Showing posts with label Cochrane Leslie James (1894 - 1972. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cochrane Leslie James (1894 - 1972. Show all posts

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Welcome Home at Koo Wee Rup

In April 1918, Koo Wee Rup boys, Les Cochrane, Bill Gilchrist and Billy McGree arrived home after fighting in France. They were welcomed home by their friends at the Railway Station. 


The boys were welcomed at the Railway Station
Lang Lang Guardian, April 20, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119515345

On Friday, April 26 1918 a Welcome Home was held for the trio at the Koo Wee Rup Hall. We are fortunate to have this photograph of the occasion. 


Welcome home to Les, Bill and Billy.
Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

The Lang Lang Guardian of May 4, 1918 (see here)  reported on this well attended Welcome Home - 
KOO-WEE-RUP WELCOMES SOLDIERS.
About the biggest and best function of its kind ever held at Koo wee-rup took place on Friday night last, when the local hall was crammed, jammed and packed to its utmost capacity, over 300 being present. Koo-wee-rup was honoring its returning heroes, Corporal Gilchrist, Privates Cochrane and M'Gree. On arrival the schoolchildren formed a guard of honor, and Mr W. Eason welcomed the soldiers on behalf of the committee. At the local hall, which was most tastefully decorated by the ladies, Councillor O'Brien presented each man with a ring, bearing the colors of their respective battalions. They were enthusiastically received, and made suitable responses. The returned men all fought in France. Corporal Gilchrist was injured in the body with shrapnel, a piece still lying close to his heart. Private Cochrane was wounded in the hand and elbow, and Private M'Gree's leg was injured. The latter was on board the Ballarat when that troopship was torpedoed in the Channel.

Dancing, interspersed with songs, was carried on to a late hour. A splendid supper was also provided by the ladies, whose efforts would be hard to beat. The returned warriors were present at the local school on Anzac Day, when they were given a stirring reception by the scholars.

Here is a short biography of each of the three men.

Leslie James Cochrane (1894-1972)
Les (Service Number 2162) was born in Bentleigh in 1894 to David and Lucy (nee Burgess) Cochrane. The family moved to Caldermeade when he was eight. Les, a farmer, enlisted on May 2, 1916 at the age of 21 and his next of kin was his father.  He served in France and was twice wounded in action. Les Returned to Australia February 15, 1918 and in the December of the same year he married Ivy, the daughter of Harry and Sarah Wildes of Yannathan. Mr Cochrane later became a Cranbourne Shire Councillor and a Member of the Legislative Assembly - you can read more about him here. You can view his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here.

William John Gilchrist
Bill (Service Number 1648) was born in Collingwood in 1889 to Robert and Florence (nee Hiam) Gilchrist. He was 26 year old farmer when he enlisted on January 13, 1916.  His brother, Albert, of Koo Wee Rup was listed as his next of kin, as his parents were deceased. After serving overseas, Corporal Gilchrist Returned to Australia January 31, 1918. He was discharged on medical grounds on May 25, 1918 - his disability was listed as Myocarditis. Bill applied for a Soldier Settler block and was granted 40 acres (Allotments 106 and 119, Section 0, Parish of Koo Wee Rup East, off Little Road in Iona) in May 1921 but had to give up the land due to his on-going ill health two years later. His application form said that he was receiving a pension of 14 shillings per week due to shell shock. 

Bill married Minnie Mary Ellen Forsyth in 1920. Bill lived to the age of 86 and died on June 23, 1975; Minnie died at the age of 81 on August 9, 1983. You can read his Soldier Settler file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here and his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here

William Francis McGree
Billy (Service Number 3110) was born in Launceston, in December 1893 to Michael and Mary (nee Walsh) McGree. He was a 23 year old farm labourer, when he enlisted at Dandenong on February 2, 1917 and his next of kin listed was his father, who lived at Karoola in Tasmania.  Billy served overseas and was wounded in action (gun shot wound to left leg) in France. He Returned to Australia February 15, 1918. Billy was given a Soldier Settlement Farm in 1918 and like William Gilchrist, had to give up his land in July 1921 due to ill health. His land was of 84 acres, Allotment 23a, Section J, Parish of Koo Wee Rup - off the Pakenham-Koo Wee Rup Road. 

Billy married Elizabeth Margaret (Maggie) Neal in 1919. Billy died in Ararat in 1957 aged 63. I can't find any reference to the death of Maggie. You can read his Soldier Settler file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here and his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Leslie and Ivy Cochrane

Cochrane Park in Koo-Wee-Rup is named after Leslie James Cochrane.  Mr Cochrane died on April 25, 1972. His funeral was held on April 28 at the Presbyterian Church and attended by an estimated 1,000 people with another 700 people attending the service at the Springvale Crematorium.


Leslie was born in Bentleigh in 1894 to David and Lucy (nee Burgess) Cochrane. The family moved to Caldermeade when he was eight. He enlisted in the First World War on May 2, 1916 at the age of 21. He was in the 46th Infantry battalion and saw war service in France. He returned to Australia in February 1918 and in the December of the same year he married Ivy, the daughter of Harry and Sarah Wildes of Yannathan.  Leslie and Ivy moved to a soldier settlement block on the Pakenham Road.  After the war, as well as running the farm, Mr Cochrane began a life of community service. He joined the Cranbourne Shire Council in 1930, representing the Koo-Wee-Rup Riding until 1964 and was Shire President on four occasions. It was said he never missed a meeting.

Mr Cochrane also represented Gippsland West in the Legislative Assembly from May 1950 until May 1970 for the Country Party. He held various Parliamentary positions and was the Country Party ‘whip’ from 1961 until 1970.  When he died, the Premier, Sir Henry Bolte; the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Clive Holding and the leader of the Country Party, Mr Ross-Edwards, each presented a short eulogy on Mr Cochrane in the Victorian Parliament. In fact, Sir Henry pointed out that Mr Cochrane was the last surviving member of this Parliament who served as a member of the Australian Infantry Forces during the First World War. Mr Cochrane was also the President of the Westernport Memorial Hospital Board and he was awarded a Life Membership for his work with the R.S.L. He was a Past Master of the Koo-Wee-Rup Masonic Lodge and an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and was awarded an O.B.E in 1971.


Leslie and Ivy had two children - Irene (Mrs Jack Haw who died in 2001) and Stewart who died in 2000.  Mrs Cochrane was also involved in community organizations such as the Presbyterian Ladies Guild and attended the first Koo-Wee-Rup Red Cross meeting. She was Foundation President of the Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and was awarded a Life Governorship of the Hospital in 1974. Mrs Cochrane died in September 1986, aged 91.

Cochrane Park was developed by the Apex Club in 1980 on Railway land. It was then taken over by the Lions Club who named it for Leslie Cochrane.

The two photograph are from the Koo-Wee-Rup Sun May 3, 1972 from a report about Mr Cochrane's funeral.