Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Board

The Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll is now housed at the Fishermans Cottage Museum at Tooradin. The Museum is operated by the Cranbourne Shire Historical Society. It's a beautiful board, in a Gothic ecclesiastical style and was originally unveiled in the Church on Christmas Day, 1919, by Chaplain-Colonel McCrae Stewart. At the same service, a marble tablet was unveiled to the memory of James and William Lecky. The Presbyterian Church was opened on May 27, 1860 and replaced by the existing building which was officially opened February 14, 1953 (1).   

The Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Board

Photo: Michelle McLean

What follows is a list on the men on the Honour Board,  their fate (i.e. when they Returned to Australia after active service or when they were Killed in Action) and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au)

Baker, Alexander George  (SN 1782) Alexander enlisted on June 11, 1915 at the age of 22. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Mr J. W Baker of Lyndhurst. Alexander was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. He Returned to Australia April 8,  1919

The T. Bell listed on the Honour Roll is either Thomas Bell (SN 340) or Thomas Bell (SN 3773) They are both Presbyterian.
Bell, Thomas (SN 340) Thomas was one month off 25 years of age when he enlisted on January 18, 1915. His next of kin was his father, J. Bell of Cranbourne and his occupation was farm labourer. Thomas Returned to Australia January 2, 1919.
Bell, Thomas Stanley (SN 3773) Thomas enlisted on August 12, 1915 aged 23, he was a labourer.  His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Bell of St Germains, Clyde. Thomas Returned to Australia October 18, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds on January 21, 1918. In June 1917 he had been wounded - 'Gun shot wound chest penetrating' was the description of the wound. Thomas is also listed on the Cardinia State School Honor Board and was honoured by a tree in the Memorial Grove planted at the School. You can read about this, here.

Bethune, Rupert Charles (SN 3672) Rupert enlisted at the age of 26 on July 24, 1915. He was a labourer. His next of kin was his widowed mother, Mrs Annie Meade of Cranbourne, who later moved to  Lyndhurst. Rupert was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. His parents were Alexander and Annie (nee Hudson) Bethune.

Report of the death of Rupert Bethune and Thomas Leopold Gaborit. Rupert and Thomas were both Killed in Action July 19, 1916, however it wasn't until a Court of Enquiry held the next year in August 1917 that their fate was officially determined.

Dandenong Advertiser September 20, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88817939

Bethune, William Charles (SN 3262) William was a 20 year old grocer when he enlisted on June 30, 1917, his next of kin was his widowed mother, Mrs Susie Bethune, of Cranbourne. William Returned to Australia on July 23, 1919. William also served in World War Two, when he had the rank of Captain. His parents were Kenneth and Susie (nee Brown) Bethune.

Brunt, Robert Harold  (SN 26769) Robert is the son of  William Brunt and  Mary Jane (nee Espie), who lived at Spring Villa, where the Settlement Hotel is now located. William was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1904 to 1923. Robert enlisted on February 26, 1916 aged 27, he was a farmer, and Returned to Australia on May 31, 1919. Brunt Street in Cranbourne is named for the family (2). 

Cameron, Alexander Gordon (SN 1688) Alexander enlisted on June 28, 1915 at the age of 23. he was a farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Cameron of Heatherleigh in Cranbourne. Alexander Returned to Australia May 15, 1919. Alexander's father was Ewen (1860-1903) and his mother Mary Ann (1859- 1947)  was also a Cameron and she was the daughter of early Cranbourne pioneer, Alexander Cameron (1814-1881) who took up the Mayune run in 1851 and purchased the pre-emptive right of the property which he re-named Mayfield; he was also a member of the Cranbourne Road Board from 1863 until 1867. Cameron Street in Cranbourne is named for the family (3). 

Daws, James  (SN 3809)  James was 18 years old when he enlisted on July 16, 1915. He was an engine driver and his next of kin was his father, Abraham Daws, of Codringtton Street, Cranbourne. James was Killed in Action in France on May 3, 1917.

James Daws - Killed in Action.

Photographer: Darge Photographic Company.Australian War Memorial Image DA13442

Greaves, Charles Forrester (SN 13156) Charles enlisted on July 10, 1915 aged 24. He was a farmer.  Charles Returned to Australia May 6, 1919.
Greaves, Sydney Alexander (SN 6523) Sydney enlisted at the age of 23 on July 16, 1915. He was a farmer, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant during his service. He Returned to Australia May 29, 1919.
Charles and Sydney were the sons of of Edwin and Margaret (nee Forrester) Greaves of The Springs, Berwick. Edwin's brother, William, owned Picnic Park at Lyndhurst (4). 

Hallyburton, Adam Benjamin  (SN 391) Adam enlisted at the age of 21 on February 3, 1915. He was a farmer. Adam was Killed in Action in France on July 27, 1918. His next of kin was his father, William Bow Hallyburton of Cranbourne. William and his wife, Lillian, later moved to Caulfield.  In December 1917, Mr and Mrs Hallyburton generously donated two blocks of land in Cranbourne to be raffled with the proceeds going to the Red Cross and the Lady Mayoress' Patriotic League.

Report of the Hallyburton raffle

Lang Lang Guardian, December 22, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514934

Hill, Leslie Victor (SN 64207) Leslie first enlisted on November 27, 1917 - claimed he was 18 and his next of kin was his father, Leslie of Nilma, this was, of course, all lies. His father sent  a stern letter asking how it is that the military authorities have taken him in as he was not only underage but didn't have his parent's permission. He was discharged on March 14, 1918 because  he was underage (he was born January 13, 1900) but then he re-enlisted less than two months later, on May 1.  This time he truthfully said that his father was Samuel Hill of Tooradin Park in Tooradin. He was sent overseas to Egypt, where he arrived in October 1918 and he Returned to Australia on July 3, 1919.

Letter from Samuel Hill asking how his son could have enlisted as he was under 18 and did not have his parents permission.

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au   First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Innes, Peter  (SN 1757)  Listed as Innis on the Honour Board. Peter was 33 when he enlisted on January 5, 1915. He had been born in Scotland and was a farm labourer. Peter was killed at Gallipoli four months later on August 6, 1915. His next of kin was his brother, William, of Hicksborough, near Wonthaggi.  Peter was a resident of Cranbourne when he enlisted and his death was reported in the 'Patriotic News' section of the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, as the first from our district to fall at the front. 

Report on the death of Peter Innes.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal September 23, 1915  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188498

Kennedy, Alexander Stewart  (SN 2131) Alexander enlisted at the age of 31 on March 2, 1916. His occupations were listed as 'farmer and general smith'. His next of kin was his wife, Helen Quinn Kennedy of Clyde. His enlistment papers say that he had spent five years with the Tooradin Rifle Club. Alexander Returned to Australia January 24, 1919.

Kirkham, Malcolm (SN 913)  Malcolm was 29, and a farmer from Lyndhurst, when he enlisted on June 8, 1915. He was the son of William Edward and Margaret (nee McLellan) Kirkham.  Lieutenant Kirkham was Killed in Action in France on September 2, 1918. Some sources say that the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall was built in his and Charles Payne's honour. You can read my history of the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, here. 

This tribute to Malcolm Kirkham and Mervyn Lecky was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal. The rest of the article is below, under the Lecky Brothers entry.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal October 10, 1918.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66194848

Laidlaw, Rodney Goulburn (SN 2037) Rodney was a blacksmith and enlisted  on April 18, 1917 at the age of 28. His next of kin was his father, Robert Laidlaw, of Cranbourne.  He Returned to Australia on May 6, 1919. Interestingly, Rodney was born in Tatura which is in the Goulburn Valley and also part  of the old Shire of Rodney, which may have influenced his parents when they were naming him.

