Tom Aaron Cule 6924

SAPPER TOM AARON CULE 6924 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Thomas Aaron Cule was born in Glamorgan, Wales on 12th September, 1871 the son of Evan Cule, a Provision Merchant and wife Elizabeth.

He graduated from Taunton School, Somerset, England with qualifications the equivalent of a Sydney Senior Certificate and enjoyed the sports of wrestling and hurdling and was a member of the Llioynypia and Newport Athletic Clubs in Wales. His previous Welsh occupations were a Grocer, a Butcher, Manager and Accountant. He was also Captain of the Pontypridd Fire Brigade which served a population of 90,000 residents with 40 men in the Brigade.

Thomas, a Provision Merchant, married at 26 years of age to Margaret Williams on 30th August, 1897 at the Parish Church in Shirenewton, Monmouth.

The Royal Mail Ship Oroya departed London on 13th July, 1906 under Master of the Ship Captain W.H. Parker and among its passengers was Thos. A. Cule (35), occupation - farming. News of their arrival to Brisbane was reported in:

The Telegraph Friday August 31, 1906: R.M.S. OROYA – ARRIVAL FROM LONDON R.M.S. Oroya from London, via ports arrived at Pinkenba yesterday afternoon. Passengers for this port number 88 of which 27 are immigrants.

About a week later Tom was on his way to Townsville, N.Q. with his name appearing in the passenger list published in:

The Telegraph Saturday September 8, 1906: Sep. 7. BINGERA s. 2052 tons Capt. Cowie for Townsville, via ports. Passengers: Messrs. Cule, T. Article abridged

He arrived in Australia but his wife, it seems, remained in England for he settled in Charters Towers, Queensland where he was a Mining Clerk and Draughtsman for E.D. Miles and Company. In 1908 his residence was the Royal Hotel and by 1913 was living at Alabama Road, Charters Towers.

Welshmen are well known as being good singers and Tom was no exception. A year before he enlisted he was a performer rendering vocal items at a Grand Benefit Concert in aid of the Charters Towers District Hospital held at the Church of Christ, Anne Street. The following extracts from The Northern Miner show the evening’s artists and its success.

Tuesday November 16, 1915: AMUSEMENTS TONIGHT TONIGHT GRAND BENEFIT CONCERT In aid of CHARTERS TOWERS DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Will be held in Church of Christ, Anne Street. Numbers by Misses Ivy Ford, E. Williams F. Riley, Martha and Mary Jones, E. Metcalfe, Messrs R. Hall and party, Bray, Hind, N. Poole, Cule, Martin Smith. Instrumental numbers; Messrs E. Roberts, Shaw and others. Accompanist Mr F. Graham Chairman R. Carbis esq. Commences 8 pm Admission 1/- Thursday November 18, 1915: TODAY

There was only a moderately good attendance at the Church of Christ on Tuesday evening when the Hospital Benefit Concert was given but what it lacked in numbers it made amends for in its appreciation of the excellent programme submitted. Councillor R. Carbis occupied the chair and in a brief speech he referred to the great struggle now being carried out in the battlefields of Europe. The concert was commenced by the singing of the National Anthem, and during the evening vocal items were rendered by Messrs G.E. Bray, G.D. Martin Smith, T. Cule, N. Poole and R. Hand and the Misses M. Overend, I. Ford, E. Metcalfe, Martha and Mary Jones, J. Overend, F. Riley and D. Nicholls while the numbers given by the Church Choir and Mr R. Hall’s Glee Party were much appreciated. Pianoforte and organ solos by Mr F. Graham were greatly admired as were also the organ accompaniments of Miss May Coward, the piano accompaniment of Mrs W. O’Brien and a cornet solo by Mr E. Roberts. As a result of the entertainment the Hospital should benefit to the extent of from £25 to £40, a most acceptable amount. A vote of thanks to the chair and the singing of the National Anthem concluded a very pleasant evening.

The recruiting for men up to the age of 49 years from the Mining trades to reinforce the Tunnelling Companies still circulated in the town. The Tunnelling Companies also gave the older men a chance to serve their Country and perhaps for Tom, a chance to re-visit his homeland. His only experience with the military was as a contractor’s manager in Militia Camps with dry canteen, grocery and butcher’s supplies. Tom enlisted on 23 October, 1916 at the Town Hall leaving his work as a Mining Clerk giving his age as 39 years and 3 months.

