Thursday, 9 November 2023

John Williamson born in Ireland 1832

John was born about 1832, the son of Thomas Williamson and Jane in Belfast, Ireland. He left Ireland circa 1845 with his parents to live in England.

England

The first time we catch a glimpse  of John is in the 1851 Census where he was living in the seaport town of Maryport in Wood Street, Cumberland, England with his parents and his younger brother James[1]

1. Thomas Williamson, aged 54, Dock labourer

2. Jane Williamson, aged 50,

3. John Williamson, aged 19, Tailor apprentice

4. James Williamson, aged 15, ship carpenter apprentice

Meanwhile, Louisa, John’s future wife (aged 22 in 1851) was also living at home with her parents, and three siblings at 38 Redcross Street, London, St Giles Cripplegate. To help make ends meet the family had also taken in 6 lodgers.

Two years after the 1851 Census John travelled to London, and by 1853 he was working as a qualified tailor and living at 55 Napier St., which is probably where he met Louisa Walker who gave the same address as her place of residence when they got married. John married Louisa Walker, (the daughter of a tailor, who was also living at 55 Napier St) at the age of 21, on 10 October 1853, in the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in Hoxton, Middlesex, England.[2]  It was Louisa’s church where she had been baptised as an adult at the age of 21 with her younger sister Hannah aged 15 at the time.[3] [4] It is interesting to note that Elizabeth was married on the same day in 1853 as her brother Alfred and sister Hannah who chose to marry in another church nearby in St Bartholomew, Moor Lane, in London.[5] [6] [7]

Australia

Ten months after the couple wed, they travelled to Australia with Louisa’s younger brother Alfred Williamson and wife, aboard the "Constance" in August 1854.[8]  Louisa was 4½ months pregnant when they boarded the "Constance" four weeks after arriving in Melbourne Louisa gave birth to their first child.[9]

The “Constance” was a clipper ship built in 1852 for the run between London and Australia. She was touted as having “superior sailing qualities.[10] Amongst her best qualities were “enclosed berths to Melbourne” [11] and the “‘tween-decks [were] lofty and thoroughly ventilated. Provisions and Water [were] provided for 20 weeks …”[12] She was “commanded by men of experience and ability, who [would] take every precaution to promote the health and comfort of passengers. They also [carried] experienced Surgeons.”[13]and “a large supply of medical comforts, such as arrowroot, sage, &c”[14]

On the passenger manifest John’s surname is listed as Williams rather than Williamson (note the ages and professional however are listed correctly)

  1. Alfred Walker, 24 years, Tailor
  2. Mrs Walker, 21
  3. John Williams[on], 24 years, Tailor
  4. Mrs Williams[on], 21 years

Life in Australia

On arrival John & Louisa took up lodgings at 218 Bourke Street, Melbourne on the right of way opposite Theatre Royal which was under construction at the time, a month later their first child Thomas was born on 11 January 1855.[15] [16] [17] 

Initially, John worked out of 71, 72, and 73, Arcade, in the “Queen’s Arcade Drapery and Outfitting Establishment”, he then moved on to Dobson’s at 111 Great Bourke St, Melbourne. Dobson’s advertised extensively in the local newspapers. John’s name was mentioned for the first time in the company’s advertising in 1856. [18] 

By 1857 the couple settled in Collingwood before the birth of their second. The family moved back and forth between Fleet and Marion Street, never far from the Christian Israelite Church over the next few years. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

The Christian Israelite Church played an important role in the growing family’s life, John became a covenanted member of the church on 6 April, 1857.[24] In doing so he accepted the teaching of the Bible, and certain of the doctrines of the Jewish religion.[25]



Figure 3 The suit John would have worn as a member of the Church, the original suit design is still worn today [in 2023]

As a Tailor all male members would have gone to John Williamson to get their suits made.

As a covenanted member John would have amongst other things[26]

●        “Signed” to be a member of the Church

●       followed dietary laws as outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy of the Torah/Old Testament

●        worn a specially designed suit and top hat Made of “pure materials – materials in which the warp and weft are of the same thread.”

●      Paid one-tenth of his earnings to the Church for the work of the ministry

●        not have cut his hair, or trimmed or shaved his beard.

●        As a member John would have observed two Sabbaths where members would stop and have Church for an hour Friday night (in respect of the Jewish/Israelite Sabbath) and Sunday morning (in respect of the Christian Sabbath). Members who owned their own business such as John would close early on Fridays so they could attend church.

