There are two Yallock Honour Rolls. One is at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society. It has 29 names on it. The other one, with 52 names and photographs is at the Lang Lang R.S.L. I do not know why there are two Boards - perhaps one was in the Hall and the other in the School or maybe one went missing and new one was made and then the original was re-discovered later?
There is an article in the Koo Wee Rup Sun of July 31, 1918 about the unveiling of the Honour Roll on Wednesday, July 24 1918 by the Hon A. Downward, M.L.A. The Board is described as this specimen is a particularly fine one and contains the honored names and photographs of 57 local boys. The date of enlistment is also given. The Board is of Australian blackwood and is the work of Mr. W.J Tiller of Little Collins Street, Melbourne. This is presumably the Board now held at Lang Lang, although it has 52 names and not the 57 mentioned in the article (and surely there weren't three Yallock Honour Boards!) You can access the article about the Honour Board unveiling here
What follows is a list of the soldiers taken from the Honour Board at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society and the Koo Wee Rup Sun article - I have only seen a photo of the Lang Lang Board, so I assume that all the names on the Board are listed in the article. The information below also contains the Soldier's 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).
When I talk about the Honour Board, I am referring to the one held at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society; when I talk about the Koo Wee Rup Sun article I am referring to the one published July 31, 1918 (the names are above, see full article here). I have also used an article called Families at Yallock written by H.J. Boxshall, which was published in the book The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968). It is transcribed, here.
Angus, William (SN 2101) William Angus enlisted on July 22, 1915, at the age of 26. He was a labourer. William was Killed in Action in France on August 26, 1916. His next of kin was listed as his aunt, Mrs A. Yeaman of Wonthaggi. Annie Yeaman is in the Electoral Roll at Yallock in 1903 and Mr Boxshall says that a J.Yeaman, who was an Engine Driver, lived on Fincks Road, so I believe that this William's Yallock connection.
Bateson, George (SN 1307) George was born in New Zealand and he enlisted on November 10, 1914 at the age of 21. He was a labourer. George Returned to Australia on December 30, 1918.
The boys were the sons of Elias and Mary (nee Rideout) Bateson, of Yannathan. Mr Boxshall writes that Mr Elias Bateson was a member of the first School Committee and donated land for the Methodist Church. The Bateson brothers are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Boxshall, Albert Victor (SN 3481) Bert enlisted on July 7, 1915 at the age of 29. He was a Tram Conductor. He Returned to Australia on May 8, 1919. Bert was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Mills) Boxshall, who moved to Yallock in 1895.Thomas' obituary from the Lang Lang Guardian appears below. Bert is also the brother of Henry John Boxshall who wrote the Families at Yallock paper. Bert is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Casey, Victor (SN 57423) Victor was born in Lang Lang and was 18 years old and a farmer when he enlisted on January 5, 1918. Victor Returned to Australia on July 17, 1919.
Coates, Benjamin Wilson (SN Depot) Benjamin enlisted on October 5, 1918 and was discharged on Christmas Eve 1918 as the war had ended. He was a 21 year farmer from Yallock.
Benjamin and Lawrence were the sons of Lawrence and Mary Jane (nee Wilson) Coates of Yallock. The Coates brothers are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Collyer, John Clements Leslie (SN 1018) Known as Les, he enlisted September 15, 1914 at the age of 19. He suffered a number of wounds including a bullet wound to the left hip and he Returned to Australia on March 11, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds.
Collyer, Russell Stanley. Russell was born July 3, 1899 and joined the Royal Australian Navy on February 23, 1915. He was discharged on November 7, 1925.
Davies, D The Honor Roll lists a D. Davies and the Koo Wee Rup Sun article lists a D. Davis. This is possibly Douglas James Davies (SN 1524) who enlisted on March 21, 1916 aged 20. He was a Farmer. He was living in Rossiter Road in Koo Wee Rup at the time, with his mother, Ellen, who was his next of kin. Douglas Returned to Australia on June 12, 1919.
De Forest, Gilbert (51347) Gilbert was a 32 year old farmer from Monomeith when he enlisted on December 27, 1917. His next of kin was his wife, Margaret. He Returned to Australia on June 19, 1919. Gilbert is incorrectly listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun list as G.D. Forrest.
