Photo: Dorothy Hall

5th Pioneer Battalion

NSW Wollongong Argus Friday 06/10/1917

South Coast Times Friday 28/09/1917

Newcastle Morning Herald Miners 29/09/1917

In St. Ebba's Churchyard is a family headstone for Pigg which includes:

In loving memory of
Frances Ann
the dearly beloved wife of
Thomas Pigg of Ebchester Mill
who died October 12th 1904
Aged 55 years
Also their daughter Frances Ann
who died April 28th 1899
aged 12 years
and the above Thomas Pigg
who died at Rowlands Gill Feb. 9th 1912
Aged 68 years
also their son
Charles Wardle Pigg
who died in France from wounds
received in action
on September 14th 1917
aged 40 years

Charles was born in July at Cross Row, Hamsterley Colliery in 1877, baptised on the 16th August 1877, at Shotley Bridge. He was the second eldest boy of five children to Thomas William Pigg, [born 1845, Haydon Bridge], and his wife Frances Ann Pigg, [born 1850, Ebchester, died Dec 1904], they were married about 1870.

The other children were John Thomas born in 1873, baptised 9th October 1873, Hamsterley, [who was killed on Thursday 7th June 1917 at Messine Ridge]*, Joseph William born 1882 baptised 28th March 1883, again at Shotley Bridge, [he married Mary Elizabeth in 1902, and had a son called Norman born 1906, in 1901 Joseph William, was a boarder at 66 St Peters Road, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne]. Daughter called Frances Ann, [same name as her mother] born 1888, at Ebchester, she died aged 11 in June 1899, and a fifth child, a daughter, born about 1880? Ebchester, called Margaret.

Charles' father Thomas was originally an Agricultural Labourer and a servant at the age of 16, residing at Newlands, on a 370 acre farm in 1861 in Northumberland. In 1871 he was residing with his newly wedded wife at 49 Sherburn Terrace, Consett, Durham. He had married Frances Ann about 1870, and was now working at the colliery as a coke loader. By 1881, now with three children, they moved, and were all now residing at Whittonstall.

In 1891, they were all residing at 4 Prospect Row, Hamsterley Colliery, where the father and the two eldest boys were all employed, Charles was a Driver, Thomas was a weigh man and John a putter.

In 1901, the father, mother and Charles are residing at Ebchester Mill. Joseph William, the other brother, has left home and was a boarder residing at 66 St Peter's Road, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

In 1911, Charles was a boarder, with the Maughan family at Ebchester, [Francis Maughan, widower age 52, his daughter Annie Isabel aged 22 and his youngest daughter Mary Ada age 18], Charles' mother had died in December 1904. Charles' brother Joseph William with his wife and their son Norman, were now residing at Norham Cottage, Deene Avenue, Rowlands Gill, with his father Thomas now retired.

* John Thomas Pigg [the eldest brother to Charles], was born in Hamsterley in 1873. He travelled to Australia on the 22nd May 1914, from London to Sydney on the 'Orama' ship number 132989, an Orient line steam ship. John travelled to Australia as a single man, but had a wife named Priscillla [nee Kemp], and six children left in the UK. They were married in 1895 and were residing at Cement House, Hamsterley Colliery, Durham in 1918. He worked at the Mount Kemble mine. In 1911 the family were residing at 129 Cross Row, Hamsterley Colliery, Ebchester, prior to this in 1901, they were living at 63 Wood Street, at Benfieldside. Residing initially at Kembla Heights, New South Wales. He enlisted at the Town Hall, on Saturday September 18th 1915. Height 5 feet 6 and a half inches high, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, grey going bald, weight 138lbs, a Wesleyan Methodist. Service number 4270. 45th Battalion. He stated that he was separated from his wife. John enlistment papers also state that his parents were deceased. The Next of Kin nominated was his youngest brother Joseph William with a residence address of Kembla Heights, New South Wales. [Joseph was married to Mary Elizabeth in 1902, and had one boy called Norman born about 1906 in the UK]. John Thomas Pigg embarked on HMT A60 Aeneas on the 30th December 1915 with the 13th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion. He arrived in Egypt and was transferred to 'B' Company in the 45th Battalion. On the 14th February 1916, he joined the 2nd Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir from the 1st Training Battalion at Zeitoun. On the 13th March 1916, he was taken by 1st Field Ambulance [Serapeum], and admitted to the No 1 Stationery Hospital at Ismalia. Then was transferred to the No 1 Dermatology Hospital at Abbassia. He returned to his unit on the 31st March 1916. He spent 15 days in Hospital.

