Tag Archives: Mt. Victoria

Robert MITCHELL

Posted on April 25, 2019 | 1 comment

Robert Alexander Gordon MITCHELL

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4843),  Robert Alexander Gordon Mitchell was born at Cobar, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 27 years and 6 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 9 ½ inches tall, weight 154 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair.  His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

A send-off was held on Thursday 28th October 1915 at the Court House Hotel in Cobar for Robert and his brother Walter Mitchell, Norman Francisco, and Andrew Lennox, and they were then cheered by many friends when they left Cobar by train on 30th October 1915 to join the A.I.F.[2]

Robert Mitchell completed his medical examination, and was attested with the other three men at Dubbo on 2nd November 1915, (the day the Coo-ees were at Lithgow).

Robert and his brother Walter Mitchell, Andrew Lennox, and Norman Francisco then travelled to catch up with the Coo-ees, and were waiting to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees arrived at Mt. Victoria two days later, on 4th November 1915.[3]

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

A farewell was held at the Masonic Hall in Cobar at the Masonic Hall on Friday 3rd March 1916 to bid farewell to Private Bob Mitchell and his brother Corporal Walter Mitchell, when they were on final leave before departing overseas. [4]

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Cornish Town, Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs E. A. Mitchell, Cornish Town, Cobar, N.S.W.[5]

On 8th March 1916 Private Mitchell, along with his brother Walter, and many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.

Troopship HMAT A15 Star of England. Australian War Memorial Collection AWM H17014.

He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On 16th April 1916 Private Mitchell was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir, and taken on strength of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade, and mustered Driver.

On 22nd May 1916 Driver Mitchell was transferred to the 110th Australian (Howitzer) Battery.

On 5th June 1916 Driver Mitchell left Alexandria aboard the HMT Oriana bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 13th June 1916.

On 21st September 1916 Driver Mitchell was sent to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance with a hernia. On 30th September 1916 he was moved back to the 50th Casualty Clearing Station. On 3rd October 1916 he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France. On 9th October 1916 he was transferred to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples, France.

On 10th October 1916 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen at Calais for evacuation to England. On 11th October 1916 he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital at Whalley, England.

He was discharged from hospital and went on leave from 12th February 1917 to 27th February 1917, then reported to  the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England.

On 30th April 1917 Driver Mitchell was charged with being absent without leave from noon on 25th April 1917 till 1545 on 28th April 1917. He was awarded 7 days confined to camp and fined 4 days pay.

Driver Mitchell departed Southampton, England, on 19th June 1917. He arrived at the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles on 20th June 1917.

He rejoined the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on 5th July 1917.

On 22nd January 1918 Driver Mitchell went to Paris on leave. He was due to return to his unit on 31st January 1918, however did not return until 4th February 1918.

On 8th February 1918 Driver Mitchell was sent to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station sick. On 9th February 1918 he was placed aboard the 37th Ambulance Train and moved to the 39th General Hospital at Le Harve, France, where he was admitted on 12th February 1918.

On 12th April 1918 Driver Mitchell was court martialed for failing to obey Hospital Orders in that on 4th April 1918 whilst a patient at the 39th General Hospital was gambling contrary to Order 19 which forbids gambling. He was found guilty and awarded 10 days Field Punishment no. 1.

Driver Mitchell was discharged from hospital on 21st April 1918 and sent to the Australian General Base Depot at Le Harve, France.

He rejoined his unit on 3rd May 1918.

On 10th May 1918 a Field General Court Martial was held where Driver Mitchell was charged with when on active service being absent without leave from 31st January 1918 till 4th February 1918. He was found guilty and awarded 21 days field punishment no. 2 and fined 120 days pay.

On 25th August 1918 Driver Mitchell went on leave. He rejoined the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on 14th September 1918.

On 28th January 1919 Driver Mitchell went to Paris on leave. He returned to his unit on 11th February 1919.

On 4th March 1919 Driver Mitchell marched into the Australian General Base Depot at Le Harve, France, to commence his return to Australia.

On 13th March 1919 he departed France, arriving at Weymouth on 14th March 1919. He then marched into the No. 4 Command Depot.

On 1st May 1919 Driver Mitchell departed England aboard the Transport China bound for Australia.

He arrived in Australia on 11th June 1919.

He was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 26th July 1919.

[1] NAA: B2455, MITCHELL ROBERT ALEXANDER GORDON

[2] SUMMARY. (1915, October 30). Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136723099

[3] SUMMARY. (1915, November 6). Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136724708

[4] Cobar’s Farewell. (1916, March 10). Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136721446

[5] Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Robert Alexander Mitchell, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.

