I came across this wonderful photo of Andrew Heriot's Sail Loft, in Nelson Place, Williamstown. It was taken in 1885. Andrew was a sail maker and a ship's chandler, a Mayor of Williamstown and the father of seven children, three of whom served in World War One, including his daughter Sister Katie Rae Heriot. Sister Heriot served at the Front in France in the First World War and, in 1937, survived the fall of Shanghai. This posting is about the Heriot family, with the focus on Andrew and Katie.
Andrew married Catherine Isabel Rae on October 3, 1877 at South Melbourne, the service being conducted by the Reverend John Clark of Williamstown (7). They had seven children, all born at Williamstown - Eva Matilda (born 1878), Andrew Simpson (1880), Katie Rae (1883), Aubrey Martin (1885), Grace Jessie Buchan (1887), Francis William (1890) and Rae (1892) (8). After his arrival, Andrew, with the exception of twelve months spent at sea as a sail maker, has resided in Williamstown since (9). Andrew, Catherine and family lived at Inverugie in Verdon Street. The house was named after Inverugie, which is a small town two miles from Peterhead in Scotland, the birthplace of Andrew Heriot (10).
In 1922, in an article in the Williamstown Chronicle, Andrew claimed to be the senior business man of the city, having been established here since 1871. His first job was the making of a set of sails for the brig Challenger, for which he holds a complimentary letter from the owners, Messrs. Tope and Holten (11). His business premises were in Nelson Place. There are various street numbers listed in Sands and McDougall Directories, however he was located between Ann and Thompson Street; on the Ann Street side next to the Royal Hotel. The Woolpack Hotel was on the other side of the Royal Hotel, separated by a right-of-way.
Andrew Heriot also made sails for the yacht of Lord Brassey, the Victorian Governor. We know this as he wrote a letter to the Williamstown Chronicle in 1934 about this experience. The letter starts with - Lord Brassey, ex-Governor of Victoria, was a sailor and navigator. "The Sunbeam" was one of the largest and best yachts visiting these southern seas, owned and sailed by His Excellency. The writer did the sailmaking work for the "Sunbeam" whilst it was in Victoria (12).
Andrew Heriot was interviewed a number of times in the local newspapers and we learn from these interviews that he was involved in many organizations in the community and as you might expect from a man born in Scotland, activities connected to Presbyterian or Scottish interests. This was written in October 1927, when the Williamstown Chronicle reported on his Golden Wedding - About 50 years ago he became Past Chief Ruler of the Williamstown Tent I.O.R., and was president of the I.O.R. Cricket Club, and also president of the local blue ribbon movement (13). Being in business in the nautical line, he was appointed as commodore of the Hobson's Bay Yacht Club. Later on he became treasurer of the local Mechanics' Institute, and then president. In connection with the Williamstown Hospital he was associated on the committee, and was president when the present matron was appointed (about 20 years ago). He has also been treasurer of the Excelsior Lodge of Industry, V.C (14). In 1906 he entered public life, being elected as a councillor, and for nine years occupied that position, being the Mayor of Williamstown in 1914-15, at the time of the outbreak of the great war. He has taken an active interest in the Scottish movement as a past president of the Royal Caledonian Society of Melbourne and last month completed a term as president of the Victorian - Scottish Union, being a representative of the Williamstown Thistle Society on that body. He has been president of the St. Andrew's (Cecil-street) Literary Society, and the family's association with the Cecil-street Presbyterian Church has been continuous (15). Interesting that he was very much involved in Temperance movements and his business in Nelson Place was located next to two Hotels.
The report of Mr Heriot's activities mentions that he was a Williamstown Councillor. He was first elected in August 1906 and resigned at the end of his Mayoral term in August 1915. Whilst he was in Office he had some big-picture ideas. In 1906 he moved a motion that the Council investigate the cost of a tunnel, under the Yarra, to connect Williamstown to the other side - That this council instructs the surveyor to prepare estimates of a two-tube tunnel, each cylinder for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and to show separate estimate for completing one tube at a time; and further, that after the particulars are supplied that this council make the necessary arrangements for deputations to meet the Melbourne Harbor Trust, the Federal Government, and the State Parliament, and submit the bridge and tunnel schemes with the view to learn what can be done in the best interests of the district (16). His motion was not supported.
