The Empire Called and I Answered

Commonwealth War Graves Commission - website revamped

2012-02-01T20:02:00.000+11:00

TheCWGC website has undergone a major redesign aimed at improving the user experience and the ease of finding information about the men and women we commemorate. It has been made more colourful, dynamic and easy to navigate with more features available in the search functions. The URL has not changed.

British WW1 propaganda posters

2012-01-31T20:48:00.000+11:00

In 2006, King's College, London, purchased a collection of colour propaganda posters from the Moravian Church of North America. The posters were collected by the Reverend Kenneth G Hamilton (1892-1975), while working as a YMCA chaplain during World War One, and at some stage were placed with the Moravian Church. You can see them on their very interesting website, The Serving Soldier, which will doubtless reward a little exploration.

Christmas billies UPDATE

2012-01-27T16:09:00.000+11:00

Alexandra Club Christmas billy, possibly at Gallipoli. The Alexandra Club had a program to provide billies to interested citizens to fill with gifts for soldiers at Gallipoli. According to an article in The Argus newspaper on 22 September 1915, 20 000 billies had been distributed up to that date. Australian War Memorial Collection

The Essendon Gazette published letters of thanks soldiers sent to local people:

"Mrs. Tankard, 44 The Parade, Ascot Vale, received the following:-- A note to thank you for the billy can and the many useful things which it contained. I am afraid your billy can should have gone to someone else, because on your postcard you, wrote "Dear Hero." I don't think I am quite a hero yet. It is not three months since I left Australia, and I have never been to Gallipoli, or fought for my country elsewhere. I am simply a common private who is waiting his turn. However, I think there was no short age of billy cans. So as the real hero did not go without, perhaps I have not done much harm. I was surprised to find that so many useful things could be put into one small billy. I tried to put them all in again after I had emptied them out. I found I hadn't enough billy cans. One thing that I found in my can will be a source of pleasure to me these evenings. That is the insect powder. I did not forget to give my tame fleas a merry Xmas, I can assure you. PRIVATE H. O GREGORY."

CHRISTMAS BILLIES. (1916, March 16). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4

A group of soldiers at Lemnos with their Christmas billies. They are wearing the lids on their heads.
From the Australian War Memorial Collection.

UPDATE: Pte Leslie Morgan of Essendon listed the items in his Christmas billy in a letter to his parents:

"There I got a billy, packed and sent by Mrs. Weir, of Deniliquin, N.S.W. It contained - Cake of nut milk chocolate, butter scotch, lead pencil, pad and envelopes, mouth organ, safety pins, pair socks, wash towel, bootlaces, tin sardines, cherrywood pipe, tin tobacco, handkerchief, tube of soup tablets. Not bad, was it?"

Ottoman War medal

2012-01-24T20:32:00.001+11:00

This Ottoman War medal was awarded for bravery or merit in action from 1915. Ern Warry brought this home from Egypt. They were often taken from Turkish prisoners or dead bodies for souvenirs. It is not known how Ern came by this souvenir.

Commemorative scroll for Arthur Hill

2012-01-20T09:35:00.000+11:00

This scroll accompanied a memorial plaque, sent to Arthur's father Thomas Hill. Arthur had enlisted as a sixteen year old, and was killed in France four months short of his 17th birthday.

Stretcher bearer rescues own brother

2012-01-10T20:11:00.000+11:00

Stretcher bearers placing a patient on a stretcher near Ypres, 1918. AWM Collection

"Mr. J. Markham, Bacchus Marsh, has just been informed that his brother, Andrew, who was previously reported missing, and later on a Prisoner of War, was killed in Action on 11th April last. The detail supplied by the Red Cross Bureau show that the lost soldier was wounded, and rescued by his own brother (Corporal. Steven A. Markham, who was a stretcher bearer) and placed in safety in a dug-out, which was afterwards retaken by the Germans, and it is here that the confusion arose about him being a Prisoner of War. Corporal S. A. Markham (the stretcher bearer previously referred to) won the Military Medal at Gallipoli, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Bullecourt, for his exceptional bravery in recovering wounded men; but his brilliant career was brought to an end at the battle of Messines. Letters recently received from his superior officers speak in the very highest terms of praise of his conduct and general regret at his death. Two other brothers of this family are still in the ranks".

THE EMPIRE'S CALL. (1917, December 1). The Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74227187

Details of the three Markham brothers who served in the AIF can be found here.

"Cab, cab, right into Brunswick!"

2012-01-02T18:55:00.000+11:00

Men of 11 Platoon, C Company, 21st Battalion, AIF, moving a

collapsible boat away from the torpedoed Southland.

Australian War Memorial Collection.

THE LIGHTER SIDE.
How the "Anzacs" Saw It.
BY A WOUNDED "RETURNED."

Late, in August a fresh draft of troops left camp at Heliopolis en route for the front. As they passed the Luna Park hospital they greeted their wounded comrades with rounds of cheers. One man swathed in bandages leaned from a window and called   out, "Are you mugs off at last?" The reply went back, "Yes, we are going to dish the Turks who gave yon blokes a hiding." "Are you downhearted?" yelled the man from the window. The warriors to be were taken in completely. "No," they cried in chorus. The bandaged man grinned with triumph. At the top of his voice he shouted, "Well, you soon will be." Anzac humour is ironic and poignant, but purely Australian.

It was men from that same brigade who had good reason to be downhearted a few days later. They were aboard the torpedoed transport Southland. This is how they showed it. When the rescuing ships arrived they found men facing death to the strains of "Tipperary" and ''Australia will be There." One boat party at least was thinking of home. The cries from old Broadmeadows were not forgotten. They were shouting "Cab, cab, right into Brunswick, right into Brunswick," and " 'ot pie or a pastie."

Having transhipped to a light, fast vessel the men of one unit left Mudros a few evenings later for the front. A submarine guard was posted around the vessel to the extreme disgust of the unfortunate few. One man took mild vengeance. Waiting until a certain nervous subaltern was behind him he raised his rifle and took meticulous aim apparently at some object in the water. The officer became excited, and anxiously asked the man what he was aiming at. The reproachful look he gave the man when he learned that it was only a piece of seaweed spoke volumes.

The battalion landed that night, and the next day saw a fatigue party going to the beach for stores. An observer on Gaba Tepe saw them, and Beachy Bill opened out with shrapnel. This was their first taste of shell fire. The strategic retreat back to the shelter of a communication trench was one of the quickest movements seen on the peninsula. One man who was noted for his "good oil" about racehorses shook his head sorrowfully at the sky where the shells were bursting! "This is no place for a parson's son," he declared solemnly. "They'll miss me in   the old home," he ruminated a little later. They'll see me name on the roll of honour, and be sorry they ever cut me off."

It was a hot, broiling day when the battalion wound its way wearily up Bridges road, to the head of the gully, each man was in full marching order - 200 rounds of ammunition, four days' rations, and firewood. How each man longed for the time when he could strip himself of impeding habiliments and stand half naked in the sun like the grinning veterans from the landing standing by. A well-preserved new arrival raised the first laugh. "How far to the next pub?" he asked plaintively as the perspiration rolled down his face. A brown, bearded boy answered him, "Yer'll get a ration of rum before yer go out on a charge, cobber."

