Letters from the Front to Yallock School Children

The Lang Lang Guardian of April 30, 1916 (see here) printed the following two letters sent to Yallock State  School children from local soldiers, Robert Henry (1896-1991) and Will (also called Bill)  Finck (1893-1967). They are just delightful. War gave these young men some dreadful traumatic experiences, but also gave them an opportunity to travel overseas and see new countries and sights they would never have expected to see if they had stayed home in Yallock and it is these positive experiences they are writing to the school children about. 

At the Front
The following letters have been received by the Yallock school children, who write to each of the boys in turn who have enlisted from that district.

From Robert Henry 
Dear Children—I got quite a surprise the other day to receive quite a host of letters written by many of you. I was very pleased to hear from you, and as I think the task too great to write to all of you. I will make the one letter do. I am sure you will not mind. It is just 9 months since we sailed from Melbourne, and I have had a good many experiences during that time, although I have not been in action yet. We have been in Egypt most of the time, doing the work that was expected of us, and often times it was very trying, because where we were there was nothing but sand as far as the eye could see, and we saw hardly a bit of green grass all the time. But I am in a different country now. We had a lovely trip across the Mediterranean, as the sea was always smooth. We had to wear life belts all day and have them handy at night in case of being torpedoed, but I am glad to say we never sighted any submarines.

After we landed at Marseilles we had a three days' train journey, which we greatly enjoyed. We passed through some beautiful scenery, and many towns and rivers that I used to learn about when I went to school. The French people gave us a great welcome as the train went by, waving and cheering, and when the train stopped they would gather round and try to make us understand how pleased they were. When we arrived at our destination we were taken to what are called billets - old barns and any spare rooms that the people can spare for the accommodation of the soldiers. We can hear the big guns booming in the distance, as we are not far from the firing line. I expect to be up amongst them shortly. At night we can see the flashes from the guns, which looks just like lightning. In fact, the reflection just looks like a city in the distance. There are many other things that I would like to tell you about, but this letter has to be censored, I think that I will close now, hoping that this letter finds you all well, as it leaves Will Finck, Bob Harker, and myself. Best wishes to all. Your sincere friend - R Henry.

Robert Henry

Image: Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C999480

From Will Finck
To the Boys and Girls of Yallock State School,—I was very pleased to hear from several of you, and as it is too great an undertaking to write to each individually I decided to write a letter to you all. Well, the end of this month (May) will make it about six months of defence for us on the Canal, four months in the trenches. Mr Turk never shows himself much around our way, but a few miles further on he used to get very troublesome, but it takes the Australians to quieten him. Several times we were expecting to be attacked, but the luck never came our way, though we have had a fairly rough time at intervals; never slept with our boots off for at least a month at a time. We had a lot of patrolling and out-post duty to do, and every soldier will agree that that is about the worst work in war time. We had to go out and crawl about among the gullies and low hills about two miles from our front trenches. It put me in mind of trying to creep on rabbits. Anyhow, between the Turks looking for us, and us looking for them, we never saw much of one another.

The weather here at times was very warm, up to 130 in the shade. We have been to many places in Egypt, some of historical note. Some of you want to know what sort of a place Cairo is. Well, it consists of a mixture. What's good you can call lovely, and what's bad is awful. Ishmaha, on the Suez Canal, is a very pretty place, with fine parks and gardens and beautiful buildings. The Canal is a marvellous structure, and a very nice place on a hot day. Many a swim we have had in it. I may not post this letter in this country, as we may shortly be going on another sea voyage. We Yallock boys have come in contact with each other pretty often. I think L. Coates and J. Casey are arguing the point with the Germans by this time. Harry Casey, Will Lineham, C. Ware. J. de Little and Bert Boxshall I see every night. Bob Henry, Bob Harker and myself are always together.

France, 4th July.
We have arrived here, and are billeted amongst the farmers, so you can guess we feel at home. Some kiddies are tormenting me, so you'll excuse scribble. Have been doing some haymaking and milking to-day, and am booked for killing a pig to-morrow. Things are much cheaper here than in Egypt, a place I never want to set eyes on again. I am sure the Australians will show their grit here, because it seems as if we are in Australia defending our own shores. We want a bit of revenge against the Germans for their brutality to the civilian population. I will close now, with love to all - Will Finck.

[Since the above letters were written, news has been received of the death of Private Harker, and Privates Henry and Finck are reported missing since 20th July].

Bill Finck.

Image: Courtesy of Valerie Slade, his daughter.

Biographical details of the writers and the men mentioned in the letters

The first letter was written by Robert Henry and he mentions Will Finck and Bob Harker. The second letter was written by Will Finck and he mentions L. Coates, J. Casey, Harry Casey, Will Lineham, C. Ware, J. de Little, Bert Boxshall and the aforementioned Bob Henry and Bob Harker.

These are the men referred to in the letters and their Service Numbers (SN). The men are listed on the Yallock Honour Boards, so you can read more about them, here.  Ten men are referred to and four were Killed in Action.

Henry, Robert (1896-1991) (SN 344) Robert enlisted on July 8, 1915 at the age of  19. His next of kin was his father, William Henry of  Grassmere, Yallock. Robert was reported missing in July 1916 and had been captured by the Germans. He was released when the War ended, repatriated to England and Returned to Australia on March 2, 1919. He married Emily Ruby Savage in 1921 and they had five children. 

Finck, Lewis William (1893-1967, Louis Wilhelm, known as Bill)  (SN 339) Bill enlisted on July 10, 1915 aged 22. He Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919. Bill was the son of Louis Wilhelm and Elizabeth Mary (nee Killeen) Finck of Yallock.  Finck's Road is named after the family.  He married Gwendoline Harriet Stronach on March 8, 1927 at the Oakleigh Church of England and they had nine children.

Harker, Robert (SN 345) - Killed in Action July 20, 1916.
Coates, Lawrence (SN 2623a) - Killed in Action August 18, 1916.
Casey, John Alfred (SN 2593) - Killed in Action - August 23, 1918.
Casey, George Henry 'Harry' (SN 2603) - survived the War.
Lineham, William James (SN 2711) - survived the War.
Ware, Charles William (SN 3585a) - survived the War.
de Little, John Cyril (SN 220) - Killed in Action October 10, 1916.
Boxshall, Albert Victor 'Bert' (SN 3481) - survived the War.

Sources

Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 at the National Archives of Australia; Personal notices in the newspapers on Trove; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com. 

Another version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Letters to Yannathan from World War One soldiers

This post looks at letters sent to people  in Yannathan (or by those with a Yannathan connection) from three Great War soldiers - William Dunbar Watson (1888-1917), an un-named soldier and William James Lineham (1894-1974)

William Dunbar Watson (1888-1917)

The Lang Lang Guardian of May 24, 1916 (see here) published this interesting letter from Lance-Corporal William Watson, of Yannathan. William had the distinction of being one of the last group of Australian soldiers to be evacuated from Gallipoli. William Dunbar Watson, born in 1888 in North Hazlewood, was the son of Charles and Grace Watson (her maiden name was also Watson), of Yannathan. William (SN 730) was a 27 year old blacksmith, when he enlisted on March 15, 1915. He survived Gallipoli, but died of pleurisy in France on March 5, 1917. William is listed on the Yannathan Honour Board, see here, as his brother, Robert Charles Watson (SN 2018) who also served. Robert enlisted on February 28, 1916 at the age of 21. He was a farmer. He was wounded in action - gunshot wounds to arm and jaw - and Returned to Australia November 5, 1917, and took up a Soldier Settlement farm.

 

William's obituary 

Morwell Advertiser, March 23, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65919663

A Soldier's Letter. The appended letter has been received by Mr. H. McCann*, of Berwick, from Lance-Corporal W. Watson, of Yannathan, who was a prominent member of the Berwick football club. -

“I received two letters from you some time ago and feel rather ashamed of myself for not answering them sooner. We are now back among the sand once again. You have read the account of the evacuation, of course. We got off very well, but it seemed hard to leave after all we lost, but I think it was the best thing to do, as I am sure we could never have done any good there, and we were losing men every day - mostly through sickness, and we would certainly have lost heavily if we had to stay on during the winter. 

We had some terrible weather in November, rain and snow a treat. I, with a good many more, was in the trenches for about a fortnight without a spell, and during that time we had no water, and could not take even our boots off. It seems strange to say we had no water when it rained so much, but it was so. When we got a bit of time we used to gather a dixie of snow and melt it, but that did not seem to quench our thirst, it only made it worse. I was never so thirsty in my life, and never want to be so again. I would have given all I possessed for a drink. I saw fellows drink what looked like pure mud, and indeed I did it myself, and then to top the lot they gave us a terrible bombardment on November 29. 

The snow was still on the ground, and had frozen hard, but all the same a goad many of their big shells failed to explode, and a good job too, as quite enough of them did explode with terrible results, A good many were killed by pieces of shell, but a great many more lost their lives by being buried. They tried to seek shelter by getting into dug outs and tunnels, and places that, during any ordinary bombardment, would have been quite safe, but they evidently got some big guns up to give us a proper doing, and they succeeded. They were using 11.2 shells -  a battery of them. I spent a good part of the day helping to dig some of the poor fellows out dead. 

