This report on the Five Mile School Honor Roll was in the Lang Lang Guardian of June 9, 1915. Five Mile, also known as Koo Wee Rup North, was a small township on the corner of the Main Drain and Five Mile Road (the road being five miles from the start of the Main Drain at Western Port Bay). The School opened in July 1894 and closed in November 1959 when school became part of Pakenham Consolidated School (read more here). Two teachers who had taught at this school were awarded medals for bravery - Captain Frank McNamara a Victoria Cross and Captain William Wilson a Military Cross. You can read about them below.
Who were these soldiers who were honoured? I have included their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record in the National Archives of Australia (www.naa.gov.au)
Backhouse, Bert (Herbert Arthur Burder) (SN 612) Bert was 23 when he enlisted on April 20, 1914. Bert is listed in the 1913 Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup. His next of kin on his enlistment paper was his father, Talworth Backhouse, whose address is listed as Metropolitan Board of Works, Melbourne. Bert's mother was Emily A'Beckett, a daughter of W.A.C A'Beckett of The Grange in Harkaway, so they were a well connected family, socially. He Returned to Australia on May 4, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds (septic knee)
Bjurstrom, Gustave Carl (SN 503 / V9457) I can only find one instance of a Bjurstrom enlisting and it is this one, so even though he is listed in the newspaper article as A. Bjurstrom I believe I have the right soldier. Gustave was 19 when he enlisted on August 27, 1914 and his occupation was sawmill labourer and his next of kin was his father C.G Bjurstrom of Heyfield. In the 1916 Electoral Rolls Charles and Agnes Bjurstrom are listed at Koo Wee Rup, two years previously they were at Heyfield, so obviously moved after their son enlisted. Gustave Returned to Australia July 5, 1915 and was discharged on medical grounds on August 31, 1915. He had received a gun shot wound to the shoulder and right side whilst fighting at Gallipoli; he also had rheumatism. Gustave was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Gustave also served in the Second World War; he enlisted at the age of 42 in March 1940. His address at the time was Cora Lynn, and his next of kin was his wife, Alice (nee Osborn). He was discharged in December 1943.
Burns, Joseph (SN 1399) Joseph enlisted on October 19, 1914 at the age of 33 and was then medically discharged in April 1916 due to receiving a Gun shot wound to the 'lower extremities' while fighting at Gallipoli. He rejoined April 27, 1917 and was discharged again in the May. Joseph was the son of Francis and Margaret Burns who are both listed as the next of kin, with an address in Moreland, however there was a Francis, Margaret and Joseph Burns in the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup from 1903 to 1913.
Chippindall, Robert Arthur (SN 375) Robert was a 23 year old painter when he enlisted on August 15, 1914. His next of kin was his mother, Sarah, of South Yarra. Robert died of wounds on May 17, 1915. What was his connection to the Five Mile region? His father was the grandly named Giles Tatlock Chippindall and his mother was Sarah Isaac Dawson. When Giles died at the age of 57 in 1900 his death notice said that he lived at Bunyip and was employed by the Lands Department. Giles had various government positions in Victoria and Queensland - in 1893 he was appointed as a Crowns Land Bailiff. I have found the notice, below from 1896, so I presume he was the Lands Department Inspector in the Koo Wee Rup region. Giles and Sarah had fifteen children altogether of which ten lived to adulthood and she died in 1932 aged 80. Robert's brother, Henry Dawson Chippindall, was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on August 8, 1915. Another brother, Thomas, is listed in the Electoral Roll in 1908 at Garfield, his occupation is also Crown Lands Bailiff. Yet another brother, Giles, was the Director General of Post Masters General Department and had also headed the Department of War Organisation of Industry and was knighted in 1950. Sources: Giles Chippindall's death notice The Leader July 7, 1900, see here; Sarah Chippindall's death notice The Age July 4, 1932, see here; Article on Sir Giles Chippindall, in Smiths Weekly, June 20, 1942, see here.
