MIDGLEY, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen CMG DSO MiD

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD

5^th Light Horse Regiment,

54^th Battalion AIF

By Stephen Midgley¹

Major Stephen Midgley CMG DSO MiD** 5^th Light Horse Regiment, AIF.

Photo taken 1916 at Elliott & Fry, 55 Baker Street, London

1. Stephen Midgley, 35 Steinwedel Street, Farrer, ACT 2607, Australia. Stephen.midgley@salwood.com

Page 1

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD ** (1871-1954) was a gallant and distinguished soldier, a dedicated father and grandfather, the grandson and great-grandson of soldiers, and the grandson of a convict. He played an active role in several of the key events in Australia’s military history, both pre- and post-Federation.

Stephen Midgley was with the Queensland militia during the Shearers’ Strike in Central Queensland in 1891 and subsequently at the garrisons on Thursday Island and Fort Lytton with the Queensland Permanent Artillery. During the Boer War, he served with the 2^nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, followed by periods with the Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. He remained in South Africa and served again during the Bambatha (Natal) Rebellion in 1906.

During the Great War, he fought at Gallipoli with the Australian 5^th Light Horse Regiment before becoming commanding officer of the 54^th Battalion AIF on the Western Front. He completed his association with military activities in the Second World War at the age of 70 as CO of the 6^th Battalion, VDC, with a component of almost 1,000 men, based on the Sunshine Coast.

Stephen Midgley (misspelled in some records as Midgelly, Midgeley, and Midgely) was born at Darkwater Creek, Macleay River, New South Wales, on 29 May 1871, the seventh of 13 siblings: six boys and seven girls. His father was the son of a permanent soldier whose occupation was variously recorded as clerk, teacher, farmer, mechanic, and gentleman. His mother was the daughter of Ann Brown (née Sheppard aka Shepherd) who, at the age of 17 in 1832, had been convicted in London of stealing a pair of shoes worth two shillings and sixpence. Ann was sentenced to seven years and transported to Australia on HMS Buffalo.

In 1874 and 1875, the Midgley family had been granted two selection blocks, each of 40 acres, at Macleay River in northern New South Wales, but moved steadily northwards to where, in 1883, Stephen’s elder brother Frank had been granted a number of selections near Tallebudgera, Queensland. As a portent of a later adventurous life, Stephen had an early brush with danger at the age of three. On 24 October 1874, he had a narrow escape when a cart carrying all the family overturned near Grafton, New South Wales, killing his 59-year-old maternal grandmother Mrs Brown, the former convict.

Page 2

Physically, Stephen was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 134 pounds when he was fit. It seems that small stature was inherent in the family as his maternal grandmother was only 4 feet, 11½ inches tall. He was educated privately by a tutor named McFarlane as the family moved, and later he attended the Brisbane Normal School as a mature-age student.

Five of the brothers, Frank, Richard and Edward, Stephen and his younger brother Harry were all members of the part-time Queensland Defence Force (QDF) and were regular participants in public parades and rifle competitions. Stephen shared this family interest enthusiastically and was a member of the QDF 1889-1899.

A group of Queensland Field Artillery Sergeants. Back Row: Richard Midgley (left), Edward Midgley (second from right) (twins). Centre front row: Sergeant-Major Catchpole. In the group are two sets of twins and one set of triplets (info from Clyde Love’s family history). Undated. Probably 1897. Original without caption with Victoria Barracks Historical Society. Provided by Mrs M Burton, Corinda Queensland 4075

Stephen moved around while serving in the QDF. He joined D Company, Queensland Volunteer Rifles (QVR) in 1889, serving as No 78 and was a corporal in the military contingent sent to Barcaldine to help control the Shearers’ Strike in 1891. The contingent left Brisbane by train on 26 March, then had to disembark and march between Eumundi and Cooroy because the

Page 3

railway had yet to be completed. The contingent met with a hostile reception at the Gympie railway station where miners were unsympathetic to the military being used as a tool against the shearers. The soldiers fixed bayonets to disperse a menacing crowd. After travelling by ship from Bundaberg to Rockhampton, the unit travelled again by train, to Barcaldine.

In 1892, at the age of 21, Stephen was promoted to sergeant regimental number 13, and later that year he signed up for a three-year term as a gunner with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, resigning at the end of 1895. His service with the Permanent Artillery included stints on Thursday Island and Fort Lytton and community relief during the great Brisbane floods of 1893 when he rowed a boat up George Street. Following his resignation from the Permanent Artillery, he immediately joined No 2 Battery of the Queensland Field Artillery. His 5 years with the Field Artillery gave him invaluable experience with horses – a skill that was to stand him in good stead through several wars. In General Order 6, of 29 December 1899, immediately prior to his departure for South Africa, his long service was recognised as “Number 13, Sergeant S Midgley, No. 2 Battery, Field Artillery, Non-commissioned Officer, having completed five years’ service as an efficient

[soldier]

, awarded the Long-service Gold Badge (Reg. 141)”.

Following his service with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, Stephen had aspirations to become a solicitor and worked as a clerk with the law firm WB Shand in Queen Street, Brisbane, until late 1899, combining this with his part-time interests with the No 2 Battery Field Artillery.

As a response to the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa in 1899, the Queensland Government quickly made commitments to assist Britain. Historians observed “To Queensland belongs the credit of being the first colony to make an offer of assistance to the mother country in connection with the South African War”. Already a sergeant in the Queensland Field Artillery, Stephen volunteered to join the Queensland contingents to be dispatched to the Boer War. Unsuccessful with the oversubscribed 1^st Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry, Stephen and his elder brother Frank enlisted with “C” Company, 2^nd Contingent QMI. Those enlisting were encouraged to bring their own horses and were reimbursed for doing so.

After preparatory camps at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds and a public parade through Brisbane, the 2^nd QMI embarked on SS Maori King at Pinkenba on 13 January 1900 for service in South Africa; Stephen as a sergeant (regimental number 22) and his elder brother Frank as a private (regimental number 5). Page 4

Only 50% of the 2^nd QMI had previous military experience. Stephen, as a senior, 29-year-old sergeant with 11 years’ military experience, was a valuable member of the unit. A month earlier, their sister Ann had painted “The departure of the first Queensland contingent for South Africa, [on] the SS Cornwall”, (ART50111), which now hangs in the South African War Gallery of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

This early South African experience would begin his long association with Harry Chauvel, Hubert Harris (who would later command the 5^th LHR), William Glasgow, Robert Stodart, Lachlan Wilson (who would later command the 3^rd LH Brigade) and several other distinguished soldiers.

Maori King stopped in Sydney briefly before sailing to Cape Town where she arrived on 22 February 1900. The contingent disembarked with equipment and horses on 24 February. After a few days in camp under canvas at Maitland, close to Cape Town, the 2^nd QMI, comprising 10 officers, 142 other ranks and 175 horses (4 had died on the trip), left by train on 28 February and travelled 900 km north to the Modder River where the British had just won a very hard-fought battle in late November, 1899.

