Alfred Hillman - first man to enlist from Pakenham for War Service

The Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place on May 12, 1937. This was celebrated all over the Commonwealth including in Pakenham where more than 1000 people competed in or witnessed a procession or gymkhana which had been arranged to mark the occasion. The streets were gay with bunting, and a spirit of carnival prevailed.  The report in the Pakenham Gazette continued with a list of the activities from the day including the best decorated vehicle competition, a colourful display by the men of the 52nd Battalion, foot races and, in the evening, a Ball which was held at the Pakenham Theatre (1).

Mr Hillman attended the Coronation celebrations on Pakenham, transcribed below.

Pakenham Gazette May 21, 1937, p. 3

The next week on May 21, 1937 the Pakenham Gazette had the following report  - Amongst the hundreds of interested  spectators who saw the Coronation procession at Pakenham last week was  Mr A. E. Hillman, of Pakenham, a member of the Australian Contingent which went to England in 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII. Mr Hillman was in the Garrison Artillery and served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1901 under Major (afterwards General) Monash and was awarded the South African medal with six clasps. The Australian Coronation Contingent in 1902 comprised 150 officers and men, 42 of whom were selected from Victoria. The troops were away from Australia for about six months, and in addition to taking part on the Coronation festivities in London toured England and Scotland. Mr Hillman recalls many pleasant memories associated with the trip (2). As we can see from the short article, Alfred Ernest Hillman, not only witnessed the coronation of Edward VII but also served in the Boer War (also known as the South African War). 

Alfred was born in Drysdale in 1869 and had come to Pakenham with his parents, Edward and Eliza (nee Hopkins) Hillman in 1885 (3). His obituary in the Pakenham Gazette said that he had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service (4). 

Alfred enlisted in the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles (5).  He was awarded the South Africa medal with six clasps. This medal was officially called the Queen's South Africa medal and was awarded to all those who served. You can see the clasps on the photograph, at left. Each clasp represented a location (presumably where a battle took place?) such as Transvaal, Modder River, Johannesburg. The Defence Department, where this photograph comes from, has an explanation and description of the badge as well as a list of the twenty six clasps, here. 

The other interesting thing the Pakenham Gazette article notes was that Alfred served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1901 under Major (afterwards General) Monash. This is, of course, Sir John Monash, World War One General and later the General Manager of the State Electricity Commission. However, Monash's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry (see here) written by Geoffrey Searle, said that although Monash was a member of the  North Melbourne Battery of the Metropolitan Brigade of the Garrison Artillery, he did not volunteer for and was not invited to take part in the South African War.  Possibly, Alfred may have served under Monash in the Garrison Artillery before he went to South Africa. 

William came home from South Africa on the Tongariro; he and his fellow Victorians disembarked in Sydney and arrived by train at Spencer Street Station on May 2, 1901 (6). Alfred's obituary notes that after his War service, he resided in Melbourne, then he came back to this district [Pakenham], remaining here ever since (7).  On June 29, 1904, Alfred married Eva Murcutt at St Ignatius' Church in Richmond. They had two daughters, Eva Florence, born in 1905 and Winifred Mary, born in 1906, both in Richmond (8).

Marriage notice of Alfred Hillman to Eva Murcutt

The Age, July 30 1904 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201650108

In the Boer War nominal rolls (9) Alfred is listed with the service number of 252 the man with the service number of 253 is Joseph Murcutt, Eva's brother (10). Did Alfred and Joseph know each other before they enlisted or did they met in the recruiting office, become friends and then Joseph later introduced Alfred to his sister? Joseph also arrived home on the Tongariro, so perhaps Eva was part of the large crowd that met the returning soldiers at Spencer Street, and that is how Alfred and Eva first met. (11).

Alfred Hillman and his future brother-in-law, Joseph Murcutt.

Boer War Nominal Rolls for the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1447479

Sadly, Alfred and Eva's marriage was short-lived as Eva died on July 25, 1906 at only 24 years of age. 

Death notice of Eva Hillman

The Age July 26, 1906 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189365335

In 1909, Alfred married Cecilia Elizabeth Smith (12). They had one son Alfred George, known as Fred, born in Pakenham in 1912 (13).  Alfred was very community minded and actively associated himself with many organisations in Pakenham - the Horticultural Society, where he was a foundation member; the Mechanics' Hall, Recreation Reserve, Cemetery Trust, St James Church, Racing Club and the Farmers' Union and the Country Party (14). Alfred was a farmer and in the last twenty three years of his life, his obituary noted that he operated a poultry farm in Main Street, near the railway station (15).

Alfred Hillman's Poultry farm at Pakenham

Dandenong Journal May 31, 1939 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201306382

Alfred died on October 15, 1947, aged 78. He was  survived by his wife Cecilia; daughter Eva; daughter and son-in-law, Winnie and Ted Law and their daughter Enid; and son Fred. Cecilia died on November 5, 1978. Alfred and Cecilia were cremated and they are interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery (16).

Death notices for Alfred

The Argus, October 16 1947 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1707759

Footnotes:
(1) Pakenham Gazette, May 14 1937, p. 3
(2) Alfred's obituary in the Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6 lists his place of birth and date of arrival in Pakenham. Edward Hillman and Eliza Hopkins had the following children, the first two were born in England and the rest on the Bellarine Peninsula (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages).
Albert Edward (1861-1907)
Francis John (1863 - 1949)
Adeline Mary (1865 - 1956, married William Ferguson in 1898)
Julia Anne (1867 - 1934, married Martin John Hitchins in 1892)
Alfred Ernest (1869 - 1947)
Edward Hopkins (1871 - 1931)
Florence Emily (1871 - 1954, married Robert Francis Lovibond in 1906)
Edith Augusta (1876 - 1876)
Maud Alice (1877 - 1947, married John Charles Whitmore in 1908)
Ida May (1882 - 1909, married James Luke Rees in 1908)
Edward died March 21, 1920, aged 86; Eliza died in 1930, aged 93. They are buried at Pakenham Cemetery.