Denham, Robert Alexander (SN 392) Robert was born in Koo Wee Rup and was living in Carlton and was a fireman when he enlisted at the age of 28 on February 17, 1915 (that's the date according to the Embarkation roll and July 17, 1915 is the date according to the Enlistment papers). His next of kin was his friend Annie Ritchie. Robert Returned to Australia July 10, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds due to a form of rheumatism. Robert was the son of John and Janet Denham. John Denham was the Cranbourne Shire Secretary from 1909 to 1911 and the Rate collector for nine years, he also had a store at Yallock and a dairy farm at Koo Wee Rup. Janet's father, Alexander Dunlop, had the Harewood Mains property at Tooradin and had a successful cheese making business. Source: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968).
Emmott, Robert Edmund (SN 1083) Edmund enlisted at the age of 19 of September 12, 1914 at Inglewood. Edmund was born at Fairfield Park and his next of kin was his mother, Alphina Emmott, and her address was Red Hill. His father, Joseph, had died in April 1914. Alphina and Joseph were listed in the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup from 1903 to 1914. Edmund was Killed in Action in France on April 15, 1918.
Garbellini, George (SN 378) George enlisted on February 3, 1915 aged 23. He was the second eldest of the twelve children of Peter and Jane (nee Crombie) Garbellini, of 'Five Mile Drain', Koo Wee Rup. He was Killed in Action in France on May 3, 1917.
Gray, William Albert (SN 218) William was 22 when he enlisted on January 22, 1915. His occupation was farm hand and his next of kin was his mother, Margaret Gray, of Koo Wee Rup. He Returned to Australia April 27, 1919.
Jenkins, Thomas Edward (SN 188) Thomas was a bricklayer and 19 years old when he enlisted on January 11, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Annabel Jenkins, of Boundary Road, Koo Wee Rup. Thomas had been born in Koo Wee Rup. He Returned to Australia on April 5, 1918 and was discharged in the July on medical grounds due to a Gun shot wound to the right arm, received while fighting in France.
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, Mrs Fanny (nee Bickford) Johnson, of Cora Lynn. Tudor had attended Dookie Agricultural College before he enlisted at Enoggera in Brisbane. His father was Henry George Johnson who for some reason was not listed as the next of kin, generally fathers are more likely to be the official next of kin than mothers. Tudor Returned to Australia on December 23, 1918. Tudor is also on the Cora Lynn War Memorial.
Killeen, Patrick (SN 772) Patrick was 24, a farmer and he enlisted on October 1, 1914. His next of kin was his father of Koo Wee Rup. Patrick was the son of Thomas and Maria Killeen. Patrick Returned to Australia on July 3, 1919.
Marshall, George (SN 1780) George enlisted on January 11, 1915 at the age of 31. He was a carpenter and his address was Cora Lynn and his next of kin was Samuel Marshall who lived at Koo Wee Rup (a later document had the address as Phillips Drain, Five Mile) George sustained two gun shot wounds at Gallipoli - one to the left side under his arm and one in his left arm. He Returned to Australia on October 13, 1915 and was discharged on medical grounds in January 1916. Georgre was granted a Soldier Settlement farm - you can read his file, here, on the Battle to farm website. There is an Statuary Declaration in his file from 1942 saying that he lost his discharge papers in the 1934 flood at Cora Lynn. He was living at Bullumwaal, north of Bairnsdale, when he wrote the Statuatory Declaration.
M'Gregor, Robert I am unsure who this is, there is a John and Josephine McGregor on the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup from 1903 to 1905 so they may have had a son who the attended the school but I don't know. If you have more information on Robert, I'd love to hear from you.
Scanlan, Thomas Patrick (SN 505) Thomas Scanlon - his surname is spelt as both Scanlan and Scanlon on official documents - is the son of William and Ellen Scanlon of Cora Lynn. Thomas was 21 when he enlisted on January 12, 1915. He was a farmer. Thomas was awarded the Military medal and he Returned to Australia April 5, 1919. Thomas and his brother, Joseph, are listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial.
Watson, Percy I am not sure who this is - my best bet going on enlistment date, enlistment place, birth place and occupation is that it is Percy Kennedy Watson (SN 926) Percy was 29 and a labourer when he enlisted on December 7, 1914. He Returned to Australia March 11, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds (Asthma) in the November. Once again, if you can help identify Percy I would love to hear from you.
