Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William MULREADY, 71 Paddington Street, Paddington, NSW

Trumpeter Maurice Mulready, a Fort Street boy, probably the youngest Australian who went to the front with the first contingent, and has nearly completed two years out there,  has written to his father, Warrant-Officer Mulready the following account of the big fight at Romani:—
” I pulled through that big fight all right, so do not worry. I came through with a clean skin, but some of my old comrades did not. We were in the first line of defence, the  absolute thick of it in the first attack. Don’t think I am boasting. We went out at about 2.30 on the morning of August 4, and got in touch with the enemy a couple of miles from  camp. The squadron’s separated. I am in ------ Troop.------- Squadron, you know. We formed a screen to draw the fire, and no sooner did we hit the top of a ridge than they began to fire into us. You never heard anything like it. We went about and down the hill a little, and dismounted for action, and up on the ridge again, and started firing. I got off  25 rounds of ammunition here.
"We again mounted, and retired at full gallop. The sensation I cannot describe. It’s great. You imagine me galloping full stretch, rifle slung over shoulder, a fast little mare under  me, waving my hat, yelling, whistling, and the bullets simply a hail. Over another ridge and then halted, and dismounted, and again up on the ridge and started firing. I stopped  here about two hours, and then another chap and I brought in a wounded mate that had been shot through the chest and out the back. While coming in with him I had my pants  torn by a bullet (my nearest shave). “At the commencement of the fight I said some little prayers that I might pull through all right, and I shall always believe in those little  prayers, as I believe they saved me. Anyhow, I lasted till midday, going all the time, running on foot. W e advanced and retired about two miles, and our brigadier was a  champion. He will do me. He was with us all the time, urging and encouraging us. W e were all going strong, and fixed the Johnnies (’Turks) up in good Australian style.
“ We had a great victory here. Thousands of prisoners, and knocked and ouled identy besides, and we beat them in about 3O hours. Tlie Johnnies don't half like the steel with an  Australian behind it. We charged them with fixed bayonets. Then the boys got near them up went their hands, and we took them prisoners. They were coining in absolutely in  droves, and we finished the light. Things are quiet now, but we really don't know for how long, but oh, inaleesh (never mind), let them all come. Well, now I think I shall say  good-night and rook majem (go to sleep)".

William Maurice Victor Mulready was also known as Maurice William Victor Mulready, the name he enlisted under during WW2, but was generally known to his friends and family as ‘Maurice’ Mulready.

He came from a family with a rich military history; his father and uncle having served with the NSW contingent to the Sudan during 1885. Maurice’s father was still in the Australian forces, serving as a warrant officer in the Australian Service Corps working in recruiting and the Pay Corps. Maurice’s grandfather, Thomas Mulready, had served with Her Majesty’s 99th Regiment of Foot, which was stationed in Sydney and Tasmania, guarding convicts in the new colonies of Australia.

Maurice’s father was not at all perturbed about his son enlisting, in fact he provided his 15-year-old son with letter of consent, “Sir, I hereby beg to state that I give my full consent to my son, William Maurice Victor Mulready to go on active service abroad with the 7th Light Horse Expeditionary Force under your command, as Trumpeter. (His mother is dead). I would also like to state that I take great pride in his anxious wish to serve the King and Country as we have always been a military family, his grandfather being also an Imperial soldier. I have the honour to be yours respectfully, Warrant Officer Mulready, Army Service Corps.

Maurice and his younger brother Francis were both born on Empire Day, 24 May, Maurice in 1899 and Francis in 1902. Their mother, Esther had died during 1909, when giving birth to a younger sister.

So, Maurice enlisted in November 1914, in the original 7th Light Horse as a Trumpeter, and gave his age as 16 years, although he was in fact 15 years and 6 months of age. His brother Francis enlisted as a trumpeter also, during July 1916 at the age of 14 years and 3 months.

Maurice landed on Gallipoli with the rest of the Light Horse, minus their horses, during mid-May 1915. An entry in his file states he was returned to Egypt on 10 July 1915, in charge of kits, which probably means someone was trying to look after him. He was reported as seriously ill with influenza and pneumonia in Egypt on 20 December 1915. He was removed from the seriously ill list on 13 January 1916.

Maurice was reported to have served with the 7th Light Horse at Romani, El Arish, Maghdaba and Gaza and suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder during March 1918. He was returned to Australia during November 1918, on special ‘1914 leave’.

He must have liked soldiering as he enlisted again on 12 August 1919, for Special Service with the AIF, as 86220 Maurice William Mulready. This involved

being part of the escort guard returning German interns back to London in the UK. After this second period of service, he did not return to Australia until February 1920 and was discharged.

Maurice served again for over five years during World War Two as V4528 Driver Maurice William Victor Mulready, enlisting in 1940 and being discharged during September 1945 as medically unfit, serving with the 117 Australian General Transport. He passed away in 1951, at only 51 years of age.