SAPPER WILLIAM PENDREIGH
7225 – Tunnelling Company Details
The ship Durham brought the Pendreigh family comprising of Robert (22) and his wife Emma (nee Keast) (22) and their two sons Thomas (3) and William (1) from the United Kingdom, arriving in Queensland, Australia on December 17, 1881. William was born in Edinburgh, Scotland about 1880. News of the ship’s arrival was published in the:
The family went to Charters Towers. In 1903 he was a miner residing at St Patrick’s Hotel in Mill Street, Charters Towers.
On 2 May 1903 aged 23, William married Harriett Louisa Carroll and they had a son James Robert Pendreigh. In 1905 they were residing on Marsland Road working as a miner. Mining work dwindled in Charters Towers and was working as a miner in 1913 at Friezland near Cloncurry, Qld for several years.
On January 26, 1917 at 37 years of age he applied in Cloncurry, Queensland to enlist for active service and the following day passed the preliminary medical examination. In Charters Towers he was re-examined on January 30 with the Doctor concurring he was fit for duty and sworn in. Information gleaned from his Attestation form shows his height to be 167cms (5ft 5¾ins), weight 62.7kgs (138lbs), with a chest measurement of 84-90cms (33-35½ins). His complexion was dark with grey hair and his grey eyes gave good vision. A vaccination mark appeared on his left arm and religious denomination was Presbyterian. His wife Mrs Harriett Louisa Pendreigh of Vulture Street, Queenton, Charters Towers was named next-of-kin and he allotted four-fifths of his pay to support her and his son. The following day he was declared dentally fit.
Acknowledgement to the lone departing volunteer was reported in:
Basic training took place at the 11 Depot Battalion, Enoggera, Brisbane, Qld until March 5, 1917 and the next day was transferred to the Miners Depot (1st Military District) until he enjoyed home leave from March 12 to March 21. The following news appeared in:
Shortly after his return he joined the Miners’ Reinforcements at their Seymour camp, Victoria on April 6 remaining there until sent for medical treatment at Ascot Vale on May 16 and released on June 6. He was assigned the Regimental number 7225 and the rank of Sapper with the March Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies. His Will was noted to be lodged with his wife Mrs Harriett Pendreigh, care of her father Mr James Carroll, Vulture Street, Charters Towers, Qld.
The 167 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on August 4, 1917. A week into the voyage the following occurred:
Offence: At Sea A32 11/8/17
Neglecting to obey a lawful command given by his superior officer
Award: Forfeit 2 days pay by Col. H.S. Dean.
Their journey sailed via Colon (Christobel) and Halifax, Nova Scotia before terminating at Glasgow, Scotland on October 2, 1917. The troops were detrained to Tidworth, England and marched in to the No 1 & 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse the following day.
While in camp Sapper Pendreigh was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital on November 12, 1917 and treated for Scabies.
Proceeded from No 3 camp overseas to France via Southampton on November 22 but as he embarked he slipped on the gangway of the ship injuring his right knee. The next day the men marched in to the Aust. General Base Depot at Rouelles and on November 25 assigned to Tunnelling Details. Marched out to join their unit but William returned to the 1st Auxiliary Com. Depot two days later then to the permanent A.G.B.D. base.
On December 10, 1917 the joint tissue lubricating his knee was inflamed requiring his transfer from Havre to England on board the hospital ship diagnosed with Synovitis for permanent base duty. The following day arrived from France to the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
Sapper Pendreigh was assessed on January 23, 1918 regarding his medical conditions. The Report states:
Disability:Arterio-sclerosis pre-existing.
History:Has never been to the front according to his statement on account of his age. Complains of the strain on exertion and chronic cough. Has to get up several times a night to pass urine.
Pre-existing:Aggravated by active service.
Present condition: Looks older man for his years.
Heart:Normal
Lungs:A few near end of ribs near bases.
Other disabilities: While on his way to the front he slipped on the gangway and hurt his R knee which continues to give him trouble since. There is slight limit when in flexion.
Result:Disability in all areas on account of arterio-sclerosis. Unfit for all services.
Dated:Monte Video Camp, No 2 Command Depot 1/2/18
On March 12, 1918 travelled by train to Weymouth Station to embark on the vessel Kenilworth Castle departing from Plymouth that day for return to Australia for discharge. His next-of-kin was advised of his return on May 7, 1918.
Re-embarked on the transport Field Marshall at Durban, South Africa on April 23, 1918 and leaving Cape Town on May 1. During the voyage he was admitted to the ship’s hospital on May 2 for treatment of Scabies remaining until discharged on May 10. Also received remedial treatment for Synovitis.
Disembarked at Melbourne, Vic on May 23, 1918 and proceeded from the 3rd Military District to Queensland (1st M.D.) News of the soldiers’ arrival was published in:
The following day was admitted to the 6 Aust. General Hospital at Brisbane, Qld on May 24, 1918. Assessment for Dyspnoea; rigid arteries; irregular heart, followed by comments, no point. He was discharged from hospital on May 30, 1918.
Military Discharge took place on June 25, 1918 in the 1st M.D. (Qld)
In 1919 he was working for the Coalfield Railway and their residence was in 25 mile camp, Merinda, near Bowen, Q with his occupation of labourer.
For his service abroad Sapper William Pendreigh, Tunnelling Company Details, received the British War Medal (31152) and the Victory Medal (29473).
William Pendreigh died aged 44 years on August 9, 1923 at Merinda, near Bowen, Qld. The announcement of his demise was published in the:
His grave is located in the Presbyterian portion of Bowen Cemetery, Q in grave no. 883.
His name appears in column 4 on the Charters Towers Methodist Circuit Honour Board 1914-1919. This board is now in the Charters Towers Folk Museum (formerly Zara Clark Museum). reported the following on the Honour Board:
His brother also served:
DRIVER SAMUEL PENDREIGH
2551 – 3rd Field Company Engineers
Samuel Pendreigh was born on 17 January, 1892 in Charters Towers, Q and was educated at the Boys State School. He was a stockman working in Richmond, Q in 1913 and enlisted there for active service abroad on 18 August, 1915 aged 23 years.
Attestation forms reveal personal particulars of being 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall, weighing 61.3kgs (135lbs) with a chest measurement of 81-87cms (32-34ins). He had grey eyes testing to good vision and brown hair and a heart tattoo on his right arm. Religion was Church of England. He nominated his brother John Pendreigh, due to both his parents being deceased, of Cambridge Street, Charters Towers as next-of-kin.
After basic training he was assigned to the Engineers Depot at Moore Park, Sydney on December 30, 1915 and assigned to the 12th Reinforcements to the Field Company Engineers with the service no. 2551.
The Company embarked from Sydney, NSW on December 11, 1915 for Egypt on board the R.M.S. Mooltan. On February 27, 1916 they left Alexandria on the troopship Kingatonian to join the British Expeditionary Force disembarking at Marseilles.
He was taken on strength as a Driver with the 3rd F.C.E. in the field on 6 April, 1916.
LEST WE FORGET
© Donna Baldey 2009/2018