Denise Nest wrote about the Tonimbuk Honour Board in her book, Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990 (1). She said that the names and portraits of the men of the district were enclosed in a massive oak frame and that the Roll was unveiled by Mr Pearson and a concert completed the occasion (2). The Board was presented by the Tonimbuk Patriotic People’s Friendly Society on August 15, 1916 (3). The Honour Board is at the Tonimbuk Hall.
Tonimbuk was settled it the 1890s as part of a Village Settlement Scheme. The aim of the scheme was to move unemployed families from Melbourne so they could have a self sustaining life in the country as farmers, saw millers or by supporting themselves with any work they could obtain. It was not always successful for a variety of reasons including the fact that many men lacked the necessary skills and the farms were too small to be viable. The Tonimbuk State School, No. 3363, opened on July 1, 1900, it closed in January 1906, reopened September 1910 and closed in 1947 (4).
Tonimbuk, is not part of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, it is really Bunyip North, however as some of the men on the Tonimbuk Honour are also honored on the Bunyip War Memorial, which I have written about here, it's well worth looking at.
What follows is a list of the soldiers on the Honour Roll, plus a few others with a Tonimbuk connection, their fate (i.e. when they Returned to Australia after active service or when they were Killed in Action) and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au). Some of the extra information about the families of the soldiers comes from Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990
Bridle, Charles William (SN 5629) Charles enlisted as a 19 year old on July 31, 1915. He was a Clerk, born in Williamstown and was living there when he enlisted, his next of kin was father, Richard. Charles married Erine (also listed as Eileen) around 1917. A letter in his file, dated August 1, 1918 states that Erine had moved from Williamstown to Bunyip. He Returned to Australia on May 8, 1919. Mrs Nest, in Call of the Bunyip, has his name listed as Bridal, which is not correct, however as George and Elizabeth Bridal settled in Tonimbuk in the early 1900s and they are presumably the source of the name Bridal Road it's an obvious mistake.
Ellis, H. Corporal H. Ellis is listed on the Honour Roll, but I am unsure who that is. It may possibly refer to Albert Bruthniaux Ellis (SN 44) who enlisted on June 7, 1915 aged 27. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Martha Ellis of Mt Juliet, Bunyip. Albert Returned to Australia on September 23, 1919. He was a Lieutenant (which doesn't tally with him being listed as a Corporal) and was awarded the Military Cross. Albert was the son of the grandly named Harcourt Whipple Ellis and his wife, Martha (nee Graham). They had another son, Havelock Graham Ellis, born in 1889 but I can't find any reference to him enlisting - he is not in the Embarkation or Nominal Rolls and does not have a record at the National Archives of Australia.
Jewell, Frederick William (SN 57) Frederick enlisted on August 22, 1914 when he was 26. His occupation was a labourer. Sergeant Jewell Returned to Australia on January 7, 1919.Jewell, John George (SN 55) John was 19 years and 10 months old when he enlisted the same day as his brother, Frederick. John was also a labourer. Whilst serving overseas John suffered from influenza, then mumps, then appendicitis and then he was Wounded in Action in France. John Returned to Australia on January 23, 1918. John is also listed on the Bunyip Methodist Honor Board.
Jewell, William James Peter (SN 6136) William enlisted on May 4, 1916 aged 22. He Returned to Australia on October 29, 1918 and had suffered from Trench feet and a fractured thigh. William is not listed on the Honour Roll, presumably due to his date of enlistment.
William and Elizabeth (nee Leask) Jewell came to Tonimbuk about 1892 and took up 50 acres of land; they had nine other children beside Fred, John and William.
Leask, George Clifford (SN 2784) George was 18, and a Horse Driver, when he enlisted on July 26, 1916. In August 1918 he suffered a gun shot wound to the abdomen (penetrating) and Returned to Australia on October 20, 1918. George was the son of Thomas and Rose (nee Hawking) Leask, who are listed in the Electoral Rolls from 1914 to 1919 at Tonimbuk. On New Years Eve, 1918 a welcome home was given at Tonimbuk School to the three Jewell boys and George Leask. George is not listed on the Honour Roll, presumably due to his date of enlistment. George was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Public Records Office of Victoria website, here.
