The Cora Lynn War Memorial was unveiled on Wednesday, February 22 1922. It was reported on in the Pakenham Gazette of March 10, 1922 and the report is transcribed, below.
The Pakenham Gazette report of the unveiling of the Memorial at Cora Lynn.
Pakenham Gazette, March 10, 1922, p. 3
The President of the Memorial Committee (Mr Anderson) briefly outlined the cost of the stone etc., to which he said the people of Cora Lynn donated most generously. He then called on Cr Groves, M.L.A., to perform the unveiling ceremony, after which all present adjourned to the Hall.
Cr Groves congratulated Lieut. Ray Jeffers on gaining such distinction during war service. He also extended his sympathy to the parents of those soldiers who fell in the war.
Lieut. R. Jeffers spoke on behalf of the returned soldiers and thanked the people of Cora Lynn for the very fine stone they had erected. He said it would be a lasting momento, not so much for the returned soldiers but in honour of the boys who had not returned.
Cr Walsh, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Groves, said it gave them great pleasure to have Mr Groves with them that day. Anytime the people of Cora Lynn asked Mr Groves to come along he always came most willingly. Mr Groves is a most energetic member and no doubt he attends to the interest of the farmer with the greatest assiduity.
I do not know what happened to the machine gun, but the War Memorial is still there. It was originally next to the Cora Lynn Hall, but was relocated onto the drain bank between the 1934 and 1937 floods.
Cora Lynn Hall and War Memorial, December 1934.
Photographer: E. Boord.
Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/768357
The Cora Lynn War Memorial can be seen in this photo on the drain bank, taken in the October 1937 flood. The Hall is the building on the top left; on the other side of the Nine Mile Road is the old E.S. & A Bank, then Dillion's store, then a house.
The Cheese Factory, is over the drain, on the right of the photo.
The Australasian October 23, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141810942
There are nineteen names on the memorial for soldiers from the First World War. If you are interested in finding out more about their military service, you can look up their full service record at the National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/. At the bottom of this post are three men with a Cora Lynn connection, but who are not honoured on the War Memorial. SN = Service Number.
Cora Lynn War Memorial.
Image: Heather Arnold taken January 2014.
Cora Lynn War Memorial.
Image: Heather Arnold taken January 2014.
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 and in June 1903 a concert and ball was held at the Iona Hall and £6 was raised for her. (1) 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 Bunyip War Memorial and on the Iona Honour Board.
William Clarkin, reported missing
Dandenong Advertiser, September 28, 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88660906
Doherty, Edward Francis (SN 1218) Listed as F. Doherty on the memorial and known as Frank. Frank enlisted on March 9, 1915 at the age of 26. Frank was Killed in Action on August 4, 1916. Edward is also listed on the Bunyip War Memorial.
Doherty, Louis Michael (SN 12392). Louis enlisted at the age of 21 on July 17, 1915. Louis returned to Australia in May 30, 1919.
Doherty, Louis Michael (SN 12392). Louis enlisted at the age of 21 on July 17, 1915. Louis returned to Australia in May 30, 1919.
Frank, born at Miner's Rest, and Louis, born at Bungaree, were the sons of John and Bridget (nee Smith). John Doherty was a Veterinary Surgeon and they lived on Nine Mile Road, Tynong. Both of the men also had their occupation listed as farmers. Louis married Bessie Gertrude Wood in 1933 and in the 1930s and 1940s they were living in Cargelligo and then Yendon in New South Wales. Frank and Louis are also listed on the Bungaree Shire Honour Board, unveiled at the Shire Hall in April 1918 (2).
Report of the deaths of Frank Doherty and Jack Fitzgerald - Jack is on the Bunyip War Memorial.
