Willoughby Manton and Archie Thomson were comrades-in-arms - and lifelong friends
LIEUTENANT WILLOUGHBY MANTON
182 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Willoughby Manton married Violet Sylvia Cook in Sydney on 18 December 1901. Violet was born in
Sydney, in 1879, the daughter of Edward William and Emily Selina (nee Keane) Cook. The marriage
certificate for Willoughby and Violet records that he was a 29-year-old Station Manager of Gilgandra,
New South Wales, born in New York, USA, the son of Willoughby Randolph (deceased) and May, nee
Astor, Manton. A daughter, Willoughby Astor, was born in Ravenswood, Queensland in 1903.
Willoughby underwent a medical examination at Sydney on 15 July 1915, which found him to be ‘fit for
active service’. The examiner recorded that Willoughby stated his age to be 43 years and 2 months, that
he was 5ft 9¼ins tall, weighed 165 lbs and had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated he
was born in Sydney, New South Wales and was a Mining Engineer by trade. He signed the ‘Attestation
Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 20 July 1915 at
Liverpool, NSW. He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife Violet Manton of 39 Hargrave Street,
Paddington, NSW.
From 16 July 1915 he was at the 30th Battalion Depot as Acting Quartermaster Sergeant and was then
transferred to 7th Field Company Engineers until 7 November 1915 as a Corporal. He was appointed to
the No.1 Mining Corps at Casula by Major MacTaggart and on 13 December and was promoted to
Warrant Officer. Willoughby Manton embarked at Sydney with the Australian Mining Corps on board
HMAT A38 Ulysses on 20 February 1916 as the Warrant Officer of No.1 Company.
He was promoted from Warrant Rank ‘in the Field’ and he was Gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant on 23
August 1916, replacing Lieutenant Arthur Percival Smith who had been killed in action on 29 June. He
reported sick on 31 December 1916 and was admitted to the 7th Stationary Hospital. He was transferred
to Michaelais Convalescent Home, Cap Martins, on 15 January with bronchitis, being discharged to duty
on 10 February.
Sydney Morning Herald Friday March 2, 1917:
IN HOSPITAL
LIEUT. MANTON
Private advice has been received by Mrs Willoughby Manton that her husband, Lieut Manton, who recently
won his second star on active service in France, is in the military hospital at Boulogne, suffering from the
effects of shell fumes on the lungs.
He had been promoted to Lieutenant on 1 January 1917 and rejoined his unit on 25 February. Willoughby
received a Special Mention in the Despatches of Sir Douglas Haig of 7 November 1917.
Northern Miner Saturday January 5, 1918:
OUR LONDON LETTER
Lieutenant W. Manton of Ingham and Major J. Douglas Henry of Indooroopilly both of the 1st Tunnelling
Company are in London on leave from France. Major Henry will shortly be leaving for Mesopotamia.
Willoughby proceeded on leave on 11 March 1918, returning to his unit on 27 March. Violet was advised
that Willoughby’s ‘Mention in Despatches’ had appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
No.57, dated 18th April, 1918.
Sydney Morning Herald - Monday - May 30, 1918:
AUSTRALIANS HONOURED
Mrs Willoughby Manton, of Como, has been advised that her husband, Lieut. Manton, as been mentioned in
despatches by Sir Douglas Haig for continuous meritorious service in the field.
On 17 August 1918 he proceeded to the rest camp at Treport.
Willoughby was awarded the Military Cross for his work on the Hindenburg Line in September 1918. On
the 29th and 30th of September, 1918, elements of the 1st and 2nd Australian Tunnelling Companys,
supporting the Infantry attack on the Hindenberg Line at Bellicourt and Bony, were awarded 10 Military
Crosses, 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 12 Military Medals.
