The War Memorial at Bunyip was unveiled on Wednesday, February 9 1921 by Frank Groves, M.L.A. There are 36 names from the Great War on the Memorial. The memorial was designed and erected by A. & G. Henderson of Lygon Street, North Carlton. It would be interesting to know how the names were selected as the AIF Project website lists 69 people with a Bunyip address who enlisted and a further 16 with an Iona address, so there was no shortage of potential candidates who could have been honoured. However, all the men, except one, Joseph Fallon did not survive the War, which makes me wonder if I found the correct J. Fallon, see more below.
Here is a list of the 36 soldiers and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia website www.naa.gov.au You can also read about other men from Bunyip who are listed on the Bunyip Methodist Church Honour Roll
Beswick, Edwin Ezard (SN 6725) Edwin enlisted on September 16, 1916. He was 18 years old, was born in England and his next of kin was his father, John, of Garfield. He made a will on July 26, 1917 and left everything to his mother, Mary Elizabeth Beswick. Edwin died in France of wounds and gas poisoning on October 9, 1917.
Bradshaw, Stanley Guelph (SN 2280) Stanley was born in Launceston and was 31 when he enlisted on August 21, 1916. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Joseph Bradshaw of Bunyip, Stanley was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1916.
Carter, William (SN 2266) William was born in Kent, England. He enlisted on July 17, 1915 at the age of 28 and his next of kin was his father William Carter of Bunyip. William Died of Wounds, received whilst fighting in France, on August 6, 1916.
Clarkin, William (SN 1522). William was the fifth child of John and Elizabeth (nee Moore) Clarkin. They had eight children - John (1886), Mary (1887-1888), James (1889), Catherine (1891), William (1894), Margaret (1896), Mary (1899) and Ada (1902). John died in 1902, aged 55, leaving Mrs Clarkin with a young family to look after. William enlisted at Tynong on December 7, 1914 at the age of 21; his next of kin was his eldest brother, John Clarkin of Garfield. William fought at Gallipoli where he was shot in the chest and bayonetted in the leg. He recovered and was serving in France when he was officially reported as missing in August 1916 but had actually died of wounds as a Prisoner of War at Caudrey in Germany on August 26, 1916. William is also listed on the Iona Honour Board and on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, and I have more details about the family there.
Dawes, Gladstone (SN 4178) Gladstone enlisted on July 20 1915 aged 18. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs A. Dawes of Iona, and his father was listed as Alfred Dawes, Senior. Gladstone was Killed in Action in France on June 17, 1918. Gladstone had four brothers who also enlisted, and they are all listed on the Iona Honor Board, and I have more details about the family there.
Devine, Henry Clarence. (SN 7230) Henry was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on November 30, 1916. He was born in Numurkah, the son of John and Sarah Devine, who lived in Numurkah. Henry was reported as Missing in Action in Belgium in October 1917 and an Enquiry held in February 1918 determined that he was Killed in Action on October 4, 1917 at Passchendale. What was his connection to Bunyip? I presume he must have lived and worked in Bunyip at some time. As we can see from his death notice, below, his sister, Mrs V. Chapman, lived in Bunyip, so he may have lived with her for a while. His sister was Edith Mary Devine and she had married Victor Chapman in 1908. If the man on the Bunyip Memorial is not Henry, then I don't know who it is.
Doherty, Edward Francis (Frank) (SN 1218) Frank enlisted on March 9, 1915 at the age of 26. He was a farmer. Frank was Killed in Action on August 4, 1916. He was the son of John and Bridget (nee Smith). John Doherty was a Veterinary Surgeon and they lived on Nine Mile Road, Tynong. Frank and his brother Louis are both listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, and I have more details about the family there.
Donald, Henry Gordon (SN 6001a) Henry was a 21 year old farmer, born in Iona, when he enlisted on March 30, 1916. Henry was Killed in Action in Belgium, exact date unknown, but from June 7 to June 9, 1917. Henry's brother, Arnold (SN 6000a) enlisted the same day, at the age of 27. He was wounded in France and Returned to Australia on April 5, 1918. Arnold and Henry were the sons of Charles and Elizabeth (nee Nairn) Donald of Garfield. Henry and Arnold are both listed on the Iona Honor Board.
