Indian General Service Corps by The Commandant Colonel J. F. Bowtell-Harris.

His Mother passed away in 1950 on July 20^th at Mornington at age 90, and her Death notice has her as Bowtell-Harris.

The Argus in 1950 had an article about recruiting and said that “a deputation from the Mornington Peninsula to Southern Command will urge the formation of a Peninsular unit” as “recruiting was practically non-existant on the Peninsula. On of the deputation members was Brigadier Bowtell-Harris. It would seem he was involved with community affairs at this time.

They bought a property at Red Hill South, Victoria, sold 10 acres with 600 apple trees on it, and renovated the house and developed the property. They called it Himayat Bagh. He was a Farmer at Red Hill, Dromana, Victoria in the 1954 Electoral Roll. He retired and they moved to 6 Balcome St. Mornington. Joan passed away in 1962 and her remains were scattered at Springvale Botanical Cemetery after her cremation. James passed away on 23^rd August 1964 and was cremated at the same cemetery; his ashes were put in Boronia wall niche single, Wall SZ, Niche 225. A funeral service was held at Mornington on that Wednesday. His death index records him as James Frederic Bowtell-Harris with Father, Thomas and Mother Flora Bowtell.

His religion was Church of England.

It appears they adopted three boys, Alan Richard, Christopher Ralph and Bruce Raymond. They were their English God-sons, the sons of a 2^nd Punjabi whose wife had died. They were 13, 11 and 8 when they adopted them.

The museum has a letter he wrote about the character of a soldier, the Soldier’s Prayer and how it tied in with his character and he gave some examples. Having faith was obviously important to him. Another letter also states how his Grandmother had an influence on him as she had told him stories about his ancestry. He seemed to have an impact on people as another letter shows.

He qualified for the 1914-15 star, British War and Victory Medals from WW1, the star was administered by the Department of Defence Australia, with the other two by the Indian Army Department. He was awarded the Military Cross and Mention in Despatch.

His medal group consists of Order of the British Empire (GVIR), Military Cross (GVR), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939-45, India Service Medal. The star has 2/Lieut H. R. Briggs 51/Punjabis impressed on it, while the other two are correctly impressed to Capt. J.F. Bowtell-Harris. It was thought that James and Harold were close friends and swapped Stars, but that is to be confirmed. Briggs group has the 1914-15 Star named to himself, so maybe he had two and maybe James lost his, so it would appear he was given one to replace the lost one. They must have met in India. He seems to have been a larger-than-life person and left an impression with a lot of people, but he was also a bit of an enigma.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Lieut-Colonel John Leslie Gibson Buckland MC MM

4th Signal Troop, 4th Light Horse Brigade AIF

4th Division Signal Coy AIF

Fortifications and Works at Land HQ (WWII)

By Robert Simpson

John Leslie Gibson Buckland was the youngest child to Arthur Robert Buckland and Elizabeth Littley Gibson and was born on 12^th August 1887 at Werris Creek, Quirindi, New South Wales. Arthur was born in Tasmania and had married Elizabeth in Walcha, New South Wales on 1^st July 1878. He was a teacher. Elizabeth was born in Scotland. On the Buckland side, his Grandmother’s parents were both convicts, sent to Australia, while his Grandfather’s parents were free settlers in the colony. There is quite a bit of information available on them. His Mother’s parents and family migrated from Scotland in 1856. His Mother had been born on board the Commodore Perry on 9^th April 1856. The ship arrived in Sydney on 1^st May 1856. Not much is known of his early life. They had four sons Arthur Gibson Buckland, Cecil Oswald Buckland, John and Percival Claude Buckland, and two daughters Ettie May Buckland and Agnes Robson Buckland. Arthur was born in Grafton in 1879, married Mary G Barrett in Yass in 1902 and died in Mayfield NSW in 1940. Cecil was born on 1^st August 1880 in Grafton, married Lottie Elliott in Sydney in 1905 and died in Chatswood NSW on 25^th October 1951. Ettie was born in 1882 in Uralla, married Roy Wightman in Sydney in 1921 and nothing else is known about her. Agnes was born in 1884 in Tamworth and nothing else is known on her. Percival was born in Bathurst in 1890, married Alice E Alderman in Dubbo in 1913 and died in North Sydney in 1957.

Elizabeth Buckland (1856-1944)

John enlisted on 10^th December 1914 as Sapper 986 2^nd Division Signal Company at the Engineer Depot in Moore Park, Sydney. He gave his occupation as telegraphist with the N.S.W. Government railways, his religion as Church of England and his current address and that of his next-of-kin as “care of A. R. Buckland (Father), teacher, Public Instruction, Sydney”. His daily rate of pay was 9 shillings and his pay book number was 66742. He was 27 years and 5 months old, 5 foot 9.5 inches tall, weighed 152 pounds, chest measurement 34 to 37 inches, blue eyes and light brown hair. He had a vaccination mark on his left arm and moles on the back of his neck. John was transferred to the 4^th Signal Troop on 11^th March 1915 and was appointed Corporal on the 28^th. His term of service was for the duration of the war and four months afterward.

He embarked on HMAT Ajana A31 on 31^st May 1915 at Sydney as Corporal 986 with the 4^th Light Horse Brigade, 4^th Signal Troop. He was transferred to 2^nd Divisional Signal Company on 2^nd September 1915 and the ship Southland, on which he was being transported to the Dardanelles, was torpedoed on that day. It had left Alexandria on 30^th August. John eventually arrived at Gallipoli on the 7^th. He was appointed as a 2^nd Lieutenant on 14^th March 1916 and as Lieutenant on 14^th June. On 30^th June 1916 he was recommended for a Military Medal with a rank of Corporal. The action for which it was recommended was: – “He was on S.S. Southland when torpedoed in the Aegean Sea and rendered excellent assistance lowering the boats and getting the various crews away, he himself being among the last boats to leave the ship. At ANZAC he worked directly under me systemising and maintaining Artillery communications. During the bombardment of Lone Pine on 25^th November 1915 when the bulk of Artillery cables were cut by shell fire Cpl. Buckland remained in the trenches there and in Gun Lane repairing the lines and thus restoring communications between Artillery Bdes. and the guns. His work in this unit since the unit’s formation is of the highest order, his assistance to me in the forming and training of this Unit was invaluable.” It also has a note saying “Special appreciation by Lt. Col A.J. Bessell-Brown CB, O.C. 2^nd Bde AFA attached hereto”. Unfortunately, it was not attached so it is not known what he wrote. The medal was awarded and Gazetted on 27^th October 1916. He was transferred to the hospital from Anzac on 17^th November 1915 and returned on 20^th.

