The Beaconsfield War Memorial was officially unveiled on Saturday, March, 13 1920 by General Brand. The Pakenham Gazette reported on the event.
Beaconsfield Soldiers’ Memorial.
Unveiled on Saturday last.
The unveiling of a Memorial to fallen soldiers took place at Beaconsfield on Saturday afternoon last, and attracted a fairly large attendance, including about twenty of the district soldiers, who were in uniform.The Memorial, which is of polished granite, and is neatly designed, had been placed in a good position at the junction of Wood Street and the Main Gippsland road. It bears the names of nine fallen soldiers and above these is a representation of the A.I.F. badge in bronze. The names given are:
Sgt. G.H. Manning.
Cpl. A.R. Bragg.
Dvr. H.J Harbour.
Bombdr. A.G. Childs
Spr. H. M’Naughton
Pte. L. Christie
Pte. J. Osborne.
Pte. J.F. Tucker.
Pte. E. Dinsley.
On the base is the inscription: - “Erected as a tribute to men who enlisted from Beaconsfield and district, and in memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war, 1914-1919.”
Mr W. Nixon, president of the Memorial committee, acted as chairman. On behalf of the committee and the public, he extended a hearty welcome to General Brand. Beaconsfield, he said was proud of the fact that 33 men had enlisted from there. All regretted that 9 of these had made the supreme sacrifice. He then went on to explain how the necessary funds had been raised for the Memorial.
A short address by Colonel G.H. Knox followed. He welcomed General Brand, and said he was proud of the district which sent so many men to the front. The enlistments from Beaconsfield and Upper Beaconsfield were equal in proportion to any other district in the State. He welcomed the General not merely because of the position he held in the military forces, but because he was a favorite with the rank and file. The Memorial had been raised by loving and affectionate friends to the memory of those who had fallen and to those who had fought and returned. No memorial was requited at present to remind us of the brave deeds of our soldiers, bit it would serve to perpetuate the memory of these men for future generations. Many of the fallen soldiers were unostentatious in their private life, but proved themselves gallant gentlemen. They were an honor to their parents.
Cr W.G. a’Beckett, shire president, said he was honored to represent the district and was pleased to take part in the unveiling of the Memorial. He extended hearty congratulations to the soldiers who had returned. The Australian soldiers were the finest military men of the time on account of their gallant dash and brainy initiative. The Memorial was an ornament to the town and district, and as such they were proud of it, but the real memorial to the gallant soldiers was in our hearts.
Mr Frank Groves, M.L.A., said the soldiers had done their job and it was well done, and the responsibility rested now upon the shoulders of the people to see that the sons and daughters and relatives of the brave men who had fallen were properly cared for. They should see that the boys and girls were educated to the standard of other children who had their parents. They should see that their promises to the boys were fulfilled. The memory of the brave men should never die.
Cr. Geo. W. Martin felt honored to have to say a few words. He felt the ground on which they were standing was holy ground. The men had fought and some had given their lives to uphold those principles and institutions so dear to the heart of every Britisher. They had preserved to us our hearths and homes. They did not seek glory or gain, but liberty and freedom. The children, he said, should be brought round the Memorial annually and told of the deeds of our brave boys. He hoped later to see the Memorial surrounded by green turf, bordered with forget-me-knots.
Brigadier-General Brand, who unveiled the Memorial, said on an average he attended a similar function twice a week. Memorials took various forms, but the soldiers say the greatest memorial is to see that the widows and relatives shall never want. That was the best memorial. He was not one who said the A.I.F. won the war. He had been fighting with various troops, and what he did say was that the men of the A.I.F. had few equals and no superiors. In civil life the Australian was accustomed to rely on his own initiative, and his ready wit and good humor gave him a great advantage, but they always felt that the people were behind them and that helped them wonderfully. To the relatives of the fallen he offered sympathy. He asked all to remember that these brave men had passed out so that we might enjoy liberty.”Greater love hath no man than this.” The General then unveiled the Memorial, and expressed a hope that that deeds of these men would inspire the rising generations.
The Last Post was then sounded by Bugler Peters. Two handsome wreathes were placed at the base of the Memorial by friends. At the close, afternoon tea was provided.
(Pakenham Gazette, Friday, March 19, 1920, p.3)
Beaconsfield War Memorial
Photograph courtesy of the Casey Cardinia Remembers website
The Memorial, as noted, has the names of the nine men who did not return, and they are listed below with their Service Numbers (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia website, www.naa.gov.au.
Bragg, Arthur Robert (SN 2564) Arthur, born in West Maitland, NSW, was 39 when he enlisted on August 2, 1915. His occupation was a hotel keeper, and his next of kin was his wife, Emily, of the Central Hotel in Beaconsfield. Corporal Bragg was reported missing in France on July 28, 1916 and a later Court of Enquiry determined that he had been Killed in Action on July 19, 1916.
