There are 51 soldiers listed on the Nar Nar Goon Honour Board and 15 soldiers listed on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board. Eleven men are on both the Honour Rolls, thus 55 different men are honoured by having their name on the Honour Rolls. The Nar Nar Goon Honour Board is at the Nar Nar Goon Community Centre. It was originally unveiled on April 22, 1921 on the occasion of the opening of the Nar Nar Goon Soldiers' Memorial Hall. You can read about this, here. The Nar Nar Goon North State School Roll is at the Nar Nar Goon North Public Hall. The Nar Nar Goon North School, No, 2914, opened in April 1889 and closed on October 12, 1951 when it was amalgamated into the Pakenham Consolidated School (1).
According to Discovering ANZACs and the AIF Project websites there were 50 men who were either born or enlisted in Nar Nar Goon. Of the 55 men on the Honour Rolls only 22 are amongst the 50 listed on these websites. Once again, it would be interesting to know how the local community selected the men who would be honoured on the War Memorials as obviously some with a local connection were not chosen.
Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board
Photograph courtesy of the Casey Cardinia Remembers website
Nar Nar Goon Honour Roll
Here is a list of the soldiers with their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives of Australia website,
www.naa.gov.auAalto, Atolf Aleksanter (SN 3676) Listed as Alto on the Honour Roll. Atolf was born in Nystad in Finland, he was a 21 year old miner, he was Naturalised on July 6, 1915 and he enlisted at Bendigo on July 29, 1915. His father, who lived in Finland, was his next of kin. Atolf was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia May 4, 1919. What is his connection to Nar Nar Goon? He obviously spent some time there after his arrival in Australia and before he enlisted at Bendigo. I can't find him in the Electoral Rolls after the War but there is a Adolf Aalto listed in the United States Federal Census, living in Michigan. He is the right age and arrived in the U.S in 1919. Is this the same man?
Blackwell, Gilbert Darlow (SN 4137) Gilbert enlisted July 12, 1915 at the age of 18. He was a farm labourer. Gilbert Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919.
Blackwell, Bernard Robert (SN 53566). Bernard enlisted on October 2, 1916. He was 18 years old and a farm hand. He had 'Bronchial Asthma' and was considered unfit for Military Service and was discharged in March 1917.
The boys, both born in England, were the sons of William and Primrose Blackwell who are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Nar Nar Goon in 1914. William was a boot maker.
Cahir, Joseph Keith (SN 960) It seems that he was known as Keith by his family, so that's what we will call him - Keith enlisted on October 1, 1914. He was a 24 year old striker (a blacksmith's assistant) and his next of kin was listed as his sister, Stella Maris Cahir, of Mt Ararat house, Nar Nar Goon. Keith was reported missing in August 1915, held as a Prisoner of War in Turkey and not released until the end of the War in 1918. Keith had malaria in prison and then caught Spanish Influenza when he was released. He Returned to Australia on December 2, 1918. Keith is on both Honour Rolls. Keith was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Carter, George Henry (SN 2314) I had no idea who this was and there were 32 G. Carters who had enlisted so I started going through their records to find a Nar Nar Goon connection and on the 20th one I found George! George enlisted on June 30, 1916. His occupation was a trapper, he was born in Yorkshire and his next of kin was his friend, Samuel Batten of Nar Nar Goon. He was Killed in Action, in France, on April 5, 1918. However on the Honour Roll, George was not listed as dying in the War, so I am now unsure whether this is the correct G. Carter, but having gone though all the G. Carters I still have no-one else with any local connection, tenuous though this one is. As a matter of interest, George was only 18 when he enlisted and he claimed both his parents were dead, however it turns out that his father lived in Oakland, California and he didn't find out that his son had enlisted or been killed until 1919.
Castle, Frederick William (SN 1213) Frederick enlisted on July 26, 1915 at the age of 22. His next of kin was his mother, Frances Castle, of Nar Nar Goon and he was a saw miller. He Returned to Australia May 29, 1919.
Chatfield, Frederick Norman (SN 62) Frederick enlisted on February 25, 1916, aged 21, and he was a 'chaff cutter feeder'. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Chatfield of Nar Nar Goon. He was discharged from the Army on April 19, 1920. Frederick was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Childs, Albert George (SN 2599) Listed as Child on the Honour Roll. Albert enlisted in Melbourne on July 9, 1915, his occupation was Dairyman. He was 29 years old, born in England, his address on the Nominal Roll is Primrose Park, Beaconsfield, however he is listed as living at Nar Nar Goon in the 1914 Electoral Roll. Albert Died of Wounds on August 5, 1917 in France. Albert is also honoured on the Beaconsfield War Memorial.
