Cardinia Hall - the original Trustees

The Cardinia Hall was opened on December 17, 1924, you can read an account here. I have written about the community activity which led to the building of the Hall, here.  In this post we will now look at the five original Trustees - Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff, George Benjamin Beazley, Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb. The first three men - Messrs Conroy, Duff and Beazley -  are names synonymous with Cardinia.

Michael  Conroy

Michael, born in Bungaree in 1876, married Ruby Elizabeth Thornell of Somerville on November 11, 1915.  They settled on their property Corofin, Ballarto Road in Cardinia and raised their family of seven children - Elizabeth Bridget (1916-1920), James William (1917), John Patrick (1919), Michael Mark (1920), Brendan Ignatius (1921) Bernice Mary (1922) and Phoebe (1925).  Michael was involved with the Football Club, the School Committee and the Hall Committee. Michael and Ruby retired to Somerville in 1948.  Michael died July 1956, aged 79 and Ruby died August 1973, aged 87. They are buried at Cranbourne Cemetery.  Their son Michael spent his life in Cardinia and his wife Joan, who turned 100 in 2024, had the honour of cutting the Cardinia Hall Birthday cake, along with 90-year old Ian Ridgway, at the Centenary Celebrations. (1)

Wedding report of Michael Conroy and Ruby Thornell

Mornington Standard November 27, 1915. 

Read the full report here http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70073953

Alexander Duff

Alexander, was a descendant of the Reverend Alexander Duff (1824-1890), the first Presbyterian Minister in the area. The Reverend Alexander had married Annie Tucker in Belfast, Ireland and they had eight children, three of whom settled on farms in the Cardinia area. The name Alexander was used for one of the sons, a grandson and a great grandson. Which one was the Hall Trustee? Son Alexander (1869-1941) married Mary Irwin in 1899. He was a Cranbourne Councillor from 1930 until 1936,  and a keen cricketer. Alexander and Mary had three sons, the eldest being Alexander William who was born in 1900, and who died in 1987. Either of those are the right age to be a Trustee, even though Alexander William would only have been just 21 when he was appointed, so I believe the older Alexander (1869-1941) would be more likely the original  Trustee. (2)

The obituary of Alexander Duff (1869-1941)

Dandenong Journal, October 8, 1941. 

Read the full report here http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214605386

George Benjamin Beazley

George was a descendent of Henry and Susanah (nee Lineham) Beazley. Her parents, James and Charlotte (nee Ridgway) Lineham had taken up land in Cardinia in 1878; earlier still, in 1854 had taken up land at Clyde. Henry and Susanah had numerous children including George Henry, born in Cheltenham in 1874. George and two of his brothers, Fred and Sam, farmed at Cardinia. George married Jane Williams in 1911 and they had three children. The Beazleys were all involved in community life in Cardinia, including the School, the Church and the Hall. George and his family left Cardinia in 1937 and moved to Cockatoo. He died in 1965, aged 87, Jane had died in 1943, aged 65. (3)

The Beazley's leave Cardinia

 Dandenong Journal, April 1, 1937. 

Read the full report here  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200679647

The other two Trustees were Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb.

 
Ernest Gordon Mills
It appears from the Electoral Rolls that Ernest Mills was only in Cardinia from 1919 until around 1925. He had previously lived in Woodleigh and Wonthaggi. He married Eliza Azenath Hutton in 1913,  and  they had three children – Harry (born 1913), William (1914) and Clara (1920). Sadly little Clara, born at Cardinia, died only six weeks later, at only 6 weeks of age. Ernest and  Eliza farmed on 40 acres.

Harry and William commenced at the Cardinia School in 1919; however, by 1925 the Mills' farm was sold and they were living back in Wonthaggi, where Ernest was a fruiterer. He died in Wonthaggi, aged 70, in 1955 and Eliza died in 1965, aged 77. 

The only other thing I can tell you about the family was that in 1945, Harry, then 31, was charged with murder of his wife, Linda Marion Mills, with whom he had two children aged 3½ and one year old. They were living at Wonthaggi, and his occupation was a coal miner. There was evidence given at the Inquest that he had a 'friendship' in the previous four years with 20 year old Elizabeth Mary Grayden of Phillip Island and he had asked his wife for a divorce;  his father gave evidence about the gun and his mother also have evidence as Harry called her first after the shooting and, and as she lived only three doors down, she was quickly on the scene. Harry gave various versions of the event, including at one stage blaming his 3½ year-old daughter, saying she had pulled the trigger whilst he was cleaning the loaded gun which he had put down for a short time. 

In the end he settled on this explanation - he was greatly in love with Betty Grayden. He knew his wife would not divorce him. The situation with his wife became such that they could hardly bear to be in each other's company... "I don't know what came over me; I must have gone mad. I put a bullet in the chamber and was working the bolt back and forwards to test the ejector. I saw my wife coming down the yard, something came over me, the gun went off and I saw my wife fall down."

He was charged with murder, however the Jury found him guilty of manslaughter and sentenced him to ten years in gaol.  I have nothing good to say about this man, especially as he cravenly tried to blame his little daughter.  It would be interesting to know how many past scholars of the Cardinia School have been charged with murder, but that’s a story for another day. (4)

Death notice of little Clara Mills

The Age, April 3, 1920  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203707608

Joseph Gordon Lobb 

The fifth Trustee was Joseph Gordon Lobb, on whose land the Hall was built. Joseph was born in South Australia in 1885 and married Rose Alice Burgess in 1911 at Hill End, in Victoria. Rose had a daughter in 1908, Marjory Grace, and after her marriage had four more daughters - Hughina Margaret (1912),  Doris Anne (1914), Rosamond Alice (1916) and Pearl May was born in 1924 whilst they were living at Cardinia. Joseph served in the First A.I.F - enlisted July 1917, embarked for overseas service December 1917 and Returned to Australia December 1918.  Joseph and Rose had been on a dairy farm in Clayton Road, Notting Hill before they arrived in Cardinia and took up their 67 acres around 1920 - which was the year that three of their daughters, Marjorie, Hughina and Doris commenced at the school and a year later their fourth daughter Rosamund also started at the school. 

Joseph Lobb took up community life in Cardinia with gusto – he was a Hall Trustee, chairman of the school committee, on the Board of Management of the Presbyterian church, as a Returned Soldier he addressed the school children on Armistice Day and chaired the Arbour Day celebrations. However it appears the marriage did not last and by 1931 Joseph was living at Hill End and Rose was living in Oakleigh. In 1948, Joseph married Margaret Scouller. Joseph died in 1973, aged 87 and Rose died in 1967, aged 78. (5)

Wedding report of Joseph Lobb and Rose Burgess

Narracan Shire Advocate, July 19 1911 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article256443038

To read a report on the opening of the Cardinia Hall, click here. To read about the community activity which led to the building of the Hall, click here. 

