Burchell, Reginald

Lieutenant Reginald Burchell MC - 4th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company

Reginald John Burchell was born on the 18th May 1883 in North Adelaide South Australia to Thomas and Anne Burchell. He was one of eight children with, Edgar (1867), Alice (1869), Thomas (1872), Bertram (1876), Ada (1877), Eliza (1879) and Richard (1880).

The family moved to Western Australia in the later 1890's and Reg's mother died on the 18th July 1905 in Cottesloe.

Reg had worked for WAGR since the 1890's.

In 1906 Reg married Linda Blanche Robinson in Claremont WA and they would have three children, Beatrice (1907), Thomas (1908) and Joan (1913).

In 1906 they were living at Keane Street in Cottesloe Beach but in 1910 then moved to Jarrad St in Cottesloe. Reg was working as a Clerk for WAGR and between 1911 and 1913 Burchell was also chairman of the Cottesloe Road Board.

In 1912 the family were living at Albert Street Cottesloe Beach and he was still working as a Railway Clerk. The family then moved to Stuart Street in Cottesloe.

Reg went into politics prior to the Great War. Having stood unsuccessfully for the WA Legislative Assembly seat of Claremont in 1911, Reg Burchell was elected to the House of Representatives in 1913 as a member of the Labor Party.

Reg was later expelled from that party due to his pro position on conscription, however Burchell retained his Fremantle seat as a Nationalist at the 1917 election and again in 1919, remaining in the federal parliament until his retirement from politics in 1922.

Reg Burchell was heavily involved in the recruitment of men for the Australian Imperial Force in the Fremantle area. However unlike most politicians of that time, Reg followed up his words and also enlisted.

On the 4th January 1917 Reg enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. The medical examiner passed Reg as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 inches;

Weight - 210lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Reg was attached to a section of reinforcements for the Railway Corps and was sent to Victoria to continue his training.

Reginald was given the rank of Lieutenant and was one of the Officer in charge of No.4 Section of the Railway Corps. This group departed from Port Melbourne on the 28th May 1917 aboard the SS Shropshire.

(Photo Below from the Australian War Memorial of Reginald Burchell giving a talk to the soldiers aboard the Shropshire.)

After the long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth England on the 19th July 1917.

Reg and his unit were then disembarked and sent to the Railway Section Depot Camp at Bordon. Reg would be in England with his unit for the next few months. On the 4th October 1917 Reg left Southampton England and proceeded across to France. The unit was then sent to the Peronne region where they would operate their functions of moving supplies and troops through the region.

They operated in Peronne till March 1918. As a result of the German Spring offensive which broke through the British line on March 21st 1918, the French town of Peronne was soon under threat of capture. As it was a base for the 4th Broad Gauge Railway Unit, Reg had to ensure his men and equipment were moved safely away. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at this time. The official recommendation reads;

For unceasing devotion to duty in controlling the railway operations involved in the evacuation of wounded, troops and rolling stock from the Etricourt-Roisel-Chaulnes sections. He was continuously on duty for three days and nights and his care and watchfulness in handling the traffic with limited facilities rendered possible a successful evacuation, and saved engines and rolling stock from falling into the enemy's hands.

The news of his Military Cross came through in April 1918 and Reg had continued to serve with his unit for the remainder of the year. After the Armistice in November 1918 Reg was attached for duty to the Repatriation and demobilistation section of the AIF.

On the 17th March 1919 Reg left England aboard the troopship Plassy and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 27th April 1919.

Reg was then sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check up. He was discharged from the AIF on the 29th June 1919.

Reg was re-elected in the 1919 election but retired from politics in 1922.

It appears he had a son out of wedlock - Richard Farey Burchell born 1922 to Reg and Violet Farey.

In 1934 Reg and Linda divorced and in 1935 he married Violet Farey in Singleton NSW. He and Violet would live in Mosman NSW.

After leaving Parliament, Reg Burchell had worked as a manager with various companies including Hoadleys Chocolates, the MGM Film Company and Radio Interest Ltd. He retired in 1945 

Reg died on the 20th June 1955 in NSW.