The Sappers had been charged with the usual Engineer tasks of clearing enemy mines and booby traps
from roads and dugouts following the attacking Infantry, clearing and maintaining the tactical roads,
clearing wells and setting up water points. When the attack stalled and became disorganized, the Sappers
continued with their assigned tasks, assisted to re-organise the line, captured prisoners, carried messages
for their own and other units, organized a party of American Infantry, helped feed an artillery battery with
ammunition, assisted and carried wounded, all being achieved under heavy shell and machine gun fire
and while their own sections suffered 50 to 75% casualties
The Recommendation by C.R.E. Corps Troops, Australian Corps for Willoughby’s Military Cross reads:
“On the 29th September 1918 at Bony he was in charge of a party of Tunnellers clearing and maintaining a
forward road under heavy enemy shell and machine gun fire.
Although, owing to Infantry being held up, heavy casualties were occurring he carried through the work and set
a splendid example of courage and resourcefulness.”
The official citation reads:
“For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 29th September, 1918, at Bony, when he was in charge of a party of
tunnellers clearing and maintaining a forward road under heavy enemy shell and machine gun fire. Although,
owing to Infantry being held up, heavy casualties were occurring he carried through the work and set a fine
example of coolness and resourcefulness to those under him.”
Willoughby again enjoyed some leave from 29 October to 17 November 1918. After the Armistice, the
unit was employed in the re-construction of roads, water and other facilities, and the clearance and
making safe of mines and booby traps left behind by the Germans.
He proceeded on duty to England on 15 March 1919, rejoining his unit in France on 3 April. The ‘duty’
is not detailed, but may have been to do with the unit’s end-of-war records. Willoughby marched out of
the 1st Aust. Tunnelling Company to Australian Base Depot at Havre on 6 May for return to Australia.
He marched out to England on duty with the units War Records on 25 May and reported to D.A.A.G.,
completing his duty with the War Records on 11 July.
Violet was advised that the award of the Military Cross to Willoughby had appeared in the
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No.75, dated 17th June, 1919.
Willoughby was granted leave from 14 July to 31 October, with pay and subsistence, to attend Peter Lind
& Company, Parliament Mansions, Victoria Street, London to gain more knowledge of steel. He left
London on 15 November 1919 on board Ypiranga, disembarking in Australia on 4 January 1920. His
C.O., Major Ernest Sleeman Anderson shared the voyage home with him. His appointment as an Officer
in the Australian Imperial Force was terminated on 7 June 1920. He was entitled to wear the Military
Cross, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with Oak Leaf.
On 14 May 1933, Willoughby wrote to Captain Oliver Woodward:
“Dear Captain,
I have read your War Story covering the time from your enlistment training and through the many
thrilling experiences on the Western Front. It has been a great pleasure and I do not hesitate to say that it is the
best War Story I have read. Your criticism is not only humorous but true.
The 1st Tunnelling Coy. is proud of you exploits and pleased with the decorations awarded you knowing
them to be honestly earned.
With my regards,
Yours faithfully
W. Manton”
Sydney Morning Herald - Friday August 31, 1934:
FUNERAL OF MAJOR T.W.E. DAVID
Just before the service commenced a little company of tunnellers who had been associated with Sir Edgeworth
David in the Mining Corps at the war filed silently past the coffin and laid at the head of it the companies flag
with the letter “T” in the centre, and bearing the inscription Tunnellers, A.E.M.M. and B Co.” The coffinbearers were members of the A.I.F. Tunnelling Companies’ Old Comrades Association, consisting of Major
J.B. Shand, Major R.B. Hinder, Captain F.G. Phippard, Lieutenant W. Manton, Lieutenant J. MacD. Royle,
Lieutenant J.C. Close, Lieutenant H.V. Searle and Lieutenant J.E. Armstrong."
Abridged
This group represented all four companies that had their origins in the Mining Corps.
[see on this website Photo Albums/Some of our favourite photos/Page 9]
Willoughby regularly attended the reunions of the Alphabets & Tunnellers until 1963, probably with his
son-in-law and former 1ATC comrade, Archie Thomson who lived at the same address.