It was General McCay who said that the keenest soldier possible was the Australia during his first week at Anzac. He will watch like a hawk, and snipe continuously. All fatigue work is done by eager volunteers. Then he becomes at home in the trenches, and is a little wily. Men need to   be detailed. One night a new arrival was observing from his post when he heard a rattling among the empty bully beef tins just in front of the sandbags. Crack, bang, crack went his rifle as he emptied his magazine into the spot, and the tins strewn in front rattled like castanets. Then there was silence. "Yell out Allah, yer cow," he cried as he let loose another fusillade. Patrolling officers rushed to the spot, and being unable to see anything warned the man against hallucinations. A careful scrutiny next morning, however, revealed the body of the midnight marauder. There was a mutilated rat 6ft. in front of the parapet.

The schemes to lighten work were many. Carrying ammunition up to the firing line was a job which would make, a coal lumper grunt. There were thousands of rounds   of captured Turkish ammunition, and several Turkish rifles about the trenches. These were quickly commandeered, and made to serve a double purpose. They saved the olders the need of going down the gully for cartridges, and enabled them to keep their own rifles clean. Owing to the broken hours of duty sleep was naturally not hard to woo. During the bombardments men hiding in dug-outs and saps waited anxiously to see the destructive effect of the shells on the trenches. It was they who had to do the rebuilding. While a heavy bombardment was on one day a shell was heard to burst with a roar in the trenches. Sitting at the mouth of a sap one man was heard to say sorrowfully to himself, "There goes my bit of shut-eye."

THE LIGHTER SIDE. (1916, January 19). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 7.

Christmas at Abbassiah, 1915

2011-12-21T16:23:00.000+11:00


Pte Bert Manderson and his youngest brother, Bill, before embarkation.

Bert Manderson's older brother Ern arrived in Egypt in time for the brothers to celebrate Christmas 1915 together. On Boxing Day they had a photo taken with friends during a camel ride near the Pyramids. A few months later they re-embarked for France. Greg Manderson tells the story of his grandfather's war with the aid of Bert's diary. You can read the full story here.

WW1 Pictorial Honour Rolls

2011-12-17T12:14:00.000+11:00

Cpl Kenneth Yates of Essendon

A useful site for either posting photos or searching for photos of WW1 servicemen is this one for WW1 Pictorial Honour Rolls. They are organised alphabetically by state. You can also search by name. Many of the photos are from well-known sources, but many are from private sources.

Lost Heroes of the Great War

2011-12-17T12:05:00.000+11:00

There must be many WW1 group photos out there in which one soldier is known and the others are unknown. This photo shows Corporal James Anderson on the front right, but who are the others? If you have photos like this, an interesting site where you might post them is Lost Heroes of the Great War.

Private John Christian Herweg, 23 Bn

2011-12-12T14:14:00.001+11:00

Private John Christian Herweg, brother of Lance Corporal Robert Herweg, was another boy soldier who enlisted at the age of 17 and died of illness in Heliopolis a few months later. You can read his story here.

Lance Corporal R H Herweg, 14th Bn

2011-12-12T10:54:00.001+11:00

Lance Corporal Herweg was a six foot blacksmith's striker from Moonee Ponds. He landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula with his Battalion on 26 April 1915, and a couple of days later was sent to relieve Quinn's Post. See his story here.

The boy soldier

2011-12-11T10:19:00.001+11:00

Private Arthur Hill aged 16, taken in Melbourne circa 1916.

A certain amount of connivance on the part of the authorities allowed a 16 year old boy to embark for active service in March 1916. His father Thomas had already departed with the AIF in 1915. You can read their stories at the above links.

Captain Reginald Walter Jones, 14th Battalion

2011-12-04T13:34:00.001+11:00

Captain Reginald Walter Jones of the 14th Infantry Battalion was an electrician from Essendon. The History of the 14th Infantry Battalion, AIF says:

"An Original, he enlisted as a private, but his ability soon brought him to the front. A deadly rifle shot, he did much effective sniping on the Peninsula. He had been wounded several times,but it never altered his outlook on life. He was noted for his daring in a Brigade of brave men, but his daring was always controlled by intelligence. Much scouting and reconnaissance work must be placed to his credit during his long and honourable career with the Battalion".

Jones served with Albert Jacka VC throughout much of the war. His two brothers, also in the 14th Battalion, were killed in action. You can see details of Jones' career here.

Villers-Bretonneux, 1918

2011-11-28T23:33:00.001+11:00

Villers-Bretonneux from a field near Bussy, by A Henry Fullwood

In August 1918, 24 Infantry Battalion, including Lance-Corporal Wilfred Lorimer Colclough of Edward Street, Essendon, was in the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneux. Read Rod Martin's account of of Lorrie's active service here.

Died at Sea

2011-11-20T15:09:00.001+11:00

HM Hospital Ship Formosa. Photo: Gallipoli Association website

Pte Tom Aldridge died at sea on board the Hospital Ship Formosa after injuries received at Courtney's Post on 26 August 1915. See Rod Martin's of the events that led to Tom's death here.

Maribyrnong-Bagotville Hill Memorial, Victory Park

2011-10-21T17:16:00.000+11:00

This memorial in Victory Park commemorated the war service of the men of Ascot Vale West, known at the time as Bagotville Hill, which is the area bounded by Epsom Road and the river, west of Lang's Road and east of Maribyrnong Road.

In 1922 a summary of the work done by the Maribyrnong-Bagotville Hill Soldiers' Reception Committee was published in the Essendon Gazette, noting:

"The area dealt with by the Committee covered 114 houses, and of these, 40 contained no residents eligible for active service. From the 74 houses remaining, no less than 67 men were sent to the front. Of these, 44 have returned home and been welcomed and each presented with a gold medal. Nine were killed, and their mothers or next of kin were also the recipients of medals".

After the war the committee raised money to erect a memorial in Victory Park, Ascot Vale, and this was unveiled by Brigadier General H E "Pompey" Elliott, a commander of the 7th Infantry Battalion which recruited many volunteers from the district.

Len McKay, groom from Moonee Ponds

2011-09-21T22:04:00.002+10:00

Len McKay joined up in July 1915 and found himself in the fleshpots of Cairo before a more serious engagement in France with the 14th Infantry Battalion. Read Rod Martin's story of Len's service here.

2nd Lieut Viv Garner, 14th Infantry Bn

2011-09-16T23:49:00.000+10:00

Fellow officer Lieutenant Ted Rule remarked of Viv Garner that "the boys were closely attached to him" and that "he was not one to squib it; in fact, he was too much the other way". Rod Martin tells the story of this popular young officer, who didn't "squib it", here.

RAN exercises Freedom of Entry to Melbourne

2011-09-16T14:55:00.000+10:00

Today the Royal Australian Navy exercised its Freedom of Entry with 'Swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying' to the City of Melbourne. The parade commemorates the century of the granting of Royal Assent by King George V to the Navy, and mark the important contrubution that Melbourne and the State of Victoria continues to provide to the Royal Australian Navy.

