People Australia

Orlando Schofield, n.d.

Orlando Schofield (1870-1942) clerk and trade union official

Birth: 26 January 1870 at Parramatta, New South Wales, son of native-born Samuel Schofield (1831-1905) farmer, and Grace Amelia, née Retallack (1838-1874), born at Manaccan, Cornwall, England. Marriages: (1) 21 November 1891 at Marrickville, Sydney, NSW, to native-born Constance Evelyn Throwden [or Throden] (1871-1900). They had two sons. (2) 4 November 1905 at Sydney, to native-born Henrietta Frances (Ettie) Crampton (1880-1945). They had one daughter and seven sons (two of whom died in childhood). Death: 28 May 1942 in State Hospital and Home, at Liverpool, NSW. Religion: Anglican. 

• Joined Railway Service in 1886 at Petersham railway station working in the office. Was apprenticed clerk, short-hand typist in Chief Traffic Manager’s office about 1890. Became a booking clerk.
• Joined the Amalgamated Railway and Tramway Service Association (ARTSA) as a union porter in 1886. General Treasurer, ARTSA 1906-1908. Executive member of the 1909 salaried officers’ union and rejoined the ARTSA upon amalgamation. Foundation member of new salaried officers’ union after ARTSA was deregistered.
• Union expelled him for his involvement in the “old guard”. Resolved to form the Railway and Tramway Officers’ Association (RTOA) in 1913, proceeded successfully to have it registered in the State Industrial Court despite management’s opposition.
• Became the secretary until 1914. Appeared in first Wages Court hearing.
• Schofield believed that mutual distrust prevented wages and salaried staff from working harmoniously together with ARTSA.
• In later years was an old age pensioner. Cause of death: uremia and chronic nephritis.
• His eldest son Lancelot Clifford (Lance) Schofield (1892-1970) a station hand, was seriously injured in the head and eyes in an accident in the field while serving as a driver in the Australian Imperial Force in France World War I.
• Three of his other sons served in the Australian Imperial Force during World War II: Orlando Samuel (Sam) Schofield (1905-1965) [service record under Samuel Schofield], a motor driver; Elliot Stuart Schofield (1914-1971) [service record under Elliot Stewart Scofield], a debt collector; and Hugh Campbell Schofield (1917-1990), piano action fitter and finisher.

Sources
Greg Patmore, A history of industrial relations in the NSW Government Railways (PhD thesis University of Sydney, 1985); Transport Officers’ Gazette, pp.2-3; Railway & Tramway Officers’ Gazette, Vol. 9 No. 1, 20 Jan. 1923 pp. 1, 4; Vol. 9 No.2, 20 Jan. 1923 pp.1, 4.