Dore, David (SN 2637a) David was born at Nar Nar Goon and when he enlisted on July 20, 1915 his next of kin was his 'second eldest half-brother', Mr J. Dore of Nar Nar Goon. He was 18 years old, a farmer, and was an orphan. He was Killed in Action in France on August 9, 1918. David is on both Honour Rolls.
Drummond, Walter Neil (SN 2571) The only W.N Drummond I could locate was this Walter, he was a Blacksmith, 18 years old, was born in Eskdale and was from Officer, which is only two railway stops west of Nar Nar Goon, so this could well be our man. He was the son of William and Margaret Drummond, of Pinehurst, Officer. Walter enlisted June 28, 1915. He Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919.
Edwards E.S - I don't know who this is - The only E.S Edwards I can find is Ernest Samuel Edwards (SN 1346) from Walhalla, he is a stoker and blacksmith. There is an Ernest Edwards (SN 5327) who was a blacksmith from Longwarry (just four railway stops east of Nar Nar Goon). There was a John Edwards who was the Station Master at Tynong from 1914 to 1917, so was E.S Edwards connected to him? There was also a Thomas Henry and Christine Edwards in the Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon in 1914 - was E.S Edwards connected to them? Any help appreciated.
Ferguson, Alexander (SN 798) Alexander was 24 years old, and a farmer when he enlisted on June 27, 1917 and his next of kin was his wife, Nina Grace Ferguson of Prahran, however she is listed in the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon. Alexander Returned to Australia on April 27, 1919.
Alex Ferguson leased out his farm before enlisting.
Gaskett, Albert James (SN 1481) Albert was 19 year old farmer, when he enlisted on November 9, 1915. He Returned to Australia on July 17, 1919.
Gaskett, William John (SN 1830) William enlisted on February 28, 1916, when he was 21. He was also a farmer. He Returned to Australia on July 21, 1917. He was discharged on medical grounds - Nephritis.
William and George are brothers from Nar Nar Goon and were the sons of George and Levina (nee Collins) Gaskett. Levina died in 1914 at the age of 42. George is listed in the 1914 Electoral Roll as a saw miller. Albert and William are listed on both Honour Rolls.
Harris, Leo (SN 3132) Leo enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was a 20 year old farm labourer, born at Kyneton. His next of kin was his mother, Josephine Harris, of Nar Nar Goon, however, his father W. Harris, also signed the letter agreeing to Leo enlisting, as he was under 21. Leo was Killed in Action, in France, on August 9, 1916. There is some interesting correspondence in Leo's Attestation file regarding his grave. Parents of soldiers who were killed or died on service could have an 'emblem of faith' inscribed on the grave - a Cross or Star of David, depending on whether they were Christian or Jewish. Mrs Harris had asked for a Star of David, and when Base Records queried that because Leo's stated religion was Presbyterian, Mrs Harris wrote back saying I was under the impression that the Cross was Roman Catholic and Star of David protestant faith, so I will not have either emblem inscribed. That letter was dated September 2, 1920, but she wrote again on October 11, 1920 asking for the Cross to be inscribed.
Correspondence from Mrs Harris regarding the 'emblem of faith' to be inscribed on her son's grave.
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920
Heffernan, William There are nine W. Heffernans who enlisted, all called William, so we can be pretty sure his name is William - but I cannot find a W. Heffernan with a local connection. William is on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board , so I presume he went to school there - no William Heffernans are teachers, so he didn't teach there. Any help appreciated.
Holcombe, Archibald Jones (SN 68586) Born in Wales and he was the son of Francis Holcombe of Nar Nar Goon. He enlisted on July 1, 1918 when he was 19 and embarked on October 22, however the troop ship was recalled to Australia due to the end of the War, so Archie did not see any active service, not through the want of trying it seems. There is a Statutory Declaration signed by Archie on July 1, 1918 stating that his mother and father refused to sign the verification paper, stating that he could go if he wished, but that they would sign nothing!
Archie Holcombe's Stat Dec saying his parents refused to sign his papers.