They arrived on 3 March and camped amid blood-stained trenches on the battlefield of Magersfontein, before joining Lord Robert’s Field Force of about 2,500 men on 4 March for their march towards Osfontein and the Battle at Driefontein on 10 March. The 1^st QMI and 2^nd QMI were combined from April to November 1900 bringing Stephen together with Major Chauvel, Captain Harris and Lieutenant Glasgow, distinguished soldiers who would remain part of Stephen’s story

Following the occupation of Bloemfontein by British forces in early April 1900 and the retreat of the Boer forces to the Transvaal, the 2^nd QMI, along with other Australian units, was absorbed into the 1^st Mounted Infantry Brigade, part of the 3^rd Mounted Infantry Corps.

The advance on Pretoria followed with action seen at the Vet and Zand Rivers near Johannesburg (5-6 May, 1900), Diamond Hill (11–13 June), Riet Vlei and Zilikat’s Nek (April–September). During the occupation of Pretoria on 5 June, the Australians noted the broad streets and the attractive Australian eucalypt, silky oak and wattle trees.

Following further action in Transvaal, Stephen, along with privates Thomas Stibbards and Thomas Laffan, was invalided to England and embarked on SS Lake Erie in Cape Town on 19 July 1900 arriving in England on 13 August at Royal Albert Docks.

Page 5

The reason for being invalided remains unclear; there are no records of his being sick or wounded, however both malaria and enteric fever were common afflictions (and frequently fatal) in the lowland areas of eastern Transvaal and illness was the major cause of soldier casualties.

There is no record of how Stephen spent his six weeks’ sojourn in England. Undoubtedly he would have received medical attention and used his furlough to see some of the sights of London. He visited the Queensland Government’s Agent in London to receive his allowances.

On 18 October 1900, he departed Southampton to return to Cape Town, arriving about 5 November, eager to rejoin his comrades after an absence of two months.

By this time, the war had entered its third and longest phase, from September 1900 to May 1902, when it was mainly a guerrilla conflict between British mounted troops and Boer irregulars. The Boer forces were not numerous but the Boer General Beyers adopted guerrilla tactics and their mobility and operations as ‘commando’ units more than made up for their lack of numbers.

The areas and distances to be controlled by the Imperial forces were vast and anti-guerrilla methods were devised through the creation and the deployment of counter-insurgency units in strategic localities as the roving arms of larger garrisons.

By March 1901, the time had arrived for the 2^nd QMI to return to Australia. Members were offered the opportunity to remain in South Africa and enlist with the irregular Imperial forces. Acting on Lord Kitchener’s instructions, a younger Birdwood met and interviewed returning colonial soldiers to persuade them to stay in South Africa and join Imperial units. Stephen was among these men and this began an association with Birdwood that was to last for many years. On 31 March 1901, the 2^nd QMI including Stephen’s elder brother Frank, departed Cape Town on Tongariro for Australia.

On 1 April 1901, Stephen joined the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) in Pretoria as a lieutenant (the same day as Lieutenant Harry “Breaker” Morant) in time to participate in the march north with General Plumer to claim the temporary Boer headquarters at Pietersburg.

The BVC was a diverse lot and contained men of many nationalities: English, German, Swedish, English South African, Boer South African, Australian, Scottish, Irish, Canadian, US American, New Zealander and one Britisher born in India (Oudh).

Page 6

There was a wide array of skills and occupations recorded in the enlistments, a selection of which includes: publican, confectioner, barman, auctioneer, electrician, cook, butcher, cigar-maker, baker, hairdresser, artist, seaman and many others; one soldier even listed his trade or occupation as “a gentleman” – The Honourable Aubrey Bruce Cooper-Cecil, formerly of Queensland Bushmen’s Contingent.

Surprisingly, yet consistent with Stephen’s earlier experience with 2^nd QMI, only 35% of the BVC had any military experience prior to enlistment. Stephen’s proven leadership and 12 years of military experience would prove invaluable.

Stephen served with his squadron primarily around Chuniespoort, southeast of Pietersburg. In September 1901, Stephen unarmed, along with his sergeant and a guide, undertook an epic 250 km, three-week journey on horseback, through rugged bushland from Pietersburg to Chuniespoort to Balmoral, to deliver Lord Kitchener’s despatches to General Viljoen and Colonel Trichardt. This journey was described vividly in the “The Queensland Digger” in 1937 (a publication of RSSILA).

During the saga of Morant’s arrest and subsequent execution, Stephen was at some stage in charge of the security detail in Pietersburg responsible for Morant and his colleagues during the court martial and was one of several from the BVC to offer Morant a horse to escape – offers which Morant foolishly declined.

Following Morant’s arrest, the Bushveldt Carbineers was renamed the Pietersburg Light Horse (PLH) from 1 December 1901. In March, 1902, Stephen was promoted in the field, to Captain. He was mentioned in Lord Kitchener’s Despatches of 18 July, 1902 (LG 27455) and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for “For good service in operations east of Pietersburg, 25th March, 1902, to 21st April, 1902”; the only DSO to the PLH for the Boer War.

At the end of the war he was in command of Fort Edward, north of Pietersburg, Transvaal and resigned his commission on 6 July 1902 after the PLH was struck off strength on 30 June 1902.

After the cessation of hostilities, Stephen joined the Repatriation Department of the Transvaal Colony. It was a department which had responsibility to deliver agricultural equipment, seed, building materials and other essentials to assist the rural economy of Transvaal to rebuild after years of war. His record with the Repatriation Department in 1903 includes an annotation:

Page 7

“S. Midgley, DSO has been in the Pretoria Depot since the end of July 1902. His work has been confined entirely to sales and he has done a great deal of very good work. He has a thorough knowledge of all sorts of book-keeping accounts, having at one time trained as a solicitor. He came out with the 1^st Australian Contingent [sic; it should be 2^nd Australian Contingent] in Jan 1900, and for the last 8 months of the War was a Captain in the PLH. He is a very hardworking and most capable man. He is a good horse master and having been for some years in the Australian Artillery, has a very fair knowledge of vehicles. He is desirous of obtaining permanent employment.”

The endorsement includes the following annotation:

“A very excellent officer. He has the reputation of having been exceptionally gallant in the field. He should not be lost sight of.” Signed A. St. J. Hooks, Capt. D. of T., T. R. D.

Following the disbandment of the Repatriation Department in 1905, Stephen made a failed attempt at establishing a transport business around the Zoutpansberg in northern Transvaal where his horses and mules died of various fevers.

Subsequently, he tried farming near Nylstroom (north of Pretoria) which also failed due to unseasonal drought and then spent an unhappy period working with de Beers at the Kimberley mines.

In 1906, the imposition of new taxes in the Colony of Natal provoked a clan of Zulus to protest violently through the Bambatha Rebellion (also known as the Natal Rebellion or the Zulu Rebellion). The military was called in and Stephen was commissioned as lieutenant with a unit, Royston’s Horse on 26 April 1906.

His bravery was once again acknowledged in action at Momo Gorge where he became one of a small group of officers nicknamed the “Four Musketeers”. However, he suffered the ignominy of being shot in the buttocks with a stick fired from a musket as the Zulus had run out of ammunition. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was part of a small field party to advise Captain Stuart who compiled the official history of the rebellion.

