A very interesting and impressive function took place at St. Patrick's Catholic School, Pakenham, on Saturday afternoon last, when an Honor Board was unveiled by the Rev. Father Merner. The Board is a very handsome one, the panel being of blackwood, with a massive frame of Queensland figured oak. It hears the names of 22 old pupils of the school who have enlisted and gone on active service, five of whom have already made the supreme sacrifice......Mr James J. Ahern occupied the chair and the gathering was a very large one, representative of every section of the community, independent of class or creed. It was intended that the function should take place in the school-room, but owing to the large attendance this was found impracticable, and it took the form of an open air gathering the speeches being delivered from the verandah in front of the school-room...... Speaking of the Honor Roll, he said it bore the names of 22 old pupils of the school, and as the daily average attendance at the school for the past ten years was about 20, they would recognise that the school had put up a good record in providing recruits. The idea of having an Honor Board had, he said, originated from Miss Hunt, the school mistress. The pupils desired to make her a small presentation, but when the matter was mentioned to her, Miss Hunt asked that the money proposed to go towards a presentation to her should be devoted to the purchase of an Honor Board for the school. This kindly suggestion was adopted, and the sum in hand was supplemented by other donations. (1)
What follows are the 22 names listed on the Honour Roll including their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record at the National Archives of Australia, www.naa.gov.au
Rhoden, Norah Sister. Sister Rhoden is listed as Norah in the report but her first name was spelt as Nora on her enlistment papers. Nora enlisted in Ismaila in Egypt on March 15, 1916. She was 35 years old and served in France and England and Returned to Australia February 2, 1919. Nora died on July 22, 1952 an her informative obituary appeared in The Age -Miss Nora Rhoden, one of the best known members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, died on Tuesday in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital after a long illness. Miss Rhoden, who was born at Sale, enlisted in the A.I.F. in April, 1914, serving in Egypt at No. 1 A.G.H. Heliopolis, at Atalier and Ismailia.
Transferred to France in 1916 she served at Abbeville, Doullens and Gainzacourt before returning to No. 1 A.G.H. at Rouen as senior sister. Miss Rhoden transferred to Southall Hospital, Middlesex, England, in 1917, and returned to Australia in 1919, when she was appointed night superintendent of Caulfield Military Hospital.
Her service with the A.A.N.S. included 10 years at Caulfield, 10 years as matron at the Anzac Hostel for incapacitated soldiers and a term at Stonnington during the last war. Miss Rhoden will be buried at Pakenham at 10 o'clock this morning. (4)
Nora, born in Sale in 1881, was the daughter of John William and Kate (nee Connor) Rhoden. Kate's father, David Connor had a hotel at the old Bunyip township from the mid 1850s and in 1869, John Rhoden became the proprietor. David Connor also built in 1863 the Halfway House Hotel, on the Gippsland Road, west of Abrehart Road. It was de-licensed in 1899. The building was much later moved to the Gippsland Folk Museum. I have written about these early hotels, here. Nora's father died in March 1886 at Warragul, aged 45. Kate then married Ernest Staveley in 1889, the marriage ending with his suicide in 1895. (5) The West Gippsland Gazette had the following obituary of Kate after her death in June 1905 -
We regret to record the death yesterday morning of Mrs. Staveley, of Pakenham, mother of Mr. George Rhoden, manager for A. McLean and Co., Warragul, and of other members of the family well-known in the district. Mrs. Staveley was one of Gippsland's pioneers and for many years has been resident at Pakenham where the family are widely known and highly respected. The deceased lady is a sister of Mr. David Conner, and she built the Railway hotel, Warragul, in the early days of this town. (6)
Bourke, James Harrison (SN 2781) James enlisted on November 11, 1914 - he was 28 years old and an Auctioneer. He Returned to Australia August 17, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds on October 9, 1916 due to a 'recurrent high inguinal hernia'
Bourke, Robert Ievers (SN 1885) Robert enlisted on June 16, 1915 aged 28. He was also an Auctioneer. Robert was wounded in action in August 1916, gun shot wound to back and chest, which he recovered from and he returned to fight again and gained a promotion to Lieutenant. Robert was wounded again in May 1918 - a gun shot wound to the left leg where his tibia and fibula was fractured and was sent back to Australia in November 1918.
Robert and James were the sons of Daniel and Frances (nee Ievers) Bourke who were living in Stratford when their sons enlisted. Daniel had previously owned 400 acres in Pakenham, Mount Bourke (7) which was part of Thomas Henty's Pakenham Park. Daniel's parents were Michael and Kitty Bourke who took up the 12,800 acre Mintons Run property in 1843 and in 1849 built the La Trobe Inn (also known as Bourke's Hotel for obvious reasons) on Toomuc Creek.