About 1,300 RAN personnel took part in the march past the Melbourne Town Hall, most of whom are currently serving at HMAS Cerberus at Flinders. HMAS Cerberus this year celebrates 90 years of training officers and sailers to serve at sea, having Commissioned in 1911.

The RAN first came into being as the Commonwealth Naval Forces on 1 March 1901 as a small coastal defence force. In 1909, in response to increasing international tensions and the recognition that Australia needed to assume full responsibility for its broader maritime defence, the nation embarked on a significant naval expansion program. Its aim was to created a national navy capable of both defending Australia's maritime interests and contribute to regional defence.

Company Quartermaster Sergeant Joel Reginald Eade

2011-09-06T23:03:00.000+10:00

Private Joel Eade of Edward St, Essendon, soon impressed the AIF with his physical attributes, education and training and was promoted quickly to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He embarked for Egypt early in 1916, but things began to go wrong. Read Rod Martin's account here.

A 1915 recruitment poster from the
Australian War Memorial Collection.

He answered to the Empire's call

2011-09-01T20:50:00.000+10:00

JUNIER. -Whose death has been officially con-
firmed, previously reported wounded and missing,
Pte. Edward Wilfred (463, "Dolph"), youngest
beloved son of Mrs. Junier, 73 Hall street,
Moonee Ponds, and the late C. A. Junier, formerly
of Morwell, Gippsland, who fell at Gallipoli on the
25th April, 1915, loved brother of Ernest, Elsie
(Mrs. Fordred), Albert, Gus, and Ethel, aged 23
years.

Buried in a nameless grave
Laid aside with other brave,
His life for King and country gave -
My youngest son.
He answered to the Empire's call;
We ill could spare him, one and all,
And prayed God would not let him fall -
My dearly loved son.
But all should fight, and some must die,
He took his chance - my youngest son;
And I can only grieve and say -
Thy will be done.
I kept the home fire burning, but the lad I've
waited and yearned for will speak to me never
again.

Family Notices. (1917, October 6). The Argus ), p. 11.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1654270

Victorian Veterans Virtual Museum

2011-08-31T19:45:00.000+10:00

The photo above was taken by Gordon Anderson.

The Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development has developed an online Virtual Museum for material relating to our war veterans. Explore the resources here. They include:

Victorian War Heritage Inventory
Victorian War Memorials
Digital Stories - In Our Words
Preserving Veterans Heritage
Anzac Centenary
Victorian Unit Histories

Private James Thomas Roy Easton of Kensington

2011-08-30T21:11:00.000+10:00

A shipping clerk from Bellair Street, Kensington, Roy Easton joined the AIF in July 1915, not long after the landing at Gallipoli. He embarked with the 14 Infantry Battalion, and died of wounds after a trench raid in 1916. Rod Martin tells his story here.

Pte John Dalglish, 21 Inf Bn

2011-08-21T15:42:00.001+10:00

Soldiers of the 21 Inf Bn searching the village of Hamel for

survivors, July 1918 (Australian War Memorial Collection E02666)

Private John Dalglish arrived in France in February 1917 to reinforce the 21 Infantry Battalion, AIF, and from that time forward, apart from periods in hospital or on leave, was involved in very heavy fighting. In July the Australian took the village of Hamel (or what survived of it) from the Germans in ninety-three minutes. Rod Martin tells of this and other battles which Dalglish survived, only to succumb to broncho-pneumonian in December 1918, not long after the Armistice. Read his story here.

Sergeant Leo James Harty, MM

2011-08-08T12:43:00.003+10:00

Sergeant Leo James Harty of Normanby Street, Moonee Ponds, survived the landing at Gallipoli and the battle of Lone Pine, but was probably killed in the bombardment at Messines in 1916. Rod Martin tells his story here. The photograph, by John Philpott, shows the Berks Cemetery Extension where Leo was buried.

Did this officer win a Military Cross for eating?

2011-07-15T20:12:00.000+10:00

Company Sergeant Major (later Lieutenant) Rothwell Gordon's friends in Essendon thought his prodigious eating capacity may have scored him a "tin cross".

You can read Marjorie Conning's story about her uncle here.

We saw it in the papers

But we don’t quite believe all they say

That Roth had been up to some capers

Had won a tin cross by the way

Tho' his fame we’ve no wish for defeating

There’s something we’d just like to know

Did he get that there medal for eating?

In that line he wasn’t too slow

Private Bert Harvey and the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

2011-07-09T14:55:00.000+10:00

When Bert Harvey of Ascot Vale went missing during the battle of Pozieres, no trace was found of his body. His name, along with 11,000 other Australians with no known graves, is recorded on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. The above view is taken by Greg Manderson from the Memorial tower. Greg is a relative of Bert's.

Read Rod Martin's account of Bert's last days near Moquet Farm here, illustrated with several of Greg Manderson's photos.

Private John Aldred - Conduct Prejudicial

2011-07-03T15:17:00.002+10:00

Serapeum, Egypt, circa 7 Apr 1916. Punt crossing the Suez.

Australian War Memorial Collection.

An innocuous incident in which a soldier, fed up with the heavy work pulling a punt across the Suez at Serapeum, and under the influence of some alcohol, swore at his corporal, was overheard by an officer who sent for the MPs to arrest him. The soldier expressed his contempt for "star men", and offered to fight him. This led to the court martial of the soldier, and his return to Australia under a 12 months sentence with hard labour. Still only 22 when released from prison, he tried to put his life back together. The question of whether he succeeded is still open. Read his story here.

Pte George Joseph O'Neill, awarded Croix de Guerre

2011-07-01T12:28:00.001+10:00

George O'Neill enlisted in the 4th Field Ambulance Corps, and served from 1915 until the end of the war in Lemnos, dealing with the Gallipoli wounded, and later in France and Belgium. While the citation for his Croix de Guerre has not yet come to light, Rod Martin describes the arduous and heroic service of a stretcher bearer in the front lines here.

Survived the War - Harry O'Neill

2011-06-23T22:08:00.001+10:00

Private Henry Francis O'Neill landed at Gallipoli with the 7th Infantry Battalion on 25 April 1915. On the last day of the war, Lieutenant O'Neill was still with his Battalion, having survived the whole war and everything the Germans and the Allies could throw at him. In this picture he is standing in the doorway of 7th Battalion headquarters. Rod Martin tells his story.

Sapper Frederick Dart

2011-06-23T05:41:00.000+10:00

Sapper Frederick Ryall Dart of Moonee Ponds developed an early interest in wireless and signals. After completing four years of Senior Cadets with the 58A Cadets in Moonee Ponds, Dart joined the 21st Signal Troop, Citizens Military Force, which trained at South Melbourne. When he enlisted in 1917 aged 18 he was assigned to the Wireless Training School. The Armistice was made before he attained his 19th birthday and probable overseas embarkation. Dart continued his interest in the military after he war, and a copy of his eventual discharge certificate in 1921 can be seen here.