Stephen’s time in Royston’s Horse cemented one of his longest friendships, that with Ivor Thord-Gray who went on to become a Lieutenant General in the White Russian Army in 1919. During Stephen’s lifetime, Ivor’s photograph remained always on his desk.

Page 8

Lieutenant Stephen Midgley with Royston’s Horse at Bambatha Rebellion, 1906. Photo taken by Ivor Thord-Gray and annotated “The Old Bird”

Civilian life again beckoned and in 1907, Stephen moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he was based at the small town of Eiffel Flats in the Gatooma – Umsweswe – Battlefields gold mining area. He was a shareholder in a number of gold-mining claims including the Big Blow Mine on the Umsweswe River.

He operated as a cordwood and labour contractor to the mines and had to travel great distances to find labour to support both the cordwood and labour business.

At one stage in 1912, he travelled across Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) to recruit people from Nyasaland (now Malawi) to work in the Rhodesian mines – an adventure described in an entertaining article written under his nom de plume “Birdlime” published in the Gatooma Mail, August 10, 1912.

Page 9

Stephen Midgley and his friend Hastings at their camp near Umsweswe River, Southern Rhodesia 1910. Photo by BW. (B. Winter)

After 14 years in southern Africa, the debilitating effects of lingering illnesses including black water fever (an unpleasant variant of malaria) persuaded Stephen to return to Australia for a well-earned break. On 19 March 1914, as one of 162 passengers, he embarked on SS Afric in Cape Town for return to Brisbane where he arrived on 6 May 1914.

Africa had left its mark on Stephen. Percy FitzPatrick’s classic South African book Jock of the Bushveld was to become a favourite for his children and grandchildren in later life. Apart from memories and friendships, Zulu and Afrikaans vernacular punctuated his everyday speech; “Dingus fontein” for a town with a forgotten name; pass the “Dingus” (colloquial “thingo” in English); “Toola” (quiet). Toola wena (quiet you or shut-up, if spoken forcefully when the dogs barked at night); Sakabone wena (Good day), and Brother Kuwaina (brothers together).

Stephen settled into Brisbane’s social life with his sister Ann who owned and ran a girls’ school, “St Clair”, at 135 James Street, New Farm. The school buildings stand to this day. His relaxed recovery to full health was not to last for long. By mid-1914, Australians were aware through their newspapers of the rising tensions and dangers of war in Europe. Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914 and thus Australia was committed to the British cause. Once again military life beckoned.

Page 10

On 26 September 1914, Stephen applied for a commission in the Expeditionary Force and on 30 September, as a Captain, joined the 5^th Light Horse Regiment, a mounted infantry regiment which had been raised in August 1914. This appointment suited his experience and skills with horses and brought him back into the company of many old comrades from South African days.

Captain Stephen Midgley, 1914. Portrait taken by Thos. Matheson Co. Opposite Opera House, Brisbane. Prior to embarkation in 1914. Note the Artillery buttons on the tunic – possible borrowed his elder brother Richard’s tunic while waiting for his own uniform from Ryders’ Employees in Adelaide Street, Brisbane (they made Stephen’s uniforms for WWI and his son Hamar’s for WWII)

Following training and preparation at Enoggera and the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds, 550 officers and men of the regiment travelled by train to Liverpool, New South Wales on 12 December 1914. On 21 December the 5^th LHR departed Sydney on HMAT A34 Persic. Stephen travelled separately, having been detached from the regiment for transport service as Officer in Charge of HMAT A43 Barunga, a horse transport. Whilst en route to Egypt, Stephen was promoted to Major. The regiment disembarked at Alexandria on 2 February to spend three months training before the decision was made to leave the horses behind and the Light Horse units to join the infantry for the Gallipoli campaign. On 16 May the regiment left Alexandria on the ship A25 Lutzow with the rest of the Brigade and the 10^th LHR, arriving off Cape Helles on 18 May and landing at Anzac Cove on 20 May from the trawler Clackton.

Page 11

Stephen’s experience and reputation led him to be nick-named “The Bird” or “The Old Bird” a nickname which had followed him from South Africa.

His soldierly gallantry was noted formally several times during the ANZAC campaign through a Corps Complimentary citation, Mentions in Despatches and a CMG. After five short weeks on Gallipoli, his services were recognised in an extract from the supplement to Army Corps Routine Orders MO 570 dated 2 July 1915, which noted:

“158: Complimentary – The Army Corps Commander has much pleasure in publishing the names in the attached supplement of Officers, N.C.O’s and men, which have been brought to his notice for good service performed during the operations on our Right Flank on 28^th June 1915. He wishes to thank them for the good services they rendered, and to congratulate all ranks on the successful carrying out of the task allotted to them by the G.O.C.- in-Chief, which prevented the enemy reinforcing the Krithia position from troops opposite our front.

5^th Light Horse Regiment: Major Midgley, S., D.S.O. Led his squadron throughout the action under heavy shell and rifle fire”

His first MiD on Gallipoli appeared in General Hamilton’s Despatches of 28 January, 1916 published in London Gazette 29455:

“Mentioned in Despatches. I have the honour to forward the names of officers and men whose services I wish to bring to your Lordship’s notice in connection with the operations described in my despatch of 11^th December 1915.”

The full recommendation for the MiD states:

“From 21 May to 21 September, 1915. This officer led the advanced squadron of the 5th LH when that Regt made a demonstration to the right on 28 June last and did so gallantly & well, & even in the unexpected situation created by the sudden attack made on him by his own HE shells from the rear, he controlled his men well. He has been in charge of Chatham’s Post since 8 July. On the 20 August last he personally took out his Sqn which was detailed to raid the BIRD TRENCHES. He did this so well that his Sqn had only one casualty (wounds) although the raid was completely successful. He has shown particular enterprise in dealing with snipers on the right flank & in preparing his post for any attack that may be made upon it. Period ending 25th September. 1915. ANZAC.

Page 12

Commands an important point on the right flank of the Division. Full of go and dash. He has organised and carried out several minor operations with success. He has shown particular enterprise in dealing with snipers. Watchful and alert he has from time to time supplied much valuable information.”MiD certificate signed by Winston Churchill.

Another MiD followed and appeared in General Munro’s Despatches of LG29664 published on 7 November, 1916:

“Mentioned in Despatches. With reference to the despatch published on the 10^th April (London Gazette No. 29541), the following is mentioned for distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of General Sir Charles Monro’s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.”

The full citation for this MiD (his third) states:

“3/9th November, 1915. ANZAC. On the night 3/4th Novr, a forward movement in a pre-arranged plan was made from Chatham’s Post towards the Bird Trenches. The arrangements involved the reconnaissance by night of the enemy’s front and the construction of a tunnel towards a knoll 100 yds distant. The forward movement, the unopposed occupation of the knoll and the construction of a fire trench were completed on 3/4th Novr. On the night 4/5thNovr., the enemy made 4 unsuccessful attempts on the new position, which was improved and consolidated during the 5th under heavy rifle and shell fire. On the night of the 7/8th Novr, a further advance of 30 yards was made under enemy bombing and rifle fire and the position finally secured. Major Midgley displayed his usual initiative and energy. With great coolness and gallantry he remained the whole time at the head of the advanced traverse, which was 4 times attacked. He was frequently under heavy bomb fire.” MiD Certificate signed by Winston Churchill.

