Sapper William John Widgery

LANCE CORPORAL WILLIAM JOHN WIDGERY

324 – Mining Corps

Bective, near Tamworth, New South Wales was the birthplace of William John Widgery in 1870 the son of William and Eliza (nee Tyler) Widgery. He served an apprenticeship under his father as a sailmaker for five years. Military experience was gained from four years with F Company, 4th Regiment.

At twenty-six years of age he married on December 9, 1896 at Tamworth to Henrietta Howard. A year later the following report appeared in the:

At the recruiting depot at Liverpool, NSW on August 23, 1915 the forty-year-old sail maker applied to enlist for active service abroad. No Attestation exists for this application but on December 9, 1915 re-attested at Liverpool camp and passed the medical examination. Personal particulars taken describe him as 172cms (5ft 7ins) tall, weighing 71.8kgs (158lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-92cms (34-36ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes and dark hair. Four vaccination scars on his left arm were classed as distinctive marks and religious denomination was Church of England. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother Eliza Widgery of 80 Moorhead Street, Redfern and allotted two-fifths of his pay in support of his wife. Swearing in took place the next day.

He was assigned to the No.1 Company of the Mining Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 324 and was photographed with the company.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.

Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Ulysses left Melbourne on March 1, for Fremantle, Western Australia but Sapper Widgery is recorded as a deserter in Sydney on this date.

On August 15, 1916 a Warrant was issued for his arrest for desertion and if apprehended to be returned to the Engineers Depot at Moore Park, Sydney, NSW.

This Warrant remained for the duration of the war and was cancelled on January 30, 1919.

Two years later the following notices appeared in the:

In 1930 Henrietta Widgery was living at 6 Raglan Street, Darlington in Western Sydney with her occupation as home duties.

William was a tentmaker and residing at Stoney Batten, Armidale, NSW where a family source states he died there. However, his death was registered in Queensland.

William John Widgery passed away on September 23, 1953 aged 83 years. Burial took place in the Monumental Section of Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld within portion 12 in grave no. 39.