SAPPER ARTHUR WILLIAM JAMES MAGGS
4775 – 5th Tunnelling Company
Arthur William James Maggs was born at
Sandhurst, near Bendigo, Victoria in 1877 the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (nee Horgan) Maggs.
The mining company he worked for appears to have sent him to Lyell, Tasmania where he married in 1901 to Hannah Elizabeth Carlton.
They had five children before 1915.
At the recruiting depot at Ross, Tasmania on
November 19, 1915 the thirty-eight year old miner applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing a preliminary medical examination Attestation
Forms were completed which reveal he was
169cms (5ft 6½ins) tall, weighed 58kgs (128lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-87cms (32-34ins).
Complexion was fair with his blue eyes testing to good vision and had fair hair. Distinctive mark was a scar on his right big toe. Religion was
Church of England. Next-of-kin was his wife
Hannah Elizabeth Maggs of 5 Mile, North Dundas
Road, Zeehan, Tasmania. He was sworn in the same day. A day later he passed the medical examination.
Sapper Arthur Willliam James Maggs taken at
Broadmeadows Camp, Melbournec 23 May, 1916.
Photo sourced from Aust War Memorial
He was allotted to the 3rd Mining Corps recruits with the regimental number 2021 for basic training and the Company was transferred from Ross Camp to Claremont Camp on November 27, 1915.
The following acknowledgement to the transferring men was published in the:
Examiner Thursday December 9, 1915
THE CLAREMONT CAMP
On November 27, 208 men, belonging partly to the Mining Corps and partly to Infantry reinforcements, were transferred from Ross to Claremont. The following are the names of the men:
Mining Corps: Captain T.H. Vincent, G.A. Anderson, W. Berry, M. Berkeley, W. Blaney, W. Bayes, F.
Bidulph, A.D. Black, C. Breaden, W.M. Bateson, W. Birch, D. Brennan, C.W. Burris, A.T. Coulson, W.J.
Crosswell, F.A. Cashman, B. Cahill, F.E. Cooper, R. Carter, E.A. Crawford, C.N. Clarke, G. Dewhurst, P.
Dunn, L.M. Forsyth, W.A. Fraser, W.J. Ferguson, H. Gatehouse, E. Green, W.S. Geard, H.R. Homan, G.
Holloway, E.L. Hubbard, W.H. Horsberg, V.J.R. Hubbard, G.H. Johnston, H.V. Jackson, E.A. Jupp, A.R. Little,
E.R. Monks, P.T. Moseley, W.M. Moran, M.J. Morrison, A.W.J. Maggs , A. McDermott, L.R. Morgan, M.P.
O’Toole, W. Painter, E.D. Price, J.R. Peterson, T.T. Rocter, J. Reynolds, R. Smith, L.J. Shearing, W. Stewart,
W. Searle, C. Seen, H. Stevens, L.A. Street, H.C. Simpson, J.G. Turnbull, O.N.W. Taylor, J. Taylor, J. Thomas,
T.J. Travis, C.D. Wardle, L.J. Wolfe, W. Walls, C. Chaplain, P. J. Barrett, F. Claxton, O.L. McArdell, M. Ryan,
J. Brennan, W. Fordham, -- Jupp.
Article Abridged
On January 5, 1916 some of the soldiers were transferred to the No. 5 Tunnelling Company and the remainder left for Casula camp near Liverpool, New South Wales. Sapper Maggs was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal and was among those attending the Musketry School which was reported in:

The Mercury Saturday April 22, 1916:
MILITARY NOTES
The following members of the A.I.F. have been attending No. 8 Musketry School at the Sandy Bay rifle range, which was concluded this week—Acting Sergeant M.H.G. Whittaker, Acting Corporal B.J. Jackson, Acting
Corporals A.W.J. Maggs, W.W.W. White, and R.D. Newitt, Privates E. H. Bennett, M.C. Schultz, C.H.
Claxton, L. McGee, W.J. Gourlay, E.E. Ford, A.F. Love, J. Ferguson and B.G. Clarke.
The No.5 Tunnelling Company travelled to Melbourne on April 21, 1916. His regimental number was
4775.
Early in May, 1916 the recruits forming part of the No. 4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane,
Queensland on board HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153
O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the
No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections
(8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st
Reinforcements for No.5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.)
