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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