Our officer and three N.C.O's. all got knocked. They were standing together, and a .75 (a high explosive shell) got the four of them - killed two, and badly wounded the others. The officer had to have his leg taken off, and it is still doubtful if he will recover. I sincerely hope he does, as he was a fine chap. I'll not forget the 29th of November as long as I live. I was very lucky during my four months over there. I did not get a scratch, and did not have a day's sickness, but was not very sorry to get away from it.

Now I'll tell you a little bit about the way we got off. To begin with, we went off in parties called A party, A1 party, B, B1, and B2 parties. C, C1, C2, and C3, each party leaving at different times. A and A1 left a day before us. They consisted of all the chaps who had been attending the doctor, and a good number there were too. Then the rest all moved off at their appointed times, until only C3 party was left. In the section that our company had been holding, only eight were left, and I had the honor of being one of them. I was with in the very last party to leave, and when the time came for us to move off, we wasted no time in getting to the beach (about two miles), where a barge was waiting for us.

During the day some of our blankets were torn up and laid in the trenches and saps, and we also had to wrap bits of blanket round our feet to deaden any sound, as the Turks were only a few yards away. We that were left had to try and carry on just the same as we would on an ordinary night ; no more sniping, and no less, and, when the time came, hop down off the parapets; and off as hard as we could go. If the Turks had attacked us we were gone, as eight of us could not have done much and we had orders that we had to stay there until our time came - 3.30 am., was the time. Anyway, we managed it alright. 

Then we went into a rest camp and put in three weeks there, where we spent Christmas, and had rather a good time. Next time I write I'll give you some of our experiences there. I must draw to a close now, with best wishes."

*  Mr H. McCann was, I believe, Harry McCann, who was Head Teacher at Berwick State School from 1911 until 1917.

Letter to Mr Smethurst from an un-named soldier
The Lang Lang Guardian published this letter in their April 4, 1917 issue (see here). It was written to J. Smethurst of Yannathan. The Electoral Roll lists a James Thomas Smethurst, a John Samuel Smethurst and a Joseph Richard Smethurst all living at Yannthan in 1917, so one of these men was the recipient of this letter. The paper actually fails to tell us who sent the letter, but in spite of the fact we don't know the author, it is an interesting letter about life on the Front, how Christmas was celebrated and also mentions a few other local lads, so it is well worth publishing here.

Soldier's Letter. The following extracts are taken from a letter written to J. Smethurst, Yannathan.
France,
Jan. 1, 1917.

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome and interesting letters which I received a few weeks ago dated 30th October and 18th November, and also to thank you for the parcel of sox and cigarettes I received last night. The sox are very acceptable as we are continually in the mud and slush. I suppose you have heard that report of me being wounded was only a slight wound in the hand hardly worth reporting, they told me at the hospital it would not be sent in so I did not bother. I sent the cable after I came back from the hospital, I only had ten days spell with it, and have had nothing worse since than a cold, but am quite alright now and going strong. We were in the trenches when I got your letters, so have not had a chance to write before, but you will see I have started early in the new year. 

Xmas is over once more, this is my second away, I hope, to be back in Australia for the next. We had a nice quiet time for Xmas we were lucky enough to be reserve Division and well out of the firing line, just within hearing of the guns to remind us there is a war on. Xmas morning we had a Church Parade, but it was a beastly cold windy day quite unsuitable for an open air service. The chaplain was very disappointed as it was the first parade, he had for some time. He is a fine man. We had nineteen days in the trenches last time, and had very bad weather, it was either blowing, snowing, raining or frosty.

We worked in relays, some of us in the front line, and some in supports (about 700 yards behind the front line) we changed over every four days, as one could not stand more in the front line exposed to the cold and wet, and not able to have anything hot: back in supports we were lucky enough to find some German dugouts about thirty feet under ground, needless to say we occupied them and were fairly comfortable, we were able to light a fire and have a hot meal, and go to sleep and feel safe from the shells. Fritz made himself very comfortable with his dugouts, some of them are sixty feet deep, floored and lined, bunks rigged up in them and even pictures on the walls. It must have been a sore point for them to have to leave in a hurry and know that we are now occupying their dugouts.

I witnessed several aeroplane duels, in fact every clear day they are at it. It is a great sight to see as many as sixty planes all up at once, but rather horrible to see them brought down, sometimes in flames and other times I have seen observer fall out of his machine while hundreds of feet in the air.

I suppose you heard that Mat Doran was killed in action about the end of October. I'm not sure of the date as I did not hear till some time after. I went to see Gordon Burton after we came out of action, but he had gone away sick, I haven't heard anything of him since. I just heard yesterday that Chris Keighery and Alan Whelan are about here somewhere.

The author of the letter mentions four other men -
Doran, Matthew John (SN 1376) Matthew, a labourer, enlisted on August 3, 1915 at the age of 22. He was born in 1892 in Trentham to Denis Doran and Mary Cranny. Mary was subsequently widowed and married John Scanlon in 1902. His address on the Embarkation Roll is Heathcote, the same as his mother's address. He did, however, undertake his medical examination in Warragul and has a connection to Modella, see here. Matthew was Killed in Action in France on October 23, 1916.

Burton, Gordon Frederick (SN 184) Gordon was born in Yannathan, enlisted on July 5 1915 at the age of 23. He was grocer and his next of kin were his parents, Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Smith) Burton, of Wonthaggi. Gordon Returned to Australia April 13, 1919. Gordon came back to Yannathan after the War and was listed in the Electoral Rolls as a driver. In the 1936 Roll his occupation had changed to grocer and the next year he had moved to Northcote, where he was also in the Grocery trade. Gordon married Rita Priestley in 1943 and he died on September 18, 1946 at the age of 51. Gordon is listed on the Yannathan Honor Board, see here.

Keighery, Christopher (SN 340) Christopher was born in Dandenong and enlisted on May 13, 1916, Chris was 26 years old and a saddler and his next of kin was his father, Edward, of Lang Lang. He Returned to Australia July 5, 1919. I came across this interesting article (below) about Chris and Frank Keighery. Frank (SN 445) was Killed in Action at Gallipoli, but before the War contributed Nature Notes to The Argus, under the pen name Heron and was the first man to volunteer from Lang Lang. Chris and Frank were the sons of Edward and Annie (nee Elliott) Keighery. Edward and Annie moved to Lang Lang in 1903 where Edward had a Bootmakers shop. In 1920, Chris married Eva Emily Misson and they lived in Koo Wee Rup where he operated a saddlers and bicycle shop.  (Source: Protector's Plains: history of Lang Lang Primary School No.2899, 1888-1988 and district compiled by Barbara Coghlan in 1988.)

A report about Chris and Frank Keighery

Lang Lang Guardian, May 11, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119515432

Whelan, Herbert Allan (SN 341) Allan (as he was known) enlisted on May 18, 1916. He was 23 years old, born in Lang Lang and his next of kin was his father, Thomas, of Rutherglen. His mother, Sarah (nee Pell) had died in 1906. Allan's occupation on his Enlistment papers was a Hairdresser, although he was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Lang Lang at this time as a Teamster. Allan was taken Prisoner of War on April 15, 1917 and repatriated back to England on Christmas Day, 1918. He Returned to Australia February 7, 1919. After the War, Allan moved to Maryborough, and his occupation was a Motor Proprietor. He married Margaret Elizabeth Nicholls in 1927, who sadly died September 7, 1928. In 1930 he married Helena Sarah Neyland. Allan and Helena lived in Carisbrook, where he was a Motor Mechanic. Allan died in 1965, aged 72.

William James Lineham (1894-1974)
In February 1917, Mrs Lineham of Yannathan received a letter from her son, William, who was serving overseas. William James Lineham was born in 1894 in Clyde to Benjamin and Eliza Maria Agnes (nee Knott) Lineham. They later moved to Yannathan. William (SN 2711) enlisted on July 19, 1915 at the age of 20 and he Returned to Australia April 13, 1919. In 1927, William married Ellen May Gilchrist and the couple farmed at Yannathan on a Soldier Settlement farm. He died on June 30, 1974, aged 79. William is listed on the Yannathan State School Honour Board, see here and the Yallock Honor Board, see here. 

The letter to Mrs Lineham was published in the Lang Lang Guardian on February 28, 1917 (see here)

Mrs B. Lineham, of Yannathan, has received the following letter from her son, Driver W. J. Lineham, who has been ill for some time -
Dear Mother and Father,
Just a few lines to let you know I am about well again. I had a touch of bronchitis, but it was not very severe, also a septic toe, but it is quite well again. I am in the British Red Cross Hospital at Netly [sic] near Southampton. I have been in four Hospitals, and have had no letters from you for over two months, so I expect the letters are still chasing me from one Hospital to another. I expect to be back in France by the time you receive this letter. I had a letter from father's cousin in England this morning, and was pleased to have one. We are very busy to-night decorating our ward and have nearly finished. I am very lucky, I think, to be in England for Christmas, and have had a real good time in every Hospital, being treated real well.

There are only three Australians in the hut, and nearly every day someone comes in to see us. In the Hospital I was in at Rouen, France, there was one Australian nurse, and there are a few here. One came in to see us last night. On the way over from Le Havre to Southampton our boat ran into the mud twice, and the second time it took two days to pull us off. The boat had a hole knocked into front of her, but it could not have been very large as we got to port safely. It was very foggy, so I suppose that accounted for it.

