Perth PWD trainees attending an early ‘Electrical Wireman’ course, early 1900s. A young Howard Hiddlestone is pictured in the back seat behind the driver of what looks like an early Model T Ford ute.
Excerpt from our book: ‘100 Not Out’ by Ross Addison
According to Howard Hiddlestone’s daughter Eunice, his one big claim to fame from his service in Egypt during WWI was that he met Colonel T.E. Lawrence, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
The story goes that Howard encountered Lawrence coming out of the desert on a camel while Howard was in the process of delivering a message as a motor-bike dispatch rider. Lawrence hailed Howard and asked if he could escort him to the battalion HQ, which Howard, not knowing who he was, did as instructed by his superior officer.
As a thank you, Lawrence then invited Howard to join him for a drink and took him into the Officer’s Mess. Being an ordinary rank soldier, Howard declined, saying that he would get into trouble. Colonel Lawrence apparently didn’t stand on ceremony and said to Howard, “They wouldn’t
dare do anything to you. Not when you are drinking with Lawrence of Arabia.”
Pictured: Father & son in AIF uniform, WWI (Albert Hiddlestone, left & son Howard, right)
Excerpt from our book: ‘100 Not Out’ by Ross Addison
#lestweforget
The year was 1920 and 22-year old Howard Hiddlestone, a young ex-soldier not long returned from the Great War with big dreams and a vision for the future, slowly pushed his rickety old push bike in a southerly direction up Rokeby Road in Subiaco towards King’s Hall, where his newly opened business was based.
His trusty pair of pliers and wooden-handled screwdriver rubbed uncomfortably in the back pocket of his overalls, adding to his feeling of weariness after a long day on the tools. Distracted by the irritation in his back pocket, he nearly dropped the old step ladder that was balanced precariously on his shoulders, as he steered his bicycle up the hill.
The modern wonder of electrification had not long come to households and businesses in Perth and the town of Subiaco, itself a fairly recent incarnation, just a stone’s throw from the city centre down along Hay Street, the recently sealed road that linked Perth to Subiaco.
Young Howard had seen the potential to service this exciting new utility and had initially established H. Hiddlestone Electrics in the hope of building a successful business.
Howard was the only qualified electrician in the family. After starting his working life as a technician with the Post Master General’s Office (the ‘PMG’ as it was known), he volunteered to serve in the AIF with his father, Albert, and the other brave young Western Australian men, who signed up to defend King and Country.
Fortunately, Howard and his father returned safely from the war and, under the auspices of a Federal Government scheme to help veterans integrate back into the workforce, Howard decided to try his hand as an ‘electrical wireman’ in this relatively new industry, no doubt seeing the opportunities that would open up as electrification gained popularity with local residents and businesses.
He had plans for his younger 13-year old brother Cecil, to join him as his apprentice and other brother Albert, who everyone called ‘Bert’, was already on board handling the walk-in trade to their King’s Hall premises.
Pictured: A young Howard Hiddlestone posing for the camera on his dispatch rider’s motorbike in Egypt during WWI
Excerpt from our book: ‘100 Not Out’ by Ross Addison
#lestweforget
Without the foresight and courageous commitment of three determined brothers, Hiddlestone Electrics would not be here today celebrating 100 years of service to the fledgling little Perth settlement, whose name was taken from a small order of Benedictine monks, from Subiaco in Italy, who settled the area in the early 1850s.
Without the foresight and courageous commitment of three determined brothers, Hiddlestone Electrics would not be here today celebrating 100 years of service to the fledgling little Perth settlement, whose name was taken from a small order of Benedictine monks, from Subiaco in Italy, who settled the area in the early 1850s.
When Howard, Albert (Bert) and Cecil (Cec) formed H. Hiddlestone Electrics in 1920, the last thing on their minds would have been the creation of a 100-year family dynasty, that would remain forever faithful and steadfast to its local roots.
Subsequent generations continued to maintain and grow the family business by never losing sight of the core values of loyalty, service, quality and value that determined the company’s enduring success in an environment where many larger, more high-profile business endeavours came and went. Despite rapid advances in technology and digital innovation, Hiddlestone Electrics will continue to remain successful and relevant in years to come by focusing on the delivery of the ‘good, reliable service’ promised by company stalwart, the late Vern Hiddlestone, to all customers in his beloved Subiaco and surrounding area.