Acknowledgment - Look to the Rising sun: Back to Cardinia 1984 - a history of Cardinia and District, including Rythdale and Pakenham South, by  Eileen Williams and Jewell Beard. (Published by the Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984) provided very useful information on the lives of Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff and George Beazley. 

Footnotes

(1) Conroy information sources - Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Wedding report of Michael Conroy and Ruby Thornell in the Mornington Standard November 27, 1915, see here; Look to the Rising Sun (see Acknowledgment).

(2) Duff information sources -  I have written about the Reverend Alexander Duff at the bottom of this post -  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cardinia-tree-plantation-in-honor-of.html;  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Look to the Rising Sun (see Acknowledgment); Alexander Duff obituary - Dandenong Journal, October 8, 1941, see here. 

(3) Beazley information sources - Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Look to the Rising Sun (see Acknowledgment); report of the Beazley family leaving Cardinia  for Cockatoo - Dandenong Journal, April 1, 1937, see here. 

(4) Mills family information - Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Look to the Rising Sun (see Acknowledgment); Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books; Clara Mills death notice The Age, April 3, 1920, see here. Mills murder case -  The Herald, March 22, 1945, see here; Inquest report - The Herald, May 1, 1945, see here;  The Age, July 20, 1945, see here; The Sun News Pictorial, August 17, 1945, see here.

(5) Lobb family information - Genealogy SA - https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ ;  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Wedding report of Joseph Lobb and Rose Burgess, Narracan Shire Advocate, July 19 1911, see here;  Joseph's First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossier at the National Archives of Australia; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books; Look to the Rising Sun (see Acknowledgment); Some of Joseph's activities in Cardinia - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 14, 1926, see here; Dandenong Journal, November 17, 1927, see here; Dandenong Journal, March 29, 1928, see here; Dandenong Journal, July 19, 1928, see here; The Argus, August 20, 1928, see here; Dandenong Journal, April 11, 1929, see here; Dandenong Journal, February 6, 1930, see here.

Cardinia Hall - the very early days

The Cardinia Hall was opened 100 years ago on December 17, 1924. You can read a report here. There was a function held at the hall on November 23, 2024 to celebrate the Centenary, which in spite of the very hot weather, was attended by over 120 people. Some of the locals spoke of their memories of events held at the Hall and the role it played in the local community. I also gave a short talk on the early history of the Hall which is the basis of this post. The original Trustees were Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff, George Benjamin Beazley, Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb, and I have written about them, here.

The Cardinia Hall, taken November 23, 2024 at the Centenary Celebrations.

Image: Heather Arnold

I looked at the three Cardinia Hall files at the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) and I paid to have two of the files digitised, and you can look at them online - 

VPRS 242/P0000, C72699 Cardinia Hall Site Correspondence, view it here;  

VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees, view it here; 

and VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files. 

My other source was Look to the Rising sun: Back to Cardinia 1984 - a history of Cardinia and District, including Rythdale and Pakenham South, by  Eileen Williams and Jewell Beard. (Published by the Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984)

As noted in Look to the Rising Sun the first hall in Cardinia was built about 1880 in Bould Road, the same road where the original Cardinia Primary school operated from 1874 until 1906. The current school opened 1911. The Bould Road Hall  building was used until 1914, when it was sold and this left the town without a hall, and thus in 1921 a public meeting was held with the view to establish a new hall. (1)

What I found from the files at the PROV was that on July 29,1921  Henry Whitmore (2) of Connewarre, Cardinia, Secretary of the Cardinia Hall wrote a letter  to the Public Works Department  - 

Sir, At a representative meeting of the residents of this district, a site on which to erect a hall, offered by C. E. Osborne, Esq. (3) was accepted. Five Trustee for the proposed hall were also appointed at the meeting their names being Mr Conroy, Mr Lobb, Mr A. Duff, Mr E.G. Mills, Mr G. Beazley....... (4)

The first page of Mr Whitmore's letter from July 29, 1921.

 Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 242/P0000, C72699 Cardinia Hall Site Correspondence

The map that was sent to the Public Works Department  showing the proposed site of the Hall on Mr Osborne's land. 

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 242/P0000, C72699 Cardinia Hall Site Correspondence

However on July 6, 1921, a few weeks before Mr Whitmore's  letter, Cardinia farmer, Joseph Lobb had written a letter to the Closer Settlement Board (CSB) asking if they would raise any objection to -

me having a general store opened on a site facing Ballarto Road near the School Ground on Block 71C Homestead Moxon's Land.....or of a site being given for the purpose of erecting a Public Hall or Tennis Court. The position is one of the most suitable for the purpose that can be found in the district..... (5)

The CSB was happy for both a store and or a hall and on August 22, 1921 Joseph wrote again that -

I propose to give a site of 1/3rd or ½ an acre as may be required, adjourning the School Ground on the west and having a frontage of  66ft to Ballarto Road. He also wrote that there would be  a public meeting held on August 26 to discuss the adoption of the proposed site. (6) 

Consequently on August 31, 1921 Mr Whitmore wrote another letter to the Department of Lands and Survey telling them that it had been decided at a public meeting to build the hall on Mr Lobb’s land rather than Mr Osborne’s. Mr Whitmore had also written earlier saying that they wished to apply for moneys from the sale of the old hall. (7)

Joseph Lobb's correspondence with the Close Settlement Board.

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees

The map sent to the Department of Lands and Survey showing the 'new' Hall site 

next to the Cardinia School.

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files.

The surveyed site of the Cardinia Hall drawn up by J.R. MacDonald April 26, 1924.

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees

A year later on August 22, 1922, the hall site of 2 roods was excised from Mr Lobb’s 67 acres and sold to the Trustees for £9/16/6. (8)

Sale of the Hall site to the Trustees in August 1922

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees

After the land was acquired the  real work started with fund raising for the new hall and as reported in Look to the Rising Sun, tenders were called in March 1924 for the erection of the hall and Mr Sykes’ tender of £496 was accepted, plus £17 for painting. (9)  The specifications of the Hall were sent to Public Health Department in June 1924 (10) and the Hall was then opened on December 17, 1924, as mentioned before.

The original plan of the Cardinia Hall, in the specifications sent to the Public Health Department, dated June 25, 1924.

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files.

The Supper Room was added to the Cardinia Hall in 1927.

Application to erect a supper room at the Cardinia Hall on January 15, 1927.

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files.

The Supper Room plan

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files.

1927 is where we will leave the Cardinia Hall and 100 years since it first opened in 1924 still plays a role in the  life of the Cardinia community.  To read an account of the opening ceremony from December 17, 1924, click here; to read about the five original Trustees, Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff, George Benjamin Beazley, Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb, click here.

Footnotes

(1) Information in this paragraph from Look to the Rising sun: Back to Cardinia 1984 - a history of Cardinia and District, including Rythdale and Pakenham South, by  Eileen Williams and Jewell Beard. (Published by the Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984) and Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, v. 3, edited by L.J. Blake.  Published by the Education Department of Victoria, 1973.