William Lineham's letter

 Lang Lang Guardian, February 28, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514251

Sources used in this post not already specified -
Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 at the National Archives of Australia; Personal notices in the newspapers on Trove; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Soldier Settlement files at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 5714.

A version of this post first appeared on my work blog -  Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years https://caseycardinia1914-1918.blogspot.com/

Letters to Iona from World War One soldiers

This post looks at letters sent to people in Iona from three Great War soldiers - Robert Bruce Forsyth (1892-1980), William Clarkin (1894-1916) and James Gully (1882-1931)

Robert Bruce Forsyth (1892-1980)
On April 15, 1915 Bruce Forsyth, of Iona, wrote a letter from Cairo to his parents. Robert Bruce Forsyth was born in Bunyip in 1892 to William and Naomi (nee Bull) Forsyth. Bruce (SN 203) was a 23 year farmer when he enlisted on August 18, 1914. Captain Forsyth was twice Mentioned in Despatches and was also awarded the Military Cross. He Returned to Australia November 6, 1918 and took up a Soldier Settlement farm near Alexandra. He married Amy Williams in 1920 and died in 1980, aged 88.

The Bunyip Free Press of May 27 1915, (see here) published Bruce's letter.

The following letter has just been received by Mr. and Mrs. W. Forsyth, of Iona, from their son Bruce, who is in Egypt with the First Expeditionary Force: -
Mena Camp, Cairo,
15th April, 1915.

Dear Mother and Father
I received your over-welcome letters yesterday, dated 16th March, and was glad to hear you were all well. You said you heard the first contingent had left Egypt. Well, the infantry and one squad of light horse have gone but we don't know where to. There are only A and B squadrons of the light horse left here now. We are, unluckily, the last ones to shift.

Last Tuesday my mate and I took a trip to the Citadel and also went all through the Mosques, they are marvellous places. We had a guide to show us through them. There are several Mosques around the Citadel all fixed up inside as places of worship. The brother, sister and parents of the present Sultan, also the man who built the Mosque, are buried in them, and they have lovely tombs. We had to put on a pair of slippers they gave us before we were allowed to enter, as they say it is holy ground.

There were natives kneeling around every where, rubbing their noses on the ground; and going through all kinds of forms. There are large fountains inside where the people have to wash three times before they pray. It was here Napoleon fired on those mosques from the citadel, and there are great lumps of masonry knocked out of the walls, and also one big cannon ball still wedged in the wall where it struck. There are also holes in the door going up to the citadel. One door in one of these places cost half a million pounds, and is made of gold and silver.

The Citadel is full of wounded Indian soldiers from the front. We went in and saw them. Now that the others are gone we get a very easy time of it, mostly just exercising our horses, and we are getting quite lazy. 

All the chaplains have gone with the infantry, so our Colonel holds the service on Sunday mornings. He is a good speaker and is well liked. Well, I think I've told you all the news for this time. Remember me to all my friends. I was very sorry to hear of "Bill " Sullivan's death."

Your ever affectionate son,
R. B. FORSYTH.
(The letter is edited, you can read the original, here.)

The Citadel in Cairo, as Bruce would have seen it.

Image dated c. 1914-1918. State Library of Victoria Image H99.166/305

William Clarkin (1894-1916)
The Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915 (see here) published these letters from local soldiers, Will Clarkin and James Gully.

William Clarkin (SN 1522) was born in 1894, enlisted at Tynong on December 7, 1914 at the age of 21. He died of wounds in France on August 26, 1916. William is listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, see here, (where I have more information about the Clarkin family);  the Iona Honor Board, see here, and the Bunyip War Memorial, see here. 

Letters from Will Clarkin

Mr. William Clarkin, who some time ago was wounded at the Dardanelles, has sent the following letters to his relatives at Iona : -

No. 17 General Hospital, Alexandria.
I suppose you are wondering why I have not written lately. Well, you you see, two days after I wrote my last letter we were ordered off to the Dardanelles. We had to land under fire, but we got there alright. I was about a fortnight in the trenches when I had the misfortune to get bowled over. I have been in the hospital for about three weeks, but I will soon be out again. We were ordered to take a good position that the Turks held, so about 1 o'clock in the morning our company, along with three more, were ordered out to do it.

The night was fairly dark, so we could not see the enemy too well. Anyway, it settled into a hand-to-hand go. I don't know exactly what happened, but a Turk must have got home on me with the butt end of his rifle, for I don't remember any more until I was picked up about 5 o'clock in the morning. My head felt as if it had been drawn (dragged) through a six-inch pipe, but I am getting as right as rain again. What makes it worse is that I went as deaf as a post. One of the drums of my car is broken but I can hear alright out of the other one.

I suppose you get all the news over there. The Turks are a treacherous lot. They take no prisoners, nor do they respect the Red Cross. But never mind, the war will soon be over, for news has just come that Italy will soon be into it. We get treated like kings over here - chicken for dinner every day and plenty of cigarettes. When we are discharged from hospital we are sent to a rest camp, where we pick our selves together again.

Part of the 17th General Hospital, Alexandria - where William Clarkin was treated.

Tented accommodation of 17th British General Hospital established for treatment of casualties with serious wounds.

Australian War Memorial Image H00871

Luna Park Convalescent Home, Heliopolis, 30/5/15.

Since I last wrote I have been shifted again, this time to a convalescent home about four miles out of Cairo. I don't know whether I will be sent to a rest camp or back to the front when I leave here; but I hope they will send me somewhere, for I am sick and tired of bed. Of course, I can walk about as good as ever, but you see, we are not allowed to leave the hospital. I suppose you hear all the war news. I wonder do they publish the casualty list; it must be a pretty big one. The Turks got home on our officers; there are only a few of them left.

The Convalescent Hospital in Heliopolis, where William Clarkin also received treatment.

It was called the 'Luna Park Convalescent Hospital' as it was located in the Palace Hotel at Heliopolis and an amusement park, called Luna Park, had been established in the grounds in 1911.

Australian War Memorial P00229.007

Convalescent Camp, 4/6/15.
As we have not got to do anything here but keep our tents clean, I can write a bit more often; I was shifted out into the open-air tents to-day. It is far better in the tents. It is terribly hot in Egypt now; the hottest I have ever been in. It is no place to send wounded men. The wounds will not heal up, only on the inside; only a dry scab comes over the outside. An eye and ear specialist attends me; but I am afraid he can do nothing with my ear. My other one is about as right as can be. It affected my eyes, too, but they are as right as rain. The haze that rises from the sand in the hot weather affects everybody's eyes, and my eyes were a bit weak when I left for the Peninsula. The first batch of wounded men who were fixed up left for the front again last Wednesday week, I think we will be going back again on Wednesday. But don't worry about me; I will get through alright. You might not believe me, but there is a certain fascination about the firing line, although I am not too anxious to hear the shells all around a fellow, and he has got to sit as he can get. But, cheer up; I think next 'Xmas is going to be a real happy one.

James Gully (1882-1931)
James, born in 1882, to Harry and Henrietta (nee Robinson) Gully enlisted on September 28, 1914 at the age of 32 (SN 1167). James Returned to Australia December 3, 1918, for 'Special Leave' and was discharged on medical grounds in March 1919 - having been wounded with a gun shot in the shoulder and later wounded in the left thigh. He died in July 1931 at the Repatriation Hospital in Caulfield, and is buried at the Fawkner Cemetery.

James' death notice

The Age, July 2, 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203033276

The Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915 (see here) published this report of the letter.
Mr. Gully, of Iona, received a short letter last Thursday from his son (Private James Gully), who was recently wounded at the Dardanelles. Writing from the Base Hospital, Private Gully did not (or perhaps could not) state the extent of his injuries. He was eleven days in the firing line before he was wounded, and must have remained where he fell for some time, as afterwards he contracted pneumonia. Mr. Gully is anxiously awaiting another letter from Jim, whose younger brother has enlisted for active service, and is now in camp at Seymour.

James' younger brother was John Harry Gully (SN 607) who enlisted in June 1915 and Returned to Australia May 1919.

Sources used in this post - 

Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 at the National Archives of Australia; Personal notices in the newspapers on Trove; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Soldier Settlement files at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 5714.

A version of this post first appeared on my work blog -  Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years https://caseycardinia1914-1918.blogspot.com/

Ernest Oldham - the first man to enlist from Koo Wee Rup - or was he?

In May 1915, The Age reported on the fact that Private E. Oldham had been wounded.
Private E. Oldham (wounded), is the youngest son of the late John S. Oldham, of Williamstown. He served his apprenticeship as engineer at  Mephan Ferguson's, Footscray, and worked at the railway rolling stock works and signal shops, Newport. He had only recently returned from a twelve months'  trip to England and Scotland when the war commenced. He was a cricketer, and played with the Williamstown club. Private Oldham was the first to enlist from the Kooweerup district. (1)

Private Oldham, wounded

The Age, May 28, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154944775

It is the last line of the report which is of interest to us -  Private Oldham was the first to enlist from the Kooweerup district. I can find no connection between Ernest and Koo Wee Rup  and I believe this is a mistake on the part of The Age. He is not mentioned as enlisting in the Lang Lang Guardian, the local newspaper at the time; nor does the paper carry the report of his injury or his death. He is also not listed at Koo Wee Rup or surrounds in the Electoral Rolls.  However, I may be wrong and I hope by writing this post that someone may provide the link to Koo Wee Rup. 