During their stay in Melbourne Acting Corporal Maggs was sent to the Broadmeadows Clearing Hospital but not admitted.
The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with
1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
While on board Warilda on May 30 he was admitted to the ship’s hospital for treatment of Lidon
Urticaria (Hives) and his medical notes stated:
30/5 Papular (large broad flat) symptoms with much irritation on forearms, arms, hands and neck. Few
? on body
1/6 Irritation and rash increasing. Condition maybe a toxic one for long voyage
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Acting Corporal disembarked Warilda on June 1, 1916 and taken sick to No.8 Aust General Hospital at
Fremantle, W.A. entering with a toxic rash. He was discharged to Details Camp to return to duty on July
13, 1916.
On July 20 he was to be Corporal with the Tunnelling Company Reinforcements (5th M.D.) until
September 4, 1916 when transferred to the 6th Reinforcement to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion.
At Belmont camp hospital on October 9 he was diagnosed the Neurasthenia (nervous condition, constantly worried to point of exhaustion) and admitted to No.8 Aust General Hospital at Fremantle. On
October 13 he appeared before a Medical Board and his Statement of Case reads:
Disability:
Essential facts:
Neurasthenia, dilated heart
Origin of disability: July 1916
Place of disability: W.A.
Put on shore at Fremantle on 2/6/16 with vaccination rash. In No. 8 Aust

Disability:
Due to Service:
General Hospital 7 weeks, then sent to camp for duty. On duty 4 weeks when he had nervous breakdown, this has existed twice.
Constitutional
No
Present condition: Tremor, headache severe at times, sleepless. Nervy – heart dilated.
Slapping impulse
Recommendation: Unsuitable for service
Caused by:
Board described:
Result of service:
No injury
Neurasthenia, tremor, dilated heart, sleepless, unsuitable for service
Some of these
Recommendation: Discharge as permanently unfit – transfer to No. 6 Military District
Approved: Perth 16/10/16
He returned to Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on the transport Kanowna on October 21 then by the steamer to
Launceston, Tasmania arriving on October 31, 1916. News of the invalided soldiers’ arrival was printed in the:
Daily Telegraph (Launceston) Wednesday November 1, 1916:
RETURNED SOLDIERS
MORE SICK AND WOUNDED MEN ARRIVE
Another batch of sick and wounded men who have been on active service arrived in Launceston by the t.s.
Loongana yesterday.
The men were met on arrival of the steamer by Mr H. Weedon, on behalf of the Mayor and other officials of the
Red Cross Society. The names of the men were: [abridged to Mining Corps]
Sapper A. L. Oliver, Derby, 5th Tunnelling Company, 1st Mining Corps, tuberculosis of both lungs.
Corporal A.W.J. Maggs, Zeehan, 5th Tunnelling Company Mining Corps, neurasthenia, dilated heart.
Article abridged
He entered No. 12 Aust General Hospital at Launceston on October 31 for treatment of Neurasthenia and dilated heart remaining a patient until December 15, 1916 then recommended for discharge from the
A.I.F. His incapacity for the labour market was given as one quarter percent.
Military Discharge was issued in Hobart (6th M.D.) on January 15, 1917 as medically unfit. He was granted a Military Pension from January 16, 1917 of sixty-six shilling per fortnight.
This was broken up on February 6, 1917 to include his dependents as follows:
Hannah Elizabeth Maggs wife 34 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
Jeanette Maggs
Leonard Stanley Maggs
Arthur Wallace Maggs
Alfred James Maggs
Thomas Albert Maggs
George Maggs daughter son son son son son
10 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
10 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
10 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
10 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
20 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
15 shillings per fortnight from 16/1/17
His pension was reduced from August 2, 1917 to the following:
Arthur William James
Hannah Elizabeth self wife
51 shillings per fortnight
25 shillings 6 pence per fortnight
Thomas Albert
George
Jeanette
Leonard Stanley
Arthur Wallace son son daughter son son
15 shillings per fortnight
11 shillings 3 pence per fortnight
7 shillings 6 pence per fortnight
7 shillings 6 pence per fortnight
7 shillings 6 pence per fortnight
A further reduction commenced from February 28, 1918 as follows:
[Some statements missing]

Thomas Albert
George
Jeanette
Leonard Stanley
Arthur Wallace
Alfred James son son daughter son son son
13 shillings 3 pence for fortnight ten shillings per fortnight six shillings 9 pence per fortnight six shillings 9 pence per fortnight six shillings 9 pence per fortnight six shillings 9 pence per fortnight
From 1919 to 1922 their residence was North Dundas Road, Zeehan and he was a labourer.