Lecky, James Alexander (SN 19922) James enlisted on February 25, 1916 at the age of 25. He died of 'wounds received in action' in France on November 14, 1918. The wound was a gun shot wound to the chest, which he sustained on October 25 1918.
Lecky, William Mervyn (SN 6612) William enlisted on June 15, 1915 aged 20. He was killed in Action in France on September 1, 1918.
James and William were the sons of James and Margaret (nee Duff) Lecky of Cardinia Park in Officer. James (1841-1939) was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1876 until 1905. Their grandfather, also James (1802-1884) had taken up the Gin Gin Bean Run (later named Cardinia Park) at Officer in 1846 and he was a member of the Cranbourne Road Board and the Cranbourne Shire from 1860 until 1881. Lecky Road in Officer/Pakenham is named for the family (5). The brothers are also listed on the Cardinia State School Honor Board and were honoured by a tree in the Memorial Grove planted at the School. You can read about this, here.

This tribute to Malcolm Kirkham and Mervyn Lecky was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal. The rest of the article is above, under the Malcolm Kirkham's  entry.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal October 10, 1918.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66194848

McLellan, Donald (SN 2207) Donald was a 19 year old labourer, when he enlisted on May 1, 1916. He was born at Lyndhurst and his next of kin was his father, Alexander of Ferndale, Cranbourne. Alexander Returned to Australia on June 10, 1919. 

Morris, Philip Samuel (SN 1509) Philip enlisted at the age of 34 on September 6, 1918. He served in Rabaul in New Guinea and then was seconded to the Department of Agriculture over there and Returned to Australia on January 28 1920 and was discharged on medical grounds (post-malarial debility) on March 7, 1920.  His next of kin on enlistment was his wife, Minnie, and his address was Ellamatta, Cranbourne and his occupation was orchardist. 

Pitcher, Claude  William Leonard (SN 2552)  Claude enlisted on February 26, 1916, aged 21. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, John, of Cranbourne,  He Returned to Australia July 31, 1918 after being wounded including sustaining a gun shot wound to his right shoulder, and discharged on October 14, 1918.

The original Presbyterian Church at Cranbourne, which would have been a familiar sight to all the men on the Honour Board.

Photo: Cranbourne Shire Historical Society.

Read, George Alfred  (SN 1636) George enlisted at the age of 21 on November 10, 1916. He was a farmer. His next of kin at the time was his father, William, of Myrtle Cottage, Cranbourne.  George Returned to Australia on December 21, 1919.

Reeves, Albert Reginald (SN 629) I believe that this is Albert Reginald Reeves as he is the only A.R Reeves I can find who enlisted. Albert was farm labourer, so could have worked on a local farm, but I can't find  a specific local connection.  He enlisted on July 20, 1915 at the age of one month off 23 years of age. He was born in Essex in England and his next of kin was his father, who also lived in Essex. Albert Returned to Australia on April 19, 1919.

Ryland, Arthur Anderson (SN 2553) Arthur enlisted at the age of 21 on March 23, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Amelia Ryland of Clyde; his father Alfred having already died.  He stayed in France after the War ended and was attached to the Australian Base Depot and on September 29, 1919 he married Marie Jeanne Hureaux at the Town Hall in Argenteuil, in France.   He Returned to Australia on February 2, 1920. What happened to Marie? Did she come to Australia? In the 1925 Electoral Roll Arthur is listed at Duff Street Cranbourne with the interesting occupation, Picture Showman. Also at the address is his mother, Amelia, and  Hilda Alice Ryland, his sister, who was a dressmaker. In the 1930s Arthur was President of the Cranbourne Football Club, on the Recreation Reserve Committee and President of the Cranbourne Band Committee and gave his sister Ruth 'away' at her marriage to Thomas Facey, amongst other things. So we know all this, but I can't tell you what happened to Marie (6).

Stark, John (SN 4311) John enlisted on July 20, 1915 at the age of 20, he was a Railway employee. His next of kin was his father, William, of Cranbourne, even though in  a letter William wrote in August 1917, he has his address listed as Devon Meadows, Cranbourne.  John was Killed in Action in France on August 18, 1916.

John Stark - Killed in Action

Photographer: Darge Photographic Company. Australian War Memorial Image DA13020

Strong, Frederick William (SN 29790) Frederick enlisted on March 23, 1916. He was 27 and a farmer. Frederick Returned to Australia May 31, 1919.
Strong, Albert Victor (SN 29789) Albert was 24 when he enlisted on the same day as his brother, Frederick. He Returned to Australia on February 7, 1919.
Frederick and Albert were both born in Portarlington and were the sons of William and Margaret (nee Mclean)  Strong of Ercildoune, Cranbourne.

Taylor, William George (SN 1740) He is listed as G. Taylor on the Honour Board, and known as George.  George was 24, a farm labourer, and had been born in Lyndhurst and  enlisted on February 17, 1916. He was the son of Richard Thomas Taylor whose address was Post Office Lyndhurst   William Returned to Australia January 8, 1919.  George was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Thomas, Hedley Howard (SN 4611) Hedley enlisted on September 3, 1915. He was Killed in Action in France, on July 10, 1918. He was the son of George Thomas of Clyde. His enlistment papers said that he was Methodist, but this may have been a mistake, or he may have just been very ecumenical.

A service for Kenneth Bethune, Jack and Thomas Gaborit and Hedley Thomas. 

South Bourke and Mornington Journal November 4, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188737

Further to the article above regarding  Kenneth Bethune, Jack and Thomas Gaborit and Hedley Thomas. Jack Gaborit (SN 1743 / 1578) Returned to Australia October 14, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds and his brother Thomas (SN 3314) was Killed in Action July 19, 1916. Thomas is mentioned in the same news report as Rupert Bethune in this post.  I can't find  a Kenneth Bethune who enlisted, so the report may refer to Rupert Bethune who was killed the same day at Thomas or it may refer to William Bethune, listed above, whose father was Kenneth. As it is, the Gaborit brothers are not on this Honour Board.

Footnotes

(1) A report of the unveiling of the Honour Board was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 8, 1910, see here. Date of the opening of the Church in 1860 is from The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968), p. 60. A report of the opening of the 1953 building can be read in the Dandenong Journal, February 25, 1953, see here.

(2) Family information from The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968) and Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia  District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) 

(3) Ibid.

(4) Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia  District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) 

(5) Family information from The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968) and Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia  District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) 

(6) Electoral Rolls are on Ancestry.com; the other information comes from various newspaper reports on Trove.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Great War Soldiers with a connection to Lyndhurst and Skye (Lyndhurst South)

This is a list of soldiers with a connection to the towns of Lyndhurst and Skye.  I have linked these towns together as Skye changed its name to Lyndhurst South in 1894, after a murder brought unwelcome attention to the area. It changed back to Skye in 1964 (1).  Parts of Lyndhurst have been re-named Lynbrook, but it traditionally covered the area roughly south of Abbotts Road, west of Dandenong Frankston Road, east of the South Gippsland Highway and north of Thompsons Road. Skye or Lyndhurst South roughly covered the area south of Thompsons Road, west of  McCormicks Road, north of Ballarto Road and  east of Dandenong-Hastings Road, so it included both Hall Road and Wedge Road.  All this area used to be in the Shire of Cranbourne. I have written a short history of Lyndhurst, here.

If you know of any other soldiers that I have missed, then please let me know.

You can read more about Skye in the book 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950 by Dot Morrison, published by the Mornington Peninsula Family History Society in 2004.