Ernest Oldham

Sons of Williamstown: the Great War 1914-1919 Honour Board  

https://sonsofwilliamstown.com.au/portfolio/e-oldham/

Private Oldham was Ernest Oldham, born in Williamstown in 1888 to  John Spencer Oldham and his wife Harriett (nee Hodge). He had eight older siblings  - William Robert (1867 - 1880);  James Alfred (1869 - 1915);  Isabella Jane (1871 - 1877); John Henry (1874 - 1923); Selina Harriet (1877 - 1929, married name Hawdon); Albert (1879, died aged 4 months in 1879); Arthur (1880 - 1931) and Marmaduke Luke (1883 - 1948). (2) John Spencer Oldham died in November 1912 at the age of 74  and his obituary noted that he was a boiler maker and had worked at the Newport  Railway Workshops and was a life member and past president of the Williamstown Mechanics' Institute; and a member of the Loyal Williamstown Manchester Unity Lodge. Harriet had died in November 1909 aged 65. (3)

Ernest attended Williamstown Central State School and Footscray Technical School and became a Fitter and Turner. (4)

Ernest (service number 1162) enlisted on September 18, 1914 in the 7th Battalion, at the age of 26. His next of kin was his brother James, of 109 Hanmer Street, Williamstown.  He embarked on the Themistocles on December 24, 1914, and later arrived at Alexandria on April 5, 1915.  Twenty days later, on what was to become Anzac Day,  Ernest was wounded at Gallipoli, shrapnel wound to his left leg.  This was the incident which was the subject of the report in The Age. Ernest was promoted to Corporal in June 1917 and was Killed in Action in France on June 27, 1918 after 3 years and 9 months of active service. He is buried at the Borre British Cemetery in France. (5)

Death notice  for Ernest

The Argus, July 13, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1401576

With all this information - the fact that he worked at the Railway Workshops at Newport and had just returned after a year in England and Scotland before he enlisted  - it seems unlikely that he could have spent any length of  time in Koo Wee Rup. Let me know in the comments if you have any information about his connection to the Koo Wee Rup area.

Footnotes
(1) The Age, May 28, 1915, see here. 
(2) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages
(3) Williamstown Chronicle, November 9, 1912, see here;  The Australasian, November 13, 1909, see here.
(4) Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial   https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1658302
(5) First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7993871

Koo Wee Rup Great War Honour Board

The Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society houses the Koo Wee Rup Honour Board, which was originally installed in the Memorial Hall. It was unveiled on February 6, 1917, by the Cranbourne Shire President, Cr O'Brien. There were initially 41 names, with eight added soon after. There are now 64 names on the memorial, so another 15 were also added. 

The Koo Wee Rup Honour Board

The Honour Board unveiling

Lang Lang Guardian, February 14 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514233

What follows is the list of the 64 soldiers and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia website www.naa.gov.au   Additional information comes from the Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; and family notices in the newspapers, Nominal and Embarkation Rolls at the Australian War Memorial,   https://www.awm.gov.au/

Backhouse, Geoffrey de Talworth (SN 31615)
Backhouse, Herbert Arthur Burder (SN 612)

Geoffrey enlisted on June 30, 1916 at the age of 26. he was a farmer. He was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1917.

Herbert enlisted on August 20 1914. He was a 23 year old farmer. He Returned to Australia, May 4, 1917 and discharged on medical grounds - myocarditis -  in the August. Herbert married Edith Varley in in 1926 and he died in Mornington in 1961, aged 69. 

The boys were the sons of Talworth Burder Backhouse and his well connected wife, Emily A'Beckett, the daughter of William Arthur Callendar A'Beckett, of The Grange, Berwick, whose father William was the Chief Justice of Victoria. Emily's sister, Emma Minnie, married  the artist Arthur Boyd. Talworth and Emily had their address as Wahroonga, Murrumbeena on Geoffrey's enlistment paper and c/o the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works on Herbert's enlistment paper. Talworth's occupation in the Electoral Roll is an Architect.  Backhouses Road is named for the family.

Death of Geoffrey Backhouse

The Argus, October 29, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1659422

Banbury - surname is actually Bambury

Bambury, Jacob (SN 762) Jacob was a 28 year old labourer when he enlisted on March 15, 1915. His next of kin was his brother Charles of Bayswater. Jacob was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. What was his connection to Koo Wee Rup? That's  a good question and I have no idea. He is the only Bambury to have  died in the War and there are no Banburys that died in the War, and that is why I believe that Jacob is the man on the Honour Board. Jacob was the son of George Bambury and Harriet Simmonds or Simmons and their eight children were all born around Scoresby or Bayswater.  If you have any information on J. Banbury or J. Bambury, then please let me know. Jacob is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Bethune, Alexander John (SN 2833a) Alexander was a 24 year old farmer when he enlisted on July 6, 1916. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919. Alexander married Beatrice Hodgson in 1922 and he died in Leongatha in 1981, aged 90.
Bethune, David Gordon   (SN 1504)  David enlisted on March 22, 1916 at the age of 25. He was a blacksmith.   David was Killed in Action in France on August 22, 1918. David is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

The boys were the sons of  John and Janet (nee Duncan) Bethune of Koo Wee Rup.

Death notice of David Bethune

Koo Wee Rup Sun September 11, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198299

Bicket, William Vaughan (SN 1441) William was a 24 year old farm hand from Koo Wee Rup, when he enlisted on July 13, 1915. His sister, Mrs Richard Ryan, of Essendon was his next of kin. Born in Tungamah, he was the son of William and Bridget (nee Vaughan) Bicket.  William Returned to Australia May 15, 1919.  William died in 1965, aged 74. Surname listed as Bickit on the Embarkation Roll. 

Binder, Arthur Harold Lancelot (SN 3259 / Lieutenant) Arthur enlisted on July 8, 1915 at the age of 21. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs G. S. Binder of Koo Wee Rup, later of Toorak. He was the son of Elijah and Grace Susan (nee Hawkins) Binder.  Arthur was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  Arthur Returned to Australia April 10, 1919. He married Amy Louise Pink in 1920 and died in 1970, aged 78. 

Lieutenant Binder awarded the Military Cross

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 17, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198034

Blake, Sydney (SN 6958) Sydney was a 21 year old farmhand when he enlisted on October 18, 1916. His address was care of Mrs H. Davies of Koo Wee Rup. He was an orphan and his next of kin, his sister Kathleen, was was a nurse at the Mental Hospital in Kew. Sydney Died of Wounds on October 4, 1917 - he had received multiple gun shot wounds. Sydney is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here.  Mrs H. Davies is Helen Davies - sometimes called Ellen - Davies (nee Mathison).  She is listed in the Electoral Rolls at Koo Wee Rup along with her daughter Elizabeth Myra Davies (born 1891 in Campbellfield). Helen's son, Douglas, also enlisted, see below. 

Bryant, J and Bryant, T - surname is actually Bryan. 

Bryan, Edward John (SN 1128) Listed as J. Bryant, so presumably known as John. John was 21 when he enlisted in January 23, 1915. He was a farmer. John died of disease on August 26 1918 - malignant malaria and acute atrophy of the liver.

Bryan, Thomas (SN 1709) Thomas enlisted at the age of 19 on November 6, 1914. His occupation was farm hand. He was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on June 24, 1915.

John and Edward were brothers, the sons of Edmund and Margaret Bryan of Pakenham South. John had his mother listed as his next of kin and Thomas had his father as next of kin. Margaret (nee English) died 1918 aged 56 at Pakenham and Edmund was living at Longwarry when he died in 1937. There is a fair bit of confusion at to whether the surname is Bryan or Bryant - the boys enlisted as Bryan, Margaret and Edmund are in the Electoral Roll as Bryan - although they are listed as Pakenham East not Pakenham South and Thomas had Pakenham East on his enlistment paper - in spite of all this I still believe that John and Thomas Bryan are actually the men listed on the Honour Roll and also the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Callanan, Michael Joseph (SN 2583) Michael enlisted on June 24 1915, he was 24 and the son of John and Lizzie Callanan of Koo Wee Rup and he attended Five Mile (Koo Wee Rup North) State School.  Michael Died of Wounds received in France, on December 3, 1917. Michael is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

In Memoriam notice inserted for Michael Callanan

Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 4, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198640

Carter, A  Not really sure who this is  - the closest I can find, geographically, is Alfred Nathaniel Carter (SN 2467), of Bunyip, but there just doesn't seem to be any Koo Wee Rup connection and I don't really feel he is the man on the Honour Board. Alfred was born in Kent, England and enlisted on July 20, 1915 at the age of 26; his next of kin was his mother Anne, of  Maidstone House, Bunyip.  Alfred attained the rank of Corporal, but he suffered a Shell wound to the right forearm and a Gun shot wound to the right arm, and Returned to Australia December 20, 1917. He was discharged on medical grounds on July 25, 1918. Alfred died on May 14, 1921 at the age of 32 and is buried in the Bunyip Cemetery. His two brothers, William and Frederick also enlisted and I have written about them on the Bunyip War Memorial, post, see here.  There was a Harry and Emma Carter in the 1909 Electoral Roll at Yallock, so maybe A. Carter is connected to them.   

