This post lists the Great War soldiers who have a connection to Modella, which is right on the edge of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. It's a work in progress, so if you know of any soldiers who should be included on this list, then please let me know. I have listed the Service Number (SN) so you can look up each soldier's full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au)
Modella began life as Koo Wee Rup East, the school started in 1903 and the name was changed to Modella in February 1905. The Public Hall was opened in 1924.
Some of the information in this post comes from the book Modella : a brief history, 1904-1968 by Graham Utber (Published by the author, 1968)
Chambers, Michael James (Jim) (SN 64173) Jim enlisted on March 6 1918 at the age of 38. He lived in Modella and had a wife, Labela, and three children. Jim Returned to Australia on July 26, 1919 and on October 11 1919 a 'welcome home' was provided for him. Jim had also served in the Boer War in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles for 18 months. Their son, Ronald, was the Shire of Berwick Engineer from 1948 until 1973, and then the Shire of Pakenham Engineer until 1977. The family are the source of the name Chambers Road, Modella. The R.J. Chambers Reserve in Pakenham Upper is named for Ronald.
Corbin, William Osment (SN 5114) William was 19 years old when he enlisted on February 11, 1916. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, William, of Modella. Lance Corporal Corbin Returned to Australia May 20 1919. After the War, William took up a soldier settlement farm at Caldermeade - you can see his file on the Battle to Farm website here
Doran, Matthew John (SN 1376) M. Doran is listed in the newspaper article, above, and I believe it is Matthew Doran although I can find no specific connection to Modella, however he did have his medical examination at Warragul, prior to his enlistment on August 3, 1915, so I believe I have the correct M. Doran. Matthew was a 29 year old labourer when he enlisted and his next of kin was his mother, Mary Scanlon, of Heathcote. Matthew was Killed in Action on October 23, 1916 in France,
Esler, Gordon (SN 534) Gordon was 30 when he enlisted on July 8, 1915. He was a 30 year farmer from Modella and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs Helen Smethurst of Yannathan. Helen died in November 1916 and his brother, Hugh, who was a Policeman, then became his next of kin. Gordon Returned to Australia April 13, 1919 and was granted a Soldier Settler farm in the Parish of Tongala, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Hughes, Ephraim (SN 11763) Ephraim enlisted at the age of 31 on September 7, 1915. His next of kin was his father, Robert, of Modella. Ephraim Returned to Australia April 20, 1919 and was granted a soldier settlement farm of 77 acres at Modella (off Bridge Road, Allotment 93, Parish of Yannathan) You can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Lugton, John Archibald (SN 3193) Archie (as he was called) enlisted on October 19, 1916 at the age of 27. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Charles Edward Lugton, of Northcote. Archie received a gun shot wound to the chest on August 8, 1918, whilst fighting in France, and died the next day. Graham Utber wrote that A memorial service was held in the school to pay homage to Arch Lugton.Two other brothers of Archie Lugton also served. Frank Leslie Lugton (SN 447) enlisted at the age of 21 on April 28, 1915. He was an Electrical Engineer. Frank was Killed in Action at Pozieres on July 29, 1916. Edward Charles Lugton (SN 9317) was a 29 year old carpenter when he enlisted on July 5, 1915. He Returned to Australia May 15, 1919. Another brother Harold William Lugton also lived and farmed at Modella
Marchant, John (SN 897) John was a blacksmith and he was 24 when he enlisted on August 21, 1914. His next of kin was his wife, Mrs J Marchant, of Modella. John had a bit of mixed military record, and was absent without permission on a few occasion which meant that a form had to be filled out, and on two occasions this paperwork had his 'General character' listed as 'Bad'. I'm sure he wasn't bad - perhaps just not suited to Army life. John Returned to Australia March 3 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds on May 14 due to 'leucoma right eye' - which is a dense, white opacity of the cornea due to an injury. John was granted a Soldier Settler farm in the Mallee, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Norton, Noel Condah (SN 4498) Noel was born at Koo Wee Rup and enlisted on September 17, 1914. He was 22 and his next of kin was his wife, Ann May Norton, of Modella and they had three children at the time of his enlistment. He was discharged as medically unfit on November 19, 1914. Noel then enlisted again on July 29, 1915. He Returned to Australia on April 29, 1919. Noel also became a Soldier Settler and you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here. His land was on McDonald Road, Catani (Lots 36A and 35B, Section V, Parish of Koo-Wee-Rup East, 96 acres in all)
Ryan, John Joseph As we can see from the newspaper article, above, a John Joseph Ryan from Modella enlisted in July, August or September 1918 - I can't find a record for him on the National Archives of Australia website, so I have no other details.
Warren, George William (SN 6716) George was 32 and a farmer when he enlisted on January 11, 1917 at the age of 32. His next of kin was his father, also called George Warren, of Modella. George served in France and Returned to Australia on February 7, 1919. George was granted a Soldier Settler farm in Mildura, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Webb, William George (SN 78198) William enlisted on July 1, 1918. He was a 35 year old farmer, his next of kin was his wife, Henrietta and they had three children. A farewell social was held in September 1918, but as the War had ended, William was discharged on December 24, 1918. I found out about William through the following two articles.
Wilson, Joseph Daniel (SN 1869) Joseph was born in Northern Ireland and was 26 years old and the teacher at Modella State School when he enlisted on September 11, 1915. His next of kin were his parents, James and Minnie Wilson of Nicholson Street, South Yarra. Joseph was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia on June 20, 1919. Before his return he married Ethel May Johnston of Dublin, in a Methodist service on January 8, 1919. After the War he resumed his career with the Education Department; in the 1921 Electoral Rolls their address in listed as 'Úpper Diamond Creek' and in 1922 they are listed at Newham, in the Lancefield / Kyneton region.
On Saturday, December 15, 2018 a new World War One Honour board was unveiled at the Modella Public Hall, by Mr Colin Teese, the President of the Bunyip R.S.L. The wreath was laid by Mrs Dorothy Goodman, the niece of John Archibald (Archie) Lugton and Mr Wayne Rogers, the grandson of William Corbin. The original board had been destroyed when the hall burnt down in November 1976.The existing hall was opened in April 1979. The new Board was donated by Mrs Mavis Martin and the names were based on my list which I had researched in 2016, so William George Webb does not appear on the Board as I only 'discovered' him in December 2021.
A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years