He disembarked at Alexandria on 4^th January 1916 and was transferred to 4^th Divisional Signal Company on 9^th March 1916. At Tel-el-Kebir on 14^th he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. They embarked from Alexandria on the Kingsfaun Castle on 2^nd June and arrived at Marseilles on 8^th. As a Lieutenant (from 14^th June) in the 4^th Division Signal Company he was recommended for a Military Cross on 20^th September 1916. It read “For constant devotion to duty in the vicinity of Pozinnes between 67^th and 16^th August, and between 28^th August and 4^th September 1916, and again in the Ypres Salient during September 1916. During these times Lieut. Buckland was in charge of the telegraph lines forward of 4^th Aust. Division Headquarters. Day and night he was out with his cable wagon repairing improving and strengthening the Divisional Communications. Since arriving in Ypres Salient Lieut. Buckland has been untiring in his efforts under adverse circumstances, completing the buried cable system of communications”. It was signed my Major-General H. V. Cox 4^th Australian Division and was announced in the London Gazette on 1^st January 1917. The Sydney Morning Herald has a list of New Year honours on the 2^nd January 1917 and he appears in this list as being decorated in recognition of their distinguished conduct. He had leave to UK from 11^th to 21^st December and was detached from 4^th Australian Division Signal Company for duty with Australian Division Signal School on 26^th December 1916 and rejoined his unit in April 1917. He had leave in Paris from 11^th to 15^th May 1917 and to UK from 5^th to 15^th September. He was transferred from the 4^th to the 5^th Signal Company on 26^th October 1917 and from them to the 3^rd on 24^th November 1917. He was to be Captain, with seniority, as from 4^th December 1917 but for purposes and pay and allowances as from 4^th February 1918. From 21^st June to 7^th July he had leave in England.

He was also recommended for a Mention in Despatches on 7 Feb 1919 as a Captain in the 3^rd Division Signal Company Engineers. It is not noted what for. This was awarded and published in the London Gazette in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch on 11^th July 1919. He was granted leave to UK from 25^th April 1919 and boarded the SS Devenha in England on 8^th May 1919 to return to Australia. His appointment for active service was terminated on 25^th August 1919.

John married Violet E C Henden, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H Henden of Orange, on Tuesday 12^th August 1919 in the Presbyterian Church, Blackheath, at Katoomba, New South Wales. She was born in Orange in 1887 after her parents had migrated from England in 1884. John and Violet had 2 children, John and Jill, but not much else is known about them other than Jill married a Kenneth Martin. Ken served in WW2 as Signalman VX88203 and he was a radio serviceman after the war. John married Mavis Moss in 1949.

John and Violet Buckland

He was appointed Captain on 1^st July 1920 but was transferred to Australian Engineers 2^nd Military District with the rank of Lieutenant on 1^st October. He was transferred to 2^nd Division Signals with the rank of Captain on 31^st March 1921 and was Commanding Officer of No. 1 Company 2^nd Division Signals. On 1^st July 1923 he was transferred to Signal Service 3^rd Military District with regimental seniority next after Major J.E.S. Stevens. He was transferred to Reserve of Officers on 27^th February 1925.

Between 1924 and 1937 they lived at 29 Sims St, Sandringham, Victoria. His occupation was listed as an engineer on the Electoral rolls for that period. His Father passed away in 1934 in Enfield. It was mentioned of his extensive experience in country districts and being a successful organiser of night schools in his obituary. John was mentioned in Who’s Who in Australia in 1935 and 1938 as Captain J. L. G. Buckland M.C. M.M. On 1^st March 1939 he was placed on the Regular Reserves List for 3^rd Division Signals.

During World War 2, on 10^th November 1939 he was listed as Major (Temporary) on a routine order and was Inspector Royal Engineer machinery part time only on 22^nd November 1939. His Officer’s Record of Service form states he was called up for full time duty as Inspector R.E. Machinery “O” Branch Army Headquarters on 27^th November 1939. His wife was listed as living at “Tolga” Sims St Sandringham and there is also an address of 37 North Rd Brighton on the form, which is confirmed with the Electoral Rolls. On 14^th December 1939 he was appointed to Royal Australian Engineers (Machinery) at the 3^rd Military District (Victoria). He was appointed Deputy Assistant Director Works at Headquarters Southern Command (Victoria) on 3^rd August 1940. He enlisted in the Australian Army as V1739 on 3^rd August 1940 at Brighton Victoria. Unfortunately, his service records at National Archives are not open so not much is known of this service. He was discharged on 22^nd January 1946, as his appointment was terminated, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the posting of 7 Aust CRE (Works). He was the Director of Fortifications and Works at Land Headquarters. For his services in the Militia between the wars he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration.

John and Violet at a family wedding.

From 1942 to 1954 they seemed to alternate between 37 North Rd, Easternwick and 13 Baird St, Brighton (where their daughter and son-in-law lived) and he was listed as an engineer or consulting engineer. There is no information of what he did after the war apart from the listings in the above electoral rolls. He passed way in 1956 in Park, Victoria and his address was still 13 Baird St. It was stated in his death notice in the paper that he died of an accident, but no details can be found as to what that accident was. As an update, a family member stated “He fell from a flight of stairs, landing on his feet and his spine went through his brain, he was in hospital for several days but never regained consciousness.” He died on 18^th April and his funeral was at Sleight’s Funeral Home on St. Kilda Rd at 3pm on the 20^th. He was then taken to Springvale Garden Crematorium where he was cremated and placed in Renowden Chapel, Columbarium, Room 3 Section D Niche 14. His service records note “stated to have died 18/4/56 necropolised 5/6/56”.