What follows is a list of soldiers, their connection to Lyndhurst or Skye, their fate (i.e. when they Returned to Australia after active service or when they were Killed in Action) and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au)

Anderson, John William (SN 10579)   John was born in Lyndhurst and enlisted on December 29, 1915 aged 23. He was a share farmer and his next of kin was his father, Richard Anderson of Charman Road, Cheltenham. John Returned to Australia on May 12, 1919.

Baker, Alexander George (SN 1782)  Alexander enlisted on June 5, 1915 aged 22. He was a farmer from Lyndhurst South and his next of kin was his father, J.W. Baker, also of Lyndhurst South. Alexander was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. He Returned to Australia on April 8, 1919. Alexander is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here.

Bassett, Thomas James (SN 2616). Thomas enlisted on July 10, 1916 at the age of 24. He was a farmer, whose address was Frankston Road, Dandenong, but he clearly had a connection to Lyndhurst as he was entertained with a 'social evening' at the Lyndhurst School, prior to his departure (see article below). His next of kin was his father, John, of the same address. Thomas Returned to Australia March 12, 1920.

A farewell to Thomas Bassett

Dandenong Advertiser, September 7, 1916  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88659855

Cairns, Godfrey Brown (SN 16080) Godfrey was born in Rosebud and he was living at Lyndhurst when he enlisted on January 27, 1916. His occupation was driver, was 28 years old and his next of kin was his father, Robert Cairns, of Fern Villa, Rosebud. He Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919.

Cozens, John Edwin  (SN 2602)  John was born at Lyndhurst and was living at Mornington Junction (the original name for Baxter) when he enlisted on August 2, 1915, at the age of 23 and eleven months. John was a labourer and his next of kin was his father, J.R. Cozens also of Mornington Junction.  John Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919.

Fisher, Culbert Cecil (16926) The unusually named Culbert enlisted on March 9, 1916 aged 18. He was a State School teacher, born in Lyndhurst and living there at the time of his enlistment. He Returned to Australia on September 25, 1919.
Culbert's wedding to Myrtle Poole was written up in Table Talk on May 28, 1925. By this time his parent's had moved to Woodend, but it seems they were sentimental enough to call their property after their original location. The account of the wedding is very comprehensive - you can read the full report, here. 

Culbert Fisher's wedding

Table Talk May 28, 1925  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146557158/17424002 

Hope, George  (SN 1394)   George said he was born in Lyndhurst in South Australia when he enlisted at the age of  26 on August 2, 1915. He was a labourer and his next of kin was his brother, John Hope of Lyndhurst South.  George embarked to return  to Australia on March 16, 1918, however never made it home as on April 20 he went over the side of the boat and his body was never found. The inquiry said that he was in great pain from rheumatism and trench fever which caused headaches and rashes amongst other things and he had also suffered a gun shot wound to his right thigh, however the verdict was that he had fallen overboard accidentally. There is paperwork in his file saying that his real name was Robert George Chrozier and he was born at Lyndhurst in Victoria. His brother's name as next of kin was later changed to John Alexander Chrozier.  In his will he leaves everything to his cousin John Chrozier of Cranbourne (the name is also spelt as Crozier in the file). A sad ending, but you can understand with all the pain he must have been suffering, why he may have decided to end it all. I wonder why he enlisted under an assumed name.

Howse, Frederick Thomas   (SN 15911)    Frederick enlisted on October 9, 1916 when he was a 21 year old postal assistant. Thomas was born at Lyndhurst  and living in Dandenong when he enlisted. His next of kin was his father, Thomas Howse of Hutton Street, Dandenong. Frederick Returned to Australia on January 2, 1919.

Kerr, Alfred William Charles (SN 2080) Alfred was born at Lyndhurst and enlisted at the age of 21 on November 10, 1916. He was a driver. Alfred Returned to Australia on March 31, 1919. 
Kerr, Frederick John Lee (SN 3420) Frederick enlisted on June 6, 1917 when he was 18 years old. He was born in Lyndhurst and was living at Hastings at the time of enlistment. Frederick was Killed in Action in France on August 25, 1918 

Alfred  and Frederick were the sons of Gilbert and Clara (nee Kernot) Kerr of Hastings. Clara's family, the Kernots, were early settlers in Tooradin. 

Kerr, Charles Thomas  (SN 2040)   Charles was born in Lyndhurst and was a 22 year old newsagents assistant living in Albany Park in Western Australia when he enlisted on November 1, 1915.  Charles Returned to Australia on January 14, 1919. His next of kin was his father, Moses, of Upper Hawthorn.

Kirkham, Malcolm (SN 913)  Malcolm was 29, and a farmer from Lyndhurst, when he enlisted on June 8, 1915. He was the son of William Edward and Margaret (nee McLellan) Kirkham.  Lieutenant Kirkham was Killed in Action in France on September 2, 1918. Malcolm is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here, and some sources say that the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall was built in his and Charles Payne's honour. You can read my history of the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, here. 

McFarlane, David James  (SN 77806)  David enlisted on June 14, 1918 didn't see active service and was discharged in December 1918. He was 21 year old butcher at the time of his enlistment and was born in Lyndhurst.

McLellan, Donald (SN 2207) Donald was a 19 labourer, when he enlisted on May 1, 1916. He was born at Lyndhurst and his next of kin was his father, Alexander of Ferndale, Cranbourne. Alexander Returned to Australia on June 10, 1919. Donald is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Board, see here.

Norquay, Walter James (SN 1914)  Walter, born in Lyndhurst,  was a 27 year old Senior Postal Assistant when he enlisted on May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Dagmar of South Yarra. Walter was Killed in Action, in Belgium, on October 13, 1917. Walter was the son of James and Margaret (nee MacPherson) Norquay and the grandson of Alexander and Barbara (nee Cromarty) Norquay, who had arrived in Lyndhurst in the 1850s (2).

Payne, Charles Lyndhurst (SN 4801) Charles Lyndhurst Payne was born in Lyndhurst, and presumably named after his place of birth. He was 21 when he enlisted on April 1, 1916 and his guardian was listed as Mrs Margaret Greaves of Picnic Park, Lyndhurst.   He Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France on April 26, 1918. Margaret Greaves (1842-1921) was married to William Greaves and was the daughter of Stephen and Alice Payne, so I presume that Charles was her nephew (3).  Some sources say that the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall was built in his and Malcolm Kirkham's honour. You can read my history of the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, here. 

Payne, James (SN 1561) James was born in Lyndhurst and was 28 when he enlisted on October 6, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Christina Cozens, of Yannathan, which is here he was also living at the time of his enlistment. He suffered a number of gun shot wounds and  Returned to Australia on February 15, 1918. When he applied for his medals in April 1918 he was living in Five Mile (Koo-Wee-Rup North). James is listed on the Yannathan Honor Board and the Yannathan State School Honor Board, you can read about them here. James was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Reilly, Eric Campbell  (SN 479) Eric was a 26 year old farmer from Lyndhurst when he enlisted on October 13, 1914. His next of kin at the time was his father, J.L. Reilly of Queen Street, Melbourne. He was single when he enlisted but there is a note in his file dated May 7 1915 saying that he had married; his wife's name was Selina. Eric Returned to Australia on April 23, 1919. Eric was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Reynolds, Henry Simpson (SN 80602 / Depot) Henry, whose enlistment was announced in the Dandenong Advertiser (see below) was 34 when he enlisted on October 5, 1918. He was a Labourer.  His next of kin was his wife, Olena, of Lyndhurst South and they had six children.  Henry did not see active service and was discharged in December 1918.and 

Henry Reynolds of South Lyndhurst enlists

Dandenong Advertiser  October 17, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88816358

Smith, Frederick William  (SN 7085)  Frederick was born in Lyndhurst and was living in Dandenong when he enlisted on September 17, 1916. He was 24 and his occupation was listed as grocer. His next of kin was his father, Robert Smith, of Dandenong.  Frederick Returned to Australia on February 19, 1919.

