Villers-Bretonneux, 1918

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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.