The battleground of Third Ypres, 1917

2011-06-04T23:24:00.000+10:00

Gunner Gordon Doig, working with the Australian Field Artillery on the Menin Road fell victim to German shelling of his gunpit. Rod Martin tells his story.

Private Alfred Aspinall, who fell at Gallipoli

2011-06-04T23:15:00.000+10:00

Private Alfred (Fred) Aspinall grew up in Kensington. He had been a member of the Holy Trinity Church of England choir as a lad, and as a teenager developed an interest in physical culture and boxing. He also attended drill with the 64th Infantry Battalion, CMF at the drill hall in Victoria Street, Melbourne. The photograph courtesy of Kim Phillips of Spirits of Gallipoli, shows Fred as a Senior Cadet. Sheila Byard examines the record of Fred Aspinall who fell at the landing at Gallipoli.

He was only nineteen: Private Will Manderson

2011-05-30T19:19:00.000+10:00

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.

Pte Frank Archer - Missing In Action, Bullecourt, 1917

2011-05-27T09:32:00.000+10:00

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.

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

2011-05-19T09:09:00.000+10:00

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.

Did this man die at Bullecourt?

2011-05-15T09:50:00.001+10:00

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?

The Charge of the Light Horse, Beersheba, 1917

2011-05-08T17:20:00.002+10:00

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.

Rare Brunswick WWI photos unearthed

2011-04-30T15:51:00.001+10:00

Brunswick Farewells local troops at a dinner on September 9, 1914. Moreland Leader, 25 Apr 2011.

Not to be outdone by Vignacourt, a cache of WW1 photographs of Brunswick, Victoria, has been re-discovered at their local library. See the full story in the Moreland Leader.

Thanks to Jenny Coates for drawing this to my attention.

Melbourne Cricket Club Roll of Honour 1914-1918

2011-04-25T21:39:00.002+10:00

As usual, looking for something completely different, I came upon this Roll of Honour for the Melbourne Cricket Club. I found a few locals on the list, including Captain Cedric Holroyd Permezel, who received fatal wounds at German Officers' Trench, and died at sea off Gaba Tepe on 14 July 1915.

14th Battalion Reinforcements in Egypt, 1916

2011-04-24T19:40:00.003+10:00

No 2915 Private Ernest (Ern) Edward Warry is standing in the back row, fourth from the left. Ern left Australia in September 1915 on the Hororata with the 9th Reinforcements of the 14th Infantry Battalion. Working on the theory that recruits tended to stay in the group with which they originally enlisted, I had a look at the Embarkation Nominal Roll (AWM) on which Ern appeared, to see if I could recognise any names, and in particular whether anyone in that group came from Kensington. If you look carefully at the fellow on the far right of the middle row you will see that he inscribed "Kensington" on his hatband. Sure enough, there was a young fellow from Kensington - a William Henry Webster, 19, a jeweller from Kensington. This identification is not certain, but it is worth considering. A name I actually did recognise was No 2911 Henry Leonard Wallis, a young fellow from Moonee Ponds, photos of whom I have at my disposal. I am confident that the young man seated in the middle row, second from the right, is Leonard Wallis. If anyone has a relative in this Embarkation Nominal Roll, it is possible that they may be in this photo. Please get in touch if you can identify anyone. Needless to say, most of them are not local to Essendon and Flemington, but from right round Victoria.

A Brilliant Student

2011-04-22T11:53:00.001+10:00

Private Edwin James George Pitman of Smith Street, Kensington, departed for the war on the Barambah in August 1918. At the time of his enlistment in January 1918 he was one of the top maths student in the state. He had previously served four years with the 53rd (Albert Park) Battalion senor cadets, and with the Melbourne University Rifles during his period at the University. Was the Army protecting him by sending him to the Pay Corps? Any other volunteer of his age and previous military training might have expected to have been on a ship and heading towards France within weeks of his enlistment. He could have spent months in France in 1918 dodging shells - instead of which he arrived in London three days after the Armistice. Sheila Byard tells the story of this brilliant student.

Pompey Elliott: our most revered fighting general?

2011-04-22T10:27:00.001+10:00

Ross McMullin explores the legend in The Age today.

Elliott was highly regarded by residents in the Essendon area. He had been the commanding officer of the 58th Infantry Battalion (Essendon Rifles) at the outbreak of the war. When he returned he was a frequent visitor to the area, invited to preside over the unveiling of many local war memorials. The local Citizens' Military Association presented the City of Essendon with an individual memorial for Pompey Elliott.

St Thomas' Harriers - update

2011-04-15T08:42:00.001+10:00

A relative has identified the gentleman in the collar and tie in the group portrait of the St Thomas' Harriers Club, Moonee Ponds, as her uncle Alfred William Gregory Wheatley, enlisted as Gregory Alfred Wheatley.

Greg was aged 33 when he enlisted, employed as an accountant, and a well-known amateur athlete, having competed in the 1908 Olympic Games held in Athens.

Despite having no prior military training, either as a cadet or in the Citizens Military Forces (according to his service record) his mature years, his professional occupation, his tall stature and his reputation as an athlete singled him out from the general run of recruits, and he was immediately sent to train to be a Sergeant. Before the end of the war he was commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, later confirmed as a Lieutenant.

An unusual feature of his overseas service was a temporary transfer from his unit to the 8th Brigade Sports Unit in February 1918.

One Lovely Blog Award

2011-04-10T00:58:00.002+10:00

On Friday I was very kindly nominated for a "One Lovely Blog Award" by Deb Ruth of the Adventures in Genealogy blog. It's a lovely thought, and very encouraging, so thank you, Deb.

To accept the award the rules are as followed:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. (alphabetical)
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

This is perhaps the best part of the award - finding new blogs to pass on the encouragement. The ones I have chosen are those blogs which pass on their learning and passion to others.

Australian Genealogy News by Aillin
Australian History for Genealogists by Margie
Cemetery Curiosities by AiW
Edenhope History by Tammy
Family History Research by Kerry Farmer
Geelong and District by Susie
Genealogy in New South Wales by Carole
Leah’s Family Tree by Leah
Lost Medals Australia by Glyn
Medals Gone Missing by Gary
My Family Hunt by Carmel
My Gen Wishlist by Tina
My Genealogy Adventure
Resident Judge of Port Phillip by Janine
Stratford Historical Society Museum by Linda

The Empire Called......Invitation to a luncheon....

2011-04-09T12:24:00.000+10:00

…to launch a website that honours the volunteers from Essendon & Flemington area who served in the First World War.

The website, still a work-in-progress, tells the stories of these men and women, and is a rich source of local history as well as a testament to the sacrifices they made.

Developed by local historian Lenore Frost it will prove to be much appreciated by future generations.

Come and hear Lenore talk about her project and view it in a PowerPoint presentation.

Come and talk to other people interested in preserving local stories and history.

12:00 Wednesday April 20th 2011
Doutta Galla Hotel
Racecourse Road
Flemington

Excellent $12 meals available

rsvp by Mon 18th April to Anne:
divedu@bigpond.net.au
or phone 03 93722422

The portrait is of Private Arthur Beachcroft of Moonee Ponds who enlisted in 1915.

