The Victorian Trooper #11 - Legacy & Tapestry: Joseph Ladd Mayes Jr.

Joseph Ladd Mayes Jnr. was born on the 8th December 1886 at the Kyneton Hospital, near Lancefield in Victoria, the fourth child of Joseph Ladd and Eugenie Mayes.

We can only guess at Joseph's childhood but the bulk of it would have been spent in the country town confines of Lancefield, living a tranquil, rural existence as the son of a highly respected policeman. He most likely attended the local Primary School with his older sisters Florence, Dorothy and Eugenie and, being the first young boy sibling they would have experienced, there's a better than even chance the young Joseph Ladd would have been doted on by them.

By the the time of Joseph Ladd's birth, Lancefield was a bustling little rural town servicing many farms in the surrounding district and offering quite a diverse commerical centre. A description from an 1887 edition the Victorian Municipal directory illusrates the town;

It would appear that Lancefield had everything the Mayes family could want and need during those early years and one can only guess that they had a happy existence for the time.

Joseph Jnr. was 9 years old when his father retired from the Force in 1895 and the family decided on a move from Lancefield to the City. I wonder how the move from the country to the relative bustle of suburban Brighton would have affected the young Joseph and his sisters. Where would they have gone to school? Were there regular trips the beach? Visits to the City on the expanding Melbourne tram network?

By the time of his father's death in 1902, Joseph was 15 years old. We know that his first occupation was a laborer for the Victorian Railways and this is where we find him at the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914.
  
Living with his mother at New Street in Brighton, Joseph Ladd answered the call to arms and enlisted in the AIF on 12th October 1915. It is from his subsequent service record that we are able to glean much information. 

It appears that Joseph Ladd intended following in the footsteps of his father as we see that he served seven months in the Australian Light Horse before his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force. We currently don't know anything more about this period. 

By early 1916, recruiting in Australia had raised sufficient troops to replace the ANZAC losses. Having completed basic training in Toowoomba in Queensland, Joseph Ladd emabarked for Eygpt on the 31st January 1916 to join the 4 divisions that were amassing there for the push onto Europe's Western Front.

In March 1916, the Australian Imperial Force moved to France, and by July/August, the Australians were heavily involved on the Western Front. As part of the 9th Battalion, (3rd Brigade) of the AIF's 1st Division, Joseph Ladd Mayes was embroiled in the fierce fighting of the Somme offensive at Pozières & Mouquet Farm. Over the course of six weeks, the AIF suffered aproximately 28,000 casualties. 

On the 23rd July, Joseph Ladd Jnr. sustained several gun shot wounds to his left elbow and was shipped to England via Calais. At Cambridge, far from the front, he spent the next five months recuperating. 

Reviewing his Army service record, it is somewhat amusing to note that Joseph Ladd Mayes was absent without leave for a period of 15 days from the 29th December through to the 12th January 1917 for reasons unknown. One wonders whether the New Years festivities might have had a part to play in this little "vacation". It is tempting to think that Joseph Ladd Jnr. might have enjoyed a raucous time, perhaps in Cambridge or London. It is a mystery but, in any case, when he finally turned up, Joseph Ladd Jnr. was immediately charged, found guilty and was fined a total of 33 days pay. 

By May 1917, the Australians were heavily engaged at Bullecourt in the North East of France. His service record entries put Joseph Ladd Jnr. Bullecourt where the Anzacs endured some of the fiercest fighting of the war, facing German machine guns, barbed wire and the trenches of the Hindenburg Line. The Australians suffered some 7000 casualties from the battle.

(A scene in the Hindenburg Line, showing Australians with a Stokes mortar assisting in the operations near Bullecourt (AWM E00457)

One of those casualties was Joseph Ladd Jnr. He sustained severe artillery wounds to his left thigh, pelvis, buttocks and lower spine. Considering the gravity of his injuries, he probably should have been killed. Somehow, Joseph Ladd survived to be shipped to the Southern General Hospital in Birmingham England. Remarkably, Joseph would recover from his injuries but he would never return to active duty.

A rather utilitarian letter was dispatched home to Australia, informing his mother Eugenie of his injuries - no doubt causing her great anxiety until she was able to contact him to ensure he was safe.

