33rd Battalion – The Harrower Collection

Major: Melrose Holtam MAILER. M.C.

July 3, 2020December 5, 2016 by David Harrower ACM

11th FIELD AMBULANCE - 33rd BATTALION AIF.

Major: Melrose Holtam MAILER. M.C.

Born: 17th August 1893. Carlton, Victoria, Australia.

Married: 28th December 1921. Glencairn, Moreland, Victoria, Australia.

Wife: Millicent Mailer. nee: Turnbull. (1897-1983)

Died: 1967. Elwood, Victoria, Australia.

Father: Dr Melrose Mailer. (1861-1926)

Mother: Ada Sarah Mailer. nee: Holthom. (1865-1953)

INFORMATIONMelrose Holtam Mailer enlisted with the 11th Field Ambulance with the rank of Captain on the 25th of October 1915 and left Melbourne on board HMAT A62 "Wandilla" on the 6th of June 1916. Melrose was attached to the 33rd Battalion an was their Medical Officer. Melrose was promoted to the rank of Major and returned to Australia on the 28th of August 1919.

Informant: Sergeant: 2432 Eric George SHELDON "We were in billets in Villers-Brettoneux and ARKINS was hit by a piece of shell when in his billet. I heard the shell burst and went in to the billet and found him unconscious. Corporal: 3069 Henry Dayrell HERDSON C Coy, 12th Platoon, 33rd Battalion was under the same blankets with Private: 3077 William Arnold ARKINS, and was not touched.

Fritz attacked that day and we had to go out, but I heard that ARKINS never regained consciousness and died in the dressing station in Villers-Brettoneux of which Captain: Melrose Holtam MAILER, Medical Officer 33rd Battalion was in charge. ARKINS as in C Company 12th Platoon, and was a Lewis Gunner, and a very fine chap. He was a School Teacher at home, but I do not know where I should think he was 30 or so.

11/12th October 1917

MILITARY CROSSCaptain: Melrose Holtom MAILER; Australian Army Medical Corp. Attached to the 33rd Battalion AIF.

From the night of the 11/12th till the 13/14th October 1917 near PASSCHENDAELE, he distinguished himself by his conspicuous courage and devotion to duty. The R.A.P. was on the railway line which was continually under heavy shell fire. Regardless of all personal danger this Officer attended the wounded in thr open. He worked for 48 hours under the most trying conditions. He was always cheerful and patient and he displayed most sympathetic and keen interest in the welfare of the wounded. He undoubtedly saved the lives of many men. His organisation of the stretcher bearers was very efficient. By his own gallant conduct and untiring efforts he set his stretcher bearers a splendid example.

London Gazette: 18th January 1918. Page 959 position 23.

Commonwealth Gazette: 23rd May 1918. page 1126 position 23.

Melrose returned to Australia on board the "Karowna" embarking from England on the 28th August 1919 and disembarked at Melbourne on the 23rd October 1919.

Family Information.Melrose was a single 22 year old Medical Practitioner from "Glencairn" Craig Rossie Avenue, Moreland, Victoria. His next of kin was his father who he lived with at "Glencairn". Melrose enlisted during World War 2 and served at Puckapunyal Army College in Victoria, service number VX133230 with the 2nd AIF..

The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria. Friday 31st March 1922.

MARRIAGES.

MAILER-TURNBULL. -On the 28th December 1921, at Glencairn, Moreland, Melrose Holtom, M.B., B,S., eldest son of Dr. Melrose Mailer, to Millicent, eldest daughter of the late William laurie Turnbull, consulting engineer, Glasgow, Scotland, and the late Mrs. Wm.' Lennox, Straiton, Ayrshire, N.B.

Trove Article

(BEAN; History of World War 1. vol V page 351)

Military Records

Under Construction; 30/10/2006-20/05/2018..

Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. D.S.O.

July 3, 2020December 5, 2016 by David Harrower ACM

Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK

34th - 33rd BATTALION - 3rd MACHINE GUN COMPANY A.I.F.

Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. D.S.O.

Born: 1st July 1891. Double Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:38819/1891.

Died: 31st August 1918. Killed in Action France.