Dandenong Advertiser, September 14, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88664360
Another report of Frank Doherty's death
Gordon, Egerton and Ballan Advertiser, September 15, 1916
Evans, Harry (SN 5589). Harry enlisted at Warragul in March 1916 at the age of 37. Harry was from Cora Lynn and his wife, Edith Minnie (nee Sunderland), was listed as his next of kin. He embarked from Melbourne on September 25, 1916 on the HMAT Shropshire A9 and returned to Australia on December 31, 1916 having suffered continually from measles and pneumonia. He was discharged from the Army on February 12, 1917. After his return, Harry farmed on Minihan's Road in Cranbourne and then later at Bunyip. Harry died on June 19, 1949, predeceasing Edith and their son Theo. (3)
Leslie Fritsch
Photographer Darge Photographic Co. Australian War Memorial Image DASEY1179
Fritz, L –This is Leslie James Fritsch (4) (SN 2661).
Leslie James Fritsch was born on June 25, 1896 at 31 Pridham Street, Prahran. He was the second child of Albert William Fritsch and Fannie Elizabeth Unwin who had married in October 1894, when he was 21 and she was 19. Their first son, Henry (Harry) Anton Fritsch was born in April 1895. It wasn’t a happy marriage and in 1899 Fannie applied for a divorce on the grounds of his infidelity and violence towards her.
By 1911, Albert was living in New Zealand, where he died at the age of 79 in 1953. Fannie, who was born in Warrnambool, moved back to her home town, married Joseph McKane and had another son, Allan Joseph McKane who was born in 1913.
Harry and Leslie both served in World War One. Harry enlisted in August 1915 in C Company, 31st Infantry Battalion, he safely returned home and was discharged in July 1919. He had a long life and died in 1990, aged 95 in Queensland.
Leslie (SN 2661) enlisted on July 19, 1915 in the 6th Reinforcements, 21st Battalion. He claimed he was 21 years old, he was actually only 19. Leslie embarked in October 1915, was admitted to Hospital in Egypt suffering from Diabetes in March 1916. He was invalided back to Australia in April and died at the Caulfield Military Hospital on July 16, 1916 from Diabetes. He was buried the next day at Brighton Cemetery.
Leslie was living and working as a farm labourer at Cora Lynn at the time of his enlistment. He was farewelled at a function at the local hall in September 1915 - A most successful social and dance was held in Keast Hall on Monday evening last in honor of Mr. Fritsch, a young man who has enlisted for active service. Mr. Alf. Jeffers presided, and during the evening presented the young soldier with a gold medal. Mr. Fritsch responded with a splendid speech. (Bunyip Free Press September 30, 1915, see here)
Leslie clearly made an impact in the small community because he is listed on the War Memorial even though unfortunately his name is spelt incorrectly. Joseph McKane, Leslie’s step-father was buried with Leslie when he died in 1949; Fannie McKane died at the age of 82 in 1957 in Sydney, where she had been living with her son Allan.
The farewell to Leslie Fritsch.
Bunyip Free Press September 30, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129630905
Holian, John Mildred (SN 16160) John, a farmer from Cora Lynn, enlisted at the age of 22 on December 13, 1915. He had been born in St James, the son of Patrick and Margaret (nee Gannon) Holian; they had five children - Katie (1889), Patrick (1891), John (1893), Leo (1897) and Vera (1900) Patrick, Margaret and their family moved from St James to their farm at Cora Lynn in 1909. (5). John Returned to Australia February 7, 1919 and in 1922 he married Agnes Mary O'Neill, I believe he joined the Police Force after his war service. He died in 1980, aged 86.
Huey, John Robert (SN 3168). John was born at Castlemaine and enlisted at Warragul at the age of 30 on November 24, 1916. His occupation was listed as a labourer and he lived at Cora Lynn at the time of enlistment. His next of kin was his friend, Mrs Mary Ann Jones of Carlton. John Returned to Australia on June 30, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds in the October due to Debility, Bronchial catarrh and he had also suffered from paratyphoid and enteric fever. John died in Romsey on October 10, 1921, aged only 34.