De Little, John Cyril (SN 220) John enlisted on July 17, 1915 aged 23. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father Edward Vernon de Little of Koo Wee Rup. John was Killed in Action in France on October 10, 1916 , a day after being shot by a sniper. John is incorrectly listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article as J.D. Little.
Report of John De Little's deathLang Lang Guardian December 13, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514147
Donaldson, Norman Stanley ( SN 84) Norman enlisted on August 18, 1914 aged 22. He was living in Elsternwick and his father, John Walter Donaldson, was his next of kin. Norman Returned to Australia on July 12, 1919. What was his Yallock connection? He was the son of John Walter and Mary Jane (nee Waring) Donaldson and a Mary J. Donaldson owned land at Yallock according to the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books in the early 1910s. There is a report in the Lang Lang Guardian of June 24, 1914 about Mrs Donaldson selling her Finck's Road property (see here). Norman is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Franklin, Leslie (SN 878) I am not one hundred per cent sure who this is - there were five Leslie Franklins who enlisted, three are from New South Wales; the other Victorian one was Killed in Action and we know that 'our' Les survived the War, so by eliminating those four, it just leaves this Leslie - but I have not as yet found a connection to the area. He possibly worked locally or had lived there with his parents when they were alive as his next of kin was listed as his grandfather, John Franklin of Yea. Les enlisted on March 24, 1915 aged 19. He was born in Yea, he was a labourer. Whilst he was overseas he married Margaret McKay in Scotland on May 24, 1919. He Returned to Australia on November 7, 1919.
Harker, George Ernest (SN 3840) George enlisted on December 6, 1915 aged 21. George was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919. George was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Harker, Robert Herd (SN 345) Robert enlisted on July 19, 1915 at the age of 28 and was Killed in Action in France, one year later, on July 20 1916.
Harker, William Thomas (SN 16235) William enlisted at the age of 34 in January 1916 and was discharged as medically unfit in February 1917, he then enlisted again on July 2, 1917, served overseas and Returned to Australia on May 6, 1919.
The boys are the sons of Thomas and Catherine (nee Griffiths) Harker of Yallock. William had been born in Quorn in South Australia, his brothers were born in Dandenong. George and Robert are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Hatty, David Samuel (SN 279) Known as Sam, enlisted at the age of 22 on August 25, 1914. He served overseas and Returned to Australia on March 8, 1917 and was medically discharged as he suffered from chronic rheumatism.
Hatty, George Frederick (SN 66) George enlisted March 27, 1916 at the age of 21. George was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 12, 1917.
Hatty, Thomas Alfred ( SN 5607) Thomas enlisted on November 25, 1914 when he was 24. He Returned to Australia on February 19, 1919. Thomas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
The Hatty boys were the sons of William and Jessie Augusta (nee Brown) Hatty and the family was living in Timboon when they enlisted. According to the Electoral Rolls they had previously lived in Yallock for a number of years. Thomas and David are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board and George is also listed on the Heath Hill State School Honor Board.
Henry, Robert (SN 344) Robert enlisted on July 8, 1915 at the age of 19. His next of kin was his father, William Henry of Grassmere, Yallock. Robert was reported missing in July 1916 and had been captured by the Germans. He was released when the War ended, repatriated to England and Returned to Australia on March 2, 1919. Robert was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Izzard, Horace Valentine (SN 373) Horace enlisted on February 22, 1915, aged one month off 28 years of age. He was a farm labourer. He Returned to Australia on March 9, 1919.Izzard, Ralph Charles (SN 2636) Ralph, a labourer, enlisted on June 9, 1915 aged 22. He served overseas and Returned to Australia on November 12, 1916 and was discharged in February 1917 as medically unfit, it mentioned in his record that he suffered from rheumatism.
