Captain Uvedale Edward PARRY-OKEDEN MC MiD CC
Part B
by Robert Simpson
Was O/C D A Park from 6th February 1915 to date. Also O/C Temp? Army Corps Ammunition Park formed at Anzac and disbanded after evacuation. Was Officer in Charge Ammunition for Australian & New Zealand Army Corps from 9th July 1915 until evacuation. Also Officer in Charge Bomb Factory re – A.P.M. at Anzac during last days of evacuation. Was Officer APM 1st Division by Major General Chauvel with consent of Army Corps, last month but had to go back to hospital.” The proceedings of the court martial trial stated he was to be severely reprimanded and forfeiture of seniority. It was dated 3rd March 1916 and was filed in Attorney-General’s Department and numbered 4576.
His father was notified on 8th February 1916 that Uvedale was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Ghezirah on 28th January with mild bronchitis and they would promptly advise him if anything further was received.
On 9th March 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir, Captain U E Parry-Okeden 301st ASC 17th Ammunition Park wrote to CDA 4th Division AIF, asking “I beg to be allowed to join my unit – the 301st A.S.C. – 17th Ammn. Park, which is in France. I may say this is an A.S.C. unit, and as I have been posted to the 4th Divn. Artillery here, and not being a Field Gunner, I know nothing of the work peculiar to that arm. My Colonel has written to me on several occasions to join up with him – as I have now had 18 months training with ammn.- Powders, Bombs and transport work, both by land & sea. I feel that my services would be more valuable in my own arm of the service & I also feel that, by coming here as a Captain, I am keeping an artilleryman from promotion.” A letter forwarded with that one from the Commanding Officer of the 4th Division Artillery, Colonel Charles Rosenthal, endorsed what he had written and said he could be more of a hindrance than a help due to his lack of knowledge. General H V Cox then wrote “This officer has just been punished by sentence of a G.C.M. & he has also got into trouble in Cairo where, his conduct there is now under enquiry. He is evidently not fitted for his present employment as he cannot be trusted to behave himself properly. I think his return to his unit of the A.S.C. would be a good thing” At the bottom of that page is written a comment by Brigadier General C B White “ME GOC directs that this officer is to be returned to Alia as his services are no longer needed.”
His Record of Officers’ Services had DSO written next to his name, but it was crossed out in red, with MC written above. His unit was originally written as in a Battalion (number is covered over with stamp), but then over-stamped with Army Corps amm. park., and 8th A.S.C. written in black pen. He was appointed Lieutenant 11th September 1914 and left Australia on A40 Ceramic on 22nd December 1914. On 5th November 1915, he was given a “special Mention in Despatches in London Gaz.” He was absorbed in the personnel of the Army Corps Ammunition Park on 9th November 1915. On 9th March 1916, he was promoted to Captain and was transferred to 4th Division Artillery on 10th March 1916. The Military Cross was awarded to him on 4th April 1916. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 14th May 1916. On the same day Uvedale returned to Australia at Melbourne on H. T. Runic, as his services were “no longer required”. Another record also has the entry “for discharge in Australia. Disciplinary reasons.” It also records an extract from the General Court Martial.
A letter from Headquarters A & NZ Forces on 13th March 1916 to Headquarters Aust. Prov. Formations referring to the application of Uvedale to join his unit in France noted that “the Lieutenant-General Commanding directs that this officer is to be returned to Australia, as his services are no longer required.” They asked for passage arrangements to be organised. Another letter was sent to AIF Headquarters noting the same. Even being sent home was an issue for Uvedale. His CO had given him permission to sort out his pay in Cairo and collect personal effects from Thomas Cook in Alexandria when a letter came to send him to Suez. Thomas Cook was notified and Uvedale asked that his effects in the camp would be sent to him at Tel-el-Kebir to catch the train with his batman, but they did not get there in time. The baggage was sent on to Suez, but the Embarkation Officer stated that the Demosthenes had left and “Captain Parry-Okeden had not reported”. The baggage was held there until further notice. Another letter was sent to Headquarters explaining what had happened. A note on the bottom read “ask them to try and find this officer and send him off”. A cable had also been sent about the issue. Another cable talked about him missing the ship and also added “notwithstanding above PARRYOKEDEN was found in the National Hotel by an office from these Headqrs and was put on the six fifteen pm for Suez on Saturday eighteenth”. His articles, which consisted of 1 bundle, 1 Gladstone bag, 1pair of leggings and 2 kit bags were signed for at Suez Docks by a Staff Sergeant, for transmission to Australia.