What follows is the extract and the photos from The Education Department's Record of War Service 1914-1919 book on the two soldiers, plus extra information I have found about their life.
Deed for which the Victoria Cross was awarded – ‘For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an aerial bomb attack upon a hostile construction train, when one of our pilots was forced to land behind the enemy’s lines. Lieutenant McNamara, observing this pilot’s predicament and the fact that hostile cavalry was approaching, descended to his rescue. He did this under heavy rifle-fire, and in spite of the fact that he himself had been severely wounded in the thigh. He landed about 200 yards from the damaged machine, the pilot of which climbed on to Lieutenant McNamara’s machine, and an attempt was made to rise. Owing, however, to his disabled leg, he was unable to keep his machine straight, and it turned over. The two officers, having extricated themselves, immediately set fire to the machine, and made their way across to the damaged machine, which they succeeded in starting. Finally, Lieutenant McNamara, although weak from loss of blood, flew this machine back to the aerodrome, a distance of 70 miles, thus completing his comrade’s rescue.’ Prior to enlisting, he was teaching at School No. 3198, North Koo-wee-rup.
Captain McNamara was the first Australian Airman to receive the Victoria Cross. He was born in Rushworth in 1894, the son of William McNamara and Rosanna O’Meara. He attended Shepparton Agricultural High School. In 1924 he married Hélène Marcelle Bluntschli of Brussels whom he had met in Egypt during the War and they had two children. After the War he served with the newly formed RAAF and was the Officer in Command at the Flight Training School at Point Cook and later at the RAAF base at Laverton. In World War Two he was promoted to Air Vice Marshall and, in 1942, moved to England where he worked with the RAF. Captain McNamara died in England in 1961. There is a bust of Frank McNamara in Rushworth.
Captain William G. Wilson, M.C
Killed in Action on 30th September, 1918. Captain W.G Wilson, M.C., late head teacher at Koo Wee Rup North. His widow, Mrs Lilias Wilson, lives at ‘Whroo’ Tooronga Road, East Malvern. William George Wilson was born on 19th September, 1882. He became a junior teacher at Moora South in 1901 and was head teacher at Lalbert Road from 1905 to 1908, then at Harrow till 1911 and at Koo Wee Rup North till 1912. He was an excellent teacher. In 1909, he received an official letter expressing the Director’s appreciation of the good work he was doing, and the success that had attended his well-directed and zealous efforts to secure the whole-hearted co-operation of parents and pupils. He enlisted in June 1915 and proceeded to camp early in July. After serving about six months and passing successfully through the Officers’ Training School, he obtained his commission. He embarked for Egypt on the 7th of March,1916. After spending some four or five months in Egypt, he embarked for England on the 29th of July 1916, going through France. He was Instructing Officer in the 14th Training Battalion for some time, and was chosen with other Australian officers to attend a three weeks’ course at Chelsea Barracks, London. He passed the examinations successfully. On the 4th of November he embarked for France and was serving on the Somme some months when he contracted trench fever. After two weeks in hospital, he again rejoined his Company, and was in the line till the 24th March, when he crossed to England and was in hospital for four weeks, suffering from another attack of trench fever. Until the 4th of November, 1917 he remained in England, training and embarking reinforcements for France. On that date he again returned to France and was there in the line for a few weeks until he was prompted Captain (28h November). He remained in line as officer in command of A Company. On 28th July 1918 he led his company so successfully through an engagement that he was awarded the Military Cross. The following is an account in the London Gazette of the deed for which he was awarded the Military Cross - ‘For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. He led his company forward during an attack with great judgement and skill, under heavy fire. Though there was a gap of several yards between his flank and the unit on his left, he pushed on and reached the objective with very small casualties. His courage and splendid example of determination materially contributed to the success of the operation’.
Captain Wilson had married Lilias McLennan in 1907 and they had four children, James (b. 1908, Roy (1909), Marie (1911) and Kenneth (1913), so when William was Killed in Action in France, Lilias was left a widow with four little children aged from five to 10 years old.