(2) Henry Francis Whitmore, Connewarre, Cardinia. His entry in the Electoral Rolls said he lived at Dalmore, with his wife Doris Margaret. Doris was the daughter of  Walter Duff (1855 - 1925) and his wife Eva Sharp. Walter was the son of the Reverend Alexander Duff - I have written about the Reverend Alexander Duff at the bottom of this post  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cardinia-tree-plantation-in-honor-of.html and thus Doris was the niece of original Trustee, Alexander Duff.  In 1927, the Electoral Rolls show they were living at Natya, which is east of Ouyen and southwest of Mildura. Henry died in 1959 aged 58 and Doris in 1973, aged 85.

(3) C. E. Osborne - the Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books list Harry and Ernest Osborne owning 423 acres, Allotments 21 to 32, Parish of Koo Wee Rup at Cardinia in 1921. Ernest Charles Osborne, the son of  James and Esther (nee Houston) Osborne died March 25, 1926 and his death notice, see below, notes that he was from Kergunyah, Cardinia, aged 52 and that his death was the result of wounds received during the War. A notice about his estate notes his occupation as a Solicitor. 

Ernest's death notice.

The Argus, March 27, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3742355 

 Ernest Osborne's bequest

The Argus, October 21, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3816415

The other owner of the property, would be his brother Harry Houston Osborne, listed in Ernest's will. So the only other mystery is Ernest's War service. Harry served in the Fifth Victorian Mounted Rifles in the Boer War (see here) but I can't see Ernest listed, nor is he listed at the National Archives or the Australian War Memorial. I suspect he may have enlisted in England - there is a Corporal Ernest Charles Osborne listed on Ancestry.com in the UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 database, but there is no other information about him. However, in 1917 twenty-five trees were planted at the Cardinia State School, in honor of the boys of this district who have responded nobly to the country's call and one was for Ernest and he is also on the Honor Board. You can read about this here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cardinia-tree-plantation-in-honor-of.html

(4) Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 242/P0000, C72699 Cardinia Hall Site Correspondence

(5) Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees

(6) Ibid

(7) Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 242/P0000, C72699 Cardinia Hall Site Correspondence

(8) Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 5714/P0000/14893, 496 Cardinia Hall Site Trustees

(9) Look to the Rising Sun - see footnote 1.

(10) Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7882/P0001, 1142 Cardinia Public Hall Building files.

The opening of the Cardinia Public Hall in 1924

The Cardinia Public Hall was officially opened on Wednesday, December 17, 1924. The report from the Koo Wee Rup Sun of Wednesday December 24, 1924 page 4, is transcribed, below. For more information on the Hall I have written about the community activity which led to the building of the Hall, here and I have written about the original five Trustees, Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff, George Benjamin Beazley, Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb, here. 

The Cardinia Public Hall and the Dandenong Valley Regional Libraries mobile library bus in 1978. At the time the bus stopped at Cardinia every second Thursday 10.15am. to 11.00am.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 17, 1978 page 4

Cardinia. Opening of Public Hall.

From the Koo Wee Rup Sun of Wednesday December 24, 1924 page 4.

On Wednesday evening, the 17th inst., an event of more than passing importance took place in Cardinia. It was the official opening of the new Public Hall, which occupies a nice dry position next to the State School. The hall is a spacious building, with a side platform and ladies and gents’ dressing rooms. It was tastefully decorated, for which the ladies deserve great credit. The hall was to have been opened by the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. Downward) and the Government Whip (Mr Groves), but owing to the political situation they were unable to be present. Mr Conroy, chairman of the committee, stated that their members of the State House were unable to be present, but the worthy President of the Cranbourne Shire (Cr Croskell), who had previously been asked to take the chair for the occasion, had been further asked if he would officially open their Public Hall, and he kindly consented to do so. He had much pleasure in introducing to them the President of the Shire (Cr. Croskell)

Cr Croskell stated that he was very pleased to be there that night, which was an auspicious occasion for the district. It must be very gratifying to the committee to have such a fine gathering present, and he hoped on every future occasion the gatherings would be as large. He stated that he had been asked to read apologies from the Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) and Messrs Downward and Groves, who were unable to be present through pressure of further business. He would like to congratulate the people of Cardinia upon the success which had attended their efforts to obtain a Public Hall for Cardinia. He also congratulated them on their foresight in having their public buildings so close together, as in many townships one public building is placed on one corner and another about a mile away. With the public buildings close together it was much easier to get facilities, such as footpaths and drainage. 

The Cardinia Public Hall in 2005.

Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers,  https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/, a project of 

the Narre Warren and District Family History Group, nwfhg.org.au

He also congratulated the various committees and especially the chairman (Mr M. Conroy) and the secretary (Mr George Beazley), upon the success which had attended their efforts. The hall is a long felt necessity, and the residents must be gratified upon the consummation of their hopes, and he hoped they would all be long spared to enjoy the social intercourse which would be possible through having such a fine building in which to meet, and it gave him much pleasure in declaring the hall open.

Mr Conroy, in moving a vote of thanks to Cr Croskell, stated that the hall had cost over £600 and over half had been already met. He was sure that both Mr George Beazley and himself did not expect any special credit for anything they had done, as everybody on the committee had worked like Trojans and worked harmoniously to make the building of the hall a success. He asked them all to carry their thanks by acclamation.

A first-class programme was given by Dandenong, Melbourne and local district artists, namely Mesdames Monahan and Debout, Miss Stafford and Messrs Niel McInness, O’Neill, Verey and Hames. At the conclusion of the concert Cr Croskell moved a vote of thanks to the performers for the first-class entertainment they had given that night. He had been asked to specially thank the friends who had come all the way from Dandenong and Devon Meadows at their own expense. He would also like a special vote of thanks to Mrs Monahan, who so capably and efficiently played all the accomplishments for the evening. He asked them to carry the vote of thanks by acclamation.

After the conclusion of the concert the hall was cleared and a large programme of dances was gone through. The dancing was in charge of Mr T. Richards, who rendered his well-known efficient service as M.C.

The Cardinia Public Hall Honour Board in 2005. 

The board was donated by Life Member, Ian Ridgway, December 1, 1984.

Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers,  https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/, a project of 

the Narre Warren and District Family History Group, nwfhg.org.au

For more information on the Hall I have written about the community activity which led to the building of the Hall, here and I have written about the original five Trustees, Michael Conroy, Alexander Duff, George Benjamin Beazley, Ernest Gordon Mills and Joseph Gordon Lobb, here.

Unveiling of the Cardinia State School Honor Roll and Machine Gun

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of May 4 1922 had a report of the unveiling of the Honor Board and the Machine Gun War Trophy at the Cardinia State School which took place on Anzac Day in 1922. It is transcribed below.