On 16th March 1916, Uvedale had written to his CO “With reference to the information you gave me this afternoon, I would beg to be allowed to resign my commission, as an officer of the A.I.F., here at Tel-el-Kebir. His CO passed the letter on, noting “I beg to recommend that the above request be granted”. A reply asked what reasons were stated. The CO replied saying that Uvedale would like to go to England before returning to Australia, so it would be cheaper for him to go there direct from Egypt than from Australia and it would cost the Australian Government less. A reply on 18th March stated that he should go to Suez to embark on Demosthenes as previously ordered and another comment on the 19th reads “No action. GOC’s order must take its course”. Lots of telegrams and letters were sent between departments regarding this issue. A telegram on 27th March from 4th Division to AIF Headquarters stated they understood that Uvedale was at Base Details Camp as was any transport being arranged. A reply stated he would embark on Runic on or about 3rd April.
A Paymaster wrote to Uvedale on 4th April 1916 asking what he intended to do with his outstanding debt of 10 pounds that was advanced to him on his return from Gallipoli by Messrs. B & N Tawa, that had been forwarded to them (apparently the Paymaster had left for Cairo on that day). Correspondence was sent through various military areas in March and a note said that he was no longer on strength of the Division and could be in Cairo or Tel-el-Kebir.
He actually boarded the Runic on 11th April, and arriving in Melbourne on 14th May 1916, Uvedale was informed by an Officer of the 3rd military District that his appointment in the AIF was terminated as of that date. This was acknowledged in a reply to the Adjutant General.
Page 16 in his service record is obviously for someone else as it details entries in October 1917 with gunshot wounds to the face chest and arm and a nervous instability and returning to Australia. Uvedale was still in Australia then.
His father wrote to base Records on 10th April 1916, stating that Uvedale had arranged to leave 3 shillings a day from his pay aside for his father. He had not previously acted on it, but what was needed to be able to draw on that fund now. He was sent a reply from Base Records on 17th April 1916, letting him know that the letter he sent them had been forwarded onto the District Paymaster in Brisbane who would directly reply to him. On 1st May 1916, Base records wrote to W E Parry-Okeden Esq. “Miltonville” 2nd Avenue Sandgate, advising him that Uvedale was returning to Australia and would be due in Melbourne about the middle of May. No further details could be disclosed.
On 27th November 1916, base Records replied back to the 3rd Military District Paymaster that Uvedale’s address was stated to be “C/o W. E. Parry-Okeden Esq., “Miltonville”, 2nd Avenue, SANDGATE, Qld.”
Uvedale re-enlisted on 11th July 1917 at the Show Ground Camp in Sydney as Private 58618 in the 9th NSW General Service Reinforcements for the UK (with his name listed in the records as Uverdale). The number N79673 is also written, but crossed off. He was born near Charleville, a Natural Born British Subject of 42 years and 11 months old, and a single grazier. He had never been apprenticed. He listed his father, William Edward Parry-Okeden ISO of Oakwall, Redcliffe as his next of kin. He listed previous service as Royal Australian Garrison Artillery 4 years (as Lieutenant), Australian Light Horse 3 years (Lieutenant), and AIF Div Ammn Park 1 year 9 months (Captain) services no longer required. A note in red on the top of the form said “Prev. served with 4th Div. Arty. As Capt. App. terminated 14/5/16”. The letters MC are also written in red next to his name. His pay book number was 512928. The description showed he was 41 years and 11 months old, 6 foot 3 inches tall, weighed 190 pounds, had a chest measurement of 38 to 40 inches, and had a medium complexion with brown hair and eyes. He had a pulse of 82 and good physical development. His eyes were 6/9 and 6/12. Church of England was his religious denomination. Uvedale had a lot of distinctive marks: 3 moles on the left breast above the nipple, 4 on his left bicep, 2 on his left scapula, 4 between his shoulder blades and 1 on his right scapula. On of his records shows the positions of the moles on a stamp of the human body back and front. It also noted a scar on his left side of the head. His period of service started from 12th July 1917. The next day he was promoted to Acting Sergeant. He continued at that rank until embarking. He was considered fit for active service and posted to 1st Infantry Depot Battalion, C Company on 10th May 1918. A certificate re his will was filled out by him, stating his will was held by the Queensland National Bank.
