MUIOOF Loyal Albert Lodge

Elizabeth Street, Moonee Ponds is on the far left of the MMBW plan dated 1904. Source:  State Library of Victoria, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/125450

 

 

Members of the Loyal Albert Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows arranged a roll of honour of their members who volunteered for the war.  Although the whereabouts of the board is not known, it can be seen in the background of photos in the Essendon Hist. Society collection, taken inside the hall.  For the full list go here.

'Other rank' wounded in shelling

Ruins of a dye works at Erquinghem, December 1916, AWM H15704.

Private Arthur William Findlay of Kensington was wounded at Erquinghem, France, in 1916 while serving in the 22nd Infantry Battalion.  Rod Martin has traced his service from enlistment, through a sojourn in Gallipoli, then France, until being wounded in the jaw by a shell.  You can read Arthur Findlay's story here.

Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church - For God and Empire

The Honour Roll, pictured in a pamphlet published for the unveiling, in the collection of the Essendon Hist. Society Inc. The Honour Roll and the Church were destroyed by an arsonist in 2004.

The unveiling of the Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church took place on Wednesday 15 September, 1920. Corporal F W Edmonds gave an organ recital which included pieces composed by Handel and Mendelssohn.    Captain-Chaplain W Fraser said the first prayer.  Colonel Chaplain D Macrae Stewart gave the address, and Senator-Brigadier H E Elliott, CB, CMG, DSO, DM, performed the unveiling.

D Macrae Stewart was the minister of the Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church from 1881 to 1903, immediately preceding Chaplain William Fraser.  Stewart served as a Chaplain in Gallipoli and France, but returned to Australia in 1916 when appointed the Senior Chaplain of the 3rd Military District (ie, Victoria).

The honour roll was an opus sectile, beautifully crafted from tiles.  This one was unusual in that it had the colour patches of the AIF represented in a block of tiles just above the legend "The Great War".  Another church in the district with an opus sectile is St Thomas' Church of England in Moonee Ponds.