The Honor Board has 30 names divided into Scholars and Residents - there are 16 scholars and 14 residents. The Scholars are - R. Bennett, R. Byrnes, L. Dow, A. Duff, T. Duff, G.W. Haw, M. Haw, A.S Henry, A. Hill, J.A. Lecky, M. Lecky, H. Lindsay, W. Murphy, A. Patterson, B. Smith and P.J Wenn. The Residents are S.G. Allars, W.S. Allars, C. Andrews, T.S. Bell, J.P. Conroy, R. Duggan,  G.  Hobart, A Moxon, G.Moxon, E.C. Osborne, A.N. Prior, W.R. Reeves, H. Smith, A. Wall.

On Arbor Day, July 6, 1917 trees were planted at the Cardinia State School, in honor of the boys of this district who have responded nobly to the country's call. There were trees planted for 25 soldiers that day. Counting the Memorial trees and the Honor Board 35 men with a connection to Cardinia were honoured, with 20 Soldiers being honoured twice - on the Board and with a tree. I have written about these 35 men, here. The Honor Board is still at the school, but I don't know what happened to the machine gun.

Cardinia State School Honor Board

Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers website  http://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/

This is the transcription of the Koo Wee Rup Sun article from May 4, 1922, p. 2.

Cardinia - Unveiling of Honor Board and Machine Gun

The ceremony of unveiling the honor board and machine gun in the Cardinia State School took place on Anzac Day, in the presence of very large gathering. Mr W. Duff, J.P., presided.

The proceedings were opened by singing the hymn, “God of Ages” and by a prayer by the Rev. Matthews.

Captain Marriott, an Anzac, said that it was with mixed feelings he was there to say a few words in regard to the gallant First Division and to what took place seven years ago, just as the sun was rising over the Straits of the Dardenelles. After vividly illustrating the brave deeds done by the Australians and the severe task they had to undertake in landing on Gallipoli, he considered the people of Australia should indeed be proud of their men, and honor those who had made the supreme sacrifice. He hoped the people would not forget the “month of appeal” which was now being made by the Returned Soldiers’ League for funds to assist soldiers out of employment. The State branches of the league were endeavouring to put the men in permanent work, and were not out to help the wasters or the men who would not work. There was, however, a number of men who had never had a fair opportunity, and it is hoped by this appeal to obtain money to start works which will not only be of national benefit, but will afford such men regular employment.

The “Recessional” hymn was then sung.

The Rev. Uren said they had assembled to do honor to the memory of the fallen men who had participated in one of the most glorious feats of arms recorded in history. They learned of the splendid failure of the charge of the Light Brigade, and they were there that day to do honor to the memory of men who were as famous as the gallant horsemen of the Light Brigade and also to commemorate a failure as magnificent as that charge. In honouring the Australians they should not, however, forget their intrepid comrades in arms, and also honor the New Zealanders and other gallant troops who went to death and glory in Gallipoli. The word “Anzac” has been indelibly engraved in the heart and mind of the Australian nation. They reverenced these Anzacs, who fought for our sake, for duty’s sake and the Empire’s sake, and they honoured the men who had made the supreme sacrifice, and who thus wrote with their own hearts’ blood the first page of Australian history.

 The Hon. A Downward, M.L.A.,said the people would that day see on the honor roll the names of those who went from this district to take part in the world’s greatest war – a war that was full of menance to the British Empire. In 1916 it was almost despaired of to check the German Army, and while it is not claimed that Australia won the war, military experts say that the troops from the British dominons, numbering three-quarters of a million, turned the tide; and, in drawing attention to the Australians’ heroic deeds, he emphasised that the people could not do too much for the retured men, nor could they honor too much those who had fallen. Their hearts went out in deepest sympathy to the relatives of those who had made the supreme sacrifice, but it was some consolation to know that such sacrifices had not been made in vain, as these brave men suceeded in retaining for the people of Australia this great and splendid country. In regard to soldier settlers, he considered that it was impossible for many of them to pull through, as the price of the land to be paid was too high. This price would have to be written down, as was done some years ago in the irrigation districts, in order to give these settlers every opportunity to make good. Australia required settlement in the country, and it was recognised that the returned men had  a right to expect treatment which would enable them to have  a chance to succeed as settlers in the land which they had helped to save from the enemy. He was very pleased to unveil the honort roll and the machine gun.

Cr Croskell, in honoring the men who fought, said that the next war would be the “commercial war,” and that Australia’s only way to combat it was to educate and train the boys and girls to the responsibilities confronting them. Other countries were using every effort to turn out goods and put them on Australian markets, and unless Australia uses every endeavour to successfully compete, a serious state of affairs will arise. The boys and girls were not yet old enough to understand the causes of unemployment, but he asked them to do their best and not shirk their lessons, and so do their part and help to put Australia in line with other countries, and so be  a credit to the men who had died for them in the Great War.

Cr Hill, in referring to the bravery of the Australians, said that Anzac Day was an epoch making day, as it marked the birth of the Australian nation, and was the event of events which subsequently transpired on Gallipoli. The men had behaved gloriously and stood up to the best traditions of the British race.One thing, however, he felt should be done by Australia in fulfillment of  a right to her honored dead – an unknown British warrior was buried in the Cenotaph in London – and he thought it only just that one of Australia’s warriors should be brought across the seas and buried in Australia. He also thought that Anzac Day should be observed religiously as a day of thanksgiving. In reference to the honor roll, the district had responded splendidly to the call, and that of the 30 who enlisted 11 had made the supreme sacrifice, and that in regard to the machine gun it was somewhat significant that it was captured at Villiers Brettoneaux on 25^th April 1918, exactly four years ago. He asked the boys and girls when they looked on this emblem of destruction to treasure the names of those who fought and died for them, and to strive and pray that war should never again occur.

Cr Mills expressed pleasure at seeing the large number of people present to do honor to the Anzacs.The patriotism of the people in the Cardinia district was unsurpassed. The number who had enlisted in comparison with the population of the district was very high, whilst no effort was spared to raise funds to provide comforts to the soldiers. He paid a high tribute to the bravery of the Australians. When the first contigent left these shores in 1914 it occurred to him that the same fearless spirit of their forefathers, who must have had hearts of iron, in coming here to open up and make Australia what it is to-day, still lived in the younger generation.

Mr A.E. King then sounded The Last Post.

After refreshments were partaken of, the Union  Jack was saluted by the scholars and a vote of thanks, moved by Mr Lobb, seconded by Mr Conroy, to the speakers and all those who had assisted was unanimously carried. The proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.

I have written about the men on the Honor Board, here.

Cardinia tree plantation and Honor Board for local Great War soldiers

On Arbor Day, July 6, 1917 twenty-five trees were planted at the Cardinia State School, in honor of the boys of this district who have responded nobly to the country's call. These weren't the only trees planted on this day in honor of  local soldiers, a grove was also planted at Tynong State School, you can read about that, here. Cardinia State School, No. 3689, opened in Ballarto Road on November 3, 1911. 