Sydney Morning Herald Monday April 27, 1936:
ANZAC CEREMONIES
TUNNELLING COMPANIES
A combined reunion luncheon of the Australian Electrical, Mechanical, Mining and Boring Company, and the
Tunnelling Company, was held at Sargents, Market-Street, about 150 being present, Capt W. Manton presided,
in the absence of Major T.B. Shand, M.L.A., who led the march through the city. The toasts of “The Day We
Celebrate” and “Absent Friends” were duly honoured.
Sydney Morning Herald Friday January 27, 1939:
RETURN AFTER 24 YEARS
Man Who Was Reported Dead
TOAST DRUNK IN MEMORY
A man who had been reported dead an in whose memory a toast had been drunk at a reunion of his war
comrades, has returned to Australia for the first time since he left in a troopship in 1914.
He is Mr Douglas Henry, who as a major commanded the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, which played a
prominent part in the underground warfare at Hill 60 in 1916-17.
Yesterday before the California Star, in which he travelled to Australia, sailed for Brisbane Mr Henry renewed
acquaintance with Mr W. Manton, one of his fellow-officers at Hill 60, and the man who was responsible for
the premature report of his death.
“He heard from another friend of mine that I was dead, probably because I had been away on some remote
corner of Europe or Asia, and had not written,” he explained. They drank a toast to my memory, and then
turned the glasses down. Now, I suppose they’ll have another drink!”
Mr Henry, who was a mining engineer in Queensland before the war, continued his profession in Europe after
demobilisation and since then has visited every country in Europe. The past four years he has been in Portugal.
“Portugal is now a prosperous and happy country under its dictatorship,” he said. “Of course, they have their
little revolutions now and then, but nobody is hurt. One man was killed, but that was an accident. A fellow
dropped his rifle, and the bullet hit his sergeant!”
Mr Henry visited Spain several times during the civil war, including one visit during which Seville was
bombarded.
“Don’t think for a minute that the Spanish war is going to end,” he said yesterday. “It will simply develop into
something much bigger. Australians do not seem to realise that there is going to be another war, in which they
will be involved. I think it will come this year, but if it is delayed it will not be later than next year.”
With his wife and two children, Mr Henry is returning to Queensland, and will again make his home there.
In March 2010, Jim Henry, the son of Major James Douglas Henry, original Officer Commanding 1st
Australian Tunnelling Company, was living in London and recalled:
“Major Henry, my father, was very fond of Lt Manton. As the ship the California Star docked at different ports on
the east coast of Australia, old mining soldiers were there to greet their old CO returning to Australia. When the
ship docked in Brisbane, Manton ran up the ship's steps two at a time (not a young man then) grasped James
Douglas Henry by the hand and said, ‘We knew you'd come back!’”
Violet Manton died in 1945 at Ryde. In March 1949 Willoughby’s Military documents were forwarded
to the Repatriation Commission in Sydney.
The Sydney Morning Herald – NSW - Thursday 8 November 1945:
DEATHS
MANTON: - November 3, 1945, at a private hospital, Violet Sylvia, dearly loved wife of Willoughby Manton,
of 6 Blair Street, Bondi, and loving mother of Willoughby (Mrs. A. Thomson) and Mayne Manton, aged 63
years. Privately cremated on 7th inst.
The NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages records Violets father as Edward Wrentmore Cook and her
mother as Emily Selina.
Willoughby Manton died at Marrickville, NSW on 26 October 1964, aged 95.
Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday October 27, 1964:
FUNERALS
MANTON—The Relatives and Friends of the late WILLOUGHBY MANTON, of Bondi, are invited to attend
his Funeral service to be conducted at the Chapel of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, This Wednesday, at
10.40 a.m.
JOHN KEELER,
51-5584
51-7286
Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday October 28, 1964:
DEATHS
MANTON, Willoughby—October 26, 1964, at hospital, late of 6 Blair Street, Bondi, beloved husband of the
late Violet Manton, loving father of Willoughby Astor (Mrs A.S. Thomson), and Mayne, fond father-in-law of
Gillian, loved grandfather of Peter and Peggy, aged 93 years, At rest.
