Heritage Walk in Flemington and Kensington, Sunday 3 May 2015

If the demand is sufficient, another walk may be held on a later date so make sure you register your interest.

The Spirits of Gallipoli: a Centenary of Anzacs, by Kim Phillips

Anyone who has had a good browse through The Empire Called and I Answered website will know that Kim Phillips has been very generous in sharing her research into the young men who died at Gallipoli.  Kim has lately launched a book and CD: The Spirits of Gallipoli: a centenary of Anzacs, the details of which you can see at her website.

Kim has also arranged for Ancestry to make her research and images available as a collection.  There is a 14 day free trial (scroll to the bottom of the page).  I was pleased to see the first memorial stone image on the Ancestry blog was for J K Adams, an Essendon lad.

I commend both to your attention.

Battle to Farm: WW1 Soldier Settlement Records in Victoria

Public Records Office Victoria has released a new series of document online from the post-war Soldier Settlement Scheme.


On this site you can access the individual records of thousands of  World War One returned soldiers who leased farming land across Victoria between 1919 and 1935. Enter a settler’s name in the search box or search by geographic location through the digital map.

You may need to be patient in the initial phases while the site is swamped by searchers.  Good luck!

UPDATE:  Found one!  The answer seems to be to search by surname only.  Searches with a first name or initials seemed got no result.

Hunters in the field

Captured German 77 cm. field gun (Dunedin District, New Zealand)  (Rod Martin)

Having recently told the story of Sergeant David Hunter who died at Bullecourt in 1917, Rod Martin now looks at his brother, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Hunter of the 37th Infantry Battalion. Having both enlisted in 1915, the Army recognised both as having leadership skills, and promoted them accordingly.

From Here to Gallipoli

Sam Merrifield Library, Mt Alexander Rd, 
Moonee Ponds.  Tuesday 21 April, 7 pm.  
Bookings preferred 8325 1950

Farewell to Dave Hunter, citizen and soldier of Australia

Well-wishers, some holding paper streamers connecting them to men on the ship, on the wharf prior to the departure of HMAT Anchises.

For some, the streamers connecting the troops on the Anchises with their friends and family on the dock at Port Melbourne would be their last link with home.  Gus Stelling, en route to Gallipoli two months later, told his parents that they had not yet received any letters from Australia.  Gus died within days of arriving at Gallipoli in October 1915.  His friend Dave Hunter, who left by the same ship, survived two months on the peninsula, returned to Egypt for further training, and then travelled on to France with 22 Infantry Battalion.  Rod Martin tells the story of David Hunter, a woolclasser from Kensington, in his usual compelling fashion.

Gus Stelling - a short life

Gus as a member of the Essendon Rifles, 1915.

Gus Stelling was a young man of great promise.  He was a lively boy who enjoyed life - he joined the Boy Scouts, did Universal Training with the Senior Cadets and the Essendon Rifles, and was a skilled artist. He was employed prior to enlistement as a process engraver with a company in Melbourne.  Gus literally gave his life for others at Gallipoli.  Thanks to the kindness of the Dusek family we are able to catch a glimpse of  the life of a young man who paid the great sacrifice.  He died aged 20.  See Gus's story here.