At the end of this post is some information about the Reverend Alexander Duff, the grandfather of four of the men listed here, and his extended family.

The Arbor Day event was reported in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal on July 19, 1917.

Report of the planting of the trees

South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 19, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66192418

Here is the transcript of the article - At the invitation of the head teacher, Mr Sumpton, a most enthusiastic gathering of residents of Cardinia met at the school on Arbor Day, 6th July, for the purposes of planting trees in honor of the boys of this district who have responded nobly to the country's call. Before adjourning to the grounds, the visitors had the pleasure of listening to very interesting and instructive speeches  on the cultivation of trees by Mr Duff (Chairman),  Rev F. Betchers, Messrs Simpson Hill and Walter Moxon, also some fine essays from the school children, which indicated that have been educated in the national importance of trees. Anzac trees and shrubs were planted in honor of the following soldiers: W. S. Allars, S. G. Allars, C. Andrews, T. Bell, A. C. Duff, W. V. H. Duff, R. Duggan, H. R. Hardy, A. Henry, D. Hill, G. Hobart, J. A. Lecky, M. Lecky, W. Lee, A. Moxon, G. Moxon, E. C. Osborne, A. T. Patterson, R. Reeves, G. Sharp, B. Smith, H. Smith, A. Wall, P. Wenn, W. Wood. Sumptous refreshments were provided by the ladies and a very pleasant afternoon was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.

I have recently come across an article in the Koo Wee Rup Sun of May 4, 1922 on the unveiling of the Honor Board at the Cardinia State school. This took place on Anzac Day in 1922, read about it here. The Honor Board has 30 names divided into Scholars and Residents - there are 16 scholars and 14 residents. The Scholars are - R. Bennett, R. Byrnes, L. Dow, A. Duff, T. Duff, G.W. Haw, M. Haw, A.S Henry, A. Hill, J.A. Lecky, M. Lecky, H. Lindsay, W. Murphy, A. Patterson, B. Smith and P.J Wenn. The Residents are - S.G. Allars, W.S. Allars, C. Andrews, T.S. Bell, J.P. Conroy, R. Duggan,  G.  Hobart, A Moxon, G.Moxon, E.C. Osborne, A.N. Prior, W.R. Reeves, H. Smith, A. Wall. 

Counting the Memorial trees and the Honor Board 35 men with a connection to Cardinia were honoured, with 20 Soldiers being honoured twice - on the Board and with a tree.

Cardinia State School Honor Board

Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers website http://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/

What follows is the list of all  the Cardinia soldiers. I have listed their Service Numbers (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au  Some of these soldiers have  a Clyde address, as it does appear that, early on, Clyde and Cardinia were used interchangeably for the same area. 

Some of the information in this post comes from The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1969) and Look to the Rising sun: Back to Cardinia 1984 - a history of Cardinia and District, including Rythdale and Pakenham South, by  Eileen Williams and Jewell Beard. (Published by the Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984)

Allars, Sydney George (SN 816)
Allars, William Stanley (SN 817)
Sydney and William both enlisted on January 29, 1916. Sydney was 22 and William was 19. They were both farm labourers. Sydney Returned to Australia December 21, 1918 and William Died of Wounds received, whilst fighting in France, on May 2, 1917. The boys were the sons of Alfred Charles and Emily (nee Osment) Allars of Clyde. The brothers are on the Honor Board and have a Memorial tree.

Andrews, Cecil (SN 2123)  Cecil was a 26 year old farmer when he enlisted on May 1, 1916. His address on the Embarkation Roll was Dalmore and his next of kin was his mother, Emily, of Mordialloc. Cecil was Killed in Action in France on October 16, 1917.  I have written more about Cecil on my post on Dalmore soldiers, here. Cecil is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree.

Bell, Thomas Stanley (SN 3773) Thomas was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on August 12, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Bell, whose address was St Germains, Clyde. A notation on his file said that his father was 'not recognized'. Thomas Returned to Australia October 18, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds in January 1918 - Gun shot wound to the thorax.  Thomas is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree. Thomas is also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Honour Board, see here.

Bennett, Reuben James Godfrey (SN 6281). Reuben was born in Melbourne and enlisted at the age of 28 on October 24, 1916. His occupation was a wheeler (mines) and he lived in Wonthaggi, thus would have been employed at the State Coal Mine. His next of kin was his father, John Bennett of Neerim. Reuben died of disease, broncho-pneumonia on November 17, 1918. What was his connection to Cardinia?  His Roll of Honour Circular says he attended school at  'Kardinia Creek South Pakenham'. Reuben is listed on the Honor Board.

Reuben Bennett's Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial.

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068852/document/5551375.PDF

Byrnes, Roger. Roger is listed on the Cardinia Honor Board. I had some trouble finding this man. A Roger and Kate Byrnes were listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at Cardinia Creek. I found out that a Roger Byrnes and a Catherine Flannagan were married in 1895 and they had a son Roger in 1896, so I was pretty sure he was our man; however there was no trace of them in the Electoral Roll after 1903. Further searching on Ancestry found them in New Zealand. Roger enlisted in the New Zealand Army at the age of 20 on January 11, 1916. He was a farmer and lived in Stratford, Taranaki. Sadly Roger died two months after enlistment of meningitis on March 29.

Roger Byrnes entry in the Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 database which is on Ancestry.

Conroy, John Patrick (SN 1123 and  2146)  John was a 32 year old Railway Repairer when he enlisted on September 28, 1914. His next of kin was his sister, Johanna Conroy, of Cranbourne. John was wounded at Gallipoli in April 1915 and was sent back to Australia, then re-enlisted and was sent back overseas and arrived in England in September 1916.  He was Killed in Action in France on September 26, 1917. John is on the Cardinia Honor Board. 

John Conroy wrote this letter to his sisters and it was published in the 

South Bourke and Mornington Journal, June 24 1915.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66187929#

Dow, Lindsay William (SN 6612) Lindsay was a 19 year old farmer when he enlisted on July 11, 1916. His next of kin was his father, William, of Willaura. Lindsay Died of Wounds (gun shot wounds to chest and head) on August 9, 1918. Lindsay's parents, William and Florence Martha Dow, were listed in the 1909 Electoral Roll at Cardinia Creek; in 1912 they were listed at Willaura. Lindsay is on the Cardinia Honor Board.

Duff, Charles Alexander (SN 859 and 237) Charles enlisted on May 31, 1915 at the age of 19, then returned to Australia because of illness and the enlisted again May 16, 1916 when he was 20. Charles was Killed in Action in Belgium June 8, 1917.
Duff, William Vere Hobart (SN 860) William enlisted on January 6, 1916 aged 23. His next of kin was his wife, Brenda, of East Malvern. William Returned to Australia on January 10, 1918.
Charles and William were the sons of William Tucker Duff and Alice Laura Constance Beauchamp Hobart to give her her full name. Alice (born 1867) was the daughter of Charles and Rhoda (nee Withers) Hobart and thus the sister of Charles Hobart, listed below.

