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
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