Wheatley brothers of Moonee Ponds

Sgt Greg Wheatley on the left, and his brother Pte Horace Wheatley on the right, at
their  family home, 1 Athol St,  Moonee Ponds.  Courtesy of Lorraine Rogers.

When their younger brother Noel Wheatley, only 19 years old, was killed on 26 June 1915 on the Gallipoli peninsula, his two older brothers, Greg and Horace, determined to join the AIF and avenge  his death.  They are picture above not long before embarkation.


"Among the hundreds of recruits who left Melbourne
for Seymour yesterday was Mr J A [sic] Wheatley,
better known throughout the Commonwealth as 'Dad'
Wheatley, once the amateur champion cross-country
runner of Australia. Mr Wheatley represented Australia
at the Olympic games held at Athens several years ago.
His brother, Private Noel Wheatley, a promising black
and white artist, aged 20 years, was killed in action at
Gallipoli recently, and Mr G A Wheatley and another
brother, Horace have enlisted to avenge his death.
They are sons of Mr A E Wheatley, of Moonee Ponds,
formerly assistant registrar of titles."                   
The Argus 3 August 1915        
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1544524

Alex Galland of Ascot Vale

The First AIF boarding HMAT Hororata at Port Melbourne, October 1914

Alex Galland of Bank Street, Ascot Vale, would have been amongst the men boarding the Hororata in October 1914.  He left Australia as a private with the 7th Infantry Battalion, survived the landings at Gallipoli, and the battle of Krithia.  Later in France he was promoted to Temporary Sergeant.  Rod Martin tells the story of his battles in France.