The Catani World War Two Honour Board was unveiled on July 13, 1947 (read about this here.) The Honour Board is housed in the Soldiers' Memorial Hall (read about this here.)
This is a list of all the men and women who are honoured on this Board. Some of the identifications are a guess, based on a local place of birth or a connection to a local town such as Longwarry, Modella, Bunyip, Garfield, Bayles, Cora Lynn, Vervale, Iona, Heath Hill, Yannathan, Yallock, Caldermeade, Monomeith, Koo Wee Rup and, of course, Catani. There are seven women on the Honour board and they are listed under their maiden name, but their file at the National Archives of Australia is sometimes under their married name, so they are a bit trickier to find. Two men made the supreme sacrifice and did not return - Norman Neil McDonald and Stanley Stratton. I have included a photograph if they have one at the National Archives of Australia.
Alchin, Jean Mary (Meaker). VF397022. Jean was born in Sydney on October 21, 1920; her next of kin and guardian was Mrs Gardiner of Ferndale, Catani. Jean enlisted on November 25, 1942 and was discharged on May 30, 1945 at her own request on compassionate grounds. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Anderson, Athol David. V42467. David said he was born on September 1, 1900 in Tasmania, however when he enlisted in February 1916 in the First AIF, his stated age was 24 years old, thus born in 1892. It appears he took 8 years off his age to enlist the second time. What was his local connection? His address was the Heath Hill Post Office. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Bailey, Francis Allan. V64177. Francis was born November 14, 1913; he was a farmer and his address was Yannathan. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Francis does not have a photograph in his service file.
Bonnett, Joseph William. VX50670. Joseph was born September 9, 1916 and he was a farm hand and his address was Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
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Corbin, Florence May. VF387856. Florence, the elder sister of Clarence and Leslie, was born in Bunyip, on November 12, 1922. Her next of kin was her mother, Nabetha Ellen Corbin, of Catani. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Florence does not have a photograph in her service file.
Corbin, Leslie Raymond. RAAF 126139. Leslie was born on December 14, 1924 in Koo Wee Rup and his next of kin was his father, William Osment Corbin, of Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
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Exell, L. An uncommon surname, and there are eight L. Exells in the WW2 Nominal rolls, but I cannot find one with a local connection. William Barclay Excell and his wife Eva are listed in the Electoral Roll in 1936; he is the bank manager at the Commercial Bank in Bunyip, so possibly is connected to them.
Fechner, B. RAAF A31565. I believe this is Charles Bennett Fechner, born on April 16, 1916, the son Johann Gotthilf and Elizabeth Fechner and the brother of Percy Fechner, of Koo Wee Rup North, who was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor and William Fechner, of Bayles, and seven other siblings.(1) He enlisted in the RAAF in October 1940. I cannot find a record for him at the National Archives of Australia, but see his nominal roll entry here.
Fisher, Edward Bert. V506404. Edward was born in Bunyip on September 2, 1924. His next of kin was his father, William Fisher, of Modella. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Fisher, Ronald Ephraim. RAAF 42380. Ronald is the older brother of Edward and he was born October 17, 1922. His father, William, of Modella, was also his next of kin. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
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Goddard, Bruce. VX140059. Bruce was born on October 15, 1917 in Maffra. His next of kin was his father, James Henry Goddard, of Cora Lynn. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Bruce does not have a photograph in his service file.
Goddard, James Thomson. VX26064. James is the older brother of Bruce and he was born on July 30, 1916. His father, James, of Cora Lynn, was also his next of kin. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Goddard, Annie Urquhart, listed as Nancy on the Honour Board. VF346971. Nancy was born on July 30, 1916, which makes her the twin of James. Her next of kin was also her father, James, of Cora Lynn. Corporal Nancy Toby (nee Goddard) was welcomed home, with other locals in October 1945 (see below). Her married name was actually Tober. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Harker, Mavis (Schreiber). VFX66210. Mavis was born December 12, 1920 in Yannathan. Her next of kin was her father, George Ernest Harker of Yannathan. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Hunnam, Frederick. VX35349. Frederick was born June 12, 1911, he was a farmer and he lived at Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Kitson, Brian Claude. VX123641 and V190045 Brian was born on December 13, 1921. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Claude James Kitson, of Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Kitson, Harold Strachan. VX23324. Harold was born on August 24, 1916. His mother, Margaret Kitson, was his next of kin and her address was c/o Bayles Post Office; he was also a farmer. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Kitson, Lionel James. V37714. Lionel was born October 7, 1917 and his father, Claude, was his next of kin; Claude's address was also the Bayles Post Office. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Lionel does not have a photograph in his service file.
Kitson, Mavis Eliza (Patullo) RAAF 95499. Mavis, the sister of the three men, above, was born on April 11, 1919 and her next of kin was her father Claude of Catani. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Mavis was married to John Leigh Patullo, see below.