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920
Huby, Walter Percy Clarence (SN 11351) He seems to have been known as Clarence, so that's what we will call him. Clarence enlisted on June 6, 1915 and he Returned to Australia on November 7, 1919. Clarence was born in York, England and his next of kin when he enlisted at the age of 22, was his mother also from York. He married Ada Hollick, in England on October 16, 1919. Clarence's occupation was sawyer on his Enlistment papers and 'mill labourer' in the 1914 Electoral Roll when he was living at Nar Nar Goon. In the 1924 Electoral Rolls he and Ada are living at Gembrook, where he is commemorated in the Avenue of Honour. Clarence also enlisted for service in World War Two.
Jones, Arthur Alfred Charles (SN 5117) Arthur enlisted on January 4, 1916. He was 21 and a baker. He was living with his aunt in Northcote at the time, but his next of kin was his father, Robert Jones on Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on September 6, 1919.
Arthur Jones
Keddie, Bert John (SN 4833) Bert was a School Teacher, born in Stratford and his father who was his next of kin lived at Murrumbeena. When he enlisted on January 1, 1916, he was 20 and was teaching at Ouyen State School and had received leave from the Education Department to enlist. He Returned to Australia on September 25, 1919, but before he returned had married Jean Hamilton on April 16, 1919 in Scotland. Bert and his brother Thomas, below, are on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board.
Keddie, Thomas Lee Heard (SN 856) Thomas, like his brother Bert, above, was born in Stratford and was also a School Teacher. He was at Byaduk State School (south of Hamilton) when he enlisted, at age 24, on August 18, 1914. He was discharged on December 12, 1915 as he was medically unfit after suffering a gun shot wound on April 25, 1915. He then re-enlisted on June 19, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds on August 1, 1916. So what was the connection of the Keddie boys to Nar Nar Goon? Their brother, Richard James Keddie, was a teacher at Nar Nar Goon in in 1909-1910 - is he the connection? The boy's parents are James and Jane - James is listed in the Electoral Roll as being a Railway employee - did he work at Nar Nar Goon and the boys went to school there?
Thomas Keddie
Kidd, James Edward (SN 64477) James enlisted on May 21, 1918. He was a 20 year old coach trimmer. He was the son of James and Margaret (nee Keane) Kidd of Nar Nar Goon. His father, James, was a blacksmith. James Returned to Australia on July 3, 1919.
Lamb, Charles Hargrave (SN 3092) Charles was the son Joseph and Annie Lamb. Joseph Lamb was listed in the 1909 and 1914 Electoral Rolls at Nar Nar Goon, his occupation was a boot maker. Charles, a blacksmith, was 18 when he enlisted on December 4, 1914. He Returned to Australia in March 1916 to recover from a gun shot wound to the neck. He re-enlisted on February 2, 1917 and was Killed in Action, in Belgium, on October 4, 1917. When he enlisted in 1917, his father was deceased and his mother, Annie, lived in East Brunswick. Charles was honored with a tree in the Memorial Grove at the Tynong State School which was planted in 1917. Read about this here.
Charles Lamb's return home due to being wounded
Ledger, John (SN 4666) John enlisted on September 9, 1916 as Francis George Moore. He said he was 19 years and three months old, was a farm labourer, was born in Nar Nar Goon, he said he was an orphan and his next of kin was his Guardian, Mrs R.E. Smith of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on July 7, 1919. There is a statutory declaration in his file, signed September 23, 1919 which says that he enlisted under the assumed name of Francis George Moore as at the time he was under eighteen years of age. He requested that all the records be amended so that his correct name was listed. Was he really an orphan? There is a Rosalie Emma Smith listed in the Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon in 1914, so she existed, and he obviously had some contact with Nar Nar Goon as he was recognised on the Honour Roll. Ironically, when he returned from active service, lets say he was 17 when he joined up, he would only have been 20 when he returned, still not old enough to enrol to vote! You certainly have to admire his spirit.
Lia, Matthew (SN 471) Matthew enlisted in Lithgow, N.S.W, on January 2, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Joseph Lia, of Nar Nar Goon. Matthew was awarded the Military Medal. After the War he was granted leave for 'non military employment' at A.C Carson Artificial Flower Manufacturing Company and was discharged on June 7, 1920.
