SAPPER JOHN HAROLD WALDBY
2599 - 1st TUNNELLING COMPANY
John Harold Waldby was born in Charters Towers about 1894 and enlisted at the age of 21 years and 10 months on 10th January, 1916 in Townsville. Known as Harold and still single, he left his occupation of Loco-firemen and volunteered with his older brother for service to his country.
After passing the necessary medical requirements Harold was sent to the basic training camp of the 11th Depot Battalion for assessment and allocation to a battalion. From there he was transferred for duty with the Mining Corps being assigned as a Sapper with the Regimental number 2599 and placed with the 3rd Reinforcements who were preparing for departure.
The Reinforcements departed from Melbourne on the troopship A14 Euripides on 4th April, 1916 and arrived at Alexandria where the Reinforcements were transferred to the City of Edinburgh which arrived at Marseilles on 17th May, 1916. They were detrained for their destination at the Australian Base Depot and marched in on 1st June, 1916 to Etaples, France and were taken on Strength for duty on 23rd June, 1916.
Sapper Waldby was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company which was comprised of four sections. The sectors of Le Biset, Ploegsteert Wood, St Eloi, Yprès, Hill 60, Polygon Wood, Menin Road, Hooge, Amiens, Corbie, Hamel, Villers-Bretonneux, Peronne, Bony, Bellicourt, St Quentin, Dinant, Namur and Louvain were the prominent areas of assignment throughout the war.
Between 12th to 19th August, 1917 Sapper J.H. Waldby was sent for a Refresher Course with the Mine Rescue School receiving "Very Good" Reports in regards his retraining with use the Mine Rescue Apparatus, First Aid in Gas Poisoning and Oxygen Breathing.
During the last week in August, 1918 his parents, Mr & Mrs James Waldby of the Victoria Bridge Hotel, were notified that their son Harold was in Chelsea Hospital, England recuperating having lost his right eye from a gunshot wound in action. After recovering he returned to Australia on 10th December, 1918 and in consequence of being medically unfit was discharged on 15th April, 1919.
For his active service abroad of two years and 330 days he was issued with a discharge badge and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Harold married sometime after 1929 and it is believed his wife's family name was 'Beattie'.
John Harold Waldby died 1 March 1970. Although no funeral notice was found, the following notice appeared in the local newspaper:
Townsville Daily Bulletin Tuesday March 3, 1970
OBITUARY
“A well-known Townsville identity, Mr John Harold Waldby, died suddenly at his home at Charters Towers Road, Hermit Park, on Sunday afternoon. He was aged 75. Mr Waldby was born in Charters Towers, where his father Mr James Waldby, was a well known mine manager. After he left school Harold joined the Railway Department in the loco section. He was a member of the A.I.F. in World War I and during service overseas lost the sight of an eye. Upon his discharge from the Army he rejoined the railway service, but was transferred to the clerical staff with which he was associated until he retirement. In his youth Mr Waldby was a keen athlete and he met with much success as a runner. He was always interested in racing and was a regular attendant at meetings at Townsville and neighbouring towns. He is survived by his widow, a sister, Mrs Alice Graham (Brisbane) and two brothers, Dave (Atherton) and Bert (Sydney).”
John Weir recalls "He rode a pushbike almost everywhere.", probably because of his sight. He is buried in the Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville.
SAPPER WILLIAM JAMES WALDBY
2600 - 1st TUNNELLING COMPANY
William James Waldby was born in Charters Towers about 1887 and enlisted at the age of 29 years on 10th January, 1916 in Townsville. Known as Bill, he was unmarried and left his Townsville occupation of Tool-smith to join-up to serve his country. He and his younger brother Harold registered on the same day and were farewelled by their parents Mr and Mrs J.W. Waldby of Townsville.
Bill was declared fit for duty after his medical examination and travelled to the 11th Depot Battalion for basic training. Because of his occupation, a tool-smith was a trade that would be suitable to the Mining Corps therefore he was transferred to the Corps, where he was assigned the rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 2600 then positioned for training amongst the 3rd Reinforcements leaving the following month.
They left for France on the transport A14 Euripides which departed Melbourne on 4th April, 1916, their journey terminating at Alexandria where the Reinforcements were transferred to the City of Edinburgh. This ship docked at Marseilles on 17th May, 1916 then the Reinforcements were detrained to the Australian Base Depot, marching in on 1st June 1916 and were ready to be taken on strength for duty by 23rd June, 1916.