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Norman Hamond FRANCISCO

Posted on March 18, 2018 | 2 comments

Norman Hamond FRANCISCO

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4775),  Norman Hamond Francisco was born at Cobar, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 24 years and 9 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as baker.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 1 ½ inches tall, weight 162 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair.  His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

A send-off was held on Thursday 28th October 1915 at the Court House Hotel in Cobar for Norman Francisco, brothers Walter and Robert Mitchell, and Andrew Lennox, and they were then cheered by many friends when they left Cobar by train on Saturday 30th October 1915 to join the A.I.F.[2]

All four of them completed their medical examinations, and were attested, at Dubbo on Monday 2nd November 1915, (the day the Coo-ees were at Lithgow).

Norman Francisco then traveled by train with these three other Cobar men to catch up with the Coo-ees.  They were waiting to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees arrived at Mt. Victoria three days later, on Thursday 4th November 1915.[3]

After completing the Coo-ee March Private Francisco went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 20th December 1915 Private Francisco was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp from 3rd to 19th December 1915. He was fined 17 days pay.

Private Francisco and fellow Coo-ee Private Lennox while home on leave were given a farewell at the Star Hotel in Cobar on Saturday, 1st January 1916.[4]

On 4th February 1916 Private Francisco was charged with being absent without leave from the Liverpool Camp on 1st February 1916. He was fined 1 days pay.

On 16th February 1916 he was charged with being absent from night piquet. He was fined 2 days pay.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Becker Street, Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his father, A. [Alfred] Francisco, at the same address.[5]

On 8th March 1916 Private Francisco, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.

Troopship HMAT A15 Star of England. Australian War Memorial Collection AWM H17014.

He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On the 16th of April 1916 he transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel El Kebir, Egypt.

On the 4th of June 1916 Private Francisco left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France.  He arrived  at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.

On 31st October 1916 Private Francisco was charged with being absent without leave from 0830 on 29th October 1916 till 0900 on 29th October 1916. He was fined 4 days pay.

On 5th November 1916 Private Francisco was injured playing in a football match. He was sent to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance. On 7th November 1916 he was admitted to the 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens, France, with a sprained ankle. On 9th November 1916 he was placed aboard the 9th Ambulance Train and sent to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France, where he was admitted on 10th November 1916 with a fracture to the 5th metarasal bone in his right foot.

On 12th November 1916 Private Francisco was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Formosa bound for England. He was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham, England, on 13th November 1916, with a fractured toe.

Private Francisco was discharged from hospital on 19th February 1917, and granted leave to report to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, England on 6th March 1917.

On 24th March 1917 Private Francisco was charged with being absent without leave from 3.30 pm on 6th March 1917 till 8.45 am on 23rd March 1917. He was awarded 10 days Field Punishment No. 2 and fined 28 days pay.

On 21st June 1917 Private Francisco was charged with neglecting to obey routine orders by being in Tidworth after hours on 19th June 1917 without a pass, using obscene language, and drunkenness. He was awarded 14 days detention.

On 21st August 1917 Private Francisco marched into the Overseas Training Brigade.

On 23rd September 1917 he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal at Fovant, England, while attending school.

On 20th October 1917 Private Francisco was sent to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital sick with Influenza.  He revered to the rank of Private on being admitted to hospital.  He was discharged on 30th October 1917.

On 22nd February 1918 Private Francisco was charged with being absent without leave from midnight on 19th February 1918 till apprehended by the Military Police at 1815 on 20th February 1918. He was awarded 1 days Field Punishment No. 2 and fined 3 days pay.

On 7th April 1918 Private Francisco departed Southampton, England, bound for France.  He marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre on 8th April 1918.

On 19th April 1918 he rejoined the 4th Pioneer Battalion in France.

On 22nd May 1918 the 4th Pioneer Battalion was resting  in billets around the village of Bussy, France, when it was bombed by enemy aircraft.[6]  One man was killed and 6 were wounded. Private Francisco was one of those wounded, receiving a bomb wound to his right leg. He was sent to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance. On 23rd May 1918 he was moved back to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. On 27th May 1918 he was placed aboard the 10th Ambulance Train, being admitted to the 47th General Hospital later that day. He was discharged on 5th June 1918, and sent to the Australian General Base Depot at Le Harve, France.

He rejoined the 4th Pioneer Battalion on the 19th of June 1918.

On 13th March 1919 Private Francisco departed France bound for England to commence his return to Australia. He arrived at Weymouth, England, on 14th March 1919 and marched into the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, England.

On 1st May 1919 Private Francisco commenced his return to Australia aboard the Transport China.

He arrived in Australia on 11th June 1919.

Private Francisco was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 26th July 1919.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, FRANCISCO N H

[2] ‘Summary’, Western Age, 30 October 1915, p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136723099

[3] ‘Summary’, Western Age, 6 November 1915, p. 2. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136724708

[4] Valedictory. (1916, January 4). Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), p. 2. Retrieved February 18, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136725949

[5] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Norman Hammond [sic] Francisco, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.

