This blog is a companion to the Database of Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington

Monday, May 30, 2011

He was only nineteen: Private Will Manderson

Rod Martin tells the story of young Will Manderson, a 'Fair Dinkum', who enlisted at the age of 18, and who died at the age of 19.  His body was removed from its original burial site to the one above at Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy,  France.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Pte Frank Archer - Missing In Action, Bullecourt, 1917

Dora Archer's husband kept her well supplied with letters and postcards (such as the one above) while he was away on Active Service, but one day the letters stopped coming.  Rod Martin tells Dora's poignant story here.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

St Paul's Church of England, Ascot Vale - Honour Roll


A page for the volunteers who were members of St Paul's Church of England in Roxburgh St, Ascot Vale, has been loaded onto the webpage and can be accessed here.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Did this man die at Bullecourt?

Why did George Abbott enlist in 1915, and then desert?  Why did he rejoin the army under another name, George T Connors, and desert again?

Rod Martin asks these questions and more in his new article "Private George Abbott - the man who wasn't there?"

When George Connors was released from a one month prison sentence in August 1916, the MPs picked him up as George Abbott and returned him to training. 

Who was he really?

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The Charge of the Light Horse, Beersheba, 1917

Trooper Herbert James Teather, of Moonee Ponds, embarked with the Camel Corps in December 1916.  After a short period of training he was transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, and took part in the legendery last charge of the light horse at Beersheba in October 1917.  Read Rod Martin's story of Trooper Teather's part in the battle for Beersheba, and learn his fate.