In May 1967 a Mrs A. G. Worboys writes to the Records Office requesting a copy of his discharge papers in order to use them to help her apply for a war widows’ unit. It seems a strange request as her late husband, Albert George Worboys, had served in WW2 as Bombardier N172719 so she could have referred to him. Jean was a niece to John and had to show to the Vasey Housing Auxiliary N.S.W. that she was a widow or relative of a deceased ex-serviceman by supplying a certificate confirming their service. It is not known what happened as no copy of the reply is in his file. She was Jean, the daughter of Cecil Oswald Buckland, John Leslie’s older brother.

His widow returned a form to the Army Records Office on 22^nd July 1967 to apply for a Gallipoli Medallion for him after sending them a letter on the 4^th to claim it.

On 22^nd May 1968 the Repatriation Department writes to the Army Records Office for a copy of his service record.

His wife was still living at 13 Baird St in 1977 and she died on 30^th December 1977 in Brighton, Victoria. Violet was cremated and the ashes placed in the same niche as John.

His medals are: – Military Cross, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and Efficiency Decoration.

The medals are 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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Colonel Eric Ewen Paterson, MC ED 

42nd Battalion, AIF

44th Battalion, AIF,

47th Battalion, Militia

by Robert Simpson

Eric Ewen Paterson was born in Theebine on 22^nd September 1894, a son to Marcus Wyndham Paterson and Harriet Effie Bull, who had married in 1891 at Sunnyholme in Queensland. He was one of seven children to them. . His Father had migrated to Queensland before 1891 and his Mother was from Victoria. His Father, who was a Station Master with the Traffic Branch in the Southern Division, died in 1905 and his Mother remarried to Robert Gwynne in 1908, having another three children. But out of the 10 children only five lived to adulthood. Eric became the provider for the family before his Mother remarried. In 1899 he started school at Tiaro State School. He joined Queensland Railway on 1^st April 1904 at 10 years old at Kilkivan but did not last long; he resigned on 25^th September 1904 due to unsatisfactory conduct. In 1905 he was at Yengarie State School. He rejoined QR as a Lad Porter at Southbrook on 26^th February 1908 at the age of 13 and worked in QR until his retirement. He did 4 years in the militia in Maryborough after he was transferred there with the railway. On 10^th August 1915 he was Night Officer at Maryborough, then Yengarie.

His Grandfather was Colonel Wyndham Francis Paterson from Ireland, who was an appointed Magistrate in County Clare. Before that in 1850 he was shown to be in the Royal Militia and Yeomanry Cavalry and Army Lists had him as being a Lieutenant in the 94^th or Clare Regiment of Militia at Clare Castel, Ennis. One of his Great-Grandfather’s was John Edward Newell Bull, born 11^th October 1806 in Ireland and died in 1901, who was in the 78^th Highland Regiment in April 1825 and came to New South Wales with his regiment to look after convicts. He became the Superintendant of Roads in New South Wales.

On 8^th November 1915 Eric enlisted as Private 898, C Company 42^nd Battalion in Brisbane. His religion was Church of England; he was single and aged 21 years and 2 months. He was listed as an operator (railway) and was living in Brisbane. His Mother, Harriet Effie (Paterson) Gwynne was nominated as next of kin. He was 5 foot 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, 33.5 to 37 inch chest measurement, dark complexion, brown eyes and hair and had a hairy patch on his right shoulder. He was a Private in D Company 8 D/Btn. from 8/11/15 to 15/1/16, in 34^th Battalion from 15/1/16 to 22/1/16, 36^th Battalion D Company and promoted to Corporal from 21/1/16 to 8/2/16, 42^nd Battalion D Company from 8/2/16 to 2/6/16 and posted to 42nd Battalion C Company from 2/1/16. He was the Commanding Officer’s Batman at some stage.

On the 5^th June 1916 he embarked on HMAT Borda A30 with the 42^nd Battalion. They disembarked at Southampton on 23^rd July 1917. He proceeded from Southampton to France on 25^th November 1916. There is a photo of Corporal Eric Paterson and others of Signals Section C Company A.I.F. taken while having a break behind the lines on 29^th April 1917. Still a Corporal, he was selected to attend No. 4 Officers Cadet Battalion at Oxford commencing 5^th July 1917, as he was recommended a commission after the Battle of Messines, where detonation of mines before the attack destroyed the German front lines and all objectives were captured and held. The battle is cited as a model for a well planned limited objective attack. A picture shows Cadet E. E. Paterson 42^nd A.I.F. in the Old Quadrangle Hartford College Oxford with some fellow cadets in August 1917. He was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements on 1^st November 1917 and proceeded overseas from Southampton to France on 19^th November 1917. As a 2^nd Lieutenant he was marched in from England at Havre on 21^st November and marched out to 2^nd ANZAC Corps on the 23^rd and taken on strength in the field. On 21^st May 1918 he was to be a Lieutenant in the field. In July 1918 the Battalion was involved in the battle of Hamel and captured all its objectives with very few losses, showing what a well planned and supported attack could achieve. The Battalion was then involved in the Allies offensive from August 1918. He was recommended to receive a Military Cross in October 1918 for the following action: On 29^th September 1918 during operations south of Bony, at the Hindenberg Line, Lieutenant Paterson was sent forward to establish Forward Battalion Headquarters. On reaching the Hindenberg Line he was suddenly confronted by a strong enemy machine gun post. He immediately rushed towards it with his runners and engaged the post with bombs. Finding that the frontal attack had no effect on the enemy, Lieutenant Paterson rushed forward alone to a flank and endeavoured to take the enemy in the rear, but was wounded by enemy bombs before he attained his object. Despite his serious wound he displayed great fortitude and initiative, and managed to extricate his party together with their signal equipment. It was awarded and promulgated in the London Gazette on 8^th March 1919 (as Lt. Eric Ewen Paterson, 44^th Bn., frmly. 42^nd Bn., Aust. Infy.) and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17^th June 1919. He appeared in the Brisbane Courier on 22^nd November 1918 in the wounded list on the Roll of Honour, Casualty List No. 443. He carried the family bible for the duration of the war in his pocket. It was given to his Father, Marcus in 1873, who passed it onto Eric as the eldest living son. It was then passed on in the family after his death. He also received a letter from General W. Birdwood on 7^th April 1919 for his Military Cross, which includes the above and also has “Despite your serious wounds, however, you continued at your post, and extricated your party from the position with their signal equipment. Your work was a fine example of courage, initiative and devotion to duty, and I thank you very much for it”. He was wounded in the above action with multiple guns shot wounds in the legs which were classified as mild and he was admitted to a Hospital in France on the 30^th and admitted to the 3^rd London General hospital on 3^rd October after being sent on HS Canisbrooke Castles from France to England. On 29^th October he was transferred to the 44^th Battalion in England. He returned to Australia on Demosthenes as a Lieutenant on 2^nd March 1919 and on 16^th April 1919 his Appointment was terminated.

