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1890 Robert was born in 1890. He is the son of Alexander Haddock and Ann Edgar.
1897 On 10/2/1897 his father Alexander Haddock dies
1914 On 08 Sept 1914enlisted with the 1st Field Co. Eng. Reinforcements. His occupation noted as a machinist
1914 On 5 Oct 1914 Robert E machinist and his brother Thomas, Shoemaker (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) UK Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists 1890-1960
1914 On 22 Dec 1914 22 sappers including Robert Haddock embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, aboard HMAT Berrima on 22 December 1914.
1915 26 Feb Shortly after arrival in Egypt the reinforcements were all transferred to the 1st Field Company Engineers and were no longer considered reinforcements. On the 26th Feb 1915 Bert was allotted his new service number 245.
Bob enlisted as Sapper 245 1st Field Artillery in the Australian Engineers
An early casualty while at Gallipoli, Bert Haddock was wounded on the 2nd May 1915, a bullet wound to the left foot, and by the end of the month he was repatriated back to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester England. His medical record shows he was recommended for discharge in August 1915 from the Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital Epsom.
While awaiting for his formal discharge from the AIF Robert Haddock was successful in obtaining munitions work back in Scotland. He worked at William Beardmore Naval Constructions at Dalmuir in West Clydebank, Glasgow, the largest and most advanced shipyard in the United Kingdom which also included the manufacture of military arms and armaments.
1915 7th Dec While he was working he met and married Jane Stewart Fisher on the 7th December 1915. Jane was also from Glasgow and its possible she was working at the same munitions factory when they met or perhaps she was an old acquaintance.
1916 On 7 Dec 1916 in Old Kilpatrick, Dumbarton married Jane 200 Glasgow Road, Clydebank, Parish of Old Kilpatrick Minister was Rev. Thomas McKendrick, Minister of Morrison Memorial Church (Haddock family all attended this Church till they married)
1916 On 1 December 1916 Robert Departed London age 26 with his wife Destination Sydney, Australia Occupation listed as a Machinist Ship Name Osterley Official number 128287 Masters Name W j Jenks Shipping Line Orient Length of voyage - 54 days.
1917 On 13/1/17 Arriving in Sydney
23/01/17 Discharged He was awarded RN Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1939 - 1948
Robert was a wireless operator on the following voyages: 1. T S S Atua built 1906 12 September 1918 to Sydney Wireless operator 2. Australbrook left Port Newcastle (England) arriving Sydney 11 Jan 1919 – Wireless operator 3. T S S Atua left Port Lautoka arriving Sydney July 17 1918 - Wireless operator 4. Nigara left Vancouver via Auckland arriving Sydney 16 June 1918 Wireless operator
31/01/19 sister Eliza Haddock & Ian Laurie marry https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2349157 Australian War Memorial Pte 245 Haddock Robert Edgar 1st FCE 15.9.14 Disch 23.1.17 His Service Number was 4002, Series Description A9300; RAAF, Officers His next of Kin was his son Les Haddock this information has yet to be digitalised.
On the 1st December 1916 Robert departed London on the steam ship ‘Osterley’ bound for Sydney. A passenger list shows he returned alone, his occupation still as a machinist, but no mention in the record of Jean his wife. However further research confirms that Jean did join him in Sydney and they had two sons Leslie Alexander Haddock and Stanley John Haddock.
With only ancestry records available the family story remains rather thin after Bert and Jean settled back in Australia. Sadly his wife Jean died in 1927, she was 36 years old.
By 1930 during the peak of the Depression, Bert’s mother Annie has left Scotland and has joined Bert and his sons, and is living at the same family address at Meeks Rd, Randwick in Sydney.
At this time Robert is now a commercial traveller, a difficult occupation during these difficult economic times.
Two years later his mother Annie died at the age of 75. It had been a difficult time for the Haddock family, but the records show that father and son’s maintained close contact often sharing the family home at 59 Meeks Rd, Randwick over the following years.
During WW2 Bert enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce, his enlistment no 4002 however his record is not digitized at this point in time. The basic record shows his son Leslie as his next of kin.
1920 +/- Les Born
28/02/23 Eliza Haddock Laurie died
1923 Annie Edgar & Son in law William Laurie go to Sydney
10/05/25 Stanley born
1927 Jane dies (sounds horrendous with such young children)
1930 Randwick, Sydney NSW - commercial traveller, Annie Edgar H (Home duties) 59 Meeks Street, Sydney Australia. 1930 Randwick maybe 11 Titania Street
1932 On 27 Sept 1932 his mother Annie dies
During WW2 (at around 49) Bert enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce, his enlistment no 4002, however, his record is not digitised at this point in time. The basic record shows his son Leslie (around 19) as his next kin.
1940 +/- Les Married Jean in Aus @ about 26. (Any military records?)
1943 11 Titania Street, - traveller, District Watson Randwick NSW
His nephew Samuel Fleming Haddock visited him in 1945 when stationed out in Manly.
1946 16 Jun Stan marries Edel in Norway
1947 Bert was a radio retailer and had travelled to London perhaps seeking out business opportunities.
After the war in 1947 Bert was a radio retailer and had travelled to London perhaps seeking out business opportunities. A decade later in 1958 Bert and his two sons are still living together at Randwick, Bert was still a radio retailer, Leslie was a clerk and Stanley a fitter.
1949 Robert Edgar Haddock Radio Retailer Lesley Alexander Haddock - Clerk Stanley John Haddock Fitter (Where is Edel?) all at 59 Meeks Street, Kingsford-Smith
1954 as above
Thereafter the only family details to emerge show his son Leslie, married Heather Jean Duggan in 1956.
1958 Bert and his two sons are still living together at Randwick, Bert was still a radio retailer, Leslie was a clerk and Stanley a fitter.
1963 Macquarie District, Sub District Lawson, Robert Edgar property owner, 39 Plateau Road Springwood Australia No Les or Stan.
1963 Les living at 16 Kilparra St Ryde
1972 Robert Edgar Haddock, late of Kingsford, formerly of Springwood, N.S.W., investor, died 27th September, 1972, intestate; 1973 letters of administration were granted on 23rd February, 1973.
1976 Stan dies in Norway
1977 Electoral Roll has the last entry for Robert Edgar Haddock, property owner, 39 Plateau Road, Springwood, Australia.
1978 Les and Jean were over in Scotland from Australia and stayed with Sam and Betty Haddock. They attended the Baptism of Thomas Samuel Ramsay in 1978 and Martin Boyd Ramsay 1984.
1980 Les still at 16 Kiparra St Ryde
1984 Leslie dies
Bert had a brief but no doubt memorable war experience having been at wounded at Gallipoli. Then during his repatriation, having the chance to remain in his birthplace, the young Scotsman with a love of Australia, returned to Sydney with his wife and family and happily settled in a land that he would call home.
Sapper 245 Robert ‘Bert’ Edgar Haddock died in 1972, he was 82 years old.
Sources and Acknowledgments:
AWM, Ancestry.com Findmypast.com
Sources
- Statutory births Scotland's People 644/12 0270
- Statutory marriages Scotland's People 501/ 00 0277 witness George Fisher and Isobel Stirling
His mother (Annie) sailed out in 1922, presuming to look after boys when Bob's wife died. She was on voters role in Australia until 1930/31.
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