Joseph Bertolo Omodei 3346
2nd CORPORAL JOSEPH BERTOLO OMODEI
3346 – 1st Tunnelling Company / 2nd Infantry Battalion / A.A.M.C.
Born 8 February 1878 in Tirano, Sondrio, Lombardia, Italy, Guiseppi (Joseph) Bertolo Omodei was the son of Pietro (Peter) Guiseppi Omodei and Caterina, nee Dellavedova.
Joseph’s father emigrated to Australia in 1877, his mother with the 2 children, Joseph aged 7 and Mary aged 5, following in 1884 on board the ship Chimborazo.
Joseph left home at an early age and went to Western Australia to work in the mines. He returned to central Queensland and worked in the brown coal mine at Blair Athol and the Miclere gold mine. The Miclere Mine was located just off the Miclere Creek in central Queensland a distance of about 770km northwest from Brisbane. The nearest populated place is the town of Clermont which is 30km away.
Joseph undertook a correspondence course and qualified as a teacher. In 1915 at Rockhampton he tried to enlist in the A.I.F. but was rejected due to his age (37) and because he was the only teacher at Blackwater.
The Blackwater Education Centenary, 1877-1977, lists Joseph Bertolo Omodei as a Principal of
Blackwater State School from 20 September 1915 to 12 April 1919.
When the Mining Corps started recruiting with an age limit up to 50 years, Joseph completed an ‘Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force’ at Emerald, Queensland on 19 January 1916.
He stated he was a State School Teacher by occupation and gave his postal address as c/o Mrs K. Omodei, Awaba, Sydney-Newcastle Railway, NSW.
A medical examination at Rockhampton, Queensland, on 2 February 1916 recorded that he was 36 years and 11 months of age; that he was 5ft 5½ins tall and weighed 10 stone 11 pounds; that he had a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.
He was of the Theosophist belief. A missing left big toe was recorded as a distinguishing mark.
Joseph Bertolo Omodei signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, naming as his Next-of-Kin his mother Mrs. Kate Omodei of Awaba, Sydney-Newcastle Railway, NSW, later of Wallsend, NSW. He allotted three-fifths of his pay for the support of his mother.
He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ the same day and his training began at 11 Depot Battalion on 15 February.
He was allotted to the Tunnelling Companies at the Brisbane Camp Rifle Ranges on 15 March 1916.
Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
He was officially appointed to the 4th Tunnelling Company on 11 May 1916 at Rosebery Park, Sydney and was promoted to 2nd Corporal on 16 May, embarking at Sydney for the Western Front on board Warilda on 22 May 1916.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713 ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 No.6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre. Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916.
Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916.
Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.
Joseph proceeded overseas to France on 29 August 1916 and marched in to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (2nd ADBD) on 30 August. He was attached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (1ATC) on 25 September.
Joseph was wounded in action on 22 December 1916 when the unit was working at Anzac No.5 Post on Hill 60. He was admitted to the 4th London Field Ambulance suffering a shell wound to the head. He was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 23 December and then to the 18th Ambulance Train.
The same day he was admitted to the 1st Convalescent Camp at Boulogne and was declared fit on 25 December to be discharged to Base Details. On 6 January 1917 he marched in to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Etaples. He marched out of the AGBD on 7 January, rejoining his unit in the Field on 9 January 1917
He was transferred to the AGBD, Etaples on 23 April 1917 and then to the 1st ADBD on 27 April. He was admitted to the 24th Canadian Hospital on 17 May with Mumps and was transferred to the 46th Southern Hospital.
On 27 June he was discharged to the 6th Convalescent Depot. He was transferred to the 5th Convalescent Depot at Cayeux on 2 July.
He returned to the 1st ADBD, Havre, on 29 July and proceeded to join the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion (2nd Bn) on 5 August. On 9 August 1917 he was officially transferred to the 2nd Bn and reverted to the rank of Private. He was taken on strength on 10 August.
