LANCE CORPORAL ALBERT EDWARD MOORHOUSE
2425 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Albert Edward (Joe) Moorhouse was born in Aston, Warwickshire, England in 1888 the son of John Edward and Sarah A. Moorhouse.
In 1901 the family were residing at 43 Westminster Parade, Handsworth, Warwickshire and was made up of John E. (54) building contractor, Sarah A. (51), Mary E. (26), Flora A. (24) school teacher, May (22), Arthur E. (20), Francis J. (18) assistant surveyor, Albert E. (13), Geoffrey F. (10) and Beatrice (7).
Ten years later in 1911 they were living in a ten roomed house at Soldiestier Wylde Green and citizens of the household were John E. (65) building contractor, Artie (30), building contractor, Harold (25) building contractor, Albert E. (23) electrical engineer, and Beatrice (18) with Kate Rose (25) niece, a nurse and Harriett Vince (21) general servant.
Later that year John Edward Moorhouse left London, England on October 27, 1911 on the Orient Liner Osterley as a passenger for Brisbane under Master of the ship Captain D.R.W. Parsons. Two years later his sons Harold (28) building contractor and Albert E. (26) electrical engineer left Liverpool, England for Sydney, NSW arriving there on June 30, 1913 on board the steamer Afric. The brothers names appeared among the passenger list published in the:
At the Recruiting Depot in the Sydney Town Hall on December 30, 1915 Albert applied to enlist for active service abroad passing the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars taken show his postal address was Witton, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Queensland with the occupation of Power Station engineer and was single and twenty seven years of age standing 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall and weighed 61.8kgs (136lbs). Declared fit for service his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
Attestation forms were completed on January 13, 1916 at Casula camp near Liverpool, NSW adding further information that his birthplace was Handsworth, Birmingham, Warwickshire and had been an apprentice engineer (stationary) with Coot Sutton Co, Field, England. Complexion was fair with blue eyes that tested to fair vision and had fair hair. Chest expansion was between 76-79cms (30-35½ins) and Church of England his religious faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his brother Francis J. Moorhouse of Milton, Indooroopilly, Brisbane. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
He was allotted to ‘C Coy’ Depot Battalion the same day but was transferred to the Miners’ Corps at the same camp on March 1. At Rosebery Park, Sydney on March 25, 1916 he was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements, No. 2 Company in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 2425.
The Reinforcements consisting of 3 Officers and 177 Other Ranks (180 members) embarked from Sydney, NSW on March 31, 1916 on the transport HMAT A16 Star of Victoria. The ship arrived at Colombo, Ceylon on April 4, 1916 and after refuelling departed the following day. The vessel docked at the Suez, Egypt on May 3, 1916 where the Reinforcements disembarked after 33 days at sea. The weather during the voyage was cold and rough. The Star of Victoria departed the next day for Port Said and spent the day in port May 5, 1916. From the Suez the men were transported to Alexandria where they were transhipped to the City of Edinburgh leaving on May 5 for the crossing to France. They arrived at Marseilles on May 17 and were entrained to Etaples marching in to the Base Depot on June 1, 1916.
Meanwhile in Brisbane, Qld the following Legal Notice regarding the Will of his late father was published in:
Albert’s civil qualifications of Power Station engineer were beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was transferred from Headquarters Mining Corps to this company on October 7, 1917.
He went sick to the West Lancashire Field Ambulance on December 5, 1916 entering with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) Uncertain Origin) and rejoined his unit two days later.
Sapper Moorhouse was taken on strength with the Alphabetical Company on December 26, 1916. He was appointed Lance Corporal with the Company on February 16, 1917 as per Routine Order 8/139.
Service continued without incident and he received Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad. Leave was granted to the United Kingdom from January 22, 1918 until February 5. He was paid in France on May 16, 1918.
He proceeded to the 2nd Army Rest Camp on July 16, 1918 and was arrested at Boulogne on July 21, 1918. Two days later he marched out to his company under escort after the following was dealt with:
Crime:W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] absent without leave from
9.30 p.m. 21/7/18 until apprehended by Military Police about
10.35 p.m. 21/7/18.
Award:Severely reprimanded by Lt-Col E. Stacey, Boulogne 23/7/18
On September 18, 1918 his unit was written to about this incident and again on September 27 from the Aust Military Police in Boulogne regarding disposal of the soldier. His unit replied on October 3 that this was the first notification of this. On October 15 the Police in Boulogne queried the Depot on the place and cause soldier absented himself. Replying on October 20 said ‘absented himself from 2nd Army Rest Camp’. The 2nd Army Rest Camp was queried for parties marching in on October 23. The Rest Camp replied on October 28 that the Rest Camp was disbanded, all papers destroyed and unable to give information. The Commanding Officer of the A.E.M.M.B. Co was queried for evacuation and rejoining and replied as above.
He went sick on November 1, 1918 to the Line of Command Hospital and rejoined his unit on November 6. Lance Corporal was with his company when Peace was declared and they continued to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies to those rehabilitating their districts. Leave was granted to England from December 8 until December 22, 1918.
Orders were received to return to the Base Depot for demobilisation and he crossed the English Channel on April 29, 1919 and marched into the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury.
Sergeant E.G. ‘Hughie’ Dodd mentions in his Diary the day they prepared to leave England:
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.
Lance Corporal Moorhouse embarked for Australia on June 16, 1919 on board H.T. Ormonde. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on July 15, 1919 that he was returning. He was admitted to the ships hospital on July 15 and discharged on July 17, 1919. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) 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. His address later that year was Moggill Road, Whitton, Indooroopilly working as an engineer. Towards the end of the year the following was applied for and reported in:
He married in 1920 to Edith Sarah Hales with their marriage registered in Paddington, Sydney, NSW and in 1921 their address was ‘Edra’ Evelyn Street, Newstead, Brisbane with his occupation as engineer.
The British War Medal (37143) and the Victory Medal (36551) were issued to Lance Corporal 2425 Albert Edward Moorhouse, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country.
From 1930 onwards their address is listed as 6 Heathcote Street, Rockdale and he was an engineer.
Albert Edward Moorhouse passed away on May 6, 1960 aged 72 years. Family arrangements were published in the:
Ashes are located in section DD of the Woronora Crematorium within Rose Garden 6 positioned at 0030.
A Statement of Service and Medical Records were requested from Base Records by the Repatriation Commission, Sydney Branch and forwarded on December 21, 1960.
His wife Edith S. Moorhouse died on October 21, 1982 aged 95 years and her ashes were placed near her husband in Rose Garden 6 at 0032.
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:
1928A.E. Moorehouse6 Heathcote Street, RockdaleNotation: Letter returned in 1931
1934A.E. Moorhouse6 Heathcote Street, Rockdale
1960-68Moorhouse, A.E.6 Heathcote Street, RockdaleNotation: Deceased
© Donna Baldey 2013