John Huey's death notice
The Argus, October 11, 1921 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4639293/415706
Jeffers, Raymond Alva (SN 6290). Ray was born at Strathbogie and enlisted at the age of 23 on May 25, 1916. He was a Cora Lynn farmer and the son of Alexander Jeffers, also a Cora Lynn farmer. Lieutenant Jeffers was awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal and the Military medal. He was in France until at least May 1919 and arrived home in Australia later that year. He married Gladys Lillian Gardiner in 1926; their son Gordon Jeffers farmed at Cora Lynn and their daughter, Wilma (Mrs Coleman) at Yannathan. After the War he moved to Dandenong and spent seventeen years (1946 - 1963) as a Councillor with the Dandenong Shire and City of Dandenong and was Shire President and Mayor. (6) He died in 1963, aged 70. You can read an interview from 2015 in the Dandenong Journal with his his daughter, Mrs Wilma Coleman, here.
Farewell to Ray Jeffers and William Rigby
Dandenong Advertiser September 14, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88664360
Johnson, Charles Tudor (SN 588). Tudor, as he was known, was 19 when he enlisted on November 7, 1914. He was a farmer who lived at Cora Lynn and his next of kin was his mother, Fanny (nee Bickford) Johnson, also of Cora Lynn. Tudor had already attended Dookie Agricultural College when he enlisted, which he did at Enoggera in Brisbane. His father was Henry George Johnson who for some reason was not listed as the next of kin, as generally fathers are more likely to be the official next of kin than mothers. Tudor Returned to Australia on December 23, 1918 and married Emma Backhouse in 1923. In the 1930s and 1940s they lived in Barooga in New South Wales. Tudor rejoined the Army in World War Two and served from August 1940 until November 1942. He died in 1963, aged 69.
Kinsella, Bertram Michael (SN 3056) Bertram was a 29 year old farmer from Cora Lynn, when he enlisted on July 12, 1915. He was Killed in Action September 25, 1917.
Kinsella, Norman Francis (SN 920). Norman, who was also a Cora Lynn farmer, enlisted at the age of 19 on May 26, 1915. Norman returned to Australia after his overseas service on May 3, 1919. Bertram and Norman were half brothers, the sons of Michael Kinsella - Bertram from his first wife, Eliza Findlay (died 1890); and Norman by his second wife Susan Lockens. Norman married Lorna Grant in 1932 and they had two sons, Michael and Terrence. Norman died in 1959, aged 63. Bertram and Norman's sisters, Nancie and Kathleen both served as Nurses in World War Two, you can read about their extraordinary careers, here.
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 listed on the Bunyip War Memorial and the Iona Honour Board. The Milligan family also lost two other sons in the war - William (SN 4547) Killed in Action July 19, 1916 and Francis (SN 1736) enlisted in Cootamundra, NSW and was Killed in Action on September 26, 1917.
Kinsella, Bertram Michael (SN 3056) Bertram was a 29 year old farmer from Cora Lynn, when he enlisted on July 12, 1915. He was Killed in Action September 25, 1917.
Kinsella, Norman Francis (SN 920). Norman, who was also a Cora Lynn farmer, enlisted at the age of 19 on May 26, 1915. Norman returned to Australia after his overseas service on May 3, 1919. Bertram and Norman were half brothers, the sons of Michael Kinsella - Bertram from his first wife, Eliza Findlay (died 1890); and Norman by his second wife Susan Lockens. Norman married Lorna Grant in 1932 and they had two sons, Michael and Terrence. Norman died in 1959, aged 63. Bertram and Norman's sisters, Nancie and Kathleen both served as Nurses in World War Two, you can read about their extraordinary careers, here.
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 listed on the Bunyip War Memorial and the Iona Honour Board. The Milligan family also lost two other sons in the war - William (SN 4547) Killed in Action July 19, 1916 and Francis (SN 1736) enlisted in Cootamundra, NSW and was Killed in Action on September 26, 1917.
Murdoch, Arthur Charles (SN 2634). Arthur was born at Iona but was living in Brighton at the time of his enlistment on October 29, 1917. He was 19 years old and a motor driver. Arthur Returned to Australia August 22, 1919. Arthur was the oldest of the nine children of George Petrie Murdoch and his wife Emma Parker and he died in 1984, aged 85. His father, George, established the Cora Lynn store in 1907 and owned it until 1922, you can read about this and the Murdoch family here. George also established the Bayles General Store in 1921 (see here). Arthur is also listed on the Iona Honour Board.
