The History and Activities of the 8th Battalion VDC
The history of Number 8 Battalion (Kalgoorlie) was compiled in 1942.
Manning details as of 30th September 1942.
NO. 8 KALGOORLIE BATTALION
C.O.
Major R.D. HUGHES
ADJUTANT
Lieut. H.J. COLE
MANNING DETAIL 30 SEPTEMBER 1942
N.D. Offs. 22
N.D. O/Rs. 838
total 860
Officers
Major Hughes R. C.O.
Capt. Piper C.J. BN. 2 i/c
Capt. Finucane, K. Coy Comd. 'A' Coy
Lieut. Roe A.A. Coy Comd. 'C' Coy
Lieut. Kerr, W.G. Coy Comd. 'B' Coy
Lieut. Rourke, W.H. Coy Comd. 'D' Coy
Lieut. Dwyer F.G. 2 i/c 'B' Coy
Lieut. Millington P.J.S. 2 i/c 'D' Coy
Lieut. Sturman J.E. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Badock C. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Buttle C. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Cameron I. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Newman H.B. Transport Off.
Lieut. Penrose, E.K. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Badham E.J. Asst. Q.M.
Lieut. Watson S. Sigs. Off.
Lieut. Topham J. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Norman W.S. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Brockway G.W. I.O
Lieut. Mundle E.B. A/Staff Capt. 3 Gp.
Lieut. Howe, F.L. Asst/Adjt.
Lieut. Dehring, C.A. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Prime S.L. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Shell A.W. Pl. Comd.
Lieut. Thorp R. Mortar Off.
When Kalgoorlie Branch of the R.S.L. called a meeting of its members on August 4, 1940, a unit of the V.D.C. was formed with Mr. H. Symonds as elected C.O. Parades started almost immediately when Mr. E.A. Chambers was elected 2 i/c, Mr. G.F. Edwards Adjt., Mr. H. McCullough as Sgt. Major and Mr. E.J. Badham, Zone Officer.
Equipment difficulties were in no small measure overcome by the support of the mining companies and business houses of Kalgoorlie. Particularly, the assistance of Mr. J.R. Hylton, Gen. Manager of the Kalgoorlie Mine and President of the Kalgoorlie Sub-branch of the R.S.L., earned him the title of 'Godfather of the Kalgoorlie V.D.C.'
In July 1941 Capt. and Hon. Major R.D. Hughes was appointed C.O. No. 8 Bn. with H.Q. in Kalgoorlie. Units were then built up from Esperance in the south and Leonora and Laverton in the north and the strength of the Battalion in August 1941 reached 897, distributed through 6 companies as follows:- 'A' Coy Kalgoorlie, 'B' Coy Norseman, 'C' Coy Coolgardie, 'D' Coy Boulder, 'E' Coy Menzies, 'F' Coy' Leonora. The phenomenal growth of 'B' Coy Norseman to the total of 437 was a tribute to the energy of Mr. R de Cean, its O.C.
About the same time a Medical Unit under the command of Dr. A. Webster, was formed in Kalgoorlie. This Mobile Medical Unit grew to be the pride of the battalion and today controls two motor ambulances and three horse-drawn ambulances. The medical equipment carried on another motor vehicle is so complete that a major operation can be carried out day or night within 20 minutes of the arrival of the unit at any spot.
Successive Adjutants have been - Messrs, G.F. Edwards, R.G. Rew, K.A. Cameron and Lieut. H.J. Cole (F.T.D. appointed April 42).
The growth of the battalion induced the V.D.C. Corps Commander to form No. 16 Bn. with H.Q. at Norseman in December 1941. Thereby No. 8 Bn. area was reduced and became easier to control. The new No. 16 Bn. Norseman, in common with No. 8 Bn. Kalgoorlie, continued to grow until demands by the various forces so depleted both battalions that in August 1942, No. 16 Bn. again became part of No.8 Bn. Kalgoorlie.