His CMG was announced in the London Gazette Issue 29608 of 2 June, 1916 and announced publicly the next day in the King’s Birthday Honours List, reading:

“C.M.G. The King has been graciously pleased to give directions for the appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field.”

Page 13

Several other Australian officers were similarly honoured with the CMG in that Honours List, including his friends and colleagues, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Chisholm Wilson, 5^th Light Horse Regiment and Major Thomas William Glasgow DSO, 2^nd Light Horse Regiment.

His full recommendation for the CMG states:

“3-8th November, 1915. 20 December, 1915. Upon the occupation of Wilson’s Lookout on Harris Ridge between these two dates, this officer was in charge of the operations at the advanced traverses and again conspicuously displayed his usual initiative and energy. At the evacuation of ANZAC on the night of 19-20 December upon the commanding officer taking charge of the Brigade “C” parties, this officer was placed in charge of the Regimental “C ” parties and came off with “C3” party. This officer was present on the Peninsular without a break from 31st May to 20th December – slightly wounded 8th November 1915.”

Recommended for the CMG and initialled by General Sir William Birdwood, Commander of the ANZAC Forces.

Major Stephen Midgley, 5th LHR . Chatham’s Post, Bolton’s Ridge, Gallipoli, 1915. Photo taken at the same time as negative P1541/07 at the Australian War Memorial.

His brave and inspirational role was also noted by his peers in their writings. In an early letter home dated 5 July 1915 to the Hon. A. J. Thynne (former Lieutenant Colonel with the Queensland Volunteer Defence Force, Queensland Attorney General and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland), Lieutenant Colonel Harris, the CO of the 5^th LHR, wrote shortly before he was killed in action on 31 July 1915:

Page 14

“Major Midgley (you will remember him, no doubt, an old Q.V.R. man) distinguished himself at a time when many brave deeds were being done, and your field glasses (you will remember you presented him with a pair) were in the thickest of the fight. He has been specially mentioned in Orders; and is the same old Midgley that I knew in South Africa.”

Lieutenant Oliver Hogue of the 6^th Light Horse Regiment, writing as “Trooper Bluegum” made reference to Stephen as a “gallant major who the troops would follow anywhere” and refers to him in his books Love Letters of an ANZAC and Trooper Bluegum at the Dardenelles. In Love Letters of an Anzac, he observed:

“Did I tell you about Major Midgley? He is one of the very best officers in our Brigade, got the DSO in the Zulu War, went through the South African War, and is a regular little fire-eater. He is in charge of Chatham’s Post and is always pulling the Turks’ leg. He conceives the most wonderful ruses to worry the Turks and draw their fire. He sends out fiery arrows and rockets and flares, and by simulating preparations for attack at all times, he has the Turks in the Gaba Tebe zone worried to death.”

Ion Idriess wrote in 1932, in his book The Desert Column, of his experiences as a sniper with the 5^th Australian Light Horse.

According to Harry Chauvel in the foreword, it is the only book of the campaign that to his knowledge was “viewed entirely from the private soldier’s point of view”. Idriess recalled when reflecting upon the penchant for ‘stunts’ or tricks played on the enemy that:

“The “Old Bird” is a holy terror in these raids. He’s only an exceptionally small chap and no youth either, but he is about the most murderous old devil in the regiment. He leads these raids with a hell of a yell as he jumps down into the trench, blazing to the right and left with a sawn-off shotgun. An ordinary service revolver is no good for him.”

Australia’s official historian for the First World War, CEW Bean mentions the shotgun incident during one of the raids on the Turkish trenches. Family oral history relates that Stephen’s 5^th LHR friend and colleague Lieutenant Bolingbroke (who had served with 3^rd QMI in South Africa (later promoted as Major Archdale George Bolingbroke, DSO) borrowed Stephen’s sawn-off shotgun during a ‘stunt’ and reported that he was able to “clear the trenches with a blast from the left (barrel) followed by a blast from the right (barrel)”.

Page 15

One of the original members of the 5^th LHR, Lieutenant Henry Armstrong Hammond, who served as adjutant to the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Wilson, (and later was appointed aide-de-camp to the Australian Governor-General, wrote about Major Midgeley [sic] in his unpublished reminiscences:

“Anzac had its share of great characters and we had two most extraordinary officers in the Fifth – one was Major Midgeley. He commanded our A Squadron and he was a skinny little fellow who was afraid of nothing. He did not weigh more than eight stone and looked like a monkey on a stick. Even for his build, Major Midgeley was very narrow across the shoulders and his chest was completely covered with battle ribbons through all the wars he had been engaged in. He had been in everything, all over the world from the age of fourteen. Wherever Britain had been involved in some sort of brawl, there had been Midgeley. He was a born leader and he used to call the squadron his “birds”.

“He was all for battle and he used to call it “lead-chewing” and that is just how he regarded it. He said that he could just as soon make an attack in broad daylight as at midnight because there was just as much chance of being hit and during the day you had the advantage of at least seeing where you were going.”

“There was a very strong position facing from all around the right at Anzac called Gun Ridge (the Turks had it) and it was the dominating feature looking down over the top of Lone Pine, right down almost to Gaba Tepe. One day General Walker, who commanded the Anzac Division, asked him, “Well, how are you Midgeley? What do you think of things around here?” Old Midgeley said, “Tell you what I think of it, you give me 6,000 men and I will have bloody breakfast on Gun Ridge”. He would have too, but he did not get his men and nobody got as far as Gun Ridge. He eventually left Anzac after getting sick or wounded. How anyone could wound him, I do not know. They would have to have been a very good shot. Eventually he was given command of one of the infantry battalions in France and he got all sorts of decorations and, finally, came back to Australia.”

On Gallipoli, Stephen’s A Squadron was responsible for the right flank at Chatham’s Post where the exploits of the “Gallipoli Sniper”, Billy Sing, contributed to the unit’s reputation along with the 5^th LHR penchant for ‘stunts’, some of the best known of which were raids on the Bird Trenches and the Balkan Pits Operations.

Page 16

In Bean (Volume II), these actions are described in detail, including:

“Accordingly the 5^th Light Horse regiment undertook what would later been have called a “trench raid” against the Bird Trenches on the seaward ridge south of Chatham’s. Occasionally between midnight and 3 a.m. the destroyer “Colne” which was maintaining the usual watch on that flank, bombarded the Bird Trenches & keeping them under her searchlight. At 3.30 just after the set of the moon, Maj. Midgley with one squadron went south from Chatham’s along the ridge towards the Turkish post. To cover Midgley, Maj. H. H. Johnston (of Casino N.S.W.) with another squadron worked along the coast-line and lay down opposite the Bird Trenches, facing inland. Midgley’s squadron was within a hundred yards of the same trenches when a Turkish sentry fired at it. The squadron kept low and crept forward to within fifteen yards, when the sentry fired again. At this stage-about 4.15 – the destroyer, by arrangement, bombarded the trench for five minutes. Midgely’s(sic) squadron then hurled a volley of some forty bombs and rushed the position. The enemy garrison, about 100 strong, had left the trench in order to shelter from the destroyer’s fire. The trench was seized, and about thirty of the enemy were shot. Before daylight the enemy’s reserves began to approach, and the light horse, after firing upon them withdrew without any serious casualty.”