He reported sick on 14 September 1917 and was admitted to the 7th Field Ambulance with a bruised left foot. He was transferred to the 6th Field Ambulance and then back to the 7th F.A. the same day. On 18 September he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and then to Ambulance Train 10 on 19 September.
On 22 September 1917 he was evacuated to England on board Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth and admitted to the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge with a bruised foot. He was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital on 27 September.
Joseph was transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 24 October 1917, to remain attached to No.3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (3AAH), Dartford, for duty with Staff, medically classified as C1. He was taken on strength of 3AAH on 31 October.
On 28 August 1918 he marched out to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth.
While based at the Monte Video Camp, Weymouth, 39-year-old Joseph married Emily Florence Gray on 16 October 1918, the marriage registered at Dartford, Kent. Emily was a 19-year-old Munition Works Machinist living at Carlisle Road, Dartford, the daughter of James Gray.
Joseph made the trip home as Nursing Staff on board Sardinia. 40 Tunnellers were on board H.T. D24 Sardinia when she departed London on October 19, 1918, arriving in Sydney on December 31, 1918 and the news was reported in:
On 2 January 1919, Joseph lodged an Application for Assistance for Free Passage with the Department of Repatriation. Giving his address as C/- G.P.O. Brisbane he applied for free passage for his wife from England to Queensland. He stated he had been resident in Australia for 32 years and intended to remain.
The State Board approved the Application on 10 January and forwarded it to the Comptroller, Department of Repatriation, Melbourne. The file was marked ‘Action Taken’ on 16 January 1919.
The voyage home on Sardinia had allegations of many breaches of discipline with the troops refusing to reboard the ship from Melbourne. An inquiry was held and the following is an abridged version:
Joseph was discharged from the A.I.F. in Melbourne on 8 February 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Joseph was presented with a medallion from the residents of Blackwater.
In October 1919 his address was Railhead Orallo Construction, Soldier’s Settlement, Mount Hutton, Queensland.
The 1919 Electoral Roll for Roma, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei as a Selector at King’s Lynn. [recorded as O’Modei]
The 1925/1930 Electoral Roll for Roma, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei, Selector, living at Gunnewin. [recorded as O’Modei]. Emily Florence Omodei, is recorded as living at Mt Hutton, Gunnewin.
Joseph’s father died on 15 May 1932. An obituary in the local newspaper providing historical family details:
The 1937/1943 Electoral Roll for Roma, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei, Selector, and Emily Florence Omodei, Home duties living at Gunnewin. [recorded as O’Modei]
Three of Josephs’ children served n World War 2.
Aurelia Frances ‘Ellie’ Omodei – born 12 January 1922, Gunnewin, Queensland.
101164 Aircraftswoman Aurelia Frances Omodei, enlisted at Roma 21 December 1942. Next of Kin: Joseph Omodei. Served with 25 Operational Base Unit. Discharged 21 September 1945.
Bruno Alexander Omodei – born 7 October 1920, Roma, Queensland.
QX31691 Private Bruno Alexander Omodei, enlisted at Roma 21 April 1942; Next of Kin: Joseph Omodei. Served with 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion. Discharged 26 Jul 1946.
Morris Cromwell Omodei –born 1 November 1923, Roma, Queensland
QX40644 (Q147632) Craftsman Morris Cromwell Omodei, enlisted at Roma 7 July 1942. Next of Kin: Joseph Omodei. Served with 13 Aust. Advanced Workshops, AEME. Discharged 11 December 1945.
The 1949 Electoral Roll for Roma, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei, Selector, and Emily Florence Omodei living at Gunnewin. Morris Cromwell Omodei, Labourer, is also living at Gunnewin.
The 1949 Roll records Bruno Alexander Omodei as a Storeman living at 105 Esplanade, Cairns.
The 1954 Electoral Roll for Roma, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei, Selector, Emily Florence Omodei living at Gunnewin. Also at Gunnewin are John Raphael Omodei, Station Hand at Gunnewin Station and Elsie Florence Omodei, Hospital, Roma.