St Thomas', Moonee Ponds, Harriers, circa 1914

2011-04-07T09:38:00.004+10:00

This photo shows St Thomas' Harriers, Moonee Ponds, just prior to the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. Many of these young men enlisted. We can identify some of them, have tentative identifications for others, and would appreciate some assistance in identifying others, and confirming our tentative identifications. Click on the photo for a larger version. See the names on this page.

Engine trouble

2011-04-04T12:27:00.002+10:00

Lieutenant Leonard Waller Heathcote of the Australian Flying Corps became a prisoner of war of the Turks when his biplane, a B3.2e as picture above, developed engine problems and came down in the desert near Gaza. Read Rod Martin's story here.

Ken Walker, died of wounds received at Steele's Post

2011-03-20T20:10:00.003+11:00

The poignant story of the death of the youthful 2nd Lieutenant Kenneth Walker, a protege of Lieut-Colonel Pompey Elliot, told by Rod Martin.

Image courtesy of Kim Phillips of the Spirits of Gallipoli website.

Pompey Elliott's memorial

2011-03-19T12:20:00.001+11:00

Rod Martin has visited the grave of Brigadier-General H E 'Pompey' Elliott and found this wonderful soldier's memorial.

Elliott was the commanding officer of the 58th Infantry Battalion (Essendon Rifles), Citizens' Military Force in 1914. He subsequently raised the 7th Infantry Battalion, AIF and went on to become one of Australia's great WW1 military leaders.

Hardiman's Hotel, formerly the Clarence Hotel

2011-03-10T10:54:00.000+11:00

Hardiman's Hotel, Macaulay Road, Kensington, was formerly the Clarence Hotel, and home of three Hardiman brothers who enlisted in the Great War. This is one of the sites we will be visiting on tomorrow's heritage walk.

Kevin Hardiman was badly wounded in France in 1917 and had his leg amputated.

Gerald Hardiman was wounded at Lone Pine, and discharged from the AIF in 1916, medically unfit.

The third brother, Robert Vincent Hardiman, who was the manager of the hotel when he enlisted at the age of 23 in 1917, went to Rabaul with the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. He was discharged in December 1918 when the AIF was demobilised, and died five months later.

Kensington State School

2011-03-03T09:30:00.000+11:00

A vist to the school in 2010 did not produce any information as to whether there was ever an honour board for the pupils of the school who volunteered for the First World War. The small centenary history of the school produced in 1981 does not mention a board, nor can any reference be found in the online Argus to indicate that one was installed. It would be very unusual if an honour board was not installed, so perhaps one was removed many years ago. If anyone has any information about such a board, a photograph, or a list of names from the board, please get in touch.

In the meantime I am slowly assembling a list of volunteers from the school who volunteered in the First World War, any additional information is very welcome.

Trove of WW1 photos found in Vignacourt, Somme Valley

2011-02-27T10:33:00.004+11:00

From The Age today, the story of a cache of 3,000 photographs, known as "The Thuillier Collection" of Australian and Allied soldiers taken behind the lines in Vignacourt in the Somme Valley. A story on these photos will show on Channel 7 tonight at 6.30 pm Eastern Standard Time. The photos were taken in 1916, and later in 1918. See the photos on the Channel 7 website.

A smaller trove of photos of mainly Tommies, but which also includes some Australians, was reported in The Independent in 2009, taken in late 1915 and early 1916.

See also the Australian War Memorial blog with an article by Peter Burness.

UPDATE: And there is a Facebook page - thanks to Linda for the link.

ANOTHER UPDATE: The above links now do not appear to show the whole set of photos, so see the report on the Lost Diggers from the AWM here. As at December 2011 these photos do not appear to have been added to the AWM online catalogue.

Off to War from Kensington - Autumn Twilight Walk

2011-02-24T16:10:00.003+11:00

Friday 11 March 2011, 6.00- 7.30pm

This 90 minute walk is an opportunity for those who are interested in Kensington’s World War One Volunteers. We will look at the homes from which the volunteers came and some of the Post World War One Memorials. For example there were 32 volunteers who enlisted from Bellair Street alone, mostly in 1915 and 1916.

Meet outside the Kensington-Flemington Town Hall, Bellair Street, Kensington at 6.00 pm. Book at Kensington Neighbourhood House 89 McCracken Street, Kensington VIC 3031, Ph: 03 9376 6366, kwgp@vicnet.net.au or via Wayward Books 172 Bellair Street, Kensington VIC 3031. Limited places. Gold coin donation, no charge for children accompanied by an adult.

Tour Leader - Lenore Frost, Creator of the online project
The Empire Called and I Answered - WW1 Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington

Herleville Wood, France, 1918

2011-02-18T00:13:00.006+11:00

Pte Arthur Beachcroft brought home this aerial photograph of Rosieres, France with a plan of battle marked on it. This was Arthur's last engagement of the war, as he was wounded between Wood 2 and 1 at the top of the image, and made his way to the dressing station at R26d84 marked at the bottom of the image. For Arthur's description of the plan, go here. Click on the photo for a larger version.

On this day, at this place, Captain William Donovan Joynt won a VC.

S S Mamari homeward bound, 1918

2011-02-17T19:32:00.001+11:00

Arthur Beachcroft, 6th Infantry Battalion, of Athol St, Moonee Ponds returned home on the SS Mamari, embarking 21 December 1918. The inscription on the rear reads: "Signatures of Battalion pals given day before leaving boat coming home Feb 4th 1919". Postcard courtesy of Ann McLeish.

Auckland War Memorial Museum

2011-02-11T19:46:00.000+11:00

Things have been a little quiet lately as I have been on a cruise around New Zealand. While in Auckland I checked out the Auckland War Memorial Museum, an attractive building with an impressive gallery of New Zealand's war dead named on marble walls, as well as interesting exhibitions of war time memorabilia.

St Thomas's Church of England Roll of Honour

2011-01-23T15:38:00.000+11:00

The very beautiful Roll of Honour at St Thomas's Church of England, Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds, is an example of what is called 'optus sectile', which is a work in tiles. A series of tiles contain the names of the members of the church who volunteered for the Great War. At the top of the list are those who died.

The list is strangely personal, in that it does not list ranks, but first names, unlike many which give initials only.

It is a beautiful piece of art, and well worth a look if you are in the vicinity of the church.

The full list of names on this Roll of Honour has been placed on the Empire Called website, and I am working through linking each name to a personal record.

Other examples of opus sectile were discussed earlier on this blog.

Ancestor Approved

2011-01-22T11:52:00.002+11:00

Aillin of the Australian Genealogy Journeys blog, and Ruth Blair of Blair Archival Research have nominated this blog for the Ancestor Approved Award.

The award was instituted by Leslie Ann Ballou of the Ancestors Live Here blog, who asks winners of the Award to

List ten things you have learned about any of your ancestors that has surprised, humbled, or enlightened you; and
Pass it along to ten other bloggers who you feel are doing their ancestors proud".

The Awards do cause one to pause and reflect on one's own work and interests, and also to think about those blogs that I get a lot from myself, and those where the content is diverse and interesting. So I have made a rambling list of the things that have occurred to me since I began my research project on the Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, and the blogs that I have enjoyed along the way - thank you for your efforts, and thank you again to Aillin and Ruth for your nominations.