Pederson, Nils (SN 1249). Nils was born in Norway and was working as a farm labourer at Cora Lynn at the time of his enlistment on February 24, 1915. He was 21 years old and his next of kin was his father who lived in Norway. He was Killed in Action in France on September 1, 1918. In his will, dated July 13, 1917, he left everything to Miss Nellie Jeffers of Cora Lynn. Nellie was the sister of Ray Jeffers, above, so I wondered if he was working for the Jeffers. However, also in his file was a letter from Miss Corrie Anderson asking about her friend, Nils, so maybe he was working for the Andersons. Corrie later married Dan Kinsella, a brother of Bertram and Michael, above.
Corrie Anderson's letter about Nils Pedersen
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920
Rigby, William Alexander (SN 2350). William was born in Georgetown in Tasmania in 1895 to Isaac William Rigby and his wife Mary Birch; he had three siblings Walter, Henry and May (7) In 1912, the Electoral rolls show the family were living in Gardenvale, Victoria and Isaac was listed as a carpenter; the next near they had moved to Mayfield, Murray Road, Cora Lynn. William, a farmer, enlisted on August 16, 1916 at the age of 21 and Returned to Australia on May 12, 1919. He married Mary Black in 1939 and died in 1942, aged 47.
William Rigby's death notice
The Age April 17, 1942 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205282400/19384749
Roper, Thornton Graham (SN 61922). Thornton was born in 1898 to James Alexander Roper and his wife Ellen Graham; his sister Eleanor was born in 1899 and his brother Eric in 1903 - they were all born in Walhalla. The family moved to Cora Lynn around 1910. Thornton enlisted on June 24, 1918, he was 20 years old and a motor mechanic. Thornton did get sent overseas and Returned to Australia January 4, 1919. He married Anastasia Quirk in 1926 and they lived in Oakleigh, then Caulfield South. Thornton died in 1966, aged 68. The family is presumably the source of the name Ropers Lane, between Cora Lynn and Bayles; Ropers Lane was also part of the boundary between the Shire of Berwick and Shire of Cranbourne.
Scanlon, Joseph Bernard (SN 3452) Joseph enlisted on May 9, 1916. He was 21 years old and a labourer. He Returned to Australia on July 5, 1919. Joseph also served in the Second World War from June 1940 to May 1944. The World War Two Nominal roll states that he was born July 2, 1900, which only makes him 16 when he enlisted in the Great War, however the Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages have him listed as being born 1895, so it seems he knocked 5 years off his age in 1940!
Scanlon, Thomas (SN 505) Thomas was 21 when he enlisted on January 12, 1915. He was a farmer. Thomas was awarded the Military Medal. He Returned to Australia on April 5, 1919. They are also listed in some official records with the surname Scanlan. They were the sons of William and Ellen Scanlon of Cora Lynn, one newspaper report in a local paper says they were from Scanlon's Drain, Cora Lynn.
Smith, Berth (SN 1436) His first name was also listed as Bert, Bertie and Beith in some documents. He was Killed in Action May 9 or May 10 in 1915 at Gallipoli. I had a hard time finding who B. Smith actually was until I found out that Berth enlisted at Tynong on September 21, 1914, aged 19, his next of kin was his father, William Smith of Rochford. His occupation was listed as a labourer. Berth was born at Rochford, near Kyneton, and between 1907 and 1909 attended Cora Lynn State School, having previously been at Inverleigh State School, so it appears the family moved around a bit.
By 1914 William was, as we know, back in Rochford, but he later moved to 16 Orr Street, Carlton. In June 1920, Berth's aunt Sarah McDougall, also of 16 Orr Street, wrote a letter to the Army Base Records Office stating that both his parents were deceased and he had no surviving siblings and that she was his mother's oldest sister. Mrs McDougall (nee Adcock) had requested his war medals, but in the end they were given to his uncle, William Adcock of Cora Lynn. It is possible that Berth was working with his uncle and that is why he was in Cora Lynn. The Electoral rolls have a William and Margaret Adcock at Koo Wee Rup, and that must be them. Mrs McDougall's letter also notes that his half-brother, William Angus (SN 2101) was also Killed in Action, in 1916. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Angus (nee Adcock), born 1889 in Lancefield, but his next of kin was his aunt, Mrs Yeaman (nee Adcock) of Wonthaggi, and her address was later C/O David Cole, Cora Lynn and later still Bayles, via Koo Wee Rup. With all this information, I finally found Berth's birth record - he was born on December 19, 1895 at Rochford to Elizabeth Adcock, father unknown, but with the surname of Angus. Elizabeth married William Smith in 1898 and she died in 1912 aged 47. There was much sadness in the family with the death of Berth and William's parents, but it seems that both the lads were well loved by their extended family.
