CORPORAL JOSEPH GEORGE LORD
1422 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Joseph ‘Joe’ George Lord was born in Llangollen, Denbighshire, North Wales on December 6, 1872 the son of William and Anne Lord. In 1881 the family were living at Green Lane, Llangollen and consisted of William (44) brick & tile labourer, wife Anne (44) and children William Evan (15), Joseph George (8), Martha J.W. (6), Helena Elizabeth (3) and Margaret A.A. (1mth).
Ten years later in 1891 they were residing at Mekling-le-Grand, Lower Dudlington, Chester and the household was made up of William (52) servant of Jesus, Anne (52), Margaret A.A. (10), Nellie W. (6) and son William G (25) refiner, patent candle works and his wife Lydia M.B. (22).
Joe served an apprenticeship as a baker for seven years with Thomas Halliwell in Liverpool, England.
In 1906 he was part of the crew on board the 7820-tons steamer Persic that sailed from Liverpool to Sydney, New South Wales. He was mentioned in the crew list as:
22/9/1906 J.G. Lord (35) birthplace Llangollen – chief cook
A year later he is listed as a crew member on the Persic from Melbourne to Sydney which is shown as:
29/6/1907 J.G. Lord (35) birthplace Wales – chief cook
Early in 1908 he again left Liverpool on the 7805-tons liner Afric on its voyage via Cape Town to Sydney, NSW. The crew list stated:
11/2/1908 J.G. Lord (36) birthplace Llangollen – 2nd Cook
He was working on the steamer Victoria under Master of the Ship, Captain Erstwhile sailing from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney where details given were:
5/6/1908-3/7/1908 J.G. Lord (35) birthplace Wales - baker
It appears that he remained in New South Wales and was working in the Clarence River district when the following was reported in the:
As 1909 began he was aboard the 2214-ton coastal steamer Wyandra under Master of the Ship, Captain Grahl and details were:
17/1/1909 J.G. Lord (36) birthplace Wales – 2nd Cook
He transferred to the S.S. Yongala where he is registered on the coastal route from Cairns via ports as:
11/2/1909 J.G. Lord (36) birthplace Wales – 1st Cook
Details appear for 1912 working aboard the ship Clan Campbell of Newcastle under J.C. Spratt, Master on its journey from Geelong to Sydney where on the crew list he appears:
29/10/1912 J.G. Lord (40) birthplace Llangollen – chief cook
In 1915 he worked aboard the 1752-tons coastal steamer Bombala during the voyage from Brisbane to Sydney under Captain J.C. Main and was listed as:
18/6/15 J.G. Lord (44) birthplace Nth Wales – 2nd Cook
Returning from Melbourne to Sydney on Bombala the same month he was listed as:
25/6/15 J.G. Lord (44) birthplace Nth Wales – 2nd Cook
He was a crew member under Captain J. Rees, Master of the Ship on the 3949-tons Lammeroo when it sailed from Fremantle, W.A. to Port Kembla, NSW and listed as:
23/11/15 J.G. Lord (43) birthplace North Wales - cook
At the Recruiting Depot in Liverpool, New South Wales on December 4, 1915 he applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination two days later. Described on enlistment as forty-two years eleven months, he stood 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighed 72.7kgs (160lbs) with a chest expansion of 94-98cms (37-38¼ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and had light brown hair. A distinctive mark noted was a scar on the outside of his right ankle. Religious faith was given as Church of England. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Anne Lord of 37 Bishop’s Road, Liverpool, England. His postal address was 22 Lower Fort Street, Miller’s Point, Sydney, NSW. He signed and took the “Oath of Allegiance” the same day.
It is not listed where his basic training commenced but on January 14, 1916 he was re-attested at Casula camp, near Liverpool with the Mining Corps. Personal particulars taken show forty-three years of age, weighing 72.7kgs (160lbs) and 164cms (5ft 4¼ins) tall with a chest measurement of 95-100cms (37½-39½ins) with a fresh complexion, blue eyes that tested to good vision and light brown hair. Religion remained the same. Marks of distinction were three vaccination scars on his left arm and a scar on the outer side of his right foot. Next-of-kin was again nominated as his mother. He was sworn in the next day and assigned to the 1st Reinforcements to the Mining Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 1422.
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt.
The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
On June 12, 1916 the following was dealt with by the Commanding Officer:
Offence: Hazebrouck 10/6/16 Drunkenness
Award: Severely admonished 12/6/16
With his civil qualifications as a baker and cook his service was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred and taken on strength on October 7, 1916.
On October 16, 1916 he went to the 4th General Hospital for treatment of dental caries and returned to Base Details at the Aust General Base Depot ten days later. He rejoined his unit on December 9, 1916. The following day he went to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station with mumps and transferred to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer on December 15 and returned to Base Details then rejoined his unit on January 4, 1917.
