The Gardiner brothers of Berwick and their nephews, the Sibert boys

Four brothers from the Gardiner family of Berwick served in the Great War. They all returned, however, two grandsons, who also served in the War did not return. The Gardiner boys were the sons of James and Mary (nee Church) Gardiner of Brisbane Street, Berwick. Mary was the daughter of Isaac Church, she died on April 1, 1920, aged 71, and as noted in  her obituary she had been a resident of Berwick for 53 years, hence since 1867. James died on December 22, 1923 at the age of 77, and his death notice said that he had been a resident of Berwick for 60 years, thus since 1863. (1)

Brisbane Street, Berwick, c. 1880

This is a great photo - seated on the wagon is John Gardiner, who served in the Boer War and the Great War; his father James Gardiner; E. Sibert, who I assume is Edward Sibert, the husband of Amelia Gardiner. Standing is G. Church, who is probably Mary Gardiner's brother.

Image and caption information: Early Days of Berwick (2)

The couple, who married in 1870,  had the following children, all born in Berwick -

• John James (1870, married Matilda Ann McCann in 1903 and died 1946)
• Amelia Jane (1872, married Justin Edward Sibert in 1890, died 1941 in Western Australia) It was Amelia's two sons, Frederick and Edward, who died in the War.
• Isaac Henry (1874 - 1875)
• Mary Anna (1876, married Francis Henry Montgomery Marsh in New Zealand in 1902, died 1962 in Queensland)
• George Peter (1878 - 1968, never married)
• Walter Israel (1880 - 1881)
• Joseph Arthur (1882, married Martha Elizabeth Glenn in 1908, died 1924)
• Albert Charles (1884, married Ruth Sherriff in 1909, died 1961)
• Clyde (born and died 1886)
• Alexander (born and died 1886)
• Ernest Edward (1887, married Daisy Campbell in 1925, died 1967)
• Emily Edith (1890 - 1970, never married)
• Clarence Eustace (1892, married Margaret Fogarty in 1918, died 1965) (3)

The four Gardiner boys enlist.

Berwick Shire News, May 10, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92090768

Here are the details of war service of the Gardiner Boys. I have included their Service number (SN), so you can look up their full record on the National Archives, www.naa.gov.au

Gardiner, John James (SN 1651) John enlisted at the age of 44 on May 11, 1916. His occupation was Civil Engineer and Surveyor and his next of kin was his wife, Mary Ann, of Berwick. Mary is called Matilda and Moya in some sources. John Returned to Australia August 24, 1918. John had also served in the Boer War, he was part of the 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen and was Mentioned in Commander-in-Chief's Despatches on April 2, 1901. John was a Shire Engineer in New South Wales and Queensland and after his retirement in 1935 he returned to Berwick and was elected as a Shire of Berwick Councillor. (4) You can read his obituary in the Dandenong Journal of January 9, 1946, here.

Gardiner, George Peter (SN 4401) George enlisted on January 5, 1916. He was 37 years old, his occupation was Slaughterman and his address was Cockatoo Creek, a previous name for Cockatoo. George's next of kin was his father, James, and he Returned to Australia April 10, 1919.

Gardiner, Ernest Edward (SN 48) Ernest enlisted on August 22, 1914 at the age of 27. He was a farmer and he enlisted in New South Wales. He was reported as being 'dangerously ill' and invalided to Australia July 31, 1915 and medically discharged June 6, 1916. Ernest is incorrectly listed on the Embarkation Roll at the Australian War Memorial as Gardener.

Gardiner, Clarence Eustace (SN 4707) Clarence enlisted on August 7, 1915. He was a 23 year old fireman, working for the Victorian Railways. His father was his next of kin. Clarence was Wounded in Action - gun shot wound left ankle and compound fracture right thigh. Clarence was discharged on medical grounds on April 9, 1918.

Sadly, for James and Mary Gardiner, even though their four sons survived, two of their grandsons did not, Frederick and Edward, who were the sons of Amelia Gardiner and her husband, Justin Sibert.

Sibert, Frederick John (SN 3482) Frederick was born in Berwick and living in Blackbutt in Queensland when he enlisted at the age of 22 on October 18, 1916. He was a timber-getter. His next of kin was his mother, Amelia, of Yarloop in Western Australia. Frederick Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France, on October 10, 1917.

Death of Frederick Sibert

Pakenham Gazette, December 7, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92152769

Sibert, Edward Justin (SN 4551, listed in NAA as 4557) Edward was born in Collie in Western Australia and was 18 when he enlisted on March 1, 1916. His mother was his next of kin. Edward was Killed in Action, sometime between November 3 and November 6, 1916.