●        Undergone circumcision

●        Members didn’t have any pictures of anything regarded as an image (a likeness of anything God has created or caused to grow) in their homes, or on their clothes. In the early days members would even paste brown paper over the pictures on the front of piano music sheets and in books and novels. Clothing wasn’t worn with flowers or images on it, and invariably photographs are not kept.

The detailing of the church members' outfits was very specific, from the fabric to the detail of the lapels and the shape of the collar. “The suit and dress have always been distinctive – they were designed to be different even at the time.” [27]   A hat would also be worn when out and about.

Louisa also followed the tenants of the Christian Israelite Church as did their children even after they moved away in 1862/3 to St Kilda where the last three children born.[28] [29] During his lifetime John probably met John Wroe, the founder of the church, and heard him speak in the Australian summers of 1859/1860 and again in 1862/3 when he visited the Melbourne congregation.

John & Louisa had seven children in total:

1.       Thomas Williamson, born 11 January 1855, Waugh Terrance in Bourke Street, Melbourne.[30] Possibly circumcised on the same day as his father 6th April 1857 but recorded under the name of James instead of Thomas.[31] [note Thomas’s first three children went on to attend the church and join the church.

2.       Rachel Williamson born 26 March 1857, Fleet Street, Collingwood.[32]

3.       Miriam Williamson, born 12 March 1859, Marion Street, Collingwood. [33]

4.       Pheobe Williamson, born 22 June 1861, Fleet Street, Collingwood, and baptised on 27 October 1861 into the Christian Israelite Church.[34] [35]

5.      Moses Williamson born 17 September 1863, St Kilda and baptised in October 1863 into the Christian Israelite Church. [36]  [37]

6.       Lydia born 31 December 1866, East St Kilda and baptised on 9 January 1866 into the Christian Israelite Church. [38] [39]

7.       Aaron born [unable to read day] March 1869, High Street, St Kilda and baptised on 1st April, 1881, into the Christian Israelite Church. [40] [41]

 

The family would have taken the 30-minute journey twice a week, from St Kilda to their church in Collingwood, possibly in one of the families 3 Waggonettas or their buggy.[42] 

At the end of 1866, John started working at Dunlop & Edwards in their Tailoring Department at their new location in Commercial Rd, Prahran. [43] [44] How long John worked at DUNLOP & EDWARDS is unclear as he also paid rates for a 4-roomed property in Camden St., owned by William Philpott that year, and advertised for staff for a business on the corner of Inkermann-road and High-street in St Kilda possibly for a property that he was renting or subleasing from Thomas Earles, also a Tailor. [45] [46] [47] Two years later John purchased the High-street rental property on 14 November 1868 at the cost of 58 pounds and 12 shillings in High St, St. Kilda, a few months after experiencing problems with the landlord.[48] [49]

Life was very busy for John and his family as John’s business expanded. He borrowed funds possibly to renovate the newly acquired shop and buy stock. These funds could have also helped to buy the property next door for £16.4 in 1869. In 1871 he also went on to purchase the property situated at the rear of his High St properties with a carriageway to Inkerman Street for access.[50] [51] [52] [53]  The business seemed to expand rapidly evidenced by regular advertisements for competent staff, including machinists and tailors.[54] [55] A newspaper advertisement of which two-thirds was white space, appears to suggest business was brisk and struggling to keep up.[56] 

John also took on at least one apprentice if not more. In particular, he had employed William Mesday from the Sunbury Industrial School, who became ill so John sought to cancel his apprentice’s indenture, the outcome of this case has not yet been discovered.[57] [58]

John did not rest on his laurels and by 1873 he was operating from a second address in the city at 74 Elizabeth St., taking over the tailoring business of J.Swaine opposite the Age Office.[59] [60]

John died eight months later on 7 June 1874 at the age of 42 in Saint Kilda, Victoria, Australia.[61] He was buried in the local St Kilda Cemetery, Victoria.[62] [63]

John left behind his wife with their young children.

  1. Thomas aged 19
  2. Rachel aged 17
  3. Miriam aged 15
  4. Pheobe aged 13
  5. Moses aged 11
  6. Lydia aged 8
  7. Aaron aged 5

Louisa continued on in the family business in St Kilda with her eldest son Thomas. What happened to his business concerns in Elizabeth St is not known.