Strong, Albert Victor (SN 29789) Albert enlisted on March 23, 1916, at the age of 24. He was a farmer. He Returned to Australia on February 2, 1919 and was welcomed home at a function in April 1919, see the account from the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, below, where he is listed Driver V. Strong, so was presumably known as Victor. 
Strong, Frederick William (SN 29790) Frederick enlisted on March 23, 1916, the same day as his brother, Albert. He was 27 ands was also a  farmer. Frederick Returned to Australia May 31, 1919.
Frederick and Albert, both born in Portarlington, were the sons of William and Margaret (nee McLean) Strong of Ercildoune, Cranbourne. Frederick and Albert are listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here.

Welcome home to Victor String and George Taylor

South Bourke and Mornington Journal April 17, 1919  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66195941

Taylor, William George (SN 1740) William was 24 and a farm labourer when he enlisted on February 17, 1916. He was the son of Richard Thomas Taylor, of Lyndhurst and he was also born in Lyndhurst. William Returned to Australia in January 8, 1919. William or George, as he was seemingly known as, was welcomed home at the same function in April 1919 as Victor Strong (see above).  William is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here. George was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Footnotes
(1) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire, 1968), pp. 59 and 157
(2) Gunson, op. cit., p. 59
(3) Morrison, Dot 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950  (Mornington Peninsula Family History Society, 2004). 

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Lyndhurst Memorial Hall

Communities commemorated the Great War in various ways -  War Memorials, Avenues of Honour, Memorial Gates, Memorial Hospitals and Memorial Halls. This is an account of the Memorial Hall at Lyndhurst, near Dandenong.  I have written a short history of Lyndhurst, here. 

The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported on April 25, 1912 the following - At the Cranbourne Council meeting on Saturday, 13th inst., a communication was received from eight residents of Lyndhurst making application for a piece of land as per plan forwarded, at the end
of Kirkham's lane, with a frontage to Lyndhurst road, for the purpose of erecting thereon a public hall (1). 

A year later the matter was back before the Council again as they were dealing with correspondence from the Lands Department regarding the site of the Hall and at the  May 1913 Cranbourne Shire Council meeting the following was reported -  From W. H. Peers, shire solicitor, forwarding copy of plan attached to title for allotment 24 and part of allotment 44, Lyndhurst, proposed site for public hall. On the motion of Crs Brunt and Gamble, secretary to write to owners of land re transfer of same (2). Lyndhurst Road is the same road as Dandenong-Hastings Road which is now called the Western Port Highway.

However, the Lyndhurst community had obviously been very confident obtaining  the land and  thus building a hall as in October 1912, they purchased a piano for the hall at the cost of  £40, a price which was considered a bargain according to the report in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal (3).

Report of the purchase of the piano

South Bourke and Mornington Journal October 31, 1912 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66181675

I presume that work in connection with the erection of the Hall was put on hold due to the First World War as the only reference I can find to the Hall between 1913 and 1920  was in the Koo Wee Rup Sun in July 1918 which reported on a successful dance having been held in the Lyndhurst Hall (4). This report obviously suggests the Hall was opened by 1918, however it doesn't tally with other reports about the Hall. In the 1920s there were reports about fundraising activities for what was now called the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall and these were often held at the Lyndhurst School (5) and a report from November 1920 talks about the site of the the proposed Hall (6). The earliest report that I can find to the Hall being finished, was this one, below, from the Koo Wee Rup Sun of April 7, 1921. I believe the 1918 report is incorrect and that the successful dance was held either in the Lyndhurst School or another Hall. 

From a report of Cranbourne Shire Council meeting held April 2, 1921.

Koo Wee Rup Sun April 7, 1921

This brings us to the name of the Hall. Before the War, the hall was referred to as a public hall and it wasn't until, as I said, the 1920s that the Hall was referred to as a Memorial Hall. In the Dandenong Journal of March 21, 1935, the following was reported - The Lyndhurst Memorial Hall was erected in 1922 to do honor to the late Lieut. M. Kirkham and Driver C. Payne, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War (7).  Apart from the date being incorrect this is interesting as it is the first mention in the newspapers of the fact that the hall was a memorial to the two men and not all the men who had served from the area, which was more common. There are more than twenty men with a connection to Lyndhurst, who enlisted, and I have written about them here.

Here is more detail on Lieutenant Kirkham and Driver Payne -
Kirkham, Malcolm (Service Number 913) Malcolm was 29, and a farmer from Lyndhurst, when he enlisted on June 8, 1915. He was the son of William Edward and Margaret (nee McLellan) Kirkham. Lieutenant Kirkham was Killed in Action in France on September 2, 1918. Malcolm is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll (8).

Payne, Charles Lyndhurst (Service Number 4801) Charles Lyndhurst Payne was born in Lyndhurst, and presumably named after his place of birth. He was 21 when he enlisted on April 1, 1916 and his guardian was listed as Mrs Margaret Greaves of Picnic Park, Lyndhurst. He Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France on April 26, 1918. Margaret Greaves (1842-1921) was married to William Greaves and was the daughter of Stephen and Alice Payne, so I presume that Charles was her nephew (9).  

The Hall was the centre of social life in Lyndhurst - it was a very active community and many fundraising functions were held - mainly balls. In 1935 it was reported In the month of October, it is estimated that approximately £50 has been raised for church, charitable and local objects, as the result of efforts in the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall (10).  They also held many functions during the Second World War to raise funds for the Red Cross. I have created a list of articles on Trove on the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, which you can access here, and so you can read for yourself the many and varied social activities that the Hall hosted. 

However, sadly these events came to an end on the night of January 25, 1944 when the hall was destroyed by fire. The Dandenong Journal of January 26 reported the fire  the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, which possessed one of the best dance floors in the district, was completely destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. Built in 1921 by the residents of the district as a memorial to Lieut. M. Kirkham and Dvr. C. Payne, the hall cost over £700 then and its value was increased to over £1000 by subsequent additions. It was well appointed and was one of the most popular social centres in the district. The night previous to the fire, a successful function had been held in the hall, and it is surmised that the blaze started from a smouldering cigarette butt (11).  This was a bit ironic as the Dandenong Journal of September 27, 1934 reported that the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall Social Committee meeting was held on Friday in which Objections were raised to  so much smoking being allowed in the hall, and after discussion it was decided to prohibit smoking in the main hall and kitchen; notices to be put up to that effect (12).

The Lyndhurst Social Club still continued to hold functions at other halls, such as Cranbourne and Hampton Park. A public meeting was held in May 1946 where it was decided to build the new hall in brick and the Hall committee already had £1090 in hand for the rebuilding (13).  In 1952, the Lyndhurst Progress Association wrote to the Cranbourne Shire for permission to erect a new hall (14).  But the new Hall was never built and I don't know why. It certainly wasn't for lack of community spirit. I do not have  a photo of the Memorial Hall, so if you have one in your possession I would be interested in seeing them.