The other option is that this man is actually Arthur Carter Williams (see entry below) who took his step-father's surname and who was Killed in Action on July 8, 1918, after the Honor Roll was unveiled. 

Coates, Lawrence (SN 2623) Lawrence was born in Koo Wee Rup, the son of Lawrence and Mary (nee Wilson) Coates. He enlisted at the age of 21 on July 28, 1915 and his occupation was a farm labourer. Lawrence was Killed in Action in France on August 18, 1916. Lawrence  is also listed on the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here; the Yallock Honour Board, see here and the Yannathan Honour Board, see here.

Lawrence Coates, with his sister Susie.

Australian War Memorial. Photograph DASEY2403

Cochrane, Leslie James  (SN 2162) Les was born in Bentleigh in 1894 to David and Lucy (nee Burgess) Cochrane. The family moved to Caldermeade when he was eight. Les, a farmer, enlisted on May 2, 1916 at the age of 21 and his next of kin was his father.  He served in France and was twice wounded in action. Les Returned to Australia February 15, 1918 and in the December of the same year he married Ivy, the daughter of Harry and Sarah Wildes of Yannathan. Mr Cochrane later became a Cranbourne Shire Councillor and a Member of the Legislative Assembly - you can read more about him here. 

Les Cochrane with Bill Gilchrist and Billy McGree at their Welcome Home in April 1918. 

Read more here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/04/welcome-home-at-koo-wee-rup.html

Davies, Douglas James (SN 1524) Douglas enlisted on March 22, 1916, at the age of 20, and was a farmer and his next of kin was his mother Ellen, of Rossiter Road, Koo Wee Rup, and later of George Street, Fitzroy.  Douglas Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.  Douglas was the son of James and Ellen (nee Mathieson) Davies and had been born in Glenroy (birth registered at Campbellfield). Ellen is at times called Helen on official documents. Sydney Blake (see above)  was living with Ellen/Helen when he enlisted.  Douglas died in 1982, aged 87.

Davis, Percy (SN 96)  Percy enlisted on February 28, 1916 at the age of 21. His occupation on enlistment was a  motor mechanic, working at McLeod Brothers in Sale, where he did his apprenticeship. Percy had been born in Koo Wee Rup to Charles and Mary (nee Dimmick) Davis in 1895; Charles was a farmer.   Percy was Killed Action in France on August 31, 1918. Percy  is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Short obituary of Percy Davis

Koo Wee Rup Sun, September 18, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198741

The death of Percy Davis

The Age, September 24, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155139829

Davy, John Edward  (SN 770)  Jack, as he was known as, enlisted on August 25, 1914. He was a 21 year old farmer, living at Koo Wee Rup. He was the son of Arthur and Julia Davy, of North Melbourne  who later moved to  Marshall Avenue, Kew.  Jack was Killed in Action on the Gallipoli Peninsula on May 4, 1915. Jack is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Death notice of John Davy

The Argus, September 29 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1565397

Denham, Robert Alexander  (SN 392) Robert was born in Koo Wee Rup and was living in Carlton and he 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 (nee Dunlop) 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.  Robert died in 1955, aged 68. Robert is also listed on the Tooradin State School Honour Roll, see here.

Dunlop, Alexander (SN  2811) Alexander, born in Hawthorn, was a 18 year old farmer, when he enlisted on May 8, 1915. He was the son of Alexander and Florence Mary (nee Hooker) Dunlop, and their address when he enlisted was Hawthorne Lodge, Koo Wee Rup. Alexander Returned to Australia March 31, 1919. Alexander married Janet Muir Forrest in 1933 and he died in 1980, aged 83.  Alexander was the first cousin of Robert Denham, above.

Ellett, Alfred (SN 439) Alfred enlisted on January 21, 1916 at the age of 18. His occupation was farmer.  Alf  Returned to Australia January 8, 1919 and he married Grace Forscutt in 1922. He died in 1958, aged 60. 

Ellett, John Alfred 'Jack'  (SN 2773) Jack enlisted on December 14, 1914 at the age of 20. He was also a farmer. Jack had been wounded whilst serving - gun shot wound to the right thigh - and had also suffered from Enteric Fever (typhoid).   Jack Returned to Australia December 3, 1918 and he married Ellen Sayers in 1919. He died in 1965 aged 70. 

Ellett, Robert Henry. (SN 2772 and 2407)  Robert, or Bert as he was called, enlisted twice firstly on October 20, 1914 at the age of 26 and secondly on April 18, 1916. The first time he enlisted he was sent overseas but Returned to Australia December 4, 1915 and was discharged on medical grounds in March 1916 - amongst the conditions mentioned were deafness, rheumatism and asthma. Bert then re-enlisted on April 18, 1916 and was wounded in action - gun shot wound to the right arm - and was  discharged again on medical grounds on December 12, 1917. Robert married Ada Perrin in 1919 and sadly died in 1925, aged only 37.

Alfred, Jack and Robert were the sons of John and Jane (nee Margaret Jane Webster) Ellett of 'Wattle Vale' Pakenham South. John and Jane had moved to McDonalds Drain Road in 1901 and they had fifteen children, of whom all except one survived to adulthood - Rosanna Jane (b. 1887), Robert Henry (1888), Jane (1889), William Edward (1890), John (1891-1892), Dora Mary (1892), John Alfred (1894), Maggie May (1895), Alfred (1897), Alice (1899), Edward (1900), Walter (1902), Harry (1904), Maude (1906) and Minnie (1907). The family had been market gardeners in Springvale, before they came to Pakenham South where they operated the Post Office and store and were involved in many community groups and activities.

A report on Alf's enlistment 

South Bourke and Mornington Journal June 1, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66189972

Franks, Ernest Victor William (SN 5598) Ernest, born in Barkstead, was a 36 year old farmer when he enlisted on August 1, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Elizabeth, of Koo Wee Rup. Ernest was blinded by a gun shot wound in the right eye and Returned to Australia October 31, 1917. After the War, Ernest and Elizabeth lived in Ringwood.  Ernest died in 1956, aged 74.

Garbellini, George  (SN 378)  George enlisted on February 3, 1915 aged 23. He was the second child  of Peter and Jane (nee Crombie) Garbellini of 'Five Mile Drain', Koo Wee Rup. He had eleven siblings - Mina, Joseph, Peter, Mary, Annie, Tony, Kitty, Celia, Andrew, Will and Mathew. George was Killed in Action in France on May 3 1917. George is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here and the Five Mile (Koo Wee Rup North) School Honour Roll, see here.

Death notice for George Garbellini

The Age, June 6 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154974001

Lovely notice from George's friends

The Age, June 9, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154981436

Gilchrist, William John (SN 1648) Known as Bill, he was  born in Collingwood in 1889 to Robert and Florence (nee Hiam) Gilchrist. He was 26 year old farmer when he enlisted on January 13, 1916.  His brother, Albert, of Koo Wee Rup was listed as his next of kin, as his parents were deceased. After serving overseas, Corporal Gilchrist Returned to Australia January 31, 1918. Bill was discharged on medical grounds on May 25, 1918 - his disability was listed as Myocarditis. Bill applied for a Soldier Settler block and was granted 40 acres (Allotments 106 and 119, Section 0, Parish of Koo Wee Rup East, off Little Road in Iona) in May 1921 but had to give up the land due to his on-going ill health two years later. His application form said that he was receiving a pension of 14 shillings per week due to shell shock. There is a photograph of Bill with Les Cochrane and Billy McGree at their Welcome Home in 1918, above. 

Gray, William Albert (SN 218) William enlisted at the age of 22 on January 22, 1918. He was a farm hand and his next of kin was his mother, Margaret, of Koo Wee Rup; he was born in Box Hill to John and Margaret (nee McGown) Gray.  William Returned to Australia April 27, 1919.  In 1919 he married Barbara Mary Dixon and they lived in the Bombala area in New South Wales, where he died in 1963. William is also listed on the Five Mile (Koo Wee Rup North) School Honour Roll, see here.

Gunson, John Livingstone (SN 52823) John enlisted on December 19, 1917 at the age of 20. He was a farmer of Bunyip and his next of kin was his mother Sarah, of Koo Wee Rup. John was born in Maryborough to Daniel and Sarah (nee Nelson) Gunson. Sarah had grown up at Bay View, Jetty Road, Lang Lang and Daniel was a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, whose parish covered Yannathan to the Powlett River.  John Returned to Australia July 3, 1919; he married Flora May Wright in 1930. John died in 1979, aged 81.

