The horsewhisperer

Private George Paton Wilson, circa 1917

George Wilson, a woolclasser from Essendon, was only 18½ when he enlisted on 8 January 1917. Appointed to the Veterinary Corps, George embarked six months later with the mission of caring for the horsepower on which the army depended.  After a period in the Australian Veterinary Hospital in Calais, George was posted to an artillery unit.  Read his story and see the wonderful photos from a family photograph album, kindly provided by the Wilson family.

George's brother Tom Wilson had embarked in 1916 and served with the 21 Infantry Battalion.   

A bit of a lad

SS Makarini at Port Melbourne, 1915, with troops abord.  AWM PB0537.

In his latest story Rod Martin describes Private George Roy Lancaster as 'a bit of a lad'. Dogged by ill-health, including a bout of mumps, George added to his travails by going absent without leave after completing leave in London and attracting some severe punishment.  By 1918 he was involved in some very heavy fighting with the 14th Infantry Battalion.

A mention in the Top 50 Blogs for 2013

From Inside History Magazine:

"Blogs have provided many research breakthroughs and Eureka moments for family historians, so it’s only fitting that this issue sees Inside History’s Top 50 Genealogy Blogs 2013. See who made the list and why".

Lieut R G Casey's WW1 Photo Album

Emden sailors leaving the 'Orvieto' at Port Said to go aboard the 'Hampshire', 2 Dec 1914. National Archives of Australia.

Martin Elliget came across this interesting WW1 photo album on the NAA website. It belonged to Lieut. Richard Gavin CASEY (later Governor-General of Australia), starting with his voyage from Australia to Egypt on the Transport Orvieto. Later photos are of Egypt, Gallipoli, England and France.

Martin has transcribed the first ten pages of annotations, which you can see here.

You can find the album and scroll the album here.  Click to enlarge to get a really good scan of the album pages.  These are very clear and interesting photos, one minute in Egypt strolling round the Pyramids, and the next minute Anzac Cove.

Well worth a browse, and thanks to Martin for locating it.

Staff Nurse Lilian Rutherford

Staff Nurse Lilian Rutherford

Lilian Rutherford joined her sister Linda in Salonika in 1917.  Authorities would not approve leave to the UK for nursing staff at Salonika until mere days before the Armistice, and once the war ended the Rutherford sisters were granted leave in the UK, Linda leaving a few days before Lilian.  On 1 January 1919, Lilian was awarded a Royal Red Cross "in recognition of her valuable services with the British Forces in Salonika".

Royal Red Cross

Sister Linda Rutherford of Essendon

The sisters' quarters at No 66 British General Hospital on Hortiach Plateau, Salonika.

The British and Australian soldiers who served at Salonika endured harsh winters and hot summers  under canvas, subject to illness, particularly malaria.   Sister Linda Rutherford also endured these conditions.  Click on the link to read her story.

Pte Rudel O'Dowd of the Vet Section

The son of noted poet Bernard O'Dowd, Rudel was a veterinary student at the outbreak of war, and in February 1915 joined the Veterinary Section and embarked for the Middle East.  Marilyn Kenny relates the story of Rudel O'Dowd, who also tried his hand at poetry.