Useful links for background

WikiTree profile for John Williamson (1832 - 1874)

Related Posts:

John's & Louisa's Tombstone 

John's parents = Thomas & Jane Williamson born Ireland lived in England

John's son = Moses Williamson Born 1863 Victoria Australia

John's son = Thomas Williamson born 1855 Victoria Australia

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The URL for this post is: https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2023/11/john-williamson-born-in-ireland-1832.html originally published 9 November 2023 

Author 2023, Sandra Williamson


Sources

[1] 1851 English Census (Series HO107 Piece: 2435; Folio: 561; Page: 11)

[2] General Register Office, England, Marriage Certificate John Williamson & Louisa Walker married 10 October 1853, GRO Reference Marriages December quarter, Shoreditch, Vol 1c, page 364

[3] Louisa born 1 July 1828 and baptised 20 April 1849 in Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Hackney, England the daughter of Joseph Thomas Walker (tailor) & Louisa Waler residing at 35 Redcroft St. entry 58, page 8, Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Hackney, England parish register in the county of Middlesex 1848 citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P91/TRI/001; Year: 1848-1871

[4] Hannah born 30 January 1834 and baptised 20 April 1849 in Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Hackney, England the daughter of Joseph Thomas Walker (tailor) & Louisa Waler residing at 35 Redcroft St. entry 57, page 8, Holy Trinity, Hoxton, Hackney, England parish register in the county of Middlesex 1848 citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P91/TRI/001; Year: 1848-1871

[5] Index entry for the marriage of John Nicholas BOWEN and Hannah WALKER married 1853, FREEBDM database entry Marriages 1853 Dec, E.London Vol 1c page 2  (https://www.freebmd.org.uk accessed 25 October 2020)

[6] John Nicholas Bowen(bachelor, Smith, residing at 38 Red Croft St, son of Charles Bowen, Smith) & Hannah Walker(spinster aged 19, residing at 38 Red Croft St, daughter of Joseph Tailor) were married after banns on 10 October 1853, St Bartholomew, Moor Lane, City of London, England parish register entry 149, 75, year 1853; citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69/BAT2/A/01/MS 6427/1 Year: 1850-1858 [witnesses George Walker & Joseph Walker]

[7] Alfred Walker(bachelor, residing at 38 Red Croft St, son of Joseph Tailor) married Elizabeth Maddox (spinster, residing at 38 Red Croft St, daughter of James Maddox, dead) were married after banns on 10 October 1853, St Bartholomew, Moor Lane, City of London, England parish register entry 148, page 74, year 1853; citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69/BAT2/A/01/MS 6427/1 Year: 1850-1858 [witnesses George Walker & Joseph Walker]

[8] Passenger Listing for John Williams[on] and his wife, and Alfred Walker and his wife on the Ship Constance. August 1854. Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009. Original data: Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports). Microfiche VPRS 7666, copy of VRPS 947. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. Original data from Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kingdom. Microfiche VPRS 14. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. Year Range Reel: 1854"Constance" passenger List (Schedule A) p.6

[9] Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Thomas Williamson 218/1855

[10] 1855 'Advertising for the Constance’s Return Journey to London', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 1 January, p. 1. , viewed 13 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154852217

[11] Monmouthshire Merlin, South Wales Advertiser, 7th July 1854, page 1,  Column 4, (https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3396065   accessed 8 March 2023)

[12] Monmouthshire Merlin, South Wales Advertiser, 7th July 1854, page 1,  Column 5, (https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3396065   accessed 8 March 2023)

[13] Monmouthshire Merlin, South Wales Advertiser, 7th July 1854, page 1,  Column 4, (https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3396065   accessed 8 March 2023)

[14] 1853 'EMIGRATION FROM LIVERPOOL.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer (Vic. : 1851 - 1856), 6 January, p. 1. (DAILY. : SUPPLEMENT TO THE GEELONG ADVERTISER AND INTELLIGENCER), viewed 13 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94359113

[15] Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate Thomas Williamson 218/1855

[16] Electoral Roll entry # 3738 for John Williamson residing right of way opposite theatre royal salaried worker, qualified to vote [unable to read], Jas Dobson, Tailor Australian, St Paul’s Division [Melbourne], 1856, page 23; Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[18] 1856 'Advertising', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 24 March, p. 4. , viewed 27 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154861854

[19] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Rachael Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, Collingwood Victoria, born 27 March 1857 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 4201 / 1857.