[6] Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War – AWM4 Subclass 14/16 – 4th Australian Pioneer Battalion, May 1918.

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Edgar DAWSON

Posted on August 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

Edgar DAWSON

Per his military service record (Depot), Edgar Dawson was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 29 years and 7 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 8 ¼ inches tall, weight 116 lbs., with a dark complexion, bluish eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.  He claimed that he had no previous military service.

His next of kin was recorded on his Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad as his wife, Mrs E. [Coral Edith] Dawson, Post Office, Bathurst N.S.W.

He completed his medical examination, and was attested by Lieutenant Frank Middenway, at Ashfield on 11th November 1915.

However, his Oath in his Attestation Paper was dated from 4th November 1915, and the date of 4th November 1915 was recorded at the bottom of the front page of his Attestation Paper near his signature, which was the day the Coo-ees marched from Hartley to Mt. Victoria.

An initial Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form dated 2nd November 1915 in his service record shows that he undertook a preliminary medical examination at Bathurst on 2nd November 1915, and “Route March Mt. Victoria” is written at the top of this form, so it appears he may have first presented to join the Coo-ee March at Mt. Victoria.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 15th January 1916 Private Dawson went absent without leave.

On 17th February 1916 he was posted as a deserter.

Private Dawson returned to the Liverpool Camp with a Doctor’s Certificate dated 19th February 1916 stating he had been suffering from Entero-colitis.

His service record shows that on 22nd February 1916 his wife sent a letter requesting his discharge on the grounds that she believed that he was ‘not physically robust to go to the front’.

On 25th February 1916 Private Dawson went before a Medical Board that found him fit for military service.

On 3rd March 1916 Private Dawson’s wife sent another letter requesting his discharge due to their three young children aged 7, 5, and 3 years,  being sick with measles.

She sent another letter on 7th March 1916 stating that she also was sick and was not able to look after their children on her own. These letters did not appear to have any effect, and on 13th March 1916 Private Dawson went absent without leave again.

On 13th April 1916 Private Dawson was apprehended by the Military Police and taken to Victoria Barracks.

On 20th April 1916 he was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force ‘at wife’s request’.

[1] NAA: B2455, DAWSON E

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Walter James MITCHELL

Posted on August 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

Walter James MITCHELL

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4842),  Walter James Mitchell was born at Cobar, N.S.W.[1]  He gave his age as 37 years and 5 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as Contractor.  His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was height 5 feet 7 inches tall, weight 147 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair.  His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

A send-off was held on Thursday 28th October 1915 at the Court House Hotel in Cobar for Walter and his brother Robert Mitchell, Norman Franciso, and Andrew Lennox, and they were then cheered by many friends when they left Cobar by train on 30th October 1915 to join the A.I.F.[2]

Walter Mitchell completed his medical examination, and was attested, at Dubbo on 2nd November 1915, (the day the Coo-ees were at Lithgow).

Walter and his brother Robert Mitchell, Andrew Lennox, and Norman Francisco then travelled to catch up with the Coo-ees, and  were waiting to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees arrived at Mt. Victoria two days later, on 4th November 1915.[3]

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his wife, Mrs H. G. [Henrietta] Mitchell, C/o W. Mitchell, Cobar, N.S.W.  His rank was listed as Acting Corporal.[4]

A farewell was held at the Masonic Hall in Cobar at the Masonic Hall on Friday 3rd March 1916 to bid farewell to Corporal Walter Mitchell, and his brother Private Bob Mitchell, and Private Fred Duncan. The Western Age reported that  ‘Corporal Walter Mitchell, on rising to respond on behalf of himself and his comrades, was loudly cheered’, and in a ‘very affected speech he said words failed to thank to people of Cobar for all the kind remarks and their nice presents’, and that they would ‘cherish them wherever it was their lot to be sent’, and that it was a ‘great wrench for him to go, but he realised duty had to be done, and he was going to do his little bit’.[5]

On 8th March 1916 Acting Corporal Mitchell, along with his brother, and many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.  He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.

On 16th April 1916 he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir, and taken on strength of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade, with the rank of Gunner.

On 22nd May 1916 Gunner Mitchell was transferred to the 37th Battery.

On 5th June 1916 Gunner Mitchell left Alexandria aboard the HMT Oriana bound for France.  He arrived at Marseilles on 13th June 1916.

On 24th October 1916 Gunner Mitchell was taken on the strength of the 10th Field Artillery Brigade.

On 25th October 1916 Gunner Mitchell was appointed as a Temporary Bombardier.

On 9th March 1917 Temporary Bombardier Mitchell was sent to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance sick. On 12th March 1917 he was moved back to a Casualty Clearing Station, and reverted to the rank of Gunner.