A new memorial was unveiled in Lyndhurst on Remembrance Day, November 11, 2017 - it lists just eight soldiers - two from the Great War and six from the Second World War (15) -
Lieutenant Malcolm Kirkham
Driver Charles Lyndhurst Payne
Lieutenant Ivor Kenneth Allison
Private Allen John Brereton
Private Raymond George Brereton
Sergeant James Murray Thomson
Flying Officer Eric Hurlstone Renfree
Private Thomas Alfred Wear

The Memorial was funded by the City of Casey and the money that had been collected to rebuild the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall and kept in Trust for over sixty years was also used. I don't understand why they commemorated only two soldiers from the First World War to be honoured as it appears to me that the original hall was initially opened as a memorial hall for all the soldiers in the area, not just Malcolm Kirkham and Charles Payne. I am not suggesting at all that they are unworthy of the honour. Walter James Norquay, born in Lyndhurst on the property where the new memorial is located and Killed in Action is an egregious example of a man who should be on the new memorial, but was ignored. The Memorial is a wasted opportunity to honour all the men from Lyndhurst who served in the Great War and would lead the many new residents in the now suburban Lyndhurst to believe that only two men with connections to the area enlisted, when in fact there were many more (see here).  Casey Cardinia Remembers website, has a photograph and some information on this new memorial - see here.

Trove List - I have created a list of articles on Trove on the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, which you can access here. 

Footnotes
(1) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, April 25, 1912, see here.
(2) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 12, 1913, see here.
(3) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 31, 1912, see here.
(4) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 24, 1918, see here.
(5) See my Trove list for various reports.
(6) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, November 18, 1920, see here.
(7) Dandenong Journal, March 21, 1935, see here.
(8) Malcolm Kirkham - see his Attestation file from the National Archives of Australia, here.
(9) Charles Payne - some of the family information came from 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950 by Dot Morrison (Mornington Peninsula Family History Society, 2004). see his Attestation file from the National Archives of Australia, here. 

(10) Dandenong Journal, November 7, 1935, see here.

(11) Dandenong Journal, January 26, 1944, see here.

(12) Dandenong Journal, September 27, 1934, see here.

(13) Dandenong Journal, May 22, 1946, see here.

(14) Dandenong Journal, March 19, 1952, see here.

(15) Some World War Two files have been digitised at the National Archives of Australia. The World War Two nominal rolls are here, https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Patrick O'Halloran's General Store at Pakenham

I bought this postcard of Patrick O'Halloran's store in 'Old Town', Pakenham. The 'old town' was the town on the Gippsland Road (Princes Highway) near the Toomuc Creek. New Pakenham or Pakenham East was the town that developed around the railway station from 1877. I don't know when the store opened; Patrick is listed in the Electoral Rolls of 1903 as a grocer and that is the first reference I can find. His father, John, is listed in the Shire of Berwick Rate books at Pakenham from 1885/1886 as owning 'house and land, Henty's subdivision'. According to the 1884 Rate books, Thomas Henty owned 4,421 acres of land, being Lots 1, 2, 8, 11 to 20, 46 to 46, so John must have purchased some of this land after it was subdivided.

Thomas Henty's land sale

South Bourke & Mornington Journal, November 25, 1885  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/6745862

Patrick is not listed in the Rate Books until 1914/1915 and he then has '23 acres William's subdivision'. I am unsure where that was. Part of the problem with tracking the family through both the Rate books and the Electoral Rolls is that their surname is sometimes listed as Halloran and sometimes as O'Halloran. What we do know is that Patrick's store was on Gippsland Road or the Princes Highway and this is where the photograph on the postcard was taken.

  

Patrick was one of the advertisers in the first edition of the Berwick Shire News of September 8, 1909. The newspaper was the forerunner of the Pakenham Gazette.

Patrick's last advertisement when his store was located in 'old Pakenham.'

Pakenham Gazette November 19, 1920

In November 1920, Patrick left old Pakenham for new Pakenham and removed to new premises in Main Street, next to the Post Office.

Patrick advertising his move to Main Street, Pakenham East.

Pakenham Gazette November 26, 1920.

In August 1927, Patrick sold his business to Mr Jackson of Korumburra. 

Report of the sale of the business

South Bourke & Mornington Journal August 18, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214589156

Mr Jackson's first advertisement in the Pakenham Gazette

 Pakenham Gazette September 2, 1927.

Patrick was the son of John Halloran and Johanna Scanlon, who had married in 1873. They had nine children, the first two were registered at Berwick and the last seven at Pakenham, which gives us some idea when the family moved to Pakenham.  The children were -  Mary Ann (1875 - 1966, married Charles Maltby in 1915), John (1877 - 1955), Johanna (1878 - 1954, married Sydney John Donahoo in 1920), Michael Patrick (1880 - 1943), Timothy (1881, Killed in Action in France July 1916), Stephen (1883 - 1957), Dominick (1884 - 1958), William (1886 - 1891), Thomas (1887 - 1964). John died April 19, 1922 aged 78 and Johanna April 18, 1934 (1). 

This is part of John's obituary which was published in the Pakenham Gazette of  April 21, 1922 - The deceased gentleman, who was a native of County Clare, Ireland, was an old and much respected resident of this district, where he had lived for about 40 years, and he will be sadly missed by many friends. He was for many years connected with the Railway Department and on his retirement form service he settled in Pakenham. He always took a keen interest in public matters and was a great lover of sport, especially football.

Patrick, our store keeper was Michael Patrick. He married Jane Elizabeth Dillon and 1907 and they had two children, James and Marie. He died on May 18, 1943 at the age of 62 and Jane died on July 1, 1949, also aged 62 (2). 

The Pakenham Gazette of May 21, 1943 published the following obituary of Patrick -

Prominent Pakenham Man Accidentally Killed

District saddened by death of Mr. M. P. Halloran

A gloom was cast over the whole district last Tuesday afternoon, when it was learnt that Mr Michael Patrick Halloran had been killed by the falling of a limb of a tree at his property, Gembrook road, Pakenham.

Mr Halloran had gone to cut down a tree which had been partly burnt through, and apparently it came down unexpectedly and one of the limbs struck him on the head. Death must have been instantaneous.

Discovery of the sad event was made by Mr Halloran’s daughter (Miss Marie Halloran) who on noticing that sound of chopping had ceased and that one of her father’s dogs which followed him everywhere had returned to the house without him, went to discover if anything unforeseen had happened.

Mr Halloran was born at Pakenham 62 years ago and had spent practically the whole of his life in the district. For a number of years he conducted a general store at Old Pakenham and later established at Pakenham East the business which is now conducted by Messrs J. J. Jackson and Sons, who purchased it from him some 17 years ago.

On his retirement from business Mr Halloran erected a residence at his orchard property on Gembrook road and continued to reside there up to the time of his death.

As a young man he was prominently associated with most of the sporting activities of the town as well as generously supporting all movements for the progress of the district.

In business affairs and in public and private life Mr Halloran was known far and wide as a man of high principle – upright in all his dealings and ever ready to assist any in need of a helping hand. These sterling qualities and his bright and cheerful nature won for him many deep and lasting friendships; and with his death the district has lost one who will be greatly missed.

The heartfelt sympathy of the whole community goes out to the sorrowing widow, son and daughter, also to Mr Halloran’s brothers and sisters at this sad time.

The funeral, which was very largely attended, took place at Pakenham Cemetery yesterday morning, following Requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church. Mr Halloran’s nephew (Rev. Father L. Halloran), assisted by Rev Father Sullivan, officiated at the Church and at the graveside. The coffin bearers were Messrs P. Brown, W. Stone, B. Bourke and R. Miers, and the pall-bearers Messrs W. and B. Doherty, J. and T. Carney, Milo Bourke, P. Clarke, T. Fuller and M. Mullane.

