Toop, Albert Edward George

785 Gunner Albert Edward George Toop - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

Born 22nd May 1896 Edmonton Middlesex England to Edward and Mary Toop and was one of six siblings.

The family came to Western Australia in Feb 1911 and took up residence at 8 Hope Street Beaconsfield. Herbert took up an apprenticeship as a Cooper with a Mr. L. Deray in Fremantle. A Cooper is a traditional craftsman who makes and repairs wooden casks, barrels, vats, buckets, and tubs.

During this time Albert also served in the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery of the Citizens Military Forces who were based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks.

When the Permanent Gunners of the Permanent Army enlisted for overseas service in 1915, the militia Gunners for the 11th AGA were used to replace them around the Fremantle Harbour fortifications.

On the 21st June 1916 Albert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 6 feet 1 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 11 stone 5;

Chest Measurement - 38 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment, he and other Western Australian reinforcements for the Heavy Artillery were sent over east to complete their training. On the 30th September 1916 Herbert and his reinforcement group departed Sydney aboard the transport ship Aeneas and set sail for England, disembarking at Plymouth on the 19th November 1916.

After being disembarked the men were sent to the Australian Artillery Training Depot at Parkhouse Camp. He had a week here and was then sent to the Siege Brigade Camp at Stowlangtoft.

Albert remained training here for a few months and then on the 20th January 1917 was sent to France. He was sent to the Artillery Base Depot Camp at Le Havre and he spent the next month here. Herbert joined the 55th Battery of the 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade on the 25th February 1917.

His unit were then situated near Bouzincourt on the Somme battlefield providing fire support to the front line. They were here through to early April 1917 when they moved north to near the Belgian border. They would then provide fire support for the Australian and British soldiers at Ploesgsteert in Belgium.

Herbert's Battery was also kept busy through June and July 1917 with the Battle of Messines and the opening phase of the Third Battle of Ypres. As the Ypres battle continued the Artillery batteries moved closer to the front and they provided fire support for infantry operations from August to November 1917.

Albert came through this time unscathed and in late November the 36th HAG moved to France to support infantry operations in the Battle of Cambrai supporting the British offensive and then defending against the German counter attack.

The 55th Battery then returned to Belgium for the next few months over the 1917/18 winter. On the 16th December 1917 Albert was granted two weeks leave to the UK, returning to his unit on the 3rd January 1918.

On the 27th February 1918 Albert was detached for duty to the 3rd Ordnance workshops but returned to the 55th Battery on the 6th March 1918.

On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the British lines further south. As a result the Australian infantry divisions were sent south to stop this advance. The 36th Heavy Artillery Group remained in Belgium and was one of the few Australian units still there when the Germans broke through the British lines in Belgium. Several guns had to be hurriedly withdrawn as the Germans made a rapid advance. Albert and his guns withdrew into northern France where they could begin firing on the Germans.

From May through to July 1918, they were in position in Northern France providing fire support around Merris and Meteren. Albert had one week in May where he was attached to the 13th Ordnance Workshop but otherwise he was with his unit.

From August 1918 onwards the 55th Battery were then supporting the British infantry advancing in northern France and Belgium.

They were still in the northern sector when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. They then were in the village of Tourcoing.

On the 9th December 1918 Albert was granted a few weeks leave to the UK, returning on the 29th December 1918. Albert then remained with his unit for the next few months. On the 3rd April 1919 Albert was returned to England. He was sent to Codford Camp and would now wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.

Herbert was sent aboard the transport ship Somali on the 1st June 1919 and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

Albert was discharged from the AIF on the 23rd August 1919.

He then returned home to 8 Hope Street White Gum Valley and resumed his career as a Cooper. 

Albert married in St Patrick's Church Fremantle on the 27th August 1921 to Ellen Mary McCarthy. They would go on to live at 95 south street (later renumbered to 39 South St). By 1929 they had moved to 5 Mandurah Road South Fremantle.

They weren't there for long and by the mid 1930's had moved to 16 Wesley Street South Fremantle. As well as working as a Cooper during this period, Albert also resumed his military career in 1934 joining the 7th Heavy Artillery Brigade of the Citizens Military Forces. He served with this unit through to 1940. He then enlisted for service in the Second World War. (W64234). He initially served with the Fremantle Fixed Defences and was on this duty till he was discharged from service in 1944. Albert had reached the rank of Sergeant.

Albert was then living at 33 Hampton road but would soon return to his original home at 8 Hope Street White Gum Valley.

Albert lived here for the next twenty years. He died on the 18th November 1972. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MON C4 0093.