He passed the rigid medical examinations the same day which revealed scars under his chin and on his lower leg. He weighed 73½ kgs (162lbs) with a chest measuring 96 cms (37½in) and was 164cms (5ft 4½ in) high with a fair complexion emphasised by brown eyes showing reasonably good vision and dark brown hair but required dental treatment. His religion was Church of England and his wife Mrs M. Cule of Chapstow, England was named his next of kin.

On Monday October 30, 1916 the volunteers left their town for training camp. The Northern Miner reports on their public farewell: Tuesday October 31, 1916:

The public came out in their thousands again yesterday as His Worship the Mayor officially farewelled volunteers, eight from Charters Towers and three from Winton. In addressing the men Ald C. Watts said it again gave him great pleasure to farewell on behalf of the citizens the lads leaving for the front. He had known many of them since their childhood and they would acquit themselves like men. He was very pleased to see their old friend Tom Cule going. He was not given to too much mirth so would conclude with wishing them God speed and a safe return.

Ald F. Johnson spoke: It was the first occasion on which men were leaving voluntarily since the casting of the referendum vote. He had to congratulate the volunteers but had no congratulations for those who voted “No” the other day. They were going out to fight for Australian battles in that spirit which would make any man fight or vote for the very best interests of his country. No greater that could a man do, and no more despicable thing could a man do than vote “No” and refuse to send reinforcements to the men needing them. (Applause) Mrs Frank Millican presented the handkerchiefs to the men who were placed in charge of Mr T.A. Cule and headed by the Towers Concert Band, the party left for the Station.

At the Railway Station the volunteers were met by another crowd bidding their good-byes until the train was out of sight.

Tom was officially sworn in on November 2, 1916 at the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera, Qld where it was revealed his age was really 45 years and 4 months. He received basic Military training until November 27 and was transferred to the Reserve Reinforcements until December 22, 1916. Now ranked as a Private with Private Cule became one of the 24th Reinforcements to the 9th Battalion remaining till January 22, 1917 and for the duration of a week with the 19th Reinforcements to the 25th Battalion until January 28.

The following day joined the Miners Reinforcements in the 1st Military District. Three days later he arrived at the Miners training camp at Seymour, Victoria and assigned the Rank of Sapper with the Regimental number 6924 training as they prepared for service abroad.

The February Reinforcements departed Melbourne on transport HMAT A9 Shropshire on 11th May, 1917. The voyage went via Fremantle, Cape Town, and Durban arriving at Plymouth, England on 19th July, 1917. From there they detrained at Tidworth marching in to No 1 and 3 camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front. The Reinforcements proceeded to Southampton for France and marched into the Aust. General Base Depot at Rouelles where they were detailed. Sapper Cule was attached the 2nd Tunnelling Company on 2nd September, 1917.

Debility struck on 6th July, 1918 and Tom was conveyed to the 18th Aust. Field Ambulance then transferred two days later to the 18th Casualty Clearing Station diagnosed with Rheumatism. It was then established he was suffering from Myalgia (Muscular Pain) and sent on Ambulance Train no. 35 to Rouen. He was invalided to England on the Hospital Ship Aberdonian on July 12 and admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford, England.

A week later Tom entered the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Bulford remaining until discharged to Furlough and had to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth on August 18, 1918.

It is not known if Tom visited his wife when on leave or on Furlough in England but he did sign over 2/6d (25c) per day of his pay to his wife, Mrs M. Cule who is recorded living at Mynydd, Bach, Shirenewton, Chapstow, England.

Administration Headquarters, London approved his return to Australia for a discharge and Sapper Cule embarked on October 19, 1918 aboard the transport D24 H.T. Sardinia. He disembarked in the 3rd Military District on December 27, 1918.

The Northern Miner reported the following news item:

Tuesday January 7, 1919: A number of original Anzacs and other returned men came home last night. There was a big crowd at the station to meet them and on alighting the men were heartily cheered. Pte S. Day, F.E. Swan, T.A. Cule, E. Johnson and S.A. Fellows.

He was officially discharged Medically Unfit on February 1, 1919.

For his 10 months active service Sapper 6924 Tom Aaron Cule received the British War Medal (29260) and the Victory Medal (27937).