Stephen was wounded in the actions on 9 November but remained on duty before being taken to hospital for treatment and being included on the Casualty List. Fortunately he recovered quickly and rejoined his Squadron 11 days later on 20 November. At some stage during the Gallipoli campaign, it is likely that Stephen would have met with his younger brother Harry who served in the campaign with a Howitzer Battery².

At the evacuation, Major Midgley commanded the Regiment’s ‘C’ parties, the last to leave, who boarded the boats at about 3:30am, 20 December 1915. The “C” party transferred to a trawler which took them to Lemnos where they joined the “A” Parties on the HMTS A72 Beltana which arrived in Alexandria on Christmas Day, 1915. The regiment then travelled by train to Cairo, arriving on 26 December.

Stephen’s role in Anzac is recognised in the painting Farewell to Anzac 20th December 1915 (ART09582). It was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial and composed by WB McInnes in 1927.

2 In one of the many quirks which characterise Gallipoli, Mary Margaret Williamson, the daughter of Lieutenant George McKay Williamson, who served as Quartermaster with the 14^th Battalion (Jacka’s Mob( on Gallipoli, married Stephen’s son, Stephen Hamar in 1942.

Page 17

This painting shows a scene in the saloon of the transport ship Arran where leaders of the Australian Imperial Force are depicted, including Major General J Paton, Captain CA Littler, General Sir John Monash, Major General W Holmes, Brigadier General Duncan Glasfurd, Major General J Antill, Lieutenant Colonel WEH Cass, Lieutenant Colonel S Midgley, Major WJM Locke, Major FL Biddle, and Lieutenant Colonel EJH Nicholson. The reason for Stephen’s inclusion in this historic painting, which was to show those who had influential roles in the evacuation of Anzac, remains unclear.

In his official biographical records, when responding to the question “Period during service in the AIF considered most important”, Stephen answered:

“The seven months I was on Gallipoli Peninsular I consider the most important. For close on 6 months I was holding a section on the extreme right. I feel certain that the Turks had great respect for the 5th Light Horse. One of my snipers, Private Sing, DCM, accounted for close on three hundred of them. His sniper’s post was at last located and soon became a pulverised heap. I don’t think I spent an idle moment from the time I landed until the evacuation. My men were always in good spirits and very keen. Raids were our specialty which were always successfully carried out with very small losses. This I put down to the fact of the men being thoroughly acquainted with the lie of the land and knowing exactly what to do. Another thing that the men deserve a lot of credit for was the sapping. Few of my sappers are now alive I am sorry to say. This work was hard and done under difficulties. During the last two months we had no place of safety owing to what was called by the men, the broomstick bomb. This particular weapon was a field gun cartridge filled with gelignite, a long stick was fixed into the base. It was fired from a gun of sorts. The range was 800 yards. We had at times five hundred of these arrangements fired into us during the day and sometimes with disastrous effect.”

The safety of being in Egypt saw a decline in Stephen’s health and he spent time recovering, both in and out of hospitals, in Cairo and Heliopolis. He rejoined the regiment in February 1916 with Idriess recording that “The Old Bird is back; all of the old hands are glad to see him”. The strategy had been adopted of transferring cadres of experienced personnel to the newly formed battalions and combining them with recently recruited personnel who had been dispatched as reinforcements from Australia and so, Stephen moved on from the 5^th LHR.

Page 18

His recovery to good health was slow. On 12 April 1916, he was posted to the Supernumerary List and on 24 June embarked from Alexandria for England, first class, on HMNZHS 1 Maheno for 3-4 months of further treatment for dyspepsia and a duodenal ulcer. Upon reaching England, he was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth on 3 July, suffering from dyspepsia and neurasthenia. As his health improved, he was assigned as 2iC of the 54^th Battalion, 5^th Australian Division.

While recovering in London, the Mackay family (friends from Melbourne), provided an introduction to Katherine Emily May Evans (née Hamar) from Eardisley, Herefordshire who was a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel. Katherine and Stephen married on 26 August 1916 and had a brief 8-day honeymoon in their cottage “Hurstway” before Stephen travelled to France to join the 54^th Battalion as 2iC on 5 September. The battalion was in bad shape, recovering after the disaster at Fromelles, 19-20 July, “the worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history“. ³

Katherine Emily May Midgley (née Hamar, formerly Evans) in about 1914. With the Voluntary Aid Detachment when Stephen Midgley was in hospital in London. Introduced by Dr John Mackay, formerly of Melbourne. Stephen and Katherine (“Boo”) were married 26 August 1916.

Given temporary command of the 54^th in October and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given full command in December, Stephen remained the longest-serving CO of that Battalion. His service with the Battalion can be traced in Ross St Claire’s excellent book Our Gift to the Empire. On 12 October 1916, the 54^th was engaged in a notable action when 60 men attacked enemy trenches between Clapham Junction and Corner Post – an attack bearing all the hallmarks of the ‘stunts’ on Gallipoli.

The record bitter winter of 1916 was felt acutely by everyone on the Western Front and especially by Stephen who had not fully recovered from his various illnesses. At Birdwood’s insistence, he was evacuated sick on 19 January 1917 and hospitalised for two weeks.

3

www.awm.gov.au › wartime › article Ross McMullin.

“… the worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history. The Australians suffered 5,533 casualties in one night.”

Page 19

Stephen was dogged by ill-health. He was in hospital several times during 1917 and it is likely that he never recovered fully from the various African fevers and the rigours of an active Gallipoli campaign.

Stephen’s CMG investiture by the King at Buckingham Palace on 2 May 1917 took place during 10 days’ leave from the front.

On 10 May 1917, Stephen returned to the Battalion in time to join the Second Battle of Bullecourt – arguably the most significant engagement of his military career as the 54^th defended a part of the Front against a major sustained gas barrage and several intense artillery bombardments on 14-15 May followed by a major infantry attack by two battalions of the crack 91^st Lehr Infantry Regiment and Sturmtruppen which was successfully repulsed with the help of the 55^th Battalion and two companies from the 2/3^rd Battalion, London Regiment.

Stephen’s codename in this battle was “Bucket” and his original order book from those busy days is in the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum. His medical records suggest that he had been buried alive several times during the barrages. The battalion’s casualties were heavy, losing four officers and 181 other ranks, but the tenacity and bravery of the 54^th in successfully holding the line was acknowledged in the first instance by a personal handwritten letter (reproduced here), received from headquarters of the 14^th Australian Infantry Brigade, dated 17 May, 1917:

“My dear Midgley

Will you please let your officers and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work they did in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy so effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant battalion on your success.

