Booklet Number 77

This booklet remains the property of Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church. Please see a Guide if you would like a copy.

BILLINGTON BROTHERS Alexander Stewart

1891 – 1956

Norman Stewart 1892 – 1949

Richard Stewart 1894 – 1971

The Bullecourt Digger

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©Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church Corner Ann and Creek Streets

Brisbane QLD 4000 December,2015

June, 2016

Cover Illustration The bronze Bullecourt Digger gazes out over the fields of Bullecourt where in April and May 1917 the AIF lost 10 000 soldiers. Alexander and Norman Billington both fought at Bullecourt.

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Billington Family

This booklet contains short biographies of the three Billington brothers who enlisted in the Great War and whose names are listed on the Honour Boards in the Merrington Anzac Memorial Peace Chapel at Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church, Brisbane. They had an older brother William Stewart Billington, an older sister Elsie Vine Billington and two younger brothers Charles Stewart Billington and Gordon Stewart Billington. Their parents were Annie Elspith Stewart and William Gresty Billington who were married on the 2 June 1885 at the Stewart family home Glenlyon in the Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove by the Reverend Colin McCulloch, Minister of Wickham Terrace Presbyterian Church. Annie was the only daughter of Alexander Stewart and his first wife Maria who died in 1865. A beautiful stained glass window in the northern wall at Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church was dedicated in 1922 in memory of Alexander Stewart (Annie’s father) and his second wife Anne. Mrs Annie Elspith Billington (née Stewart) died in 1928 aged 64 years. William G Billington came from England to Melbourne where he was occupied in the soft goods trade. On coming to Brisbane he managed the firm of Scott, Dawson and Stewart before moving with his family to Charleville in Western Queensland where he opened a general store. They later moved to Laidley where Mr Billington was engaged in sawmilling. He retired from business after this venture and settled in Brisbane. William Gresty Billington was a master mason and a founder in 1905 of the Automobile Club of Queensland.1

1. Now RACQ. Dr Archibald Brockway was the founding secretary (Booklet No 49 in this series).

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At the time when three of their sons enlisted to serve in the AIF,

the family home was Bearsden, Banks Street, Newmarket. W G

Billington died in 1926.

Private Alexander Stewart Billington Alexander Stewart Billington was born on 29 May 1891, second son on William Gresty and Annie Billington. He attended Brisbane Grammar School in the year 1906. He and his mother were listed on the Communicants’ Roll of Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church when they lived at Zillman Road, Ascot in 1911 and 1912. He worked as a Clerk in Innisfail, North Queensland in 1913 and had been a Station Hand on Rawbelle Station, Eidsvold prior to enlisting on 30 October 1916 in Brisbane to serve overseas in the Australian Imperial Force. Alex Billington was then 25 years and 6 months old, 5 feet 7½ inches (171.5 cm) tall and weighed 145 lbs (66 kg). His mother, Annie Elspith Billington who was then living at Bank Street, Newmarket was next-of-kin and his religious denomination, Presbyterian. Private Billington with regimental number 6298 joined 18th reinforcements for 25th Battalion at Rifle Range, Enoggera Camp. This unit embarked from Sydney on board HMAT1 Demosthenes on 23 December 1916 and arrived at Plymouth, England 3 March 1917. In preparation for the battlefields of France and Belgium, Private Alex Billington occupied barracks at Rollestone Training Camp in Southern England till mid-June except for three weeks in hospital with mumps. He then proceeded to France to join Australian troops based at Le Havre. The 25th Battalion had taken part in battle in the mud of the dangerous Somme Valley and acted in a supportive role at the Second Battle of Bullecourt.

1. His Majesty’s Australian Transport

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In September 1917 the 25th Battalion was engaged in heavy fighting at the Battle of Menin Road in Belgium. Victory here was followed up with the capture of Broodseinde Ridge in early October. 1918 was another exhausting year as the 25th fought to turn back the German spring offensive commencing in April and then participated in battle at Morlancourt. At this time the Australians were gaining a reputation for their successful fighting spirit.

Private Alexander Billington was among the many casualties. Suffering the effects of severe gas poisoning on 23 May 1918, Alex Billington was transported to Birmingham War Hospital. As he gradually regained strength he was moved to Dartford, then Hurdcott and Sutton Veny. It was October before he was discharged from rehabilitation to join reinforcements for training for the 9th Battalion. The Armistice was announced on 11 November. Private Billington camped at Codford, England till his return to Australia per HMAT Orga on 19 February 1919. He disembarked at Brisbane on 6 April and returned to live at his mother’s home – Bearsden, Banks Street, Newmarket with his sister Elsie and brother William. After his mother’s death in 1928, Alex Billington was a farmer for a while on Russell Island. While living at 62 Wagner Street, Clayfield with his sister Elsie and brother William in 1936 and 1937 he was employed again as a clerk.