Hamilton, Henry Campbell (SN 4719) When Henry enlisted on January 14, 1916 at the age of 39 his occupation was 'Manager, General Store' and his next of kin was his 'friend', Miss O'Riordan of Koo Wee Rup. Miss Margaret O'Riordan soon became his wife as they were married on January 29, 1916 at the Catholic Church in Koo Wee Rup and they had one child together, a little girl called Mary. Henry was listed in the 1914 and 1916 Electoral as a 'horse trainer'  and I assume that he managed O'Riordans store; so did he get that job when he became sweet on Miss O'Riordan or did he get into the family business after they started going out? Perhaps being the manager of a general store provided a more consistent income than being a horse trainer. Henry Died of Wounds on October 8, 1917. Margaret Hamilton took part in the official opening ceremony of the hospital in 1923, opening a ward in honor of her friend, the late Mrs Kitty Townson. Read about Margaret Hamilton, here. Henry is also listed on the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Hannaker, John (SN 5363) John was born in 1871 in St Kilda to Edward and Maggie (nee Hunter) Hannaker; he married Clara Usher in 1893. The couple are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Woodhead Street, North Fitzroy and they were living there when he enlisted at the age of 43 on February 19, 1916.  John was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1917. What is the Koo Wee Rup connection? On John's Attestation papers Clara was listed as the next of kin, her address initially being Woodhead Street, but it was later changed to Koo Wee Rup. In April 1921 she was living in Keith Avenue, Edithvale, and in 1928 with her sons Marcus and Norman in Mentone. However in the 1931 and 1936 Electoral Rolls, Clara is back in Koo Wee Rup, in Boundary Road. It doesn't seem like a very long term connection to Koo Wee Rup, so I feel I must be missing something as John was memorialised not only on the Honour Board, but also the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Jenkins, Thomas  Edward (SN 188) Thomas, born in Koo Wee Rup, was a nineteen year old bricklayer when he enlisted on January 11, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Bella Jenkins, of Boundary Road, Koo Wee Rup.  Annabella Jenkins (nee Thompson), was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Koo Wee Rup at this time, along with husband Thomas, who was a farmer and their daughter, Florence. Thomas was wounded in August 1916 - gun shot wound to face, left hand and right leg - recovered; returned to the battle field - wounded again October 1917 - gun shot wound right hand. Thomas Returned to Australia April 5, 1918 for 'change' and was discharged in the July on medical grounds. Thomas died in 1963 aged 67 at Katunga. Thomas is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup North State School Honour Roll, see here. Thomas is the first cousin of George Smith, see below. 

Welcome home to Tom Jenkins

Lang Lang Guardian June 14, 1918 

read the rest of the article here - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119515575 

Johnson, A  I cannot work out who this is. I believe it is the A. Johnson, mentioned  in the Lang Lang Guardian in July 1915 in a cricket match report of having joined the team at Seymour, that is having enlisted and now at the Seymour military training camp. Then in September 1918, the Koo Wee Rup Sun could report that Gunner A. Johnston, visited his home at Koo Wee Rup, after three months in hospital. I have been through the Nominal Rolls, Embarkation Rolls and the National Archives Attestation files for a soldier with a local connection, but cannot find one. Of course his name may actually have been Johnstone or Johnston. He remains a mystery to me at the moment.

'

A. Johnson, absent from cricket match, as at the Seymour Military Camp.

Lang Lang Guardian, July 14, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119512630

Gunner A.  Johnston - returns to Koo Wee Rup for a visit

Koo Wee Rup Sun, September 4, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198255

Johnson, John Gull Bickford (SN DEPOT)  John was born in Birchip on  July 11, 1893 to Henry George and Fanny (nee Bickford) Johnson.  On his enlistment papers and in a statuary declaration his birthplace is listed at Northgate, even though I cannot find any trace of such a place in Victoria, but I believe this is Northcote, as that's where his sister was born in 1891. The family later moved to Cora Lynn, and their other son, Tudor, is listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, see here. John is listed in the Electoral Rolls from 1914 as a farmer at Koo Wee Rup, however he enlisted in Brisbane under name John Beckford on September 11, 1916. His next of kin was Miss Alice Wilson of Malvern. On February 5, 1917 he signed the statuary declaration that he had enlisted under a false name and his real name was indeed John Gull Bickford Johnson. At some stage he fell from  a train on way from Toowoomba and suffered a fractured skull and an injury to the right knee. The knee injury led to John being discharged from the Army as unfit and he was discharged on medical grounds on May 4, 1917. However, before he was discharged he was granted ten days home leave in January 1917 to be married and other business; he wasn't married during this time - he married 18 year old Elizabeth Annie Dixon in August 1918 at St George's Anglican Church in Koo Wee Rup.  There is also an interesting letter in his file from Molly Squire, of  Charles Street, Seddon, dated September 1918 (over a year after he had been discharged) asking for John's current address, as last she knew was that after training in Queensland, he had come back to to Seymour and got his commission - Lieutenant. So a few mysteries there - why did he enlist under a false name?, who was Alice Wilson?, who was Molly Squire?, who was he planning to marry in January 1917 during his the days of leave and why did the marriage not go ahead?  After the War John and Elizabeth farmed in Koo Wee Rup on Main Drain Road; he died March 25, 1947.

John Gull Bickford Johnson's obituary

Bunyip and Garfield Express, April 4, 1947 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article282210017

Johnson, M.  Another mysterious Johnson (or maybe Johnston or Johnstone). M. Johnson, returned soldier, attended the Patriotic Carnival in Koo Wee Rup in June 1918, but as with A. Johnson, above, I cannot identify who is is.

Returned Soldier, M. Johnson,  attends the Patriotic Carnival

Lang Lang Guardian June 7, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119515552

Keely, Patrick (SN 388) There is a Patrick Keely in the 1916 and 1917 Electoral Rolls at Caldermeade; occupation -  labourer. The only Patrick  Keely (or Keeley) I can find who enlisted is this Patrick, SN 388. Patrick enlisted September 18, 1915 and Returned to Australia July 26, 1919, which doesn't explain why he was listed in the Electoral Rolls when he was overseas. On enlistment, Patrick was aged 25, he was a stableman; his next of kin was his sister Annie Keely of Kildare Ireland, Patrick's birthplace. After the war, various letters in his file gives his location in 1939 at Cairns in Queensland and 1962 at  Frankston. There is a Peter Keeley, born in South Australia, who enlisted; he was a tinsmith, but I feel as there is a Patrick Keely in the Electoral Roll that  he is the most likely one to be on the Honour Board.

Keighery, Christopher (SN 340)  Christopher was born in Dandenong and enlisted on May 13, 1916,  he was 26 years old and a saddler. He Returned to Australia July 5, 1919. Christopher's brother, Frank, was killed at Gallipoli on September 11, 1915. Chris and Frank were the sons of Edward and Annie (nee Elliott) Keighery. Edward and Annie moved to Lang Lang in 1903 where Edward had a Bootmakers shop. In 1920, Chris married Eva Emily Misson and they lived in Koo Wee Rup where he operated a saddlers and bicycle shop. He died in 1958, aged 68.

Chris and Frank Keighery

Lang Lang Guardian May 11, 1918  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119515432

Killeen, Patrick (SN 772)  Patrick was 24, a farmer and he enlisted on October 1, 1914. Patrick, born in Queensland, was the son of Thomas and Maria (nee Moore) Killeen and his next of kin was listed as his father, who lived in Koo Wee Rup. Patrick Returned to Australia on July 3, 1919. He died in 1970, aged 80. Patrick was also listed on the Koo Wee Rup North State School Honour Roll, see here.

Leversha, Percy Daniel (SN 417) Percy was born in Woodbrook, near Castlemaine and enlisted on August 12, 1916 at the age of 27. He was a farmer. His father, Robert, also of Woodbrook was his next of kin; his mother was Maria Albina (nee Waters or Walters). Percy Returned to Australia December 24, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds - Acute Rheumatism. After the War he married Alice Hilda Pellas in 1921 and they lived in various Melbourne suburbs;  and  he was employed by the Victorian Railways.  Percy died in 1977, aged 88. What was the Koo Wee Rup connection? Percy was listed in the 1916 and the 1921 Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup, with his occupation as a farmer. His brother Herbert and his wife Lily, were also at Koo Wee Rup from 1916 until at least 1920. 

Loveday, Cyril William (SN 7532) Cyril was 21 when he enlisted on July 3, 1917. He had been born in Batesford and was an engine driver. He Returned to Australia December 12, 1918, His next of kin was his father William Bolden Loveday of Koo Wee Rup; his mother was Elizabeth (nee Founds). They were listed in the Electoral Rolls in 1909 at Tooradin; 1914 in Cardinia and 1918 at Pakenham South. Cyril married Elvine Mary Mortensen in 1925; they lived in Koo Wee Rup and then Moonee Ponds.  Cyril died in 1966 aged 70.

Lyall, Cecil Theodore (SN 39203) Cecil was the son of Theodore Lyall (who was the son of William Lyall of Harewood) and his wife Mabel Barbara Norquay; he was born in Lang Lang in July 1898.Cecil enlisted at the age of 18 on September 27, 1916. His mother was his next of kin, his father having died in August 1915. Even though Mrs Lyall gave permission for Cecil to enlist, she sent a letter on October 4, 1916 to the Officer in Command at Seymour, stating that I shall not give my permission for my son to leave Australia until he attains his nineteenth birthday 13th July 1917. I believe parents have that privilege. However, she relented and on March 18, 1917 Mrs Lyall wrote again giving Cecil permission to go abroad with the A.I.F. Cecil finally embarked at the end of 1917. He Returned to Australia July 7, 1919. Cecil married Gladys Eva Sutherland in 1925; they lived in New South Wales where they farmed at Goolgowi, north of Griffith. He died in 1941 and is buried at the Griffth Cemetery.

Mallcott, Claude Gibson (SN 3824) Claude enlisted on February 10, 1916. He was 21 years old, a labourer, and had been born at Koo Wee Rup. His next of kin was his father, William James Mallcott, of Mount View, Koo Wee Rup; his mother was Mary Ann (nee Girvan).  Claude Returned to Australia June 23, 1919. After the War Claude lived in Koo Wee Rup; he married Elsie Mary Williams in 1925 and in 1931 they were living in Dandenong and Claude was employed by the Victorian Railways. Claude died in 1973, aged 79.