Jones, John Owen (SN 2674) John enlisted on August 2, 1915 at the age of 26, he was a miner and his next of kin was his mother, Marian, of Campbell Street in Wonthaggi. He suffered a severe gun shot wound to the right thigh in France on April 24, 1918 and Returned to Australia on December 24, 1918 and was medically discharged in June 1919. I believe that this is the correct record even though John's record does not directly link him to Yallock. There is a J. Jones listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article and Mr Boxshall writes that Mr J. Jones was a saddler by trade and had land in Hall Road. The 1909 Electoral Rolls show a John William Jones, Marian Jones and Maud Jones at Yallock and an article in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of August 24, 1911 (see here) says that Mr W. Jones has sold his farm at Yallock and intends settling in Wonthaggi. Based on all that I believe that we have the correct J. Jones. J. Jones is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Joseph, J This man is listed on the Yallock Honour Board and on the Yannathan Honor Board as J. Josephs. The only J. Joseph listed is from New South Wales. There is a Joseph Josephs on the Electoral Roll at Yannathan in 1909, his occupation is a labourer. This is possibly the man on the Honor Boards or some connection. There are two J. Josephs that I can find enlisted who are from Victoria.Josephs, James Rolfe (Lieutenant). James enlisted on May 24, 1915. He was a clerk, 24 years old and his next of kin was his father, James, who lived in Prahran. James Returned to Australia May 10, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds (otitis media).
Josephs, Joseph Isaac (SN 3824) Joseph was 27 when he enlisted on July 13, 1915, so would have been around 21 in 1909 and thus old enough to be on the Electoral Roll. His parents were dead and his next of kin Clara Letitia Cutts of Ringwood. Joseph was discharged on medical grounds, due to rhuematism on December 3, 1917 having Returned to Australia on August 25 of the same year. I believe the man on the Yannathan and Yallock Honor Boards is this Joseph Isaac Josephs. As a matter of interest, Clara was a school teacher and in 1918 she married Joseph Isaac Josephs. I was hoping they had a long and happy marriage together, however she died in 1918, that's very sad.
Kenny, Harry Phillip (SN Depot) Harry enlisted on June 29, 1915 aged 29. He was born in Yallock and his next of kin was his father, Harry Kenny, of Nar Nar Goon. Harry was discharged on October 9, 1915 as medically unfit due to the loss of the index finger on the right hand. A report in his record said the finger accident happened around October 1914 in Poowong when it was cut off by an axe. Harry was recommended for Home Services.
Leeson, Alfred Ernest (SN 485) Alfred was 22 when he enlisted on November 1, 1915. He Returned to Australia on March 16, 1919.Leeson, Claude Albert (SN 3103) Claude enlisted on October 5, 1916 aged 18 years old. He Died of Wounds (a gun shot wound to the skull) in Belgium on October 18, 1917.
The Leeson boys were the sons of Arthur and Mary (nee Kalmbach) Leeson of Yannathan; Arthur had already died at the time of their enlistment. Both Alfred and Arthur were granted Soldier Settlement farms, you can read Alf's file here and Arthur's file, here. They were all born locally - Alf in Clyde, Claude in Caldermeade and Arthur's birth place is listed as Monham Heath, but I believe this is actually Monomeith. The Koo Wee Rup Sun list has an R. Leeson - this is possibly a mistake, as they don't list Arthur. The Leeson brothers are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Light, Alfred Percy (SN 5042) Alf was a 29 year old butter maker when he enlisted on January 27, 1916. He Returned to Australia on December 4, 1918.
Light, Norman Edward (SN 1958) Norman was 26 when he enlisted on March 15, 1916.He was a farmer. He suffered a gun shot wound to his right leg, whilst fighting in France, and it fractured his tibia. He Returned to Australia on March 16, 1918 and was medically discharged in the November. Norman was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Light, Thomas Reuben (SN 1959) Thomas enlisted the same day as his brother, Norman. He was 27 and eleven months old, a farmer, and was discharged as being medically unfit on July 3, 1916.
Alf, Norman, and Thomas were the sons of Thomas and Maria (nee Ingram) Light. When Alf enlisted in January 1916 the family address was Tarwin Lower; when Norman and Thomas enlisted 2 months later the family had shifted to Yallock.