Father: Adolphus Meyer Brodziak. (18..-1922)

Mother: Kah "Kate" V Brodziak. nee: Milligan. (18..-1934)

INFORMATION

Cedric Errol Meyer Brodziak enlisted with the 3rd Battalion AIF on the 3rd September 1914 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A14 "Eupides" on the 20th October. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of March and served at Gallipolli and was Wounded in Action on the 27th of April 1915 just 2 days after the landing where he received a Gun Shot Wound to his Neck He was evacuated from ANZAC Cove and sent yo England for treatment before being returned to Australia on the 20th November and was discharged as Medically Unfit. Cedric re-enlisted on the 22nd of February 1916 with the 34th Battalion and embarked on board HMAT A20 "Hororata" on the 2nd May 1916 with the rank of Captain.

26th November 1917

Recommended for the MEMBER of the ORDER of the BRITISH EMPIRE

3rd September 1918.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.

Major Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. For conspicuous gallantry and distinguished service near BRAY-Sur-SOMME on 22nd August 1918. Major BRODZIAK commanded the flank company of the Division in the attack. In the face of strong opposition, ha captured his objectives, organised and consolidated them strongly. When the right flank of the Division on his left were held up, he made good the gaps which occurred, capturing the southern portion of HAPPY VALLEY and the CHALK PIT, which was 200 yards North of our boundary, this assuring the advance of the Division of his flank.

During the afternoon 22nd August, the enemy broke through and his left flank was in the air and the enemy behind him he held in position and formed a defensive flank. By his quick appreciation of the situation and great determination he enabled the Divisional Line to be maintained, and inflicted such casualties that the enemy was forced to withdraw. His skillful leadership, cheerful demeanor inspired his men with the greatest confidence and saved the situation at a critical time.

London Gazette 1st February 1919. Page 1614 Position 2.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 3rd of June 1919. Page 943 Position 5.

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

London Gazette 11th July 1919. Page 8833 Position 63.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 30th of October 1919. Page 1654 Position 22.

30-31st August 1918

St QUINTEN

On the northern flank the 3rd Division's attack had been arranged at short notice after a day exhausting to both infantry and artillery, and in the face of other particular difficulties. The timing of the attack was to be taken from the left where the 58th Division, somewhat further back than the 9th Brigade, started at 5:10 am behind a very slow barrage to attack Marrieres Wood. The 9th Brigade using the 33rd Battalion, started at the time arranged, 5:40 am, but the artillery had not yet received its orders and though it fired, the barrage was thin and machine-guns in the south-west corner of Road Wood stopped the 33rd.

One Company was late, but Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN. M.C. had swung his Company into its place. Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. D.S.O. was now killed while referring to his map.But within twenty minutes the artillery greatly increased its fire. The 33rd were able to raise their heads. A private Private: 726 George CARTWRIGHT. V.C. stood up and from the shoulder fired at the troublesome German gunner and then walking forward shot him and the two men who took his place.

Next, covering his run by exploding a bomb shot of the trench, he rushed the gun and captured 9 Germans. The 33rd stood up and cheered him, and then advancing by two's and three's entered the wood. Private: 792 William Allan IRWIN. D.C.M an Australian half-caste, after attacking like Cartwright, was mortally wounded and Died of Wounds on the 1st of September 1918.

The 33rd was now considerably behind the 6th London (58th Division), having chased the Germans from Marrieres Wood, was held up by fire from Wary Alley which curved up the gully between the woods. Coming through the south Company Sergeant Major: 967 Louis John MATHIAS. D.C.M & Bar. cleared the Germans by fire from a Lewis Gun.

The 33rd now set to bombing up the old trenches leading up to the upper end of the 1916 Spur where the Peronne-Bapaume Road also ran through. On the nearer side of the road a German battery commander with his gun crews and some infantry was blazing with six field-guns into the Australian groups everywhere they left shelter.

From the southward side Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL. and Lieutenant: William Alexander McLEAN. M.C. of the 33rd-the latter greatly helped by the leaders of the 10th Brigade Sergeant 1007 E E Walters. D.C.M, 39th Battalion and Corporal 5024 A V GRINTON. D.C.M, 38th Battalion, worked up and presently rushed the guns, the German Battery Commander fighting to the last with his revolver. He was shot by Lieutenant: 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL.

