Great War Soldiers with a connection to Lyndhurst and Skye (Lyndhurst South)

This is a list of soldiers with a connection to the towns of Lyndhurst and Skye.  I have linked these towns together as Skye changed its name to Lyndhurst South in 1894, after a murder brought unwelcome attention to the area. It changed back to Skye in 1964 (1).  Parts of Lyndhurst have been re-named Lynbrook, but it traditionally covered the area roughly south of Abbotts Road, west of Dandenong Frankston Road, east of the South Gippsland Highway and north of Thompsons Road. Skye or Lyndhurst South roughly covered the area south of Thompsons Road, west of  McCormicks Road, north of Ballarto Road and  east of Dandenong-Hastings Road, so it included both Hall Road and Wedge Road.  All this area used to be in the Shire of Cranbourne. I have written a short history of Lyndhurst, here.

If you know of any other soldiers that I have missed, then please let me know.

You can read more about Skye in the book 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950 by Dot Morrison, published by the Mornington Peninsula Family History Society in 2004.

What follows is a list of soldiers, their connection to Lyndhurst or Skye, 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)

Anderson, John William (SN 10579)   John was born in Lyndhurst and enlisted on December 29, 1915 aged 23. He was a share farmer and his next of kin was his father, Richard Anderson of Charman Road, Cheltenham. John Returned to Australia on May 12, 1919.

Baker, Alexander George (SN 1782)  Alexander enlisted on June 5, 1915 aged 22. He was a farmer from Lyndhurst South and his next of kin was his father, J.W. Baker, also of Lyndhurst South. Alexander was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. He Returned to Australia on April 8, 1919. Alexander is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here.

Bassett, Thomas James (SN 2616). Thomas enlisted on July 10, 1916 at the age of 24. He was a farmer, whose address was Frankston Road, Dandenong, but he clearly had a connection to Lyndhurst as he was entertained with a 'social evening' at the Lyndhurst School, prior to his departure (see article below). His next of kin was his father, John, of the same address. Thomas Returned to Australia March 12, 1920.

A farewell to Thomas Bassett

Dandenong Advertiser, September 7, 1916  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88659855

Cairns, Godfrey Brown (SN 16080) Godfrey was born in Rosebud and he was living at Lyndhurst when he enlisted on January 27, 1916. His occupation was driver, was 28 years old and his next of kin was his father, Robert Cairns, of Fern Villa, Rosebud. He Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919.

Cozens, John Edwin  (SN 2602)  John was born at Lyndhurst and was living at Mornington Junction (the original name for Baxter) when he enlisted on August 2, 1915, at the age of 23 and eleven months. John was a labourer and his next of kin was his father, J.R. Cozens also of Mornington Junction.  John Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919.

Fisher, Culbert Cecil (16926) The unusually named Culbert enlisted on March 9, 1916 aged 18. He was a State School teacher, born in Lyndhurst and living there at the time of his enlistment. He Returned to Australia on September 25, 1919.
Culbert's wedding to Myrtle Poole was written up in Table Talk on May 28, 1925. By this time his parent's had moved to Woodend, but it seems they were sentimental enough to call their property after their original location. The account of the wedding is very comprehensive - you can read the full report, here. 

Culbert Fisher's wedding

Table Talk May 28, 1925  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146557158/17424002 

Hope, George  (SN 1394)   George said he was born in Lyndhurst in South Australia when he enlisted at the age of  26 on August 2, 1915. He was a labourer and his next of kin was his brother, John Hope of Lyndhurst South.  George embarked to return  to Australia on March 16, 1918, however never made it home as on April 20 he went over the side of the boat and his body was never found. The inquiry said that he was in great pain from rheumatism and trench fever which caused headaches and rashes amongst other things and he had also suffered a gun shot wound to his right thigh, however the verdict was that he had fallen overboard accidentally. There is paperwork in his file saying that his real name was Robert George Chrozier and he was born at Lyndhurst in Victoria. His brother's name as next of kin was later changed to John Alexander Chrozier.  In his will he leaves everything to his cousin John Chrozier of Cranbourne (the name is also spelt as Crozier in the file). A sad ending, but you can understand with all the pain he must have been suffering, why he may have decided to end it all. I wonder why he enlisted under an assumed name.

Howse, Frederick Thomas   (SN 15911)    Frederick enlisted on October 9, 1916 when he was a 21 year old postal assistant. Thomas was born at Lyndhurst  and living in Dandenong when he enlisted. His next of kin was his father, Thomas Howse of Hutton Street, Dandenong. Frederick Returned to Australia on January 2, 1919.

Kerr, Alfred William Charles (SN 2080) Alfred was born at Lyndhurst and enlisted at the age of 21 on November 10, 1916. He was a driver. Alfred Returned to Australia on March 31, 1919. 
Kerr, Frederick John Lee (SN 3420) Frederick enlisted on June 6, 1917 when he was 18 years old. He was born in Lyndhurst and was living at Hastings at the time of enlistment. Frederick was Killed in Action in France on August 25, 1918 

Alfred  and Frederick were the sons of Gilbert and Clara (nee Kernot) Kerr of Hastings. Clara's family, the Kernots, were early settlers in Tooradin. 