Sapper W.J. Waldby was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company which was comprised of four sections. The sectors of Le Biset, Ploegsteert Wood, St Eloi, Yprès, Hill 60, Polygon Wood, Menin Road, Hooge, Amiens, Corbie, Hamel, Villers-Bretonneux, Peronne, Bony, Bellicourt, St Quentin, Dinant, Namur and Louvain were the prominent areas of assignment throughout the war.
No further details of Sapper W.J. Waldby and his service with the 1st Tunnelling Company are available except in a letter home from Lt Bowry of Charters Towers mentions he saw the Waldby brothers along with several other men from the surrounding district.
For his service to his country Sapper W.J. Waldby received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
In 1926 Bill married Zena Maud Menigna Sullivan, and between 1927 and 1933 the Queensland Post Office Directories for Townsville listed W. J. Waldby as the Licensee of the Rising Sun Hotel, Charters Towers Road.
William James Waldby died on 22 April 1931 and is buried in the Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville.
Townsville Daily Bulletin Thursday April 23, 1931
FUNERAL NOTICE
“The Friends and Relatives of Mrs W.J. Waldby and Family are respectfully invited to attend the FUNERAL of their late beloved husband, son and brother, WILLIAM JAMES "Bill" which will move from "Rising Sun Hotel" THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON at 4 o'clock, for the new cemetery.
ROONEYS LTD
Funeral Directors
'Phones: Day 400, Night 870
R.S.S.I.L.A.
(Townsville Sub Branch)
MEMBERS of the above are invited to attend the FUNERAL of their dear Comrade, "BILL" WALDBY (Jnr), to move as above.
W.A. DITCHBURN, President.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASSOCIATION
MEMBERS of the above are invited to attend the FUNERAL of their late member, "BILL" WALDBY, (Jnr), to move as above.
REG CROWTHER, Secretary
TOWNSVILLE GUN CLUB
THE members of the above are respectfully requested to attend the FUNERAL of their late member "BILL" WALDBY (Jnr),
which will move as above.
G. WITHAM, Hon. Secretary
OBITUARY
Mr W.J. "Bill" Waldby, licensee of the Rising Sun Hotel, died on Wednesday afternoon, after a long illness. The deceased was a son of Mr and Mrs W.J. Waldby, and was a native of Charters Towers, 44 years of age.
He suffered greatly for a long time from the effects of war injuries and malaria, but was uncomplaining and patient. Much sympathy will be extended to the bereaved widow.”
James Walter Waldby was the father of Bill and Harold Waldby above.
The Licensee of the Victoria Bridge Hotel, Palmer Street, between Dean and Plume Streets, South Townsville in 1912 was B.M. Guinane. Between 1913 and 1925 the licence was held by J.W. Waldby.
James Walter Waldby died on 28 August 1932
Townsville Daily Bulletin Monday August 29, 1932
FUNERAL NOTICE
“THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES of Mrs J.W. Waldby and Family are respectfully invited to attend the FUNERAL of their late beloved Husband and Father, JAMES WALTER ("Jim"), which will move from his late residence, Cnr Soule Street and Charters Towers Road, THIS (Monday) MORNING, at 11 o'clock for the New Cemetery.
ROONEYS LTD
Funeral Directors
'Phones: Day 400; Night 870.
SURBURBAN RECREATION CLUB
MEMBERS of the above are invited to attend the FUNERAL of the late J.W. Waldby, to move as above.
E.T. CAMP, Secretary.”
Townsville Daily Bulletin Tuesday August 30, 1932
PERSONAL
“Mr James Waldby, who passed away on Sunday last, was well-known in the mining world. He was a native of Muckleford, Victoria, which with the adjoining Mia Mia Creek, was a great suriferous field. There, as a schoolboy "specking" gold after the heavy rain, he began his mining career. Later he was a foreman sluicer at Mt Bischoff, but in 1883, left for Charters Towers, where he first managed the Lady Maria. His next management was the Band of Hope, which was a small reef in fairly hard country and had to be well-managed to show a profit. Then he held the position of general manager of the Kalumadau mine, Woodlark Island.
When Charters Towers declined, Mr Waldby went into business, and met with success, but retired a few years ago. As late as last year, he personally gave a trial to a small sluicing show in the ranges behind Townsville, but then a serious illness attacked him and he had been an invalid for many months. Mr Waldby, who was 74 years of age, leaves a family of sons, well-known in business circles, and several daughters. The respect in which he was held, was shown by the very large attendance of business men at the funeral.
© Donna Baldey 2024
www.tunnellers.org
with personal anecdotes by John Weir of Townsville
WALDBY BROTHERS
Waldby brothers