(3) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6. Obituary transcription - 

Pakenham Mourns Death of Mr. A. E. Hillman

With feelings of the deepest regret we record the fact that Mr Alfred Ernest Hillman passed away at his residence, Main Street, Pakenham East, shortly before midnight last Tuesday, at the age of 78 years. Mr Hillman had not enjoyed particularly good health for some years, but carried on his business as a poultry farmer as formerly, and on the day of his death appeared to be in his usual state of health. However, he became seriously ill late in the evening and passed away shortly afterwards.
By his death Pakenham has lost one of its oldest and most highly esteemed residents.
He was born at Drysdale, and coming to Pakenham with his parents 62 years ago, he spent the greater part of his life in this district and won the high regard of all who knew him.
He had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service. He served with the Australian contingent in the South African War at the beginning of this century, and shortly afterwards was selected as one of the soldiers to represent Australia at the Coronation celebrations in London.
For some time after his return from England he resided in Melbourne, then he came back to this district, remaining here ever since.
Although in recent years Mr Hillman has confined his public activities mainly to various producers’ organisations, in his younger days he actively associated himself with practically every public body in Pakenham. With his death Pakenham loses one o f the few surviving members of the Horticultural Society’s first committee. The Mechanics’ Institute, Recreation Reserve, Cemetery Trust, St. James’ Church of England, and the Racing Club were other bodies which had claimed his keen interest and help, and he was also prominently connected with the Farmers’ Union and the Country Party.
For the past 23 years he had engaged very successfully in poultry farming.
Kindly and helpful by nature, Mr Hillman had a host of friends throughout the district, and the news of his death was received with widespread and deep regret.
The sympathy of the whole community goes out to his wife, son and two daughters in the great loss they have sustained.
The funeral, which was largely attended, took place at Springvale yesterday, Rev. W.P. Daunt officiating at the Crematorium Chapel. Messrs W.J. Garnar and Son had charge of the funeral arrangements.

(4) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6

(5) Boer War Nominal Rolls, available on the Australian War Memorial website, see here.

(6) Tongariro Contingent in The Argus, May 3, 1901- Back from the War, here; List of Returned Soldiers, here.

(7) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6.
(8) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(9) Boer War Nominal Rolls, see here.
(10) Eva was the daughter of William John and Eva Susannah (nee Ratcliffe) Murcutt. They had thirteen children between 1881 and 1908 - Joseph who enlisted with Alfred was the first child, born in 1881 and Eva was the second oldest, born in 1882 (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages)

(11) As per Footnote 6.
(12) Cecilia (1887 - 1978) was born in Pakenham, the daughter of Oscar and Elizabeth (nee Flower) Smith. Oscar was a blacksmith in Pakenham, he died in 1935 aged 77, you can read his obituary in the Dandenong Journal of October 10, 1935, here. Elizabeth died in 1955, aged 91 and is buried at Pakenham Cemetery with her husband.

(13) Alfred's children - Eva Florence (1905 - 1999, married William Thomas Tonkin in 1954); Winifred Mary (1906 - 1983, married Edward Leslie Law in 1930); Alfred George 'Fred' (1912 - 1986).  (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages)
(14) Obituary - Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6
(15) Obituary - Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6; There was also a short obituary in the Dandenong Journal of October 29, 1947, see here.

(16) Death notice - The Argus, October 16 1947, see here.

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

Boer War soldiers connected to the Shires of Berwick, Cranbourne and Dandenong

The Boer War was fought between British forces against the Boers, or Dutch-Afrikaner settlers in South Africa from 1899 until 1902. The War was also called the South African War and referred to as the Second Boer War. The First Boer War, fought between the Boers and the British, took place in 1880-1881, but no Australian troops were officially involved.

Australians who served  in the War were all volunteers. The Australian War Memorial website explains - Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or, from 1901, by the new Australian Commonwealth. For a variety of reasons many Australians also joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa: some were already in South Africa when the war broke out; others either made their own way or joined local units after their enlistment in an Australian contingent ended. Recruiting was also done in Australia for units which already existed in South Africa, such as the Scottish Horse. You can read more about Boer War on the Australian War Memorial website   https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/boer

This post looks at some of the local men from the Shires of Berwick, Cranbourne and Dandenong who served in the South Africa War. This is a work in progress, I am sure there are many others, so if I have missed any please let  me know. 

The Australian War Memorial has digitised the Official Records of Australian Contingents to the War in South Africa, 1899-1902, compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel P.L.Murray and published in 1911. This acts as the Nominal Roll and can be found and searched  here, on the Australian War Memorial website; you can also browse page-by-page, here. The Nominal Rolls contain very basic information - name, rank, service number and sometime there is a line about some aspect of their service. I have referred to it as the Boer War Nominal Roll. The National Archives of Australia also has a series of digitised Boer War Attestation papers, called Boer War Dossiers, Series B4418. Only John Crisop Morris, James William Shreeve and Arthur Edward Towt, in this list, have one of these. The Australians in the Boer War website is also a good source of information, see here.

Victorian Mounted Rifles leaving for the Boer War. Photo taken in 

Market Street in Melbourne. Photographer: Lewis F. East. 

State Library of Victoria Image H28378

Some of the following information comes from the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; the books Early Days of Berwick (1) and In the Wake of the Pack Tracks (2) and newspaper articles see my Trove list of newspaper articles, see here.  SN stands for Service Number.