Edward Sibert's death notice

West Australian, April 27, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27296914

The Pakenham Gazette  of May 11,  1917 reported on the death of Edward Sibert and provided information about his uncles.

The report on Edward Sibert's death;  it is transcribed, below.
Pakenham Gazette May 11, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92152744

News has been received of the death of Private Sibert, an old Berwick school boy, and grandson of Mr and Mrs Jas. Gardiner. He was 18 years of age, enlisted from Western Australia, and sailed for the Front early last year. He was killed in France on 5th Nov. last when charging across " No Man's Land," when the Australians took Baupaume. He has a brother still in the fighting line, and also three uncles -Sergeant C. Gardiner, Sergeant major J. Gardiner and Private George Gardiner. Another uncle - Sergeant E. E. Gardiner who is now with us, took part in the memorable landing at Gallipolli and was severely wounded. Trooper Arthur Gardiner was at the South African war, where his brother, now sergeant-major, was twice mentioned in despatches by Lord Roberts. (5)

Footnotes

(1) The Age, April 6, 1920, see here; South Bourke & Mornington Journal, April 8, 1920, see here; The Age, December 24, 1923, see here.

(2) Early Days of Berwick and its surrounding districts, compiled by Norman E. Beaumont, James F. Curran and R.H. Hughes (3rd edition published by Rotary, 1979), opp p. 17. The book was originally published in 1948.

(3) Indexes to the Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(4) Boer War Service - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1446387;  Dandenong Journal, January 9, 1946, see here.

(5) Pakenham Gazette May 11, 1917, see here.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years. I wrote this originally as I am interested in stories of Brothers who Served in World War One and Two, because I just feel for their families, having many sons away overseas. I have written about the McDonald Brothers of Yannathan here; the Gay Brothers of Lang Lang, here; the Dawes Brothers of Iona, here - five of them are listed on the Iona Honor Board; the Fisher Brothers of Bunyip and Footscray, here; the Carter Brothers of Bunyip, here, in my post about the Bunyip War Memorial; the Campigli Brothers of Bunyip, who I wrote about in the my post on the Bunyip Methodist Honour Board, here; the Gabbett brothers of Pakenham, here;  the Maher Brothers of Pakenham, here. From the Second World War, I have written about the Frawley brothers, of the Iona Hotel in Garfield, here; three of their uncles, the Bannan Brothers were killed or died during World War One.

Snakes and Mechanics' Institutes

I wrote this for the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria newsletter, Useful Knowledge. (1)  The post looks at lectures on snake bite cures held in Mechanics' Institutes and their interstate counterparts, Schools of Arts and stories about snakes found in or near these buildings.

Snake Tales: Cures for Snake Bites
Mechanics’ Institutes and  Schools of Arts have been the venue for lectures on a whole range of  subjects over the years. These are some accounts of lectures on Snake Bites. Please note, that the I do note endorse the ‘cures’ put forward and urge you to seek medical help in the case of snake bite.

In December 1863, Dr Berncastle have a lecture in snakes in Kiama -
On last Wednesday evening, Dr. Berncastle of Sydney, gave a lecture to the members of the School of Arts here on Snake Bites, and their antidotes. The admission to the lecture was free to the public, and we regret that not withstanding this, the attendance was very small. The lecturer has evidently given a great deal of attention to the treatment of Snakebites, and he has come to the conclusion that the best antidote is a pint of pure spirits. He recommends the patient to take the spirits as soon as the feeling of faintness comes on, and relief will speedily be felt. In addition to the spirits, the lecturer recommends a tight bandage close to the wound to stop the circulation of the blood, and that the wound be well sucked. He says that there is not the least danger likely to result to the one who sucks the wound. The snake's poison he says, proceeds from two fangs situated, one in each jaw, about a quarter of an inch back from the front of the mouth. The poisonous fangs are short and hidden from casual inspection by a little loose flesh which lies along the upper jaw. All the snakes in this colony have not the poisonous fangs, and therefore their bite is not dangerous to life. The handsome carpet snake has not the poisonous fangs, and its bite is consequently quite harmless. The brown and black snakes have the poisonous fangs, and their bite is poisonous. The lecture was an interesting one, and well fitted to remove a great deal of the needless fear with which many regard the snakes of this country.  (2)

By 1868 Dr Berncastle was in Victoria giving the same lecture and we can place him at the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institute (The Athenaeum), Bendigo, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) as well as the Hobart Mechanics’ Institute. (3) 