Joseph Ladd Jnr. spent the remainder of 1917 in England recovering before returning to Australia - much to the relief of his mother. He was home in Brighton for New Years Day 1918 - as attested to by the precious photographs that found their way into our collection. 

Surprisingly, his greivous injuries appear not to have deterred Joseph Ladd Jnr. from trying to re-enlist in the Army. He tried no less than three times in the period from 1918 through until 1920. Owing to his injuries, however, her was unable to gain much more than a clerical posting and, by 1920 it appears he'd given up on a ongoing career in the military. Discharged from the Army, Joseph Ladd Jnr. returnend the Victorian Railways Department as a clerk, based in the Melbourne suburb of Greensborough. 

Joseph Ladd Jnr. met Gertrude Rose Stock at Greensborough, Victoria and the two married in 1919. Together Joseph and Gertrude would have 9 children starting with John Joseph in 1919 followed by Mavis Jean (1921), Edward George (1923), Allan (1925), Kathleen Jean (1927), Ivan (1929), Donald Gordon (1931), and Margaret (1933).

Joseph Ladd Jnr. suffered declining health, throughout the 1930's, the ongoing result of his war injuries and he retired from the Railways Department. It appears he was in and out of a military hospital at Caulfield, while maintaining a residence at Andrews Sreet in Ringwood. Sometime after the birth of Margaret in 1933, his marriage to Gertrude Rose broke down - most likely due to his war experience and its damaging after effects. She left her husband, raising their children single handedly in a house that was regarded as immaculate. Gertrude Rose herself had a reputation as a outstanding cook and could serve up almost any dish imaginable. Gertrude eventually moved to Warracknabeal in Western Victoria. Joseph Ladd moved to the Anzac Hostel at Brighton.

Previously known as Kamesburgh, the Anzac Hostel became a home for permanently incapacitated WW1 veterans.

From left to right, are: Mr Joseph Mayes, 1st AIF; Mr F Leach, orderly; Mr Albert (Wardie) Ward, 1st AIF, whose bed is in the collection of the Australian War Memorial; and Sister E M Flower, assistant Matron. The patient in the wheeled bed is Mr Harold Wiseman, one of the first residents to arrive at the Hostel when it opened in July 1919. 

Joseph Ladd Jnr. spent his later years at the hostel. A family anecdote tells of his son Edward George Mayes making regular visits to his father and spending time with him. It was Joseph Ladd who introduced his son "George" to one of the Nursing Assistants at the Hostel, the daughter of a farming family from rural Victoria named Dorothy Preston. A romance soon blossomed between the young couple and George and Dorothy Mayes married during the height of WW2.

Taken at the Anzac Hostel, Brighton c. 1940s.

I imagine Joseph Ladd Mayes had a reasonably comfortable life at the Anzac Hostel - as comfortable as 1940's medicine could cater for. It seems to have been a well euipped facility with lovely gardens and set well back from the bustle of the surrounding city. I had the opportunity to take a tour through the former hostel in the early 2000's. By then, it served as a private school, though it retained all of its original character. You could feel the spirits of the past there.

Joseph Ladd Mayes Jnr. died, July 18th, 1955 and was interred at the Springvale necropolis. His estranged wife, Gertrude Rose died in Warracknabeal in 1966 and was buried at the Burwood cemetery.

DFA.

The Victorian Trooper #8 - Family Ties.

Joseph Ladd Mayes' career trajectory was already on the rise, even as the events of the Kelly Affair were still playing out. He received his first promotion just prior to the capture of the Kelly Gang in April 1880. At the recommendation of Superintendent Francis Hare, Joseph Ladd was promoted to the rank of Senior Constable in mid 1879 - not long after his secondment to the Police parties and just after his posting to Lancefield north west of Melbourne.

Despite the protestations of Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick and the two reported petitions from the townsfolk of Lancefield urging his reinstatement, his dismissal by Joseph Ladd Mayes seems not to have affected Joseph Ladd's position at Lancefield. He remained the Senior Constable in charge from 1879 to 1885.

In May 1885 Joseph Ladd received a second promotion - that of Sergeant 2nd Class. On this occasion the recommendation for his promotion came from the Bench of Magistrates in Lilydale, Victoria and they forwarded their testimonial to the Chief Commissioner in Melbourne. Joseph Ladd's police record shows the Magistrates expressed;

"their high appreciation of the zeal, skill and activity displayed by Senior Constable Mayes".