Footnotes
(1) Family information comes from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history You can read Timothy's story on the website A Century After the Guns Fell Silent: Remembering the Pakenham District's WWI Diggers 1914-1918, here https://www.pakenhamww1.com/halloran-timothy
John's death notice was in The Argus, April 21, 1922, see here. Johanna's death notice was in The Argus, April 19, 1934, see here.
(2) Jane's death notice was in The Argus, July 2 1949, see here.

A version of this blog post, which I wrote and researched, also appears on my work blog - Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past. 

Fawkner Cemetery postcards

I have three postcards of the Fawkner Cemetery, which was also known as the New Melbourne General Cemetery.  It does seem like an unusual subject for  a postcard. Did people buy a postcard at the cemetery kiosk after a funeral and send it to  a loved one? Possibly. The person who sent these Fawkner Cemetery postcards ran the tearooms, more of which later.

The Fawkner Cemetery opened on December 5, 1906. The opening had been delayed for months for various reasons including  issues the Board of Health had with the Cemetery's rules and regulations (1).  The first burial took place five days later, on December 10, and it was of five year old Doris Gladys Knapp, the daughter of the assistant station-master at Brunswick Railway Station. Little Doris had passed away  August 19 1906, and owing to repeated delays in opening the cemetery her parents had to have her embalmed whilst they waited for the cemetery to open and she could be buried (2).

The new Fawkner Railway Station was constructed on the Somerton line, right at the entrance to the Cemetery and was opened at the same time as the Cemetery. This allowed both coffins and mourners to journey to the Cemetery from the Flinders Street Mortuary Station (3).  There was also a railway line from the Springvale Station to the Necropolis which operated from February 7, 1904 to December 19,1951 (4). 

A Crematorium opened at Fawkner on June 19, 1927 (5).  It was the second such facility in Victoria. The first cremation had taken place at the Necropolis at Springvale in April 1905, when Edward Davies was cremated. He had specifically requested this in his will and also that his ashes be scattered to the four winds of heaven (6). 

My postcards were all sent by the same person, Martha Bamber, to her mother and her sister, Clara, who lived in Sydney. They are shown below, in what I believe is the order they were sent.

Railway Station at the New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner.

The letter on the back of this card reads - Our place is just as you come out of the white gate but of course not on the photo. How is my darling niece, Roslyn (?).  I should love to see her. I am awfully dissapointed [sic]  I thought to be able to come to Sydney this year, but unless things alter cannot. I hope you are feeling stronger. I went to a  Masons dance on Sat. Annie lent me her dress because I had been to so many in mine,  it was a very nice affair.

Railway Station at the New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner - letter.

View at Entrance, New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner

The letter on the back of this card reads -

Dear Ma & Clara, 

I know you will think me unkind but really I seem to have so little time, I am up here 7 days a week & if Annie was not good, I couldn't do it. We are doing a bit better but Harry will finish here on the 30 of March so I don't know how we shall go on about his wage. I hope things will mend up. Mrs ?  says if we can only hold out 12 months we shall have the best paying (?) cuisine in Melbourne and Geelong

View at Entrance, New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner - letter.

Waiting Rooms, New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner.

The letter on the back of this card reads - This is our place, only where the verandah is is our shop. We are doing very well week ends but week days very quiet. We are looking for a house as we have finished up here. We got one Frazer had been paying 18 /- and they were going to charge us a 1-0-0, behold someone came and offered 25/- so I would not take it. I do not know where we shall get to now (?)  Molly (?)

Waiting Rooms, New Melbourne General Cemetery, Fawkner - letter

What go these letters tell us? The writer may be called Molly - that's what the last word of the last letter looks like. She is upset that she can't visit her family in Sydney and this suggests that is where she came from originally.   They also tell us that money may have been a bit tight as she couldn't afford  a new dress to go to the dances and had to borrow one from Annie. Running the refreshment kiosk was a seven day a week business with poor returns and the family relied on Harry's wage. The fact that Molly said they were looking for  a house as we have finished up here suggests that they may have lived on a house on the Cemetery property.

On December 23, 1925 The Argus reported that the Fawkner Cemetery tearooms operated by the Misses Bamber and Jackson had been broken into (7). The tearooms at Fawkner Cemetery opened  in around 1923 in a temporary wooden building, which was replaced in 1928 by a new brick building designed by Charles Heath, who had also designed the Crematorium (8).  As Molly says that her place is in the waiting room building (middle postcard) this suggests that the postcards were written between 1923 and 1928, when the new tearooms opened. 

Fawkner Cemetery tearooms broken into

The Argus, December 23, 1925  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2175257

The Electoral Rolls of 1924 and 1925 show a Harry and Martha Bamber were at 5 Rodda Street, Coburg. His occupation is listed as a caretaker. Was he the caretaker at the Fawkner Cemetery and Martha operated the tearoom? It would actually be more likely that a caretaker would have a house on the property and if he was finishing up, then they would need to find another. In the 1922 Electoral Roll, their address is the Coburg Cemetery and once again Harry is listed as a caretaker. 

Harry and Martha Bamber - 1922 Electoral Roll

Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Harry & Martha Bamber - 1925 Electoral Roll

Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980

Martha Bamber died February 9, 1936 at the age of 59, and her death notice said she was the loving sister of Mrs Annie Monk (9).  Is this the same Annie she borrowed a dress for the dance from and the same Annie who was good and helped her in the tearoom?  She was also the mother of Harold Bamber.

Martha Bamber's death notice

The Age, February 11, 1936 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205238676

There are two other mysteries - who was Frazer, who had a rented a house for 18 shillings a week? I cannot tell you. Secondly, who was Miss Jackson who operated the tearoom with Miss Bamber? She was possibly connected to J. Jackson, late A.I.F, who managed the new Refreshment rooms in 1929 (see below). 

J. Jackson is the manager of the Refreshment Room at Fawkner in 1929

The Age September 7, 1929  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204147528

I believe that the three postcards of the Fawkner Cemetery were written by Martha Bamber, wife of Harry, who was for a time the caretaker at Fawkner. To support this we have the report of the break-in at the tearooms, the fact the she had a husband named Harry who was the  caretaker at the Coburg Cemetery and possibly Fawkner and finally she had a sister Annie and an Annie is mentioned in two of the three postcards. The only thing working against this is that the third card looks like it was signed Molly. Molly was used historically as a pet name for Mary however it may also have been used by Martha's family for her. I am at least 85% percent sure that Martha Bamber is the person who sent these postcards.

Footnotes

(1) The Argus, November 14 1906, see here; The Argus, November 28, 1906, see here.

(2) The Argus, December 12, 1906, see here.

(3) The Age,  December 6, 1906, see here.

(4) Harrigan, Leo J Victorian Railways to '62 (Victorian Railways, 1962), p. 287.

(5) The Age, June 20 1927, see here.

(6) The Age, April 14, 1905, see here. Don Chambers has written an interesting history of  the Necropolis -  City of the Dead:  a history of The Necropolis, Springvale (Hyland House, 2001)

(7) The Argus, December 23, 1925, see here.

(8) I can't find a specific date of the opening of either the old or new tearooms, however, an article in the Adelaide Advertiser of February 22, 1928 (see here) talks about the new refreshment rooms being built and that the board of management of New Melbourne Cemetery five years ago arranged a tearoom and flower-stall, for the convenience of visitors, in a temporary wooden building. 

(9) Her parents are listed as Richard Wignall and Elizabeth Kenyon. 

Dr John James Helsham of Cranbourne

In 1866, James H. Watson, who later became the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, spent some time on Quail Island, at the northern end of Western Port. You can read his account of his time, here. Of interest was that he described Cranbourne at the time - Two or three small cottages, and the ruins of another with a big stone bush chimney still standing, completed the town of Cranbourne. The ruined cottage is mentioned because in it lived, or rather existed, the local doctor - a clever man, but one who had the habit that many an otherwise good man has fallen a victim to. The minister kept his books and instruments, and, for special cases, he was sobered up for a couple of days, the hotel being tabooed to him till he had completed the case in hand (1).