McGree, William Francis  (SN 3110). Known as Billy, he  was born in Launceston, in December 1893 to Michael and Mary (nee Walsh) McGree. He was a 23 year old farm labourer, when he enlisted at Dandenong on February 2, 1917 and his next of kin listed was his father, who lived at Karoola in Tasmania.  Billy served overseas and was wounded in action (gun shot wound to left leg) in France. He Returned to Australia February 15, 1918. Billy was given a Soldier Settlement Farm in 1918 and like William Gilchrist, had to give up his land in July 1921 due to ill health. His land was of 84 acres, Allotment 23a, Section J, Parish of Koo Wee Rup - off the Pakenham-Koo Wee Rup Road. Billy married Elizabeth Margaret (Maggie) Neal in 1919 and he died in Ararat in 1957 aged 63. There is a photograph of Billy with Les Cochrane and Bill Gilchrist at their Welcome Home in 1918, above.

Marshall, Frank (SN 2458) Frank was born in Malvern and enlisted at Tumbarumba, NSW on May 5, 1916, but his address was Cora Lynn. He was a 26 year old labourer, and his father, Samuel, was his next of kin whose address was railway Camp, Tumbarumba, so we can assume that both men were working for the Railways up there. The line from Forest Hill, near Wagga Wagga opened in stages from 1917 to 1921, Tumbarumba being the last station on line (see here).  Frank Returned to Australia June 23, 1919 and lived at Cora Lynn with his brother George.  He died in 1950, aged 62. 

Marshall, George (SN 1780) George was born in Rhynie in South Australia in December 1883, and enlisted at the age of 31 on January 11, 1915. His next of kin was his father, Samuel of Koo Wee Rup, but George lived at Cora Lynn. He was wounded in 1915 - a gun shot wound, left side under his arm and another in his left arm. On September 9, 1915 he was sent home to Australia for change  and discharged on medical grounds on January 5, 1916 - due to the bullet wounds and debility. After the War George returned to Cora Lynn and was there in 1934 as there is a statuary declaration in his file that he lost his discharge and other papers in the 1934 flood at Cora Lynn. He later moved to Bullumwaal in East Gippsland. George died in 1967, aged 83.

Frank and George were the sons of  Samuel and Mary Jane (nee Black) Marshall. They were listed in the Electoral Rolls at Koo Wee Rup from around 1909.

From Frank Marshall's Attestation file, proving the Cora Lynn connection.

Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Martin, Charles Richard  (SN 3197) Richard enlisted on October 18, 1916, aged 32. He was a farmer from Koo Wee Rup and his next of kin was his brother, Isaac, of Harford in Tasmania, which was also where Richard was born. Richard was Killed in Action in France on April 4, 1918. Richard is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Short obituary for Charles Martin

North Western Advocate (Tasmania), April 19, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65104987

Moore, James Campbell (SN 7100) James was a 31 year old labourer when he enlisted on October 13, 1916 at Maryborough in Queensland. He had been born in Collingwood in 1885 to Alexander and Mary (nee Brown) Moore. James suffered a gun shot wound to his spine and as a result was sent home to Australia and discharged on medical grounds on November 24, 1918, the injury having caused  what was listed as Spasts Paraplegra. His parents and some other siblings are in the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup from around 1913 and during the War years;  Alexander's occupation was a farmer. Alexander died in 1920, but two of his sons, Joseph and Alexander junior, remained farming in the area. The family had previously lived in Kensington where Alexander was stationed as a Police Sergeant. However there was an earlier connection to the town of Koo Wee Rup as Alexander's daughter (and James' sister) Margaret had married Joseph Morrison, the blacksmith at Koo Wee Rup in 1907, and she had thus been living in the town since then. Sadly she died in 1926, aged 47. James himself died on August 30,1934 at his home in Coolangatta, and his informative obituary, below, tells us something of his life after the War, and the effects of his injuries.

James Campbell Moore obituary and his sad death

Tweed Daily, September 1, 1934 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192458990

Morden, John Patrick (SN 5138) John enlisted on February 7, 1916 at the age of 24. He had been born at St James and his occupation was a plate layer (someone who lays and maintains railway lines). He was medically discharged on December 12, 1917, having served in France and been wounded in the right knee by shrapnel; but the cause of his discharge was diabetes, a report said that on enlistment he weighed 10 stone 7 pounds but now weighted 8 stone 11 pounds and was under nourished and always thirsty. Sadly, John died in Koo Wee Rup on October 16, 1919 at the age of 28, from his diabetes and was buried at the Pakenham Cemetery.

Morden, William Henry (SN 22951) William, born in Millbrook, also worked for the Victorian Railways where he was a porter. He enlisted at the age of 20 on December 9, 1915. He Returned to Australia May 12, 1919. William died in 1957, aged 62.

John and William were the sons of John and Norah (nee O'Brien) Morden. John senior was a ganger with the Victorian Railways and was stationed at Koo wee Rup during the War years. Along with John and William there were also nine other children - James, Clement, Mary, Daisy, Kitty, Nellie, Beryl, Statsia and Maggie. 

John Morden's obituary

Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 22, 1919, p. 1

Osborn, George Sydney (SN 2933) Listed as Osborne on the Honour Board.  George, born in Koo Wee Rup, enlisted at the age of 21 on October 3, 1916. George Died of Wounds on November 6, 1917. His parents were George and Mary (nee Swanston) Osborn.  Osborn Road between Koo Wee Rup and Bayles is named after the family. George's brother Percy was a cyclist of some note and competed in the 1928 Tour de France with  Hubert Opperman, Ern Bainbridge, and Harry Watson. George is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Touching death notices for George Osborn

The Argus, November 27 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1665589

O'Shea, John (SN 3350)  John was born in May 1896 in  Koo Wee Rup to Ellen and Michael O'Shea. His next of kin was his father, Michael, also of Koo Wee Rup, however when he enlisted at the age of 21 on October 25, 1917 he (John) was living at Balldale (north of Corowa) in New South Wales. Ellen was also living in Balldale in 1917 (not sure if Michael was also, or if they had separated).  John Died of Wounds August 7, 1918. John is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

O’Toole, Michael Thomas (SN 6920 or 6920A) Michael was born in Koo Wee Rup and enlisted firstly on January 21, 1917 when he was 20. He was discharged on June 15, 1917 as he was underage and his widowed mother, Mary, had not given consent.  In fact she wrote three letters to the Officer in Charge at the Seymour Camp, asking him to be discharged as he was her main support, she had younger children to look after and a farm which was at a standstill as there was no one to work it. She also noted that she had another son at the Front and her other son was at the point of sailing when he went off his mind a bit and is now in a receiving home. Mrs O'Toole ended the letter by stating that -  I think I have done a fair thing for the War. In spite of all this Michael re-enlisted on September 10, 1917, 2 days before he was 21, with his mother's consent, and served overseas and Returned to Australia July 22, 1919.
O’Toole, Patrick (SN 165) Patrick was born in Williamstown, but was living in Junee in New South Wales when he enlisted on January 1, 1917 at the age of 23. His occupation was a fireman and he served in the 6th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, so presumably worked for the Railways. Patrick Returned to Australia July 1, 1919.

Michael and Patrick were brothers, the sons of  Patrick and Mary (nee Tracy) O'Toole. I really feel for Mary and the awful predicament she was in - trying to keep the farm and look after her children. I can also see why Michael wanted to enlist - whether it was patriotism or just a sense of adventure. When Patrick enlisted in January 1917, Mary was his next of kin and her address was Koo Wee Rup, however  by the September of that year she had moved to 73 Carter Street, Albert Park. I don't know what happened  to her but I hope she had some happiness in her life.

Preston, Henry (SN 3209). Henry enlisted on October 21, 1916. He was a 36 year old labourer, born in Scotland, and his next of kin was his wife Eva (nee Towsey); he was living in Young Street, Fitzroy at the time. Henry Returned to Australia September 5, 1919 and he died in 1962, aged 82.
Preston, Robert Walter (SN 2635) Robert, born in Maryborough, Victoria, was a 25 year old farmer when he enlisted on June 14, 1916. His next of kin was initially his father, Robert, also of Koo Wee Rup and later his wife, Grace (nee Wilson) whom he married in 1916. Robert Returned to Australia May 12, 1919. Robert died in 1958, aged 68. 

Henry and Robert were the sons of  Robert and Martha (nee Dick) Preston. The Prestons had arrived in Koo Wee Rup in 1905 and had a farm on the South Gippsland Highway, in the vicinity of Preston Road which is named for the family. They had migrated from Scotland and had lived in Queensland, before moving to Victoria.  The family consisted of Robert and Martha  and their children - Jim, Jack, Henry, Jessie, Maggie and Bob. I have written about the family here.