Bain, Donald Stuart. Not listed in the Boer War Nominal Roll. 
Donald, born in 1880, was the eleventh and last child of Robert and Susan (nee Stuart) Bain of the Berwick Inn (Border Hotel), established by Robert in Berwick in 1857. He enlisted in either Robert's Light Horse or Kitchener's Fighting Scouts or the Kaffarian Rifles according to various reports (3). When Donald returned he became a Stock & Station Agent, and then he enlisted in the A.I.F in August 1914, with the rank of Captain.  Donald was discharged in medical grounds - neurasthenia and shell shock - two years later. Donald died in 1937, aged 56. See  his First World War Personnel Dossier, here. 

Donald Bain of Berwick, promoted to Lieutenant

South Bourke & Mornington Journal November 6, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70047917

Barnes, John Christopher.   Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 346).

Enlisted in the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. There was a report in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal of June 5, 1901 (see here), about the Dandenong meeting of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows where Br. Chris Barnes was welcomed on his safe return from South Africa and at the event he gave a few of his experiences at the Front. I am assuming that Br Chris Barnes and John Christopher Barnes are the same man and I have no other information about him.  As  a matter of interest, he enlisted the same time as Alfred Hillman, below, who is SN 352.

Chambers, Michael James. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 1085).
Enlisted in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, where he attained the rank of Lance-Corporal. Michael  also enlisted in the First World War on March 6, 1918 at the age of 38 ( SN 64173). He lived in Modella with his wife, Labela and three children. Their son, Ronald, was the Shire of Berwick Engineer from 1948 until 1973, and then the Shire of Pakenham Engineer until 1977. The family are the source of the name Chambers Road, Modella. The R.J. Chambers Reserve in Pakenham Upper is named for Ronald. Michael died in 1961 aged 85. See his First World War Personnel Dossier, here.

Procession of the Victorian Contingent of armed forces to the South African War, along Spring Street, Melbourne, 28 October 1899.  Photographer: E.J. Frazer 

State Library of Victoria Image H36420/42

Davies, Arnold Mercer.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 454).
Enlisted in the Victorian [Citizen] Bushmen.  Arnold was the son of Sir Matthew Davies - the first Australian born Speaker of the Victorian Parliament (4). Arnold had a letter about his experience of fighting in South Africa, published in The Argus on September 14, 1900 (see here) - this is the start of his letter-

We are camped now - that is 20 of our division - on a large kopje, about a mile from our old camp, on the Water Hill Fort, and it looks as if we were going to have fairly easy times for a day or two, and I think we could all do with a rest. I suppose you have heard by now that we had a go with the Boers last Sunday, and I think even the most sanguinary amongst us had enough fighting then to do them for a day or two. The wonder is that any of us came through alive; as it is, there are four killed and 21 wounded and missing.

 I am not actually sure how he is connected to this region, however Arnold and Alfred Robinson were welcomed home at a function at the Narre Warren North Mechanics' Institute on Friday, February 22, 1901, so I presume he was farming in the area. There was a report of the welcome home in the  South Bourke & Mornington Journal of  February 27, 1901 (see here) -

It is hardly possible that at any country town within the colony such a handsome welcome home was extended to our returned soldiers as that which took place at the Mechanics Institute, Narre Warren North, Friday night last.

The assemblage comprised visitors from Dandenong, Berwick and the surrounding district well as a strong force of the local residents and numbered about two hundred and fifty, possibly a record attendance at any similar gathering at Narre Warren. The idea of inviting ladies was a great success, nearly half the audience being composed of members of the fair sex. Arnold and Alfred were each  presented with a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed to the effect that they were given by residents as a token of esteem.  

After his return Arnold was farming for a time at Doodakine in Western Australia according to the 1909 Electoral Rolls.  Doodakine is 230 kms east of Perth. He returned to Victoria and enlisted in the A.I.F in November 1914 at the age  of 38 (SN 139) and in the Second World War, where he stated his age as 55 and his birth year as 1887, he was actually born 1876. See his Personnel Dossiers, here. 

Elmes, John Turner. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, listed as Elms. (SN 51).

John served with the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, where he attained the rank of Lance-Corporal. John was the son of the late Dr Elmes of Berwick who had served the Berwick community from around 1870 until his death in 1893, at the age of 54. Early Days of Berwick says that Dr Elmes also treated cases at Brandy Creek [Warragul] thirty five miles away, being their nearest Doctor.  When John returned from South Africa, he managed various farms in the Western District, including Terang where he died in 1945, aged 69. John's brothers, Frederick and Herbert served in World War One; Herbert was Killed in Action in France on November 5, 1916.

Welcome home for John Elms and Arthur Ogilvy.

The Age, January 1, 1901 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196064873?

Esler, Hugh James. Boer War Nominal Roll, here and here. 

Served as a Sergeant with the Victorian Imperial Bushman (SN 5) and served as a Lieutenant with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles from June 22, 1901 until March 27, 1902.  Hugh was born at Pyalong in 1880, the son of Hugh and Ellen (nee Wilson) Esler. Hugh and Ellen are listed in the 1903 and 1906 Electoral Rolls at Lang Lang - he is a farmer. Hugh junior is also in Lang Lang in 1903, also a farmer, but he then joined the Police Forces and then moved around Victoria. A welcome home social was tendered to Lieutenant to Esler at the Mechanics' Hall, Lang Lang on October 3, 1902. 