Nylander, Alexander (SN 3435) Alexander was a 27 year old Labourer, when he enlisted on July 15, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs J. Nylander, of St Minians, Bunyip. He was discharged for medical reasons, suffering from shell shock and neurasthenia (a nervous condition) Alexander Returned to Australia on August 25, 1917. Alexander's parents, Carl and Jessie (nee Forrester) had come to Tonimbuk in 1892.
Pearson, Frederick Francis (SN 869) Frederick enlisted on September 4, 1914, when he was 25. He was a Clerk. Frederick was Killed in Action on April 25, 1915 at Gallipoli. It wasn't until June 1916 that a Board of Enquiry finally confirmed that he had been Killed in Action, he was previously listed as missing. This information was not communicated to the family straight away as there is a letter from his father in his file dated September 1916 asking for confirmation of his death, he writes "Personally I am sure of his death but it is his mother who keeps on hoping to hear from him" Frederick was the son of Charles and Blanche (nee Cox) Pearson who had arrived in Tonimbuk in 1893, they had 320 acres of land which they used as an orchard. Frederick is also listed on the Bunyip War Memorial.
Pilkington, Archibald Clarence (1268) Archie was living in Williamstown and his occupation was a Driver, when he enlisted on July 12 1915 at the age of 21. He served overseas but was injured and also suffered from bronchitis and so was discharged due to medical reasons and Returned to Australia on Apri1 11, 1916. Archie and his wife Vera are listed in the 1917 Electoral Roll as living at Tynong. In 1919 they are back in Williamstown and he has motor garage. In 1924 Ada is listed alone in Williamstown and there is an Archibald Clarence Pilkington in Rocklea near Brisbane, occupation motor driver, so it seems that the marriage had broken up by then. Vera was born in Longwarry and was the daughter of John and Catherine (nee Parsons) Topp, and so was the sister of Charles and John Topp, listed below.
Reardon, Eric Charles (SN 2524). Eric enlisted on June 3, 1915 at the age of 18, he was a Farmer. Eric Died of Wounds on September 9, 1918. Eric is also listed on the Bunyip War Memorial.
Reardon, William Horace (SN 16) William enlisted on August 19, 1914 at the age of 19. He was also a farmer. They were both born in Tatura and were the sons of James Edward and Seline (nee Bradley) Reardon of Bunyip. William Returned to Australia on November 12, 1917 after being discharged as permanently unfit. William had suffered from months of diarrhoea and bilharziosis (a parasite infection from a flatworm)
Sleigh, John (SN 58) John enlisted on August 22, 1914, the same day as Fred and John Jewell, when he was 25 years old. He was a labourer. John had a colourful military record and was charged with a number of offences whilst on active duty and also suffered from a leg injury that became quite a bad ulcer which wouldn't heal and he was discharged as medically unfit after he Returned to Australia on February 15, 1918.
Sleigh, T I believe that this may actually be Stephen Sleigh (SN 3244) who is also listed on the Bunyip War Memorial. Stephen enlisted on July 16, 1915. He was 28 years old and a Shunter. Stephen was listed as missing on July 28, 1916 and a later Court of Enquiry found that he was Killed in Action on July 19, 1916.
Stephen and John were both born in Trentham and they were the sons of Charles and Mary Jane (nee Shand) Sleigh of Bunyip.
Topp, Charles William (SN 3656) Charles was a jockey, aged 24, and he enlisted on September 6, 1915. He Returned to Australia on May 15, 1919. Charles died on July 24, 1925.
Topp, John Henry Thomas (SN 1312) John enlisted at the age of 26 on July 29, 1915. He was a Saw Mill employee. He Returned to Australia on July 18, 1919.
Charles and John were the sons of John Henry and Catherine Theresa (nee Parsons) Topp of Bunyip. Call of the Bunyip mentions a John Topp who had a property near the Tonimbuk School which consisted of 450 acres and a home on the banks of Dingle Creek.
Footnotes
(1) Nest, Denise Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990 (Bunyip History Committee, 1990)
(4) Vision and Realisation : a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. Published by the Education Department of Victoria, 1973.