On 19th April 1917 he was placed aboard the 20th Ambulance Train, and evacuated to the 14th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France.

On 22nd April 1917 Gunner Mitchell was placed aboard Hospital Ship Jan Breydel for evacuation to England, with meningitis.

On 23rd April he was admitted to the Addington Park War Hospital outside London, England.

On 18th May 1917 Gunner Mitchell was transferred to the Royal Herbert Hospital at Woolwich, England.

On 8th August 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park, England.

Gunner Mitchell was discharged on the 18th of August 1917, and sent to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.

On 27th September 1917 Gunner Mitchell departed England aboard the H.T.  Suevic bound for Australia, for medical discharge with Myalgia debility after C. S. Fever.

He arrived in Australia on 20th November 1917.

Private Mitchell was welcomed home and presented with a silver cup by the people of Cobar, and the Red Cross Association, at the Masonic Hall in Cobar on 5th December 1917.[6]

Private Mitchell was discharged medically unfit on 31st January 1918.

 

[1] NAA: B2455, MITCHELL WALTER JAMES

[2] ‘Summary’, Western Age, 30 October 1915, p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136723099

[3] ‘Summary’, Western Age, 6 November 1915, p. 2. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136724708

[4] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Walter James Mitchell, HMAT Star of England A15, 8th March 1916.

[5] ‘Cobar’s Farewell’, Western Age (Dubbo, NSW : 1914 – 1932), 10 March 1916, p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136721446

[6] ‘Cobar Soldiers’ Red Cross Association’,Western Age, 7 December 1917, p. 3. Retrieved August 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136909226

 

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Coo-ee March: Introduction

Posted on January 27, 2014 | Leave a comment
Gilgandra Route March (Daily Telegraph, 16 Oct. 1915)

Route of the March (Daily Telegraph 16/10/1915)

The  320 miles (515 km) “Coo-ee” recruitment march left Gilgandra with 25 marchers on Sunday, 10th October, 1915, stopping in each town and village along the route to be welcomed by local officials and members of each community, and to hold recruiting speeches to increase their ranks, and arrived in Sydney on Friday, 12th November, 1915 with its numbers increased to 263 marchers.  This march started a snowball of other similar recruitment marches in late 1915 and early 1916.

The Sydney Morning Herald  (13 November 1915, p. 20) reported the following official figures ‘of the men who actually signed on (after medical examination), between Gilgandra and Sydney:- Gilgandra, 35; Dubbo, 13; Wongarbon, 12; Geurie, 6; Wellington, 31; Stuart Town, 1; Euchareena, 1; Molong, 4; Parkes, 5; Orange, 19; Millthorpe, 2; Blayney, 11; Bathurst, 17; Glanmire, 1; Yetholme, 1; Wallerawang, 3; Lithgow, 19; Blackheath, 2; Katoomba, 11; Leura, 1; Lawson, 10; Springwood, 5; Penrith, 4; Parramatta, 27; Ashfield, 22; total, 263’.

Following is the route and timetable of the march: Sunday, Oct. 10,  Balladoran ; Monday, Oct. 11,  Eumungerie ; Tuesday, Oct. 12,  Mogriguy ; Wednesday, Oct. 13,  Dubbo ; Thursday, Oct. 14,  Wongarbon ; Friday, Oct. 15,  Geurie ; Saturday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Oct. 17,  Wellington ; Monday, Oct. 18,  Dripstone ; Tuesday, Oct. 19,  Stuart Town ; Wednesday, Oct. 20,  Euchareena ; Thursday, Oct. 21,  Boomey ; Friday, Oct. 22,  Molong ; Saturday, Oct. 23-Sunday, Oct. 24,  Orange ; Monday, Oct. 25,  Milthorpe ; Tuesday, Oct. 26,  Blayney ; Wednesday, Oct. 27,  Bathampton ; Thursday, Oct. 28,  Bathurst ; Friday, Oct. 29,  Yetholme ; Saturday, Oct. 30-Sunday, Oct. 31, Wallerawang ; Monday, Nov. 1-Tuesday, Nov. 2,  Lithgow ; Wednesday Nov. 3, Little Hartley ; Thursday, Nov. 4,  Mt. Victoria ; Friday, Nov. 5,  Katoomba ; Saturday, Nov. 6-Sunday, Nov. 7,  Lawson, Monday, Nov. 8,  Springwood ; Tuesday, Nov. 9,   Penrith ; Wednesday, Nov. 10, Parramatta ; Thursday, Nov. 11, Ashfield ; Friday, Nov. 12, Sydney.

An account of the march on a day by day basis will follow initially in this blog.  It will be based mostly on articles from The Farmer and Settler, which were provided by Stanley E. Stephens, who was the son of the editor of this newspaper sent to be the official correspondent to cover the march, and who also joined the Coo-ees as a recruit at Gilgandra.

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