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Bryn
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Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Graeme;
Stephen Midgley was an original member of the 5th Light Horse Regiment, having been appointed as a captain on 30 Sep 1914. He was quickly promoted to major, and commanded 'A' Squadron.
He was born at MacLean River, northern NSW, on 29 May 1871, and gave his occupation as 'Mine Owner,' of 'Saint Clair', James Street, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland. This was apparently his mother's address. He was single.
He had previously fought in the South African War in the 2nd (Queensland Mounted Infantry) Contingent as Sergeant no. 22, and was invalided to England on 13 Aug 1900.
Though he plainly already held the Distinguished Service Order at the outbreak of war, there is no indication that he received the award while serving with Australian forces. It seems reasonable to assume (I haven't seen his service dossier, which would probably clear it up), that he joined a British unit while in England and returned to South Africa.
He was involved in almost all the 5th Light Horse Regiment's actions at Anzac, and was a renowned bomb-(hand grenade) maker. The 5th held the absolute southern extremity of the line; Chatham's Post and Wilson's Lookout, on Harris Ridge (all three places named after officers of the regiment).
Extract from Army Corps Routine Orders, 2nd July 1915:
‘Major Midgley, S., D.S.O. - Led his Squadron throughout the action under heavy shell and rifle fire.’ (Referring to the 5th Light Horse’s attack on the Balkan Gun Pits, Anzac; 28th June 1915).
At the evacuation of Gallipoli, Major Midgley commanded the Regiment's 'C' parties; the last to leave, who boarded the boats at about 3:30 am, 20 Dec 1915. He received the C.M.G. for his services at Anzac.
He transferred into the 54th Battalion on 5 September 1916. During the course of the war he was mentioned in despatches 3 times.
There's a photo of him at Anzac with Lieut. Col. Wilson, in Bean Vol. 2 facing p301. The one below is from The Queenslander
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11/22/2003, 11:03 am
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stevenbecker
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Also if you don't catch the other entry,
Check out Bill Woolmore's book Bushveldt Carbineers for a more detailed Bio on him pre WWI and after.
S.B
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11/22/2003, 1:26 pm
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saint54
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Thanks Bryn and Steve
I have Midgley's service record from the AIF [its available on line]. His departure from the 54th wasn't all that glorious due to ill health - he was pushed rather than allowed to retire. The 54th was dogged by constant changes in leadership and Midgley was its longest serving CO. Ill check out his service record and send more info later. If I remember rightly his DSO was won while with a British unit
Ross
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11/22/2003, 1:42 pm
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saint54
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Following info is taken from MIDGLEY'S service record which available online on the NAA site. Midgley was 'sacked' from command of the 54th Bn in Sept 1917 after the 14th Bde CO, Hobkirk, had apparently run out of patience with MIdgley's bouts of ill health. Hobkirk also used the excuse of the poor 'internal economy' of the battalion - I feel Hobkirk was harsh on Midgley using the state of the battalion as an excuse for his dismissal. The 54th was almost wiped out at Fromelles in July 1916 but gradually regained its strength and morale despite enduring the 16-17 winter on the Somme. During that time Midgley was CO and so must have had an influence on the rejuvination of his battalion. Anyway the following is a brief summary from his service record. Check it out - it has some very interesting letteres re his dismissal.
Served as sgt for 1 year in 2nd Qld Mounted Infantry. 10 months as Lt in Bush Veldt Carbineers, Imperial South African Forces. & 7 months as Capt in Pietersburg Light Horse. Awarded 2 mid's and DSO.
11/7/15 mid re action already mentioned by Bryn
12/2/16 mid
3/6/16 Awarded CMG
5/9/16 Joined 54th Bn as 2IC- major
6/11/16 Given command of 54th Bn and rank of Temp Lt-Col
6/12/16 Promoted to Lt-Col
28/1/17 mid
2/8/17 To England on leave.
3/10/17 Examined by 5th Div medical board in France which recommended 3 months rest. Was offered to LH by Birdwood, but was rejected.
7/10/17 Sent to England
16/12/17 RTA
Ross
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11/22/2003, 3:35 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Interesting material, Ross, Bryn and Steve. I look forward to learning more of him when your book is released, Ross. It makes you wonder if the higher-ups appreciated the conditions of Gallipoi and the Western Front that would have brought on his ill health.
Graeme
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11/23/2003, 8:14 pm
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stephen midgley
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Greeting folks. My name is Stephen Midgley and I am the grandson of Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley CMG, DSO. I have been collecting a lot of material on my grandfather with the view of consolidating this in some way. He was present at a number of important events in Australia's history - as a soldier in Barcaldine during the Shearers Strike, as an officer in the Bushveldt Carbineers (and the interest surrounding the execution of Breaker Morant)and Gallipoli.
The address St Clair, James St, New Farm was that of his sister, Ann Midgley who ran a finishing school there. As an aside, a painting by Ann Midgley "The departure of the first Queensland contingent to South Africa", hangs in Colonial section of the War Memorial in Canberra.
His DSO was awarded while he was an officer with the Pietersburg Light Horse in northern Transvaal. He stayed on in South Africa to play a role with Royston's Horse in the Natal rebellion (1906) and as a mine owner on the Umsweswe River in current-day Zimbabwe. He returned to Australia in very poor health due to blackwater fever in 1913.
He was a remarkable man and a gallant soldier who lived a most interesting and eventful life. He died when I was 4 but I do remember tales of lions and life in Africa.
I will look forward to participating in the correspondence - I do not have a military background and am often at a disadvantage when considering some of the events described in the war diaries and the official records.
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4/29/2004, 5:22 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Hello Stephen, forum member 'Saint 54' is writing a history of the 54th so I am sure that he will be in touch. Another member is very interested in the shearer's strike, so ditto for him. Good to see that you have found the Anzac Forum.
Graeme
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4/30/2004, 9:50 pm
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stephen midgley
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Thanks. Grandfather spent several years in various Queensland units - 3 years with the Brisbane Volunteer Rifles, 3 years with the Queensland Permenant Artillery (as a garrison gunner on Thursday Island and also stationed at Fort Lytton), 5 years with the Queensland Field Artillery before service with the the QMI in South Africa. Apparently he was awarded a medal of sorts for good servoce but I have been unable to locate the citation for this.
He continued to make a contribution in WW 2 - he was active in the VDC on the Near North Coast (the current Sunshine Coast in Queensland).
Thanks for the interest.
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4/30/2004, 10:37 pm
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saint54
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Graeme
Thanks for the plug. I contacted Stephen privately and he has gratiously replied. His grandfather had a remarkable service record and I hope to convey that it my book.
Ross
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5/1/2004, 12:12 am
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stevenbec
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Re: Lieut. Colonel Stephen Midgley, 5th Light Horse, 54th Battalion
Mate,
Rob Thomas has done many things on the Queensland units during the Shearers strike and has much info on them.
If he does not get in touch please contact him as I am sure both would benifit.
Its good to see a good news story like your relations in the BVC then the more popularist Morant and Hand**** story.
S.B
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5/1/2004, 11:54 am
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