I am humbled to find how generous people are in sharing their photos, letters and stories about their relatives who served in the Great War.
I am surprised and humbled to find how each volunteer’s story is so individual, despite many common experiences.
I was surprised to discover how useful and interesting the records of volunteer Munitions workers are when I followed up a great-uncle of my own who went to England during the Great War.
I was surprised in that record to discover that he had been a “Reject” for military service because of a “stiff finger”. I can only conclude this was his trigger finger.
In examining many, many records of the local volunteers, I was surprised to find how small many of them were, including a great number under 5 feet 6 inches.
I was surprised at the graphic detail in which friends and comrades would write to a deceased soldier’s family, including such things as having two legs blown off above the knee, or “he had a terrible hole in his head”. If I was one of those boy’s mothers, I think I’d rather hear that it was a single bullet to the heart, something swift, painless, and not so body-shattering. The people of the time of the Great War were far more direct than we are now.
Through my work in examining the effect of the war on one community, I am enlightened as to the way in which no-one in the community was untouched.
I was positively astonished to learn about one family in my database who had sent 11 brothers and cousins from Essendon and Flemington alone, not including their relatives from other Melbourne suburbs.
I was enlightened to learn of the military and patriotic influences brought to bear on this small community, with so many young men and boys involved in compulsory military training, and also the voluntary militia.
Although I’ve always considered my relatives to be very much not involved in Australia’s military adventures, I’ve now discovered three volunteers in the family, and wonder if there are others. Of the three of whom I know, the one in the Royal Navy missed his boat in England and was given the option of gaol with hard labour or serving on a mine-sweeper for the duration (he chose the mine-sweeper); the second whom I mentioned earlier was rejected for military service, but volunteered for Munitions work; and the third one volunteered in Melbourne, was found to have VD before he left for overseas, and after spending a few months languishing in the Langwarrin Camp, deserted.

I have nominated the following blogs for their consistent effort and interesting content:

Brothers in Arms, Zeitoun February 1916

2011-01-11T08:21:00.000+11:00

Bert Manderson (front left) of the 6th Infantry Battalion, and his brother Ernie Manderson (front right) of the 14th Infantry Battalion, photographed with their pals in Zeitoun in February 1916. It is thought that their cousin Arthur Soutter, 14th Bn, is in the photo, possibly at the back on the left. The fellow behind Ernie on the right appears to be wearing a 14th Bn colour patch. Can anyone identify the others in this photo?

This detail shows Bert Manderson with 'ESSENDON' written on the puggaree around his hat. It is not properly discernable in this image, but can be seen on the original.

The former Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kensington

2011-01-09T23:05:00.002+11:00

In the 1970s the Holy Trinity church building was sold. The Honour Board disappeared around this time and probably won't be seen again. Does anyone have access to any photos or lists of names from that Honour Board? Please get in touch if you know anything.

UPDATE: I am compiling a list of volunteers known to have been associated with Holy Trinity.

St Thomas' Church Soldiers' Memorial Hall

2010-12-28T12:36:00.000+11:00

The congregation of StThomas;s Church of England in Moonee Ponds determined to establish a memorial to the men of the parish who lost their lives in the Great War. The Soldiers' Memorial Hall was opened in October 1920 and was intended to provide for billiard facilities for young men, and a kindergarten space on Sundays. The young men are long gone, but the hall forms part of a kindergarten.

The hall also housed an honour board naming each of the men who had died. This can now be seen in St Thomas's Anglican Church, Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds. Further information about the hall can be found here

Peace on Earth

2010-12-24T09:23:00.001+11:00

A page from the St Thomas' Church of England Parish Magazine, January 1916.

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

2010-12-16T17:45:00.000+11:00

This photo was taken by Gordon Anderson of the 10th ASC in Codford, England, in 1917. If anyone thinks they might be able to identify a relative in that unit from a higher res photo, please let me know.

"I was thinking of home at the last"

2010-12-13T07:36:00.004+11:00

"Going into action tomorrow. I shall be among the first fifty to land. This will probably prove to be one of hardest fights in history. We land under fire. Perhaps long before you get this you will have read all about the fight and the result. I wrote this last note so that you should see I was thinking of home at the last. Whatever happens you may be confident that I shall do my job properly. The boys are singing away, just as if nothing was about to happen. I'll go and join them. Hope you are all well and happy. Don't worry about me".

479 Pte Charly Bale, Napier St, Essendon, 24 April 1915

What happened to Charly Bale?

Galbraith cousins fall in France

2010-12-10T00:07:00.000+11:00

Cousins Albert and Alfred Galbraith lived a few doors from each other in Mackay Street, Essendon. Alfred Galbraith, 21, died of wounds in 1916, and his cousin, Albert Galbraith, 23, died on the last day of the war - Armistice Day 1918. Rod Martin tells their stories.

Mementos of Alfred have been lodged at Museum Victoria.

Major William Bernard Ryan, AAMC

2010-12-07T15:18:00.000+11:00

Captain, later Major William Bernard Ryan, enlisted in the AAMC in 1915, and travelled with the Sea Transport Service as Medical Officer several times before being stationed in England.

He took advantage of the opportunity for further study in psychiatry while in England, and put this to use in his later career.

Peter Ryan tells the story of Major Ryan on The Empire Called website.

Died on Armistice Day 1918 - Driver A D Galbraith

2010-12-01T12:08:00.003+11:00

Conditions on the front during the Third Battle of Ypres, November 1917 (Wilkins, G.H. (ed.): Australian War Photographs, A.I.F Publications, London, 1919)

Driver Albert David Galbraith of Essendon survived two and a half years of war in France, but died of illness on the day the guns stopped firing. Read Rod Martin's account of Galbraith's service in the AIF on The Empire Called and I Answered website.

Lieutenant Harold Harthacnut Herbert Locke

2010-11-14T14:15:00.002+11:00

Harold Locke, a veteran of the South African War, enlisted with the 4th Light Horse Regiment in 1915. His story is told by Rod Martin, and can be found on The Empire Calls website here

St Thomas Grammarians and Carlton Collegians Honour Board

2010-10-15T19:09:00.001+11:00

This board records the "Old Boys" of St Thomas' Grammar and Carlton College. It is now located in the junior school of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Raleigh St, Essendon. The names on the board are listed here, and identifications are being made progressively.

The Khaki Girls

2010-10-03T19:39:00.004+11:00

This interesting photo shows a group of women from the Commonwealth Clothing Factory who had formed a patriotic organisation known as the Khaki Girls. Presumably they sewed their own uniforms at the Factory. The sign indicates that the photo was taken on the occasion of the "Our Boys' Day" in March 1918. This Day was held annually from 1916 to raise funds to provide comforts to the men in the trenches and in hospital.

The Khaki Girls performed both in displays and in ceremonial duties - the latter being Welcome Homes at the docks and forming guards of honour. They did displays of marching, physical culture, and they had a bugle band.