Among those who have supported the Bn. the following may be mentioned: Kalgoorlie Municipal Council (one room at Town Hall as Bn. Orderly Room), Area Office (2 rooms at Drill Hill,) Mrs. Pinkus (loaning shop in Boulder Rd for use of Signal Unit) and H.W. Davidson and Co. (loaning room for Mobile Medical Unit). Bn. HQ. and local units eventually entered the Drill Hall, Kalgoorlie.
LEADING PERSONNEL BN. COMD. Major R.D. Hughes, born at Heidelberg, Victoria on 10/4/1881. Educated at State School, Victoria and W.A. Military Service - Goldfields Bn. Captain and Adjt. Area Officer 83B and 84A. Profession: Gentleman's outfitter. Public activities - J.P., President Goldfields Musical Society, Orchestral Society and Cosmopolitan Tennis Club/ Recreations - tennis, fishing, music, bridge. Residence: 106 Ward St. Kalgoorlie, W.A.
ADJT & Q.M. Lieut H.J. COLE. Early education received in South Australia, was completed at Roseworthy Agricultural College where he gained Diploma of Agriculture. Came to W.A. in 1924 and has been associated with land since.
MANNING DETAIL
NO. 8 BN.
AS AT 30 September 1942
BN. COMD. W72302 Maj. R.D. HUGHES
ADJT & Q.M. W47889 Lt. H.J. COLE
STRENGTH
N.D. Offrs. 22
N.D. O/Rs. 838
Total 860
FULL NAME AND ADDRESS: HUGHES, Rex Donnington, 106 Ward Street, Kalgoorlie
BORN AT: Heidelberg, Victoria DATE: 10 April 1881
EDUCATED AT: State Schools Victoria and WA
PRESENT RANK IN V.D.C: Major UNIT: No. 8 Bn.
WAR SERVICE 1914/1918 COMPLETE: Nil
UNIT OR UNITS, RANK DECORATIONS: Goldfields Battalion Captain and Adjt. Area Officer 83B and 84A
PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION SINCE LAST WAR: Gentleman's outfitter
PUBLIC ACTIVITIES SINCE LAST WAR: J.P., President Goldfields Musical Society, Orchestral Society and Cosmopolitan Tennis Club
RECREATIONS: Tennis, Fishing, Music, Bridge
LIEUT. H.J. COLE.
Early education received in South Australia was completed at Roseworthy Agricultural College, where he gained Diploma of Agriculture.
He came to the West in 1924 and has been associated with land ever since.
He has taken an active part in the V.D.C. since its inception at Mingenew, W.A. from where he attended a Full Time Duty School at Western Command Guildford in January 1942.
He was appointed to No. 8 Bn. Kalgoorlie in January 1942 as WOII, and received his commission in April 1942being appointed Adjutant to No. 8 Bn. in April 1942.
(Signed) H J COLE Lt
6 May 1943
No. 8 battalion - V.D.C. HISTORY
The formation of this Battalion originated on August 4th 1940, when the Kalgoorlie Sub-branch of the R.S.L. called a meeting of its Members, which decided on the formation of a Unit, and elected Mr. H. Symonds as C.O.
Parades started almost immediately, when Mr. E.A. Chambers was elected 2 I.C., Mr. G.F. Edwards as Adjutant., Mr. H. McCullough as Sergeant-Major and Mr. E.J. Badham, Zone Officer.
The early stages offered many difficulties owing to lack of equipment, but prompted by a high sense of duty, all ranks kept on and lack of equipment was in no small measure overcome by the generosity of the mining companies and business houses of Kalgoorlie.
In this regard the assistance of Mr. J.R. Hylton, the General Manager of the Great Boulder Gold Mine, and President of the Kalgoorlie Sub-branch of the R.S.L. was so great and so varied as to earn for him the title of 'the Godfather of the Kalgoorlie V.D.C.'
It is worthy of note that as the V.D.C. became more organised and controlled in later stages by Army personnel, this interest and assistance by citizens and business houses of Kalgoorlie was and still is maintained.