He embarked as part of the 9th General Service Reinforcements (NSW). In the nominal roll, he is listed as Uverdale Edward Parry-Okeden M.C. with the Regimental Number 58618, rank of Private and pay book number 512928. (An entry in his service record says he was still Acting Sergeant according to the Nominal Roll?) He was a single, 42 year old grazier who joined in the 2nd Military District. His address was Hawkward Station, Queensland and his next of kin was his father at Oakwall, Redcliffe. He joined 11th July 1917 and his pay was 6 shillings a day. A note in the remark column says “Acting Sergeant. Re-enlisted. Previously served as Capt., 4th Div. Art.” He had a series of vaccinations before leaving. They embarked on SS Field Marshal on 19th June 1918 at Sydney. While on the ship he was V.O. (voyage only) Ships S.M. from 19th June 1918 until 25th August 1918. On 26th August they disembarked at London. He was marched in to 14th Training Battalion at Codford, from Australia and was allotted to the 55th Battalion as a Private, and on the 31st was made Acting Sergeant again. Uvedale was sick in Liverpool Hospital with bronchitis from 30th August to 15th September 1917.
He was on command at School of Instruction at “Candahar” Barracks on 30th September 1918. On 3rd November 1918, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Tidworth with a fractured arm. On 14th January 1919, he was discharged from hospital to Training Depot, with the record noting it was a simple fracture of the right humerus. While still with the 14th Training Battalion in England he was sent to Group Clearing Hospital as sick on 16th January 1919. On the 18th he was marched in from No 2 Group Clearing Hospital at Hurdcott. On 22nd January 1919, he was marched in to No 2 Com Dep. The Medical Report written on him showed the disability was a fracture of the right humerus which occurred on 3rd October 1918 at the Officers Training School at Tidworth. Uvedale “fell into a trench while on duty”. The bone was “fractured at this time as some days later another man bumped into it and the bone snapped in two. Had 8 weeks treatment (6 in splints) at Tidworth Military hospital. Discharged to unit. Admitted” to GCH on 16th January 1919. At the time of assessment the arm “was stiff and painful. Considerable limitation of movement at shoulder joint. Wasting of deltoid muscles of upper arm. Good deal of callous tissue round union of fragments.” The injury occurred on duty and a court of enquiry was not applicable. He was given a 30% degree of disability and the Board found he was temporary unfit for General Service duty for less than 6 months and unfit for home service.
A general view of education buildings with students and staff of the Curative Workshops organised under the AIF Education Service at Monte Video Camp. 56818 Staff Sergeant Uvedale Edward Parry-Okeden MC (2)
Elizabeth Gertrude Parry-Okeden died on 10th July 1918 in Brisbane and is buried in Balmoral Cemetery, Section 4.
Uvedale returned to Australia on Marathon on 19th April 1919 as an invalid. The Medical Officer on the ship noted he had pain in the arm and grating in the shoulder. He had a dental examination on 10th June 1919. He was discharged as Sergeant in the 55th Battalion in the 1st Military District (Queensland) on 8th July 1919. In 1920, a note in his service records adds that the extract from the General Court Martial had not been previously promulgated in records and that the “Original proceedings, now filed with Records of the Attorney General, C’wealth of Australia”. The Governor-General in Melbourne was sent a Military Cross for Uvedale on 28th May 1919. His address was recorded as Oakwall, Redcliffe, Queensland.