Fallon, Joseph (SN 3521) Joseph was born in Bunyip and enlisted on April 17, 1917. He was 21 years old and a butcher. His next of kin was his father, J. Fallon, of 585 King Street, West Melbourne, which was also Joseph's address. He Returned to Australia July 8, 1919. As I said at the start of this post, Joseph Fallon is the only man on this Memorial who survived, but of all the Fallons who sadly did not survive the War, I can't find any with an obvious Bunyip connection.
Fitton, James Herbert (SN 3979) James was born in England and was the brother of Wilfred Fitton, who is listed as living at Bunyip in the 1914 Electoral Rolls. James enlisted on July 28, 1915, he was 24 years old and a farm labourer. James was Killed in Action in Belgium on September 30, 1917. James' Roll of Honour Circular was completed by his brother, Robert, who wrote that James had seven more bothers who served in the Great War - six with the British Forces and another with the A.I.F. This was Wilfred (SN 3978) who was 23 when he enlisted on the same day as James. Wilfred Returned to Australia January 5, 1920.
Fitzgerald, D This could be Daniel Fitzgerald (SN 3312) from Iona, who enlisted on October 5, 1914. He Died of Wounds on October 6, 1917.Fitzgerald, David William (SN 37563) is the other possibility, also of Iona. David enlisted on February 27, 1917, he spent some time in a military hospital after the war and Returned to Australia on April 10, 1919.
Fitzgerald, John Lawrence (SN 2474) John, from Iona, enlisted on July 15, 1915. He was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. These boys are the sons of David and Margaret Fitzgerald of Iona. They and their brother, Maurice, are listed on the Iona Honor Board and I have more detail about the family there.
Gaghin, John (SN 2528) - John was a 24 year old farmer when he enlisted on June 16, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Michael Gaghin of Garfield. John was Killed in Action in France on April 11, 1917.
Green, Francis Regis (SN 6013) Francis enlisted on April 17, 1916 at the age of 20, his occupation was a farmer. Francis was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917. Francis' brother Thomas also enlisted. Thomas (SN 2421) was a 28 year old Commission Agent who enlisted on April 11, 1916. Thomas Returned to Australia May 6, 1919. Francis and Thomas listed their next of kin as their mother, Catherine Green, of Iona. Her address was later changed to Kirwan's Post Office, Garfield, this was later changed to Vervale (same place, different name). The boys are also listed on the Iona Honor Board.
Gunnelson, Percy Oskar (SN 893)Gunnelson, Ingebert Thomas (SN 3160)
McDonald, Allan Walter (SN 2474) Allan and his wife Jessie (nee Farr) lived at Garfield when he enlisted on March 3, 1916. He was 40 years old and a farmer. Allan Died of Wounds received in France on April 17, 1917. Allan was born in and grew up at Greta. The Wangaratta Chronicle published this lovely obituary of Allan on May 16, 1917. As you can see they had two children - Morrison (Thomas Morrison, born 1903) and Keith (Francis Keith, born 1906).
McIvor, John Edward (SN 26655) John enlisted on January 11, 1916. He was 23 years old and a labourer. His next of kin was his wife, Edith, of Amess Street, North Carlton. Edith moved to a number of addresses after John enlisted and one of her addresses was c/o Mrs Scealy of Bunyip; this was Margaret Ellen Scealy, Edith's sister. There may have been another Bunyip connection, but I haven't established it yet, as John was born in Footscray and enlisted from North Carlton. John was Killed in Action on July 25, 1918.
Milligan, Joseph Lewellen (SN 5376) Joseph was born in 1897 in Bunyip South (now called Iona) to James and Catherine (nee Hopkins) Milligan. He was the last of their ten children and the only one born locally - the others were - James (1875), Charles (1877), William (1880), Francis (1881), John (1883), Frederick (1885), Susan (1887), Catherine (1888), Thomas (1891) and then Joseph. He enlisted at the age of 21 on March 8, 1916, his occupation was a farm hand, and his address was Cora Lynn. Joseph was Killed in Action on February 23, 1917. Joseph is also on the Iona Honour Board and the Cora Lynn War Memorial and I have more details about the family there.
Moore, Henry Edwin Walter (SN 3428) Henry enlisted at the age of 24 on July 12, 1915 and his occupation was a 'general and shoeing Blacksmith.' His next of kin was his mother, Mrs E. Moore of Chatsworth Road, East Prahran. This was later changed to his wife, Alice Moore of Kia Ora, Bunyip. They married on September 27, 1915 just before he embarked. Walter died of disease on February 6, 1919 and is buried in England.
