brothers of John
SAPPER THOMAS MADDERS
3470A - 1st Australian Tunnelling Company / 13th Infantry Battalion
Thomas Madders was born in Torbanlea, Qld on September 30, 1897 and accompanied his brother David to Rockhampton, Qld on January 19, 1916 to apply to enlist for service abroad. Consent must have been given by his parents as he was only eighteen years and four months of age.
The young miner passed the medical examination and forms of Attestation were completed giving his description on enlistment as 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall, weighing 57.2kgs (126lbs) with a chest measurement of 86cms (34ins) and having a fair complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. Methodist was also his faith. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Mary Madders of Bluff Colliery, Q.C.R., Qld.
He entered Enoggera camp with his brother for basic training on January 26, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion until February 19 when transferred to the Miners' Depot.
The Capricornian, Rockhampton, Queensland - 18 March 1916:
THE BLUFF - (From a Correspondent)
A very pleasant evening was spent in the School of Arts on the 8th instant, the occasion being a send-off tendered to five of our soldiers who were on home leave before their departure for Melbourne.
They were Messrs T. and D. Madders, J. Allan, W. McElligott, W. Ruff, and two other soldiers of the same company, Privates M. Bowen and L. De Chastel.
Fully twenty-five couples graced the floor. The music was supplied by Misses Napper, McCallum, and Messrs. McElligott, Ruff, and Lovejoy. Mr. J. Rodgers acted as master of ceremonies, and kept matters going merrily.
During an interval a presentation of a safety razor, shaving brush, soap, and pencil was made to each of the local soldiers and the two visiting soldiers were each presented with a silver match box with their initials suitable engraved. Mr. Rodgers, in making the presentation in a neat speech, referred to the number of enlistments from Bluff. He said no less than fourteen had been accepted, which he claimed as a record for Queensland, taking into consideration the population of Bluff. Should other towns and cities answer the call on a pro rata basis there would be no necessity for recruiting committees or conscription to be put into force. He also referred to shirkers and slackers and pointed out how Mr. and Mrs. Madders, senr., who have already given three sons, whilst the remaining two have been called on for medical inspection. This he claimed as hardly fair whilst there were still single men in Queensland who have no dependents on them and had no intention of enlisting.
In handing each solider his present he said he was proud to know there were such able bodied men as them who had heard the call of the motherland and so nobly responded to it. No doubt they had heard the call from their wounded comrades at Gallipoli and were now answering that call for assistance. On behalf of the people of Bluff he wished each and everyone of them Godspeed and a safe and victorious return at the conclusion of the war. He felt sure they would do their duty nobly and be a credit to the Australian troops who had already made such a name for themselves.
In reply Private Bowen said on behalf of his comrades he thanked the people of Bluff for the presents they had given them. He also wished to thank Mr. Rodgers for the kindly sentiments expressed by him. He was not an orator and would sooner face the Kaiser than an audience. At the conclusion of the war they would try to bring the Kaiser back with them to Bluff so that the ladies could tar and feather him. He assured them that each and everyone of them would do his best to uphold the traditions of the Australian troops.
Three cheers were then called for the Allies and three also for King George, which were heartily given. Dancing was continued until 3.30 a.m., when all the residents assembled at the railway station to see our boys depart. "Soldiers of the King" was sang as the train was leaving. The soldiers answered with a hearty cheer.
The Bluff, 9th March, 1916.
From there he went to their Seymour camp for further training which was interrupted when he was hospitalised at on May 9, 1916.
Returning to Seymour on July 11 he was assigned to the 4th Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies with the regimental number 3470 and the rank of Sapper and continued to train for the front.
The 81 Reinforcements embarked on the transport RMS Orontes on August 16, 1916 from Melbourne, Vic. The mail ship sailed to Adelaide, S.A. then Fremantle, W.A departing on August 23, 1916. After leaving the stormy Australian coast the vessel docked at the African ports of Durban, Capetown and St Vincent and after fifty-two days at sea of generally fine and mild weather arrived at Plymouth, England on October 2, 1916. They were detrained to Tidworth and marched in to No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse.
While in camp visited London and was disciplined as follows for:
Crime: Parkhouse 9/10/16 AWL from 2400 8/10/16 to 1400 9/10/16
Award: 5 days C.B. by Lt Kennedy
Total forfeiture: 1 day's pay
On October 18, 1916 the Reinforcements proceeded to France arriving at the A.G.B.D. at Etaples on October 19. On November 29, 1916 he marched out to join the 1st Tunnelling Company and taken on strength from the next day.