Rundle, James  (SN 4758) James, born in Daylesford,  was a 31 year old Theatrical Agent when he enlisted on September 24, 1915 - not an occupation you see listed very often. His next of kin was initially his mother, Jessie McDonald Rundle, of Koo Wee Rup and later his wife, Margaret. Margaret lived in Queensland, which is where James enlisted. James Died of Wounds on November 14, 1916. Jessie (nee Campbell) and her husband James Charles Rundle, who was a farmer, are listed in the Electoral  Roll at Koo Wee Rup from 1912 to 1918. When Jessie died in 1922, they were living in Traralgon. James is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here.  There was a touching short obituary to James in the Dandenong Advertiser, below.

Obituary of James Rundle of Five Mile (Koo Wee Rup North)

Dandenong Advertiser, March 1, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88664576

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. Joseph and Thomas are also listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, see here. 

Slocombe, Bernard Griffiths (SN 6592) Listed as J. Slocombe but I believe that this is Bernard Slocombe who was a 22 year old farm hand when he enlisted on March 6, 1916.  His next of kin was his wife, Margaret, from Koo Wee Rup, although she had various addresses listed at various times many up in the Buchan area, which is where Bernard was born.  Bernard was Killed in Action in France on October 4, 1917.  Margaret (nee Hopkins) then married Arthur Edwin Charman  in 1920, at one stage before her marriage to Arthur her address was c/o Mr S Charman of Koo Wee Rup. This was Stephen Charman, the father of Arthur and Margaret's uncle and thus her second husband was her first cousin (not so unusual for those times). Bernard is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here. 

Smith, George (SN 15590) George was born in 1898 to George and Mary (nee Thompson) Smith. He enlisted when he was 18 years of age on June 18, 1917. His occupation was a labourer. His next of kin was his widowed mother Mrs Mary Smith of Westgarth, later changed (due to her death) to Mrs Bella Jenkins, his aunt, of  Koo Wee Rup. George Returned to Australia August 1, 1919. After the War he lived in Perth, Western Australia and he died in Subiaco, a Perth suburb in 1946, aged 48. There is one discrepancy, his Attestation papers note his birth place as Koo Wee Rup, but the Victorian Index to Births, Deaths and Marriages say that he was born in Carlton at the Women's Hospital.  Bella Jenkins - this was Annabella Jenkins (nee Thompson), listed in the Electoral Rolls at Koo Wee Rup at this time, along with husband Thomas, who was a farmer and their daughter, Florence; their son Thomas Jenkins, also enlisted, see above.

Funeral notice of Mary Smith, George's mother.

The Argus, October 3 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1653503

Turner, Benjamin (SN 1188) Benjamin was born in Yorkshire, England. He enlisted on July 13, 1915 when he was 31 years old. He was a farmer and his next of kin listed was his friend, Miss V. Stephenson, Five Mile, Koo Wee Rup. Benjamin Returned to Australia May 15, 1919. Benjamin and Violet married on October 12, 1920, at her parents home in Ballarto Road.  Benjamin presented his new bride with an organ, an unusual gift for a wedding present. They settled on their 63 acre farm at Koo Wee Rup North; this was a Soldier Settler Farm and you can read his file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here. Benjamin enlisted in the Australian Army to serve in World War Two, from March 1942 to June 1943. He died in 1971, aged 86.

Benjamin Turner and Violet Stephenson's wedding.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 11, 1920, p.2

Verinder, Charles Henry (SN 6758) Charles, a blacksmith, was born in Brunswick in 1893 to Francis and Eliza (nee Fleming) Verinder.  Charles, known as Harry, was 21 years old when he enlisted on July 3, 1915. His next of kin was his widowed mother, Eliza, of McFarlane Street, West Brunswick; his father Francis having died in 1894. Harry Returned to Australia May 15, 1919. He married Elizabeth Raines in 1925 and she sadly died on May 11, 1936, leaving behind Dulcie and baby Francis. Harry remarried in 1941 to Reta Myrtle Evans (nee Bayfield). Charles died in 1974, aged 80. The only mystery which remains is what is Harry's connection to Koo Wee Rup. I can only presume he was employed as a blacksmith in the town. He was an inaugural member of the Koo Wee Rup Caledonian Society formed in April 1914  (Bunyip Free Press, April 23, 1914, see here)  

Death notice of Elizabeth Verinder, Charles' wife.

The Argus, May 12, 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11033937

Ward, Albert Edmund (SN 2899 or 2899A) Albert was a 22 year old farm hand when he enlisted on October 3, 1916. He was born in Neerim South to Robert and Ellen (nee Cotchin) Ward.  His of kin on his enlistment papers was his father Robert, living in Neerim South. Albert Returned to Australia July 22, 1919. Albert was listed in the 1916 Electoral Roll as farm hand at Koo Wee Rup. The only way I know for sure that the Albert listed in the Electoral Roll and the Albert who enlisted were the same man is from a notation on his Attestation paper (see below) -in answer to Question 10 - Do you now belong to, or have you served in His Majesty's Army  the answer was No. Reg V.T. Koo Wee Rup exempt area. Not  actually sure what that means, but it does link him to Koo Wee Rup.  Albert died in 1966, aged 72. Albert's father, Robert, was a pioneer of the Neerim South district, and the Gippsland Independent of July 25, 1918, had a report of his farewell function when he was leaving the district (read it here)

Albert Ward's Attestation papers. 

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Whelan, Herbert Allan (SN 341)  Allan (as he was known) enlisted on May 18, 1916. He was 23 years old, born in Lang Lang and his next of kin was his father, Thomas, of Rutherglen. His mother, Sarah (nee Pell) had died in 1906.  Allan's occupation on his Enlistment papers was a Hairdresser, although he was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Lang Lang at this time as a Teamster. Allan was taken Prisoner of War on April 15, 1917 and repatriated back to England on Christmas Day, 1918. He Returned to Australia February 7, 1919.  After the War, Allan moved to Maryborough, and his occupation was a Motor Proprietor.  He married Margaret Elizabeth Nicholls in 1927, who sadly died September 7, 1928. In 1930 he married Helena Sarah Neyland. Allan and Helena lived in Carisbrook, where he was a Motor Mechanic. Allan died in 1965, aged 72. 

Williams, Arthur Carter (SN 147) Arthur enlisted on October 1, 1914,  he was a 26 year old farmer and his next of kin was his step father, William George Williams.  There is another enlistment paper dated June 10, 1915 and his next of kin was his mother, Jessie Charlotte Williams.  Arthur was Killed in Action in France  on July 8, 1918.   What was Arthur William's Koo Wee Rup connection? His Roll of Honour circular that the family filled out has Koo Wee Rup listed as the answer to the question 'With what town or district in Australia was his name chiefly connected?' so clearly the family had some connection to the town. The same form says his step father 'but regarded as his real father' was a retired State School teacher, so he was possibly a teacher at Koo Wee Rup. Arthur was born in Stawell, his real father was Joshua Whitby Carter and his mother had married his step father in 1894 - so I don't feel that Joshua was the Koo Wee Rup connection.  In Arthur's enlistment papers it says that his Will was with Miss Alice Thewlis of Pakenham.  Was Alice his girl friend or financee?  Alice (born 1893) was the daughter of James and Susannah (nee Young) Thewlis who had arrived in Pakenham from Euroa around 1912.  Her brother Syd Thewlis was later a Shire of Berwick Councillor. So I am assuming that Arthur farmed in the Pakenham/Koo Wee Rup area and that Alice was his girlfriend. Arthur is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here.    

This is what I wrote when I originally did this blog post. I have new information supplied Jennie Carter, on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society Facebook page in April 2026 - Arthur Carter Williams is a great uncle. His biological father Joshua Whitley Carter died when he was only 4 years old and mother Charlotte (Jessie) nee Robinson remarried. Arthur and another brother Osmond took the stepfather George Williams surname. Connections to Koo Wee Rup is Arthur's older sister Charlotte Carter who married Samuel Henry Mills and died in Koo Wee Rup. Also his brother Osmond married Minnie Thewlis who was a sister to Alice. Whether Alice who was Executor of the will was friend, girlfriend or financee we will never know. Thank you, Jennie.

Woods, Charles Gordon (SN 2252) Charles was a 20 year grocer when he enlisted on April 14, 1915 - four months later he was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula - the date was listed as August the 8th or 9th, 1915. His next of kin was his father, Charles, of Essendon. Charles' connection to Koo Wee Rup is explained in this article which appeared in the Lang Lang Guardian of September 22, 1915 (see here) -

Amongst the Fallen - Private Woods
We deeply regret to record the death in action at the Dardanelles of one of our Koo Wee Rup boys, Pte Charles Gordon Woods, son of Mr & Mrs C. Woods of Essendon and nephew of Mr and Mrs Stephens of Koo Wee Rup and Mr and Mrs Christin of Dalmore. He offered his services about six months ago and was not then accepted, but shortly afterwards, again offered himself and was passed. He was in camp at Broadmeadows and was afterwards transferred to Seymour, in the 7th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements. He left for Egypt in June and in a letter received from him, dated July 14, he gave a very interesting description of his travels in that land. Again in a letter dated 30th August he mentioned he was sailing for the Front on September 1st so that he could not have been at the Front more than two or three days when he fell for his Country. After leaving School he went to work in The Age office but this did not agree with his health and about four years ago he came to his uncle, Mr Stephens at Koo Wee Rup for whom he worked up to the time he enlisted. He is the first local soldier who has fallen in his country's cause and deep feelings of regret have been expressed by his large circle of friends.

Charles is also listed on the Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital plaque, see here.