Kerr, Charles Thomas  (SN 2040)   Charles was born in Lyndhurst and was a 22 year old newsagents assistant living in Albany Park in Western Australia when he enlisted on November 1, 1915.  Charles Returned to Australia on January 14, 1919. His next of kin was his father, Moses, of Upper Hawthorn.

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. Malcolm is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here, and 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. 

McFarlane, David James  (SN 77806)  David enlisted on June 14, 1918 didn't see active service and was discharged in December 1918. He was 21 year old butcher at the time of his enlistment and was born in Lyndhurst.

McLellan, Donald (SN 2207) Donald was a 19 labourer, when he enlisted on May 1, 1916. He was born at Lyndhurst and his next of kin was his father, Alexander of Ferndale, Cranbourne. Alexander Returned to Australia on June 10, 1919. Donald is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Board, see here.

Norquay, Walter James (SN 1914)  Walter, born in Lyndhurst,  was a 27 year old Senior Postal Assistant when he enlisted on May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Dagmar of South Yarra. Walter was Killed in Action, in Belgium, on October 13, 1917. Walter was the son of James and Margaret (nee MacPherson) Norquay and the grandson of Alexander and Barbara (nee Cromarty) Norquay, who had arrived in Lyndhurst in the 1850s (2).

Payne, Charles Lyndhurst (SN 4801) Charles Lyndhurst Payne was born in Lyndhurst, and presumably named after his place of birth. He was 21 when he enlisted on April 1, 1916 and his guardian was listed as Mrs Margaret Greaves of Picnic Park, Lyndhurst.   He Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France on April 26, 1918. Margaret Greaves (1842-1921) was married to William Greaves and was the daughter of Stephen and Alice Payne, so I presume that Charles was her nephew (3).  Some sources say that the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall was built in his and Malcolm Kirkham's honour. You can read my history of the Lyndhurst Memorial Hall, here. 

Payne, James (SN 1561) James was born in Lyndhurst and was 28 when he enlisted on October 6, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Christina Cozens, of Yannathan, which is here he was also living at the time of his enlistment. He suffered a number of gun shot wounds and  Returned to Australia on February 15, 1918. When he applied for his medals in April 1918 he was living in Five Mile (Koo-Wee-Rup North). James is listed on the Yannathan Honor Board and the Yannathan State School Honor Board, you can read about them here. James was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Reilly, Eric Campbell  (SN 479) Eric was a 26 year old farmer from Lyndhurst when he enlisted on October 13, 1914. His next of kin at the time was his father, J.L. Reilly of Queen Street, Melbourne. He was single when he enlisted but there is a note in his file dated May 7 1915 saying that he had married; his wife's name was Selina. Eric Returned to Australia on April 23, 1919. Eric was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Reynolds, Henry Simpson (SN 80602 / Depot) Henry, whose enlistment was announced in the Dandenong Advertiser (see below) was 34 when he enlisted on October 5, 1918. He was a Labourer.  His next of kin was his wife, Olena, of Lyndhurst South and they had six children.  Henry did not see active service and was discharged in December 1918.and 

Henry Reynolds of South Lyndhurst enlists

Dandenong Advertiser  October 17, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88816358

Smith, Frederick William  (SN 7085)  Frederick was born in Lyndhurst and was living in Dandenong when he enlisted on September 17, 1916. He was 24 and his occupation was listed as grocer. His next of kin was his father, Robert Smith, of Dandenong.  Frederick Returned to Australia on February 19, 1919.

Strong, Albert Victor (SN 29789) Albert enlisted on March 23, 1916, at the age of 24. He was a farmer. He Returned to Australia on February 2, 1919 and was welcomed home at a function in April 1919, see the account from the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, below, where he is listed Driver V. Strong, so was presumably known as Victor. 
Strong, Frederick William (SN 29790) Frederick enlisted on March 23, 1916, the same day as his brother, Albert. He was 27 ands was also a  farmer. Frederick Returned to Australia May 31, 1919.
Frederick and Albert, both born in Portarlington, were the sons of William and Margaret (nee McLean) Strong of Ercildoune, Cranbourne. Frederick and Albert are listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here.

Welcome home to Victor String and George Taylor

South Bourke and Mornington Journal April 17, 1919  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66195941

Taylor, William George (SN 1740) William was 24 and a farm labourer when he enlisted on February 17, 1916. He was the son of Richard Thomas Taylor, of Lyndhurst and he was also born in Lyndhurst. William Returned to Australia in January 8, 1919. William or George, as he was seemingly known as, was welcomed home at the same function in April 1919 as Victor Strong (see above).  William is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here. George was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here on the Battle to Farm website.

Footnotes
(1) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire, 1968), pp. 59 and 157
(2) Gunson, op. cit., p. 59
(3) Morrison, Dot 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950  (Mornington Peninsula Family History Society, 2004). 

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.