Service Record of JL Mayes 1885.

In September that same year Joseph Ladd transferred to Kyneton to take take charge of the station there. The posting was a brief one, however, for it was not too long before he was drawn back to Lancefield and he saw out the remainder of his career there.

In their private life Joseph Ladd, his wife Eugenie and Joseph's three children from his first marriage John Adolph, Rebecca and Sara seem to have prospered.

Though Joseph and Jane were approaching middle age, they enjoyed a rather prolific second round of parenthood, welcoming their first child Florence Marion in 1881. Florence was followed by Dorothy Susan (1882), Eugenie Douglas (1884), Joseph Ladd Jr (1885), Edward Burke (1888), Mary Madge (1890) and Norman Hector (1893).

While we assume the family experienced their most happy period - and we have no evidence to suggest it otherwise - we have a fragmentary picture of what their life was like.

The eldest child of Joseph Ladd and Mariann Mayes, John Adolph, appears to have had a thirst for adventure, such that by 1888, he had been living far from his birth place in the town of Wilcannia in NSW. John Adolph is the subject of an article of his own, penned by his descendant Allen Mayes.

Rebecca Mayes - the second child of Joseph & Mariann provides us with the most tangible piece of their life in the 1870's. A letter, written by Rebecca to her brother John Adolph, dated 1877 gives us an insight into the life of the Mayes family. It also shows a glimpse of the man Joseph Ladd was - meticulous (pointing out errors in Johnny's grammar), and his dedication to service. 

(Letter from Rebecca Mayes to her brother John Adolph Mayes, written from Broadmeadows, dated 1877. 

Click on each to open a larger version in a new window.)

The following is the text of the letter, as best as we have been able to translate;

Dear Johnny

We received your letter in time; Papa said it was a capital one; you made two slight mistakes; you put two ls~ in holidays and only one h’ in whether. Papa showed your drawing to Mrs. Rodda, she said it was very good. Mr. Rodda gave it out in church on Sunday evening, that he was going to commence a Confirmation class on Sunday the 12th inst. Harriet Dutton, Sarah and I had our names put down. I do not know if there will be any more from here. Papa was at the Williamstown races on Saturday, he was not home till after nine o’clock, he was at the Flemington races today and he will have to attend there on Thursday and Saturday.

Papa left Rhoan in the Depot today as he is quite lame, the horse Papa has now is smaller than Rhoan and is a pretty grey.

We had Mrs. Shannon washing here today, and I had to shut Rhoan in the stable nearly all day because he kept pushing her and flying at her. Momma says that when you buy a hat, get one that will not lose it’s shape the first wetting it gets.

I am getting on very well with my music now, I got a lesson today. Sarah is a good player now, Miss Eliza says she can play the "Reaper’s Polka" and the "Cornflower Valse” very well.

We have given away four of xxnxxx ‘s kittens, there is only one left now, I had to bring it down from the loft, it was meowing so often, its little brother, xxxx won’t make friends with it at all, he spits at it and slaps him in the face. I have no more to say at present so I send our best love to you from,

Your Affectionate sister

R J Mayes.

  (A guess has been made of the name of Joseph Ladd's horse - Rhoan. The name of Rebecca's cat is much harder to decipher therefore x's have been left in it's place).

No photos currently exist of Rebecca. So far as we know she did not marry. It is apparent that Rebecca worked as a post mistress at Pakenham in Victoria but for how long is unclear. In Joseph Ladd Mayes' will he specifically set aside 25 pounds for Rebecca Mayes who was, at the time of his death, living at Brighton, probably at the Union Street residence of her parents. Rebecca died in 1929 at Pakenham.

Sara Mayes, Joseph & Mariann's third child Sara was barely 16 years old when her mother died in 1878. Some time around 1885 Sara began a courtship with a young mounted Constable named Peter O'Shannassy who - it is believed - was stationed at Kyneton, Victoria and may have even been under Joseph Ladd's command when he was stationed there. Sara and Peter O'Shannassy were married at Boondara in Victoria on 11th November 1885 and eventually moved to the Tarwin Lower District of South Gippsland, Victoria. Peter and Sara had three children, Marian Cicely born in 1886 at Lancefield, Victoria, Barbara born 1889 at Tarwin Lower, Victoria and Allen Neil born 1895.