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He and his sister moved to 22 Vine Street, Clayfield by 1943. Alex spent the final years of his life at Eventide by the sea at Sandgate. He died on 2 October 1956.

Norman Stewart Billington

The third son of Mr and Mrs W Gresty Billington of Newmarket was Norman Stewart Billington, born on 17 November 1892. He attended Charleville State School and later Southport High School1 where he joined the Senior Cadet Corps. In February 1916, he was working as a clerk in Bathurst NSW when he joined the Australian Imperial Force, agreeing to serve in the military forces of the Commonwealth of Australia within or beyond the limits of the Commonwealth. Norman Billington was then a single man, aged 23 years 2 months; he stood 5 feet 6½ inches (168.9 cm) tall, weighed 9 stone 10 lbs (61.7 kg) and was of dark complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his father’s name as next-of-kin and his religious denomination, Presbyterian. Private Norman Billington was attached to the 53rd Infantry Battalion and embarked with other reinforcements from Sydney on board HMAT2 Ceramic on 14 April 1916.

The troops disembarked at Port Said on 16 May and a month later set off from Alexandria to Marseilles to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. The 53rd Battalion, part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division, became involved in the disastrous battle of Fromelles in which over three-quarters of its attacking strength suffered grievously. Private Billington survived this heavy fighting and remained part of the brave 53rd Battalion which despite these losses continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector throughout August and September.

1. Now known as The Southport School (TSS)

2. His Majesty’s Australian Transport

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In November and early December Norman Billington attended a Lewis Gun School in France and rejoined his unit. The 53rd spent the freezing winter of 1916-17 rotating in and out of trenches in the Somme Valley. During this period the battalion earned the nickname "the Whale Oil Guards" after the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Croshaw ordered the troops to polish their helmets with whale oil (issued to rub into feet as a trench foot preventative) for a smart turnout on parade. In March 1917, the 53rd participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was spared the assault but did defend gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Norman Billington received promotion to Lance-Corporal in April 1917 but lost his stripe in July as part punishment for being absent from billets without leave. Later in the year, the AIF's focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium but just prior to the major battle at Polygon Wood in late September, he was admitted to hospital at Rouen in northern France. In late October 1917, Private Billington was again in action on the Western Front and a major German offensive took place there in late March 1918. On 19 April he was seriously wounded in action by gassing causing his transfer first to Rouen, then Birmingham in England. He was moved to Dartford auxiliary hospital in June and later to Fovant and Hurdcott for convalescence. Adding to his misfortune, Private Norman Billington was accidently injured on 4 October 1918 and did not return to active service. Instead he spent time in convalescent depots in Rouen and Buchy till after the Armistice in November and required hospital treatment again in Weymouth in May 1919, causing delay till September 1919 in his return to Australia on board HMAT Friedrichsruhe.

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On 30 December 1920 at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, Norman Billington married Margaret Evelyn Thompson Brown, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Brown of Innisfail, East Brisbane. Norman Billington took up farming at College View, Gatton till he retired to Labrador, Southport where he died on 12 January 1949, aged 56 years. He was survived by his wife Margaret and only daughter, also named Margaret.

Captain Richard Stewart Billington MC Richard Stewart Billington was born in Brisbane on 23 February 1894, fourth son of William and Annie Billington. While a pupil of the Southport High School for Boys in 1910, Master Richard Billington was awarded the Dudley Cup and a gold medal for being the champion rifle shot of the school. The presentation was made by the Governor of Queensland, Sir William MacGregor who said the score of 83 out of a possible 103 was a “very good performance”. R S Billington received awards of Mid-Winter Prize and Best Athlete at the annual prize-giving day, later the same year. Richard was working as a clerk in Brisbane when war was declared in 1914. Though the youngest of the Billington boys who served in the Great War, Richard was the first to join up. His parents signed a statement giving their “full permission to enlist in the Australian Expeditionary Force for service as required”. At the age of 20 years and 10 months, Dick Billington joined the Australian Imperial Force on 10 December 1914, naming his mother, Mrs A E Billington of Newmarket as next-of-kin and stating his religious denomination as Church of England. A short period of training followed at Enoggera Camp and when he embarked on 9 February 1915 from Brisbane on board HMAT Itria, part of reinforcements for the 5th Light Horse Regiment bound for Egypt, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

