John Campbell Close

LIEUTENANT JOHN CAMPBELL CLOSE

7th Field Company Engineers / Aust Electrical Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

John Campbell Close declared he was born at Stanmore, Sydney, NSW on March 17, 1881. He was the son of Robert Campbell and Marion Sophia Close. Educated at the Sydney Grammar School achieving high academic results in final years and were published in the Sydney Morning Herald:

His military experience was gained spending eighteen months with the Sydney University Volunteer Rifle Company during 1901.

He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, NSW and ME at Cornell University, USA and worked for nine years as a mechanical engineer with the General Electric Company in the USA before returning to work with the Australian General Electric Company.

In April, 1915 he was a Lieutenant with the 5th Field Company, Aust Engineers and was appointed without an exam.

At thirty-four years of age the Mechanical Engineer applied for a Commission in the Engineers, A.I.F. on November 18, 1915 and passed the medical examination. Personal details given reveal he was 179cms (5ft 10½ins) tall, weighed 74.5kgs (164lbs), with a chest expansion of 87-97cms (34-38ins). Eyesight tested as good and Church of England was his religion. His Commission was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 146 of November 25, 1915 and appointed as 2nd Lieutenant with the 7th Field Company, A.I.F. on December 7, 1915. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Mrs Gwendoline Maud Close of ‘Castlereagh’, Victoria Street North, Darlinghurst, NSW and later care of F.E. Priddle, CBC, George Street, Sydney, NSW.

He was due to embark on H.M.A.T. A40 Ceramic on November 23, 1915 but did not leave until a week later on November 30 on board H.M.A.T. A23 Suffolk. The ship arrived at Fremantle, W.A. on December 9, 1915 spending the day in port and departed later that evening. The voyage lasted thirty-three days arriving on January 3rd but the Master of the Ship Captain P. Davies, recorded that a further three and a half days were lying at the Suez before docking on January 6, 1916.

On March 14, 1916 he embarked on H.T. Himalaya from Alexandria for France to join the B.E.F. arriving on March 19 at Marseilles. G.H.Q. at Ismalia advised the day of embarkation he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

An unrecorded detachment from the Field Engineers to the R.E. Dump took place and he returned to his unit on July 11, 1916.

He was admitted to the 7th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne on August 7, 1916 suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg the previous day. Three days later was evacuated wounded to England on the hospital ship Jan Breydal entering the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth S.W. From August 17 was placed on the wounded seconded list. His wife was advised by Base Records on August 26 that he had been mildly wounded in action and the address for correspondence.

The medical report for the Board on October 17, 1916 stated his case while still a patient in hospital:

At Pozieres on 6.8.16 received a gun shot wound left leg.

Entry posterior lateral aspect of leg, about middle, penetrated deeply.

Piece of shell removed from inner side of leg in France.

Admitted here 11.8.16; operation for dressing wound.

Wounds now healed.

Injuries severe, not permanent

Incapacitated sixteen weeks.

Meanwhile in Sydney, NSW the Officer in Charge at Victoria Barracks wrote on October 24, 1916 requesting information as to the date of his departure and according to Base Records embarkation was given as A40 Ceramic, which was later changed to A23 Suffolk.

Another medical report for the Board dated November 6, 1916 gave the following:

He is well now and is not troubled from his wound.

Fit for General Service

Caused by Military Service

Gunshot wound in action.

He was discharged two days later to Perham Downs and reported to the No. 1 Command Depot. A day later reported to “A” No. 3 Details camp at Parkhouse. On November 16 proceeded to France to the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples leaving four days later and rejoined his unit on November 28, 1916.

On March 6, 1917 he proceeded on leave to England and returned to the field on March 18.

Lieutenant Close was temporarily detached on April 16, 1917 for duty with the C.R.E. 4th Aust Division and rejoined his unit on May 24, 1917.

Leave to England was granted on July 13 returning on July 28, 1917 and again on December 11 until after the Christmas period to December 29, 1917.

During one of his Leave to England, he gave his address when proceeding as care of Captain C.G. Treherne R.N., The Chestnuts, Weybridge. It is undated therefore the exact leave is unknown.

He was detached for duty to the Aust Electrical Mechanical Mining and Boring Company in Belgium on March 11, 1918 being Supernumeracy to establishment from 2nd Division Engineers.

Further leave was enjoyed to England from July 14 until July 30, 1918 when he returned to duty. The next day he was transferred to the A.E.M.M. & B. Co. and taken on strength.

When Peace was declared he was with his Company and they remained as part of the Army of Occupation continuing to supply electricity, water and maintenance to these services.

On December 18, 1918 he was granted leave of absence for Non Military Employment with pay and sustenance from December 18, 1918 until January 29, 1919 for the purpose of studying Electrical Engineering at British Thompson and Houston Co. Ltd, Electrical Engineers in London. An extension of leave was applied for on January 28 until February 14, 1919. Report from the firm stated that:

This Officer gave every satisfaction. He was engaged on automatic control gear, testing

of transformers, large machines (dynamos) and turbines.

He returned to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General’s Officer for disposal and rejoined his Unit in the field on February 18, 1919. Orders to report to Aust General Base Depot on March 12 were issued and he marched out two days later.

