ATKINSON BROTHERS
LANCE CORPORAL FREDERICK WILLIAM ATKINSON
3553 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
The registered birthplace of Frederick William Atkinson is Stonyfell, South Australia on April 26, 1884 as the son of Frederick and Susan (nee Ralph) Atkinson. Norwood, S.A. was the registration district. In 1906 he married at Broken Hill, NSW to Elsie May Whitelaw.
In 1910 the following article was printed in the:
Having previously been rejected for service abroad due to defective teeth Frederick William Atkinson re-applied to enlist on January 25, 1916 at the recruiting office in Broken Hill, NSW. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars reveal the thirty-one year old married miner resided at Galena Street, Broken Hill and was 178cms (5ft 10ins) tall with a chest measurement of 90cms (35½ins). His eyesight tested as good and his Application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
On January 28, 1916 Frederick William and his brother Richard Ralph Atkinson presented themselves at the Depot in Adelaide, S.A. Following the medical assessment Forms of Attestation were completed with his description on enlistment adding further information of weight 63.6kgs (140lbs) and a chest expansion of 84-9cms (33-35½ins). Complexion was dark with grey eyes and dark brown hair. Distinctive marks were three vaccination scars on his left arm. Experience with a rifle had been gained by two years with the Broken Hill Rifle Club. Mt Lofty, S.A. was given as his birthplace and Methodist nominated as his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Elsie May Atkinson of Glena Street (Galena), Broken Hill, NSW and he allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her and their three children. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
Basic training commenced for Private F. Atkinson with “C” Coy 2nd Depot Battalion at the Exhibition A.I.F. Camp, Adelaide until February 15, 1916 then was allotted to training at Mitcham Camp with the 16th Reinforcement to the 10th Battalion until February 29. On March 1 was re-allotted to the Miners’ Depot (4th Military District) for further training until early May when the recruits were sent to Rosebery Park in Sydney, NSW.
Early in May, 1916 recruits forming part of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW about May 10 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 rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3553 in No. 4 Company was assigned to him.
The 7713-ton transport Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of 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 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
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 Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating 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 at Perham Downs’ camp.
In the Broken Hill newspaper the following was announced on:
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 29, 1916 and marched into the 2nd Divisional Base Depot the next day. On October 12 left for the 1st Anzac Reinforcement Camp and two days later was taken on strength with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on January 6, 1917 in the field.
On August 16, 1917 was admitted to the 149th Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) of Uncertain Origin) and discharged to duty on August 21.
News of this was reported in the Broken Hill newspaper on:
Service continued without incident until the following year when he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for his year of overseas service.
He went sick on April 4, 1918 to the 3rd Aust General Hospital at Abbeville entering as N.Y.D. (Not diagnosed yet) and transferred to the 39th General Hospital in Havre and after 42 days curative care for a Social Disease was discharged on May 15, 1918 to the Base Depot in Rouelles. He rejoined his unit on May 26, 1918.
When Peace was declared he was with his unit as they continued their service of supplying lights and electricity, ventilation and plumbing along with servicing pumps, generators and engines required for units rehabilitating their districts.
His last pay period in France was on January 2, 1919.
On March 26, 1919 orders were given to prepare for demobilisation and they departed for the A.I.B.D. at Havre on April 2. After crossing the English Channel the next day they marched into the No. 3 Group camp at Codford to await their voyage home.
Lance Corporal Atkinson departed on May 11, 1919 for home on the H.T. Borda. Base Records advised his wife on June 2, 1919 that he was expected to arrive on June 27. This letter was returned ‘unknown by letter carriers Broken Hill’ on June 6 to Records Office in Melbourne, Vic.
A small announcement appeared in the Broken Hill newspaper prior to his arrival:
Medical assessment took place at Keswick Barracks a day later where it briefly states “feels quite well” to which he signed in agreement and was recommended ‘fit to demobilise.’ His address was care of Mrs B. Turner, Willaston, Gawler, S.A.
The demise of his step-father was announced a month later in the Broken Hill newspaper as follows:
Military Discharge was issued in Adelaide, S.A. (4th M.D.) on termination of his period of enlistment on August 8, 1919.
For serving his country Lance Corporal 3553 Frederick William Atkinson, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (14153) and the Victory Medal (13944). The War Medal was receipted by him at Gawler, S.A. on October 5, 1921 and the Victory Medal signed for at George Street, Gawler on August 14, 1922.
He expressed interest to return to Broken Hill for the 1933 Jubilee celebrations which were reported in the:
He was still residing at Gawler, S.A. in 1948.
Frederick William Atkinson died on May 18, 1961 aged 77 years possibly in Gawler, S.A.
His brother Richard also served
SAPPER RICHARD RALPH ATKINSON
3554 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Richard Ralph Atkinson was born at Sandhurst, Sandbridge, Victoria in 1881 the son of Frederick and Susan (nee Ralph) Atkinson.