Welcome home to Hugh Esler

Lang Lang Guardian October 11, 1902, p. 2

Gamble, William.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 35). 
Served with the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles. Note in the nominal roll - Invalided Australia, arrived 24.5.00, Awarded pension (temporary).  After the War, William became the Principal of the Dookie Agricultural College. He and his wife Barbara moved to Berwick in 1922 and farmed at Burnbank, in partnership with Edwin Flack, Australia's first Olympian. Barbara, was the first President of the Berwick Country Women's Association and died in 1944 at the age of 66 (5). William died in 1960 aged 91. They are both buried at Berwick Cemetery.  

Gardiner, John James.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 136). 
Served with the 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, attained the rank of Sergeant and was Mentioned in Commander-in-Chief's Despatches on April 2, 1901. John and three of his brothers, as well as their two nephews, Frederick and Edward Sibert, all served the First World War (6). John was a Civil Engineer and was employed as a Shire Engineer in councils in New South Wales and Queensland, before he retired in 1935 and returned to live in Berwick. He was also a councillor for the Shire of Berwick. 

The Herald 'World of Sport' column of July 20, 1900 (see here) published a letter from Charles Searle (listed below) about life in South Africa and he mentioned John Gardiner -

Though they have to take their share of shot and shell the boys in South Africa manage to find time for football. A Berwick boy with the Tasmanian contingent has sent an account of a match to Mr. Searle of Berwick, and Mr Searle has very kindly forwarded It to me. It is as follows:— "A most interesting and exciting combat took place to-day between the Tasmanian and South Australian Bushmen Contingents on the eve of the departure of the Tassies for Bulawayo, resulting in a win for the Tassies by 6 points, Stanworth (capt.) and Sergeant Gardner of Berwick, both Victorians, being conspicuous for Tasmania, and Wilson, Roberts and Kerr for South Australia."

Hillman, Alfred Ernest.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 352)
Enlisted in the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was awarded the South Africa medal with six clasps. This medal was officially called the Queen's South Africa medal and was awarded to all those who served. Each clasp represented a location (presumably where a battle took place) such as Transvaal, Modder River, Johannesburg. Alfred, born in Drysdale in 1869 and had come to Pakenham with his parents, Edward and Eliza (nee Hopkins) Hillman in 1885. 

The Pakenham Gazette on May 21, 1937 reported on the procession held in Pakenham for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, which took place on May 12, 1937 -
Amongst the hundreds of interested spectators who saw the Coronation procession at Pakenham last week was Mr A. E. Hillman, of Pakenham, a member of the Australian Contingent which went to England in 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII. Mr Hillman was in the Garrison Artillery and served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1901 under Major (afterwards General) Monash (7) and was awarded the South African medal with six clasps. The Australian Coronation Contingent in 1902 comprised 150 officers and men, 42 of whom were selected from Victoria. The troops were away from Australia for about six months, and in addition to taking part on the Coronation festivities in London toured England and Scotland. Mr Hillman recalls many pleasant memories associated with the trip.

Boer War Nominal Roll entry.

As a matter of interest in 1904 Alfred married Eva Murcutt in 1904. In the Boer War nominal rolls, see here,  Alfred is listed with the service number of 252 the man with the service number of 253 is Joseph Murcutt, Eva's brother. Did they know each other before they enlisted or did they met in the recruiting office, become friends and then Joseph later introduced Alfred to his sister? Sadly, Eva died in 1906 at the age of 24, and in 1909 Alfred married Cecelia Elizabeth Smith. 

Alfred spent most of his life in Pakenham, involved in many community groups and his obituary in the Pakenham Gazette (8) said that he had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service 

  

Leggett, Sid. Not listed in the Boer War Nominal Roll. 

Sid joined Robert's Light Horse in South Africa with Donald Bain. The boys were both from Berwick, and I have no other information about him.

Report of Don Bain and Sid Leggatt from South Africa

South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 18, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70046016

McSwain, Malcolm Munro. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 47)
Enlisted in the 1st Western Australia Mounted Infantry.  Malcolm was the son on Norman and Margaret McSwain.  An article in the Dandenong Journal of May 25, 1949 (see here) noted that Norman and Margaret operated  a dairy farm and carrying business at Cranbourne and later Eumemmerring and their five sons went to W. A. when the depression hit Victoria in the nineties. One of them went to the Boer War and afterwards to the First World War. Malcolm did indeed serve WW1 he enlisted in March 1916 at the age of 39 (SN 2926). His occupation was a miner and his address was Marble Bar, in Western Australia. See his First World War Personnel Dossier, here. 

Report of a letter Malcolm sent to his parents.

The Age January 26, 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196023965

Morris, John Crisop  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 208) and here (SN 40, incorrectly listed as John James Morris). 
John was born in Townsville, Queensland and enlisted at the age of 25 in the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry where he had the role of Bugler, and the 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. He reached the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major in the 7th Battalion. His Attestation paper for the 7th Battalion has been digitised, see it here. John Morris also enlisted in the First World War on September 24, 1914 at the age of 38, with the rank of Lieutenant.  He had the unusual occupation of actor and he enlisted in Melbourne and his mother, who his next of kin, was also from Townsville. He Returned to Australia December 16, 1917 suffering from 'cardiac arythmia'. You can read his First World War Personnel Dossier, here. Morris is listed in the Electoral Rolls at Pakenham Upper in 1919, his occupation is orchardist. In 1922 he was granted a Soldier Settlement farm at Yarram, you can read his file, here. He died in 1925, I believe, I don't have an exact date (9). 