Dr Berncastle at the Melbourne Mechanics’ Institution

The Herald, February 7, 1868  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244956586

In fact, on June 20, 1868 The Herald published the following letter from him - 
Snake Bites and their cure. To the Editor of The Herald.
Sir,  Considering, after the late trial, that the public must be sorely puzzled to know, what to do to save their lives in case of snake-bite and having devoted, for a number of years, much time to the practical part of the question, I shall be willing to give my lecture on the cure of all snake-bites, with illustrations, etc., free, to any institution, society, or mechanics' institute in or near Melbourne, on any evening that I may be asked to do so during the year. I am,
Sir, yours obediently, 

J. Berncastle, M.R.C.P.L.. Etc. 127 Collins street east, 19th June. (4)

Dr Berncastle's letter

The Herald, June 20, 1868 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244955653

The case Dr Berncastle referred to was that of Joseph Shires who was charged with manslaughter. Shires claimed his antidote would be effective against snake bite and William Drummond permitted himself to be bitten by a snake which Shires had with him. Needless to say the antidote did not work and Mr Drummond died. Shires was found not guilty. Dr Berncastle gave evidence at the trial. (5)

Twenty years later, Dr Ellison was doing the rounds of Schools of Arts in Queensland. He advocated the following treatment, in 1885, when he gave a lecture at the Brisbane School of Arts -
He said there was no perfect cure for snakebite. The best plan when a person had been bitten was to tie a ligature as tightly as possible a little above the wound. The ligature should be tightened until it was almost unbearable. Another ligature should be placed about a couple of inches, above the first one. The wound should then be pinched up with the fingers and cut out with a pair of scissors or a knife. Probably two small drops of poison would be found lying on the wound, and these should be washed away with water or Condy's fluid. (6)  The author of the article reminded the readers also noted how essential this liquid was  - Condy's fluid, without a supply of which no man should go into the bush. (7)

In 1909 and 1910 Professor Morrissey gave some graphic lectures on the same subject in New South Wales - 
Professor Morrissey of snake fame lectured in the Literary Institute, Uralla, to a crowded audience. In the presence of a number of reliable residents, Morrisey gave a demonstration of the efficacy of his method of treating snakebite. Two fowls were bitten by two tiger snakes. A person held the fowls while Morrissey applied the snakes. The fowl untreated was found to be dead in 90 seconds after being bitten on the leg. When the second fowl had also been bitten on the leg, Morrissey fixed a ligature, scarified the wound, and applied his antidote. The bird was no worse when the ligature was removed at the close of the proceedings. The demonstration was entirely beyond suspicion, Morrissey leaving to those present to decide which snake was to bite either fowl, and which fowl was to be treated. Morrissey declares that there is sufficient herb from which he extracts his antidote growing in the Uralla district to make enough antidote for all parts of the State. (8)

The next year he repeated the lecture at the Tenterfield School of Arts, where again two fowls were bitten, and the one give the antidote survived. At this lecture - As a final demonstration Professor Morrissey allowed the tiger snake to bite him on the finger, when the same routine was gone through, ;and a complete cure was accomplished, thus demonstrating the efficiency of the antidote as prepared by the Professor. During the lecture, Professor Morrissey imparted some valuable information with regard to the treatment of snake bites, which was most attentively listened to and appreciated. (9)

If you are wondering what qualifications Professor Morrisey had, it seems they were more in the lines of showmanship rather than academia as this report attests - Morrisey is 57 years of age, and a stonemason by trade. He took to snake charming since the death of his wife some years ago. He says he rather likes the life of snake hunting; it affords him some recreation and amusement. Once he was showing a lot of snakes to a crowd where he pinched a somewhat timid man. This man, thinking he had been bitten by a snake, showed all the symptoms of snake poisoning! He occasionally gives lectures - private and public - and earns considerable sums in showing his powers with reptiles before parties who engage him for that purpose. (10)

Snake Tales: Snakes in the building
I found these accounts of snakes in Mechanics’ Institutes. They are from the time when the solution to snakes inside was to capture them and destroy them. Snakes are now a protected species, so remember, if you see a snake in your Mechanics’ Institute, be kind and call a snake catcher.