The 1958/1967 Electoral Roll for Pialba, Queensland records Joseph Bertolo Omodei, Farmer, and Emily Florence Omodei living at Gympie Road, Tinana. Morris Cromwell Omodei is also a Farmer at Gympie Road, Tinana with his wife Nellie Gertrude (nee Huggett) Omodei performing home duties.
In December 1964 Josephs’ medical and military files were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Brisbane.
Joseph Bertolo Omodei died on 22 September 1967 aged 89 and is buried at Maryborough, Queensland.
Joseph's is commemorated on the Blair Athol Honour Board which hangs in the Clermont RSL. He was still on the electoral roll at Blair Athol township when he enlisted. Blair Athol township was moved to Clermont in approx 1980 to make way for the mine expansion and the Blair Athol Honour Board is now housed at the Clermont RSL.
The 1968 thru 1980 Electoral Roll for Maryborough, Queensland records Emily Florence Omodei living at 17 John Lane.
Emily Florence Omodei died in Queensland on 30 June 1989, aged 89.
Josephs’ brother also served in WW1.
SERGEANT PETER JOSEPH OMODEI
2763 – 18th Infantry Battalion
Born at Newcastle, NSW on 27 March 1890, Peter Joseph Omodei enlisted at the Warwick Farm Depot in August 1915 and embarked at Sydney on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 2 November 1915 with the Reinforcements for the 18th Infantry Battalion, bound for the Middle East.
He was taken on strength of the Battalion at Kembla Hill (Mt Kembla, near Duntroon Plateau, in the Sinai Desert) on 5 February 1916. The Battalion proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force in Europe on 18 March and disembarked at Marseilles on 25 March 1916.
Promoted to Temporary Corporal in September 1916, Peter received a gun shot wound to his right forearm on 26 September and was evacuated to England. Discharged from hospital in October 1916 he was granted two weeks furlough.
At the 5th Training Battalion, Rolleston, England in January 1917, Peter was promoted to Corporal. He proceeded overseas to France in March 1917, rejoining his unit in the Field on 21 March.
On 15 April 1917 he was again wounded in action, again receiving a gun shot wound to the right arm and again being evacuated to England. Discharged from hospital in May 1917 he was again granted two weeks furlough.
He proceeded overseas to France, again, in June 1917, rejoining his unit in the Field on 3 July. He reported sick on 8 October 1917 and was treated for exposure before rejoining his unit 5 days later.
Peter enjoyed some leave in England from 19 March until 2 April 1918. On 14 May 1918 Peter was wounded in action for the third time, receiving a gun shot wound to the left hand. He was again evacuated to England. Discharged from hospital on 15 November, he was granted a week’s furlough, to report to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth.
Peter left England on 2 January 1919 for return to Australia on board Berrima. Disembarking at Melbourne on 17 February, he travelled by boat to Sydney where he was discharged from the A.I.F. on 6 September 1919, entitled to wear the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In November 1956 Peters’ medical and military files were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Sydney.
The 1930 Electoral Roll records Peter Joseph Omodei, Hawker, living at 20 Hill Street, Wallsend, with Peter Omodei, Farmer, and Catherine Omodei, home duties. When Peters’ father died in 1932 his mother continued to live with young Peter at Hill Street.
The 1936/1943 Electoral Roll records Peter Joseph Omodei, Hawker, living at 20 Hill Street, Wallsend, with Catherine Omodei, home duties. Peters’ mother Catherine died on 18 July 1952 aged 96 years.
The 1954/1958 Electoral Roll records Peter Joseph Omodei, Hawker, living at 20 Hill Street, Wallsend.
In 1980 Peter was still living at 20 Hill Street, Wallsend.
Peter Joseph Omodei died in New South Wales on 8 January 1982 age 91 years.
© Donna Baldey 2015
with the assistance of Dan Eassie, grandson of Joseph Bertolo Omodei
photos courtesy Dan Eassie