Sunday, September 5, 2021

Bill Parish's History of Garfield 1941 - 1950

The Souvenir booklet for the Back to Garfield celebrations held in June 1962 included a history of Garfield for each decade, written by Bill Parish (1915-1994). This is the chapter from 1941 - 1950.
I have added the notes about Garfield’s World War Two service people.  Heather Arnold.

Garfield 1941-1950 by Bill Parish

The World War took many young men from the district in this period, and rationing was introduced for most commodities. The fruit industry was controlled by a Board, which gave growers approximately double the pre-war price.   

The Red Cross and Comforts Fund did much valuable work under the presidency of Mr. J Kierce.  


Some Garfield Red Cross Members, 1945
Weekly Times August 22, 1945 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page24110267

After the War, business began to improve, and by the end of the decade, prosperity had put all people firmly on their feet. Many new residents and businessmen came to the district, and the old properties, selected 70 years previously, were developed further. In fact, so much land was cleared that it affected the physical geography of the locality to such a degree that many streams became non-perennial and water catchment and conservation was affected.


Garfield Country Women's Association, 1945  -  Miss A. Doherty, Mesdames L. Chappell,
 F. Rigg, L. Haigh, N. Sturzaker,  C. Simcocks.
Weekly Times August 22, 1945 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page24110267


Townspeople at this stage: A. Mauger, B. Robert, J. Scott, and Cation and Warren (storekeepers); V. Maud (baker); R. Petty, W. Walker, G. Minton, C. Breman, J. Jessop and J. Fawkner (butchers); K. Sarah (chemist); N. O’Halloran and C. Pringle (police); C. Jackson, G. Hosking, W. Johnson and C. Webber (bank managers); C. Chapple and G. Fischer (school teachers); N. Graham (Station master); Doctor Martin; G. Hamm, F. Dean and J. Brenchley (garage proprietors).

The Boy Scout Troop was reformed under the leadership of C. W. Parish, F. C. Cox and F. R. Rigg.


Garfield Progress Association, 1945 - Messrs C.A. Chappell, F.A. Rigg, First Constable N.A. O'Halloran, Messrs H.A. Hourigan, D. Simcocks, C.G. Simcocks, T.K. Sarah.
Weekly Times August 22, 1945 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page24110267


Garfield’s World War Two Service people
The World War Two Nominal Rolls https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ are divided into three lists - people who were born in a locality; people who lived in a locality at the time of their enlistment and people who enlisted in a locality. The figures for Garfield are - 86 people who were born in Garfield enlisted; 86 people lived in Garfield at the time of their enlistment and 77 people enlisted in Garfield. Of course, some people are in more than one of these categories, but overall, 205 different people who enlisted had a connection to Garfield. 

We won’t look at all these people, but we will look at the nine women who served who had a connection to Garfield. The National Archives of Australia are in the process of digitising all WW2 Service Records. Of the women listed here, only the records of Florence and Bertha Green are digitised and they are both only two pages, so I have limited information about everyone’s service.

Crouch, Doreen Mina (SN 96389). Doreen was born in Garfield on June 6, 1924. She was living in Glenhuntly when she enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in August 1942 and was discharged in April 1946. Doreen is the daughter of William and Marjory Crouch, they are listed in the Electoral Rolls of 1925 through to 1936 at Garfield, and his occupation was a storekeeper. Doreen married William Henry Walker in 1947. He was a teacher and they lived in the Geelong area. 

Dawes, Dulcie May (SN 174202). Dulcie was born in Garfield on April 11, 1926, the daughter of Alfred and Gertrude (nee North) Dawes. She was living in Springvale when she enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1944 and was discharged in February 1946. Dulcie married Ernest James McNab in 1946, and sadly was only 47 when she died in 1973. 

Dore, Eileen Greta (SN VF396618). Eileen was born in Garfield on January 6, 1924. She was also living in Garfield when she enlisted in the Army in December 1942 and she was discharged in April 1944. Eileen was the daughter of Patrick and Greta (nee Monaghan) Fawkner; he was the butcher in Garfield. Eileen married Robert James Dore in 1944. I presume she left the Army to get married, so I was surprised that her records are under her married name, not Fawkner, which would have been her name on enlistment.
 
Green, Bertha Alice Amy (SN WR3051) Bertha, born on August 15,1925, enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service in June 1945, and served until July 1946.
Green, Florence May (SN WR/1995) Florence was born on May 6,1920 and enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service in March 1944. She was discharged in June 1946.
Florence and Bertha were both born in Garfield to Daniel and Eliza (nee James) Green. They are listed in the Electoral Rolls of 1912 through to 1931 at Garfield. Daniel’s occupation was a farmer. I have no other information about the two sisters.

Griffin, Elsie Blanche (SN VF346647) Elsie was born in Garfield on April 30, 1921. She enlisted in the Army in February 1942 and was discharged in October 1943. Elsie married Maxwell Henry Griffin in 1943. Elsie is the daughter of William Herbert and Blanche Harriet (nee Moore) Shreeve. They lived on the Eleven Mile Road, at Tynong. As with Eileen Dore, Elsie’s official records are listed under her married name, not Shreeve, the name she would have enlisted under.

Jack, Elizabeth (SN 90028) Born in Garfield on October 28, 1921, Elizabeth enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in April 1941 and was discharged only a month later in the May. Perhaps she was medically unfit. Her parents, Richard and Ruby Jack are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Garfield from 1921 to 1926; he was a Baker.

Jolley, Ida Lillian (SN VF516239) Ida was born in Garfield on December 5,1924 and she was living in Garfield when she enlisted in the Army in August 1944.  Ruby was discharged in May 1946 and married Geoffrey Charles Gribble in 1948. Ida is the daughter of Alexander and Ruby (nee Johnson) Jolley. 

Lewis, Muriel Anna (SN VFX114955 / V145392) Muriel was born in Korumburra on February 24,1919 to James and Elsie May (nee Cox) Attrill. She was living at Garfield when she enlisted in the Army in November 1942 at Bonegilla. Muriel was discharged in December 1943, and she married Stephen Leslie Lewis the same year. Stephen was also in the Army; he was from New South Wales and they lived there after the War. Muriel is another woman who enlisted under her maiden name, but all her records are in her married name. James and Elsie Atrill had moved to Garfield from Korumburra sometime after 1924. Sadly, their fifth child died at Bunyip in 1929 at only one day old, and then on April 18,1930 James also died. He was 35 years old. Elsie remarried in 1935 to Ernest John Watts and continued to live in Garfield.


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