The Kitsons - Harold, Lionel, Mavis and Brian are the children of Claude and Margaret Kitson, of Catani.
McDonald, Norman Neil. RAAF 409729. Neil was born on December 17, 1916. Norman went missing in air operations over Germany and was presumed dead on May 22, 1944. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Matthews, Cyril James. VX116815. Cyril was born on May 21, 1919; his next of kin was his father, William Matthews, of Cora Lynn. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Cyril does not have a photograph in his service file.
Matthews, Lawrie William. VX140045. Lawrie was born on March 13, 1921; he is the younger brother of Cyril. His next of kin was also his father, William, of Cora Lynn. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Murnane, William Patrick. VX26110. William was born on September 26, 1910. His mother, Mary Anne Murnane, of Catani was listed as his next of kin. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Myers, Raymond Douglas. VX87098. Raymond has two birth dates listed in his file - June 22, 1921 and December 8, 1920 and he also has two places of birth listed - Bunyip and Garfield. His birth places are the closest connection to Catani, which I could find. His next of kin was his father, David, of Noble Park. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Raymond does not have a photograph in his service file.
Mynard, Herbert William. RAN W/2179. Herbert was born in Garfield on January 6, 1917. His next of kin was his father, Christopher Henry Mynard, of Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Herbert does not have a photograph in his service file.
Norton, Edward John. VX132243. Edward was born in Catani on January 21, 1922. He was a truck driver and enlisted at Longwarry, where he lived, and his next of kin was father, Edward William Norton, of Canterbury Road in Middle Park. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Edward does not have a photograph in his service file.
Norton, Hazel Agnes. RAAF 174212. Hazel was born in Longwarry, on November 26, 1925. Her next of kin was Charles Norton of Catani. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Patullo, John Leigh. VX108565. John was born in Catani on February 24, 1921. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Abraham Alfred Patullo, of Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. John was married to Mavis Kitson, see above. John does not have a photograph in his service file.
Peck, Raymond Wallace. VX108571. Raymond was born in Koo Wee Rup on March 7, 1921. His next of kin was Frederick Ernest Peck of North Road, Yannathan. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Raymond does not have a photograph in his service file.
Pettit, Alfred Alexander. VX59101. Alfred was born in England on November 3, 1904. He was a farm labourer and his address on enlistment was Catani. Alfred was a widower and had one son, Alfred Willian Pettit, born in 1936, who was at the Salvation Army Creche in Canning Street, North Carlton and whose guardian was the Superintendent of St James' Mission, La Trobe Street, Melbourne. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Porter, G. Kenneth, see below, had a younger brother Gordon, and I believe he is the man on the Honour Board, but I cannot identify a service record for him. They were the sons of Donald Alexander Porter and Evelyeen Myrtle 'Ivy' Porter of Iona.
Porter, Kenneth Tasman. VX126552. Kenneth, a farm labourer, was born on May 28, 1924. His next of kin was his father, Donald Alexander Porter, of Iona. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Kenneth does not have a photograph in his service file.
Pumphrey, Andrew Baird. VX69284. Andrew was born on March 8, 1919; his next of kin was his father, Joseph Pumphrey, of Cora Lynn. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Pumphrey, Ivan Robert. VX41899. Ivan was born August 7, 1916 in Longwarry South. He was a farmer and is the older brother of Andrew. His next of kin was also his father, Joseph, of Cora Lynn. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Scanlan, Joseph Bernard. VX41879. Joseph was born on July 25, 1900 and his next of kin was his mother, Ellen Mary Scanlan, of Catani. However, Joseph also served in World War One, enlisting in May 1916, and at the time he said he was 21, which means he was born in 1895, so it appears he took five years off his age, when he joined up the second time. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Joseph is on the Cora Lynn First World War Memorial, read about this here.
Shreeve, Elsie Blanche (Griffin). VF346647. Elsie was born on April 30, 1921 in Garfield. Her next of kin was her father, William Herbert Shreeve, of Eleven-Mile Road, Garfield. See her Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Stratton, Stanley. VX48178. Stanley was born on June 21, 1915. His next of kin was his wife, Esme Gladys Stratton, of Catani. Stanley was Killed in Action on October 24, 1942 and is buried at the El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
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Walsh, Michael Aubrey. VX142342. Michael was born on November 17, 1913. His next of kin was his father, Thomas Walsh, of Catani. I presume the family is the source of the name Walsh's Road in Catani. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Michael does not have a photograph in his service file.
Weaven, William George (listed as Weaver on Honour Board). RAAF 147581. William was born on September 30, 1925. His address was Caldermeade and he was employed as a carrot weeder by Mr W. Lineham of Yannathan. His next of kin was his father, Hector George Weaven, whose address is listed variously as Tanjil South and Cora Lynn and Caldermeade. See his Service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
World War Two Nominal roll https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2
Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