A postcard sent by Corporal Paterson on 29^th April 1917 which reads on the back “And we are not downhearted yet. Myself and Sig Section taken while we were having a weeks spell behind the line.” Sig Section C Company AIF.

The Brisbane Courier of Thursday 17^th April 1919 had the following announcement; “The engagement of Miss Molly Grieve (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G B Grieve, Murgon) to Lieutenant Eric E. Paterson, M.C. (late of 42^nd Battalion, and eldest son of the late Mr. M. H. Paterson and Mrs. R. Gwynne, Murgon). In 1919 he married Martha Molly Crawford Grieve and lived at Yengarie as a Railway Night Officer. He was transferred to Woolooga on 1^st July 1919 and was still there in 1920 when he received the letter of his Military Cross award. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers list in 1920 and was associated with the 9^th Light Horse Regiment, the 47th and 42^nd Battalions and rose in rank to Major. By 1922 they had moved to Murgon and were living in Braeburn Boarding House and he was a Night Officer. They were still there in 1925. By 1930 the Electoral Roll shows them living in Kolijo in the Herbert region, in the Station house and he was a Station Master. They were still there in 1934. In 1935 he must have been transferred to the Howard region as he enlisted in the Australian Army on 12^th April 1935 in Maryborough with the service number Q24601. In 1936 the Electoral Roll shows him as being at Mungar Junction as a Station Master. They were still there in 1937.

Eric as Station Master.

He continued service in Australia in the Militia and in 1936 he was given command of the 47^th Battalion (Wide Bay Regiment) whose Headquarters was at Maryborough. He held the rank of Major and was then promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 10^th November 1938. His address was given as HQ, 47^th Battalion A.M.F., Lennox St. Maryborough Queensland in 1939. He remained their Commanding Officer for 6 years including 3 years in World War 2. They regularly held training camps before being mobilised in 1941 and they moved to Townsville in early 1942. He also did various courses throughout those years.

On Anzac Day in 1939, “in the morning a parade was held to the memorial, the colours of the 47^th Battalion A.M.S., being carried. Wreaths were placed on the memorial and the Last Post was sounded. Colonel Paterson took the salute at the Town Hall steps “. This was noted in the Courier-Mail the next day. Lieutenant-Colonel E. E. Paterson was awarded the Efficiency Decoration for Long Service in 1940. He relinquished command of the 47^th Battalion on 23^rd August 1942 and on 5^th October 1942 he was discharged from the 47^th Battalion to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. During the 6 years he was in command, the regiment became known as one of Australia’s finest. Its success in war was attributed to the solid and efficient training it had received under him. After relinquishing command he spent the remainder of the war as Claims and Quartering Officer at Maryborough. His step-brother Robert Leonard Gwynne was a Sergeant in WW2. The dedication of the ANZAC Memorial Crypt was organised by him in 1941.

Eric, Brian and Mark Paterson at the dedication of Colours in ANZAC Memorial Crypt, organised by Eric and conducted by Brian.

In 1943, he was listed as working at Mungar Junction and they were living in Maryborough. In the Maryborough Chronicle in 1944 was an article saying “Tinana residents turned out in force last night to give a rousing welcome to members of the fighting forces on leave. The Shire Hall was packed long before the event started and an extra loud cheer was raised for Lt.-Colonel E. Paterson, M.C. former commander of the 47^th Battalion. In 1946 he was a candidate running for either the House of Representatives or the Senate and had resigned from the railway on 1^st September, but he obviously did not win as he was reinstated to his normal position on 10^th October. By 1949 he had been transferred to Sandgate (December 1947) as Station Master and they were living at 4 Hancock St. in Brisbane. He was then sent to Cloncurry and lived at Ramsay St., Cloncurry and he still was Station Master. On June 1953 he was transferred to Mareeba. In September 1953 they went to Wallangarra, Stanthorpe.

On Wednesday 27^th May 1953 and article was printed in the Townsville Daily Bulletin from Cloncurry dated the day before about Cloncurry’s railway stationmaster Mr. E. E. Paterson and his wife being transferred to Mareeba. They had spent two and a half years in Cloncurry and according to the article “had proved worthy citizens and their popularity was made manifest by the farewells tendered them by various organisations to which they were prominently connected”.

The Reverend at the Methodist Church spoke of these good people as staunch supporters of the church, and of Mrs Paterson who was a very active worker on the Ladies’ Committee, and wished then God’s blessing. They were presented with a handsome dressing table clock.

They also attended a campfire by the Scouts and Cubs of Cloncurry’s Scout Movement to farewell there former Group Scoutmaster. Eric had reformed the group in Cloncurry. It was said his presence and valuable assistance would be very much missed and they spoke of his fine work in connection with the movement. They were presented with silver salad servers.