Lineham, William James (SN 2711) William enlisted on July 19 1915 aged 20. His next of kin were his parents, Benjamin and Eliza (nee Knott) Lineham of Yannathan. He was born in Clyde. William Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919. William was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file, here, on the Battle to Farm website. William is also listed on on the Yannathan Honor Board and I have more information about him on that post.
McGhee, Gordon General (SN 22949) Gordon enlisted on October 27, 1915, he was a 23 year old labourer. Gordon Returned to Australia May 12, 1919. He was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here. Gordon is listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article as Rawdon M'Gee - not sure where the Rawdon name came from, but he on the Honour Board as G. McGhee.
McGhee, Donald Malachi (SN 3416) enlisted, on June 24, 1915. He was a 19 year old railway porter and he was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. Donald is listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article as Malachi M'Gee.
The boys were the sons of John and Margaret (nee Johnston) McGhee; they were living at 61 Bridge Street, Northcote when their sons enlisted. Donald was born in Heath Hill. Gordon was born in Lang Lang, according to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages Index or Warragul according to his enlistment papers. Their brother, David Johnston McGhee, was living at Yallock in 1914 according to the Electoral Rolls. The brothers are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board and Gordon is also listed on the Heath Hill State School Honor Board.
McPhee, Charles Carey (SN 422) Charles was a Methodist Home Missionary and he enlisted at the age of 29 on May 10, 1916. He was reported missing in France in April 1918 and became a 'Prisoner of War in German hands'. He was released after the War and Returned to Australia on February 10, 1919. Charles has been stationed at the Methodist Mission at Yallock before his appointment.
O'Donnell, D According to the list in the Koo Wee Rup Sun there was a D. O'Donnell who served in the War. This was likely to be a brother of Joseph and Michael (see below) as there is correspondence from Joseph, dated March 1918, in Michael's file asking about the whereabouts of Michael as they had lost touch as 'we had parted for about five years' and it also mentions 'my youngest brother' who was serving in France. I haven't worked out who he is.
O'Donnell, Joseph Daniel (SN 3602) Joseph enlisted on September 17, 1915 aged 25. His next of kin was his father, M. O'Donnell of Koo Wee Rup and he was also born in Koo-Wee-Rup. He Returned to Australia on September 26, 1917 and had 'severe corns on the sole of the left foot'. Joseph was listed as Michael's next of kin, after he returned home because their father 'could not be traced'. Joseph was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
O'Donnell, Michael Alexander (SN 730) Michael enlisted at the age of 25 on November 27, 1914.He was born in Ballarat. He had a colourful military history with a range of disciplinary issues. He received a gun shot wound to his shoulder, suffered a fractured skull and Died of Wounds on July 17 1918. Michael was living in Sydney when he enlisted but his next of kin was his father, Michael James O'Donnell of Yannathan. Michael's will, in his Attestation file at the National Archives has the family's address as Yallock.
Pretty, Albert George (SN 6944) Albert enlisted on March 9, 1917 at the age of 23. His next of kin was his father, Frederick Matthew Pretty of Yallock. He was promoted to a Lieutenant. Albert was a Military Clerk who served in England and France. When you read all the military records you realise what a massive administrative task it must have been to keep all the records up to date. Albert Returned to Australia on October 30, 1919. There is a W. Pretty listed on the Honour Roll, but I believe this is a mistake as I can't find any other Prettys with a local connection apart from Albert.
Rietschel, Arthur William JohnRietschel, Percy George Oscar
Mr Boxshall has O.W Reitchel living at Fincks Road - he was a bricklayer; the Honour Roll has A. Reitschel and P. Reitschel and the 1914 Electoral Roll has Arthur and Percy Rietschel listed at Wonthaggi, so that's three different spellings on the surname. Arthur (b. 1888) and Percy (b. 1889) are the sons of Otto William and Helen (nee O'Neil) Rietschel, I think that's the correct spelling. Helen is in the Electoral Roll at Yallock in 1905 and 1906 and then I can't find her and I believe Otto died in 1901. This is what I had found out about Arthur and Percy, but I couldn't find any trace of their enlistment until once again, Lynne Bradley from the Narre Warren & District Family History Group discovered the answer. It turns out that Helen (also known as Ellen) remarried in 1903 to William James Jones and the boys enlisted as Arthur Jones and Percy Jones. Perhaps it was because there was so much anti-German feeling at the time, they wanted to hide a German sounding name.
