SAPPER WILLIAM EDWIN MADDISON
1423 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales was the birthplace of William Edwin Maddison in 1889 the son of John and Mary Ann Maddison. He was an apprentice plumber working at Haberfield Plumbing for five years.
At the Town Hall Recruiting Depot in Sydney on January 19, 1916 the twenty-six year old applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. At Casula camp near Liverpool, NSW on February 7, 1916 Attestation Forms were completed which reveal the plumber was 174cms (5ft 8½ins) tall, weighed 66.3kgs (146lbs) with a chest expansion of 92-97cms (36-39ins). Complexion was florid with blue eyes and had brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were tattoos on his right upper arm of a heart and dagger, forearm – spots; left upper arm three horses, left forearm, spots. There were several scars on the inside of right arm. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Mary Ann Maddison of 13 Rosebery Street, Leichhardt, NSW. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced on February 7, 1916 with ‘C Coy’ Depot Battalion but after five days was allotted to the 1st Reinforcements to the Mining Corps on February 12, 1916. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 1423.
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’.
Sapper Maddison’s civil career of plumber was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred and taken on strength with the company on October 7, 1916.
He went sick to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station on December 14, 1916 with Bronchitis and rejoined his unit on December 23, 1916.
On January 9, 1917 he went for duty with the 3rd Army Mining School.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for twelve months service abroad.
Service continued without incident or further sickness and was reported ‘with unit’ in an audit of the company on March 23, 1918.
When Peace was declared he was with the company who remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies to those rehabilitating their districts.
He went sick to the 57th Casualty Clearing Station on March 19, 1919 being admitted with dermatitis and was conveyed on April 12 on A.T.4 for further treatment at the 46th Stationary Hospital with scabies (skin irritation caused by Itch Mite whose eggs are laid under the skin’s outer layer.) He returned to duty on April 23.
Orders were issued to prepare for demobilisation and report to the Aust Base Depot on April 25, 1919. They marched out to return to England on May 5 and crossed the English Channel arriving at the No. 1 Group camp a day later.
After demobilisation Sapper Maddison embarked for Australia on board H.T. Ormonde on June 16, 1919.
Sergeant E.G. ‘Hughie’ Dodd was also a member of the company who kept a diary of his work and time spent on the front. He mentions their departure as follows:
1919
June 16
Bill Davies, Lieut. Norfolk, with about 40 men of the Coy marched out with 37 Quota at 6 this morning for Devonport, sailing at 4 o'clock this afternoon by the Ormonde.
Base Records advised his mother on July 18, 1919 that her son was on his way home. The ship docked in Sydney (2nd Military District) on August 4, 1919 and their arrival was reported in the:
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on September 26, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. The following year in 1920 he married Mary Wass with their marriage registered at Leichhardt, NSW.
The British War Medal (34138) and the Victory Medal (33704) were issued to Sapper 1423 William Edwin Maddison, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country.
He was part of the Soldier-Settler Scheme and in 1930 was a poultry farmer at Hillview Settlement, Liverpool, NSW.
A Statement of his Service was requested by the Sydney Branch of the Repatriation Commission and sent from Base Records on November 27, 1930.
Their address changed in 1933 to 52 Redan Street, Mosman where he worked as a clerk. Ten years later they were at Cabramatta Road, Cabramatta and he was a traveller. From 1949 to 1963 he was residing at 112 Longfield Street, Cabramatta and still a traveller.
William Edwin Maddison passed away on September 29, 1973 aged 84 years. Family arrangements were published in the:
REUNIONS
Former members of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ in Sydney would meet to march in the Anzac Day parade then attend their annual luncheon. Roll Registers for newsletters of this annual event were kept and his name appears as follows:
1928 W. Maddison Box 2, Hillview Soldier Settlement, via Liverpool
1934 Maddison W Hillview Soldiers Settlement, LiverpoolNotation: letter returned 11/2/1935
changed to: Cabramatta Rd, Cabramattachanged to: Wentworth Falls
Notation: letter returned 18/4/1950
1960-68 W. Maddison 112 Longfield St, Cabramatta
1970-71 W. Maddison 112 Longfield St, CabramattaNotation: Deceased Reveille 2/1974
© Donna Baldey 2013