John Crisop Morris

State Library of Queensland https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/viewer/IE2814853 

 originally published in The Queenslander, 31 May 1902

Ogilvy, Arthur James. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 143).
Served with the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles, and the 2nd Scottish Horse. Arthur was the son of James W. Ogilvy, of Buchanan Road, in Berwick. Early Days of Berwick said that James was the son of one of Melbourne's earliest solicitors, was one of he first pupils at Scotch College and had witnessed the departure of the Burke & Wills Expedition in 1860. Interesting connections to Melbourne's early history. Arthur was 'welcomed home' with Jack Elms at the smoke night held at the Rechabite Hall in Berwick (see Elmes listing, above).  He also served in the First World War in the 2nd Light Horse, enlisting at the age of 40, where he held the rank of Captain. At the time of his enlistment he was farming in Kyogle, New South Wales. Captain Ogilvy was Mentioned in Despatches, and Returned to Australia May 1919. See his  First World War Personnel Dossier, here.

Captain Ogilvy pays a visit to Berwick, after he returned home from World War One

South Bourke & Mornington Journal May 29, 1919. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66196124

Ordish, Harold    Boer War Nominal Roll, here (SN 104) and here, (SN 250)
Served with the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, where he attained the rank of Lance-Corporal, Lance Sergeant and then Acting C.S.M; he was also a Regimental Sergeant Major in the 6th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. Harold also served in the First World War, he enlisted in the A.I.F., on February 23, 1916. His occupation was a soldier and he was 42 years old. Harold was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and remained overseas until January 1920, when he Returned to Australia, where he remained in the Army becoming a Lieutenant-Colonel.  See his World War One Personnel Dossier, here. Harold, was born in Dandenong in 1873 to Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (nee Ward) Ordish. His brother William Ordish established the Ordish Brick Co., in 1894 (10). 

Corporal Jago at Harold Ordish's send-off. 

Corporal Jago had served in the Crimean War, see here.

South Bourke & Mornington Journal October 25, 1899 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70022299

News about Harold Ordish

The Age September 4 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188648916

Osborne, Henry Houston. Boer War Nominal Roll, here.

Served with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles with the rank of  Lieutenant. Henry is listed in the Electoral Rolls at Clyde from 1912 to 1926. His occupation was farm manager. Henry died 1944 aged 84 and was the son of James and Esther (nee Houston) Osborne. Henry married Leila Caroline Kennedy in 1895 in a fashionable wedding at All Saints Church in St Kilda in January 1895, you can read about it here. 

Pritchard, George.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 305)

Served with the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. Note in the Nominal Roll - Returned Victoria 5/1/01; reported fit; Returned to South Africa and rejoined 4/4/01. George and his wife, Janet, are listed in the Electoral Roll from 1908 at Lang Lang East, until around 1919 when they moved to Neerim. George also served in World War One (SN 433). He enlisted on September 11, 1915 at the age of 47, his address was Yannathan, which is just east of Lang Lang. See his World War One Personnel Dossier, here.

Robinson, Alfred James. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 105).
Served with the 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry Company. Alfred, born 1877, was the son of George Washington and Eliza Robinson of Hillsley, Narre Warren North. George was the Shire of Berwick Engineer and Shire Secretary for Ferntree Gully. Alfred's mother, Eliza was the daughter of Thomas and Eliza Walton, of Holly Green, Narre Warren. This was the property acquired by Sidney Webb and is now the site of Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. Alfred married Jessie Lyon of Harkaway on February 22, 1910. 

Alfred Robinson, 'invalided home'

The Argus April 25, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9057466

Searle, Charles John.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 390)
Served in the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. Note in the nominal roll - Discharged in South Africa, 5.8.02.  Charles was the son of Henry Searle, of Berwick. Henry was a Blacksmith and operated from the corner of High Street and Wheeler Street from around 1860. Charles Searle had a long letter he wrote to his parents from South Africa published in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, on August 22 and August 29, 1900 (see here and here). This is the first paragraph - 

It is a long time since I last wrote, but you will understand that it is a bit hard to get a letter written out here. We got into harbor at Beira on the 23rd of May, but we were not allowed to land until the 2nd of June. We saw a great number of flying fish the day before we got in, and it was a pretty sight. We were met out side by the man-of-war "Partridge," and conducted into the bay in great style. The water is very shallow and dirty; and everything is very dear at Beira, cocoa nuts 9d, bananas 1s, jam 1/6 half-lb. tin, bread 6d small loaf. A number of the men got fever and dysentry whilst there, but none of the cases were very severe, and all recovered in a few days. I have kept in grand health throughout, and not at all afraid of catching fever as I am not fat. 

Early Days of Berwick, noted that Charles remained to reside in South Africa at the conclusion of hostilities. 

Shreeve, James William. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 663)

Served in the 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.  His Attestation paper for service in South Africa, has been digitised, see it here. It lists his address as Oakhill farm, Garfield.  James was a professional soldier and also served in the First World War; enlisting in the A.I.F., at the age of 36, with the rank of Lieutenant.  His parents were William and Emma (nee Daniels) Shreeve, of Mount Marshall, Garfield. See his World War One Personnel Dossier, here.

Towt, Arthur Edward. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 2387)

Served in the 4th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. His Attestation paper for service in South Africa, has been digitised, see it here. It tells us that he was born in Broadford, enlisted on February 11, 1902 at the age of 20, that he was a station hand and his next of kin was his mother, S. Towt, of 23 Liddiard Street, Glenferrie. In the 1962 'Back to Garfield' souvenir booklet,  local historian, Bill Parish, has a history of the town, decade by decade. In the 1901-10 decade he notes Several Boer War veterans took up properties including Mr A. Towt, at Garfield North (11). Arthur established an orchard on his property, there was an interesting article about this orchard in the Weekly Times in 1939, read  it here. later carries on by his sons. Arthur married had Margaret Brew in 1908,  they had seven children and he died on August 3, 1954. 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove on the Boer War / South African War with a connection to the old Shires of Berwickm Cranbourne and Dandenong, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) 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). The book was originally published in 1948.
(2) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks: a history of the Shire of Berwick (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982)