Mynard Charles (SN 459) Charles enlisted on August 17, 1914 at the age of 21. He was a porter. Charles was born in England, the son of Thomas Christopher and Elizabeth Ann Mynard. The family lived at Garfield. Charles was reported missing and at an Enquiry held in April 1916 it was determined that he had been Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. As you can see from the death notice below, Charles' father Thomas also served. Thomas (SN 17653) enlisted on July 7, 1915 at the age of 42, and he Returned to Australia March 14, 1919.
Pearson, Frederick Francis (SN 869) Frederick enlisted on September 4, 1914 at the age of 25. He was a Clerk. His next of kin was his father, Charles Pearson of Bunyip. Like Charles Mynard, above, Frederick was also reported missing and it was at an Enquiry held in June 1916 that it was determined that he also had been Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. Frederick is also listed on the Tonimbuk Honor Board.
Plant, Lawrence (SN 1804) John was a 19 year old labourer when he enlisted on December 30, 1914. He had been born in Garfield and enlisted at Tynong. He was the son of John and Mary Plant of Garfield. Lawrence was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917.
Sleigh, Stephen (SN 3244) Stephen enlisted at the age of 28 on July 16, 1915. He was a Shunter. He was the son of Charles and Mary Jane Sleigh of Bunyip North. Stephen was Killed in Action in France, on July 19, 1916. Stephen and his brother, John, are both listed on the Tonimbuk Honor Board.
Spence, Malcolm (SN 4614) When Malcolm enlisted on August 31, 1915 his next of kin was listed as his sister, Harriet Walker of Bunyip. He was 22 years old and a Postal Employee. Malcolm was Killed in Action in France on July 20, 1916. Malcolm, and his two brothers, James and Russell, are also listed on the Bunyip Methodist Church Honour Roll, where there is more information about the family.
Stacey, Ernest William (SN 4298) Ernest enlisted on July 7, 1915. He was 27 years old and a butcher. He was the son of Thomas Stacey who owned the Railway Hotel in Bunyip. Ernest was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 5, 1917.
Streeter, Henry (SN 2402) Henry was from Bunyip and enlisted on October 17, 1916 in the Australian Flying Corps. He was a Lieutenant and was Killed in Action in France on February 17, 1918. For some reason his file at the National Archives is not digitised, so I don't have much information about him but he was listed in the 1919 Electoral Rolls as being a farmer of Bunyip.
Toner, Francis John (SN 5092) Francis enlisted on March 3, 1916. He was 33 years old and a farmer and his next of kin was his widowed mother, Catherine Toner of Garfield. Francis was Killed in Action in France, March 20, 1917.
Williams, Percy Francis (SN 7099) Percy enlisted on April 28, 1916. He was a 32 year old photographer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Williams of Main Street, Bunyip. Percy died of pneumonia in a Military Hospital in England on March 14, 1917.
Watson, Albert (SN 3664) Albert was a 'Manager, General Store' when he enlisted at the age of 22 on August 25, 1915. He Died of Wounds March 9, 1918. Albert was the son of Jessie Adamson of Garfield. His Will stated that he would leave his estate to his mother or is she predeceased him, his sister Mrs F. Gross of Garfield. He also left 50 pounds to his niece, Agnes Ritchie. Mrs F. Gross was Elsie May Watson who married Gottfried Gross in 1905. Albert's mother Jessie was born Jessie Ritchie. Albert is also listed on the Iona Honor Board.
Whiston, Julian Thomas (SN 3526) Julian was 18 when he enlisted on August 7, 1915. He Died of Wounds on March 21, 1918.
Whiston, Frederick (SN 3524) Fred enlisted on August 2, 1915 aged 23. Fred Died of Wounds on July 21, 1916.
They also had another brother who enlisted, John Ernest (SN 3252), who enlisted the same day as Julian when he was 26. John Returned to Australia on May 21, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds in the August suffering from 'Otitis Media mild' or deafness.
John, Fred and Julian are the sons of Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Oxenham) whose address was listed as both Garfield and Cora Lynn. John was born in Port Adelaide, Fred in Garfield and Julian was listed as being born at ‘Bunyip Swamp’ on his enlistment paper but he was actually born at Bunyip South or Iona.
There is a J. Whiston listed on the Iona Honor Board, this is either Julian or John. There is also a T. Whiston listed in a newspaper article about a Memorial Grove being planted at Tynong, see here. I can only assume that Julian may have been know by his middle name, Thomas, and the entry refers to him.