[20] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia (index database without images); Entry for the Birth of Miriam Williamson child of John Williamson & Louisa WALKER born Collingwood, Victoria 1859 Registration number 450 / 1859 (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/  accessed 27 Jan. 22) [original not sighted]

[21] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia (index database without images); Entry for the Birth of Phoebe Williamson child of John Williamson & Louisa WALKER born Collingwood, Victoria 1861 Registration number 5722 / 1861 (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/  accessed 27 Jan. 22) [original not sighted]

[22] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Phoebe Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, Collingwood Victoria, born 22 June 1861 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 5722 / 1861.

[23] "Victoria Government Gazette," database and images, Online Archive 1836 – 1997 (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/vic_gazette/  ) Victorian Government Gazette, No 72, 23 June 1857, Page 1117 “John Williamson, householder, Little Fleet street” [John signed a petition to asking for Fitz Roy Ward to be separated from Melbourne proper in 1857]

[24] Email correspondence, Lynne Gary (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[25] Evening Star, Issue 5221, 28 November 1879, Page 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18791128.2.36 accessed 27 March 2022

[26] Rodney, Gray. ‘Being a Christian Israelite’. Latter Rain : Magazine of the Christian Israelite Church, no. 29, undated, p. 6, (https://www.cichurch.asn.au/latterrain/lr29.pdf. Accessed 27 March 2022, published by Society of Christian Israelites, Christian Israelite Church, Singleton, N.S.W

[27] Email correspondence, Lynne Gary (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 20 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[28] Email correspondence, Lynne Gary (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[29] Probate Files for John Williamson, died 7 June 1874 while residing in St Kilda, Victoria, probated granted 2 July 1874 to Louisa Williamson (Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), VPRS 28/P0002, 12/185) & (VPRS 7591/P0002, 12/185  (accessed online https://prov.vic.gov.au/ 28 March 2022) [in Affidavit of Executrix of Louisa Williamson she states “that the taking of an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful” which is consistent with the beliefs of the Christian Israelites indicating that Louisa was also a member of the Christian Israelites Church as was John.  

[30] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Thomas Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, residing in St Kilda, Victoria, born 11 January 1855 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 218 / 1855.

[31] Email correspondence, Dr. Lynne Gray (Dip. FHS, Adv. Dip Th. (Th. & Evang.), B. Th., B. Tch., M. Th., PhD.) (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[32] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Rachael Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, Collingwood Victoria, born 27 March 1857 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 4201 / 1857.

[33] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Miriam Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, Collingwood Victoria, born 12 March 1859 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 450 / 1859.

[34] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Phoebe Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, Collingwood Victoria, born 22 June 1861 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 5722 / 1861.

[35] Email correspondence,  Dr. Lynne Gray (Dip. FHS, Adv. Dip Th. (Th. & Evang.), B. Th., B. Tch., M. Th., PhD.) (Member of Christian Israelite Church)  to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[36] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Moses Williamson child of John Williamson(draper) & Louisa WALKER, residing in St Kilda, Victoria, born 17 September 1863 in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 23188 / 1863.

[37] Email correspondence,  Dr. Lynne Gray (Dip. FHS, Adv. Dip Th. (Th. & Evang.), B. Th., B. Tch., M. Th., PhD.) (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[38] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Lydia Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, residing in St Kilda, Victoria, born 31 December 1865 in East St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 5087 / 1866.

[39] Email correspondence,  Dr. Lynne Gray (Dip. FHS, Adv. Dip Th. (Th. & Evang.), B. Th., B. Tch., M. Th., PhD.) (Member of Christian Israelite Church)  to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[40] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Aaron Williamson child of John Williamson(tailor) & Louisa WALKER, residing in St Kilda, Victoria, born 31 December 1869 in East St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 5401 / 1869.

[41] Email correspondence, Dr. Lynne Gray (Dip. FHS, Adv. Dip Th. (Th. & Evang.), B. Th., B. Tch., M. Th., PhD.) (Member of Christian Israelite Church) to Sandra Williamson, email, Subject line: “John Williamson family” 19 March 2022, Original in author’s possession.

[42] Probate Files for John Williamson, died 7 June 1874 while residing in St Kilda, Victoria, probated granted 2 July 1874 to Louisa Williamson (Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), VPRS 7591/P0002, 12/185 List of Personal Property-transport items listed were 3 horses, 3 waggonettes & a buggy; also listed were harness saddle etc (accessed online https://prov.vic.gov.au/ 28 March 2022)

[43] Victoria State Government, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Australia; Birth Certificate of Moses Williamson child of John Williamson(draper) & Louisa WALKER, residing in St Kilda, Victoria, born 17 September 1863 in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Registration number 23188 / 1863.