Clancy, Arthur John (SN 557) Arthur was a nearly 32 year old labourer when he enlisted on February 16, 1916. He was Wounded in Action in Belgium and died four days later on October 8, 1917. There was a short obituary for Arthur in the Pakenham Gazette -
Dwyer, Thomas Kelly (SN 7243) Thomas enlisted on November 20, 1916 in Blackboy Hill in Western Australia. He was a 26 year old Hospital Attendant. Thomas was Killed in Action in Belgium on March 12, 1918.
Thomas and William were both born in Pakenham. Thomas' next of kin was his father, John Kennedy Dwyer, of Claremont in Western Australia and William's next of kin was his mother, Mary Dwyer, also of Claremont.
Fahey, James (SN 1695) James enlisted at the age of 31 on August 10, 1915. He Returned to Australia December 18, 1918. He was born in Carlton according to his enlistment paper, but the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriage Index have him listed as being born in Pakenham. His occupation was labourer. James died in 1954 aged 65.
Fahey, Patrick (SN 2316) Patrick enlisted at the age of 24 on November 16, 1915. His occupation was a wheeler and he was born in Pakenham. Patrick Died of Wounds received in Action in Belgium on October 16, 1917.
Fahey, Thomas (SN 3289B) Thomas was born in Pakenham and enlisted, at the age of 25, on July 21, 1915 in Liverpool in New South Wales. He was Killed in Action in France on November 18, 1916.
Fahey, William Alexander (SN 377) William enlisted on January 22, 1915, he was a 26 year old labourer. He was born at Pakenham. William was awarded the Military Medal - For most conspicuous gallantry in action at Mouquet Farm on 26th August, 1916, in continuing to fire on the enemy after he had been wounded in both arms. William Returned to Australia on March 13, 1918 and was discharged ion medical grounds in July - he had Tachycardia - an abnormally rapid heart beat. William died in 1956, aged 65.
The Fahey brothers all had their mother Margaret of Carlton as their next of kin. She was listed variously as Margaret Christopherson, Margaret C Fahey or Margaret Christopherson Fahey. I think we can assume that their father John Fahey was deceased (I believe he died in 1895 aged 45 and is buried at the Pakenham Cemetery) but I cannot find a marriage of Margaret to Mr Christopherson, although I did find her death in 1927 at the age of 64 where she was listed as Margaret Christopherson. John and Margaret (nee Kelly) Fahey had six boys - there was also a John, born in 1886, so he was the second eldest. I don't have any information about him.
Fennell, James Patrick (SN 33181) James enlisted on October 25, 1916 aged 25. His occupation was a driver. James, born in Pakenham, was the son of Michael and Elizabeth (nee Hurley) Fennell. He Returned to Australia July 8, 1919. James died December 13, 1950, aged 59 and his death notice in The Age said he was the beloved father of Mary and the loving father of Francis, Eileen and Donald. (9)
Halloran, Timothy (SN 3134) Tim was born in Pakenham the son of John and Joanna Halloran of Pakenham and they were both listed as his next of kin when he enlisted on July 19, 1915 at the age of 33. He was a labourer. Ironically, he was Killed in Action in France, exactly one year later on July 19, 1916.
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Hayes, John Edward (SN 2451) John enlisted on May 10, 1916 and said he was 18, born in Pakenham and an orphan - he also said his name was Robert Campbell Pattison. In reality, as he said in his Statuary Declaration of October 29, 1917, he was actually John Hayes and had been born June 24, 1899, which would have only made him 16 when he enlisted. John was the son of Jeremiah Joseph and Ellen Mary Hayes of Pakenham. John Returned to Australia on October 8, 1919 and he died in 1966, aged 66.
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Kelly, John Patrick (SN 5388) John was born at Nar Nar Goon; his parents James and Ellen (nee O'Brien) Kelly had a property, Garryowen at Nar Nar Goon. He enlisted on March 10, 1916 at the age of 36. His next of kin was his wife, Mary Kelly, of 71 Keppel Street, Carlton and he was a rubber worker. He died of disease in England on October 26, 1918, just eight days after his father, James Egan Kelly, who died October 18 (11). His Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial notes that he was a cousin of William Fahey, and thus also the other Fahey brothers. (12)
Keogh, Eustace Graham (SN 14516) Eustace was an 18 year old student when he enlisted on May 18, 1916. Eustace Returned to Australia on March 22, 1919. His next of kin was his father, Dr Arthur George Keogh, who was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Pakenham in 1908 and 1909 and then at 14 Droop Street in Footscray, the same address as Eustace. We can't actually access his World War one record on the Australian National Archives website as they have been 'amalgamated with this person's later service documents.' In World War Two he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army (13). Colonel Keogh died November 9, 1981, aged 82 and his death notice in The Age lists his wife Jean, daughter Barbara and Barbara's family (14).
