Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

In Millicent, South Australia on the 1st of May 1894, Edward John was born to Edward Aaron and Annie Mayell. Little is known regarding Mayell’s childhood growing up in Millicent, however, it is understood that he attended a public school before working as a motor mechanic in his life prior to war. Mayell’s previous military service consisted of the C.M.F (citizen military forces) for four years, this most likely being his foremost reason for enrolment, enlisting to war on the 9th of March 1916. Owned by the Mortlock family, Mayell attended the Mitcham Army Camp for training. This camp was established due to overcrowding at the first camp, in Morphettville. Both camps, however, consisted of similar principles, preparing soldiers in areas such as field patrols, bayonet fighting, bomb throwing and trench digging. Possessing a dark complexion with black hair and dark brown eyes, Mayell attended this camp for up to 12 weeks before leaving for war as a healthy, single, 5.4 ft, 154 lbs, 21 year old, part of the Protestant religion.

Aboard the HMAT A37 Barambah, Edward John Mayell departed from Melbourne, Australia on the 27th of June 1916, marching into Plymouth, England, on the 26th of August that year, as part of the 10th infantry battalion. Two months later, during October, Mayell was transferred to the 48th Battalion to a supposed lack of soldiers in this squad. This led Mayell overseas to Etaples, France where he was ‘taken on strength’ to his new Battalion.

One of Mayell’s first experiences on the Western Front, was in a series of attacks launched in the village of Flers, in the Somme Valley in France. These attacks were launched on the 5th of November 1916 just a few days following Mayell’s joining of the 48th Battalion. It is understood that extreme weather conditions during this time meant regular movements between trenches, resulting in weakened defence. These were some of the worst conditions seen during battle on the Western front and was an abnormal debut for Mayell.

Throughout the first five months in which Mayell was successfully fighting on the Western Front, very few battles took place. However, the battalion moved through several trenches in France during this time, contributing to minor battles, known as skirmishes. Some of these places include Flers, Dernancourt, Mametz, Flesselles, Fricourt, Bazentin, Franvillers, Becourt, Henencourt, Elancourt.

Unfortunately, conditions remained dreadful for quite a long time in the field. Mayell and the 48th Battalion endured unfortunate circumstances for over two months, situated in waterlogged trenches for days, dormant, spending their time in mud. This resulted in several cases of trench foot, a condition that resulted from the soldier’s feet being wet for too long. Some cases were serious enough for evacuation, while the rest were improved and cured in rest stations built by the Battalion.

After two months of these dreadful conditions, it became necessary to hold the front line with posts, needing to wade through deep mud to reach the soldiers. ‘Switch trench” was an action undertaken by the Battalion regularly during this time. If a section of the first trench system was captured, a "switch" trench would be dug to connect the second trench system to the still-held section of the first. This became a regular occurrence due to the weakened structure of the trenches in these conditions.

By January of 1917, heavy rainfall began to ease. On New Year’s Day, a holiday was granted to the soldiers, spending their day competing in sport events against other Battalions to celebrate the new year. The break did not last for long, however, with an unexpected skirmish taking place on the 8th of January. The enemy shelled the area of Fritz-Folly and Fleurs, during the day, killing 4 soldiers from the Battalion, with 5 wounded. Mayell remained healthy during this time.

At the beginning of February, although the weather was cool, much improvement was seen from the previous dreadful conditions. Railway and road work was taking place during this time, with all available men from the Battalion required to work, Mayell was included in this.

Later that month, another unexpected attack was undertaken by the enemy against the 48th Battalion. This occurred during the night near Goodwin’s post, with large numbers of ‘pineapple’ bomb falling in the area.

By March, the weather remained cold, and the first sightings of snow took place. Useful training was carried out within the Battalion, practicing ‘brigade in attack’, learning guns and bombing. Although unknown at the time, this would become purposeful in the major attack which took place the following month.

The Australian Fourth Division, including the 48th Battalion, along with the 50th and 52nd Battalion, were committed to an attack near the town of Bullecourt, the first phase set to launch on the 10th of April 1917. The attack was timed to commence at 4:30 am, however, the tanks were late getting away due to a poor practical appreciation of their use and speed and were then held up by snow and poor visibility. The attacks were postponed until the following day; the consequence of this being the exhausted soldiers after spending hours arranged in the freezing, snowing conditions.

4:30 am on the 11th of April, the attacks were once again timed to commence, the tanks late to arrive for a second time. The attacks launched nevertheless, although two hours later than desired. This delay meant the soldiers had been exposed to rifle and machine gun fire all this time, due to the lack of artillery support.

It was on this date that Edward John Mayell was reported missing, and later announced to have been killed in action on the 11th of April 1917, in the first battle of Bullecourt. Initial letters were sent to Mayell’s next of kin (father) when first reports of his disappearance were documented. Further investigation soon begun after time passed without any sightings of Mayell.

Between the date of which Mayell went missing and when he was assumed to be dead, numerous letters were sent between various people. The commencing actions that occurred regarding the investigation of Edward John Mayell was communication between the information bureau for war in Melbourne, Australia and the information bureau in Mayell’s home state of South Australia. Together, the bureaus gathered any information possible about the case, including possible witnesses. This became difficult, however, due to contrasted situations in which soldiers believed they had seen Mayell being killed. Apparent eyewitnesses include Leonard Ifould Colyer and Joseph Henry Arthur Millhouse, who described Mayell as a “very dark, short, thick set chap [who] was always very cheery and popular amongst the lads”.

Due to the long process of officially declaring a missing soldier dead, letters confirming Mayell’s death were not sent until the 21st of February 1918. It was approximately ten months after the battle he was assumed to have been killed in that this conclusion was made.

Little information is available regarding Mayell’s memorial, other than the location, being the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

Mayell displayed the ANZAC spirit throughout the five months in which he was successfully fighting on the Western front. His perseverance was recognised in his commitment to the battalion throughout the harsh conditions. Mayell was rewarded with both a British War Medal, and a Victory Medal, because of his dedication, bravery, and spirit.

Edward John Mayell's name is now located at panel 146 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial amongst many more of the brave soldiers who fought for their country.

REFERENCES

Anon, The AIF project. Edward John Mayell. Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=192225 [Accessed February 21, 2022].

Anon, Virtual War Memorial Australia. Resources for students. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/education/resources-for-students [Accessed February 21, 2022].

Anon, AWM4 subclass 23/65 - 48th infantry battalion. Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339181 [Accessed March 7, 2022].

Cwgc, Private edward John Mayell: War casualty details. CWGC. Available at: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1456634/edward-john-mayell/ [Accessed March 15, 2022].

Anon, Battle of flers. Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84320 [Accessed March 14, 2022].

Anon, 2018. Australian battles on the Western Front. Sir John Monash Centre. Available at: https://sjmc.gov.au/australian-battles-on-the-western-front/ [Accessed March 9, 2022].

Anon, 2008. Timeline: Key battles on the western front. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/09/western-front-battles-timeline [Accessed March 13, 2022].

Anon, Edward John Mayell. Edward John Mayell | Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1647723 [Accessed April 3, 2022].

Cwgc, Private edward John Mayell: War casualty details. CWGC. Available at: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1456634/edward-john-mayell/ [Accessed April 3, 2022].

Anon, Edward John Mayell. Edward John Mayell | South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau. Available at: https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/soldier/edward-john-mayell [Accessed April 2, 2022].