Liston, Thomas (SN 1514) The Honour Board has a C. Liston listed, but the only Liston I could find with a Nar Nar Goon connection was Thomas. Thomas was 29 when he enlisted on November 10, 1914. He was a farm labourer and his next of kin were his parents who lived in Brunswick. Thomas enlisted at Tynong, the Attesting Officer was William Carney, Shire of Berwick President and his medical examination was held in Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on June 23, 1919. Thomas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Madden, Frank (SN 1798) Frank enlisted on January 13, 1915 at the age of 19. Frank was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia on April 8, 1919.
Madden, Thomas William (SN 2232) Thomas' address on the Embarkation Roll is Nar Nar Goon and he was 25 years old when he enlisted on April 1, 1916. Thomas Died of Wounds on October 18, 1917 in Belgium.
Frank and Thomas are brothers and they were both wool sorters by occupation. When Frank enlisted in January 1915 his next of kin, his mother, Grace Madden, was listed at Nar Nar Goon; when Thomas enlisted a year later, his next of kin, his father Thomas was listed at 9 Caroline Street, Clifton Hill. In 1917 a Memorial Grove was planted at the Tynong State School and Trooper Madden was reported as being honoured with a tree, who I believe it is either Frank or Thomas. You can read about it,
here.
Death notice for Thomas Madden.
Matthews, Frederick George Gladstone (SN 2272) George, was a 22 year farmer and he enlisted on July 24, 1915. He was the son of William Thornburn and Mary Jane (nee Phillips) Matthews of Nar Nar Goon. Frederick Returned to Australia on July 22, 1917 and was discharged from the Army on medical grounds due to a gun shot wound to the left knee.
McCarthy, Daniel Patrick (SN 10447) Daniel enlisted on August 10, 1915. He was 23 years old, a farmer and an orphan and his next of kin was his brother, Edward, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on May 20, 1919.
Moore, Walter Frederick (SN 79636) Walter enlisted on September 18, 1918. He was a 21 year old farmer. Walter did not get to serve overseas as the War ended. Walter is on both Honour Rolls. Walter, born in Vermont, was the son of Arthur Charles and Alice Louise (nee Plumridge) Moore of Nar Nar Goon.
Walter Moore and Henry Richardson enlist.
Mortimer, Thomas Ernest Gregory (SN 6900) Thomas enlisted on August 17, 1917. He was born in Longwarry, He was 21 years old and a school teacher. Thomas was the son of George and Sophia Georgina (nee Snell) Mortimer, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on July 23, 1919. In the 1922 Electoral Roll Thomas is listed as a teacher at Nambrok and the 1924 Rolls at Patho, near Echuca.
Nash, Walter Horace (SN 250) Listed as H. Nash on the Honour Board, so I presume he was known as Horace, so that's what we will call him. Horace was 33 years old and a Labourer when he enlisted on January 14, 1915. His next of kin was his father, Walter Thomas Nash of Box Hill, later Brighton. Horace was Killed in Action at Pozieres on July 31, 1916. I had a lot of trouble identifying this man, then I saw a W.H. Nash in a Casualty list, so investigated further in the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial, decided our man was most likely Horace, but it was only confirmed by the on-line Melbourne Grammar War Service Records, here. His entry mentions that - he was farming at Wandong for a while, but moved to Nar Nar Goon before he enlisted in January 1915.
O'Brien, James Arthur (SN 2737) James was born in Nar Nar Goon and enlisted on May 3, 1916 at the age of 23. He was a hardware assistant and his next of kin was his father, Daniel O'Brien of Yarroweyah (between Strathmerton and Cobram), however James was listed in the 1915 Electoral Roll at 36 Airlie Street, South Yarra, with his sisters Helen Mary and Emily Kate. Their mother, Mary Jane O'Brien (nee Eves) was also at the address. James Returned to Australia on October 20, 1918, having suffered a serious gun shot wound to the head. James is listed on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board.
Report of James Arthur O'Brien being wounded
O’Brien, James Joseph (SN 1876) James was born in Nar Nar Goon and was 18 when he enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was a farm labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Mary (nee Whelan) O'Brien of Seven Hills, Nar Nar Goon. James Returned to Australia November 25, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds, as he had a gun shot wound to the left leg 'involving the joint.' James is on both Honour Rolls. James' father was Patrick O'Brien who died in December 1912.