(Sara Augusta Mayes & Husband Peter O'Shannassy - dates unknown.)

(Sara & Peter O'Shannassy - date unknown.)

Sara O'Shannassy (Mayes) with grandson Harold Mountain, c.1930's.

Peter O'Shannassy died in 1919 and was buried at the Tyabb cemetery near Hastings in Victoria. Sara O'Shannassy (Mayes) died on August 8th 1940 and was buried with her husband at Tyabb. Apparently no headstone was erected.

Florence Marion Mayes - the first child of Joseph Ladd & Eugenie Mayes was born at Broadmeadows in 1881 though the exact date is unknown. Florence Marion spent much of her early life at Lancefield.

(Florence Marion Mayes - date unknown).

She married a divorcee Augusta Sandford in January of 1909. Sandford was a Lieutenant Colonel in the British military who signed up at the outbreak of WW1 and seems to have gained some notoriety. At the very beginning of the 1914 - 1918 conflict Sandford was commander of a fort at Queenscliff on the western tip of Port Phillip Bay in Victoria. A German steamer called the "Pfalz" which was docked in Melbourne attempted to leave upon hearing of the outbreak of war. Sandford urgently requested an order to fire on the "Pfalz" to stop it from escaping through Port Phillip heads and was given it. Thus Augusta Sandford was regarded as having fired the first Australian shot of the war.

(The German steamer Pfalz - rebadged as an Australian ship after it was captured at the outbreak of WW1).

Augusta and Florence had no children of their own. Two son's from Sandford's previous marriage, Horace & Arthur probably gave Florence a mothering role.

Florence Marion was recorded as 21 when her father died in 1902 and she was 58 when her mother died in 1939. At this stage it is unknown when Florence Marion died.

Dorothy Susan was born in 1882 around the time when Joseph Ladd was participating in the Police Royal Commission. Very little is known of Dorothy other than she was 20 when her father died in 1902 and was 57 when her mother died in 1939. Dorothy married a Lewis Coates. We don't know if they had children, nor do we know when Dorothy died.

Dorothy Mayes - date unknown.

Dorothy Mayes on ladder with Mary holding their mother Eugenie. These photos were taken on New Year's Day 1918 at Brighton, Victoria by Cicily O'Shannassy.

Eugenie Mayes was born in 1884 probably at Lancefield. Eugenie married one G. McLeod but we don't know when that occurred. She was 18 years old when her father died in 1902 and she was deceased by the time her mother died in 1939.

(Eugenie Mayes - date unknown).

Joseph Ladd Mayes Jr. was born in 1885 at Kyneton in Victoria. Joseph Mayes is the subject of his own article, which can be found here.

Joseph Ladd Mayes, taken New Year's Day, 1918 at Brighton, Victoria.

Joseph Ladd & Eugenie's 5th child Edward Burke Mayes was born sometime in 1888, however the exact date is unknown. As with others in his family Edward's life is mostly a mystery. He was 14 years old when his father died in 1902 and 51 when his mother died in 1939.

Mary Madge Mayes was born in 1890, probably at Brighton in Victoria. She was 12 years old when her father died in 1902. Mary was known affectionately as Mollie. She is known to have married a Harry Coles but no other information exists. She was listed as 48 years old on her mother's death certificate however this should read 49.

Mary Mayes posing with her husband Harry Coles on New Years Day, 1918 at Brighton, Victoria.

The last of Joseph Ladd's children, Norman Hector was born in 1893 making him only nine years old when his father passed away in July, 1902. Norman Hector was known the Mayes family currently residing in Gippsland, Victoria. Dorothy Mayes, wife of Joseph Ladd Jr's son George, recalls Norman Hector being a kindly bachelor who almost always wore a suit, was very well spoken and who looked after his mother in her later years. Norman Hector lived nearly all of his life in Brighton, Victoria. He died in 1955.

(Norman Hector Mayes - date unknown.)

The Mayes family certainly grew exponentially, even as Joseph Ladd was approaching his 60th year of life. Their presence in the Lancefield district was a constant - aside from the brief posting to Kyneton, east of Lancefield - from the period of 1879 until Joseph Ladd retired from the Police Force in 1895. 

Next: Twilight by the Sea...

DFA.