SECOND CORPORAL ETHELBERT STEPHEN BUSHELL
4291 - Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Ethelbert ‘Bert’ Stephen Bushell was born in Preston, Kent, England in the second quarter of 1884 the son of Ethelbert S. and Sarah E. Bushell and registered at Eastry, Kent. In 1891 the family were residing at New Row Cottage in the parish of Stourmouth, Kent and was made up of Ethelbert S. (38) agricultural labourer, Sarah E. (37), Emma A. (13), Frederick W. (11), Albert E. (9), Ethelbert S. (7), Stephen H. (5), Ellen S. (2) and Alice M. (1mth).
In 1901 Ethelbert was working in the household of William Tomlinson, a barrister whose home was at 2 Richmond Terrace, St George’s Hanover Square, London in residence with his sister Ellen and her children. He was seventeen years old and worked as a footman and domestic servant.
An Apprenticeship was served for two and a half years in engineering with the London Motor Car Company, Sharbay Avenue, London.
Bert came to Australia and in 1910 was living at 89 High Street, Perth working as an engineer and fitter. The same year he married Louisa Leta Taylor in Perth. It is possible he went to Sydney, NSW on business and was the passenger who sailed from there arriving at Fremantle, W.A. on December 6, 1914 on board the steamer Karoola.
On April 18, 1916 the thirty-one year old Motor Car Proprietor applied to enlist for active service abroad at the recruiting office in Perth. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars taken show the married man was 172cms (5ft 7½ins) tall with a chest expansion of 92-97cms (36-38ins). Declared fit for service his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
Forms of Attestation were completed adding further information on enlistment giving birthplace as Margate, Kent and weighed 67kgs (148lbs) with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on both left and right arms. Religious faith was Church of England. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Louisa Leta Bushell on 278 Newcastle Street, Perth, W.A. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
Acknowledgement to the day’s enlistees was published that evening in:
Recruiting for the No. 6 Tunnelling Company had commenced on March 7, 1916 by Captain Lawson and his four officers. Instruction classes were formed of officers and N.C.O.’s as there was insufficient time to attend the Engineer’s School in Sydney. Recruits were forthcoming in abundant numbers and the aim was to have good physical types of skilled W.A. Miners.
At Blackboy Hill camp the new company paraded daily with sister companies until March 27 when the Company moved camp to Belmont camp. Four sections were created and training continued through April and May. On May 1, 1916 Bert was assigned to the No. 6 Tunnelling Company at Belmont camp with the regimental number 4291 in the rank of Sapper and joined his section on May 9, 1916.
The remainder of May was occupied in the usual training: musketry, trench work and night work while equipment was also in progress. Here a difficulty was met in that the general size of the men was considerably above the average and some little trouble was experienced in getting all accurately fitted.
Early in May, 1916 the No. 4 Tunnelling Company consisting of six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks making up two sections, embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW 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 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.). One 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.
The No. 6 Company paraded through the city of Perth where the fine physique of the men, who marched with arms bare to the elbow excited universal admiration.
The transport arrived in port at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916. The whole company consisting of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 officer and 32 O.Rs entrained at Belmont at 2 p.m., every man physically fit being present and boarded Warilda which left the harbour the same evening.
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.
His wife placed an advertisement that business was still being conducted and the notice appeared in:
The same day in England the Reinforcements proceeded to France and marched into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot at Etaples two days later. While there disciplinary action was administered for the following:
Improper conduct on parade 7/9/16
Award:7 days C.C. [confined to camp] by Major Maughan
On September 25, 1916 the troops marched out to the join the 3rd Tunnelling Company in the field and taken on strength on September 30.
Sapper Bushell’s civil mechanical qualifications were beneficial to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and was attached to this company on October 8 then transferred and taken on strength on December 26, 1916.
He was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for twelve months service.
Further discipline was dealt on December 12, 1917 by the Commanding Officer of his company for:
Crime:A.W.L. by overstaying leave in U.K. about 6.30 a.m. 8/12/17 to 6.30 a.m.
10/12/17
Award:Forfeits 10 day’s pay and 3 days under R.W.
Total forfeiture:10 day’s pay
The rank of Lance Corporal was appointed to him on March 1, 1918.
He went sick on April 29, 1918 to the New Zealand Hospital in Wisques and admitted N.Y.D. gas (not diagnosed yet) and transferred with Bronchitis on A.T.19 on May 6, 1918 entering the 56th General Hospital with Bronchitis. About five days later was sent to convalesce at No. 6 Convalescent Depot, Etaples and discharged on May 14 to the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles. He left to rejoin his unit on May 20 and returned to duty four days later.
A promotion to 2nd Corporal was granted on September 1, 1918 and he remained with this company until the end of the war.
Leave was granted by the furlough department on November 23 until December 7, 1918.
He was to be Temporary Corporal due to the repatriation of Corporal Pumphrey on March 8, 1919 and reverted to 2nd Corporal when ordered to return to Base on March 26, 1919 to prepare to demobilise.
They marched out on April 2 to the A.I.B.D. in Havre and crossed the English Channel arriving at the No. 3 Group camp at Codford to await their journey home.
The H.T. Somali embarked on June 1, 1919 on its voyage to Australia with 2nd Corporal Bushell on board. His wife was advised by Base Records on June 19 that he was en route and the estimated arrival date. The vessel arrived at Fremantle (5th M.D.) on July 8, 1919.
It appears he was medically unfit therefore Military Discharge was not issued until December 6, 1919 from Perth, (5th M.D.) due to medical unfitness.
The following year property was stolen and the perpetrators prosecuted with reports in:
Transfers of vehicle registration were published in the newspapers and recorded as follows:
In 1925 their address was listed as 278 Newcastle Street, Perth with motor engineer as his occupation.
Thieves again made his property their target and were charged as per newspaper article in the:
From 1931 to 1943 1 McKenzie Street, Perth was their address and his occupation remained the same.
He appeared as a witness in a Court case which was reported in:
He was a registered committee member of Metropolitan Taxi-cab Owners’ Association whose rules were advertised in the:
As a member of the Association was named in a writ issued and published in:
Trustees of the Association were publicised on the:
He was the organiser for cars for disabled and elderly ex-servicemen taking part in the Anzac Parade and preparations were published a week before the parade in:
News of his untimely death at 65 years of age was reported in the evening edition of:
Over the next few days tributes from friends and colleagues plus arrangements were published in:
Additional notices were published for members of various associations Bert was a member of:
The following day further acknowledgement was added to:
Twelve months later accolade to his service was announced in:
© Donna Baldey 2012