The R.S.L.L.A.I.L.A. met to say “cheerio to their Digger cobber Eric Paterson”. The President made reference to the departing Vice-President as an extremely valuable and most energetic member and acknowledged his super ability in the manner in which he most capably handled many problems to the branch, and was a tower of strength to the President on more than just one occasion. He was presented with a silver beer mug. Eric replied saying that any work he had done and efforts contributed had been done for the good of the league. They then reminisced and exchanged tales of war incidents for the rest of the evening.

A number of railwaymen assembled in Stationmaster’s Eric Paterson’s office on Wednesday afternoon to farewell him. They spoke of his conscientiousness and ability of him and of the manner in which he endeavoured at all times to assist his fellow workers and give advice when necessary. He was presented with a silver coffee percolator on a sliver tray.

The article also noted his war service, saying how he rose in the ranks from Private to Lieutenant-Colonel in just over 3 years. He was warded the Military Cross in the Hindenberg Line Battle on September 29^th 1918 and was severely wounded on the same day. After five months in hospital in England he returned to Australia. He served with the 42^nd and 47^th Battalions and commanded the later until returned to base duty at the end of 1942 as medically unfit. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration and Coronation Medal (Military Division) and was placed on the retired officers list. He was promoted to Honorary Colonel with permission to wear the prescribed uniform and badges of that rank. This was a fitting tribute to a man who had given to his country 38 years of service.

He retired on 28^th February 1955 and on the 1959 electoral roll they were living in Thomas St., Howard. Eric was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Battalion in November 1955. He was the RSL president at some stage. He passed away on Friday 27^th October 1961 at his home in Howard at the age of 67. Advertisements were placed in the Chronicle and other newspapers and on 4MB. A Ceremonial Funeral was held in Maryborough on the Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. from Wesley Methodist Church to the Town Hall where his body was conveyed through a guard of honour back to the Funeral Chapel before leaving for Brisbane to the Mt. Thompson Crematorium where he was cremated at 11.15 a.m. on Monday the 30^th October. His ashes are interred in War Service Memorial, position 120, Section 9, Wall 12 there. His religion was listed as Methodist. There was a memorial service at the Howard Methodist Church on 28^th October 1962 and a memorial to him was unveiled there. They had no children.

His wife, Molly, presented a Grandfather clock to the Maryborough RSL in memory of fallen comrades in the 47^th Battalion on 6^th October 1973.

He was awarded the Military Cross, Efficiency Decoration, British War Medal and Victory Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45 and the Coronation Medal 1937.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Private Kenneth John Helliwell 

2/20 Infantry Battalion, 2nd AIF.

by Robert Simpson

Kenneth John Helliwell was born in Tenterfield, New South Wales on 8^th December 1914. He was one of three children to William Helliwell and Emma Jasper Rixon. His parents had been married at Tenterfield in 1914. William was a dairy farmer. He was born in England on 8^th February 1883. William had worked for a veterinarian in England and was a farm hand that helped to look after stud cattle. He was involved in shipping the cattle to other countries. He went to Argentina twice and then in 1910 came out with some cattle to Australia on the Dorset and stayed. On the way, due to Halley’s Comet, the cattle were quite agitated in the ship. Emma was born in Uralla, New South Wales in 1893. Her father Thomas was born there also. His father Frederick was born and lived in Berkshire, England before moving to Uralla. The Helliwells lived in Bryan’s Gap. Due to his previous experience, William also helped the other farmers out with their stock and even after a veterinarian was available in the district, he still was called on to help him out. In the 1936 and 1937 Electoral Rolls, Kenneth was listed as a farmer. He also appears on the 1943 roll; obviously, they did not remove his name. They also had two daughters, Millicent Joan and Olwyn Marjorie.

The Dorset

Kenneth’s Attestation Form for special forces raised for service in Australia or abroad, shows he was issued with the service number NX31559 at the Redbank Reinforcement Depot for Infantry. He enlisted at Tamworth on 25^th May 1940. He was one of five cousins to enlist. Only two came back. It states he was a Natural born British Citizen and confirms his birth date. He was a farm hand who lived near Tenterfield and was single. His next of kin was his father William Helliwell of PO Box 58 Tenterfield. His religion was stated as Methodist. He passed his medical and was listed as fit for Class 1. On 11^th June 1940, Kenneth was posted to the 2/20 Australian Infantry Battalion, 8^th Division as Private NX31559. The battalion was formed from New South Wales recruits. On the 14^th he was detached for duty as Cook. He was transferred back to the regiment on 4^th August and arrived at Wallgrove on the 19th. He trained with the regiment at Wallgrove, Ingleburn and Bathurst. From 19^th to 28^th December he was granted pre-embarkation leave. He went home to spend time with his family. When he was departing, his youngest sister was sitting on her horse, and when he had said goodbye to her he slapped the horse on its rump with his hat and that startled the horse which took off at a gallop with is sister holding on tightly. Needless to say, he got in trouble with his parents for doing that. He was admitted to the camp dressing station with burns on his right leg on 25^th January 1941 and was discharged on 1^st February and rejoined his unit.

As part of the 22^nd Brigade of the 8^th Australian Division he left for Singapore on 2^nd February 1941 on HMT Queen Mary at Sydney. He was appointed A/Spec Group II Cook on 3^rd February. They arrived in Singapore on 18^th February and moved to south-west Malaya to train for service under tropical conditions. On 5th February 1941, he was admitted to the 10^th Australian General Hospital with a burn on his foot and was discharged back to his unit on the 14th. From 16^th to 22^nd July he had special leave to Singapore. The battalion was redeployed to the port of Mersing in late August. As it was connected to Singapore by road it could be attacked by the Japanese, so they spent time preparing defensive positions. He also had leave to Singapore from 9^th to 14^th October. They were attacked and bombed by the Japanese in January 1942 and withdrew to Singapore to take up a position on the northern flank of the Brigade’s sector on the west coast of Singapore.

