Sapper Isaac Liddell

SAPPER ISAAC LIDDELL

7523 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Isaac Liddell was born at Stanley, Durham, England about 1874 the son of John and Mary Heslop (nee Whitfield) Liddell. He arrived in Queensland as a seventeen year old with his father John (53) on board the Oriana on October 14, 1887. On May 2, 1899 he married Charlotte Moss in Queensland and they had eight children and resided in the gold mining town of Mount Morgan, Qld. Previous military experience of one and a half years was served with the Qld Mounted Infantry.

On March 23, 1917 Isaac applied to enlist after passing his preliminary medical examination at Mount Morgan. Personal particulars show the forty-three year old miner was 178ms (5ft 10ins) tall with a chest measurement of 95cms (37½ins). The recruiting officer accepted his application after being declared fit for active service.

The next day at the Rockhampton Recruiting Depot the medical officer also accepted his fitness and Attestation Forms were completed and he was sworn in. Further details show he had a fresh complexion with blue eyes and light hair and vision was good. His weight was 73.6kgs (162lbs). Religion was Church of England and his next-of-kin was named as his wife Mrs Charlotte Liddell of Gordon Street, Mount Morgan and agreed to allot three-fifths of his pay to support her and three dependant children.

His basic training began as a private with the 8th Reinforcements to the 42nd Battalion from March 29, 1917 until April 1, 1917 in Brisbane, Qld. The next day he was sent to the Miners’ camp for further instruction concluding on May 5, 1917. During this time he took his final home leave from April 24 to May 1, 1917 before transferring to the Miners’ Seymour Camp in Victoria on June 7 to continue training until July 15, 1917.

He was placed with the April Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies on July 16, 1917 and assigned the regimental number 7523 and the rank of Sapper. In preparation for his departure his Will was noted to be lodged with Mrs Charlotte Liddell, Gordon Street, Mount Morgan.

The April Reinforcements consisted of 168 members who embarked on the troopship HMAT A68 Anchises on August 8, 1917 from Sydney, NSW. Colds and influenza were prevalent at the commencement of the voyage. The vessel arrived at Colon, Panama on September 2, 1917 departing six days later. Halifax, Nova Scotia was reached on the 18th and after three days in port departed on September 21, 1917. The final journey to England was completed after a 55 day voyage when they docked at Liverpool on October 2, 1917. The troops were detrained to Tidworth. The following day they arrived at No 1 and 3 Details Camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front.

The men proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on November 14, 1917 arriving at the Aust. General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day. On November 24, 1917 Sapper Liddell was attached to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion from the 1st Anzac Corps Depot until December 12, 1917.

On December 18, 1917 he was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company and taken on strength on April 27, 1918.

He was taken sick on July 8, 1917 to the 9th Aust. Field Ambulance suffering from P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) Unknown Origin). Two days later was sent to the 47th Casualty Clearing Station and on July 14 was transferred on A.T.10 to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport suffering Chronic Bronchitis and Catarrh. On July 27, 1918 Sapper was invalided to England on the hospital ship Gloucester Castle and admitted to Reading War Hospital, Reading diagnosed with Bronchitis.

On August 15, 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford to convalesce. He had a complete kit inspection on arrival. While there he was assessed in respect of his debility on August 17, 1918. A Medical Report on the Invalid is as follows:

Disability: Chronic bronchitis and debility

Date of Origin: January, 1918

Place of Origin: France

Essential Facts: In January 1918 had an attack of Diarrhoea and Bronchitis while in the line at Flanders. Was off duty for six days but did not recover properly, had a

continual cough and finally got an attack of influenza about July 5, 1918 and have been in hospital ever since.

Classification: C1

Aggravated by: Attributed to service in present war.

Caused by: Exposure in the line

Disability degree: 20%

Recommendation: Board find (1) Permanently unfit for active service.

(2) Permanently unfit for home service.

Classed: C1.

No 3 A.A.H. Dartford.

He was issued on discharge from hospital the following items for his kit:

Fork, Knife & Spoon, Drawers & Flannel shirt, Woollen socks, Towel, 2 Collar Badges and 2 Australia titles.

He was sent to No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on August 22, 1918 to await further reports for his return to Australia. At Westham camp on August 23 he was issued with these items for his kit:

Kit Bag, 2 Singlets, Woollen socks, Towel, 2 Australia titles, Woollen breeches, Jacket and cap.

On August 30 another medical report was taken at No 1 Group Monte Video Camp at Weymouth. The next day a kit inspection took place and the day after. Another inspection took place on September 27, 1918 when leaving Monte Video Camp and upon arriving at Westham Camp the following day.

On October 15, 1919 he collected his kit in preparation for departure home and was final issue was a pair of boot laces.

A few days later the transport D24 Sardinia departed Plymouth, Eng on October 19, 1918 with Sapper Liddell on board for the return voyage to Australia. His berth for the journey was a hammock. Mrs Liddell was notified on November 15, 1918 of his return. Her good news was reported in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Friday December 13, 1918:

The Sardinia docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd Military District) on December 27, 1918 and Sapper then left for Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.)

Further news was published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Friday January 3, 1919:

At the 6th Aust. General Hospital, Brisbane the Medical Board findings in England were confirmed on January 2, 1919.

News of his return was printed in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Friday January 10, 1919:

He returned to Brisbane (1st M.D.) and received his military discharge as medically unfit on January 25, 1919 then sent to the S.O.I.& R.S. Section for disposal.

He returned to Mount Morgan where he was employed as a watchman and was living at Tipperary Point.

Sapper 7523 Isaac Liddell, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (31264) and the Victory Medal (29545) for his services for his country.

Around 1925 he was a Labourer at Rannes and by the mid to late 1930’s was a farmer at Callide, Qld

Isaac Lidell died on June 27, 1940 aged 71 years. The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Friday June 28, 1940 reported on the funeral arrangements of Isaac Liddell:

The Liddell family monument can be found in Compartment 1, Section 9, Grave 64 of the North Rockhampton Cemetery.