trompeter

Fantastic, belas fotos do passádo !!!!...

Oh my gosh, he was so young…My great uncle was there in the 6th Lighthorse, 1916 to 1919..

Maurice's service record is worth reading. It covers two world wars. His service in WWI is the most significant. Born in 1899, he came from a military family. His father WO William was a bugler in the Soudan (sic) Contingent. He was awarded the Queen's Medal, Khedive's Star, and Long Service Medal. Both Maurice and William were the youngest buglers to enlist. Maurice's uncle also served for 35 years in the forces. His grandfather was in the 99th Regiment of Foot: one of the last British regiments to be stationed in Sydney. His brother Frank (3 years younger) also joined as a trumpeter and served in Egypt. Frank was under 15 when he joined (but attested to being 18 in his application). One newspaper reports him being the youngest Australian soldier. Frank also survived the war. A search of trove also shows several newspaper articles (some with pictures) including this from the St George Call of 11 Jan 1919: "Trumpeter Maurice Mulready, 7th Light Horse (an original Anzac), who has just returned after four years fighting in Gallipoli, Egypt, and1 Palestine, was welcomed home at the School of Arts, Kogarah, on Saturday evening. The Mayor of Kogarah (Aid. G. W. P. Hanigan) presided. In supporting the toast of the guest, Major Lynch . said he served with Warrant Officer Mulready, the Trumpeter's father, in the Soudan, thirty-three years ago, and with Trumpeter Mulready, at Gallipoii." nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160387553 nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115838824 He rejoined the AIF Special Service in August 1919 and was discharged in February 1920, after a stint in London. The service took its toll on Maurice as his wife sued for divorce in 1928 on the grounds of drunkeness and non-support. He then served as a driver in the CMF from July 1940 through September 1945 but also had problems being cited for AWL, drunkeness, and insubordination. However, he seemed to get over these issues and serve out until the end of the war. I imagine after serving in some of the hardest fighting in WWI it must've been strange or frustrating to answer to people who may have only seen him as a driver. He died in 1951 and Frank in 1979.

Neale Ferguson thanks for these interesting notes…

A famous image of Diggers at the front..

Neale Ferguson thank you for the additional notes.

It appears he was court martialled in December 1916. No digital record available so unclear as to charges or verdict. I cannot find his service record in the national archives indexes.