As they had to cover a wide front they were widely dispersed and were infiltrated when the Japanese attacked on the night of the 20^th February. They were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese initially, despite of this, but had to withdraw before they were overwhelmed. They fought a desperate fighting withdrawal towards Singapore city. This ended with the surrender of the island on the night of 15^th February. They were initially placed in Changi prison but then were allocated to external work parties around Singapore and southern Malaya. Later parties were sent to camps along the Burma-Thailand railway, and in Borneo, Japan, French Indochina, Java, Sumatra and Malaya. There the men endured the worst treatment from the Japanese and many died from disease, starvation and mistreatment.

On 16^th February 1942, he was listed as missing by AIF Malaya. The next entry on his service records noted him as being missing, believed POW on 5^th November 1943, and a further entry on 22^nd February 1944 confirms him as a Prisoner of War. A letter was sent from Kenneth to his father and its delivery was acknowledged by him on 9^th July 1942 after going through the Tenterfield Post Officer on the 6^th. The receipt was then forwarded on to 2^nd Military District Records office in New South Wales on 11^th July. The letter apparently contained a napkin from Raffles Hotel in Singapore with a cut red stone in it. This stone was made into a ring.

He was listed in the Sydney Morning Herald as missing, believed to be a prisoner of war on 13^th October 1943. As POW 1737, a part of E Force, he left Singapore on 28^th March 1943 and arrived at Ouching on 1^st April. From there he was sent onto Sandakan. An entry in his records on 23^rd August 1944 stated he was now interned Borneo Camp. Kenneth died on 19^th May 1945 at Sandakan Number 1 Camp. He was buried at Sandakan Number 2 Compound at the cemetery on the east side of the track near the boiler house, which was used from March until May 1945. The Japanese recorded his death as being from malaria. His name appears on the Labuan Memorial in Malaysia on Panel 14. An entry in his records on 30^th September 1945 stated “deceased while P/W cause N/S” at Sandakan.

His father, William entered dairy exhibits at the 1936 Tenterfield show where a newspaper article has him listed as one of the chief competitors in the jersey section. At the 59^th show, he won many awards for his Jersey cattle. An advertisement in the Northern Star on 9^th November 1946 advises of an auction at Tenterfield on Tuesday 12^th November where the auctioneer has received instructions from Mr. W. Helliwell esq. to sell the whole of his high-class stud jersey herd. They continued to live at Bryan’s Gap and the Electoral Rolls continue to note him as a dairy farmer. They originally lived at a property called Lingadell and they brought a smaller property called Glengarry. Kenneth was meant to run the larger property when he came back. They instead used a German immigrant to help them out and he was a very good worker. William passed away in 1961 in Tenterfield.

After his death, Emma moved to Queensland and was found in Maryborough at 30 Richmond St. in the 1963, 1968 and 1972 Electoral Rolls. She was then in Fairhaven for the 1977 and 1980 rolls. She passed away on 10^th May 1981 in St. Stephens Hospital aged 87. Her death notice appeared in the Maryborough Chronicle on the 12^th.

His medals are 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

Medals kindly supplied by his sister, Mrs. Olwyn Wagner of Maryborough.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Lieutenant Clifford Le Brun Brown, MC

11th Light Horse Regiment AIF

1st Squadron Australian Flying Corps

By Robert Simpson

Clifford Le Brun Brown was born in Paterson, New South Wales on 14^th September 1891. He was one of two children to William Le Brun Brown and Eleanor Maud Suttor, the other being a daughter, Gladys Le Brun born on 4^th February 1887. William worked at the Attorney-General’s office and rose to be a stipendiary magistrate. Clifford attended Barker College in Hornsby, Sydney from 1905 until 1908. Not many records were kept but he did fill out an Old Boys register in the 1930’s. Strangely he gives his birth year as 1893 and stated he was in the 1^st 11 for football in 1907 and 1908 and the 2^nd 11 for cricket in 1906 and 7 and the 1^st 11 for 1908. But according to the College he did not appear on their lists for those sports and he was not in the team photographs.

Clifford enlisted in Brisbane on 30^th June 1915 as part of the 4^th Reinforcements, 11^th Light Horse as Private 996A. (It looks like some service numbers were duplicated, hence the A). His previous occupation was as a Station overseer and he gave his next-of-kin as his father, a police magistrate in Inverell. He had previous service with the A. L. Horse at Inverell. His description listed his height as 5 feet 7.5 inches, weight 152 pounds, chest measurement 37 to 38.5 inches, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was listed as English? He had 4 vaccination marks on the left arm and a scar behind the left elbow. He was appointed as a Lance Corporal on 5^th July 1915. The reinforcements embarked on 17^th September 1915 from Brisbane on HMAT Hymettus (A1). He already had a will done at Avern and McIntyre Solicitors in Inverell. This was stated on an army form that was dated 7^th January 1918 and his address and occupation were listed as Tweed Heads and engineer.

He was taken on strength with the Composite Light Horse Regiment on 20^th November 1915 at Heliopolis. On 13^th December 1915 he was to be a temporary Corporal. He was admitted to the 1^st Field Ambulance with a gun shot wound to the right foot which was a slight wound on 27^th December 1915 and reverted back to Lance Corporal. Then he was sent to the 15^th General Hospital at Alexandria on the 31^st and was discharged to the 15^th General Convalescent Hospital at Ras-El-Tin on 6^th January 1916. He returned to the 11^th Light Horse on 9^th March 1916. His Father received a notice about him being wounded in January 1916.

On 5^th January 1917 he was detached from the 11^th Light Horse to 68^th Australian Squadron Royal Flying Corps and returned to duty on the 11^th. He was then marched out to the School of Instruction Infantry course on the 26^th. He was transferred to the 68^th Australian RFC on 17^th March 1917. Still as a Lance Corporal he went to a series of training where he was attached to the No. 3 School of Military Aeronautics on the 10^th, to the 21^st Reserve Squadron on 12^thApril, the school of aerial gunnery on 2^nd May, transferred to the 22^nd Reserve Squadron for instruction on the 10^th and joined the 23^rd Reserve Squadron on the 17^th. On 8^th June he was graded as a Flying Officer, subject to War Office approval, and was posted to 5^th Wing 67^th Squadron AFC and qualified to wear wings as a 2^nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 7^th September 1917.