In 1909 the Commonwealth Government was looking for a site for a Commonwealth Dockyard. Williamstown had not been mentioned as a site, however Cr Heriot believed it was an ideal site for six reasons - First - The ground possesses a solid foundation, with deep water to launch into; 2nd., It is the only site within Port Phillip Heads eligible for a dock, that is in close proximity to the railways; 3rd., The average rise and and fall of the tide is only about 2 feet 9inches. (This was highly important as there was not much difference between high and low water mark: no miles of mud to traverse at low tide.) 4th., This is the only side of the Bay where the largest ships of the Australian squadron can lie with safety (the American fleet had found it most serviceable.); 5th., That a large workshops building site was directly available, including, the battery site, military reserve and likewise the Williamstown Cricket Ground-a tremendous area (This could all be utilized for various workshops.); 6th., That the building yards would be a full 30 miles inside Port Phillip Heads, and therefore secure from any enemy's fire outside. Cr Heriot moved the motion that - That this Council, desires to bring under the notice of the Commonwealth Parliament the splendid sites for ship-building and ship-launching, with deep water at Gellibrand Point, and that here the Government already possessed an Alfred Graving Dock and Patent Slip, and that these ought to be on Government land (17). His motion was carried unanimously. Williamstown did not become the location of the commonwealth Dockyard - it was established at Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour.
In 1909 the Beach and Foreshore Improvement Committee of the Williamstown Council proposed £14,000 worth of improvements to beautify Williamstown. They were hoping that the State Government would pay for the work. The improvements included a landscaped walk from Breakwater Pier, along The Esplanade to Victoria Street. This would have been a very scenic walk, overlooking Port Phillip Bay on the south and east of Williamstown and would cost £4,000. A new pier was also proposed at a cost of £8,000 as well as a Band Stand and Rockeries along The Esplanade. Read the full proposal, here. The Williamstown Chronicle reported that Some discussion ensued as to the reasonableness of the proposal, seeing that St. Kilda and Brighton had benefited immensely by means of governmental advances. On a division being taken, Cr Heriot was found the only opponent of the proposal (18). Perhaps Cr Heriot thought Williamstown was beautiful enough or he felt that money spent on beautification was frivolous.
Andrew Heriot died October 5, 1934 at the age of 82 and his wife Catherine died March 23, 1944, at the age of 89. They are buried at Williamstown Cemetery, with their daughter Grace who died in 1947 and son Rae who died in 1965 (19).
Three of their children served in World War One - Frank served in the Royal Australian Navy, having enlisted in 1915. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He transferred to the emergency list in 1935 and then served again in World War Two (20). Their youngest son, Rae, was in the transport service during the war as a marine engineer (21).That's how the Williamstown Chronicle described his War service, I can't find an enlistment paper for him, that's all I know. Their daughter Katie Rae served as Nurse in the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service and we will have a look at her life.
Because Katie did not serve with the Australian Army Nursing Service, her record at the National Archives of Australia is very brief. The official facts of her service are that she embarked from Melbourne on April 14, 1915 on the Orontes. After serving overseas she embarked on the Runic for Return to Australia on September 23, 1918. Sister Heriot was then employed as a Staff Nurse at the 5th A.G.H, St Kilda road, Melbourne and the 16th A.G.H McLeod and left the McLeod Hospital during late 1919 (22).
The reason Katie Heriot had a file at all was to officially record her service as she was entitled to a War Gratuity. There is a letter in her file stating that Payment of War Gratuity was made to nurses who were selected in Australia and sent abroad in 1915 by the Department of Defence, at the request of the Imperial Government, to join the Q. A. I.M.N.S. R. Gratuity was paid to those nurses on the same basis as if they were "members of the Forces' within the meaning of the War Gratuities Act, 1920 (23).
We can discover something of the details of Sister Heriot's war service from newspaper reports - this is from The Herald, January 1916 - For some time Mr A. S. Heriot, formerly mayor of Williamstown, had known that his daughter Miss K. R. Heriot had been selected for special army service, so the news that she had been recommended by Field-Marshal Viscount French for distinguished service did not come as a surprise to her relatives. In October she was right in the thick of the fray, working with a special army corps in close proximity to the firing line in France. She was among the first British nurses to undertake this dangerous duty. Her last letter indicated that she had marching orders to leave France and join a special nursing unit at Lahore Hospital, Calais (24).