I have done some research and discovered that the local Doctor, who was sadly addicted to drink was John James Helsham.

Dr Helsham was born c. 1833 in Dublin in Ireland (2).  He was a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 1857 (3). Family trees on Ancestry list his parents as Captain George Paul Helsham and Elizabeth Anne Conway, even though they do not list any sources. The trees list five or six other siblings including George Macklin Helsham (4). We know that George Macklin Helsham had a brother called John James Helsham. They both joined the Freemasons Lodge, No. 37 Kilkenny; George on January 4, 1853 and John on December 13, 1853 (5). Also, in 1875, John and George were listed in the Encumbered Estate (6) register as the sons of Captain George Paul Helsham. 

Encumbered Estates Registry, 1875 showing that there was a John James Helsham who was the son of Captain George Paul Helsham and the brother of George Macklin Helsham.

Ancestry.com Ireland, Encumbered Estates, 1850-1885

George Macklin Helsham had also come to Australia and his 1870 Queensland Death Certificate lists his parents as George Paul and Elizabeth Ann Helsham (7).  The question is this - is Dr John James Helsham the same John James Helsham who was the son of Captain George Paul Helsham? There is every possibility that there were two men of that name born around the same time in the same location; anyone who has done a lot of genealogical research would know that this occurs. However, I am leaning towards our Dr Helsham being the son of Captain Helsham and his wife Elizabeth Conway.

After our Doctor graduated he left Ireland for Victoria and the first account I can find of his life in Victoria was in November 1859 when Dr Helsham had a letter published in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser claiming that he had been libelled in another newspaper report concerning his treatment of a patient, John Bragg. In the letter he writes that  I took him from the wagon with the assistance of some friends, and carried him in, but medical assistance was of no avail. He never spoke one word, and was utterly unconscious until the time of his death, which occurred in less than half an hour, after reaching Longwood (8).  I don't have the full story, however it does place Dr Helsham in the Longwood area in 1859.

The Barkly Navarre Goldfield, c. 1861. This is a landscape that Dr Helsham would become familiar with after his appointment to the area in 1860.

The Barkly Navarre Goldfield. Photographer: Richard Daintree.

State Library of Victoria Image H9324

In 1860, he was appointed as the Public Vaccinator  for the district of Crowlands and Navarre (9).  The towns are both on the Ararat-St Arnaud Road. In August 1861, he performed a small operation on William Broadfoot who was suffering from varicose veins; he lanced an abscess on the man's leg  and apparently cut into a vein and Mr Broadfoot started bleeding. Helsham was called again and was satisfied with the patient's condition, however Mr Broadfoot later bled to death. An inquest was held into his death and in Mrs Broadfoot's evidence she said this about the doctor at the time I do not think Dr Helsham was sober. Another witness, William Smith, said on the second visit Dr. Helsham was tipsy (10).  The Ballarat Star in their report of the incident was quite scathing about Dr Helsham - this is how they reported the case - Unfortunately for him, some of his friends introduced, on Sunday last, a medical gentleman, from old Navarre, styling himself Dr Helsham. After manipulating the ailing limb of Mr Broadfoot, he expressed a most extraordinary surprise that another medical gentleman who had seen the swelling in the leg did not lance it at once. The bouncing charlatan tucked up the sleeves of his coat and commenced lancing what he deemed an abscess (11).

The Coroner ruled that the deceased, William Broadfoot, came to his death having cut varicose veins and not taking proper precautions to stop the bleeding and he committed Dr Helsham for trial for manslaughter (12). The manslaughter trial was held at Ararat in October and the Doctor was acquitted (13).

The next two references I can find to Dr Helsham were both appointments as the Public Vaccinator in February 1862 to the district of Barkly (14) and then in May 1864 to the district of Dimboola (15). Two years later, according to James Watson's report of his trip to Quail Island, the Doctor had moved to Cranbourne. In March 1867, he held an inquest into the death of  a man found dead at Bass, a normal duty for  a country doctor to perform (16).  He was also the secretary of the local Court of Foresters Lodge (17) and in December 1867 was appointed the Public Vaccinator for the district of Berwick (18).

In July 1868 an inquest was held into the death of four year old Mary Mead, of Cranbourne, who was badly scalded when she accidently tipped a billy of hot water over herself. The Age reported that no doctor attended the child on the day of the occurrence, because the only practitioner in the neighborhood, Dr. Helsham, refused to come to see her. He, however, gave some dressing for her; and the resident surgeon at the hospital, where the child was removed the next day, deposed that medical aid would have been of no avail. A verdict of 'accidental death'  was recorded (19). 

The Weekly Times reported on October 30, 1869 (20) that Dr Helsham had died of snake bite - this turned out to be untrue - he was bitten by a snake, but he did survive. The Herald of November 4, 1869 gave a report of the true version of events and it is worth repeating in full as an example of the medical treatments available at the time -
As a garbled account of this accident has found its way into print, a correspondent furnishes the following narrative: A very severe and almost fatal case of snake bite occurred at Tooradin, in Cranbourne district, on Wednesday, 27th October. The following are the facts as related by a young man who attended on the sufferer. As Dr. Helsham was out snipe shooting on the morning of the above day, his dog pointed to what he took to be a snipe, but on nearer approach found to be a black suake, about three feet long; he directly fired at the reptile, standing about a yard distance from it. The dog immediately rushed forward to seize the snake, which the doctor prevented, when the snake sprang up and bit him very severely on the second finger of the right hand. He then killed the snake, bound a ligature tightly round the finger, and walked to the homestead a distance of a mile, carrying the snake in his hand all the way.

When he reached home, a young man on a visit to the place took him in hand, and first cut the piece out with a razor, and scored the finger to the bone from the root of the nail up to the second joint, and rubbed in some gunpowder. By this time, some brandy and ammonia, which had been sent for, had arrived. This was administered: half a tumbler full of brandy and ten drops of ammonia every half-hour. Within one hour of being bitten he became drowsy and insensible, and it took the united efforts of two men, slipping, pricking, pinching, and dragging him about to keep him awake. After a time, even these failed. After about two hours he became convulsed, frothing at the mouth very much; pulse became weak, almost ceased to beat; hands, face and lips turned black, extremities cold, and life almost despaired of. Ammonia was then applied to the wound, to his nostrils, and sprinkled over his face. This lasted for about half an hour, when he seemed to rally a little and breathe easier, and was allowed to sleep twenty minutes, and was afterwards only kept awake by the most severe treatment, being quite unable to walk and altogether paralysed. 

Towards four o'clock p.m., seeming a little better, he was taken to an hotel two miles distant. A medical man by this time having arrived, he continued the same treatment which had already been used. Between his removal to the hotel and two o'clock next morning he relapsed twice, both times his life being almost despaired of; but large doses of brandy and ammonia being given and vigorous efforts being used to keep him awake, he again rallied, and by four o'clock a.m., or eighteen hours after the accident, he had recovered sufficiently to walk about a mile to a friend's house, and was considered to be out of danger, although very weak and sick from the effects of the bite and the treatment (21)

Ammonia was a common cure for snake bite at the time and you could purchase special syringes to inject the liquid. Warning: Do not try this at home!