Emily Bragg takes over the licence of the Central Hotel.
South Bourke & Mornington Journal, August 19, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188272
Arthur Bragg
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1670847
Childs, Albert George (SN 2599) Albert enlisted on July 7, 1915. He was born in England and was a 29 year old dairyman. His father Robert, his next of kin, was from Bridport in Dorset where Albert was born. His address on the Nominal Roll is Primrose Park, Beaconsfield, however he is listed as living at Nar Nar Goon in the 1914 Electoral Roll. Albert Died of Wounds on August 5, 1917 in France. Albert is also honoured on the Nar Nar Goon Honour Roll which is at the Nar Nar Goon Public Hall, see here.
Christie, John Leslie (SN 3054) He was listed as L. Christie on the Memorial, so it seems like he was known as Leslie, so that's what we will call him. Leslie was born in Lang Lang, the son of William and Ada (nee Thatcher) Christie, and was 25 years old when he enlisted on July 22, 1915. His occupation was a labourer and his next of kin was his father, William of Beaconsfield. Leslie was listed as missing on July 28, 1916 and a Court of Enquiry determined that he was Killed in Action on July 19, 1916, in France.
In memoriam notice for Les Christie. Steven Sleigh, listed in the notice is honoured on the Bunyip War Memorial (see here) and the Tonimbuk Honor Board (see here)
The Argus, July 19, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1408837
Dineley, Edward Bernard (SN 1151) Edward was born in Charters Towers, to Frederick and Mary Dineley, and was a 22 year old engineer when he enlisted on March 22, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Mary, of the Cardinia Park Hotel at Beaconsfield. Edward was Wounded in Action in Belgium and he died from these wounds on September 21, 1917.
Report of the death of Edward
Pakenham Gazette, October 12, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92155988
Harbour, Herbert Joel (SN 3337) Herbert enlisted on July 19, 1915. He was 27 years old, a labourer, and was born in Beaconsfield to John and Sarah (nee Beecham) Harbour. His next of kin was his father, John, of Beaconsfield. Herbert was Killed in Action, in France, on February 27, 1917.
Herbert Harbour
Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1633208
Report of the death of Herbert Harbour
Dandenong Advertiser, March 22, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88657329
Manning, George William Harold (SN 219) George enlisted on August 17, 1914. He was 20 year old salesman, born in Beechworth, to John Goodyear Manning and his wife, Mary Ann (nee Furnell). His next of kin was his father, John, of Beaconsfield. George died of wounds, which were received whilst fighting at Gallipoli, on August 8, 1915.
Report of the death of George Manning
Berwick Shire News, December 15, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92094080
McNaughton, Hugh (SN 3869b) Hugh enlisted on August 2, 1915. He was 31, born in Longford (Vic.) to Archibald and Mary (nee McDonald) McNaughton. His next of kin, on enlistment, was his mother, Mary, of Beaconsfield. Hugh was Wounded in Action on October 16, 1917, suffering gun shot wounds to the head and arm. He was sent back to Australia on the hospital ship, the Euripides, which reached Melbourne on March 21, 1918. He was discharged from the AIF on May 1, 1918 and died at the Caulfield Hospital on May 15, 1918.
Sad end of Hugh McNaughton
Dandenong Advertiser, May 30, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88816707
Osborne, James Patrick (SN 2733) James was born in Walhalla to Patrick and Bridget (nee Traynor) Osborne. He enlisted on August 2, 1915 aged 36. He was a labourer, and next of kin was his mother, Bridget, of 'Lower Beaconsfield', I assume some people still called the town around the Railway Station that to distinguish it from Upper Beaconsfield. James was Killed in Action in France on August 19, 1916.
Death notice of James Osborne
The Argus, September 23, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1614050
Tucker, John Frederick (SN 2795) John was an orphan and he enlisted at the age of 22 on August 2, 1915. His occupation was a driver and his next of kin was listed as his employee, Mr A. W Shorthouse of Upper Beaconsfield. There is an Arthur William Shorthouse in the Electoral Rolls, so I believe this is him. John was Killed in Action in Belgium on September 3, 1916. There is a letter on his service file at the National Archives, from Mr Shorthouse, requesting John's medals. Mr Shorthouse said that John had no blood relations and had lived and worked with him for eight years, prior to which he was an Orphanage boy. The AIF would not give him the medals as the Deceased Soldiers' Estate Act had a prescribed list of whom the medals were to go to (they had to go to a blood relation) and suggested that Mr Shorthouse get a Statutory Declaration setting out his claim. This was in March 1921 and the file does not tell us whether Mr Shorthouse was successful.
Death notice of John Tucker. Mary Anne Nixon is listed in the Electoral rolls at Upper Beaconsfield, along with Margaret Ann and Henry Nixon.
The Age, October 7, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155067909
