This certificate is from the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society collection and was presented to Edwin Spencer Johnson by the Shire of Cranbourne, in appreciation of your voluntary enlistment for active service overseas. It is dated March 27, 1943 and was signed by Shire President, Cr Matthew Bennett, M.L.A; Cr Leslie James Cochrane, M.L.A and Shire Secretary Allan Frank Buchanan.
The certificate was presented at a function at the Koo Wee Rup Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 27, 1943 and it was reported on in the Koo Wee Rup Sun (see full report at the end of this post). The dance and presentation night was held under the auspices of the Koo wee Rup Citizens' Send-off and Welcome Home Committee. 250 people were present to farewell the sixteen local boys who enlisted - only four of whom were present - Ken Child, Wallie Ellett, Gordon Hobson and Keith Barnes. Cr Cochrane said that the Committee had farewelled 93 servicemen and each man (or their family) were given £2 and the Cranbourne Shire Certificate shown here. The twelve men who could not be present were listed as J. O’Brien, H.Jacob (R.A.N.R.), Ted Johnson, J. Davey (A.I.F.), K. McInnes (R.A.A.F.), C. Loveday and L. Colvin (A.I.F.), L. Seddon, B.L. Broadbent, A. Burton, Colin Burton, and C. Cuff (A.I.F.)
Here's some information about Ted Johnson, the man whose certificate we have -Here is some brief biographical information of the other men who are listed in the Koo Wee Rup Sun article. The information is from the World War Two Nominal Rolls, here. I have also included the link to their full service record at the National Archives. If I could find a photograph, I have included it.
Barnes, Keith Henry (119759 Royal Australian Air Force). Born in Swan Hill on September 22, 1924 and was living in Koo Wee Rup on enlistment, which was on October 15, 1942. Discharged March 18, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Keith was one of the four servicemen present at the send-off.
Burton, Allan Edward (VX123516 Australian Army). Born on January 28, 1913 in Koo Wee Rup; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted February 18, 1943. Discharged September 24, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Burton, Colin Stuart (VX113988 Australian Army) Born on May 16, 1916 in Koo Wee Rup; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted November 1, 1942. Discharged December 15, 1943. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Child, Kenneth Samuel (PM5468 Royal Australian Navy) Born on September 25, 1925 in Koo Wee Rup lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on December 2, 1942. Discharged April 12, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Ken was one of the four servicemen present at the send-off.
Colvin, Leonard Michael (VX122263 Australian Army). Born on December 26, 1920 in Koo Wee Rup; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on December 22, 1942. Discharged December 19, 1945. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Cuff, Gordon George (VX110054 Australian Army). Born in Lismore in NSW on August 1, 1905; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on October 1, 1942. Discharged June 2, 1948. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Davey, John Arthur (VX117309 Australian Army) Born in Dandenong on March 16, 1917; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on November 3, 1942. Discharged June 7, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Ellett, Walter Lyell (PM5217 Royal Australian Navy) Born at Koo Wee Rup on March 10, 1925; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on October 21, 1942. Discharged February 14, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Walter was one of the four servicemen present at the send-off.
Hobson, Gordon James (VX67536 Australian Army) Born in Bunyip on December 7, 1920; lived in Rythdale and enlisted on December 11, 1941. Discharged January 8, 1944. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here. Gordon was one of the four servicemen present at the send-off.
Jacob, Harold Allen (PM5297 Royal Australian Navy) Born in Murrayville on May 12, 1925 and enlisted on December 16, 1942. Harold was discharged June 3, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Loveday, Cuthbert Lyall (VX112913 Australian Army) Born in Melbourne on December 6, 1917; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on August 15, 1940. Discharged October 31, 1945.You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
McInnes, Keith Gordon (120614 Royal Australian Air Force) Born in Rushworth on February 11, 1916; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on November 9, 1942. Discharged April 11, 1945. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
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O'Brien, J. Not sure who this is. The Koo Wee Rup Sun article said that he joined the Royal Australian Navy, but I can't find a J. O'Brien with a Koo Wee Rup connection, who did that. The only Koo Wee Rup O'Brien, I can find is Daniel Charles O'Brien (VX91602, Australian Army) who enlisted on March 3, 1943. He had been born at Koo wee Rup on December 22, 1905, lived in Koo Wee Rup and was discharged November 23, 1943. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
Seddon, Charles Leonard (VX106720 Australian Army) Born in Stanley on June 22, 1909; lived in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on September 18, 1942. Discharged January 14, 1946. You can read his full service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.