Captain: Walter John Clare DUNCAN. M.C. reaching realised that the old quarry beyond it was a commanding position and accordingly took it and 40 German prisoners and placed a post on its eastern rim. He then went back to Wary Alley, and finding some of the 6th London Regiment, got Captain: S T COOKE M.C, and 20 men to garrison the quarry while the 33rd lined the Bapaume Road on the right.

Peronne Communal Cemetery Cedric is remembered with honour and is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Perronne Communal Cemetery.

30th November 1918.

Informant; Private: 1817 George Kingsley FRY. 34th Battalion/3rd Australian Machine Gun Company. Re: Major: Cedric Errol Meyer BRODZIAK. I might state that for your guidance that Major Brodziak was killed in action on the 31st not the 30th as stated in your letter. At the time of his death he was attached to the 33rd Battalion as a Company Commander, and it was while leading his men at an advance near CLERY-sur-SOMME, he was killed by Machine-Gun fire, the bullet passing through his head. He was buried about 200 yards due north of Clery-sur SOMME, very near the big wood, the name of which I have forgotten. There are two Officers and 6 other ranks buried in the same grave. His grave is marked by crossed triangles.

London.

Family Information

Adolphus and Kate Brodziak were married in 1872 in Sydney, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:772/1872 and had 8 children. Rachel Brodziak born 1873 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:159/1873. Ella M Brodziak born 1877 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:3368/1877. Lillian Mabel Brodziak born 1881 at Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:7767/1881 and died in 1887 in Sydney, N.S.W. Death Cert:518/1887. Ivy M Brodziak born 1883 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:8525/1883. Gladys M Brodziak born 1885 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:761/1885. Kate M Brodziak born 1886 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth cert:894/1886. Cederic Errol Meyer Brodziak born 1891 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth Cert:38819/1891. Norman L Brodziak born 1892 in Sydney, N.S.W. Birth cert:39418/1892.

Military Records World War 1 Records ©

Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction; 22/10/2009-20/05/2016.

Lieutenant Colonel: Harold Fletcher WHITE. C.M.G – D.S.O.

May 21, 2020December 5, 2016 by David Harrower ACM

33rd BATTALION - 35th BATTALION A.I.F.

Lieutenant Colonel: Harold Fletcher WHITE. C.M.G - D.S.O. - French Croix de Guerre

Born: 13th June 1883. "Saumarez", New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert: 27373/1883.

Married: 19th October 1911. St Peters Cathedral Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert: 12086/1911.

Wife: Evelyn Augusta Bigg White. nee: Curtis. (1890-1982)

Died: 20th February 1971. Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:47058/1971.

Father: Francis John White. (1854-1934)

Mother: Margaret White. nee: Fletcher. (1855-1936)

INFORMATIONHarold Fletcher White served with the Armidale 5th Light Horse with the rank of Captain prior to World War 1 and enlisted with the D Company 33rd Battalion AIF on the 4th of May 1916 and left Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the same day. He disembarked at Devonport, England on the 9th of July and proceeded to the No:2 Camp at Larks Hill.

Commanding Officer of the 33rd Battalion AIF from the 30/04/1918 to the 16/06/1918.

Commanding Officer of the 35th Battalion AIF 1918/19.

35th Battalion A.I.F. Farewell dinner to Lt Col. H.J. White, DSO. 1 February 1919.

White, Harold Fletcher (Bill) (1883–1971)

by Bruce Mitchell

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, (MUP), 1990

Harold Fletcher White (1883-1971), grazier and soldier, was born on 13 June 1883 at Saumarez, near Armidale, New South Wales, son of Francis John White, grazier, and his wife Margaret, née Fletcher, both native-born. Francis John (1855-1935) was a son of Francis White, and a nephew of James White and of Frederick Robert White (1835-1903) of Booloominbah.

In 1894 Harold belonged to the first group of pupils at the New England Proprietary School (later The Armidale School); he proceeded to the University of Sydney where he studied arts and engineering for two years, and worked with Pitt, Son & Badgery Ltd. In 1906 he returned to manage some of his family's New England properties at Guyra and lived on his selection at Ward's Mistake. On 19 October 1911 at St Peter's Anglican Cathedral, Armidale, he married Evelyn Augusta Bigg Curtis; they made their home on Bald Blair station, near Guyra.