On the 2nd June 1916 he embarked at Alexandria to join the B.E.F. in France. Arriving at Marseilles on the 8th June 1916 aboard the 'Kinfauns Castle'.

On the 22nd July 1916, John was forfeited 4 days pay for 'Committing a nuisance in the Billet'. The 23rd August. John is admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station via the 12th Field Ambulance suffering from Diarrhoea. He re-joins the 45th Battalion on the 5th September 1916. Then on the 5th January he is admitted to Anzac R Station suffering from Influenza, he re-joins his battalion on the 30th January 1917.

He made a will on the 29th April 1917 leaving everything to his 6 children. His wife was awarded his pension. John Thomas Pigg was killed on the 7th June 1917 near a farm called Stinking Farm near Hill 63 at Messines Ridge.

His wife Priscilla was residing at Cement House, Hamsterley Colliery, Durham and was awarded 40s per fortnight, commencing from the 26th August 1917. One of the sons David Jenkins Pigg was to receive 20s per fortnight, Mary Pigg daughter was to receive 15s. The other children were called Thomas, William, Charles, Francis Clure.

Johns' personal effects wallet and photos were sent to his brother Joseph Pigg, now at Victoria Street, Carrington, Newcastle, New South Wales.

On the 24th July 1917, Joseph had to write to the Victoria Barracks requesting 2 death certificates. Joseph received John's personal effects on the 7th March 1918 - Wallet and photos.

Charles Wardle Pigg emigrated to Australia on the 24th June 1912, leaving London for Sydney on the Cornwall, Ship No 105897, Federal Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. He resided at Kembla Height, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia with his youngest brother Joseph William Pigg, who was also residing at this address for a while.

Charles enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 31st July 1915 at Victoria Barracks in New South Wales. He was 38 years and 1 month old, 5 feet 5 inches tall, sallow complexion, brown hair with hazel eyes. Weight 140lbs.

The address he gave at enlisting was c/o T. McCann, Newsagent, Corrimal, New South Wales. Next of Kin was J. W. Pigg [brother], Kimbla Height, Wollongong, New South Wales. Charles was appointed to the 6th Reinforcement, 17th Battalion at Liverpool on the 27th October 1915. He embarked on the 2nd November 1915 on the HMAT Euripides A14 from Sydney. His Service number was 2838. Charles was put into the 55th Battalion at Zeitoun, on the 16th February 1916, at Tel-El-Kebir he was taken on strength.

On the 18th January 1916, he was charged with 'leaving parade without permission' but Lieutenant Phillips admonished the charge. Charles' character was described as Good.

Charles was then transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion on the 3rd March 1916 at Tel-le-Kebir. On the 19th June 1916, he embarked at Alexandria on the transport Canada, arriving on the 25th June at Marseilles to join the B.E.F.

The 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion was formed in Egypt on the 3rd March 1916, following the allied evacuation at Gallipoli. It was formed from a nucleus of original ‘Anzacs’ and an influx of reinforcements that had newly arrived from Australia and designated to the service under the 5th Division. A Pioneer Battalion was essentially a construction and labour unit. During World War I it was employed to construct road works (including corduroy roads ), to dig communications trenches, insert ‘duck board’ tracks, build saps, and extend 'light rail' systems. They were considered to be the 'handy men' of a Division and often completed their essential work under fire. The 1916 influx of 5th Pioneer reinforcements consisted of mainly tradesmen, miners and craftsmen, mostly originating from South and Western Australia. Of the 14 Officers and 600 men who marched into the battalion lines at Tel-El-Kebir, Egypt on the 3rd March 1916, only 100 new Pioneers had seen previous active service.

Charles came home on leave on the 19th May 1917 and returned to the front line on the 4th June 1917.

The battalion were constantly shelled from the 10th September to the 19th, and in this period lost 3 Killed, 1 officer and 17 men wounded. They had orders to construct a road, LEINSTER ROAD is was eventually called.

Source : War Diary, for a full account see the War Diary entry below.

Charles was wounded on the 14th September by a shell at about 11 am? which killed a Harry Milverton Pikering and a Sergeant Landaman. Charles was taken to the 1st Field Ambulance, where he died of his wounds at approx. 6 pm received the same day. His wounds were described as shell wounds right arm, left leg, a comminute fracture of the skull, penetrating Fractia.