The Herald, March 29, 1872 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245699334

There are a few references in the newspapers to Dr Helsham after his recovery from snake bite - he conducted an inquest in 1874 (22) and was appointed Health Officer for the Shire of Cranbourne in 1876 (23).  He died suddenly at the age of 45 (24), on August 11, 1878 whilst at the Grantville Hotel, which was owned by John Payne.  This was a Sunday and evidence from the witness statements tell us what happened.  Dr Helsham had come to Grantville to examine James McMahon in the billiard room of the hotel. Afterwards, at around  6.00 p.m., he was having a meal with some others. Witnesses described him as his normal self, cheerful, pleasant and that he appeared sober. He was eating beef steak when he suddenly threw his head back made a choking sound and then he was dead. The Constable, George Ardill,  from Griffiths Point (San Remo) was called, and he took witness statements from Michael Richardson, James McMahon, Catherine Conner, Abram Field and John Payne. The information was passed onto the Coroner who decided than an Inquest was not necessary as there were no suspicious circumstances (25).  His death certificate says that Dr Helsham was buried on August 16, 1878 at the Grantville Cemetery; the undertaker was John Payne and that there was no minister of religion present but three witnesses - John Monk, James Cain and William Matthews.

Dr Helsham is in an unmarked grave at Grantville - the little marker on the right is his grave - it is row 31, plot 6. The Grantville Cemetery has a website, www.grantvillecemetery.org.au which has a list of those buried there. The grave in the photo belongs to the Sloss family, Margaret was buried there in 1891. The grave to the right with the wrought iron fencing, belongs to Isabella Jane Curr or Carr, who was buried in 1878. The next grave is George Casey, buried in 1880 and then Dr Helsham.

What was the reaction in Cranbourne to the death of their Doctor? The South Bourke & Mornington Journal reported that the sudden death of of Dr. Helsham at Grantville seems to have caused general regret in the Cranbourne district where he had so long resided, and dissatisfaction is expressed that a proper enquiry as to the cause of death was not instituted, it being believed by some that it may be possible he died from choking whilst eating. The supposition is that apoplexy was the cause (26). However for some there was no regret. At a Cranbourne Shire Council meeting discussing Helsham's replacement as the Shire Health officer,  Dr Phillips, who was addressing the meeting said that the late doctor was never fit for his duties (27). In response, Councillors Patterson and Poole spoke in favor of the late Dr Helsham, passed high eulogiums on the manner in which he had carried out his duties, and both very much regretted Dr Phillips remarks about him (28). 

It does appear that Dr Helsham had a drinking problem, he may even had been sent out to the Colonies  by his family for this reason either to make a fresh start or to rid them of an embarrassing problem. By 1861, when he was charged with manslaughter and he was only 28 he already had a reputation as a drunkard and a bouncing charlatan.  But in Cranbourne he still had friends, including the local Presbyterian Minister, the Reverend Alexander Duff (29), who looked after his books and instruments. I understand that Cranbourne and other communities deserved a  better Doctor than Dr Helsham, but I can't condemn him completely and agree with James Watson's description of him as a clever man, but one who had the habit that many an otherwise good man has fallen a victim to.

Trove list

I have created a list of articles on Dr Helsham on Trove, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) On June 20, 1927, James H. Watson, the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney presented a paper to the Historical Society of Victoria - Personal Recollections of Melbourne in the 'Sixties. It was a look at various events and activities of the 1860s including this story - Dipping Sheep on Quail Island. The story was published in the Victorian Historical Magazine, v. 12, June 1928 available on-line at the State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections I have transcribed it here. Niel Gunson also quotes this account on page 68 of his book, The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire, 1968) which is where I first saw it. The Minister was the Reverend Alexander Duff - see footnote 29.
(2) His death certificate said he was born in Dublin and and he was 45 years old when he died in 1878, which makes his birth date c. 1833, although a family tree on Ancestry lists the birth date was 1831, see footnote 4.
(3) Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 1857 - that is how Dr Helsham is listed in the 1875 UK & Ireland, Medical Directory, which are available on Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com - 1875 UK & Ireland, Medical Directory: Practitioners resident abroad. 

(4) From information on Ancestry - Captain George Paul Helsham (1802-1861) married Elizabeth Ann Conway (1809 - 1841) in 1830 in Paris. He is listed in various sources as belonging to the Irish Militia, Kilkenny Fusiliers or the Royal Irish Fusiliers. In 1829, whilst in France, he shot a man dead in a duel. It was reported in the Australian papers The Colonial Times of Hobart, January 29, 1830, see here and then there was a subsequent murder trail reported in the same paper on February 18, 1831, see here. His great, grandson John George Douglas Helsham was killed at Gallipoli and his obituary in the Bendigo Independent said that Captain George Helsham was the recipient of an inscribed dagger from the hands of H.R.H. Prince Albert. Private Helsham, therefore, is of a fighting family, and it was his lot to inherit a gold repeating watch and a gold seal which had been handed down from generation to generation for many years (Bendigo Independent June 12, 1915, see here) George and Elizabeth had six children - the birth dates are approximate - George Macklin (1830-1870), John James (1831 or 33 - 1878), Elizabeth Ann (1833 - 1872), Rebecca Blount (1834- 1900), Amelia (1835 - 1835) Paul (1836-1836).
(5) Ireland, Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Membership Registers, 1733-1923, available on Ancestry.com. Technically, the fact that they both joined the same Lodge does not prove they are brothers.
(6) Encumbered Estate - This definition is from Ancestry.com -  The Encumbered Estates' Court was established to facilitate the sale of Irish estates whose owners were unable to meet their obligations because of the Great Famine, regardless of whether the land was entailed. The need for the Court was caused by the impoverishment of many Irish tenant farmers during the 1840s famine, rendering it impossible for them to pay their rents to the landlord who in turn could not make his mortgage payments. Until this Court was established, the lending bank could not get a court order to sell the mortgaged land because of the entail.
(7) George was the Town Clerk of Dalby in Queensland. He died in tragic circumstances at the age of 39. He was rushing to help out at a fire and run into a tree stump and sustained internal injuries and not recover. He left a wife and four children. You can read accounts of the accident in the Darling Downs Gazette February 12, 1870, see here, and the Queensland Times of February 19, 1870, see here. It was George's grandson who was killed at Gallipoli, see footnote 4.
(8) Ovens and Murray Advertiser, November 5, 1859, see here.
(9) The Age, August 4, 1860, see here.
(10) An account of the incident can be read in the Ballarat Star of August 22, 1861, see here. The two quotes about his sobriety are from the Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser of August 28, 1861, see here.
(11) Ballarat Star August 22, 1861, see here.
(12) Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser, August 28, 1861, see here.
(13) Ballarat Star, October 19, 1861, see here.
(14) The Herald, February 19, 1862, see here.
(15) The Argus, May 27, 1864, see here.
(16) The Age, March 26, 1867, see here.
(17) The Leader, September 21, 1867, see here. The Court of Foresters was a Friendly Society, which were formed to help members pay for medical care. Read about Friendly Societies here https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00614b.htm
(18) The Age, December 7, 1867, see here.
(19) The Age, July 29, 1868, see here.
(20) The Weekly Times, October 30, 1869, see here.
(21) The Herald, November 4, 1869, see here.
(22) The Argus, May 7, 1874, see here.
(23) The Argus, September 30, 1876, see here.
(24) He was listed as 45 years old on his death certificate.
(25) The information about his death comes from his Inquest record held at the Public Records Office of Victoria and which is also digitised on Ancestry.com
(26) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, August 21, 1878, see here.
(27) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 2, 1878, see here.
(28) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 2, 1878, see here.
(29) Reverend Alexander Duff (1824 - 1890), read more here (scroll to bottom of post)

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past