FUNERALS
MANTON—Relatives and Friends of the late WILLOUGHBY MANTON are invited to attend his Funeral
service, to be conducted in the Chapel of the Rookwood Crematorium, Tomorrow (Wednesday), 10.40 a.m.
JOHN KEELER,
51-5584
51-7286
Willoughby’s son, Mayne Mervyn Maurice Manton, served in World War 2.
Born at Hurstville, Sydney on 25 November 1920, Midshipman Mayne Mervyn Morris (sic) Manton was
appointed to the Royal Australian Navy Reserve on 1 January 1939. He was enlisted for service in WW2
on 5 September 1939 and was appointed to Cerberus for gunnery practise. On 5 October he was
appointed to Arawa.
He was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 25 November 1940 and he was re-appointed to Arawa.
Mayne served on several ships and was promoted to Lieutenant on 25 May 1943. He was in Command of
Bundaberg in November 1945.
Mayne was discharged at HMAS Kuttabul on 15 July 1946 and was transferred to the Retired List of
Reserve Officers on 15 July 1949.
LIEUTENANT ARCHIE SNOWDEN THOMSON
301 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Archie Snowden Thomson was born at Polmont, Scotland. He signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons
Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 12 November 1915. A medical examination on the same day at the
Darling Downs Central Recruiting Depot, Toowoomba, recorded that Archie was 31 years and 11 months
of age, that he was 5ft 10½ins tall, weighed 157 lbs, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair.
A single Miner working at Mount Morgan, Queensland, he recorded his father, John Thomson of Cannon
Mills, Edinburgh, Scotland, as his Next of Kin and signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 12
November 1915 at Toowoomba. He was appointed to the newly established Australian Mining Corps at
Casula, New South Wales.
Archie embarked at Sydney with the Australian Mining Corps on 20 February 1916 on board HMAT A38
Ulysses.
Wounded in action on 14 November he was admitted to the 4th London Field Ambulance with gun shot
wounds to the face, right hand and right leg. On 16 November he was transferred to the 13th Stationary
Hospital, France, where his records note ‘(4 fingers cut off)’.
Archie was evacuated to England on 21 November and was admitted to Colchester General Hospital,
from where he was transferred to No.1 Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 17 February 1917.
On 23 March 1917, the address for Archie’s Next of Kin was altered to: John Thomson, C/o Mrs
Lenaghan, 6 Bond Street, Leith, Scotland.
On 2 May, Archie was discharged from hospital and granted furlough until 17 May. By 28 May he had
rejoined his 1st Tunnelling Company in France. A.I.F. Headquarters noted there were no particulars of
his proceeding overseas to France.
“November 1916
Throughout the 12th, 13th and 14th the enemy heavily shelled Hill 60 and we lost three splendid N.C.O.’s;
Sergeant Ruddick and Corporal Mudie were killed, and Sergeant Thomson had his right hand blown off. He
was a fire-eating type of Scotsman and when later discharged from hospital and ordered to a base Camp, he
deserted and worked his way back to France. The Military Police arrested him on arrival at Poperinghe, but our
C.O. succeeded in obtaining permission for him to rejoin the Company. Despite his disability he took his full
share in Front Line work and finished the War as 1st Lieut. A.S. Thomson, M.C., D.C.M. a record which calls
for admiration.”
Capt. Oliver Holmes Woodward, 1st Aust Tunnelling Company, autobiography, Vol. II:
Further news on his recovery after his wounding was reported by his comrades to Mrs Wheeler which
was published on Saturday October 6, 1917 in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin:
CENTRAL QUEENSLANDERS ABROAD
Letter from Mrs H.G. Wheeler (London)
Their friend Archie Thomson has rejoined the unit and they were very pleased to see him back.
On Saturday November 17, 1917 the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin received more news via Mrs
Wheeler’s letter:
In the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin Thursday August 9, 1917 he is mentioned in a letter:
CENTRAL QUEENSLANDERS ABROAD
Letter from Mrs H.G. Wheeler (London) 5/6/17
Sapper Groom was glad to hear from me of George Lutton’s whereabouts and also the information I gave him
about Sergeant Archie Thompson.