The photo belonged to Pte Julius Rudolph (Ru) Jacobsohn of Moonee Ponds, who is standing in the centre row at the right. Jacobsohn was an original Anzac, invalided home and discharged in 1916.

Identifying the other men in the group is a challenge, but the man seated on the left of the front row with the cane is probably Thomas Trumble, the Secretary for the Defence Department. The man to his left is Senator George Foster Pearce, the Minister for Defence. The man in the centre is unknown, but the next two men appear in an AWM photo of the manager and office staff from the Commonwealth Government Clothing Factory.

The sergeant seated second from the right in the front row may be Sergeant E C Perkins, whose name is mentioned in an Argus report as being in charge on the occasion of a fete at the Exhibition Building in September 1918. This same man is in a SLV photograph of the Commonwealth Clothing Factory Personnel in 1918.

The biggest challenge is to identify the women of the Commonwealth Clothing Factory. If you had a nanna or great aunt who worked at the Factory in World War 1, have a look and see if you can identify her.

This website has some further information about the Khaki Girls

Diggers - Report in the Commonwealth Gazette, Jan 1916

2010-10-03T15:44:00.001+11:00

This edition of the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette contains an interesting report on the tunnel diggers at Gallipoli and France. Despite the peculiar numbering of the editions, this series of Gazettes seems to contain reports on the situation at Gallipoli.

7th Battalion, Headquarters Detail, Broadmeadows 1914

2010-10-01T09:53:00.007+10:00

This photo was taken at Broadmeadows Camp in 1914, and has the label on the back "Headquarters Detail 7th Battalion 1st AIF". The men would roughly speaking be identifiable at the top of the first embarkation list of the 7th Battalion Headquarters personnel, but some changes occurred in those personnel between the photo and the embarkation roll. For instance, the owner of the photo is in the photo, but had been transferred to the Machine Gun section prior to embarkation. I would be grateful for any help with further identifications than the ones I have here

Click on the photo for a larger version. (And it's ok, I know Pompey Elliott is there.)

North Essendon Methodist Church Roll of Honour

2010-09-30T00:23:00.001+10:00

This board hung in a church in Mt Alexander Rd, North Essendon, now closed.

See identifications here (progressively putting up individual pages for these volunteers).

2010-09-24T10:34:00.004+10:00

Bert and Ernie Manderson occupy the camel on the right of the picture, taken in Egypt in 1915. Courtesy of Greg Manderson. Click to get the larger picture

Northern Golf Club, Glenroy

2010-09-24T10:31:00.001+10:00

It turns out that the Northern Golf Club in Glenroy has or had an honour board with many Essendon members included. The list was included in the back of their history. If anyone knows if the board is hanging at the Golf Club I would be glad to know. A photograph of it would be even better.

Captain James Bowtell-Harris, 7th Battalion

2010-09-13T18:15:00.000+10:00

Hello folks,

I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful article on the service career of Captain James Frederic Bowtell-Harris by Rod Martin. It has been loaded onto the Empire Called website.

Thanks Rod.

Beersheba, 1918

2010-09-08T13:40:00.000+10:00

Just to prove I always had a strong interest in military history, albeit a slender grasp of the actual events, here is my Grade 6 interpretation of the events at Beersheba.

Click on the image to enlarge.

2010-08-13T23:03:00.000+10:00

The Roll of Honour for the Cordite Factory is now stored at Melbourne's Living Museum of the West. Many of themen listed on the board lived in Ascot Vale, across the river from the Factory.

The board has some incredibly detailed wood carving.

State Library of Victoria

2010-08-04T18:00:00.000+10:00

This board is located in the enquiry area of the La Trobe Library of the State Library of Victoria.

Not strictly relevant to my own line of enquiry, but I was there, the board was there, the camera was in my bag- so here it is.

St Thomas' Anglican Church, Essendon, Roll of Honour

2010-08-03T17:25:00.000+10:00

An example of the opus sectile style of Honour Roll at St Thomas' Anglican Church, Essendon.

Other examples can be seen at the Maffra Library, and also the former Teachers' College, previously discussed here.

Employees of the Metropolitan Gas Co who served in the Great War

2010-07-28T22:41:00.003+10:00

Linda Barraclough has located a copy of this very rare book down at Old Gippstown, and has very kindly decided to scan the whole book, and make it available for those who wish to have access to it - and as a continuing record of the service of the men involved.

Linda says: " Accordingly, I am slowly scanning the 62 pages, usually over coffee, and will make it available over the next few weeks. I am hoping that those who access it (and you are welcome to download), will respect my request that is not be otherwise reproduced without further discussion with me. I would be fairly angry is anyone thought it appropriate to lift to sell, as I do not believe money should be made from what is basically a war memorial.

Family history groups / libraries etc are welcome to download to place on CD in appropriate collections. Those wishing to record it on webpages are invited to link to the URL below".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20949561@N04/sets/72157624475856395/

UPDATE: Linda advises in the comments that the index of names for

the men included in the Metropolitan Gas Co tribute can be seen

here:

Centenary of Anzac

2010-07-16T21:53:00.001+10:00

Liz Pidgeon of the Yarra Plenty Genealogy blog has drawn attention to calls for ideas and suggestions on how to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac. Public submissions will be received until 17 September 2010.

Lone Pine, 2008.

Essendon Baptist Church Roll of Honour

2010-07-16T18:02:00.003+10:00

This singularly unattractive Honour Board turned up as a postcard on eBay a year or so ago. The seller managed to identify it as an Essendon board, presumably having looked at the service records of several of the volunteers to see where they were from. From my own database I could see that they were all baptists, and they lived in the vicinity of the Baptist Church in Buckley Street, Essendon. An enquiry at that church revealed that the board was removed some years ago, current whereabouts not known. I believe this board belonged to that church.
The names have been transcribed and linked to service records (where I have got to that section of the alphabet) on the Empire Called website.

As you can see there is nothing connecting the board to the Essendon Baptist Church, so do let me know if you think it belonged to another church.

Harold Brocklebank Herbert

2010-07-04T17:24:00.003+10:00

Popping into the Royal Historical Society of Victoria recently this book, Harold Herbert: Convivial Artist, on the 'for sale' rack struck my eye, and seizing it to investigate further it turned out to be a brief biography of Harold Brocklebank Herbert by John C Trinca. Herbert has been mentioned previously in this blog as the artist who designed the MMTB Roll of Honour. The book has colour plates of a range of his watercolours, including some made during his sojourn in the Middle East as a War Artist in WW2.

Herbert had a range of interests outside his art, including membership of the Savage Club, and also the Cormorant Club, dedicated to preserving trout by eradication of Cormorants - though apparently Herbert seldom despatched a cormorant himself.

A steal at only $10!

Before the Dawn - an Entirely Original Australian Comedy in Three Acts

2010-06-26T14:21:00.002+10:00

In October 1916 a comedy in three acts, written and performed by Joseph (Jo) Smith, was put on at the Essendon Town Hall, Moonee Ponds, to raise funds for YMCA huts to serve the men on the front line. A description of the play and the playwright can be found here, and a more complete version , with colour plates, of the program, can be seen at the State Library of Victoria here. There is apparently a copy of the play lodged for copyright purposes held by the National Archives of Australia.