Disciplinary action was taken for the following:
Crime: Drunkenness 14/1/17
Award: 7 days F.P. No. 2 [field punishment]
Crime: W.O.A.S. [while on active service] 20/4/17
(1) neglect to duty
(2) Drunkenness
Award: (1) dismissed
(2) 14 days F.P. No. 2
Crime: (1) A.W.L. from duty 21/10/17
(2) Drunkenness
Award: 28 day’s F.P. No. 2
Crime: W.O.A.S. 10/1/18 using insulting language to his superior officer
Award: 28 day’s F.P. No. 1 by C.O.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
He was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal on June 19, 1918 then to complete establishment was promoted to 2nd Corporal on August 1, 1918. Two days later was promoted to Corporal to complete establishment again. He was paid in France on August 7, 1918.
He was with the company when Peace was declared and they continued to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies for those who were rehabilitating their areas.
Leave was granted to England from November 20 until December 4, 1918.
While on leave on December 2 he was admitted to Endell Military Hospital in London suffering from Influenza. He was discharged to furlough on December 30, 1918 and to report on January 7, 1919 to the No. 1 Command Depot.
As ordered he marched in from London Headquarters to the No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny.
After demobilisation Corporal Lord embarked for Australia on board the hospital ship Lancashire on February 7, 1919. The ship docked in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on March 24, 1919 then by transport to Sydney (2nd M.D.) A small news item of their arrival was published in the:
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney, NSW on July 1, 1919 as medically unfit.
It was noted at Base Records that his Returned Soldier’s Badge (149353) was returned to their store on November 17, 1925.
For serving his country Corporal 1422 Joseph George Lord, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued the British War Medal (34137) and the Victory Medal (33703).
He was working as a shearers’ cook in the Hay district of New South Wales where the following incident took place and was reported in:
He was residing at 22 Lower Fort Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney with the occupation of chef in 1930. While working at Narrandera, NSW he was charged with drunkenness and reported the Court session in the:
In 1933 he was still living at Narrandera at the Royal Hotel working as a cook and later that year was at Solomon’s Hall, Tennyson Road, Mortlake, Sydney and listed as a labourer.
A Statement of Service was forwarded by Base Records to the Repatriation Commission in Sydney on January 23, 1933.
Joseph Lord wrote care of the Mother Superior, Old People’s Home, Young, NSW on March 29, 1935 to Base Records making an application in regards to his War Medals. He had not previously applied on account of moving from place to place and having no fixed abode till recently. He sent dates as near as possible proving his service which were:
“First: Joined Home Defence (Oct, 1915) Light Horse. Doctors passed me fit for active service
and put into lines and attached to the Sixth of the Sixth then transferred to the Mining Corps in
January, 1916. Formed in France he joined the A.E.M.M.B. Company.”
He also inquired if he was entitled to a refund of the money forfeited of the 77 days Field Punishment.
He would also be glad to know if any records of disabilities from Endall Street Hospital, London as they had not arrived when he was discharged from Randwick Hospital, Sydney in June 1919.
Base Records replied on September 2, 1935 advising that both medals had been sent under separate registered cover. All medical records in connection with his previous service were held by the Deputy Commission for Repatriation. In regards to financial matters with his service he was advised to contact the Financial Officer at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, NSW. Joe acknowledged receipt of his medals on September 9, 1935.
In 1937 his residence was 43 Lower Fort Street, Darling Harbour with the occupation of cook.
Joe Lord applied to Base Records for a Duplicate Discharge Statement giving his address care of the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney stating in a Statutory Declaration dated December 28, 1938 that ‘I had my wallet stolen from me together with my Certificate. Unable to trace.’ This was not accepted by Records Office advising him in their letter dated January 9, 1939 as the Declaration was not witnessed by a Justice of the Peace. He completed another Declaration which was witnessed on February 13, 1939 in which he declared from Bright House, 43 Lower Fort Street, Sydney ‘that he could not account for his lost certificate.’ A Statement of Service was issued to him on March 24, 1939.
Advising his change of address to 93 Kirribilli Avenue, Kirribilli to Base Records they replied on March 4, 1940 suggesting he also advise the Repatriation Commission or alternatively the Registrar of Pensions, Sydney in order that his present whereabouts be recorded for administration of his Pension.
A Statement of his Service was requested by the Sydney branch of the Repatriation Commission from Base Records which was sent on March 30, 1940. A notation stated that no record was found to substantiate the ex-member’s injuries but if the name of the hospital he was admitted to or the camp a further search could be undertaken. They had no objection to the State Secretary of the R.S.S.I.L.A. being confidentially supplied with necessary information.
In reply to Base Records the Repatriation Commission in Chalmers Street, Sydney wrote on March 18, 1940 in regards to the R.S.S.I.L.A. inquiry of March 13 to them. They advised that the injury to his right ankle was recorded in the A.M.F.’s D1 and D2 at No. 4 Aust General Hospital on April 7, 1919 although his other injuries were not recorded in any document made available to their Department. The R.S.L. had been informed by Mr Lord that he did receive injuries to his left clavicle, back of his head and left scapula and such occurred at the same time as the injury to the right ankle. The Repatriation Commission advised that his ankle affection was accepted as due to war service.