[44] 1866 'Advertising', The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian (Vic. : 1864 - 1888), 13 October, p. 4. , viewed 22 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108125489

[45] 1866 Rates paid by John Williamson, Tailor, for 4 Roomed Property in Camden St., owned by William Philpott [no listed address], Rate entry 1580 City of St Kilda,1866; Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Rate Books, 1855-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2015. Citing Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Australia; Series Title: 2335/P Microfilm copy of Rate Books, City of St Kilda [1858-1900] Year Range: 1863-1869

[46] 1867 Rates paid by John Williamson, Tailor, for 5 Roomed Property in High St, St Kilda owned by Thomas Earles, Tailor, Rate entry 803 City of St Kilda, 1867; Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Rate Books, 1855-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2015. Citing Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Australia; Series Title: 2335/P Microfilm copy of Rate Books, City of St Kilda [1858-1900]

[47] 1866 'Advertising', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 5 December, p. 1. , viewed 30 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5780300

[48] Vendors Books, Victoria (Land Victoria(Natural Resources and Envirnonment)), Book 184 Memorial 831 Purchase price £58.12 from John Williamson to Robert Byrne.  14 November 1868 for initial property in High St, Saint Kilda, Victoria, Australia

[49] 1868 'POLICE INTELLIGENCE.', The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian (Vic. : 1864 - 1888), 16 May, p. 3. , viewed 02 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108124723

[50] Vendors Books, Victoria (Land Victoria(Natural Resources and Envirnonment)), Memorial 753 Book 185. 16 December 1868, 1st increase of his mortgage from  The Victorian Permenant Property Investment & Building Society

[51] Vendors Books, Victoria (Land Victoria(Natural Resources and Envirnonment)), Book 190 Memorial 821.  31 May 1869, 2nd increase of his mortgage from  The Victorian Permenant Property Investment & Building Society

[52] Vendors Books, Victoria (Land Victoria(Natural Resources and Envirnonment)), Book 191 Memorial 420.  12 Jun 1869 for purchase of the next door to his property in High Street

[53] Vendors Books, Victoria (Land Victoria(Natural Resources and Envirnonment)), Book 211 memorial 80.  12 May 1871 for the purchase of property behind his in Inkerman Street, Saint Kilda.

[54] 1871 'Advertising', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 26 May, p. 1. , viewed 28 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5848567

[55] 1871 'Advertising', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 29 June, p. 1. , viewed 28 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5850486

[56] 1870 'Advertising', The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian (Vic. : 1864 - 1888), 15 January, p. 10. , viewed 28 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105820009

[57] 1871 'FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24.', The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian (Vic. : 1864 - 1888), 25 February, p. 4. , viewed 10 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105820384

[58] 1871 'MEMORANDA.', The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian (Vic. : 1864 - 1888), 25 February, p. 7. , viewed 10 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105820392

[59] 1873 'Advertising', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 10 February, p. 2. , viewed 29 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245368216

[60] Probate Files for John Williamson, died 7 June 1874 while residing in St Kilda, Victoria, probated granted 2 July 1874 to Louisa Williamson (Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), VPRS 7591/P0002, 12/185 In the list of Personal Property- two shops are mentioned one is St Kilda and another in Melbouren (accessed online https://prov.vic.gov.au/ 28 March 2022)

[61] Registry of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, Death Certificate John Williamson (Reference details 1874, # 6427

[62] Anon, 'Funeral Notices', The Argus, 9 June 1874, p.8. [Retrieved 3 December 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5871773]; The Springvale Necroplis website (Deceased database accessed at https://smct.org.au/deceased-search; has information regarding Springvale and St Kilda Cemeteries), Reference Number 4212; Tombstone at Gravesite, St Kilda General Cemetery, Church of England - Monumental Grave, Compt C Grave 832 & 830

[63] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216260452/john-williamson : accessed 27 January 2022), memorial page for John Williamson (23 Jan 1832–7 Jun 1874), Find a Grave Memorial ID 216260452, citing St. Kilda Cemetery, St Kilda, Port Phillip City, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by kerbent (contributor 48973979) .

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Wednesday, 8 November 2023

John Williamson WW1

Eight months on the Western Front from 23 November 1916 to 5 August 1917

In 1916 John Palmer Williamson was a single man, two months shy of 26 years of age with blue eyes, standing at 5 feet 6 inches [167 cm] and weighing in at 132 Ibs [60 kg].[i]  He was a qualified marine engineer a civilian working in the merchant navy and had been involved with the movement of Australian troops as they were deployed from Australia to England.