In Adelaide, S.A. on January 27, 1916 the thirty-four year old blacksmith’s striker passed the medical examination to apply for active service abroad. The following day at the recruiting depot he and his younger brother Frederick enlisted for service. Forms of Attestation were completed which show Bendigo, Vic as his birthplace and was 153cms (5ft) tall, weighed 56kgs (125lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-90cms (34-35½ins). Fresh was his complexion with grey eyes that tested to good vision and had dark brown hair. Three vaccination scars on his left arm were classed as distinctive marks. Religious faith was Methodist. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Susan Davis of Bromide Street, off Chapple Street, Broken Hill, NSW. Military experience was gained with 7 months a member of the South Broken Hill Rifle Club. He was sworn in the same day.
At the Exhibition A.I.F. Camp, Adelaide, Private R. Atkinson commenced basic training with “C” Coy 2nd Depot Battalion until February 15, 1916 then assigned to the recruits with the 16th Reinforcement to the 10th Battalion at Mitcham camp to February 29. Re-allotment was to the Miners’ Depot (4th M.D.) the next day. On March 6, 1916 a Long Leave Warrant was issued. They trained until early May when the recruits were sent to Rosebery Park in Sydney, NSW.
On May 10, 1916 he joined the Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training at Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW. The rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3554 in No. 4 Tunnelling Company was assigned to him.
The day before embarkation the Tunnelling Company Reinforcement attended a parade at Moore Park, Sydney which was reported in the:
The 7713 ton transport Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and the voyage is described as above.
The Reinforcements proceeded from Perham Downs to France on August 29, 1916 and marched into the 2nd Divisional Base Depot the next day.
At a Lodge Meeting in Broken Hill, NSW his letter from the front was mentioned to those present:
On October 12, 1916 the troops left for the 1st Anzac Reinforcement Camp and two days later Sapper R. Atkinson was taken on strength with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company.
On January 27, 1917 he went sick to the 11th Canadian Field Ambulance moving to the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station then transported on A.T.17 to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux and admitted with a fractured rib.
A Report was issued by the Officer Commanding 176th Company, Royal Engineers on February 5, 1917 which stated:
Admitted to hospital 27/1/17 Fractured Rib (1) Trivial nature in all probability will not interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier claiming that he was in performance of Military duty. O.C. 176th Co. R.E. certifies that: “He was on duty in front-line trench and fell on leaving dug-out. In no way to blame.” Accident occurred 27/1/17.
He was admitted on February 21, 1917 to the 1st Convalescent Depot in Boulogne and discharged to Base Details as fit the next day and returned to the A.I.B.D. at Etaples on February 24. He rejoined his unit on March 15, 1917.
Service continued without incident and was counted in an audit of the company on July 18, 1918.
When Peace was declared he remained with his unit and a month later granted leave from December 12 to December 26, 1918.
On February 22, 1919 went sick to the 7th C.C.S. with a haemorrhage and was discharged to duty on March 9 and attended again on March 24 for a N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) medical condition. He returned to duty on April 17, 1919.
On April 28 returned to the Base Depot to depart from France to England. The next day he marched into the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury.
Sapper Atkinson embarked on June 16, 1919 for Australia on the H.T. Ormonde. Base Records advised his mother on July 17, 1919 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Adelaide, S.A. (4th M.D.) on July 29, 1919.
He is mentioned in the Obituary of his step-father which was published in the:
Richard was discharged in Adelaide, (4th M.D.) on September 13, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
During the last quarter of that year the following notice appeared in the Adelaide newspaper among many tradesmen looking for work:
The next year he is mentioned attending a Lodge meeting:
A letter was written to Base Records from the Grand United Order of Oddfellows dated June 1, 1920 advising that Mr R.R. Atkinson had claimed sick pay whilst on active service and requested his medical history while abroad with the embarkation and date of return to be included. Base Records sent a Statement listing the details they required dated June 9, 1920. The New South Wales Branch of the G.U.O.O.F. wrote on June 26 acknowledging their certificate but required further information after February 19, 1919. On July 5, 1920 Base Records advised that from 22/2/19 to 9/3/19 he was suffering from a haemorrhage and 24/3/19 to 17/4/19 a not-diagnosed medical condition.
Sapper 3554 Richard Ralph Atkinson, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (14154) and the Victory Medal (13945) for serving his country.
The War Medal’s delivery was receipted on September 3, 1921 at Bromide Street, Broken Hill, NSW and the Victory Medal on July 3, 1922 at 14 West Street, Torrensville, S.A.
He was married on his return but her name is not recorded in indexes for South Australia
A Statement of Service was sent from Base Records to the Repatriation Commission in Adelaide, S.A. on February 23, 1944.
Richard Ralph Atkinson passed away on January 23, 1970 in South Australia aged about 89 years of age.
© Donna Baldey 2012