Harry Milverton Pickering was killed in action 14 September 1917 (AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army). He was 38 when he died on [the] sic 14 September 1917, Belgium. He was buried 14 September 1917 in the Ypres, Belgium. "I was on sick parade at Kilo Farm and saw the grave of Pickering there, close to a pill-box. It was the only one of the 5th Pioneers and thus it was fixed on my memory. I saw him killed by a piece of shrapnel, while we were along the Menin Road, Ypres. He was taken to a cemetery in Ypres and buried by a party from the company, a cross was re erected bearing full particulars. I knew him in the company, he came over with the 6th reinforcements of the company. [It was the 6th reinforcements the C. W. Pigg was in], He came from West Australia. In my Platoon, 7th, B. Company, killed outright alongside me at about 6 a.m. while working on Leinster Road, near Menin Road. Sgt. Landaman, of same Platoon was killed by the same shell and buried in the same marked grave, about 20 yards. from the spot in which they fell, just off the road. Pte. same Platoon, and I helped bury them and put up their Crosses." Leinster Road was the name given to the road the 5th Pioneers were constructing from Birr Cross Roads to Zillebeke. The Unit Diary [held at AWM] noted that it was hard to get construction materials up to the worksites because the Allied batteries were located just of this road which attracted 'a considerable amount of heavy shellfire.' "I saw him killed by a shell whilst we were going along the Birr Cross to Zillebeke Road. He was buried just off the road by a party from the company. A cross was erected bearing full particulars. Sgt. Landaman was buried with him. Knew him in the company. He came from West Australia, He was killed instantly at about 11 a.m. on the Menin Road, while road making by a shell which also killed Sgt. Landaman and one other man. He and Landaman are buried in one grave which is about 200 yards to the right of Menin Road opposite Burr Cross Road and has a cross with the name and regimental colours [which I have seen]. His name was Harry. He came from West Australia and the only man of his name in company [belonged to B. Coy VII Pltn.]. He was in B. Co. and I knew him quite well, a thick set bloke, not too tall, about 5ft.6, might be 34. I was 40 or 50 yards from him when he got killed about 14 September at Leinster Road. Time forenoon. I saw a shell come over and knock out three men, Pickering, Landaman and Pigg. I did not go up to them. Pigg was the only one not killed outright. Pickering and Landeman were buried about 100 yards from where they were killed [not in a Cemetery] on the Leinster Road. I have seen their graves from a distance. I have seen the crosses which were made for them with their names on."

Source: Australian Red Cross Society, Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-1918 War 1DRL/0428, AWM.

Charles was buried by Captain J.C.A. Bohn of the 47th Division.

On the 12th November 1920, the Army had wrote to Messrs Owen and Son, Solicitors, asking for any nearer blood relatives than Mr Joseph William Pigg, then residing at 78 St Peters Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Charles solicitor 'Owen and Son' [Wollongong], were the Executors of his estate. In December 1920, T. F. McGann an Executor of Charles's Will and Estate had received the above letter asking who was Charles' Next of Kin as John the eldest brother was killed in the War, and Joseph was the nearest blood relative. His Mother and Father were both dead by this time. Officer in charge of Base Records at Victoria Barracks Melbourne, confirmed receipt of the letter on the 4th December 1920.

Charles personal effects consisted of a Disc, letters, photos, pipe, wallet, religious book, leather card case, match box cover postcards which were all sent to his brother Joseph from the Australian Kit Store based in the UK then at 110 Greyhound Road, Hammersmith, London, W.6. They were received on the 9th May 1918 by Joseph Pigg.

Joseph his brother had written to the Australian authorities about his brother's will, which was sent on the 27th March 1918, Joseph had given the address by this time as Victoria Street, Carrington, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, but this was no longer being used in 1920, as three photographs and a description of his grave were returned unopened, which had been sent by the Base Records office at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

Eventually the solicitors Messrs Owen and Son supplied the address for Joseph William.

Mr T. J McCann, of Corrimal, has received information that Private Charles Pigg has been killed in France. He enlisted about two years ago, and saw service in Egypt.Source : New South Wales and Wollongong Argus Wednesday 3rd October 1917.

Mr J. W. Pigg of Victoria Street, Carrington, has received word that his brother, Private C. W. Pigg, died of wounds on the 14th instant. Private Pigg enlisted from Corrimal. Mr Pigg lost a brother, Private J. Pigg, three months ago.

Source: Maitland Weekly Mercury New South Wales Saturday 6th October 1917.

Research: Michael White

Charles Wardle Pigg is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.

John Thomas Pigg, his brother is remembered at Hamsterley on H140.04

Australian War Memorial
Australian War Diaries
The CWGC entry for Private Pigg