Ridgway, Mark (SN 449) Mark was born in Lang Lang and he was a 23 year old Butter maker when he enlisted on February 11, 1915. His next of kin was his father, William Ridgway of Hazeldean, Lang Lang. In the 1914 Electoral Roll, he was living in Yannathan. Mark received a gun shot wound to his knee and his tibia and fibula were fractured. He Returned to Australia on September 9, 1916 and was medically discharged on March 30, 1917. Mark is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Sanders, Robert Oliver (SN 13170) Robert enlisted on August 7, 1916 at the age of 23 years, 11 months. His occupation was chauffeur, and as might be expected, he joined the Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company. His address at enlistment was Monomeith and he was born in London and his next of kin was his father, who lived in England. Robert was demobilized in England on October 31, 1919. There is an R. Saunders listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article, but I can't locate anyone of that name with a local connection, so I believe it should have been R. Sanders.
Savage, Leslie Hardwick (SN 50459) Leslie was 24 when he enlisted on December 14, 1917.He Returned to Australia on January 19, 1919. He was born at Poowong and his next of kin was his father, Francis Savage of Yallock.
Scharf, Alfred (SN 962) Alfred was a 26 year old carpenter when he enlisted on January 18, 1915. Alfred was Killed in Action in France on August 24, 1916.
Scharf, Richard Albert (SN 7961) Richard was 19, a shop fitter and he enlisted on July 13, 1915. He Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France on May 1, 1917.
Alfred and Richard were the sons of Henry and Liselle (nee Fritz) Scharf. Mr Boxshall writes that Henry Scharf was a carpenter and had left Germany to escape militarism. The family had lived on Finck's Road at Yallock, although they were in St Kilda Road, Elsternwick when the boys enlisted. The Scharf brothers are also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Scott, Bert
Scott, Ray
Sherriff, Alfred (SN 2994) Alf enlisted on May 23, 1916 at the age of 36. He was a farmer from Lang Lang, born in Berwick, and his next of kin was his wife, Sarah Janet Sherriff (nee Richardson) He Returned to Australia on January 2, 1919 and was discharged from the Army as medically unfit in March 1919 due to Rheumatism and Functional Dyspepsia. The 1917 Electoral Roll lists Alf and Sarah at Yannathan, so I presume that was the Yallock connection.
Smith, Bert. Bert is listed on the Honour Roll as having died in the War. There are about 90 Albert, Bert, Herbert and Robert Smiths who died during the War and I can't find any obvious connection to the area. There is also a B. Smith on the Cora Lynn War Memorial and I believe it may be the same person - Smith, Berth. (SN 1436) His first name was also listed as Bert, Bertie and Beith in some documents but I believe that Berth is correct. He was Killed in Action May 9 or May 10 in 1915 at Gallipoli. Berth enlisted at Tynong on September 21, 1914. at the age of 19. The Attesting Officer was William Carney, Shire of Berwick President, so that proves he was in the local area, so he may have worked at Yallock as well. His occupation was listed as a labourer. He was born at Rochford, near Kyneton and that is where his father lived. Any ideas as to who this is, I would love to hear from you.
Stephens, James Bennett (SN 2367) James enlisted at the age of 21 on August 7, 1916. His occupation was Drover. His next of kin was his father, Francis Stephens of Yallock. James was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1917. James is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Ware, Charles William Francis (SN 3285a) Charles enlisted at the age of 23 on July 27, 1915. He was employed on the Railways and had been born at Nyora. He suffered a severe gun shot wound to his right buttock and Returned to Australia on March 17, 1917 and was discharged for medical reasons on July 9, 1917. His next of kin was his mother Mrs Christina Wilson Ware who lived at Kongwak. His father was Charles Joseph Ware. Charles is also listed on the Yannathan Honor Board.
Wright, John William (SN 646) John enlisted on September 24, 1914 aged 21. He was a farmer and born in Yannathan. John Returned to Australia on October 26, 1918.