(3) Donald Bain's Boer War service - South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 18, 1900 says he enlisted in the Robert's Light Horse, see here;  South Bourke & Mornington Journal November 6, 1901 says he joined Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, see here;  his World War One Personnel Dossier says he also served in the Kaffarian Rifles, see here. 
(4) Matthew Davies - see his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

(5) This information is from Mrs Gamble's short obituary was in the Dandenong Journal, January 12, 1944, see here. 
(6) Gardiner Family -  the sons of James and Mary (nee Church) Gardiner, who had married in 1870. They lived in Brisbane Street, Berwick. 
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. 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 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, did not return.
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.
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

(7) Sir General John Monash's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry (see here) written by Geoffrey Searle, said that although Monash was a member of the North Melbourne Battery of the Metropolitan Brigade of the Garrison Artillery, he did not volunteer for and was not invited to take part in the South African War. Possibly, Alfred may have served under Monash in the Garrison Artillery before he went to South Africa.

(8) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947.

(9) Probate notice for John Crisop Morris, which gives us some idea of his death date.

The Argus July 8 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2136584

(10) Brennan, Niall Chronicles of Dandenong (Hawthorn Press, 1973), p. 125.

(11) Parish, Bill Back to Garfield, 1887-1962 souvenir booklet (Back to Garfield Committee, 1962), p. 9.  

Brighton Road State School, St Kilda, Boer War memorial

The Boer War was fought between British forces against the Boers, or Dutch-Afrikaner settlers in South Africa from 1899 until 1902. The War was also called the South African War and referred to as the Second Boer War. The First Boer War, fought between the Boers and the British, took place in 1880-1881, but no Australian troops were officially involved.

Australians who served  in the War were all volunteers. The Australian War Memorial website explains - Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or, from 1901, by the new Australian Commonwealth. For a variety of reasons many Australians also joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa: some were already in South Africa when the war broke out; others either made their own way or joined local units after their enlistment in an Australian contingent ended. Recruiting was also done in Australia for units which already existed in South Africa, such as the Scottish Horse. You can read more about Boer War on the Australian War Memorial website, here.  

Brighton Road State School, St Kilda Boer War memorial tablet

The memorial tablet, made from marble, is about 120 cm by 50cm in size. 

Image: Isaac Hermann.

This memorial tablet was erected at the Brighton Road State School in St Kilda to honour the pupils from the school who served in South Africa. The tablet was presented to the school on August 29, 1901 during a concert held at the St Kilda Town Hall to farewell a teacher, Mr Bradhurst. The concert also raised £25 for the purchase of a piano for the school (1).  The tablet was presented by Mr N. Dear. This was  Nathaniel Dear (1846 - 1903),  listed in the 1900 Sands McDougall Directory at 55 Raglan Street, St Kilda.  Mr Dear was a keen letter writer to the newspapers and had a long running dispute with members of the St Kilda Cemetery Trust, and sued the Secretary of the Trust, Charles Truelove, twice for libel (2).  The reports of these legal cases list Nathaniel's occupation variously as 'grave decorator' or monumental mason. It is likely therefore, that Nathaniel also made the memorial tablet.  

Report of the presentation of the memorial tablet by Nathanel Dear

Prahran Telegraph August 31, 1901 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144680273

There are 25 names on the memorial tablet, one of whom was a teacher at the School. Most of these men on the State School memorial are also listed on the St Kilda Boer War memorial in Alfred Square, which was officially unveiled by the Governor of Victoria, Sr Reginald Talbot on March 12, 1905.  The memorial was designed by Arthur Peck, and I have written about it here. You can read an account of the opening in the Prahran Chronicle, here. 

Eleven of the men on the Brighton Road school memorial also served in the First World War, three of them were Killed in Action. Mr Dear's memorial does have  a number of mistakes including the spelling of names and the fact that he has three men listed as being killed whilst serving, when in fact only one was. However, it is a heartfelt memorial to the men who served their country and 'the Empire' and a fine example of Nathaniel's skill as a monumental mason. 

The Brighton Road State School, St Kilda. The school was officially opened on January 11, 1875. 

There were 13 staff, including the head master, Mr Hadfield. The school could accommodate 650 children and 604 children attended the opening. 

Read a report of the opening in the St Kilda Telegraph, January 16, 1875, see here.

Image: Isaac Hermann

These are the men listed on the Memorial.  The information about their rank and unit comes from the nominal rolls on the Australian War Memorial website, here. These rolls have minimal information, often nothing more than the name and the rank of the soldier. The other information comes from newspaper articles on Trove; the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry;  the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and the World War One records at the National Archives of Australia. 

Allan, Percy James. 

Percy is listed on the State School Roll as having been killed, but the good news is that he returned from serving in South Africa. He was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He enlisted again in Febuary 1916,  in the First World War in the 10th Field Company Engineers. He was 36 years old,  an engineer, and his next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Allan, of Orrong Road, East St Kilda. His attestation papers list his previous military service as 18 months in the Boer War. Percy returned to Australia in June 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds having been wounded - compound fracture, right thigh caused by a gun shot. Percy was the son of John Fisher and Elizabeth (nee McGregor) Allan; he married Emma Louisa Classen in 1924 and they lived at 187 Orrong Road, East St Kilda throughout their married life. Percy died in March 1951 at the age of 71.

Anderson, David

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was severely wounded at Wilmansrust on June 12, 1901. The fighting at Wilmansrust was a debacle and even the normally patriotic Victorian newspapers were critical of the action of the members of the Unit, read about it here in the The Argus of September 30, 1901. In spite of being wounded David enlisted again in World One on July 7, 1915 and Returned to Australia April 5, 1919. 

