Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

 
“RULES FOR SERGEANTS’ MESS”

On arriving at the mess table each sergeant will pick up or grab a knife, fork, spoon, and pannikin, preferably those belonging to someone else. He will then seat himself at the table, not forgetting to pull some article down from rack overhead whilst doing so.

Sergeants should on no account bear in mind that rations are drawn for 24 hours, but should devour everything that appears on the mess table at one meal, even though there might be any quantity of bread, one pound of butter, and 2oz of jam for each man.
Should the vittles arrive at the mess table a little late, sergeants are to pick up their knives and forks, and start plying an imaginary drum, utilising the mess table.

Meals are on no account to be kept for sergeants who may happen to be on guard or are detained on duty, arriving a little late.

Warrant Officer Stephen Cadwell forwarded the above rules home to his family - it was intended to indicate that the sergeants had 'no more lost their cheerfulness than the other sections of the army.'

Born at Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, on 12 March 1884, Stephen was the fifth child of Frederick Cadwell and Charlotte Fitzjohn. By 1901, the young lad had already left home and in early 1909, he sailed from London bound for a new life in Australia.

He married Mary Ann McCabe in 1913; their only child, Leonard Patrick, was stated (by family members), to have been born in Melbourne around 1915; unfortunately, no records for this event are available in Victoria.

The call for volunteers following the Landing at Gallipoli reached fever pitch in the winter months of 1915. Heeding the call, Stephen Cadwell left his position as gardener at Banongil Station, near Skipton, and enlisted at Ballarat on 12 July 1915; he was posted to the 22nd Battalion. And thus began a distinguished military career that included multiple recommendations for awards and decorations.

Cadwell was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for work during the Second Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May 1917. Then, several months later, his wife received word that he had been decorated with the Belgian Croix de Guerre for work at Broodseinde Ridge on 4 October 1917.

"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Broodseinde, Flanders, on 4th October 1917...seeing that an enemy post had not been mopped up and that it’s machine-gun was still in action. Armed with only a revolver he worked his way towards the post and, although wounded in the neck, he succeeded in silencing the gun and making the crew prisoners. His prompt action was instrumental in preventing our attack being held up at this point. Later, he organised and controlled carrying parties to our new positions and remained at his work until the effects of his wounds made him too weak to continue. In action his qualities of organisation and devotion to duty render him invaluable."

Cadwell was presented with the CdeG ribbon by General William Birdwood on 20 February 1918. (The medal was presented to him by the Governor General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson at a special ceremony held at the Ballarat Town Hall on 15 September 1919).

At Ville-sur-Ancre, near Albert, France, on 19 May 1918, Cadwell again came under notice for his work in the firing line 'organising and distributing supplies across shell-swept ground.' Throughout the whole attack he was constantly working in exposed positions. His recommendation for a Military Cross was at odds with this decoration being awarded only to commissioned officers. Despite his bravery, no further decoration was forthcoming at that point.

During operations at Allaines, near Peronne, on the night of 2/3 September 1918, Cadwell continued his good work directing supplies of ammunition to the forward area under gas shelling. He was eventually blown off his feet by a shell blast and wounded in the face. In spite of this he kept to his post determined to ensure that the supplies went forward. His inspiring presence led to a second recommendation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was finally awarded.

His honours were well earned: Cadwell served in the frontline with the 22nd Battalion with distinction for over three years and had been wounded in action on a number of occasions. At the termination of the war he had been decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Croix de Guerre (Belgian), and the Military Medal. He was also mentioned in despatches.

At an official Welcome Home held by the people of Skipton, Stephen Cadwell asked for those present to 'bare their heads for two minutes in honour of our fallen heroes,’ after which he suitably acknowledged the hearty welcome that was extended to him.

In the years immediately following the war, the Cadwell continued his pre-war occupation as a gardener and the family lived in Ballarat and then Caulfield. In 1924 Cadwell took over the prime position as manager of Wooloomanata Station at Lara, near Geelong, beginning a 26-year tenure at the property.

During World War II Cadwell enlisted a second time and served as a lieutenant in the 6th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps.

Stephen and Mary remained at Wooloomanata Station until his death on 18 November 1950 at a Geelong private hospital.