O’Brien, Daniel Francis (SN 2379) This man is in the notice, below, as having gone into Camp and he is listed as F. O'Brien, so I feel he may have been known as Francis, so that's what we will call him. Francis was 24 years old, a grazier and born in Nar Nar Goon. He enlisted on August 16, 1916. His next of kin was his sister, Katherine O'Brien, of Nar Nar Goon. Francis Returned to Australia on February 15, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds, due to a gun shot wound to the left leg. I believe that Francis was the son of Michael and Johanna (nee Mulcahy) O'Brien. They were both deceased, Michael having died November 1915 and Johanna in March 1914.
Fred Chatfield, William Gaskett, James Smith and Francis O'Brien go into camp.
Patrick O'Brien, Daniel O'Brien and Michael O'Brien were brothers, the sons Nar Nar Goon pioneers, Daniel and Bridget (nee Walsh) O'Brien. This means that James Arthur O'Brien, James Joseph O'Brien and Daniel Francis O''Brien were first cousins. There is more information about the family in footnote 2.
Charles Olsen
Australian War Memorial Photograph DA13462
Olsen, Charles Christian (SN 3898) Charles was a 20 year old sawmill worker when he enlisted on July 14, 1915. He had been born in Nar Nar Goon and lived in Nar Nar Goon. Charles was Killed in Action on June 12, 1917.
Olsen, Richard Henry (SN 3026) Richard was born in Williamstown, and was 24 years old when he enlisted in South Australia, on June 8, 1915. He was a Labourer. Richard Returned to Australia on March 23, 1919.
Charles and Richard are sons of Andrew and Martha (nee Warren) Olsen. The boys are on both Honour Rolls.
Ord, Albert Leslie (SN 3889) Albert enlisted on August 7, 1915. He was 22 years old and a labourer. He was the son of Frederick Thomas and Margaret (nee Leishman or Leichman) Ord. Their address on Albert's Attestation papers was Nar Nar Goon, however they were at Tynong in the 1914 Electoral Rolls. Albert Died of Wounds in France on September 25, 1916 - he was accidentally shot in the hip by another soldier who was cleaning his gun. Albert's Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial said that he attended Tynong State School. Albert was honored with a tree in the Memorial Grove at the school which was planted in 1917. Read about this here.
Harry Pepper
Australian War Memorial Photograph H06683
Pepper, Harry Higham (SN 2744) Harry enlisted on August 2, 1915, at the age of 22. He was a farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann (nee Banks) Pepper of Nar Nar Goon. Harry was Mentioned in Despatches and was Killed in Action in France on August 9, 1918. It appears that Mary Ann had separated from her husband, Henry, as a letter in Harry's Attestation file said Henry was living in Molong in NSW.
Perry, Silas Cole (SN 1337) Silas was born at Nhill, He enlisted on November 2, 1914 when he was 26 and his occupation was a farmer. His next of kin was his father, James Perry, of Nar Nar Goon. Silas Returned to Australia on February 2, 1919. Silas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Pettman, Isac William (SN 2419) Isac (unusually spelt with only one a) enlisted at Tynong, on May 31, 1915. His next of kin were his parents, Isaac and Ellen, who were from Bunyip; he was labourer and 19 years old. He Returned to Australia on July 1, 1919. In 1919, Isac married Doris Augusta Blackwell, the sister of Gilbert and Bernard, listed above. Isac's brother George also enlisted. George (SN 3908) was born at Garfield and enlisted at the age of 18 on August 7, 1915. He Returned to Australia February 9, 1919
Prior, James Stanley Glenth (SN 31721) Mr Prior enlisted using only his middle name Stanley. He was a Compositor, born in South Melbourne and enlisted in Claremont, Tasmania on October 16, 1916 at the age of 25. His next of kin was his father, James, of Braeburn, Nar Nar Goon. Stanely Returned to Australia July 1, 1919
Reid, Kenneth Sutherland (SN 14065) Kenneth was 18 when he enlisted on March 17, 1916. He was the son of William Alexander and Sarah (nee Maxwell) Reid of Nar Nar Goon and was a Medical Student at the time and had already spent a year with the Melbourne University Rifles. He Returned to Australia on February 28, 1919. According to the Electoral Roll he later became a research chemist.
Richardson, Henry Christopher (SN Depot) Henry enlisted on September 16, 1918. He was a 20 year old labourer. He passed the Light Horse riding test, but did not get to serve overseas as the War finished.