Photographer unknown, JP Williamson[SERN 10030], circa 1916-1919, Helen Condon's Private Photo Collection. [W080]

Photographer unknown, JP Williamson wearing a WW1 AIF cap and cap badge with a non-Australian tunic [SERN 10030], circa 1916-1919, Helen Condon's Private Photo Collection.[W082]

In February 1916, a call was made for men who were engineers or in the allied trades to join the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F).

“A large number of electrical engineers and plumbers are urgently wanted to enlist immediately for the front. Members of these trades willing to join the A.I.F. should communicate with the officer in charge of the engineers’ depot, Moore Park, Sydney.”[ii]

My grandfather John Palmer Williamson answered that call. He enlisted at the Engineers’ depot, Moore Park, Sydney on 28 February 1916 and became part of the Engineer Reinforcements.[iii] Unlike the other training groups in Australia the recruits for the Engineers were drawn from all over the country not just their home state. Initial training took three months, this was the first stage of training that taught the soldier basic discipline and skills and how to handle his personal weapon and equipment.

Trainees lived onsite “in row after row of white tents with the intervening spaces well swept, while a glimpse inside the tents shows them to be sweet and clean, with every article of clothing,. etc., carefully folded and put away. … they have two large airy dining rooms, where meals are served, and there is also a well-equipped reading-room which is supplied with an abundance of books, magazines, and writing materials, while at one end of the room is a piano which has been lent to the camp.”[iv]

At the end of May, he was amongst the men to become part of 9th Field Company Engineers, “picked from the troops at the Engrs. Depot Moore Park and sent to Roseberry Park Racecourse, …, under the Command of Major T.A. Williams.”[v]  The 9th Field Company Engineers' training included the digging of trenches, construction bridges, erection wire entanglements, handling sandbags and demolition work, not to mention bomb-throwing using 'live bombs'.[vi] 

 1916 'ENGINEERS TRAINING FOR SERVICE ABROAD.', Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), 1 March, p. 13. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166256025 

1916 'AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS BOUND FOR THE FRONT.', Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), 7 June, p. 8. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166257351

But not everything was about bombs and learning new skills, there were also euchre parties (a popular card game at the time), dances in the evenings, and friendly football matches between the various camps.[vii] [viii] [ix]

After three months of further elementary training the 9th Field Company of Engineers (New South Wales) as part of Third Division, moved to Wolloomooloo Bay on the 5th July 1916, at 4am with other units & was shipped out at 7.30am on No A 31 HMAT AJANA arriving at Plymouth in England at the end of August on the 31st.[x] [xi]

Photographer Josiah Barnes, Troops on board HMAT Ajana (A31) prior to departure, with well-wishers on the wharf. Troops display a 9th Field Company Engineers banner and a Union Jack., 8 July 1916, Port Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Public Domain, AWM Accessed 21 April 2021

On arrival in England, the troops traveled by train to No.21 Camp in the garrison town of Larkhill, Wiltshire not far from Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plains where the soldiers lived and underwent further training after being vaccinated and inoculated.[xii]  Then the next round of their training began, they “learned how to work as part of a bigger tactical team. After the two weeks indoctrination, eight weeks Intermediate Training subsequently introduced the recruit to graduated lessons in the basic practical disciplines required of a modern infantry soldier.”[xiii]

Lark Hill Camp [10 miles from Tidworth] was ‘very severe and strenuous. We were up at daylight every morning and continued drilling until dark’.[xiv]   As part of the 9th Brigade, John also trained in the Bustard Area as troops in a trench system on the Salisbury Plains which used live ordinance through the network to help acclimatize the trainees to front-line conditions.[xv] 

Photographer unknown, Elevated view of the huts at No 7 Camp at Codford on the Salisbury Plain, February 1917, Wiltshire England [AWM C01288)]
Photographer unknown, A group of soldiers of the 3rd Division AIF taking part in a training exercise on the Salisbury Plain simulating trench warfare. c 1916, Wiltshire England [AWM H00447]

On the fourth of November John having completed his general training for warfare was moved to the army engineer training base at Brightlingsea (Essex coast) to complete the final part of Engineer training at the Australian Engineers’ Training Depot which included extreme living, mining, demolition mining, etc.[xvi] The terrain for training was characterized by “the soft mud and tidal creeks that were perfect terrain for practice in bridge, pontoon and road building and trench and dugout digging, Brightlingsea already formed part of the East Coast garrison.”[xvii]

Training successfully completed he began the journey with the 3rd Australian Division for the Western Front. He embarked on the “Black Prince” at South Hampton on the 21 November and arrived the following day on the 22 November at 6.35am in Harve. From there the troops moved onto the front-line town of Bailleul, France with its hospital for treating the Allied wounded. [xviii] The Royal Engineers had become part of General Monash’s Australian Infantry Division while in the United Kingdom.