On 2nd June 1919, his father wrote asking when his son was returning. It was referred to AAG 3rd MD. Captain Finch-Knightley wrote to Victoria Barracks in Brisbane on 3rd June 1919, asking them of “Captain U. E. Parry-Okeden, in regard to his address and whether he is living.” He had a medal for him, but was not sure where or when it came. A pencil note underneath stated that he rang and said he knew all about the medal and not to reply. Another medical report on 10th June 1919, while he was in Sydney, showed that he was “under gymnastic exercise” and the “arm had improved. Pain in shoulder at night. Movement of shoulder joint not limited. Biceps not much wasted now. Decided grating in shoulder.” An x-ray of the shoulder had not been done, but was organised. On 17th June, he asked to be treated in Queensland. A further report on 23rd June 1919 gave more indication of how the accident happened, recording “during a night attack while training in England he fell in a trench & fractured his R arm and dislocated his R shoulder.” Improvement was 100% but it was not expected he would be able to work as he previously could. He was recommended for discharge. At some stage, he was at Coree Station in NSW.
In the 1919 electoral roll, Uvedale was living at Redcliffe with his father and he was listed as a pastoralist, but his first name was written as Nordale in the roll. He was recorded in the Queensland Brands Directory in 1920. He then bought Brovinia Station in the Mundubbera-Chinchilla area. While there, he was on the Mundubbera Shire Council in 1920, according to the Brisbane Grammar School book. It also reads: “Parry-Okeden U E 1889, M.O.B.A., Captain Interstate Cricket 1896, played cricket with Canadian Team 1906, Alaska Derby Dog Team Race 1907, Amateur Rider N.S.W. Steeplechasing, Manager Mt Morris Station Charleville, Nomanby Station, Coree Station NSW”.
His Officer’s Record of Service shows that for the AIF he was:- Lieutenant from 11th September 1914 (with 17th crossed out) Temporary Captain from 7th June 1915 Captain and to command Army Corps Ammunition Park from 9th November 1915 Appointment terminated 14th May 1916 To Reserve of Officers and to be Captain 1st October 1920 Transferred to Retired List with permission to from 9th August 1934.
Base Records prepared a “Precis of Case” for Captain Parry-Okeden U.E. “MC” Army Corps Ammunition Park which read: –
“7.5.15. Granted temporary rank of Captain. 14.5.15. Embarked for Gallipoli. 13.7.15. Mentioned in Despatches. 8.11.15. Awarded Military Cross. 9.11.15. Promoted Captain, Army Corps Ammunition Park. 20.12.15. Sick to Hospital. 3.1.16. Disembarked Alexandria. 13.2.16. Rejoined unit at Tel-el-Kebir. 10.3.16. Transferred to 4th Division Artillery. 11.4.16. Embarked for Australia, Services no longer required. Not fitted for service with the artillery. 14.5.16. Appointment terminated from date of disembarkation. 11.7.17. Re-enlisted as No. 58618 55th Battalion. 19.6.18. Re-embarked. V.O. S.S.M. 26.8.18. Disembarked London and reverts to Private. 26.8.18. Allotted to reinforcements 55th Bn. Codford. 31.8.18. Appointed A/Sgt. 30.9.18. On command to School of Instruction Kandahar. 3.11.18. Admitted to hospital Fractured Arm. 14.1.19. Discharged to Training Depot. 22.1.19 T.O.S. No. 2 Command Depot. 19.4.19 Returning to Australia 8.7.19. Discharged M.U. Submitted.” In handwriting under this is “He is eligible for all medals on his first service – both records should be put in one cover.”
Uvedale signed for his certificate for his mention in Despatches on 31st October 1921. His oak leaves were also sent at that time. On 10th August 1922, his Form of Commission was issued. Under Active Service it lists “The War of 1914-18 Ammunition Park and for Decorations it has Military Cross. His address was noted as “Ningi” via Caboolture on 12th September 1934 and 1940.
On 2nd September 1922, Uvedale married Auburn Jessie May Hayes. Auburn had been born on 29th January 1890 in Queensland, but was registered as Jessie May. Her parents were Adam Henry Hayes (1858-1928) and Jessie Catherine Smith (1863-1945), who had married in 1880 in Queensland. In the 1912 electoral roll she was living at Mt Stanley, near Esk with her family. They then moved to Kilkivan in the 1913 roll and by the 1919 roll, she had moved to near Chinchilla, by herself. She was living at Auburn Station, near Bravinia Station, when they met. In the 1925 roll, she was living at Well Station, Hawkwood with one of Uvedale’s brothers Herbert David, who was a stockman. A record for Uvedale for that year cannot be found.