Berth's death notice. The date of death differs from that in his service record.
The Age July 3, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154995661/18592496
Death notice of Berth's half brother
The Age September 27, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155160653
The names on the Cora Lynn War Memorial.
Image: Heather Arnold, taken January 2014.
There are other soldiers I have found with a Cora Lynn connection, who are not listed on the Memorial -
Emmott, Robert Edmund (SN 1083) Robert was 19 when he enlisted on September 2, 1914. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Emmott of Buena Vista, Red Hill. Robert was Killed in Action on April 15, 1918, sadly he was so close to surviving the War after three and a half years of service. Robert was born in Fairfield, in September 1896 to Joseph Samuel and Alphina (nee Gunther) Emmott. Joseph and Alphina are listed in the Electoral rolls at Koo Wee Rup from 1903 until 1914; Joseph died April 1914 and it appears that Alphina then moved to Red Hill. Robert is also listed as a pupil at the Cora Lynn State School in 1908 and 1909, having previously been at Frankston State School, which doesn't fit in with the information in the Electoral Rolls, but he may have been staying with a relative for his early days of schooling. Due to his attendance at the Cora Lynn School he was on the School's Honor Roll, unveiled in July 1918 (see here)
Death notice of Robert Emmott
The Argus, May 11, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1658720/399941
Faulkner, Samuel John (SN 72542 ) John enlisted on July 8, 1918. He was 31 years old, born in Traralgon, his occupation was traveller and his address was 22 Porter Street, Prahran and his next of kin was his father, Frederick, of Trafalgar. In spite of this I believe he is the J. Faulkner mentioned in the article, below, as the 1916 to 1918 Electoral rolls have a Samuel John Faulkner and Martha Rhodena Faulkner at Cora Lynn. They were not husband and wife, or brother and sister, I think they were cousins; Martha married William Buist Murdoch Greig in 1926. John did not embark and was discharged due to the War ending. In 1921 he married Ivy Dearnley, and they lived in Orbost. John died in 1965, aged 76.
Send off to John Faulkner and Thornton Roper
Pakenham Gazette October 11, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92154316/8577418
Thomas, James Matthew (SN 6109). James was born in Bendigo and enlisted in Melbourne on March 18, 1916 but on the Nominal roll his address on enlistment was Cora Lynn and his occupation was labourer. His next of kin was his Guardian, Mrs Higgins of North Melbourne. He was 37 when he enlisted and he Returned to Australia on June 2 1919.
Sources - Service records, National Archives of Australia; Indexes to the Victorian Birth, Deaths and Marriages; the Tasmanian Archives; newspaper articles, Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Shire of Berwick Rate Books; Cora Lynn State School roll.
Sources - Service records, National Archives of Australia; Indexes to the Victorian Birth, Deaths and Marriages; the Tasmanian Archives; newspaper articles, Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Shire of Berwick Rate Books; Cora Lynn State School roll.
Footnotes
(1) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 24, 1903, see here.
(2) Ballarat Star, April 9, 1918, see here.
(3) The Age, June 20, 1949, see here.
(4) Thank you to Lynne Bradley of the Narre Warren & District Family History Group www.nwfhg.org.au for discovering the identity of L. Fritz. It's great that we can give him his proper identity.
(5) Benalla Standard, September 7, 1909, see here.
(7) The Herald, October 3, 1924, see here.
A version of this story, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years and it has also been published in the Koo Wee Rup Blackfish and Garfield Spectator.