The article mentions other Australian Nurses who were also honoured - Margaret Cumming, Madeline Alice Raye, Ada Gabriell and Nan Reay. The newspaper report added - It is worthy of note that the majority of the nurses figuring on the honor list are members of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association. This is a feather in the cap of the educational side of the movement. By the association all Victorian nurses are trained to a uniform standard of proficiency. Miss Heriot, The Herald noted, was a trainee of the Homoeopathic Hospital, Melbourne. She also had some experience at the Women's Hospital. For a time she was acting matron at the Homoeopathic Hospital, Sydney, and later left for West Australia, where she was associated with the Fremantle Hospital (25). Katie Heriot had successfully passed her final Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association examinations in June 1911 (26).
Whilst nursing on the Somme she met a fellow Melburnian, Reverend Doctor Rentoul (27), who was Chaplain General of the Australian Imperial Force, and was visiting Australian soldiers in the trenches. He had an attack of bronchitis and was sent to the hospital and was treated by Sister Heriot. Not surprisingly both being from strong Presbyterian families, they knew people in common, including her cousin Fred Heriot, a Presbyterian Minister. Their encounter in France was reported in the Williamstown Chronicle (28). The Reverend Doctor was the father of the artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite and in 1915 he produced a book of poetry, At the sign of the Sword: by four in a family. Two poems were contributed by his wife Annie Isobel Rentoul and Ida provided two illustrations, including the cover. The profits from the sale of the book went to support wounded Australian soldiers. It is digitised at the State Library of Victoria, here.
Sister Heriot also nursed Albert Jacka, Australia's first Victoria Cross recipient in the First World War. She wrote about him in a letter to her mother - We have Captain Jacka, V.C., M.C., M.M., who has been wounded three times. He has a dose of gas this time--not very bad. He is a very unassuming young man, and we are very proud of him. He must be thoroughly fearless (29).
Sister Heriot was welcomed home at a function organised by the Red Cross in December 1918 where she was presented with a handsome jewel case. The Red Cross Hall was crowded with friends and well wishers, she was officially welcomed by the Williamstown Mayor, Cr Dennis. After speeches and a musical program afternoon tea was served by the ladies, and the visitors given an opportunity of meeting Sister Heriot and chatting with her on her wonderful experiences (30).
Katie Heriot married Walter Le Brun on January 21, 1920 at Scots Church, Collins Street (31). He was a Master Mariner (32) not surprising that she should marry a man with that occupation given the long association her family had to the Sea and sailing. In 1930, Katie left Melbourne for Hong Kong to join her husband, Captain Le Brun, who was engaged in the shipping trade (33). At some time they moved to Shanghai, and were there when the fighting between the Japanese and Chinese troops broke out. Shanghai fell to the Japanese towards the end of 1937 (34). Many Westerners left Shanghai including Katie Le Brun who was evacuated from Shanghai half an hour before terrific havoc was done by Japanese bombs. She travelled in a ship to Hong Kong with 1,400 women and children and she arrived back in Melbourne in February 1938 (35).
They settled into a house at 210 Punt Road, Prahran. Katie died November 10, 1977, aged 94 and Walter having died the year before on May 6, 1976, aged 88. Katie was cremated at Springvale and I don't know where Walter's final resting place is (36). What an amazingly, adventurous life she had.
Trove listFootnotes
(1) Williamstown Chronicle, June 20, 1931, see here.
(2) George Dalgleish Heriot died August 11, 1893 in South Melbourne at his daughter Sophia's house. He was 72 years old. His wife Jane died at the age of 44 in December 1864. They are buried at Williamstown Cemetery. Of their children: Sophia Hunt Heriot - born c.1844, married Robert Harris Dodd in 1867 and died at her daughter's house in Watson's Bay, New South Wales at the age of 67 in January1910. Jane Buchan Heriot - born c. 1848. Married James Taylor in 1868. Died in 1879 aged 32. Their son James, who died as a baby in 1870 is in the same grave as his grandparents, George and Jane. Andrew was next, then Robert. Robert Maitland Heriot - born c. 1855. Married Martha Mary Wilson in 1883 and died 1918, aged 62. John Martin Heriot - born c. 1857. Married Mary Jane Shewring in 1882 and died 1938 aged 81. John worked for the Victorian Railways, you can read his obituary in the Morwell Advertiser of November 24, 1938, here. James Heriot - born 1883 and died December 1884, aged 18 months.