Archie proceeded on leave on 10 February 1918 and whilst on leave in England, he was admitted to No.2
Auxiliary Hospital at Southall on 12 February 1918, with a mutilated hand. He was discharged to leave
on 14 February, to report back to the hospital on 23 February. He again rejoined his unit in France on 11
March.
CENTRAL QUEENSLANDER ABROAD
Letter Mrs H.G. Wheeler
I have had a note from Paddy O’Connor of the First Tunnelling Company. He says that Sergeant Archie
Thomson has been back with his unit for some time and is in great heart. You will remember me telling you
some time ago that Sergeant Thomson was in Harefield having had all the fingers of his right hand blown away
but he was pointed to return to his unit. At the time I very much doubted if he would be allowed to but he has
evidently gained his point and is back with the boys again.
He was promoted ‘in the field’ to 2nd Lieutenant on 13 September, and enjoyed another period of leave
from 30 September to 18 October.
1ATC War Diary:
NOVEMBER, 1918
BUSIGNY Sheet 57B V.21.d.8.6
1st
Fine and cold
2nd
Cold and wet
3rd
Cold and fine No. 2 Section Advance H.Q. moved to St Souplet Sh. 57B Q.36.6.2.5 No. 3
Section H.Q. moved to Sh 57B W.5.a.7.2. 25 men under Lt Thomson No. 1 Section attached to
Capt Woodward in connection with bridging the Sambre Canal. No. 2 Section in Advance
H.Q. to La Vallee Mulatre.
from Oliver Woodward’s ‘War Story’:
“November 1918
At noon, with Lieutenants Sawyer and Thomson and 95 other ranks, I moved off for our assembly point. At
about 3.30 p.m. the Pontoon Waggons carrying the Rolled Steel Joists arrived and we were on time to move off
to our battle position at 4 p.m..
It was not until 7.30 a.m. that Major Findlay, under whose command we were, considered it safe to commence
our task. Even at this hour the area around the Canal was subjected to terrific bombardment, but fortunately the
Machine Guns close handy had been silenced. We had to pass through the barrage in order to bring our
Bridging material forward and the manner in which the men, together with Lieutenants Sawyer and Thomson,
moved forward and back through this shell swept area was magnificent.
On the 24th December, 9th Corps Order H/R 728 published the award of the Military Cross to Lieutenants
Sawyer and Thomson, Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sergeant Hutchinson, and 2 Bar to the Military Cross to
myself.”
[see also on this website: Western Front/1st Australian Tunnelling Company/Sambre Canal – 4th November 1918]
The recommendation was submitted by the Major General Commanding 1st Division, and carried a
handwritten recommendation by Maj. Anderson, A.E., CO 1st Tunnelling Coy. It was further
recommended by the Lieut. General Commanding IX Corps on 28 Nov 1918.
The recommendation for the Military Cross was passed from 1st Division on 21 Nov 1918 and read:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 3/4th November 1918 at REJET DE
BEAULIEU, where this officer was entrusted with the delivery of heavy bridging material for the construction
of a bridge to carry tanks. The work was of the most arduous nature necessitating the repeated passage of the
carrying party through an intense Artillery and Machine Gun Barrage. The completion of the bridge within five
hours after zero was largely due to the gallant conduct of this officer
Note: Recommendation for M.S.M. (New Year Honours) passed through Controller of Mines, 4th Army on
19/9/18
Has not been submitted for any immediate Award.”
He was promoted to Lieutenant on 13 December 1918. Archie was granted ‘non-military employment’
leave from 12 February to 14th June 1919, with pay and subsistence, to attend D. Dow, Reuhaven,
concerning tropical agriculture.
Archie was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal which was promulgated in the London Gazette
dated 3rd September 1919:
“For gallantry and devotion to duty for the past two years on many occasions under fire, notably during July
and August, 1918, near Hamel, when his energy and example encouraged the men under him to complete
important work in time for operations.”