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The Light Horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli but were subsequently deployed without their horses to reinforce the infantry. His brigade landed there in late May 1915. At his own request he reverted to the ranks on arrival on the peninsula. Involved in several minor attacks, the 5th Light Horse played a defensive role for most of the campaign during which Richard Billington again received promotion to Corporal in July and Sergeant in November. Evacuation occurred on 20 December 1915 and the 5th Light Horse returned to Egypt and their horses. Back in Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse Brigade became part of the ANZAC Mounted Division and in February 1916 joined the forces defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish advance across the Sinai Desert. The 5th Light Horse's main activity in the Sinai was long-range patrolling, but it was involved in several small engagements during August, as the Turks retreated after their defeat at Romani. Richard Billington was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in July and to the rank of Lieutenant 26 October 1916. The ANZAC Mounted Division advanced into Palestine in late December 1916. Lieutenant Billington served as Orderly Officer to Colonel Commanding 2nd Light Horse Battalion during June 1917. The work of the 5th Light Horse Regiment continued to be mainly patrols and raids until the advance stalled before the Turkish bastion of Gaza. The regiment participated in all three battles aimed at capturing the town. With the fall of Gaza on 7 November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 5th was involved in the pursuit that followed and Lieutenant Billington was engaged at Tel al Marakeb, El Fukhari, Kazar, Essud and Wadi Hanein.

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In December 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross “for gallantry and distinguished service in the field”.1

He was involved in staff training at the Zeitoun Training Camp and for a time was attached to 34th Poona Horse Regiment. He returned to his own regiment which spent much of the first half of 1918 holding the west bank of the Jordan River. Eventually, an offensive was launched along the coast in September 1918, with the 5th taking part in a subsidiary effort east of the Jordan. It attacked at Amman on 25 September, and on 29 September 4500 Turks surrendered to just two squadrons from the regiment at Ziza. Turkey surrendered on 31 October 1918, but the 5th Light Horse was employed one last time to assist in putting down the Egyptian revolt of early 1919. In this Richard Billington served with the rank of Captain on the recommendation of Major William Chatham: “This officer is capable of commanding a squadron. He is a good disciplinarian and has ability to train men. He is physically very strong and always fit.”2 The 5th Light Horse Regiment in which Richard Billington served throughout the Great War gained a fine record of service. The regiment sailed for home with Captain Richard Billington on board HMAT Madras on 28 June 1919. He returned to his family home at Newmarket and in November his engagement to Dorothy Florence Earwaker, second daughter of Mr and Mrs E Earwaker, Brocklisby, Windsor was announced. Their wedding took place in St John’s Cathedral on 4 November 1920 and the couple lived for a time at Lutwyche Road, Windsor. 1. Letter, Base Records, Melbourne to Mrs Billington, Newmarket, 3 August 1918 2. Commanding Officer, 5th Light Horse Regiment, 1 February 1919

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In the early 1930s they lived in Roma where Richard was an accountant. They returned to the suburbs of Hamilton then Ascot in Brisbane before moving to Surfers Paradise in the late 1940s. Mr Richard Billington died in 1971.

At sea. 12 10 1914. Group portrait of officers of the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment (5ALH) aboard SS Persic en route to Egypt. Richard Stewart Billington - Fourth from left back row (John Oxley Library)

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Eight men of the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment enjoying a rest while undergoing training near Cairo for dismounted service on the Gallipoli Peninsula, where they were sent to reinforce their infantry comrades. Each man is carrying his rolled up blanket across his body. Second from left. Sergeant Richard Stewart Billington (John Oxley Library)

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Romani Area, November 1916. Group portrait of members of the 5th Australian Light Horse Regiment Richard Billington is the first soldier on the left in the back row. (John Oxley Library)

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References Australian War Memorial

First World War Embarkation Rolls Honours and Awards Unit Histories

Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Annual Reports 1910, 1911, 1912, 1921, 1923, Archives, Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church, Brisbane The Golden Book, Archives, Brisbane Grammar School Bean CEW, Anzac to Amiens, Penguin Books, Melbourne, 2014 Brisbane City Council Cemetery Records Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, 1913 - 1968 National Archives of Australia, military records, World War 1 Queensland Register of Births, Marriages, Deaths AIF Project Website, 2015 The Week, Brisbane, 7 Jan 1921, p 7; 5 Feb 1926, p 20 The Queenslander, 27 Mar 1886; 6 March 1915, p 22; 27 November 1920, p 8 The Brisbane Courier, 9 June 1885, p 1; 28 Sept 1910, p 5; 6 Dec 1910; 26 Dec 1917, p 7; 26 Nov 1919, p 6; 23 Sept 1921; 3 Feb 1926, p 19; 16 Oct 1926 Warwick Examiner and Times, 27 Jan 1900, p 2 The Telegraph, Brisbane, 3 May 1928, p 8 The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, 17 Jan 1942; 13 Jan 1949 The Charleville Times, 21 Jan 1949, p 12 Prepared by Noel E Adsett, December 2015 and revised June 2016

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