He was awarded the Military Cross on 1^st January 1918 as a Lieutenant and it was promulgated in the London Gazette on 11^th April 1918. At Port Said in Egypt he was admitted to the 14^th Australian General Hospital with debility and nervous breakdown on 31^st March 1918. A letter from Captain John Harris on 10^th March asks to refer him to a medical board to obtain for him a four month leave of absence. It refers to him being wounded then being involved in actions at Romani, Mageibra, Bayud and Maghara while in the 11^th Light Horse (a total of 20 months). The letter then states he was transferred to the Flying Corps and qualified as a pilot, where he had done 300 hours in the air and was involved in 3 crashes, all due to engine failure. With his last crash he landed in the hills near Jerusalem and was unconscious for two hours. It was stated he did not feel fit since and was in a depressed nervous condition. His heart was showing the effects of the strain. The Captain remarked in his opinion Clifford needed complete rest and a change of scene to recover. The proceedings of the Medical Board found he was unfit for general service and would be so for 6 months, but he could do light duty at home after 3 months (on review). So he was invalided to Australia. He was sent home on HMAT Tofua which arrived in Sydney, where he disembarked, on 16^th June 1918. In September he received a letter from the Base Records Officer stating that in the London Gazette on 9^th April 1918 he was noted as being awarded the Military Cross for distinguished services in the field in connection with military operations, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem. He was mentioned in the Brisbane Courier on 26^th April 1918 as being injured and of Inverell NSW. His appointment was terminated on 30^th November as medically unfit.

A series of correspondence is sent from the Base Records Officer and his Father about him being admitted into a London hospital in March 1918, but it turns out to be the wrong Lieutenant Brown as he was in Egypt and about to be sent home.

A letter on 7^th May 1918 from a Miss M King of Marion St Guilford asking the Base Records Officer when Clifford was returning, was replied to stating that he was returning but that no particulars could be disclosed. Another letter in 1920 to the Base Records Officer is from a Lieutenant P McBain in Victoria, who was looking for him, to which the reply states the last known address was Commercial Bank Inverell. Lieutenant Percy Alexander McBain was awarded an MBE and Mentioned in Despatches and served with the AFC. He obviously knew Clifford and wanted to catch up with him.

From 1920 to 1922 he was employed in New Caledonia by the Steel Corporation of America as engineer in charge of all diesel installations and power house control.

In 1925 on Noumea, New Caledonia he was married to Suzanne Marthe Cacot. They had a daughter, Anita Eleanor Therese Brown on 17^th September 1927 in Noumea. Anita married Roy Henry Jones in 1948, with notice of their engagement being made in February 1947. On 22 July 1929 at Circular Quay the steamer La Perouse left with Suzanne and Anita as passengers, bound for Noumea. They all must have returned to Australia before then, but Clifford stayed in Australia.

In the 1930 Electoral Roll he is listed as living at 10 Shirley Rd Roseville, Sydney and his occupation was a salesman. In late 1932 or early 1933, Clifford (as the pilot) and Maurice Rolland purchased the last Genairco airplane to be built (VH-UOS c/n 19) from that company. It was completed as a seaplane and fitted with a Siemens-Halske radial engine and was used for inter-island service in New Caledonia. At that time his marriage must have been a bit shaky. He met Evangeline Finneran, who was 22 years younger; had a relationship with her and she gave birth to a child, Noelene in late 1933 in Sydney. Evangeline later married Emil Morf in 1937. Noelene married Bernie Bale and they lived in Tin Can Bay, where she was heavily involved with the community.

In the Old Boys of Barker College form mentioned above he had his present address as C/o Euro Gold Development Ltd. Tennants Creek, Northern Territory and occupation as Engineer, so he must have been working there in the late 1930’s. This ties in with newspaper articles dated 9^th February 1935 which was to do with his bankruptcy. In 1932 he had purchased a half-share in a tyre re-treading business at Orange. He had supplied some capital, but had also borrowed 250 pounds from his Father and 750 pounds from a finance company. His partner had absconded and was believed to be in Northern Queensland. Clifford had asked to be excused from further attendance as he had accepted a position in Central Australia with a mining company and he was prepared to pay 10 shillings a week to the estate. He had a motor truck waiting to convey him and five men to Tennants Creek and he was most anxious not to be delayed. He stated he would have to leave his wife and child behind. The Registrar stated that due to his circumstances, if he supplied the required statement he did not have to wait to sign his depositions and the matter was adjourned. A previous note in January stated he had been an engine driver and lately was carrying on business in Orange. Further meetings in September and November led to an unconditional order of discharge to be granted.

An article in he (Broken Hill) Barrier Miner on 12^th February 1935 states Clifford left the Grand Hotel there with four miners in a truck bound for Alice Springs. There they were to pick up another 35 men who had traveled by steamer to Adelaide and train to Alice Springs. They were heading to Tennants Creek on behalf of the Euro Gold Development Company of Sydney. Mining equipment was also being taken including air compressors. Clifford stated that it was a big undertaking and the company proposed to institute an aeroplane service between Tennants Creek and Sydney next month. An article in 1952 states he was employed by Cuthberts Miseria Gold Mines Ltd. in Papua from 1933 to 1940 in the duplication of its diesel plant. He was mentioned in Who’s Who in Australia in 1935 and 1938 as a recipient of the Military Cross as Lieut. C. Le B Brown.