On March 16 crossed the English Channel to Southampton with orders to report to Parkhouse and was struck off strength for an Education Course. Lieutenant Close was granted leave of absence to return to Australia via America entirely at his own expense from March 31 until May 19, 1919. Leave from May 20, 1919 was without pay or sustenance until the date of disembarkation in Australia. He was to report to Headquarters Sydney (2nd M.D.) no later than July 30, 1919. Reason leave given – granted to gain experience in works of the General Electric Coy in New York, USA before resuming duty with that firm in Australia. The amount of £55 for passage allowance was later amended.

He arrived in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on July 4, 1919 aboard the S.S. Ventura and assessed by the Medical Board at the Domain Anzac Buffet three days later. There was no disability as a result of his war service and dentally fit therefore discharge was recommended. Administration was advised of his return on July 15, 1919. A letter of apology was written to Mrs G.M. Close the same day regretting they were unable to give prior advice of her husband’s return to Australia as information of his arrival had just been received.

His appointment was terminated on August 23, 1919. Forms were dispatched to Base Records on September 9 and October 6, 1919.

For serving his country Lieutenant John Campbell Close, 7th Field Engineers / Aust Electrical Mechanical Mining and Boring Company received the British War Medal (28808) and the Victory Medal (25572).

In the Tunnellers’ Old Comrades Association booklet for 1925 his address was listed as Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW.

From 1928 until 1934 he is recorded in the A.E.M.M.B.C and Tunnellers’ Anzac Reunion Register, his address listed as 62 Newcastle Street, Rose Bay, Sydney.

At the Funeral of Major Sir T.W. Edgeworth David, D.S.O. on September 1, 1934 he was one of the Pallbearers with other Old Comrades of the Tunnellers’ and Alphabets’ Reunion Association.

He also held a Directorship with the following company:

John Campbell Close passed away on June 20, 1953 aged 72 years. News of his demise was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday June 22, 1953:

Estate matters followed:

His brother also served:

DOUGLAS CAMPBELL CLOSE

Major - 6th Light Horse Regiment

Douglas Campbell Close was born at Stanmore, Sydney in 1882. Military experience was with the Tulooma Rifle Club. His occupation was an Overseer. His brother John Campbell Close of University Club, Sydney was nominated as next-of-kin.

At Liverpool, NSW he enlisted on October 22, 1914 and embarked as a trooper with the 6th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Imperial Force on December 29, 1914.

H.M.T. Lutzow transported the men to the Anzac Cove Gallipoli on May 15, 1915 and he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on August 5, 1915. Further promotion to Lieutenant took place on September 28 and after withdrawal from the field departed on December 25, 1915 on H.M.T. Beltara to Alexandria then moved to Serapeum from Maadi on February 23, 1916.

He was promoted to Captain on September 17, 1916 and attended the School of Instruction at Zeitoun from the end of October until November 20, 1916.

Promoted to Second in Command “C” Squadron on February 21, 1917 and on Anzac Day, 1917 were at Deir-el-Belah.

Appendicitis was diagnosed on May 8, 1917 and he advanced through the hospital system from Tel-el-Tara to Cairo and finally to Alexandria on July 14, 1917. Five days later the 3rd Echelon was advised that Captain Close was marked medically unfit.

Returning to duty with the 2nd Light Horse was transferred back to his regiment on August 13, 1917.

Captain Close was transferred to the Light Horse Brigade Headquarters on March 4, 1918 as a Staff Captain Trainee and was Mentioned in Despatches of General Sir E.H. Allenby in the London Gazette on April 3, 1918. He returned to his regiment in Jericho on May 5, 1918 to be Temporary Major of the Squadron.

On October 19, 1918 he went to Port Said for embarkation on furlough to the U.K relinquishing Temporary Major on departure. Left on the transport Malina and was in England when Peace was declared. He reported to Headquarters in London and granted 75 days leave from Egypt until February 4, 1919.

He left for Egypt on February 7, 1919 on the H.T. Lancashire to resume regimental duty with his unit disembarking at Port Said ten days later. Was promoted to Major on February 21, 1919.

An old injury to his elbow put him in hospital at Abassia and returned to the 6th Light Horse on April 30, 1919.

Major Close departed Kantara on board the H.T. Madras on June 28, 1919 for his return to Australia. His Appointment was terminated on August 18, 1919.

The 1914/15 Star (3927), the British War Medal (5904) the Victory Medal (5772) plus Oak Leaves for Mentioned in Despatches were issued to Major Donald Campbell Close, 6th Light Horse Regiment for his service to his country. Duplicate medals were sent on April 5, 1938.

On Saturday May 11, 1922 this marriage notice was published in the Sydney Morning Herald:

Later their address was 8 Henrietta Street, Double Bay and he was a grazier. In 1930 they were residing at Burrandool, Warren and from 1933 to 1936 were at Retreat East, Temora, NSW where he was a station manager. From 1949 onwards he was a bank valuer living at 324 Macquarie Street, Dubbo.

Douglas Campbell Close died in 1965 in Dubbo, NSW aged 83 years.