Known by his friends as 'Bill', in 1906 he had joined the 6th Light Horse, Australian Military Forces, and in April 1914 was promoted captain in the 5th Light Horse. In March 1916 he was appointed to the Australian Imperial Force as a captain in the 33rd Battalion; he was promoted major on 1 May and embarked three days later as officer commanding 'D' Company. The 33rd Battalion reached France in November and went into the line at Armentières. White was wounded on 8 February 1917 and was out of the unit until 11 April. Within days of learning of the death of his infant son whom he had never seen, White was engaged in action at Messines, Belgium, on 6-10 June and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The citation spoke of 'his utter disregard of personal danger, his indomitable will and his tireless energy' during his ninety-six hours in the front line.

Having attended the officers' school at Aldershot, England, from January to March 1918, White was promoted lieutenant-colonel in April; he commanded the 36th Battalion until June and then the 35th for the rest of the war. He led the 35th in action south of the Somme in August at Mont St Quentin and in September in operations against the Hindenburg line. Between 1917 and 1919 he was thrice mentioned in dispatches, received the French Croix de Guerre and was appointed C.M.G. White's reputation with his men was that of a hard but fair man. He was intense, serious and lacked a sense of humour. After embarking in April 1919 to return to Australia, he received further promotions in the A.M.F. in 1920 and 1921, and in 1926 was placed on the reserve of officers as a lieutenant-colonel.

White returned to Bald Blair and continued the pasture and stock improvements which he had commenced before the war; he also concentrated on improving his family's Aberdeen Angus stock and from 1924 began to exhibit and win prizes at the Royal Easter Show, Sydney. In 1926 34,000 acres (13,759 ha) of the F. J. White Bald Blair estate was sold to promote closer settlement and White concentrated on improving his property of 5200 acres (2104 ha). By the 1950s he had changed a swampy and useless place into a prosperous farm.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s White had been prominent in local and regional affairs. He was a councillor for the Guyra shire in 1911-29, vice-president of the Northern New State Movement in 1922 and a supporter of the Country Party. Like many ex-officers, he showed alarm at post-war political trends and took part in the Old Guard movement. He had no time for the New Guard. In September 1932 he was nominated to the Legislative Council: he did not like politicians, did not speak in the House and retired in April 1934 when the council was reconstituted.

White backed the regional economic and educational innovations of the 1930s and 1940s: he was a director of the New England and North-West Producers Co. Ltd and was active in the movement to obtain wool-selling facilities at Newcastle; he was also a director of Armidale Newspapers Ltd. He sat on the council of The Armidale School and supported the campaign for a university college at Armidale; a member of the Advisory Council of New England University College in 1938-53, he was a council-member of the university in 1954. Survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, he died on 20 February 1971 at Armidale and was buried at Guyra with Anglican rites.

Armidale War MemorialFAMILY INFORMATIONParliamentary Service

Member of the NSW Legislative Council from 8 Sep 1932 until the 22 Apr 1934. Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 8 September 1932.

Political Party Activity

Nominated by Stevens-Bruxner Government.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Grazier. Educated at The Armidale School; became a partner in the family firm of F.J White & Sons, pastoral company owning Bald Blair, Aberfoyle and Ward's Mistake stations, managed Bald Blair, Guyra; director of New England North and North West Producers' Company Limited; vice president of New State Movement in 1922; executive member of Graziers' Association 1930-1932, councillor 1932-1947, president of Guyra branch, advisory councillor of New England University College 1938-1953, University Council in 1954; president of Aberdeen Angus Herd Book Society of Australia; member of National Geographic Society., Royal Society of Arts in London.

Military Service

Served in Australian Infantry Forces 1915-1919, 33rd Battalion, France and Flanders, commanded 36th 33rd then 35th Battalions, lieutenant-colonel, mentioned in dispatches three times, Distinguished Service Order 1917,Croix de Guerre 1918. Harold served during World War 2, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel enlisting on the 23rd of March 1942 with the Volunteer Defence Corps. service number N393137.

Honours Received

Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1918.

Local Government Activity

Councillor of Guyra Shire 1911-1929.

Harold was buried at the Guyra Cemetery after his service at St James Church of England Church. Harold's wife Evelyn was born at Waverly New South Wales in 1884, Birth Cert:9636/1884. Harold and Evelyn White had 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls.

Military Records

Australian National Archives

Under Construction; 19/10/2006-21/05/2020.

Private: 1270 Harold Hayward UNVERHAU.