In 1941 he was living at 1 Thomas St, Chatswood according to his Record of Service, but that and his year of birth look to be altered. His educational qualifications as listed on his record were Bankers and Junior exams, 1^st class engineers certificate NSW and Queensland, 1^st class electrical certificate AC and DC and mine managers certificate. He resumed his military career during World War 2 as Flight Officer 263282, signing up on 10^th October 1941 and posted to 5 Recruiting Centre. He gave his year of birth as 1893 and it notes a birth certificate was not sighted, but it was later produced and showed the year to be 1891. He was approved for service on 20^th September 1941 and advised to report at his earliest opportunity. An application for a commission in the RAAF was dated 3^rd July 1941 and states his postal address as Misima Island Papua and his next-of-kin as his Father at 10 Shirley Rd. It states his current occupation was a Mine Manager, a position he had held for 14 years. He was manager of Alpha and Fantoche mines in New Caledonia for The mutual Chemical Co. of New York for about 12 years. He was them employed by Cuthberts Misima Gold Mine as OS superintendent and was now manager of the Kulumalia mine at Misima. He held 1^st class certificates for all types of mining engines and electrical equipment. It seems he first applied for a commission in the RAAF General Duties Branch in the Citizens Air Force on 18^th December 1939 where he stated he could receive and send Morse, he had operated internal combustion engines and electrical equipment and all types of motor boats. He listed his Flying experience as 340 hours in RE8, Martinsyde and Bristol Fighters on active service. He had also done 2700 hours of post war flying in D.H. 50, Puss Moth, Avro and Genairco machines of which 1900 hours was compiled in New Caledonia under French licence. He played cricket and tennis. His medical classification was A4B and his religion was Church of England on his records sheet, but it stated the address to be 10 Shirley Rd Roseville Sydney where his wife and daughter were living. He did No 16 Administration & S. D. Course from 18^th October 1941 until 5^th December 1941, which he failed. The remarks stated “Failed on Course, experienced difficulty in absorbing instruction.” He was posted to 2 ITS on the 18th. He terminated his appointment on 6^th December 1941 but was reappointed on the 18^th. A report done on 6^th October 1942 states that the officer writing it had been impressed with Clifford “as a valuable officer who could well be given a position of greater responsibility.” Another officer agreed stating how he had adapted himself and done good work and he was well fitted for his area. On 7^th October 1942 he was posted to Administration in Maintenance Section of 1 Rad. Instr. M. U. He was appointed chief instructor to operated diesel electric units for radar up until 1943, then he was mechanical engineer in charge of Australian fitter and turners in American workshops in Papua. He proceeded on temporary duty to 19 Radar Station on 30^th October 1943 and returned on the next day. Again he proceeded there on the 5^th November and returned on the 6^th. He was promoted to a Flight Lieutenant on 1^st April 1943. At a promotion conference in June 1944 he was given a C by the C.O. and A.O.C. The confidential report also grades him midrange in most things, but as Officer In Command of Power Generators (repair and testing) he was very good and competent and as Officer In Command of Fig Tree Detachment, he was not very good at all. His Assessing Officers statement includes “This officer has been with this unit since 7/10/42 and has been in charge of power generators – maintenance, repair and testing section. He has had a long civil experience with diesels and his knowledge of this phase of his work is superior and the work of this section has been very capably carried out. His appointment is A&SD not technical and not Engineer branch. He was for some 11 months and instructor at 2 I.T.S.” It goes on to say “well fitted for an appointment as O.I.C. of a diesel school for Fitters D.M.T. or could be better placed (aged 53) with RM7 at Air Board. He was commended by RAAF Headquarters and also No. 5 (Main) Group for splendid work in preparation of Spares Schedules for Diesel and Petrol Electrical Generator Sets (and) also instructions for maintenance of respective radar power units for D.R.S. This officer is desirous of a posting having been with this unit since 22/10/42.” He went on to say that with his appointment to Fig Tree Detachment, it was hard to set up but he worked hard to make it function but administration and discipline was taxing him. The Officer felt he would be better suited to a position on the engineering side and training and he would give a better and untroubled service relieved of this burden. The Headquarter Officer noted this but did not recommend the change. On 14^th September 1944 he was posted to 2 P.D. On 6^th October 1944 he terminated his appointment at his own request to resume his civil occupation. His service records have a great photo of him sitting in civilian clothes in Papua New Guinea with some natives standing behind him and a dog. On 15^th December 1944 the RAAF sent him a Certificate of Service to his address stating he was doing administrative and special duties for the period he was enlisted and noted his ranks.

After the war he still moved around a bit with him being listed in the following Electoral Rolls:-

1949, 1 Thomas St. Gordon, New South Wales and occupation engineer

1954, 108 Wicks St. Broken Hill, New South Wales and a mechanical engineer

1958, 4/9 Thomas St. Chatswood, New South Wales still a mechanical engineer.

He must have retired after then as the next Rolls show no occupation:-

1963, 12 Urara Rd. Pittwater, New South Wales

1968, 20 Laurel Chase, Forestville, French’s Forest, New South Wales.

In 1950 they were living in South Australia as The Advertiser said that visitors were spending a week with them at Renmark. In 1951 he was fined 40 shillings with the charge being he was riding a motor cycle with a passenger in Nelson place on 17^th January, but he had not been licensed for twelve months. The 1953 Barrier Miner newspaper has an article on 16^th April saying his parents were celebrating their 67^th wedding anniversary but as Clifford was the superintendent at the Galena St Power Station at Broken Hill he could not attend the party. They moved there in 1952 as the newspaper states his wife had just joined the C.W.A. It appears that mid 1952 he was offered the position of powerhouse superintendent by the Broken Hill City Council, which he accepted and would take it up within five weeks. The article notes him being a returned serviceman and he was in the employ of the Irrigation Trust, Renmark. He had wide experience with diesel and generating plants and had held that position previously. In September 1953 he was a witness in a negligent driving charge and his address was given as Wicks St. The same address was given when they entertained Mr. and Mrs. Meredith prior to their returning to Perth. His Father passed away in 1954 at the age of 93 and was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

He passed away on 15^th November 1972 in Newton, New South Wales according to the government records. His death certificate states he died in Hirondelle Private Hospital Chatswood. The causes of death were (a) Congestive Cardiac Failure for many months, (b) Hypertension for 25 years and (c) Chronic Nephritis for 40 years. Roy Jones was noted as the informant. He was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on the 17^th. His ashes are in AIF niche 214QI. The Sydney Morning Herald had a notice on the 18^th which said “died at Chatswood, late of Roseville”.

His medals are Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and Australian Service Medal.

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 belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.