Bendigo, 1887
A Snake at the Mechanics' Institute. - Last evening a gentleman coming out of the Mechanics' Institute observed a small black snake about 15 inches long crawling up the steps just at the front door. Assistance was procured, and the visitor was "run in" to a glass bottle and secured. It will be handed over to the director of the School of Mines this morning. The snake being a young one, the inference is that there are some more of the family about, probably in the garden in front. Some facetious individuals suggest that the snake was entering the institute in pursuit of knowledge, or perhaps that it was making his way to the museum upstairs to "give himself up," or to visit some of his relatives imprisoned in bottles in that portion of the building. (11)

Mount Magnet, W.A., 1899
On Sunday evening, during the church service in the Mechanics' Institute, the congregation was startled by asnake, about three feet in length, making its appearancefrom below the piano, on which the Rev. B. G. Richardson was playing a hymn. Several gentlemen in thecongregation made an attack on the reptile, but itescaped. Mr. Richardson had a narrow escape, as, intaking his foot from the pedestal, he almost trod on thereptile. Consternation prevailed among the female worshippers, who clambered on the seats. After its retirement the reverend gentleman resumed the service. (12)

Burra, S.A., 1905
Though the weather is not what can be called hot for this time of the year snakes are making their appearance in the hills, and several have been also seen within the municipality. On Saturday Cr. West noticed one, measuring 4ft, strolling from towards the Institute to the avenue. Assistance was called and His Snakeship despatched. It is not known whether Mr. Snake had been on a mission of inspection to the library, or inspecting the Corporation public works, of which Cr. West is chairman. Any how, he lost his life in the venture, and will therefore never trespass again. (13)

Victor Harbour, S.A., 1917
On Tuesday afternoon a snake was discovered coiled up on the steps of the Institute. After the shock of the discovery was got over the hero, in the person of Mr Geo. Woodard, turned up, and with the aid of a couple of large stones (found lying on the side of the road evidently for the purpose) put the reptile out of existence. (14)

Walhalla, 1921
On Thursday, a black snake nearly 3ft. long was discovered and quickly despatched in the vestibule of the Mechanics' Institute; and, on Sunday last, Mr Cliff Gerrard killed a "copper-head" on the river cutting - at the back of the railway station. The reptile measured 5ft. 8in. (15)

 Mooroopna, 1923

A tiger snake was killed at the front door of the Mechanics’ Institute a few evenings ago by Sen. Constable Tatchell. The reptile showed fight at first, but a swift stroke on his backbone settled him. (16)

Frankston, 1923
Snake Despatched. A black snake, over three feet long, was destroyed a few days ago in the grounds of the Mechanics' Institute, Frankston. It is said that snakes are susceptible to music. By the irony of fate, it was a lady musician whose keen eye brought about the downfall of this latest victim to man's vengeance! (17)

Dangerous snakes of Victoria, indicated by Professor McCoy.
Printed by John Ferres, Government Printer, for the Education Department, Melbourne, Victoria, 1877.
State Library of Victoria Image H99.24/1-2 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/459295

Wingham, NSW, 1954
Encounter with Snake. Excitement At School Of Arts. Mr. A. C. Beal had a startling experience yesterday afternoon. Going through some papers on his shelf at his office in the Wingham School of Arts, he was suddenly confronted by a 5 ft black snake, which had evidently sought a quiet spot in the box containing the papers....Mr Beal sought the assistance of postal employers next door, and Constable Manley, and between them the unwelcome intruder was carefully carried in the box to a suitable site for execution - which was quite naturally not very far away - and the snake was killed. (18)

Trove list  - I have created a list of article on Snakes and Mechanics' Institutes - access it here. 

Footnotes

(1)  You can read Useful Knowledge here, https://mivic.org.au/newsletter/. I have been editor since issue 56.

(2) Illawarra Mercury, January 5, 1864, see here.

(3) The Herald, February 7, 1869, see here;  Bendigo Advertiser, May 23, 1868, see here;  The Argus, May 3, 1870, see here; Tasmanian Times, November 28, 1968, see here.

(4) The Herald, June 20, 1868, see here.

(5) The Leader, June 20, 1868, see here. 

(6) Brisbane Telegraph, July 27, 1885, see here.

(7) Brisbane Courier, July 25, 1885, see here.

(8) Wagga Wagga Express, January 23, 1909, see here.

(9) Tenterfield Intercolonial Courier, September 20, 1910, see here.

(10) Cessnock Express, August 28, 1909, see here.

(11) Bendigo Advertiser, December 19, 1887, see here.

(12) Perth Inquirer, January 20, 1899, see here.

(13) Burra Record, October 25, 1905, see here.

(14) Victor Harbour Times, October 5, 1917, see here.

(15) Narracan Shire Advocate, March 2, 1921, see here.

(16) Shepparton Advertiser, January 8, 1923, see here.

(17) Frankston & Somerville Standard, April 6, 1923, see here.

(18) Wingham Chronicle, December 14, 1954, see here.