May 7, 2018December 5, 2016 by David Harrower ACM

33rd BATTALION - 3rd BATTALION AIF

Private: 1270 Harold Hayward UNVERHAU.

Born: 7th September 1893. Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.

Died: 5th October 1917. Belgium.

Father: Gottlap Charles Unverhau (circa 1860-1923) Died at Armidale, N.S.W. Death Cert:16747/1923.

Mother: Eliza J Unverhau. nee:. (circa 1860-1925) Died at Armidale, N.S.W. Death Cert:6485/1925.

INFORMATIONHarold Hayward Unverhau enlisted with the AIF on the 14th January 1915 at Armidale, N.S.W. but was rejected as Medically Unfit but re enlisted on the 20th January 1916 with the 33rd Battalion AIF.

A SOUVENIR OF H.M.A.T. MARATHON. THE NORTHERN BATTALION'S TROOPSHIP.

Mrs. C. Unverhau, of "Glenwood" Uralla, forwards us a souvenir of the Marathon's voyage, which she has just received from her son, Private: 1270 Harold Hayman UNVERHAU who is a member of the Northern Battalion. The title page contains a photograph of the ship and a statement of the troops on board. The rest of the letterpress is as follows: Perhaps one of the prettiest, and most affecting sights in the world is an Australian ship's good-bye, especially if the vessel be a transport. The devotion of relatives and friends is amazing. Besides undergoing the discomfort and inconvenience of a long journey to the port of embarkation, they also cheerfully endure the tedium of uncertainty and waiting about incidental to the dispatch of' troops. In this case the anxiety of attachment, saw some taking up a position of advantage a day previous.

Friends assemble on the quay with rolls of colored paper ribbons, one end of which is thrown to the departing one on board and the other retained by a friend ashore. As the vessel moves away; the rolls are unwound till hundreds of bright-hued streamers are suspended like a fairy-chain between the ship and shore till the whole length runs out or snaps asunder through strain. The "Marathon's" departure was particularly auspicious. Every soldier on the ship and every person ashore seemed connected by a rainbow. A thousand strands, irradiated in the morning sun. Not content with that, motor launches filled with well-wishers must needs follow her up some distance when under weigh. Within an hour of sailing the stormy winds were blowing and the ship—one of the most steady and reliable that ever left the docks—a-tossing. Sea legs and sea stomachs would have fetched any price. Misled by the alert appearance and uniform, unfortunately no one had anticipated ,the demand. The disappearing lights of Bondi synchronised with the dwindling spirits of the 33rd, now at a very low ebb indeed.

It was, nobody's fault that the voyage was a little tedious through being unduly long, accentuated a good deal by intermittent bad weather. To enumerate a few is to commence a really long list. Besides the daily parades for drill, etc., when the weather held fine, there were boxing bouts and sports, relieved by band performances and deck concerts . Some of the days, with calm sea and warm, radiant sunshine, were wholly delightful ; while cool moonlight evenings provided ideal conditions for pianofortes and vocal selections. Ports of call, too, gave opportunity to enlarge experience and profit by observation, though in several instances it was a case of distance lending enchantment to the view— one cannot see much on the deck of a steamer half a mile from an object on shore, which strangeness, of course, only heightens interest and foments desire to approach closer. Yet despite all drawbacks every man on the ship got the benefit of a passing acquaintanceship with towns and countries other than his own—a direct contrast, say, in comparing Central Africa with the Commonwealth or, to come nearer home, Western with Eastern Australia, and again his own with the Colony of South Africa.

16th September 1916 transferred to the 3rd Battalion AIF. Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium

11th November 1917.

Informant: Corporal: S RIGNEY. 10th Battalion A.I.F. ""Has possession of the Identity Disk, Paybook and other effects of Pte Unverhau who was killed about 6th of October 1917. Cpl Rigney asks for information as to what he should do with these.

Note wrote to Cpl Rigney either bring these here or sent them to H.Q.

Menin Gate War Memorial

Family InformationHarold was a single 22 year old Farmer from "Glenwood" Uralla, N.S.W. upon enlistment. Raymond Charles Unverhau born 1896 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:17129/1896 married Winifred Devine at Armidale, N.S.W. 8775/1924 and died 1943 at Sutherland, N.S.W. Death Cert:5885/1943.