Yours very sincerely, C. J. Hobkirk, Brig Gen”

Page 20

Formal congratulatory messages followed, from Lieutenant General Birdwood (ANZAC Corps Commander), Major General Hobbs (Commanding 5^th Division) and again, from Brigadier General Hobkirk (commanding 14th Australian Infantry Brigade, which comprised the 53^rd, 54^th, 55^th and 56^th Battalions).

1. From Lieutenant General Birdwood. “Please convey to Major Lecky and all ranks of the 54^th Battalion and others of the Brigade my congratulations on the excellent work they did in repelling with such heavy loss to the enemy the counter attack on our position”.
2. From Major General JT Hobbs. “The Divisional Commander wishes to express his high appreciation the splendid work and gallant conduct of all ranks of the 54^th Battalion and the personnel of the 24^th MG Coy and 14^th L.T.M.B., who assisted in smashing the Bosche in his determined attacks on May 15^th. Please convey to Major Lecky how much his prompt and gallant action on this occasion was recognised and our united hopes of his speedy recovery and return to duty.”
3. From Brigadier General CJ Hobkirk. ‘Will you please let the officers and men know how deeply I appreciate the very gallant work they did in defeating such a superior force and crushing the enemy so effectively and I heartily congratulate you and your gallant Battalion on their success.’

The action brought a recommendation for another MiD, made by Brigadier General Hobkirk and endorsed by Major General Hobbs:

“For the successful manner in which he commanded his battalion in the operations prior to and during the general advance by Bapaume in March 17 and also during the fighting in the Hindenburg Line by Bullecourt where, on the 14/15 May ’17, his battln, after severe fighting repulsed an attack by more than twice its numbers of a Prussian Guard Divn and retained its position in the Hindenburg Line. For this good conduct in the field I recommend him for Mentioned in Despatches.”

The men who served with Stephen in the 54^th held him in high esteem; Lieutenant Lawrence writing home observed:

“Our Col. Midgley of whom I cannot speak too highly, he was a good soldier and a good leader….” and “Col. Midgley too deserves praise for his splendid leadership & total disregard for danger”.

In another of the war’s quirks, Stephen’s nephew, Richard Midgley joined the 54^th briefly as a Lance Corporal on 20 May 1917 and soon departed for officer training. He was granted a commission in October 1917.

Page 21

As brave and capable as Stephen was, the stresses of battle began to show and ill health continued to dog him. In today’s language, he was suffering severe PTSD and he was relieved of his position. His subsequent history of illness after his return to Australia reinforces the wisdom of this seemingly harsh decision. Following Bullecourt, the 54^th was transferred to Belgium with the 5^th Division. The physical demands of the action in the Ypres salient, including a supporting role around the Menin Road, and a major attack in September during the Battle of Polygon Wood, could well have been fatal for a CO in poor health.

Stephen Midgley did not go lightly and his Service Record includes several pages of correspondence with General Hobkirk and his superiors on the subject of this decision, including a request from General Birdwood to General Chauvel to absorb Stephen into the AIF forces in Palestine.

The reality was that ill-health brought Stephen’s active service to an end. Following the decision of 25 October 1917 that Stephen was to be invalided to Australia on medical grounds, arrangements were made for him to depart England on HMAHS 2 Kanowna on 16 December 1917. On board he struck up a strong friendship with Lieutenant Colonel Brockway, the doctor in charge of the contingent who had a home and a cottage at Redcliffe, which was later used by Stephen and his wife Katherine (always nicknamed “Boo”).

Kanowna arrived in Melbourne on 13 February 1918 and in Sydney three days later. Interviews with Stephen were published in the newspapers in both cities. The troops then travelled in two trains to Brisbane, arriving in the late evening of 17 February 1918. They were taken to the Kangaroo Point Military Hospital where, the following day, they were offered a warm welcome home by the mayor and mayoress and by the minister for mines.

After an absence of almost three-and-a-half years, Stephen was reunited with his family and able to introduce his wife. Boo had left the cold of an English autumn and departed on her two-month voyage from Portsmouth on HMAT Osterley along with 26 other first-class “Military Passengers”, mostly dependants. The ship reached Fremantle on 28 November.

On 8 December 1917, the passengers disembarked at Sydney. Boo appears to have stayed there until 12 February when she boarded AUSN Wyreema for Brisbane, arriving at the Mary Street Wharf on 14 February 1918.

The social pages of the Brisbane Courier reported on the movements of Colonel and Mrs Midgley.

Page 22

1918 Thursday 21 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Midgley have arrived from England, and are staying at Selby House,⁴ Wickham Terrace, after which they will spend some time at Redcliffe.”

1918 Tuesday 26 February: “Lieutenant-Colonel Midgley, D.S.O.,C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley are staying at Colonel Brockway’s cottage, Redcliffe, for the next two or three weeks.”

1918 Friday 8 March: The Week (Brisbane, Queensland) Ladies’ Page “Lieutenant-Colonel Midgley, D.S.O., C.M.G., and Mrs. Midgley, are spending some weeks at Redcliffe.”

Recovery was a slow process. Acting on advice to find a quiet place with few stresses, Stephen and Boo spent time in a fisherman’s hut at Boreen Point. Peaceful and remote, Boo would light a kerosene hurricane lamp of an evening at the hut window to guide Stephen as he rowed back from a day’s fishing on Lake Cootharaba.

Later in 1918 they temporarily settled at Runcorn, near Wynnum, where their first child Stephen Hamar was born. Stephen’s old friend and compatriot Brigadier General Lachlan Wilson accepted responsibility as godfather. In 1920, they moved onto 20 acres of “pineapple plantation” at National Park Road, Nambour, which had been established and then sold by the Brockhurst family. An old and trusted friend from 2^nd QMI and 5^th LHR days, Major Archie Bolingbroke⁵, lived in a cottage⁶ on the property after his return from the war.

The visit to Australia by General Birdwood in 1920 offered the opportunity for several reunions, during which Birdwood agreed to become godfather of Stephen’s second child, Stephanie May.

There was considerable excitement in Nambour with the visit from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on Monday 2 August 1920.

Lieutenant Colonel Midgley, CMG, DSO, whose tunic flashed several medals, was among the first Diggers to meet the Prince. He was presented on the platform by Mr Groom. The Prince remarked, (glancing at Stephen’s medals), “I see that you were also in South Africa.”⁷

Family history relates that His Royal Highness gave Hamar, Stephen’s twenty-month old son a kiss on this occasion. Later that year Stephen was appointed to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.

4 Selby House was a private hotel at 135 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane’s ‘dress circle’ for visitors’ accommodation. 5 Major Archdale Bolingbroke DSO who later became postmaster at Woombye. 6 The cottage became the temporary clubhouse for the first Nambour Gold Club which rented the land in 1927. 7 The Telegraph (Brisbane), 4 August 1920, page 4.

Page 23

Despite the calm of civilian life, Stephen suffered ongoing ‘turns’ as a result of his service – blank periods during which he might faint or become extremely weak. His medical records make interesting reading and describe frequent trips to the Rosemount Repatriation Hospital in Brisbane. He no longer had the strength or fitness to maintain regular employment. Fortunately his wife had independent means and Stephen’s pension was sufficient to maintain a comfortable life.