He left England on 1 November 1919 for return to Australia per HT Nestor. Disembarking in Brisbane
on 17 December 1919, Archie was classified as medically unfit ‘S.W. Rt hand Amp 4 fingers’. His
appointment in the Australian Imperial Force was terminated on 8 February 1920. He was entitled to
wear the Military Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Sydney Morning Herald – NSW - Wednesday 31 October, 1928:
THIEF DISTURBED
Robbing Till
Startled by the ringing of the till bell on Monday night, Mr. A.S. Thompson, proprietor of the Thistle Garage,
Old South Head-road, ran into his office in time to see a man bending over the till, in the act of robbing it.
Although handicapped by war injuries and the loss of one arm, Mr. Thompson pluckily dragged the man from
the till. He then closed the doors of the office, and communicated with the police by telephone. Seizing the
opportunity, the thief flung open the door and ran to a car which was waiting outside. At the same time another
man sprang from the car, and the two men crossed into the golf links and disappeared.
It was later ascertained that the car in which the men had been driving had been hired from a city garage earlier
in the evening.
Mr. Thompson was able to furnish a description to the police of the men.
Archie acknowledged Oliver Woodwards’ book when he wrote to him:
321 Old South Head Road,
BONDI.
15th May, 1933.
I have read with much satisfaction Captain Oliver Woodward’s story of “The Great War”. I think it is
a very modest account of his experiences. He was an officer under whom all ranks were proud to serve
because of his courage and exemplary conduct no matter what the circumstances.
I can say without the slightest hesitation that no member of the A.I.F. won his decorations more
worthily than did Captain Woodward.
Long may he be spared to enjoy the admiration of his family and friends for his is a record of which any
man may well be proud.
A.S. Thomson.
Archie married Willoughby Astor (Bell) Manton, the daughter of Captain Willoughby (Bill) Manton,
M.C., also of the 1st Tunnelling Company, who owned the Thistle Garage, Old South Head Road, North
Bondi, Sydney, NSW.
Archie Thomson died on October 22, 1968, aged 85. These notices appeared in the Sydney Morning
Herald on Friday October 25, 1968:
DEATHS
THOMSON, Archie Snowdon—October 22, 1968, at R.G.H. Concord, Ex. 1st Aust. Tunnelling Company,
A.I.F. of 6 Blair Street, Bondi, beloved husband of Willoughby, loved father of Peter and Peggy, loved
grandfather of their children.
FUNERALS
THOMSON—The Funeral of the late Mr ARCHIE SNOWDON THOMSON, of Bondi, took place privately at
the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on Thursday.
ALLAN WALSH Pty Ltd
CHATSWOOD
41-8635
An application for Repatriation Benefits in relation to his 1914-18 service was submitted in December
1968.
Ulysses – Willoughby and Archie were shipmates on this voyage:
Following a farewell parade in the Domain, Sydney, the Australian Mining Corps embarked from Sydney, New
South Wales on 20 February 1916 on board HMAT A38 Ulysses.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company
– 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Ulysses arrived in Melbourne, Victoria on 22 February and the Miners were camped at Seymour while additional
stores and equipment were loaded onto Ulysses. Departing Melbourne on 1 March, Ulysses sailed to Fremantle,
Western Australia where additional members of the Corps were embarked. After a delay of about a month due to
Ulysses requiring repairs following a collision with an uncharted rock when leaving Fremantle on 8 March, The
Mining Corps sailed for the European Theatre on 1 April 1916. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’.
The ship arrived at Suez, Egypt on 22 April, departing for Port Said the next day; then on to Alexandria. The
Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made
it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The Mining Corps was transhipped to B1
Ansonia for the final legs to Marseilles, France via Valetta, Malta. Arriving at Marseilles on 5 May, most of the
men entrained for Hazebrouck where they arrived to set up their first camp on 8 May 1916.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian
Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically
qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and
Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
1ATC
Willoughby and Archie were members of 1ATC from May 1916 until their return to Australia. In that period they
would have worked at Hill 60 in the preparations for the Battle of Messines Ridge. They also most likely worked
on the digging of the Catacombs at Hill 63.
