MAISEY, Milton Harold
| Service Number: | 2212 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1916, RAS Grounds, Sydney |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, 27 July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Windsor Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Cleaner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 27 September 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery II. I. 10., |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2212, RAS Grounds, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2212, 56th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 2212, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Aug 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 14th Machine Gun Company | |
| 27 Sep 1917: | Involvement Private, 2212, 14th Machine Gun Company, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2212 awm_unit: 14 Machine Gun Company awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-09-27 |
Help us honour Milton Harold Maisey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Milton Harold Rose MAISEY was born at Windsor, NSW, on 27th July 1895. He attended the Windsor Public School. On 3rd August 1910 he joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a Switcher (Temporary) in the Electrical Branch of the Tramways in Sydney. On 13th January 1911 he transferred, in the same position, to the Electrical Branch of the Railways in Sydney. His position was made permanent on 1st October 1911.
On 3rd December 1913 he transferred to the Locomotive Branch where he became a cleaner at Eveleigh. On 20th March 1916 he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces.
Milton’s actual date of joining the AIF was 29th February 1916 (leap year day - later amended to 20th March 1916). He joined with the rank of Private (Service Number 2212). He was posted to the 4th Reinforcements to the 56th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his mother, Mary Maisey then living at Parramatta, as his next of kin.
He embarked for England aboard HMAT A15 ‘Port Sydney’ at Sydney on 4th September 1916, and he arrived at Plymouth in England on 29th October 1916. After a period with the 14th Training Battalion he left England for France on 14th December 1916. He was at the 5th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples from 15th to 23th December 1916 when he was taken on strength of the 56th Infantry Battalion. He remained on duty until 4th April 1917 when he reported sick with trench feet and was admitted to hospital in Rouen the same day. He was discharged for convalescence on 22nd April 1917 before returning to the 5th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples on 27th April 1917. He remained until he re-joined his unit on 27th May 1917.
On 9th July 1917, Milton was detached for duty with the 14th Australian Machine Gun Company and was officially transferred to that unit on 24th August 1917. On 11th September 1917 he reported sick with an abscess on the groin and was then admitted to hospital at St Omer with an abscess on the right buttock on 15th September 1917. He was well enough to be discharged to duty on 22nd September 1917.
Five days later, on 27th September 1917, he was killed in action at Polygon Wood, Belgium.
Depositions in his Red Cross Enquiry File describe events. Lieutenant H G Newton stated:
‘Maisey was killed on the morning of 26.9.17, and not on 27.9.17 … he was wounded about 3 am and died a few minutes later and I think had very little pain. He was buried in the field by myself and some others and a cross put with his name on it, but the grave is not registered. Maisey was a rather big chap with fair hair and blue eyes, and was a fine cricketer. … He was called Bob by all his pals.’
Private J.A. Smith (3115) stated:
‘On 25th Sept. 1917 we were making our way to Neuches, in Ypres Salient. The shell fire was so severe we were unable to proceed and had to stop at Chatto Wood, and do the best we could under the circumstances Maisey was killed instantly by shell fire, and was buried in Chatto Wood by Lt. Newton, who was a Private at that time. A cross was put up to him at Belgium Chateau.’
His grave is in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. His place of association is Parramatta, NSW.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
Click images to start slideshow.