The brothers are on the Honour Board and have a Memorial tree. The brothers are also listed on the Tooradin State School Honour Board, see here.
The boys were also the grandsons of the Reverend Alexander Duff and his wife, Annie Tucker. Another son of the Reverend Duff, Walter, married Eva Sharp, who I assume is connected to Henry Sharp, listed below, possibly his aunty. There is more on the Duff family at the bottom of this post.

Duggan, Raymond Stacey (SN 409) Raymond enlisted on May 16, 1916, he was a 26 year old farmer and his address was Tooradin. Whist he was still overseas he married Violet Foster in England in September 1918. Raymond Returned to Australia August 8, 1919. Raymond is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree.

Hardy,  Horace Robert (SN 19995)   Horace enlisted on June 20, 1917 at the age of 21. He was a farmer. Horace Returned to Australia July 13, 1919. Horace was honoured with a Memorial tree. Horace was the son of William John Hardy (1855 - 1940) and  Sophia Wells Cadd (1856 - 1919) of Dalmore. His paternal grandparents, Emling and Emily (nee Gregory) Hardy took up land at Clyde North in 1856 - Hardy Road is named after the family. His maternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah (nee Wells) Cadd who took up land at Clyde in 1862. Horace is also listed on the Tooradin State School Honour Board, see here.

Haw, George William (SN 1828) George was a 27 year old farmer when he enlisted on July 28, 1915. He was severely wounded -  gun shot wounds right shoulder, left hand, right thigh - and had his right arm amputated. He Returned to Australia March 23, 1919. I was hoping George had a happy life, after the horrors of the War. He died in August 1956 aged 67, the loved husband of Dollie, loved father of Mavis and Rodney and 'darling pa' of  David and Ann, so he was well-loved by his family and you can't ask for more than that in life. 
Haw, Matthew Barnes (SN 3119) Matthew enlisted on July 20, 1915 at the age of 21. He was also a farmer. Matthew died of wounds on November 23, 1916 (gun shot wound to the shoulder).

George and Matthew 's next of kin was their father, Henry Haw, of Wilby, near Tungamah. Their parents, Henry and Ellen (nee Barnes) Haw were listed in the Electoral Roll at Cranbourne in 1905. The brothers are on the Honor Board. 

Henry, Alexander St Leger  (SN 5574)  Alexander enlisted on August 31, 1915 at the age of 23. He was a grazier and his next of kin was his father, John, of Pakenham. Alexander Returned to Australia May 20 1919. Alexander was the son of John and Vinie (nee Forrest also called Levina and Lavinia) Henry.  They had the property, Doneraille, at Pakenham. You can read John's obituary which includes a bit of family history, here.  John Henry was the son of Robert Henry who had the Cardinia Creek No.1 run of 5,120 acres from October 1842 until May 1851. You can read about the family here in my post on Robert's sister, Martha King. Alexander is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree.

Hill, Graham John Dudley Bowman (SN 1574) Looking at the article below, it appears that this man was known as Dudley, so that's what we will call him. Dudley enlisted on September 6, 1915. He was a 22 year old farmer and he Returned to Australia March 9, 1919. Dudley was granted a Soldier Settlement farm after the War, you can read his file here. 

Hill, Arthur George Leonard Curnow (SN 61869) . Arthur aged 18, enlisted on June 11, 1918. Arthur's full name Arthur George Leonard Curnow Hill (SN 61869). He was sent overseas to England, but was not involved in any fighting and Returned to Australia September 22, 1919. 

Dudley and Arthur were the sons of Cr Edward Simpson Hill, mentioned in the article at the start of this post;  and both had their address as Dalmore. 

As a matter of interest, Cr Edward Simpson Hill had also enlisted. His Service Number was V21471 and he enlisted on February 16, 1916. His next of kin was naturally his wife, Charlotte. His occupation was Engine driver/Engineer. He was discharged on June 22, 1916 as he was unfit for service. He stated his age on enlistment as 44, but a notation on the file says 'is obviously very much over age' and lists his age as 56!

Dudley Hill has a Memorial tree and Arthur Hill is listed on the Honor Board.

This article from August 1, 1918 reports on the very large gathering at Cardinia on Thursday, July 18, the occasion being a welcome home and presentation of inscribed gold medals, gift of the residents of Cardinia, to three returned soldiers, who had enlisted from this district, and illuminated certificates presented by the Cranbourne shire, to these and relatives of those who are still on active service.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal August 1, 1918

Read the full article here - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66194429

Hobart, Charles Guy (SN 2424) Charles was 35 when he enlisted on June 5, 1916. His occupation was farmer but his address was East Malvern and his wife, Ann, who was his next of kin lived at Northcote. Charles is listed in the Electoral Roll at Clyde in 1909. Charles (born 1881) was the son of  Charles and Rhoda (nee Withers) Hobart and he is the uncle of Charles and William Duff, listed above.  Returned to Australia February 19, 1919. Charles is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree.

Lecky, James Alexander (SN 19922) James enlisted on February 25, 1916 at the age of 25. He died of 'wounds received in action' in France on November 14, 1918. The wound was a gun shot wound to the chest, which he sustained on October 25 1918.
Lecky, William Mervyn (SN 6612) William enlisted on June 15, 1915 aged 20. He was killed in Action in France on September 1, 1918.

The brothers are on the Honor Board and have a Memorial tree. The brothers are also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Honour Board, see here.
James and William were the sons of James and Margaret (nee Duff) Lecky of Cardinia Park in Officer. James (1841-1939) was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1876 until 1905. Their grandfather, also James (1802-1884) had taken up the Gin Gin Bean Run (later named Cardinia Park) at Officer in 1846 and he was a member of the Cranbourne Road Board and the Cranbourne Shire from 1860 until 1881. Lecky Road in Officer/Pakenham is named for the family. James and William are also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honor Board. The boys were also the grandsons of the Reverend Alexander Duff and his wife, Annie Tucker, I have written about them below.

Lee, W  Not sure who this is. W. Lee is listed in the article as having a Memorial tree. The book Look to the Rising Sun:  a history of Cardinia and District  lists a Bill Lee, who had  a sheep property and was known as Cocky Lee. The booklet 'A Clyde History' by John Campbell lists a  Lee as owning land in Muddy Gates Lanes. Then the Electoral Roll for 1914 has Harry and Gertrude May Lees at Clyde. So is W. Lee the William Lee known as Cocky Lee? Or Cocky Lee's son? Is William Lee the same Lee as the land owner from Muddy Gates Lane? Is William Lee connected to Harry Lees and the paper made a mistake with the spelling of the surname?  Many questions, but I have no answers.