As Acting Corporal Maggs did not leave Australia he was ineligible for War Service Medals.
The following advertisement was published in the:
Advocate (Burnie) Tuesday October 12, 1926:
THE SOUTH FARRELL MINING COMPANY, NO LIABILITY
I, the undersigned, ARTHUR WILLIAM JAMES MAGGS, being the duly appointed Attorney of South Farrell
Mining Company, No Liability, do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare that the Company purposes carrying on mining operations in Tasmania.
The name of the Agent of the said Company is Arthur William James Maggs, of Tullah, Tasmania, Mine
Manager.
The Office of the said Company in Tasmania is at South Farrell Mine, Tullah, Tasmania.
The place where the Company was incorporated is State of Victoria, and situation of its Head Office is at No.
12 Melrose street, Sandringham, Victoria.
All which matters, I conscientiously believe to be true, and I make this declaration by virtue of Section 132 of
“The Evidence Act, 1910.”
(Signed) ARTHUR WILLIAM JAMES MAGGS
Declared at Tullah this seventh day of September, 1926, before me,
H.L. FINN J.P.
A Justice of the Peace
From 1928 they are registered at Tullah, Zeehan and he was a contractor. He is mentioned in the Personal column of:
The Mercury Friday October 19, 1945:
PERSONAL
Mr A.W.J. Maggs, has been appointed a member of the Zeehan Municipal Commission.
His wife died early in March, 1951 and her Obituary was published in the:
Advocate (Burnie) Saturday March 3, 1951:
OBITUARY
LATE MRS H.E. MAGGS
The funeral of Mrs Hannah Elizabeth Maggs, who died suddenly at her residence at Tullah on February 14, took place at the new Wynyard cemetery recently.
Born at Bendigo, Victoria, Mrs Maggs (nee Carlton) in later years came to Tasmania, where she married Mr
Arthur Wallace Maggs at Lyell in 1901. During her long terms of residence in the West Coast, she lived with her family members in the Zeehan district for many years, and finally went to Tullah in 1922, where she lived as a highly respected resident up till the time of her death.
She is survived by her husband and all seven family members—Mrs G. Woods (Wynyard), Bert (Traralgon,
Vic), Alex, (Geelong), George, Len, Wall, Jim, of Tullah.
The service at the graveside was conducted by Rev Mr Robson, of Wynyard. Many former residents of Tullah, now living at North-West Coast centres, were present.
Chief mourners were the husband, Mrs W. Maggs, Mrs A. Maggs jnr, (daughters-in-law), sons Bert, George,
Len, Wall, Alex, Jim, Mr G. Woods, (son-in-law), Mr G. Woods, Jnr (grandson).
Carriers were Messrs W. Redman, R. Poke, G. Woods, snr, G. Woods, jnr. Among the many beautiful tributes were those from the citizens of Tullah, Farrell Mining Co Ltd, Tullah Parents and Friends’ Association, Tullah
Football Club and Tullah Tramway employees.

Full caption for AWM Image ID DA15275 [top of profile]:
Studio portrait of 4775 Second Corporal Arthur William James Maggs, No 5 Tunnelling Company from
Zeehan, Tasmania. A 38 year old miner prior to enlisting on 19 November 1915, he embarked for overseas from
Melbourne on 25 May 1916 aboard HMAT Warilda. After disembarking in Fremantle, Western Australia on 1
June 1916 for medical treatment, he left Fremantle for Hobart, Tasmania on 21 October 1916. He was discharged medically unfit on 15 January 1917. This is one of a series of photographs taken by the Darge
Photographic Company which had the concession to take photographs at the Broadmeadows and Seymour army camps during the First World War. In the 1930s, the Australian War Memorial purchased the original glass negatives from Algernon Darge, along with the photographers' notebooks. The notebooks contain brief details, usually a surname or unit name, for each negative. The names are transcribed as they appear in the notebooks.
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