Gliddon, Maxwell Howard
5862 Gunner Maxwell Howard Gliddon - 27th Battalion AIF
Maxwell Howard Gliddon was born in Fremantle WA on the 1st October 1888 to Edgar and Emma Gliddon and was one of eight siblings. The family lived in Canning Road East Fremantle and Max was educated locally.
In 1900 the family moved to Adelaide Terrace in Perth before heading to Kellerberrin where the family took up farming. Kellerberrin is situated 250 km east of Perth in the wheatbelt region.
Max helped his father with the farm but was then employed as a Linesman and survey hand. During this time circa 1913 he was based out of North Perth.
In 1914 Max was married to Edith Mary Stephens, and a son called Reginald was born in 1915. They took up residence in Hensman Road Subiaco.
Sadly his wife died Edith died on the 4th April 1916 in Subiaco. Leaving young Reginald with relatives, Max enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 16th April 1916. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the Medical Officer recording Max's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/4 inches tall;
Weight - 129lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Black.
After his successful enlistment he was sent to the training depot at Belmont Camp. He had two weeks of being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 21st June 1916 he was then assigned to the 17th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He had the next four months training with this group at Belmont Camp but on the 30th October 1916 was transferred to the 16th Reinforcements to the 27th Battalion AIF.
The 27th Battalion was a South Australian unit but it took two reinforcement groups from Western Australia. On the 30th October 1916 Max and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Port Melbourne and set sail for England, reaching Devonport on the 28th December 1916.
After being disembarked Max and his group were sent to the 7th training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He trained in England for the next few months and on the 6th April 1917 was sent over to France. Max spent a few days at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples and on the 9th April 1917 was taken on strength of the 27th Battalion AIF.
The 27th Battalion were then based near Lagnicourt in front of the Hindenburg Line. Max did not have long to wait for his first large action as on the 3rd May 1917 the 27th Battalion were sent into action at Bullecourt to relieve units of the 5th and 6th Australian Brigades.
The 27th Battalion helped secure the gains already made and were then relieved. Max came through this action unscathed. On the 23rd May 1917 he was sent to hospital ill with trench fever but fortunately it was not severe and he was back with his unit on the 1st June 1917.
The 27th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Australian Division, was now withdrawn from the front for a three month rest period. Much of this time from June to August 1917 was taken up with training and sporting activities. In September 1917 the 27th Battalion was then sent to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres.
On the 20th September 1917 Max served with his unit at the battle of Menin Road and on October 4th 1917 at Broodseinde Ridge, before holding the line nearer to Passchendaele. Max came though these battles unscathed and on the 19th November 1917 was temporarily detached to the 7th Machine Gun Company.
Max and his unit were now serving south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines. On the 17th January 1918 Max was again transferred, this time to the 103 battery of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. He served for the remainder of the war with the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade as a Gunner.
On the 10th April 1919 Max returned to England where he spent several weeks in base camp while waiting for his embarkation orders. On the 31st May 1919 he boarded the transport ship HMAT Aeneas and set sail for Australia, reaching Melbourne on the 12th July 1919.
Max travelled up to Sydney where he was discharged from the AIF on the 21st August 1919. He then made his way back to Western Australia.
Max remarried in 1924 to Eileen Maud Terrett and a son John was born in 1924.
They then moved out to North Bandee where Max took up work as a Farmer and was then located at Narrogin, working as a Linesman.
Max saw service during World War Two. He enlisted on the 16th May 1942 and was given the service number W56431. He served in the 5th Military District Line of Communication Signals.
By 1949 Max was working a Linesman at Lake Grace and remained there till the mid 1950's. They then moved back to South Perth where Max was working as a Nightwatchman.
Max died on the 15th March 1967in Mt Lawley aged 78. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.