He finally arrived at the Messines on 27 November 1916, near the village of Armentières; to a sector nicknamed the “Nursery” run by the British Army where further training and updating of skills was undertaken in further preparation for battle. Two weeks after arriving John had his first bout of illness on the 11 December that year saw him in and out of hospital until 16 December.  The weather in France for the December-January winter was particularly bleak, conditions were wet and cold, making work difficult, uncomfortable, and very dangerous with the constant shelling.[xix][xx] John however rallied and was able to avoid further illness for 6 weeks until the 1st February which saw almost 3 weeks of illness which included being admitted twice to hospital until finally, he was sent to a divisional rest station for 6 days which seemed to resolve the problem. His repetitive bouts of bronchitis probably resulted from the lack of adequate convalescence between each bout.

Being in a front line battalion John would have been in the trenches for periods of rotating time over“each platoon is changed around, so that at the worst a single man seldom does more than forty eight hours continuous front trench duty in every twelve days, and every forty-eight days the whole brigade gets relieved by the reserve brigade and goes out for a complete rest, or for work in the back area, for a clear twenty-four days”[xxi] During these clear days he would have also undergone further training in such things Musketry, a continuation of training in the use and care of the SMLE rifle and the Lewis Light Machine-Gun and other skills such as how to use the Mills grenade.

John worked in the Messines laying duck wall, widening and deepening the trenches working in preparation for the battle of Messines 7-14 June 1917 which was part of the Flanders Offensive.[xxii] [xxiii]  The battle of Messines started with the detonation of 19 mines under the German trenches, which tunnellers had secretly dug over the previous year, creating enormous craters.[xxiv] The men of the 9th Field Company Australia Royal Engineers Unit were exposed to heavy and constant shelling, slowing the engineers down as they reinforced the tunnels and carried duckboards.[xxv] 

After the Battle of Messines, the troops were marched to Bourdrelle for rest staying with billets in the town but John did not return to the Western Front for the battle of Passchendaele but was transferred back to England.   He officially became a member of The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) on the 28th August 1917 with the rank of 2nd Air Mechanic (2A/M).[xxvi]  

Useful links for background

WikiTree profile for John Aaron Palmer Williamson (1892 - 1982)

Previous Military Posts for John Palmer Williamson & his wife Margaret 

  1. Uniforms, Buttons, Badges & Medals of John Aaron Palmer Williamson originally published Wednesday, 21 February 2018
  2. WaggaWagga Voluntary Aid Detachment originally published 21 August 2016

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Author 2023, Sandra Williamson

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 Sources

Australian War Memorial: First World War 1914-1918, John Palmer Williamson, Sapper, Service Number 10030; 9 FCE [Field Company Engineers] (July 1916); HMAT Ajana A31, Sydney date of joining 5 July 1916 citing AWM8 14/28/1 - 9 FCE [Field Company Engineers] (July 1916) [Embarkation Roll/leaving Australia]

Australian War Memorial: First World War Nominal Roll, John Palmer Williamson, private, Service Number 10030; A.F.C. [Australian Flying Corps] (July 1916); date of enlistment 2 February 1916, returned to Australia 6 May 1919; citing AWM133 57  [record notes – list compiled in London 1919 shows date of enlistment, unit of service at the end of the war, according to AWM contains many errors][returning to Australia]

National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office, B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series; B2455, John Palmer Williamson (short form NAA: B2455, WILLIAMSON JOHN PALMER) [personnel file]

National Archives of Australia: Deputy Commissioner for Repatriation, Brisbane, Queensland; M61343, John Palmer Williamson, Service Number 10030 [medical file after the war].