Untitled family photo, early 1920. Stephen, Boo and Hamar. Taken at National Park Road, Nambour. Note eyeglass, military jacket, patched trousers and work boots.

Stephen Midgley receiving his Service medals from the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan at the Nambour Show, 1925. Midgley Collection

Page 24

The year 1924 saw Boo’s purchase of a block of land at Coolum where they built a small cottage. Fishing was Stephen’s passion and he possessed infinite patience, a skill that had served him well in active service. He always collected his own bait, was clever at catching sand worms and kept the bait in the lid of his hat while he fished.

Stephen enjoyed shooting duck and snipe (12-gauge shotgun with #10 shot) in the swamps near Coolum and ground quail along the track north from the current lifesavers’ clubhouse. In 1929 he took his son Hamar to witness the blasting of the exit for Stumers’ Creek which effectively drained the swamps where the current camping ground is located.

Coolum remained a favourite getaway for Stephen, his family and friends. The most convenient way to travel down was by the cane tram from Nambour and the terminal was on the ridge just above Coolum. The family would order meat, bread and supplies from Nambour and have them sent down by tram. In later years the bus driver who went to Yandina would bring down orders from the store and the butcher in town.

It was at Coolum that Stephen became re-acquainted with Trooper Perry-Keene, a former 2^nd QMI trooper who was one of the leading citizens.

Stephen, Hamar and Stephanie. At the base of Point Perry, Coolum. December 1924.

Although limited by his poor health, Stephen and Boo played an active role in Nambour society. Newspaper clippings of the era record him presiding at a meeting of the Nambour branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League Australia on 24 October 1924.

In May 1927, the couple played an integral role in the formation of the Nambour Golf Club on Stephen’s farm. The official opening, which their friends the Bolingbrokes attended, occurred on 6 June 1929.

Page 25

Searches using Trove reveal several instances of Stephen’s ongoing leadership and contribution to community life:

• 1927, July 27: His Excellency the Governor. (Sir John Goodwin) and Lady Goodwin arrived at Nambour this morning to open the annual show. The vice-regal party was received by Mr. E. B. C. Corser, M.H.R., Councillor J. T. Lowe. (Chairman of the Maroochy Shire Council), Mr. W. Whalley (president of the Chamber of Commerce and Show Society), and Mr. N. N. March, and Colonel Midgley, C.M.G., for the R.S.S.I. L.A.
• 1928 Friday 27 April: Lectures to Nambour Rural School on Loyalty, Patriotism, and Anzac Day and attended the unveiling of the Nambour War Memorial and the burial of a memorial tablet.
• 1929 Monday 9 December: Golf Carnival at Nambour – mentions the Bolingbrokes
• 1929 Tuesday 17 December: Won a golf trophy at the Nambour Golf Club
• 1929: Senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.
• 1929 Friday 8 February: Auditor for the Nambour Soldiers’ League
• 1930 Friday 25 July: Pall bearer at Thomas Gorman’s funeral

Their children were sent to boarding school; Stephen Hamar to The Southport School as a boarder in 1930 at the age of 11, and Stephanie May to The Glennie School in Toowoomba.

Circumstances changed for Stephen and his family in 1930. His father-in-law, Thomas Hamar Esq. died in Herefordshire in late 1930; his wife was bedridden and had to be attended by two live-in nurses. This, plus the emerging impacts of the Great Depression encouraged Stephen and Boo to move to England, and in February 1931 the family left Australia. They were farewelled from Nambour, embarked in Brisbane on Mongolia for Sydney, where they sailed under the partly completed Harbour Bridge. During a trip ashore, they were welcomed respectfully at the fledgling Australian War Memorial. At another stop in Melbourne, Stephen took his children ashore to see the museum and Phar Lap’s heart.

Mongolia arrived at London docks on 3 April 1931 and the family made their way to Boo’s large and comfortable family home on the outskirts of Eardisley, Herefordshire. The children were sent to boarding schools; Hamar to The Warwick School and Stephanie to The Warwick Girls School. Stephen enjoyed outdoor pursuits such as hunting otters with the hounds, shooting and fishing for red fin and rainbow trout at the nearby Upcott Pool outside Eardisley.

Page 26

Perhaps it was the call of Australia’s open spaces or the demands of a complex English hierarchy, but the family grew restless after two years in England and returned to Australia on the Orient Line’s Ormonde in late 1932 having been farewelled by the Queensland Government Agent in London. The family visited Gibraltar on the way, where they were given a personal and deferential escort around the colony in an official car with Stephen’s military friends. A visit to Pompeii preceded Christmas in Aden. They disembarked in Adelaide at the time of the Bodyline cricket series and stayed with Doctor Penny, formerly of Nambour, who had assisted greatly with Stephen’s recovery.

Again, the Brisbane Courier reported their movements and on 3 January 1933 announced their expected arrival in Brisbane on 23 January 1933. They travelled directly to Coolum and their beach-side retreat, as the house in National Park Road Nambour was being rebuilt.

Once again, Stephen and Boo settled into a quiet but satisfying life in and around Nambour. His occasional encounters with royalty continued when on 8 December 1934, both Stephen and his old friend Major Bolingbroke DSO shook hands with His Royal Highness, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, (third son of King George V), who visited Nambour. Prince Henry was later to serve as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 to 1947.

Stephen was actively involved with occasions such as Anzac Day and frequently offered speeches at schools and public gatherings. There were Military Balls in Yandina and Debutante Balls at Eumundi where Colonel and Mrs Midgley were guests of honour and they opened their house for charitable events for the Red Cross. In 1938, Stephen was senior vice-president of the Yandina R.S.S.I.L.A.; patron of the Coolum Beach lifesaving club and in 1946, vice-president of the Nambour Branch of the St George Society.

The outbreak of World War ll was no surprise to Stephen and other students of international politics. Stephen and Boo’s son Hamar was among the first to enlist. In July 1940, the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC), a part-time volunteer military force modelled on the British Home Guard, was established by the Returned and Services League of Australia (name changed in 1940).

The VDC was initially composed of ex-servicemen who had served in World War I. Queenslanders with South African and WW1 experience figured largely: General Sir Harry Chauvel was appointed national Inspector General; General Lachlan Wilson was OiC for Queensland and Stephen was the initial CO of the 6^th Battalion, VDC, a unit with a strength of almost 1,000 men with its headquarters and Stephen’s office in Nambour.

Page 27

The Palmwoods unit of the VDC was led by Frank Nicklin MM who was Stephen’s successor as CO and who went on to become Premier of Queensland. Stephen’s retirement from the VDC at the age of 70 marked the formal end of his full and impressive military career.

Stephen Midgley and his daughter Stephanie, at the wedding of his son Hamar, 29 April 1942, to Mary Margaret (née Williamson), with Mary’s father, George Williamson.

During wartime, there were some brief dramas for the family. Stephen remained close with his younger brother Harry and his elder brothers until their deaths. There was embarrassment in 1944 over the public argument within the family, played out in the courts, regarding his sister Ann’s estate and the closure of Ann’s school, St Clair. Ann had died intestate and some of the siblings argued over the division of the estate, leading Stephen to observe that “God gave you your family, but thank God you can choose your friends.”

