Sapper Albury George Mcfarlane

SAPPER ALBURY GEORGE MCFARLANE

7263 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

Born in 1891 at Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, Albury George McFarlane was the son of James and Eugene McFarlane. Previous military experience was through five years’ service with the Naval Reserve until his time expired. He married in 1910 Clara Mabel Piggott with their marriage registered at Marrickville, NSW.

At Victoria Barracks, Sydney on April 5, 1917 the twenty-six year old electrical fitter applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars taken reveal he was married and stood 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall with a chest expansion of 84-92cms (33-36ins) and had good vision. Postal address was Sharpe Street, Belmore, Sydney. Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer. Forms of Attestation were then completed describing him further weighing 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Distinctive marks were an appendix scar and a mole of the left side of his abdomen. Religion was Baptist. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Mrs Clara Mabel McFarlane, initially of Sharpe Street, Belmore and later Woodville Street, Hurstville and nominated three-fifths of his pay in support of her. He was sworn in the same day.

Entering the Sydney Showground camp on April 16, 1917 as a recruit was allotted to the Engineer Reinforcements 2nd Military District at Moore Park for basic training. On May 8 was sent to Seymour, Victoria for further instruction with the Tunnelling Company Reinforcements and on May 21 was assigned to the March 1917 Reinforcements. In preparation for departure his Will was noted to have been lodged with his wife at her Hurstville address and two days final home leave was granted from July 22 to July 24, 1917. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 7263.

The Reinforcements of 167 members embarked on HMAT A32 Themistocles from Melbourne, Victoria on August 4, 1917. The voyage across the Pacific was rough and stormy for several days causing sea sickness on board. As the ship entered the Tropics it became very hot. Colon, Panama was reached on August 31, 1917 and during the unavoidable eight day delay very heavy rain and muggy conditions were endured. The transport docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 18, 1917 and three days later left to experience good weather across the Atlantic arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on October 2, 1917 after a fifty nine day voyage. The troops were detrained to Tidworth, England marching into the 1 & 3 Details camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front.

Appointed to E.D.P. Corporal (extra duty pay) on October 10, 1917 he reverted to Sapper when they proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on November 14, 1917 marching in to the Aust General Base Depot the next day.

Sapper was assigned to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on November 20, 1917 which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.

With his civil qualifications of electrical fitter Sapper McFarlane was more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and was taken on Supernumerary strength with this company on December 4, 1917.

Service continued without incident and he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for twelve months service abroad.

His wife notified the 2nd Military District that she had changed her address to ‘Alrose’, Platts Avenue, Belmore being remitted to Base Records on May 28, 1918

On June 19, 1918 he was taken on strength with the company and was still serving when Peace was declared. The company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies for those rehabilitating their areas.

On January 2, 1919 he went sick to the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station with a sprained ankle and returned to his unit the next day.

He went sick on March 18 to the 42nd C.C.S. then transferred two days later on A.T.6 to the 1st South African General Hospital with narivoc and was discharged to the Base Depot on March 29 arriving for duty with his unit on April 5, 1919.

Orders were received to prepare for demobilisation on May 10, 1919 returning to the Base Depot. They crossed the English Channel to Southampton on May 22 and marched into the No. 1 Depot the next day.

Sapper McFarlane was to report to Headquarters on May 28 and granted leave to report to the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury on June 12 and after granting of an extension reported on June 13, 1919 and after ten days left for Longbridge, Deverill on June 23. He was taken on strength with A.I.F. Headquarters on July 4, 1919.

Non Military Employment (NME) was granted from July 4, 1919 to October 4, 1919 with pay only for the purpose of Electrical Engineering attending Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Clifton Junction, near Manchester. NME was cancelled on September 11 and was retransferred to the Alphabetical Company due to Urethritis Catarrhal (inflammation of Urethra).

He entered on September 17 the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment and was discharged to the No. 2 Group camp a Sutton Veny on October 11, 1919.

On November 22, 1919 Sapper McFarlane embarked for Australia on board H.T. Aeneas. Base Records advised his wife on December 9, 1919 that he was returning. The ship arrived in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on January 12, 1920. News of their arrival was reported in the:

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on February 19, 1920 on termination of his period

of enlistment.

In 1930 his residence was 32 Darvall Street, North Sydney and in 1933 was living at 51 High Street, Epping working as a battery fitter. In 1936 he was at 27 Gilgandra Road, Bondi and the following year at 46 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi working as a fitter.

The following took place in the Divorce Court and published in the:

The following year he married Thelma Ada Baxter at Chatswood and Clara M. McFarlane married Walter Smith Wilson in Sydney.

In 1943 he and Thelma’s residence was 7 Lakeside Avenue, Kogarah where they continued to reside until 1963 and he was a battery manufacturer.

Albury George McFarlane died on July 15, 1963 aged 72 years. Family notices were published in the:

Thelma Ada McFarlane passed away in August 1968 aged 61 years and was formerly residing in the Sydney suburb of St Peters.

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:

1928 A. McFARLANE Auto Battery & Service Station notation: did not write 1931

1934 A. McFARLANE 1 Alexander Street, Crow’s Nest changed to: c/o Wilkies Tyre

Service, Wentworth Av, Sydney

1960-68 McFARLANE, A. 7 Lakeside Av, Kogarah notation: Deceased Reveille 1/11/63