With the growth of the Corps in W.A., further reorganisation became necessary and in July 1941, Capt and Hon. Major R.D. Hughes was appointed C.O. of No. 8 Battalion with Headquarters in Kalgoorlie.
Under his active interest, units were built up from Esperance in the South to Leonora and Laverton in the north, and the strength of the Battalion in August 1941 reached 897 spread over A' Company, Kalgoorlie Area, 'B' Company Norseman Area, 'C' Company, Coolgardie Area, 'D' Company, Boulder, 'E' Company Menzies Area and 'F' Company' Leonora Area.
The phenomenal growth of 'B' Company Norseman, to a total of 437 at this time, is a tribute to the untiring energy of Mr. R DeCean, who was at that time O.C. 'B' Company.
About the same time a Medical Unit under the command of Dr. A. Webster, was formed in Kalgoorlie and starting with enthusiasm of the members of the Unit and financial support of the citizens of Kalgoorlie, what is known as the Mobile Medical Unit grew to be the pride of the Battalion and today controls two Motor Ambulances, three horsedrawn Ambulances and the mobile medical equipment carried on another vehicle in such a way and so complete that a major operation can be carried out day or night within twenty minutes of the arrival of the unit at any spot.
In August 1941, the C.O. of the Battalion recommended Mr. R.G. Rew to the position of Adjutatn and the untiring zeal and administrative ability brought to the Battalion by this appointment, had much to do with the laying of a firm foundation of the extended organisation. Mr. Rew carried on as adjutant until February 1942, when owing to the pressure of business interests he was compelled to relinquish the position and his place was very ably filled by Mr. K.A. Cameron whose services were invaluable to the Battalion until his retirement in April 1942 when Lieut. H.J. Cole was appointed as Adjutant, full-time duty.
The strength of the Battalion grew considerably with the increased training facilities and in December 1941, the Commander of the V.D.C. decided to form No. 16 Battalion with Headquarters in Norseman. With the formation of this Battalion, No. 8 Battalion area is made smaller and easier to control as the new Battalion embraced an area from Widgiemootlha in the north to Esperance in the south.
The new 16th Battalion Norseman in common with No. 8 Battalion Kalgoorlie, continued to grow until the inroads made by the demands of the various forces, depleted the strength of both Battalions to such an extent that in August 1942, No. 16 Battalion again became a part of No. 8 battalion Kalgoorlie.
The growth of the Battalion since its early formation, has necessitated many changes and accommodation had to be changed from time to time. From a start at the R.S.L. Buildings then to one small room at the Town Hall, kindly loaned by the Kalgoorlie Municipal Council, as Battalion Orderly Room, with the use of two rooms at the Drill Hall, kindly lent by the Area Office; Headquarters then shifted to more commodious but very cold quarters at the Hippodrome where all Kalgoorlie Units with the exception of the R.S.L., paraded, that unit now part of 'B' Company, still using the R.S.L. Institute as their Headquarters.
Then in January 1943 further change was made necessary by the requirements of higher authority and since then, the Battalion Headquarters and Local Units have had their only really satisfactory premises in the Drill Hall, Kalgoorlie.
Further assistance in this direction was early given by Mrs. Pinkus in loaning a shop in Boulder Road for the use of the Signal Unit and also by H.W. Davidson and Co., who loaned and continue to do so, a room for the Medical Mobile Unit.
It is fitting to mention, that by the keenness of the normal duty staff, practically all the q work was handled by them under the capable control of Lieut. Bradham right through the earl stages of issue of uniforms and equipment.
With the more liberal scale of issue of weapons, the training of the Battalion has now reached the stage where the men are realising that their training has been of some definitive value and this is amply born out by the success of members of this Battalion when joining the Field Services.
(Signed) H J COLE Lieut
Co No.8 Bn VDC
6 May 1943
Letterhead: Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League, Kalgoorlie Sub-Branch
12 April 1943
General A.J. Bessell-Browne,
National Mutual Buildings,
81 St. Georges Terracce,
PERTH W.A.
Dear Sir,
I have to thank you for your letter of 8th April and your appreciation of the Group Photographs.
