Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Anzac Story of William James Capewell
From Andrew Mackenzie OAM

On 13 September 1915, local Eltham Butcher, William James Capewell, enlisted in the Australian Remount Unit 1, Squadron 2 which played an important and often overlooked role in the history of the Australian Light Horse Regiments.

The following day, the local Eltham Blacksmith, Alfred Edgar Knapman followed in Mr Capewell’s footsteps, enlisting in the same Remount Unit, and a further day later, two other well known Eltham identities, Stockman, James Patrick Ryan and Driver, Thomas Harold Morris also enlisted in this Unit.

These four very skilled horsemen from Eltham were at first appointed to Maribyrnong for training and assembly, where Private Capewell was listed on 1 November 1915 as Storeman, before embarking from Port Melbourne for Egypt on board the Transport, HMAT A67 Orsova on 12 November 1915.

Those on board the Orsova on this occasion included HQ Staff, members of the Australian Remount Unit 1, several Squadrons of Australian Remount Unit 2 and also many Australian Nursing Sisters.

Amongst those who boarded the Orsova in Sydney on 10 November before it travelled to Melbourne, was Captain Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson, who was a member of the Australian Remount Unit 2, Squadron 6. In Egypt, Paterson was given charge of the horses as honourary Veterinary Officer and in October 1916 was promoted to Major and held the position of Officer in Charge of the Remount Unit.

The Records of the Australian Remount Depot, as it was later named, note that the Australian Remount Unit 1, in which Mr Capewell had enlisted, “was formed in the first instance for the purpose of taking charge of the horses of the Light Horse Regiments that were acting as infantry at Gallipoli. This would release experienced Light Horsemen to go to the front line rather than stay back with the horses.”

In all, 6,100 Australian horses, or Walers, the name generally applied to these sturdy horses from Australia, took part in the Gallipoli Campaign and these were but a small part of the 169,000 Walers sent from Australia for use in the First World War.

Few realize that of these 169,000 Walers that only one returned to Australia from the First World War and that this was General Sir William Bridges, Waler, Sandy. General Bridges, Australia’s first Chief of General Staff, died at Gallipoli on 18 May 1915. His dying wish was that Sandy be returned to Australia, and this wish was granted with Sandy returning to Australia in November 1918 and living for the next five years in Maribyrnong before being “put down” in May 1923.

Given the large number of Australian horses involved in the First World War it is easy to understand why these Remount Units were considered necessary, and the Official Records note that, “The Unit was formed from men selected for their knowledge of horses, and for trades, as a proportion of blacksmiths, saddlers and wagon drivers were required. In this connection the Unit was most fortunate in securing the services of so many first class men. 40 rough riders, all young men and especially selected for their horsemanship were included.”

A commencement was made to enlist men in September 1915. It was then thought that the work would be comparatively easy so the limit of age was fixed at 50 years.

It was recorded that “two thirds of the Remount recruits onboard (the Orsova) were 40 years or more, five were over 50 and the oldest was 58.”

William James Capewell, aged 42, disembarked in Suez on 9 December 1915, one of 793 Remounts, and travelled to a training camp at Zeitoun.

On 14 December 1915 the Unit took charge of 198 horses and on 28 December 1915 the Unit moved by train to Maadi.

However, the Records note that “It was found on arriving in Egypt that the evacuation of Gallipoli was determined upon, and consequently the original work of the Unit was not required.”

On 24 December 1915 the Unit received 356 horses and took charge of 716 mules which needed to be driven from Abbassia to Maadi.

It turns out that the work for those in the Remount Units was far from the expected “comparatively easy” and the hot climate experienced in Egypt and exposure to previously un-encountered germs saw many end up in Heliopolis Hospital, the former Heliopolis Palace Hotel in Cairo.

Mr Capewell was not spared, and on 26 February 1916 was admitted to Heliopolis Hospital with suspected “Nile Fever”. His blood was checked for parasites and after finding non present, he was transferred on 3 March 1916 to the 3rd Australian General Hospital, which had been established in what had once been a harem in Abbassia.

Mr Capewell’s Medical Records inform us that he was a patient in the 3rd Australian General Hospital from 6 March 1916 to 29 March 1916 and on admission he was recorded as having Pyrexia and suffering from pain in the abdomen, back and also hips and had a cough and an enlarged spleen. He was discharged from hospital on 30 March 1916 and rejoined his Unit on 4 April 1916.

During the time that Mr Capewell was in hospital, on 4 March 1916, news came through that it was proposed “to reduce the strength of the Australian Remount Depot by half.” One Unit was formed by combining Remount Unit 1 and 2, and those that were to return home to Australia departed camp for Suez where they embarked aboard the HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 29 April 1916.

Mr Capewell and two of his Eltham colleagues, Mr Morris and Mr Ryan stayed behind as members of the newly combined Unit, while his third Eltham colleague, Mr Knapman, whose position in Egypt was listed as Farrier Corporal and Camp Shoeing Smith returned to Melbourne aboard the HMAT A48 Seang Bee.