The home in National Park Road was too small for a family with growing grandchildren and in 1947 a new house was built on Image Flat Road in Nambour. Unfortunately, in 1949 Stephen suffered a mild heart attack which prompted the decision to move to Redland Bay which would suit his ongoing interests in fishing. Another heart attack followed in 1951 at a time when he was host to his two granddaughters. Stephen was an excellent writer and maintained a good correspondence with his friends.

Page 28

This biographical project is a direct result of a letter written by Stephen to me, his seven month-old grandson, in early 1951. His networks enabled him to reach out to his lifelong friend General Thord-Gray, then in the USA, to obtain passage back to Australia for his daughter Stephanie after she became stranded in London at the outbreak of the Korean War.

In October 1954 Stephen suffered his final heart attack and died in Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital on 25 October 1954.

One of the most disappointing stories in this journey through a full and fascinating life was the burning of his typed memoirs by Boo after his death because “they mentioned names”.

Reflections on my grandfather.

Stephen Midgley DSO CMG was a product of his times. He valued his family and loved his children and ensured that they were well educated. He had a deep sense of social responsibility and duty. His wife Boo took enormous care with his health and general well-being, particularly his diet. Family history recalls an anecdote that on one occasion, after a delicious meal of roast pork and roast vegetables at the home of a friend, he complimented the hostess by announcing that “….if one ate as well as this each day, he would be a well man in no time!” His convict antecedent was never mentioned as this was an embarrassment in those times. He smoked (Manahan’s ready-rubbed tobacco) but did not drink (other than a very occasional brandy when he was having one of his ‘turns’. Quinine was always kept in the house and Stephen would dose himself when not feeling well, when he suffered from “the old complaint” (his own expression). Family and friends remembered him as an amusing companion with a mischievous sense of humour.

Stephen never drove a car. Boo and Stephanie were the family drivers. Their first car was a red Morris 8 purchased in 1938 (named Mehitabel – taken from Kipling’s Departmental Ballads). This soon became too small and following a display at the Nambour Show, Boo purchased a Morris 14 which they named Dollinger. The family had the habit, as with horses, of conferring names on their cars. This led to an amusing anecdote from World War II when Stephen and Boo wanted to tell their son Hamar (serving in Papua New Guinea) where they had hidden family documents and valuables at the Nambour house in case of a Japanese landing. They wrote “they are buried under Dollinger’s right eye”;

[family code for]

‘buried under the floor of the garage below the right hand headlight!’

Page 29

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD**

Boer War, Natal Rebellion, 5^th Light Horse Regiment, 54^th Battalion AIF

Centre top:  CMG (Companion of St Michael and St George.   L to R;  DSO (Distinguished Service Order QV);  QSA (Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasps and unofficial Mention in Despatches emblem;  KSA (King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps); Natal Medal (with clasp 1906);  1914/15 Star;  BWM (British War Medal);  Victory Medal (with two MiD clasps for Gallipoli)

Page 30

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum Display cabinet

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen MIDGLEY CMG DSO MiD**

Boer War, Natal Rebellion,5^th LHR, 54^th Battalion AIF

From L to R:

Gavin Leggett;  Darrell Blackley; John MacIsaac;

Stephen Midgley (grandson); Margaret MacIsaac (granddaughter); Lyn Larsen; Alan Larsen; Allan Woodward and John Meyers.

Photo taken at display unveiling 11 June, 2017

References and Selected Reading

Africa.

Bjovord, S. (2008). Ivor Thord-Gray: Soldat Under 13 Fanor. (Swedish language)

Likeman, R. (2004). From Law to War: the life of Brigadier General Lachlan Wilson of the 5^th Light Horse: with biographical roll of the 5^th Light Horse Regiment, AIF.

Stuart, J. (1913). A History of the Zulu Rebellion 1906 and of Dinizulu’s Arrest, Trial and Expatriation. London: Macmillan & Co.

Woolmore, W. (2002). The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. Slouch Hat Publications. 320 pages.

World War I.

Hamilton, J. (2008). Gallipoli Sniper: The Life of Billy Sing. 340 pages.

Hammond, R. (2005). Unpublished reminiscences.

Hogue, O. (1916). Love Letters of an Anzac

Idriess, I. D. (1932). The Desert Column.

Page 32

St Clair, R. (2006). Our Gift to the Empire – 54^th Australian Infantry Battalion 1916 – 1919. ISBN-10: 0646458973 ISBN-13: 978-0646458977

Wilson, L. C. & H. Wetherell, (1926). History of the Fifth Light Horse Regiment (Australian Imperial Force) from 1914 to October 1918, (Sydney: The Motor Press of Australia, 1926).

Acknowledgements.

This summary is an extract from a larger biography in progress of Stephen’s full and adventurous life and represents a small cross-section of the large volume of biographical material now assembled. I have received a great deal of help from many generous people on this journey over 30 years. My late parents shared long, intimate and mostly entertaining recollections of Stephen, as have my sister Margaret, my brother Rob and my cousin Annie. Family friends offered anecdotes and hints for further research. Many others have freely given their time and patiently shared their materials and knowledge of grandfather’s times. They include:

• John Burridge MG from Western Australia (who started it all off with a chance remark after re-hanging grandfather’s medals);
• John Meyers FMHSA for his gentle persistence in having grandfather’s career acknowledged and his medals and memorabilia curated and displayed in the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum;
• Leo Walsh OAM of the Victoria Barracks Historical Society and the Queensland Military Memorial Museum who showed me just how much material was available and gave loads of encouragement;
• Jane Meadows, Heritage Collections, State Library of Queensland, who is the granddaughter of General Lachlan Wilson;
• Brian Rough, Colonial Forces Study Group (Queensland) who generously offered information and leads on Stephen’s time with the QDF;
• Ross St Clair, a man of rare enthusiasm, who wrote the excellent book on the 54^th Battalion;
• Robert Likeman CSM, whose thorough biographies of grandfather’s friends and colleagues, Lachlan Wilson and Espie Dods, remain an inspiration;

Page 33

• The late Peter Breen of Parramatta: my scholarly friend who edited a newspaper and had a great historical fascination for the life of Stephen’s close friend, General Ivor Thord-Gray;
• John Hamilton, with whom I trudged up and down the hills above Anzac Cove and stood in the trenches of Chatham’s Post as he researched his book on Billy Sing;
• Rupert Hammond, son of Lieutenant Hammond, 5^th LHR, who generously shared his father’s unpublished reminiscences; and
• Captain Adele Catts, formerly curator of the 2/14^th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) Museum at Enoggera. Currently Manager, Army Museum, South Queensland.

In South Africa.

Helen Hall, granddaughter of Stephen’s close friend Ivor Thord-Gray.

Audrey Portman, a historical researcher from Pretoria whose efficient research helped me to understand the period 1902 – 1905.

Najwa Hendrickse, Principal Librarian, Reference and Information Services, National Library of South Africa, for her efforts through library research.

In Zimbabwe

Nicholas Vumbunu, whose knowledge of the archival system in Harare has been invaluable to me.

Completed by copyeditor Diane Melloy 2020.04.08.2242hrs

Page 34