Richardson, Walter Sidney (SN 3227) Walter enlisted on July 14, 1915. He was 19 years old and a driver. Walter Returned to Australia on August 8, 1919.
The brothers were the sons of Christopher and Jessie (nee Beaton) Richardson of Nar Nar Goon.
Rogers, Vaughan Arthur (SN 1275) The Honour Roll has a T.A Rogers listed, but I am pretty sure that it should be V.A Rogers and I cannot find any T. Rogers with a Nar Nar Goon connection. Vaughan enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was 19 years old and a driver. Vaughan was the son of William Henry and Alice (nee Cahill) Rogers of Nar Nar Goon. He caught Rheumatic Fever and was sent home to Australia from England in October 1916 and discharged from the Army on February 16, 1917. Vaughan is on both Honour Rolls. As a matter of interest Vaughan's birthplace in his Attestation file is Nar Nar Goon, but on the indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages it is Numurkah.
Rowe, W. A Private W. Rowe is also listed in the newspaper report as having been honoured with a tree in the Tynong Memorial Grove, see here, but I have not discovered who this is. There are number of W. Rowes with a Gippsland connection but no-one with a specific Tynong or Nar Nar Goon connection. There is a William Rowe in the Shire of Berwick Rate Books listed at Tynong, occupation farmer, around 1914; a F.H. Rowe of Tynong wrote a letter to the Berwick Shire in September 1916 complaining about drainage - so Private Rowe may well be connected to either of these men.
Smith, James Francis (SN 2563) James was born and lived at Nar Nar Goon, he was the son Marmaduke and Kate (nee Mulcare) Smith. He enlisted on April 19, 1916. He was 23 years old and a farmer. James was Killed in Action in France on February 14, 1917. James is on both Honour Rolls.
Death notice of James Smith
Startup, Rupert Walter. Rupert was a bit of a mystery as there were no Startups who enlisted in the First World War according to the records at the War Memorial and the National Archives. However, via Ancestry, I found his name listed at the National Archives in England in the 'Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal' so he was in the Merchant Navy during the War. Rupert, born in 1896, served in World War Two. He was in the Army from December 1940 until January 1942; then the Air Force from September 1943 until October 1945. Startup is a very well known Nar Nar Goon name - John Startup and Edwin George Kettle took up the Mt Ararat run in 1854. It was 17,000 acres in size and was said to extend from Pakenham to Drouin. Rupert is the grandson of John Startup (3).
Taylor, William David (SN 4530) William enlisted January 31, 1916, he was 30 years old, a labourer and living with his wife, Cecelia, in Nar Nar Goon. He had been born in Perth. William was Killed in Action in France on March 27, 1917.
Wade, A I don't know who this. There is an Arthur Wade on the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon - his occupation is a groom. but if he did enlist I cannot work out which of six Arthur Wades he might be (if any) as none have a Nar Nar Goon connection. I have checked the fourteen A.Wades who enlisted and once again none have an obvious Nar Nar Goon connection and neither do the other 128 Wades.
Warren, Robert James (SN 5099) Robert was 18 and an orchardist when he enlisted on February 2, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Catherine Warren, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on April 1, 1919. Robert is on both Honour Rolls.
White, Sydney Pleno (SN 3638) Sydney enlisted on July 12, 1915 at the age of 31. He was born in England and his next of kin was his father in England and he was a coachsmith. His address on his Embarkation papers was Toorak however there is a Sydney Pleno White on the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon (occupation farmer) so I presume, with that unusual middle name, that they are the same person. Sydney Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919. He was in Pakenham in the 1924 Roll, occupation orchardist and in Berwick in the 1931 Roll, occupation Dairy farmer. He died in Berwick in 1954. Sydney has three Soldier Settlement land files on the Battle to Farm website, you can read them here, here and here.
Wilson, Robert Charles Percy (SN 685) Robert enlisted in January 3, 1917 at the age of 26. He and his wife, Rachel, lived in Nar Nar Goon where Robert was the Station Master. He was part of the 1st Australian Light Railway Operating Company and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Robert Returned to Australia on May 11, 1919
Footnotes
(1) Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. Published by the Education Department of Victoria, 1973.
(2) O'Brien Family, Nar Nar Goon.
