Sapper William Gerald Robert Atwell

SAPPER WILLIAM GERALD ROBERT ATWELL 3264 – 1st Tunnelling Company

William Gerald Robert Atwell was born in Gladstone, Queensland on July 11, 1895 the son of Samuel Robert and Hannah Bridget (nee Connell) Atwell. In 1902 his mother remarried Lewis Rattenbury. The family resided at the mining township of Marmor, Qld.

At the Rockhampton Recruiting Office on January 31, 1916 William Atwell applied to enlist for active service abroad. The 20½ year old labourer passed the medical examination the same day and his personal particulars were 177cms (5ft 9¾ins) in height, weight 66.8kgs (147lbs) with a full chest expansion of 90cms (35ins). Further notation gives eyesight as good but teeth need attention. The Application was accepted by the Recruiting Officer on February 10, 1916 and sworn in. Attestation Forms show his complexion was fair with blue eyes and dark brown hair. Nominated religion was Roman Catholic and his mother Mrs Hannah Rattenbury whose address was Post Office, Marmor, Qld named as next-of-kin. His postal address reads the same.

Basic military training began on February 12, 1916 at the 11 Depot Battalion, Enoggera, Brisbane, Qld until March 21, 1916. Home leave was taken.

The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin dated Tuesday April 4, 1916 gave the following account of a farewell to enlistees from Marmor, Qld:

MARMOR MARMOR March 30 A big send-off was given on Saturday evening last in Rattenbury’s Hall. The attendance was a record one, the hall being crowded in every part with numbers congregated outside. The occasion was in honour of Corporal Olsen, Privates C.C. Olsen, W.G.R. Atwell, P.C. Hennessey and J. Scott who have responded to the call of King and Country. They all enlisted in the Mining Corps and have gone to Sydney for training. A meeting was held on Friday evening at knock-off time and it was decided to open a list and canvass the town for subscriptions. Messrs J.G. Breen and E.C. Crawford were deputed to see the whole thing through. The result of the canvass was £15 ($30). Mr Crawford travelled to Rockhampton on Saturday morning when he procured five solid gold band rings and had them suitably engraved. During the evening, dance and song went merrily from eight o’clock until twelve. In an interval Mr S. Evans was called upon to present the rings to the boys, which he did with a most sympathetic speech. Mr E.T. Sharkey suitably responded for the boys, when he said the lads have more fight than words about them. Thanks are due to all for their contributions in many and kind. Mr L. and Mrs Rattenbury for the free use of the hall, for sandwiches and all necessaries. The subscribers provided tea, coffee and cake and there was a band of willing workers. Misses Kroon, E. Jones (Bajool), Bunt, and Messrs S. Kroon and W. Horan supplied the music. Mr G. Breen acted as master of ceremonies. Another evening in honour of our soldier boys, Private P.J. Hennessey is the eldest son of Mrs Maher. There was again a large crowd present. At the Railway station on Monday a large crowd gathered to bid the lad goodbye. Thanks are due to Mr and Mrs Curtain of the Railway Hotel who have shown every kindness to the above while here on leave. Abridged.

Returning to the 1st Military District as a member of the No 4 Tunnelling Corps went to Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW for further training until May 10, 1916. In preparation for departure assigned the rank of Sapper in the No 4 Company and the Regimental Number 3264.

1064 members of the Tunnelling Companies including Sapper Atwell embarked from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 aboard the transport HMAT A9 Warilda. Their pleasant fifty-eight day voyage sailed via Melbourne Vic, Fremantle, WA, then Durban, Capetown and St Vincent before docking at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1917. They were detrained at Amesbury, Tidworth for further training in camp at Perham Downs.

Sapper Atwell proceeded overseas to France on August 30, 1916 and marched in to A.D.B.D. for further instruction then on September 30, 1916 was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company.

The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin published Mrs H.G. Wheeler’s weekly letter from London where she coordinated the Central Queensland Comforts Fund and advised families in the district with news of their husbands, sons or brothers. She wrote:

Published Tuesday May 15, 1917 Sapper Atwell, one of the Marmor boys wrote on the 25th of February saying that he had received my parcel.

Published Wednesday April 3, 1918 Sapper W. Atwell has also written to ask for a parcel. He is well.

From September, 1916 no illness or injuries were experienced and he went on leave on February 24, 1918.

On July 8, 1918 was taken to 9 Aust. Field Ambulance sick, suffering from Pyrexia (Fever) of unknown origin and after several days was discharged to duty on July 10, 1918.

After the Armistice the Company remained on duty conducting rehabilitation and safety maintenance in allocated areas.

Sapper Atwell was granted leave for the period from December 17 to December 31, 1918 but rejoined his Unit on January 7, 1919. On January 10, 1919 the following Offence was recorded:

Crime: WOAS AWL from 06.30 31/12/18 to 06.30 7/1/19 Award: 21 days F.P. (Field Punishment) No 2. by O.C. 1ATC. Forfeiture: 28 days Pay. Returned to Duty on February 12, 1919.

Admitted to 4 Stationery Hospital on February 24, 1919 suffering from Influenza and was discharged to duty on March 5, 1919.

Five days later Sapper Atwell disembarked at Southampton, Eng from France and proceeded to Parkhouse Camp. On March 1 marched into A.A.B.C. Training Depot on orders for Repatriation and then to No 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Eng.

On April 16, 1919 Sapper marched out to R.B.A.A. Camp at Heytesbury, Eng and on April 20, 1919 embarked for home on board H.T. Boonah. His next-of-kin was advised of his return on May 22, 1919.

He disembarked in the 3rd M.D. (Vic) on June 8, 1919 and transhipped to Sardinia for the journey to the 2nd M.D. (NSW). On June 14, 1919 arrived in the 1st M.D. (Qld) and sent to the 6 Aust General Hospital where his Medical Report was taken, which states: Neither wounded or sick. Sgd. W. Atwell.

He returned to the Marmor Township near Rockhampton and continued working as a miner. Sapper 3264 William Gerald Robert Atwell was awarded the British War Medal (18102) and the Victory Medal (17671) for his Active Service Abroad.

A small article appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Thursday July 30, 1931:

COUNTRY ACCIDENTS Yesterday afternoon a call was received from Marmor to attend William Atwell, a resident of that district, who met with an accident while scrub felling. The axe slipped and inflicted a large gash on his left foot. The ambulance brought him to a doctor and then to a private hospital.

After 1937 he moved to Campbell Street, Rockhampton.

A small notice appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Monday August 19, 1940 stating his demise at 45 years of age:

DEATH NOTICES ATWELL—On August 17, William Gerald Robert Atwell, of No. 278 Campbell Street. His remains were interred in the North Rockhampton Cemetery on Sunday, August 18.

Cemetery records state burial was in the Roman Catholic sector of the North Rockhampton cemetery, Compartment 7, Section 3 in Grave number 71.

The exact location is uncertain as his grave is unmarked, but believed to be one of the four unmarked plots at left of picture.