[i] National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office, B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series; B2455, John Palmer Williamson (short form NAA: B2455, WILLIAMSON JOHN PALMER) [personnel file]

[ii] 1916 'Our Soldiers.', Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent (NSW : 1887 - 1932), 11 February, p. 5. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article228631387

[iii] National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office, B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series; B2455, John Palmer Williamson (short form NAA: B2455, WILLIAMSON JOHN PALMER) [personnel file] Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted For Service Abroad for J.P.Williamson

[iv] 1916 'SOLDIER ENGINEERS.', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 14 January, p. 4. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115266787

[v] WHITEHEAD, D. A. 9th Australian Infantry Brigade, ML MSS. 3059/1 Item 2, page 5 (accessed https://transcripts.sl.nsw.gov.au/page/item-02-david-whitehead-papers-regarding-9th-infantry-brigade-1916-page-5 21 April 2021)

[vi] 1916 'SOLDIER ENGINEERS.', Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), 14 January, p. 4. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115266787

[vii] 1916 'IN THE WINTER GARDEN.', Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), 8 June, p. 28. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115306863

[viii] 1916 'FOOTBALL', The Mirror of Australia (Sydney, NSW : 1915 - 1917), 17 June, p. 15. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104645199

[ix] 1916 'FOOTBALL.', The Mirror of Australia (Sydney, NSW : 1915 - 1917), 24 June, p. 15. , viewed 21 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104642094

[x] Australian War Memorial: First World War 1914-1918, John Palmer Williamson, Sapper, Service Number 10030; 9 FCE [Field Company Engineers] (July 1916); HMAT Ajana A31, Sydney date of joining 5 July 1916 citing AWM8 14/28/1 - 9 FCE [Field Company Engineers] (July 1916) [Embarkation Roll/leaving Australia]

[xi] National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office, B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series; B2455, John Palmer Williamson (short form NAA: B2455, WILLIAMSON JOHN PALMER) [personnel file] p.2

[xii] Lewis Frederickson, The Development of Australian nfantry on the Western Front1916-1918: Ab u\Imperial model of training, tactics and technology, 28 August 2016, Thesis for School of Humanities and Social Sciences UNSW Canberra p.64

[xiii] Lewis Frederickson, The Development of Australian nfantry on the Western Front1916-1918: Ab u\Imperial model of training, tactics and technology, 28 August 2016, Thesis for School of Humanities and Social Sciences UNSW Canberra p.66

[xiv] AWM 2DRL/234 diary Private Verdi Schwinghammer, 42nd Battalion, 11th Brigade, 3rd Division, AIF, p. 9

[xv] 6 M. Molkentin, “Trench Warfare 101: Training at the Bustard Trenches”, Wartime Magazine, Issue 33, 2006.

[xvi] Goddard, Henry Arthur, Events of 1916 for 24th Company Army Service Corp, 9th Australian Machine Gun Company and 9th Field Company Australian Engineers complied by Henry Arthur Goddard. P.9

[xvii] Brightlingsea Museum, Brightlingsea Anzacs, https://brightlingseaanzacs.org/about/ accessed 23 April 2021

[xviii] The Joseph Lamb Story, http://www.users.on.net/~skibeagle/locations/bailleul.html , accessed 23 April 2021

[xix] Army, Australian, "WWI The Western Front - Australian Army", http://103.11.78.168/Our-history/History-in-Focus/WWI-The-Western-Front.  Accessed May 1 2017.

[xx] AWM4 Subclass 14/28 - 9th Field Company, Australian Engineers, July 1917

[xxi] T. Macdougall (ed.), Monash letter March 1917, The War Letters of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, Sydney, 2002, p. 127.

[xxii] Service Record for John Palmer Williamson, p.5

[xxiii] Service Record for John Palmer Williamson, p.2 & 9 p.5

[xxiv] Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA),  Anzac Portal, https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/western-front/battle-of-messines accessed 23 April 2021

[xxv] AWM4 Subclass 14/28 - 9th Field Company, Australian Engineers, July 1917  accessed 1 May 2 [research note- "During World War I, duckboards were put along the ground of trenches on the Western Front. This is because the trenches usually flooded. Mud and water would stay in the trenches for months. The boards helped to keep the soldiers' feet dry. It also helped stop soldiers get a disease called trench foot. Trench foot is caused by standing on wet, muddy ground for a long time. They also helped soldiers move along the trenches faster. Sometimes, falling from duckboards could be deadly. Some unlucky soldiers drowned in mud because of their heavy equipment." source Duckboards. (2020, May 14). Wikipedia. Retrieved 03:02, November 8, 2023 from https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duckboards&oldid=6940683.]

[xxvi] Service Record for John Palmer Williamson, p.4 & 10.


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