They may have been involved with the Easter Raid of April 1917 and the accidental explosion of 25 April 1917
which killed 10 members of their unit, and may also have worked on the construction of the Hooge Crater dugouts.
The Australian war photographer Captain Frank Hurley visited the Hooge Crater dugouts three days before the
Battle of Menin Road and described the conditions he found:
It is a wretched job as they are working 25 feet below the surface level and most of the time knee deep
in mud, which they jocularly term ‘hero juice’ on account of it percolating through tiers and tiers of
buried corpses. Most of the men are miners and they are applying their knowledge to supreme
advantage whilst the Boche shells whiz and burst around them.
Damien Finlayson ‘Crumps and Camouflets’, page 241
Reunions
Past members of the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers Companies
gathered on or about Anzac Day for a reunion luncheon. Willoughby first appears on the Tunnellers Reunion
Register in 1928, giving his address as: “Thistle Garage”, Old South Head Road, Bondi. He is listed again in 1934,
the year Archie is first listed. Archie also lists his address as “Thistle Garage”.
John Macdiarmid Royle (Lt; 1ATC & AEMMBC) put out a Circular around June each year and a few copies are
still in existence. In the 1949 Circular, he comments that Willoughby was present at the dinner “Old Bill Manton –
hale and hearty but with a touch of stringhalt.” He later comments “In spite of the weather 39 Tunnellers, near
Tunnellers and visitors, arrived, there being only one absentee from the list of those accepting and that was Archie
Thomson who was down with the dogs disease.”
A report on the 1959 Reunion records: “Anzac Day, Saturday 25th April, 1959 turned out a very nice warm
Autumn Day (some storms in the afternoon) and approximately 60 old members turned up at the assembly point
and joined the march. Notable absentees on this occasion were Messrs. Manton, Royle, King, Law and several
others.”
The 1960 Reunion report includes: “Many of the “Lads” were too ill to attend, these included, J. Quinlan, Bill
Harvey, Tom Lackey, R. Hampson and (Snow) R. Whelan. One very welcome digger was present Bill Manton,
Batt Sgt./Major – and a toast was given him on his coming 91st Birthday.”
In 1962 Bill was again mentioned in the report: “The sending of many notices apparently was appreciated as we
received quite a few replies, prominent among these were letters and best wishes from Bill Manton, Q.S.M., now
93 years of age, Viv James from Perth, Harry Fisher, Western Australia, Jim Binney, Victoria (Sgt) and many local
boys sending apologies due to age and illness. All these messages were read to the gathering also the welcome
message from Roy Nilsson from England.”
John Royle’s 1963 Circular records: “ARCHIE THOMSON, like his father-in-law, dear old Bill Manton has had a
bad time in and out of hospital. I regret I have not seen either of them since Anzac Day last year.” They are both
listed as living at 6 Blair Street, Bondi.
1967 Circular: “Archie Thomson of the 1st, I also see at funerals (but we are running out of material for them I am
afraid.)”
“Mac wants to know do I ever come across Seaborn Jones, the champion “sniffer” of all time. He met him once
many years ago and took him to lunch at the M & M Club but has not heard of him since. (I have never heard of
him for over 30 years and crossed him off the mailing list as probably dead.) Mac is expecting a visit from one of
his sisters, at present in New Zealand. (Yes, Mac, Jack Armstrong and I met both your sisters at the time you speak
of and we made a tape recording and Mac did not recognise old Bill Manton’s voice on the record!)”
Willoughby (old Bill) and Archie in 1951 at a social
function, possibly the 21st birthday of Archie’s daughter,
and Bills granddaughter, Peggy.
The individual medals and awards won by these two friends occupy a single display unit within a
descendants’ home.
© Donna Baldey 2010 / 2012
www.tunnellers.net
Assistance & Photos courtesy John Lenaghen, Scotland
&
Gillian Manton, daughter-in-law of Willoughby Manton, Wales.