In 1924, William was hit by a car in Brisbane and suffered injuries which confined him to his bed for the last two years of his life. William Edward Parry-Okeden died in Brisbane on 30th August 1926 and is buried in Balmoral Cemetery, Section 4, with Elizabeth. A book was written on him in 1926; “A son of Australia : memories of W.E. Parry-Okeden, 1840-1926.”
A note on his service records in January 1925 asks for the records to be returned when the necessary action had been taken. The Deputy Commissioner for the Repatriation Commission wrote to Base Records on 22nd January 1925, saying they were returning the duplicate copy of form B.103 for Uvedale and also a copy of the first page, which they asked the dates on it to be verified and returned. Base Records replied on 19th March to a letter from the Department of Repatriation on 2nd March (asking for expedition of their earlier request), asking if they could send again their letter of 22nd January (which they did), as they could find no record of it. They also said that his particulars had been sent to them on 19th January in compliance of their request on 6th January. A letter from Base Records on notified the Repatriation Department that the records on the first page were checked and found correct and that they were “unable to ascertain from the records the disability suffered on admission to hospital on 20th December, 1915.”
His particulars of service issued to Repatriation Department in Brisbane in January 1925 included:
Captain 8th ASC – a duplicate of Army Form B.103 for this period was attached and “ex-No. 58618 Sergeant, 55th Battalion. 11.7.17 Re-enlisted in the A.I.F. 19.6.18 Re-embarked for active service abroad. 26.8.18 Disembarked at London. 30.9.18 On Command at School of Instruction, Candahar Barracks. 3.11.18 Admitted to Military Hosp., Tidworth. – (?) Frac. Arm. 14.1.19 Discharged from hospital to Tng.Depot. 16.1.19 Sick to Group Clg.Hospital, Hurdcott. 18.1.19 Marched in to 14th Tng. Btn. From hospital. 19.4.19 Embarked for return to Australia per “Marathon”. 11.6.19 Disembarked at Brisbane. 8.7.19 Discharged from the A.I.F. at Brisbane – Medically Unfit – Disability – Fractured Humerus and dislocation of Right Shoulder.”
In 1926, their only progeny was born, Elizabeth Uvedale Parry-Okeden, at Bravinia Station in Queensland. In the late 1920’s, they bought Wells Station at Mundubbera. His name was listed in the Queensland Police Gazette Index in 1927. By the 1931 electoral roll, they were living in Ningie, an area in the Caboolture district, near a town called Toorbul. Uvedale was listed as a grazier. They had moved there in 1930 and had bought the property “Ningi” from the widow of Captain Whish. Elizabeth attended school at Toorbul until it closed. She then did Correspondence School after the Toorbul School was closed in 1935.She was sent to boarding school at St. Margaret’s School in Albion at age 10 and was there until it was closed in WW2. Elizabeth was then sent to her Uncle and Aunt at Goulburn, where she attended the local Catholic School. They were still at Ningi in electoral rolls from 1932 to 1949. Uvedale was listed in Who’s Who in Australia in 1935 and 1938, under the list of Military Cross recipients. He was a Councillor with the Caboolture Shire for many years and was President of the Caboolture RSL for 12 years. Bribie Island was part of his division in the council and he opened a bridge on the island in the 1930’s which is still in existence today.
On 25th July 1927, a Major of the AMF 1st Military District at Victoria Barracks in Brisbane wrote to Base Records in Melbourne about the Victory Medal for Captain U E Parry-Okeden. He said “In correspondence on other matters, Capt. U. E. Parry-Okeden, of Well Station, via Hawkwood, has made application of the Victory Medal which was forwarded to you with other remaining stocks. The B.W. medal and 1914-15 star (handwritten over crossed out Victory Medal) have already been issued to this officer.” Capt. Parry-Okeden has be advised that the medal will be supplied from your branch.”
During WW2, the RAAF set up a radar station (No. 210) on the Parry-Okeden’s property. It was one of nine ‘Advanced Chain Overseas’ radar station set up in Australia. The Toorbul unit moved there in October 1943 and stayed until it was closed in February 1946. While there, servicemen were invited to the house for afternoon tea and sometimes dinner. Uvedale kept them enthralled with his tales of working in the Wild West in the late 1800s, and befriending lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson in Kansas.
Uvedale at Ningi in 1942.