Lindsay, Harold McLean (SN 39664) Harold was born in Malvern and enlisted at the age of 18 on December 5, 1917. Even though his parents gave him permission to enlist they did not give him permission to embark until he turned 19 on May 30, 1918. They did, however, relent, and he embarked at the end of April. Harold Returned to Australia August 23, 1919. Harold was the son of Robert and Marilda Lindsay of Seskinore, Malvern Road, East Malvern. His connection to Cardinia is explained in this article, below - at one time they lived at Cardinia Creek. Harold is listed as a past scholar on the Cardinia Honor Board, so I presume that his brothers - David, Albert and Frank - did not attend school locally, as they are not listed.

The Lindsay 'Fighting Family'

South Bourke & Mornington Journal, December 9 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188978

Moxon, Albert (SN 3342) Albert was 23 when he enlisted in July 7, 1915. Albert Returned to Australia September 27, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds in the December due to a fractured left ankle. 

Moxon, George William (SN 2726) George enlisted on September 1, 1916 at the age of 22. George Returned to Australia July 24, 1919.
The brothers are on the Honor Board and have a Memorial tree.
Albert and George were both farmers and had been born in Warrnambool. Their next of kin was their father, George, who in 1915, when Albert enlisted, had his address as Clyde. In 1916 when George enlisted the father's address was Chelsea.

Murphy, William Clifton (SN 1648) William enlisted on October 27, 1914 at the age of 20. He was a clerk. William was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on May 8, 1915. William was the son of the Reverend George Brushe and Penelope Murphy. George was the Minister at the Presbyterian Church at Cranbourne. When William enlisted his father, who was his next of kin, was living at Colac, and his address later changed to Mornington Junction (an early name for Baxter). William is listed on the Cardinia Honor Board, as a past Scholar.

The Reverend Murphy at the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church

South Bourke & Mornington Journal April 20, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66189715

Osborne, Ernest  Charles.  Ernest is listed in the Memorial Grove article and is on the Honor Board. I originally wrote this post in 2021 and it wasn't until December 2024 that I discovered  who  E.C. Osborne was. I found out when I was researching the history of the Cardinia Hall and he had offered some land for the erection of the Hall in 1921; in the end the hall was built elsewhere, and you can read about this here. I found Ernest's death notice from 1926 and it states that his death at 52 years of age was the result of wounds received in the war.

The Argus, March 27, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3742355 

Ernest is not listed at the National Archives or the Australian War Memorial as having served in the Australian forces. I suspect he may have enlisted in England - there is a Corporal Ernest Charles Osborne listed on Ancestry.com in the UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 database, but there is no other information about him. The Cranbourne Shire Rate books tell us that Ernest owned 423 acres, Allotments 21 to 32, Parish of Koo Wee Rup at Cardinia with his brother, Henry (also known as Harry).  Henry is  listed in the Electoral Roll at Clyde from 1912 to 1926, as a farm manager, so presumably he operated the farm on behalf of Ernest, who was a Solicitor. As a matter of interest Harry served in the Boer War in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, he was a Lieutenant (see here). They were the sons of James and Esther (nee Houston) Osborne. Esther died in December 1912 at her home in South Yarra and she was described as the widow of Mr James Osborne, a well-known pastoralist. (see her obituary here)

Patterson, Alexander Twigg.  Captain Alexander Patterson enlisted on March 27, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth, of Mary Street in Hawthorn. He was nearly 27 years old and was already a member of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, having joined in August 1910. He Returned to Australia July 26, 1919. Alexander is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree. After the War he  lived at Bondoola, near Yeppoon and Rockhampton in Queensland.  Alexander Twigg Patterson was the son of Alexander David Patterson and his wife, Elizabeth Harvey Twigg, who were married in April 1886. Alexander David Patterson (1858 - 1920)  was the son of Alexander Patterson (1813 - 1896) and Marion McMurtrie (1816 - 1889). This Alexander Patterson is considered to be the 'father of modern Cranbourne'  and took up the St Germains Estate in 1850.

Presentation to Alf Prior

Read the full report in the Koo Wee Rup Sun of December 18, 1918, here.

Prior, Alfred Nelson (SN 80247). Alfred enlisted September 18, 1918. He was born in London, was a farm labourer and his address on enlistment was c/o Mr John Cornish, Cardinia via Clyde. He did not serve overseas as he was still in training when the Armistice was signed. Alfred also enlisted in World War Two on July 16, 1941. His address then was c/o Mr Camp, Henry Street, Pakenham East. Alf was taken Prisoner of War and died of disease (dysentery) whilst POW interned Thai camp on July 1, 1943. His will left everything to his mother, Ada Prior, of 71 Festing Road, Putney London. When Alfred enlisted in the 1st AIF he said he was born February 3, 1896 and he was 22 years old. When he enlisted in the 2nd AIF he said he was born February 3, 1902 and he was 39.  However, his entry in the Commonwealth War Graves book says he was 47 when he died, which makes the 1896 birth date correct. Alf is listed on the Cardinia Honor Board.

Alf Prior's entry in the Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 database 

which is on Ancestry.

Reeves, Albert Reginald (SN 629) I believe that this is Albert Reginald Reeves as he is the only A.R Reeves I can find who enlisted. Albert was farm labourer, so could have worked on a local farm, but I can't find  a specific local connection.  He enlisted on July 20, 1915 at the age of one month off 23 years of age. He was born in Essex in England and his next of kin was his father, who also lived in Essex. Albert Returned to Australia on April 19, 1919. Albert, or perhaps more correctly, A.R. Reeves, has a Memorial tree and is also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honor Board, see here. W.R. Reeves is on the Cardinia Honor Board and if  it is not Albert, then I am unsure who it is.

Sharp, Henry James Duff (SN 5629) Although listed as G. Sharp in the newspaper article I believe Henry is the correct person. Henry was born at Clyde, attended Clyde North State School and was  the son of Henry Clark Sharp, who was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1898 to 1903. Henry Senior and Junior were both living in New South Wales when Henry Junior enlisted on January 16, 1916 at  the age of 25. He was an Accountant. Henry was Killed in Action in France on February 28, 1917. Henry has a Memorial tree. Henry's mother was Emily Eva Duff (1859 - 1938) she was the daughter of  Robert and Margaret Duff. There is more on the Duff family at the bottom of this post.

Smith, Bruce (SN 408)
Smith, Hugh Carruthers (SN 405) Bruce and Hugh both enlisted on enlisted on March 6, 1916, Bruce was 27 and Hugh was 28. Bruce was a Dairy Produce Merchant and Hugh was a farmer. Bruce Returned to Australia July 27 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds suffering from chronic pleurisy. Hugh Returned to Australia June 12, 1919. The boys were born at Devenish to Frank Smith and Mary Doolan, their father had died at the time of their enlistment, so their mother, Mary, was their next of kin and her address was Clyde. The brothers are on the Honor Board and have a Memorial tree.