In 1924 Tom was staying at the Men’s Hostel in Albion Street, Sydney and after hearing of the demise of his third cousin appears to have made himself known to the Coroner’s Court with his testimony reported in:

Truth Sunday March 9, 1924: FINAL CURTAIN DRAWN ON EDGECLIFF’S DOUBLE TRAGEDY VERDUCT OF MURDER AND SUICIDE The discovery of the tragedy was related by Sergeant Denis McDonald and Constable Keeble, of Double Bay. At 9 o’clock on the morning of Tuesday February 19, they broke into the flats at 311 New South Head-road, with other police, and with the assistance of disinfected masks, were able to enter and find the decomposed bodies of the woman, in night clothes in bed, and of Wade sprawled downwards out on the floor in a back room. (Continued) (Continued) Under the body of Wade, in decomposed matter, was found a heavy colt revolver, lying just where his hand was. It contained two live cartridges and two shells were found. Letters were found addressed to the landlord, Mr Gilchrist, Doctor Adams, Wade’s sister, Leah, in England and Mr Stokes, the only friend he met in business. His extraordinary diaries revealing the tragedy of his life and failure, and showing how he determined to end it all, as the best for his beloved life-mate and for himself were also found in a box. An extraordinary feature of the inquest was the appearance of a man named Thomas Aaron Cule, who declared himself to be the third cousin of Wade. COUSIN’S LITTLE KNOWLEDGE He lives at the Men’s Hostel, Albion-street, and describes himself as an accountant. He had last seen Wade in 1903, and knew nothing of his business, his worries, his wife’s illness or any of his deeds or movements. He had never seen his wife. Beyond telling the Coroner that Wade was born in Cardiff, Wales, 55 years ago, Cule could shed no light on the tragedy. Article abridged

A year later in 1925 Tom was back in North Queensland working as a storeman at Gairloch, via Ingham. By 1929 he was registered at 185 Leichhardt Street, Brisbane with the occupation of accountant and a year later was a book-keeper at Pinkilla Station, Quilpie. In 1936 had moved to Toolebuc Station, Boulia and a year later was at “Riviera” North Quay, Brisbane giving his occupation as accountant. He was a working as an accountant on Corrella Station, Bourke, NSW in 1943.

Tom Aaron Cule passed away in Bourke, NSW on 29th March, 1945 aged about 72 years. An obituary was published in the:

Western Herald (Bourke) Friday April 13, 1945: OBITUARY Sapper Tom Aaron Cule (late of second Tunnellers, First A.I.F.) passed away in the hospital recently, aged 72. He was a native of Treherbert, Wales. In his early days he was a book-keeper on Corrella Station. His remains were interred in the Church of England portion of the cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. A.J. Kipper. The Digger Service was read by the secretary (A.J. Wedlock). A large number of his station mates attended the funeral and acted as pall-bearers. Also a large number of old and new Diggers were present at the graveside.

His grave is located in the Church of England portion of the Bourke Cemetery, NSW.

Following his death, the Sydney Office of the Public Trustee on June 12, 1945 wrote to Base Records requesting if they knew of the location of T.A. Cule’s Will. Before he left on active service in 1917 Thomas had already lodged a will with his former Charters Towers employer, the Hon. Edward David Miles M.L.C., Nyranibld, Ascot, Brisbane. The Trustee also required any information on the deceased’s relatives. A year later finalisation of his Estate affairs was advertised in the:

Western Herald (Bourke) Friday June 21, 1946: © Re the Estate of TOM AARON CULE, late of Bourke in the State of New South Wales, Station book-keeper, deceased. LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION granted by the Supreme Court of New South Wales on the 5th day of June, 1946. PURSUANT to the Wills Probate and Administration Act, 1898-1938; and Trustee Act, 1916-1938; the PUBLIC TRUSTEE the administrator of the estate of the said TOM AARON CULE, who died on the 29th day of March, 1945, hereby give notice that creditors and others having any claim against or to the Estate of the said deceased, are required to send particulars of their claims to the said PUBLIC TRUSTEE at 19 O’Connell Street, Sydney, on or before the 31st day of August, 1946, at the expiration of which time the said Public Trustee will distribute assets of the said deceased to the persons entitled having regard only to the claims of which he then has notice. Donna Baldey 2008/2018 www.tunnellers.net