The men who signed the certificate were -Bennett, Matthew (1862 - 1951) Owned a dairy farm at Catani. He was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1925 until 1951. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly for Gippsland West from 1929 until 1950 for the Country party and was succeeded by Leslie Cochrane. I have written about him here.
Cochrane, Leslie James (1894 - 1972) Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1930 - 1964, Shire President 1935/1936, 1946, 1949/1950 and 1957/1958. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly for Gippsland West from 1950 to 1970. I have written about Cr Cochrane, here.
Buchanan, Allan Frank (1863-1965) Cranbourne Shire Secretary. After spending 22 years as Shire Secretary at the Shire of Wycheproof, Mr Buchanan took up the same role at the Cranbourne Shire from February 1935. In October 1950 he took leave of absence due to ill health and retired in April 1951. You can read about his retirement in the Dandenong Journal, here. He died in Torquay in July 1965, aged 72.
This is the transcription of the article about the send-off from the Koo Wee Rup Sun, of Thursday, April 1, 1943
War Service Men Farewelled
On Saturday another dance and presentation night, under the auspices of the Kooweerup Citizens’ Send-off and Welcome Home committee, was tendered to local lads who\ have enlisted for active service overseas in the Memorial Hall. About 250 persons were present and Rogers’ Orchestra supplied the dance music. Unfortunately, only four of the 16 boys to be honored were able to be present, viz., Ken Child, Wallie Ellett (R.A.N.R.) Gordon Hobson (A.I.F.) and Keith Barnes (R.A.A.F.).
Following supper, the president of the committee (Cr L. J. Cochrane) said they were present to do honor to another batch of local men who had voluntarily given their services to their country.
On behalf of the public of Kooweerup and district, Mr. E.R. Williams, J.P., said the armies of Australia to date comprise approximately 750,000 men, and of this number a little over half are in the volunteer army, which includes all in the R.A.A.F., Royal Australian Navy and Australian Imperial Force. The men who they were honoring that night, and those they had previously, belong to this glorious volunteer army of men – 400,000 Australians who do not recognise any line drawn on a map behind which to fight in defence of their country and the British Empire, but are willing to go anywhere their services are most needed. These men represent the true spirit of Australia; the spirit of the pioneers of this country, which has made it what it is to-day.
Despite camouflage and propaganda, it cannot be denied that the Australian military war effort is still shackled and bound by the narrow and tragic conception of a divided army. However we can be thankful that we have 400,000 Australians loyal beyond party politics; who possess “the grander spirit and nobler vision,” and who have not forgotten pals in Singapore and Malaya. We also must make sacrifices, voluntary or by compulsion, to make sure that such men are properly equipped to do their part toward victory. This community is very proud of its fighting sons, and all wish them good health and an even brake, being quite confident that they will do the rest.
Mr W. Taylor, president of the local R.S.S.A.I.L.A, sub-branch, said on its behalf that the league stands for the soldiers of to-morrow, and he advised the guests on their return to throw in their lot with those who had already laid foundations in their interest. He was sure they would carry on the traditions of the old A.I.F.
In criticising the present Government for turning down preference in employment to returned men, the speaker said that if men who fought for their country were not entitled to this preference he would like to know who is. He was sure the present servicemen would get a better spin on their return to civilian life than the old A.I.F. had received. He wished the guests God speed and a safe return.
Cr. Cochrane said the local committee had to date farewelled 93 servicemen. He congratulated the guests on the action they had taken and said he felt sure they would do their best wherever they went.
He then presented each guest with a money belt containing £2 in notes, also a Cranbourne Shire certificate. He said that owing to the inability to purchase wool without coupons the local R.S. Ladies’ Auxiliary was unable to make its usual presentation of comforts at such functions, but auxiliary members had asked him to convey to the guests their very best wishes.
Cr. Cochrane then made the same presentations to relatives of the following lads who were unable to be present:- J. O’Brien, H. Jacob (R.A.N.R.), Ted Johnson, J. Davey (A.I.F.), K. McInnes (R.A.A.F.), C. Loveday and L. Colvin (A.I.F.) [illegible] to make presentations to the following unrepresented boys at a later date: - L. Seddon, B.L. Broadbent, A. Burton, Colin Burton, and C. Cuff (A.I.F.)
The singing of “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows” was followed by three lusty cheers, and after short responses made by each guest the dancing programme was resumed.