Mr Capewell, Mr Morris and Mr Ryan continued to serve in Egypt, with Mr Capewell serving with distinction and being “Mentioned in Despatches”. Mr Capewell was promoted to Acting Corporal at Moascar on 16 November 1916 and a Recommendation for a Medal or Award for his Services was made on 27 August 1918.

Fortunately, Mr Capewell and his three Eltham colleagues survived their Tours of Duty in Egypt, with Mr Capewell, Mr Morris and Mr Ryan eventually embarking together from Egypt aboard the HT Burma on 26 July 1919 and disembarking in Melbourne on 29 August 1919.

For his Service in Egypt, Mr Capewell received the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

His father, William John Capewell died in 1917 at age 82 while William James Capewell was on Active Service in Egypt.

On disembarking, William James Capewell returned to his wife, Amy in Eltham and here they raised their five children, Clyde, Frank, John (Jack), Olive and Pearl.

From all accounts, including those of his family, Mr Capewell was a “Character” and much loved member of the Eltham Community.

He was born, William James Capewell at Sandhurst in 1872 and entries of Births from the Capewell Family Bible, note that he was the second son and sixth of nine children of William John Capewell and his wife, Mary Sarah nee Waterhouse.

His father, William John Capewell had arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Sussex and soon after commenced a successful enterprise, carting goods from Melbourne to the gold diggings at Sandhurst. In 1870, William John Capewell opened the Red Boot Mart, situated in Pall Mall, Bendigo opposite the Post Office building. He also opened branches in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne; Moorabool Street, Geelong; Castlemaine and Maryborough.

In 1884, William John Capewell began farming in the Flowerdale district and continued with this enterprise for over twenty years, leaving the Bendigo business in the hands of his first born and eldest son, Thomas William. It is thought that this property near Flowerdale is where the young William James Capewell learnt his skills as a horseman and also as a butcher, before moving to Eltham and establishing his Butcher’s Shop in the Main Street.

Mr Capewell was soon to become a well-known local identity and built up friendships with many in the district, including members of the Knapman family, who were the Eltham Blacksmiths and also with Walter Withers, a local Artist and with members of his family.

William James Capewell was considered a superb horseman, and was often seen moving cattle and sheep to the holding yards beside his shop.

On one occasion in 1912, Walter Withers asked William James Capewell to model for him while driving a flock of sheep along one of the narrow and dusty Eltham roads. As a gift for doing so, his family remember Walter Withers presenting Mr Capewell with an elegant Frock Coat.

The photograph above is of the resulting painting, “The Drover” which is today considered as one of the major works of the Heidelberg School and a highlight of the Bendigo Art Gallery collection.

Withers captured in this scene, William James Capewell seated upon his horse while directing his black dog to keep the mob of sheep moving along a narrow road, while the dust rises and half hides a wagon in the distance.

Three years after modeling for this painting, William James Capewell enlisted in the Australian Remount Unit 1, Squadron 2 and was assigned the Regimental number 341.

At the time of his enlistment on 13 September 1915, he signed the “OATH TO BE TAKEN BY PERSON BEING ENLISTED”, which read, “I — swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from — until the end of the War, and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed, or removed therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and cause His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law. SO HELP ME GOD. —” (Signature of Person Being Enlisted).

William James Capewell also agreed to “allot not less than three-fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during my service for the support of my wife and 4 children”, with his Daily Rate of Pay from the time of enlisting being 5 shillings.

His AIF Records list only two occasions that his Next of Kin (NOK), wife, Amy was sent a formal notice about her husband. The first was on 10 March 1916, noting, “NOK Advised in Hospital, Cairo, Sick.” and the second was dated 16 August 1919, noting, “NOK Advised returning to Australia.” Mr Capewell disembarked in Melbourne thirteen days later.

His AIF Medical Records at the time of his enlistment on 13 September 1915 inform us that he was 41 years and 9 months of age and on embarkation on 12 November 1915, his age was recorded as 42. This would mean that at the time that he modeled for Walter Withers as “The Drover” in 1912, he would have been around 38 to 39 years of age.

His AIF Medical Records also provide us with a description of “The Drover”. We are informed that he was 5 feet 9 ¾ inches, Weight: 12 stone and with Chest Measurement: 34 / 36 inches. We are also informed that his Complexion was Fresh, his Eyes: Grey, his Hair: Grey and his Religious Denomination: Church of England. His Distinctive marks, included Vaccination marks, a wart on his left shoulder and a scar on his left knee.

William James Capewell, the Eltham butcher died at age 83 and was buried on 18 January 1955 in the Church of England section, Compartment 0, Section 8, Grave 15 of the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

He will always be remembered as “The Drover” and a fine horseman who with others from Eltham were an important and often forgotten part of the Anzac Story.



25 April 2015