Sumpton, Henry (SN 1827) Mr Sumpton, the Head Teacher at Cardinia State School who organised the planting of the trees, had also served in the War, although he is not listed on the Honor Board and was too modest to have a tree planted for himself.  He was 21 when he enlisted on December 22, 1914. His next of kin was his mother who lived in Moreland. Henry was at Gallipoli and he caught Typhoid, also called Enteric fever. He Returned to Australia January 3 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds in May 1916. He then took up his appointment at the Cardinia School, however died tragically in a house fire on September 9, 1917 at the age of 23. Henry boarded with Mrs Caroline Jackson of Cardinia and the Inquest found that a kerosene lamp was 'upset', this caused the lamp to explode and the room (lined with hessian and paper) caught fire and spread to the entire house which was destroyed. It was found that Henry died of suffocation and burns received in the fire. A report in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of September 20, 1917 (see here) had this to say about Henry -  He was highly respected by parents and scholars, and the children loved him. His amiable and generous disposition was appreciated by all with whom he came in contact and his many friends mourn their loss. 

Wall, Arthur Herbert (SN - nil) Arthur enlisted on June 3, 1916 at the age of 23 and he died of meningitis on July 14, 1916 whilst still in training camp. Arthur was born in Wunghnu near Shepparton, his next of kin was his father, Charles and his address was 'Royston', Clyde. Arthur is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree.

Report of the death of Arthur Wall

South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 20, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66190248

Wenn, Percival James  (SN 340)  Percy enlisted on April 28, 1916 at the age of 25. He was born in Cardinia, lived in Cardinia, where he was a farmer,  and his next of kin was his father, John, also of Cardinia. Percy Returned to Australia April 1, 1919 and was discharged on medical grounds in June 1919 - he had suffered  a gun shot wound to the right eye. Percy is on the Honor Board and has a Memorial tree. Percy's father, John, had arrived in the district in the 1860s and is the source of the name, Wenn Road. You can read his father's obituary from the South Bourke and Mornington Journal here. Percy's mother, Jane, also came from an old local family. Jane was the daughter of Anthony and Sophia (nee Cadd) Ridgway, who arrived in Cardinia in the early 1850s. 

Woods, William (SN 2728) William was 21 and  a farm labourer, when he enlisted on May 9, 1916. His address was care of William Hardy of Dalmore. His next of kin was his grandmother, Mary Woods, of Maribyrnong. He Returned to Australia January 25, 1919.  William also served in the Second World War, he enlisted at the age of  45 in January 1941 and was discharged in March 1944. William was granted a Soldier Settlement farm at Werrimull, south of Mildura, after the Great War and was living in Mildura when he enlisted in 1941. You can read his Soldier Settler file, here. William has a Memorial tree.

The Reverend Alexander Duff (1824-1890) and the Duff family

Reverend Alexander Duff

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1969) 

Sources - The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1969) and Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District researched and published by the Narre Warren & District Family History Group in 2009.

The Reverend Alexander Duff played a large role in the early development of the Cranbourne area. He was born in Coagh in Northern Ireland in 1824 and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Glasgow. He married Annie Tucker in Belfast when he was 29, around 1853, and they came to Australia soon after. Their eight children were all born in Victoria.

The Reverend Alexander Duff was appointed by the Presbyterian Church to Dandenong on June 26, 1855 and on September 20 he was ordained. He was born in Coagh in Northern Ireland in 1824 and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Glasgow. He married Annie Tucker in Belfast when he was 29, around 1853, and they came to Australia soon after. Their eight children were all born in Victoria. The Duffs initially lived with Alexander Cameron, of Mayfield, Cranbourne and conducted services in his house until Scots Presbyterian Church was opened on May 27 1860. A manse was also built at the same time. Duff also preached at Berwick in the early days and as far south as the Bass River area. He visited parishioners on his horse, Dobbin.

A Presbyterian School opened in Cranbourne on June 1, 1856. This school was located on the site where the Presbyterian Church stands,  the first teacher being James Henry, the next teacher was Archibald Thomson. In 1862, the Commons School Act was passed and the School became Cranbourne Common School, No. 144. The School was closed in 1878 and the students moved to a new School on the South Gippsland Highway (where the Elderly Citizens are now located). In 1969, the Cranbourne State School, No. 2068, moved to Russell Street location.

In October 1855 Alexander was appointed the Registrar of Births and Deaths for Cranbourne and Dandenong. The Reverend Duff also held evening classes for young men and women on 'arithmetic, physics, mathematics, English, Latin, Greek, French and German. He was obviously interested in intellectual pursuits but he also valued physical activity - Niel Gunson wrote that he tried his hand at black smith work and that he experimented with ways to improve cheese making. He ploughed his own paddocks and, in 1858, the Mornington Farmers Society held their ploughing competitions on his farm.

Reverend Duff retired to his farm at Cardinia in 1888 and he died on December 22 1890 aged 65. He left his entire estate to 'my dear wife, Annie Duff'. The value of his Estate was personal property of £1312 and real estate valued at £1574.

As we mentioned before, Alexander married Annie Tucker in Belfast around 1853. He was the son of Thomas Duff and Ann McMorran. They had eight children - Walter (1855 - 1925, married Eva Sharp); Annie Elizabeth (1857 - 1934, married John Gason); William Tucker (1859 - 1935, married Alice Hobart); Dora Robina (1861 - 1939, married Robert Gibb); Maggie (1864 - 1938, married James Lecky); Mary Clarissa (known as Minnie, 1865 - 1924, married Ingebert Gunnelson); Alexander (1869 - 1941, married Mary Irwin) and lastly Edward John Tucker, born and died 1877. Annie died November 24, 1905 aged 74. The three surviving sons farmed in the Cardinia area. Walter Duff, James Lecky and Robert Gibb were all Cranbourne Shire Councillors. Mary and Ingebert Gunnelson lived in Garfield and two of their sons, Ingebert and Percy, were killed in the First World War.

Alexander's brother, Robert (1827 - 1861) was also in Australia. He and his wife Margaret (c.1832 - 1902) established the Cranbourne Hotel, around 1860. It was in High Street, where Greg Clydesdale Square is now and was demolished around the 1970s. Margaret was also a Duff, perhaps a cousin, and her father operated an Inn in Coagh, County Tyrone, the birthplace of Alexander and Robert. After Robert died, Margaret married Edward Tucker (c. 1836 - 1872), who was born in America and operated a store in Cranbourne. Edward's brother William (born in Belfast) was also in the area. What connection were they to Annie Tucker, the wife of the Reverend Duff? Some sources say that she was the sister of Edward and William Tucker, however in the Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District their parents are listed as Edward Tucker and Elizabeth Moore and Annie's death certificate has her mother's maiden name as Phillips, so I am not sure.

A version of this story, which I wrote and researched,  appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years  This is updated and revised.