Eustace's brother, Basil Hewlett Keogh (SN 14353) also served. Basil enlisted March 1916 at the age of 24, he was an electrician and joined the 1st Australian Wireless Squadron, He resigned from the AIF in May 1918 to take up a commission in the Indian Army.The Footscray Advertiser published this paragraph on April 21, 1917 -
Driver Keogh, eldest son of Dr. A.G Keogh, of Droop street, is with the Australian flying corps in Mesopotania. He has invented an improvenment to aeroplanes, which is now being favorably considered by the Imperial War office (15). This is presumably Basil.
Keogh, Francis Leslie (SN 896). Listed as F.A. Keogh, but I believe it is Francis, who was known as Leslie (see below). Leslie was the son of Constable Patrick Keogh and his wife Margaret (nee O'Brien). Constable Keogh was stationed at Pakenham from 1904 until 1911 (16) when he was transferred to a Melbourne posting and they moved to 144 Cobden Street, South Melbourne, which was Leslie's address when he enlisted on July 9, 1915. He was 19 years old and a rubber worker. He Returned to Australia, January 25, 1919. Leslie died in 1968, aged 72.
Mulcahy, Richard Lindley (SN 5129) Listed as L. Mulcahy on the Honour Board, so presumably known as Lindley. Lindley enlisted at the age of 22 on January 18, 1915 - he has various enlistment papers - one of the others say he enlisted on July 14 1915; his mother Bridget (nee Tobin) was his next of kin on one and his father John on another - but they did have the same address 133 Charles Street, Ascot Vale. His occupation was a joiner and he was born in Nagambie. His father, John, was a policeman stationed at Pakenham. In July 1904 he was promoted to Senior Constable and transferred to Russell Street, which created a vacancy at Pakenham which was filled by Constable Keogh (17). Lindley Returned to Australia January 31, 1919. As you can see from this excerpt (below) from the article in The Advocate about the unveiling of the Honour Roll, Mr Mulcahy of Ascot Vale had two sons who served - Lindley, who was listed on the roll and who had been wounded three times, and Thomas Edward Mulcahy (SN 773). Thomas died of wounds on August 14, 1915 at the age of 30, whilst fighting at Gallipoli. He died at the Alexandria 19th General Hospital - he had fractured ribs and gun shot wounds to the back and shoulder.
Sadly, Lindley died as a result of being thrown from a cart, drawn by a bolting horse on February 3, 1926, aged only 30.
Ward, Arthur (SN 20154) Arthur Ward was two months off the age of 42 when he enlisted at Blackboy Hill in Western Australia, on November 19, 1915. He was born at Ballarat and his occupation was a miner and his next of kin was his sister in law, Ellen Hawes of Cowwarr. As his death notice, below, states he died of wounds on April 17, 1918. He had received a gun shot wound the previous day in the shoulder that penetrated the spine, fighting in France. Arthur was the son of Arthur Ward and his wife, Eliza (nee Mulcahy). Arthur died in 1874, the year little Arthur was born, leaving Eliza with three young children. She married Alexander Fraser in 1878 and in 1881 they moved to Pakenham, where she took over the Pakenham Hotel on the west side of Toomuc Creek. I have written about Eliza here.
Sources -
- Early Settlers of the Casey-Cardinia District ( Narre Warren and District Family History Group, 2010)
- From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of Berwick Shire, 1962)
- In the Wake of the Pack Tracks - a history of the Shire of Berwick now the City of Berwick and the Shire of Pakenham (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982)
- Sacrifice and Patriotism: a World War One walk in Pakenham Cemetery (Narre Warren and District Family History Group, 2016)
- Berwick Shire Rate Books.
- Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
- Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and family notices in the newspapers on Trove.
- Australian War Memorial www.awm.gov.au
(1) Pakenham Gazette, April 26, 1918, see here; there was also a report in The Advocate, May 4, 1918, see here and The Tribune, May 2, 1918, see here.
(2) A Parish carved from the Bush: the centenary history of the Dandenong Parish (1883-1893) (St Mary's Centenary Committee, 1983), pp 17-18.
(3) The Advocate, June 30 1888, see here.
(4) The Age, July 24, 1952, see here.
(5) Warragul Guardian, August 20, 1895, see here.
(6) West Gippland Gazette, June 6, 1905, see here.
(7) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, March 20, 1907, see here.
(8) Pakenham Gazette, October 26, 1917, see here.
(9) The Age, December 14, 1950, see here.
(10) The Age, June 29, 1959, p 12 on newspapers.com
(13) WW2 Nominal rolls - https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2
(15) Footscray Advertiser, April 21, 1917, see here.
(16) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 6, 1904, see here; South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 19, 1911, see here;
(17) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 6, 1904, see here.
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