Information is from
Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District by the Narre Warren & District Family History Group, published 2010
From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of the Berwick Shire, 1962)
Solid Bluestone Foundations and other memories of a Melbourne girlhood, 1908-1928 by Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Penguin 1986). Kathleen Fitzpatrick was the great grand-daughter of Daniel and Brigid O'Brien
In the 1860s, Daniel and Brigid (nee Walsh) O’Brien built the Limerick Arms Hotel on the corner of Wilson Road and the Gippsland Road (now called the Princes Highway) at Nar Nar Goon. Daniel, Brigid and their one year old daughter, Ellen, had arrived in Melbourne in September 1841 on the Forth. Also on the same ship were the Dore family - John (c. 1808 - 1895) his wife Betty (nee Elizabeth O'Connor, c. 1808 - 1876) and their children Edward, Thomas, Patrick and Ellen, six more children were born in Victoria. In 1844, John Dore and Michael Hennessey took up the Mount Ararat Run at Nar Nar Goon of 1,900 acres. The partnership existed until 1855. Hennessey then moved to Dandenong and built the Bridge Hotel and later took over the Eumemmerring Hotel. In the 1860s, Dore purchased the 640 acre Mt Ararat pre-emptive right. He later purchased another 387 acres and his son Thomas 300 acres so they held a total of 1,300 acres. The property was later bisected by the railway line when it was built in 1877.
Back to the O'Briens - Daniel was a builder and the plan was to work in Victoria for four years save enough money and then return home, as it was they never did return to Ireland. The family first went to Waurn Ponds near Geelong where Daniel worked as a builder. They then decided to buy some land - Waurn Ponds being too dry looking they decided to buy in Gippsland and brought a farm called The Swamp at Mt Ararat or Nar Nar Goon, perhaps they were influenced in this decision by the Dores.
The O'Brien's had more eight children - Michael James born 1843 at Saltwater; Patrick Francis 1845, Jeremiah Gerald 1846, Johanna Mary 1848, Catherine, 1853 - these last four were born when they were at Nar Nar Goon. Bidelia Amelia 1853, Mary Ann 1856 and Daniel 1859 were born in North Melbourne.
Because the children needed an education the O'Briens moved back to town and built a house in North Melbourne so the children could go to school. Daniel was again working as a builder but his business partner stole the proceeds of the business and this forced the family to move back to Nar Nar Goon where they opened the Limerick Arms. This was a success as the Gippsland Road went as far as Sale and there was lots of traffic; it was also a Cobb and Co Coach stop. The hotel also had a reputation for being spotlessly clean and offering good meals. Every six months a Priest would visit, and conduct a mass and also baptise any babies that needed that sacrament. The services were either held at the Limerick Arms or the Dore's House.
A succession of tutors were employed by the O'Briens until they settled on Daniel Ahern. The O'Briens and the Dores also built a school on Mt Ararat Creek for their own children and the the neighbouring children and Daniel Ahern was the teacher. Mr Ahern later taught at Eumemmerring State School, later called Hallam State School from 1870 to 1890. Daniel was the father of James Joseph Ahern, Shire of Berwick Secretary from 1906 until 1948.
Daniel died in 1886 at the age of 82 and Brigid in 1888 at the age of 77. The Limerick Arms was delicensed in 1908 and the building has been demolished. The son of Daniel and Brigid, Michael and his wife Johanna (nee Mulcahy) opened the Nar Nar Goon Hotel in 1883.
The O'Brien family also inserted a number of informative death notices into the newspapers, which helped me sort out who was who.
Death notice of Patrick Francis O'Brien from 1912
The Argus December 9, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10522112
Death notice of Michael O'Brien from 1915
The Argus, November 8, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1577894
Death notice of Daniel O'Brien from 1921
(3) Startup family - John Startup (c. 1822-1905). He married Emily Tolhurst in 1852 and they had the following children - John (born 1854), Susannah (1856), Fanny (1857), William (1860), Rosetta (1863), Herbert Walter (1865), Leila (1866). You can read John Startup's obituary in the
South Bourke & Mornington Journal of July 12, 1905,
here. Herbert married Catherine Damyon in 1895 and they were the parents of Rupert Startup, listed on the Honor Board.
I found this notice of the dissolution of the partnership between John Startup and Edwin Kettle, it is the first time I have seen Mr Kettle's given names, all other sources I have seen just refer to him as Kettle.