Following a memo from Headquarters in London on January 10, 1917 he was re-allotted the regimental number as 3470A.
Service continued until July 1, 1917 when the following action was taken:
Offence: 28/6/17 W.O.A.S.
(1) Drunkenness
(2) Being in St Omer without a Pass contrary to R.O.663 dated 19/3/17
Award: 7 day's F.P. No. 2
And also:
Crime: W.O.A.S. AWL from 2 p.m. 16/11/17 till 2 p.m. 20/11/17
Award: 21 days F.P. No. 2 by Capt Anderson
Total forfeiture: 26 days.
For twelve months abroad he received Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform.
On March 14, 1918 he went sick to the 1/1 W.R. Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) Uncertain Origin) and transferred to the 63rd Casualty Clearing Station and was discharged to duty on March 23.
He went sick to the 1/2 Lowland F.A. on June 27, 1918 with P.U.O. and transferred to the 57th C.C.S. Two days later moved to the 33rd C.C.S. and was discharged to his unit on July 4, 1918 rejoining them the next day.
On September 10, 1918 marched out to the A.I.B.D. in Havre and was taken on strength with the 13th Battalion on September 19.
The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) on Thursday November 21, 1918 printed news from the letter sent by:
20th August, 1918
LETTER FROM MRS H.G. WHEELER
T. Madders and his brother expect to be in England on leave shortly and ask me to send a cable shortly. They were both well on August 15.
He was with this unit when Peace was declared and they remained on the front. News from Mrs Wheeler's letter mentions him:
Friday November 29, 1918
LETTER FROM MRS H.G. WHEELER
Sapper Tom Madders wrote on Aug 26.
Leave was granted from January 12, 1919 to London and returned on January 30, 1919.
He marched out on April 15 as one of the 1916 personnel in Quota No. 30 and went to the A.B.D.2. The next day crossed the English Channel to Southampton marching into No. 4 Group camp.
Sapper T. Madders embarked from Devonport on June 2, 1919 on the H.T. Beltana for the voyage to Australia. His mother was notified on June 28 that he had departed for home.
The Capricornian on Saturday June 19, 1919 published the following:
14th February, 1919
LETTER MRS H.G. WHEELER
T. Madders expects to move over in about a fortnight. He will be in England about two weeks before returning to Australia.
The ship docked in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on July 19, 1919. The same day news was printed in Rockhampton:
The Capricornian Saturday July 19, 1919
LETTER FROM MRS H. WHEELER
25th March, 1919
Thomas Madders is still in Belgium. He says that his Christmas parcel was just as welcome as if it had come on Christmas Day. He expects to be in England this month.
Military Discharge was issued on September 4, 1919 from Brisbane (1st M.D.) on termination of his period of enlistment and returned to the Bluff Colliery.
The British War Medal (20742) and the Victory Medal (20201) were issued to Sapper 3470 Thomas Madders, 1st Tunnelling Company / 13th Battalion for serving his country.
Thomas married on January 30, 1923 to Alice Matilda Lewis.
In The Courier-Mail on Saturday February 8, 1936 the following article appeared:
COLLIERY EMPLOYEE'S UNION
Election of Officers
IPSWICH Friday
Details of the Queensland Colliery Employee's Union election have been finalised, and in every instance the officers appointed at the 1935 by-election have been returned to office. Details:
President and check inspector: Thomas Madders (Torbanlea Branch) 902, Martin Miller (Retiring President) 1146, informal 7.
In 1937 his address was 37 Cole Street, Silkstone, Ipswich, Qld working as a miner. Results of the Union Election appeared in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday February 9, 1937:
COLLIERY EMPLOYEE'S UNION
Result of Election
IPSWICH BRANCH
Thomas Madders 930 Article Abridged
A request from the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane on June 22, 1939 was sent to Base Records for his Statement of Service.
Residence in 1943 was Torbanlea, Qld with the occupation of miner and in 1954 his address was 343 Albert Street, Maryborough, Qld.
Thomas Madders died in Queensland on December 25, 1955 at 58 years of age.
© Donna Baldey 2012
www.tunnellers.net