Anderson, William Fleming

William was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. William also served in World War One and was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on August 7, 1915.

David and William, both born in St Kilda, were the sons of Alexander and Catherine (nee Limerock) Anderson) of 14 Scott Street, St Kilda (as it was then, Scott Street is now part of Elwood). They are both listed on the Elwood Presbyterian Church World War One Honour Board, see here.

Ashley, Aubrey Frederick 

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was 'slightly wounded at Wilmansrust, June 12, 1901. Awarded pension'. In spite of being wounded, Aubrey enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 in the 37th Battalion. By then he was a 36 year old publican at the Club Hotel in Boolarra, south of Moe, in the hills of Gippsland. His next of kin was his wife, Ruby. His attestation paper notes his 12 months Boer War service. Aubrey returned to Australia in January 1918 and was discharged due to defective vision. He returned to the hotel at Boolarra, which he operated until 1945 and he died at Parkdale in October 1953, aged 75. 

Bridgeland,  Frederick Charles Lionel

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Frederick also enlisted in the AIF, in the 4th Light Horse Regiment in August 1914. Fred was born at Orroroo in South Australia, and he was a 32 years old traveller when he enlisted. His next of kin was his wife, Edith, whose address was Casterton. They had one daughter, Victoria Grace, born in 1905. Fred was Killed in Action at Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli on August 6, 1915.

Report of the death of Fred Bridgeland. The date of his death in his file is August 6, not August 7. 

The Argus, September 24, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1563753

Campbell, Garnet  

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Garnet is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. There is a Garnet Campbell in the 1903 Electoral Rolls at 31 Kerford Road, South Melbourne, occupation labourer;  also at that address was Lydia Dora, Bertie Charles and Archibald. The Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages list a Garnet Butler Campbell born to Robert and Lydia Dora (nee Ryan) Campbell in 1881, so this confirms they are the same person. Garnet  married Mary Jane Crawford in 1913, they lived at Brighton and later at Oakleigh, where he died in 1956 aged 76. I had discovered all this and was still not sure that Garnet Campbell on the Memorial was the same person as Garnet Butler Campbell, until I found this article, below, in the The Herald of July 29, 1922.

Mr Garnet Butler Campbell, a cousin of the missing Baronet, Sir John Rivett-Carnac, but of more importance it confirms that this Garnet Campbell is the one on the Memorial tablet.

If you are interested you can read about the Rivett-Carnac family, here.

The Herald, July 29, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243649372

Christie, Henry 'Harry'

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Harry is also not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. Harry enlisted in October 1914 in the AIF, in the 10th Light Horse. His attestation paper note his Boer War service. Harry was born in Melbourne and was a 34 year old sleeper hewer, when he enlisted. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs M. Christie and later his sister, Mrs Carlton, both of Subiaco in Western Australia. Harry fought at Gallipoli and was missing in action and a Court of Enquiry held in December 1916, declared that he was Killed in Action on August 29, 1915. 

Cowden, William

There are no Cowdens listed on the Nominal Roll. There was a report in the Prahran Chronicle of a dinner tendered to local men who had returned home after fighting in South Africa and one of the men was Corporal J. Cowden, who enlisted in South Africa and was wounded.

Report of the dinner held for St Kilda men who returned home after fighting in South Africa.

Read the full report - Prahran Chronicle, May 18, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165239289

This is James Cyril Cowden of 269 Inkerman Street, St Kilda. He also enlisted in the First World War. James was born in Canada, was 48 years old and a bridge carpenter when he joined up on Septemner 1915, in the 2nd Squadron, 1st Remount unit. His attestation paper noted his 13 months of Boer War service. He returned to Australia in January 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds. James and his wife, Martha (nee Dau), had a son Wilfred who seved in the Navy, on the H.M.A.S Una, and died whilst on service at Rabaul. A beautiful marble tablet was unveiled in Wilfred's memory at the Pakington Street, St Kilda Baptist Church in August 1915. You can read about it in the Malvern Standard, here. I believe that the William Cowden on the School memorial actually refers to James but I cannot explain why he is listed as William.

  Wilfred Cowden's memorial tablet which was unveiled at the Pakington Street, 

St Kilda Baptist Chutch in August 1915.

Image: Isaac Hermann

Cox William

There is a John William Cox who was in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifle. He enlisted as a Private and was promted to Lance Corporal. William Cox does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial.  I have no other information about him.

Dare, Douglas Henry

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, enlisted as a  Corporal and was promoted to Sergeant. Douglas is listed on the memorial as being killed, but according to the nominal roll and the Alfred Square memorial, he survived. Douglas was born in St Kilda in 1882 to Douglas George and Frances Emily (nee Wilson) Dare;  he had a brother Norman born 1884 and a sister Emily born in 1886. Douglas senior was an Auctioneer and Estate Agent. In 1917, Norman died on active service in German East Africa. A death notice in The Argus listed his father at 43 Jackson Street, St Kilda and his mother as living in Johannesburg in South Africa. I am surmising that Douglas either remained in South Africa or moved there soon after the War, and his mother and brother followed.  In 1946, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire. He died in 1967 and is buried at a cemetery in Durban, South Africa.

Douglas Dare's O.B.E. Basutoland is now known as Lesotho.

London Gazette January 1, 1946 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/55/data.pdf

Gardiner, John Fraser

Listed as Gardener on the memorial.  Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen.  'Invalided Australia, arrived May 2, 1901'.  John was farewelled at a function at the St Kilda Town Hall Library on March 1, 1900 (see below). John was born in St Kilda in 1879 to Charles Fraser and Grace (nee Sinclair) Gardiner. He is listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 86 Westbury Street, St Kilda, living with his sister Catherine and brother George, but I have no information about him after this. 