In reply to your enquiries for a brief sketch story of the formation of the Goldfields Battalion, I am attaching a copy of a resume which I compiled on the 30th January, it was done very hurriedly as Mr. Chambers only asked me for it on the night of the Sub-Branch Executive Meeting Friday 29th and on Saturday evening the 30th I left for Esperance for three weeks leave.
I contacted H.Q. of the V.D.C. Kalgoorlie this morning and the Adjutant informed me that my original copy had not gone forward as it was considered rather superfluous and needed transposing.
I was rather annoyed at such liberties as I think you would have sooner had everything as a whole and carried out your own transpositions.
I am sorry that has been so much delay and I trust that the attached resume will be of some little assistance.
Yours faithfully,
(signed) G.F. Edwards Secretary.
Resume of the Activities of the R.S.L., V.D.C., since its inception in August, 1940
In connection with the formation of the original R.S.L., Volunteer Defence Corps, the matter was first discussed at a Sub-Branch Executive Meeting, held of Friday 21st June 1940. A motion, stressing the urgency of the formation of such a Corps, was forwarded to the R.S.L., State Congress of 1940 the Motion reads as follows:- 'That delegates be instructed to make inquiries as to the delay in connection with the formation of a R.S.L. Defence Force and the inability to obtain the necessary text books and equipment."
Mr. Jas. R. Hylton, the President of the Sub-Branch called a Special Meeting on sunday morning the 4th August 1940. The Aims and Objects of the Corps were explained and nominations were called for the postion of Offier to take charge of the Kalgoorlie Unit, a number on nominations were received and after a Ballot had been taken H.H. 'Bunny' Symonds was duly elected as C.O. On the following Sunday morning the Unit has its 'First Parade' and Mr. Symonds chose Mr. E.A. Chambers as his 2 I/C, G.F. Edwards as the Adjutant of the Unit, Mr. E.J. Badham as Zone Officer and Mr. H. McCulloch as the units R.S.M.
The Unit carried on then until the following May when the first Routine Order was issued under the Australian Military Forces and it was then to be known as the V.D.C. 'Home-Guard'. Mr. E.A. Chambers was recognised by Corps headquarters, Perth, as the O.C. of the Kalgoorlie Battalion and the Headquarters of the Battalion was removed from the R.S.L. Institute, to the Drill Hall, Cheetham Street, Kalgoorlie.
During the intervening period, from the inception of the Unit until the time it was absorbed by the A.M.F., it carried on, oft under adverse conditions and a lot of credit is due to the Sub-Branch President, Mr. Hylton, to the high standard of efficiency that was maintained even despite the lack of equipment and he made available to the Unit such equipment as a cupboard for the storing of 310 rifles, sand table, black-board and easel for lectures, signalling flags, dummy bombs for bomb throwing and material for carrying out engineering and demolition work he also took upon himself to send out a circular letter to every member of the Sub-Branch (approximately 400) explaining the aim and objects of the Unit and at the same time urging them to join up and render every assistance possible to the movement. In addition, Broadcasts were put over 6 K.G. Broadcasting Station by the O.C., Mr. Symonds and other members of the unit and it was pleasing to note that soon after the formation of the Unit the nominal roll was approximately 126 Returned Soldiers exclusive of those who were not ex-servicemen. Also during that period 14 of the original members volunteered for Garrison Duty; 4 to the A.I.F. Overseas, two to Munition works and two were accorded the 'Last Post'. One of the 'highlights' of the Parades carried out by the original Unit was a volunteer parade to Perth for an Inspection by General Sir H.G. Chauvel, K.C.B. K.C.M.G. the Director General of the V.D.C., there were approximately thirty members on this parade and they were complimented on their very smart turn out.
At the conclusion of the units activities before its absorption into the A.M.F. the, then, Senior Officers were called upon to make suggestions as to a suitable person to carry on as Officer Commanding (the then to be known as the 8th Goldfields Battalion V.D.C.) and their unanimously decision was in favour or Mr. Rex Hughes who now occupies that position.