Royal Australian Field Artillery Barracks, West's Road, Maribyrnong

2010-06-23T14:34:00.002+10:00

This turned out to be more difficult to photograph than I envisaged. The building is set back from West's Road. Quite a few of the local volunteers were either stationed here with the Australian Field Artillery, or trained here after volunteering. Built in 1911, it is on the Victorian Heritage Database. A very interesting heritage study of the Maribyrnong Defence Industries sites can be downloaded in pdf format from here.

Caring for your wartime memorabilia

2010-06-21T23:41:00.002+10:00

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a very useful looking online book about caring for wartime memorabilia.

Printed copies are available, apparently, but it doesn't spell out whether there is a cost for that, or who is eligible to apply, but there's an email address for enquiries.

Mind you, I don't see any advice on the care of leather for Linda of Old Gipps Town or Loretta of the Euroa Museum who have some Light Horse saddles to care for.

Tramways Board, Melbourne, Employees Died on Active Service

2010-06-19T11:24:00.001+10:00

The following pages show the Tramways Board, Melbourne Employees who enlisted for Active Service.

The pages are taken from the Tramways Board, Melbourne Annual Report to 30th June, 1919. Thank to Warren Doubleday for scanning the pages.

Tramways Board, Melbourne, Roll of Honour, A - D

2010-06-19T11:17:00.001+10:00

Tramways Board, Melbourne, Roll of Honour, E - L

2010-06-19T11:14:00.001+10:00

Tramways Board, Melbourne, Roll of Honour, L-S

2010-06-19T11:11:00.001+10:00

Tramways Board, Melbourne, Roll of Honour, S - Y

2010-06-19T11:07:00.003+10:00

The Tramways Board, Melbourne, the precursor to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board, carried a Roll of Honour in its Annual Report to 30th June 1919. Occupations such as "gripman" indicated the extent to which the tram system was still operating cable-trams.

I will post the pages beginning at the end of the Roll of Honour so the first page will be at the top of the blog.

This is a little off-topic for my Essendon and Flemington focus, but it is valuable information not readily accessible and my thanks to Warren Doubleday for arranging copies.

Teachers College Rolls of Honour

2010-06-13T21:00:00.004+10:00

The Teachers College recognised the service of their teacher trainees with three wonderful leadlight windows and two astonishing tiled memorials.

Two of the leadlight windows carry the names of those who served , and those who died in World War 1, while the third features an AIF serviceman. The tiled memorials have been re-established in the building which is now the School of Graduate Studies, University of Melbourne, in Grattan St, Carlton.

The tiled memorials carry portraits of those who died. I've been comparing this memorial with the one at Maffra, which Linda on the Maffra and District Historical Society blog describes as an opus sectile work.

Six names from the Essendon and Flemington database appear in the leadlight window memorial:

E C Holmes *
B J Keddie
G R Scott *
R G Scott
C F Sullivan *
F H McNamara

(* those who died)

An article by Jay Miller in 2006 explains the rediscovery if the memorials and the research on them, 'We shall not wholly die' can be downloaded from the Ian Potter Museum website - a special issue of their Magazine "The Trainee" containing all the names of those who enlisted.

A brochure on the memorials can be downloaded from here

And last, but by no means least, a pdf version of "The Trainee: special War number 1919, which contains the names and portraits of the volunteers.

Patriotic Concert, 8th September 1914

2010-06-12T19:25:00.002+10:00

The departure of a contingent of young men with the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force was a cause for celebration in Essendon, and the volunteers were treated to a concert in the Town Hall, and presented with a program recording their names.

The program features the badge and colours of the local Citizens Military Force Battalion, the 58th Battalion. The artwork may have been prepared by Mayor Goldsworthy himself, who was a graphic artist. Goldsworthy designed, made and presented the first Honour Boards honouring the "Boys of Essendon" which were hung in the Essendon Town Hall.

Opus sectile Rolls of Honour

2010-06-08T00:29:00.005+10:00

Linda down at the Maffra Historical Society blog has put up some very beautiful examples of the mosaic style of Honour Roll to be found at the Maffra Library. These memorials Linda believes are by the Melbourne company Brooks, Robinson & Co which advertised in Anglican newsletters. It is possible that the Roll of Honour at St Thomas' Anglican Church in Moonee Ponds is this sort of thing - I do remember it having tiles with names inscribed but can't quite recall the rest.

Harold Brocklebank Herbert, artist and designer

2010-06-06T16:09:00.004+10:00

It appears that the designer of the MMTB Roll of Honour was a young artist of growing reputation, who became well-known as a water-colourist and draughtsman. In 1922 he toured abroad, including the Middle East, and his art shows were well-patronised. In 1941 he was appointed as a War Artist to accompany troops to the Middle East. The illustration above dates from that appointment, and was included in the book Active Service: with Australia in the Middle East. He returned after a few months saying that he felt younger artists would be more suitable. He had struggled in the hot temperatures with the heat drying out his water-colours too quickly. Herbert died in 1945 aged only 52 "after a long illness", so one might surmise that he had been unwell during his time with the 2nd AIF.

Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board Roll of Honour 2

2010-06-04T00:29:00.008+10:00

Recourse to the online Argus has revealed that the M&MTB Roll of Honour was unveiled in 1921, as below:

TRAMWAYS HONOUR ROLL.
Unveiled by the Premier.
The Premier (Mr. Lawson) unveiled yesterday
the board at the offices of the Melbourne and
Metropolitan Tramway Board erected in honour
of 518 tramway men who enlisted, 71 of whom
fell on service abroad, and 18 of whom received
awards for conspicuous gallantry.
The board is of artistic design in black-
wood, and is erected on the main stair
way to the administrative offices.
It was designed by Mr. H. B. Herbert

In the presence of members of the board
and officers of the administrative staff, Mr.
Lawson unveiled the memorial. The
record of their services, he said, showed
that tram waymen, who spent their lives
in giving public service, had done valiantly in ren-
dering the greatest of all services on foreign fields.
The memorial would stand for all time to remind
us that only by living up to the ideals for which
these brave men died could we achieve the fruits
of the victory they had won. Germany had lost
the war, but stood to win the subsequent eco-
nomic conflict if we by our indifference and
neglect, and our division into sects and factions,
failed to remain steadfast to those ideals of
courage, loyalty, and truth.

The Argus 9 November 1921
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4622851

See the board referred to here.

UPDATE
It seems likely that H B Herbert was the Melbourne artist Harold Brocklebank Herbert. The MMTB offices in 1921 were at 673 Bourke St (south side) between Godfrey and King Street. (Thanks to Jenny Coates for her kind assistance.)

Newmarket Reserve, Smithfield Road

2010-06-02T16:42:00.002+10:00

The photo to the left shows the south end of the Newmarket Reserve on Smithfield Road. It has been suggested that the conifers along Smithfield Road, some of which are now gone, were planted as an Avenue of Honour with seedlings from the Lone Pine. Can anyone shed any light on this? I can't find any references in the online Argus.