Military periodicals online

There is an extremely useful list of Military periodicals online at the Fibiwiki website - a website  of the Families in British India Society.  It covers many periods of the British Army, not particularly the Indian Army, and also the Royal Navy, and Air Force.  Definitely worth a look if you have British military ancestors.

Essendon Avenue of Honour

The Avenue of Honour on The Boulevard, from the western end.

A plaque at the beginning of the Avenue giving the background of the creation of the Avenue.  References to the 'Essendon League' should read 'Essendon River League'.

A plaque at the end of the Avenue, giving details of the Battle of Jutland.

One of the plaques installed at the replanting and re-dedication of the Avenue in 1999.  Each plaque commemorates a Royal Naval vessel which fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

See the full range of plaques in the Essendon Avenue of Honour.

58th Infantry Battalion (Essendon Rifles)

Only two people have been identified in this photo of members of the Essendon Rifles - Ru Jacobsohn and Captain R W Wells. Any further identifications are welcome.  Please see a larger version of the photo here.   Both Ru Jacosohn and Richard Wells volunteered in September 1914 and served on Gallipoli.   Wells was killed, which means the photo dates to pre September 1914.

Williams Bros Album

“Back from the line unwashed, unshaved.  The brothers Williams, both as fit as fiddles, France 8/5/17”. 

It has taken a while to load up the photos from the album of Gordon and Harold Williams, but they are finally on the website, and you can scroll through the photos, commencing from here.  The album covers the embarkation and journey to the Middle East of Gordon with 6 Field Ambulance, and a later period with 12 Field Ambulance in Belgium and France, where Gordon's brother Harold joined him in 1916.  The photos were scanned courtesy of Robin Benjamin.

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".