brothers of James
SAPPER JAMES MADDERS
180 - 1st Australian Tunnelling Company / 180A - 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Torbanlea, Queensland was the birthplace of James 'Jim' Madders on October 6, 1890. He also was a miner working at the Bluff Colliery.
At Bluff, Qld on August 20, 1915 Jim was the first brother to enlist and passed the preliminary medical examination for service abroad. Six days later Attestation forms were completed for the twenty-four year old revealing height of 168cms (5ft 6ins), weight 68.1kgs (150lbs) with a chest expansion of 90-95cms (35½-38½ins). Complexion was fair with light brown eyes and brown hair; gave Methodist as his religion. Next-of-kin was his father Mr John Madders of Bluff, Qld. He signed and took the 'Oath of Allegiance' the same day.
After basic training he was assigned to the Mining Corps in their establishment phase at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW for further instruction and placed in the No. 1 Company of the Corps. His regimental number was 180 and the rank of Sapper.
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.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o'clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her 'Useless'. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company - 390; No.2 Company - 380; No.3 Company - 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A 'Mining Corps' did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the 'Alphabetical Company'.
Sapper Madders was transferred to the No. 1 Tunnelling Company in the field on December 23, 1916.
Service continued without illness or incident until September 20, 1917 when he was disciplined for the following:
Offence: W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] from 1 p.m. 5/7/17 till 11/9/17 7 days
Award: 28 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
Total forfeiture: 35 day's pay
Blue Chevrons were issued on completion of twelve months service abroad and worn on his uniform.
Orders came for a transfer to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion and he returned to the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles on March 8, 1918 and marched out to join the Battalion six days later where he was taken on strength on March 18. His regimental number was re-allotted as 180A.
Central Queensland soldiers on the Front were in contact with Mrs H.G. Wheeler working in London co-ordinating the Central Queensland Comfort Fund and each week sent report-letters naming those men she had been in contact with during the week. These were published in the Rockhampton newspapers to give relatives reliable news of their men abroad. Her address was care of the Agent-General, Queensland Office, London. The following are extracts from her letters home published in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin in which she imparts news of the Madders brothers:
Friday April 5, 1918
Letter from Mrs H.G. Wheeler
Sapper J. Madders wrote on the 29th November. He had just come down from the lines, with very wet feet when the parcel with socks &c arrived, so he was glad to have them.
On September 21, 1918 he proceeded on Leave to the United Kingdom and re-joined his unit on October 11.
Thursday November 21, 1918
Letter from Mrs H.G. Wheeler 20/8/18
Sapper Rodgers wrote on Aug 20 he is very well and says his Brother-in-law Jack Allan has rejoined his unit. He also says he has met most of the boys from the Bluff Colliery lately and the three Madders brothers, two Scotts, Tommy Kerr, T Fulton, A Linde, J. Jenkins and F. Jones-all of whom are in excellent health, also J. Tynan from Mt Morgan.
He was with the Pioneer Battalion when Peace was declared and they remained in their district assisting with rehabilitation of their area. On December 6, 1918 the following was dealt with after an investigation:
A.W.L. from 900 to 1400 4/12/18
Award: 7 days F.P. No. 2 by C.O. 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Total forfeiture: 7 day's pay
On January 27, 1919 further punishment was also administered:
Crime: Field 17/1/19 Conduct to the prejudice of military discipline in that he quitted his platoon on the march and ride in a motor wagon.
Award: 2 day's F.P. No. 2 by C.O. 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Total forfeiture: 2 day's pay
He went sick on April 2, 1919 to the 39th General Hospital and admitted with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) and was discharged five days later to the Aust Infantry Base Depot.
Members of the Battalion were recalled to Base on June 3, 1919 to prepare to return to England and departed on June 9 crossing the English Channel to Southampton then moved out to report to No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny camp a day later. On April 16, 1919 was relocated to No. 3 Group camp at Codford.
Sapper Jim Madders embarked from Liverpool for home on board the H.T. Nestor on May 20, 1919. His father was advised by Base Records on June 24, 1919 that he was on his way home. The vessel arrived in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on July 4, 1919.
The Queenslander on Saturday July 5, 1919 reported the following:
SOLDIERS RETURNING
The following have been listed for return to Australia and are actually en route from abroad:
PER THE NESTOR
180a Spr J. Madders, 3rd Pnr Bn, Bluff.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on August 28, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
He returned to the Bluff Colliery and married on February 14, 1920 to Emily Ruff.
For serving his country Sapper 180/180A, James Madders, 1st Tunnelling Company / 3rd Pioneer Battalion received the British War Medal (12171) and the Victory Medal (12012).
He was working as a miner at Burrum, Qld in 1925. From 1936 his address was Stafford Street, Torbanlea, Qld with the occupation of miner.
Base Records forwarded a Statement of Service to the Repatriation Commission on September 26, 1950 in Brisbane, Qld.
He was still residing at Torbanlea in 1968.
© Donna Baldey 2012
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