Farewell to the St Kilda soldiers, including John Fraser Gardiner, Garnet Campbell and Edwin Knox

Read the full report - Prahran Telegraph, March 3, 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144602188

Gordon, Archibald 

There are two men named Archibald Gordon listed on the Nominal Rolls and they both enlisted in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Bushmen; one of them may be our Archibald, but I can't tell.  Archibald's name does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. 

Hoad, John Charles

A former teacher at the school. Major General, 1st Victorian Contingent. You can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here. 

Hutchinson, Henry Hall 'Harry'. Lance Corporal, promoted to Corporal. Severely wounded, June 28, 1901 at Bethel. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette July 29, 1902).

Hutchinson, Luke. Trooper. 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

Surnam spelt Hutchison on the memorial tablet. Harry and Luke were both born in St Kilda, Harry in 1878 and Luke in 1880, the sons of Joseph and Martha (nee Hall) Hutchinson. Harry is listed in the Electoral Roll in 1913 at Hopetoun, his occupation was draughtsman. In 1919, he had moved to Mildura and was a supervisor at the First Mildura Irrigation Trust. He died in Mildura in 1937, aged 59. I have no information about what happened to Luke, except that according to Harry's death notice (below) Luke predeceased his brother. This research is complicated by the fact that there was another Luke Hutchinson born in St Kilda, in 1874 - to George and Catherine (nee McRae) Hutchinson.  There is a Luke Hutchinson in the Electoral Rolls at 122 Barkly Street, St Kilda, but at the same address is a Thomas Alston Hutchinson, another son of George and Catherine, so it is not 'our' Luke.

Death notice of Harry Hutchinson. 

The Argus November 27, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11127917

Knox, Edwin 

Listed as Edward on the memorial. Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen. 'Drowned at Wanderboom, February 26, 1901'.  Edwin was the son of Henry Matthew and Elizabeth Emily (nee Smith) Knox. Henry was the City of St Kilda rate collector. After his death the St. Kilda Rifle Club, of which Henry was a Captain, and the St. Kilda Tradesmens Club, of which Henry was Secretary, raised money to erect a memorial to Edwin. The memorial, a drinking fountain, was unveiled by Sir George Turner, Commonwealth Treasurer, on February 23, 1902. It was located on the corner of the Esplanade and Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The Prahran Telegraph had this description of the fountain - The iron portion of the fountain was supplied by Messrs Peel and Kirkpatrick. brass and iron founders; the base is of bluestone, and the whole structure was erected by Mr E. Gough. The bluestone is 3 ft. 7 ins. in height, the fountain, from the ground to the top being 9 feet high. Mr E. W. M. Crouch fulfilled the duties of honorary architect in a manner that gave every satisfaction (3).  All that remains of the original memorial (4) is the bluestone base and the plaque. In 2012, it was restored with a modern interpretation of the fountain  and is located in the Cleve Gardens in St Kilda. You can read about it on the Monument Australia website, here.

The unveling of the Edwin Knox memorial fountain

The Australasian, March 1, 1902 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139755163/11417051

The Edwin Knox memorial fountain in Fitzroy Street

Fitzroy Street, c. 1912. State Library of Victoria Image  H96.200/80

MacCartney, James

There is an Edward James McCartney who enlisted in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen; a John Irwin McCartney who enlisted in the Victorian Citizen Bushmen and a Robert Augustine Macartney who enlisted in the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles. Given that this memorial tablet is not without errors,  one of these men may be 'our' James, but I don't know. John Irwin McCartney died of wounds at Rustenberg Hospital on July 31, 1900, and a report in The Argus of August 8, 1900 says he lived at Melrsoe Street, Richmond. James MacCartney is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial.

Mullen, Leslie Miltiades

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Leslie had a distingushed military career and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During World War One, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre, and was twice mentioned in despatches. He moved to Tasmania in 1914 and from 1921 was the President of the Tasmanian R.S. L. You can read his obituary in the Hobart Mercury of March 19, 1943, here and his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Mullen

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11038488

Parrott, Stanley Hamilton

Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. In 1910 Stanley married Fanny Maria Lowe and in August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF in the Field Artillery Brigade 2, Brigade Ammunition Column. At the time of enlistment he was 32 years of age, his occupation was seaman and his next of kin was his wife of 29 Pakington Street, St Kilda. Stanley was awarded the Croix de Guerre and he returned to Autralia, December 1918.  Stanley died in June 1962, aged 80 and he is buried at the Brighton Cemetery.

Pummeroy, Robert

Listed as Pumeroy on the memorial. Lance Corporal, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. His was a cook.  There is a Robert Pummeroy listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 42 Rosamund Street, St Kilda and I believe this is the man on the memorial.  His occupation is a plumber. Robert had married Rosa Dix in 1895 and by 1909 they were living in Clifton Hill and later moved to Preston. Robert died July 1948, aged 74.

Short, William.

Not listed on the Nominal roll and does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. There is an Arthur James Short who enlisted in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, that's the closest I can get.

Thomas, William

There are thirteen men listed on the nominal roll with the name William Thomas, including two who enlisted as Privates in the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. It is likely that the man on the memorial is one of those two, but I have no other information. 

Tompsitt, Sidney Clarence 

Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. Sidney (whose name is also spelt as Sydney in some sources) was born in 1880 to Clarence and Mary Ann (nee Gravenall) Tompsitt. In the 1903 Electoral Roll he was listed at Kipling Street, St Kilda, his occupation was a bootmaker. That same year he married Elsie May Poole. In the 1906 Electoral Roll he was in Wagin in Western Australia, however Elsie was not listed with him. Sidney then moved back to Victoria and he died in 1909 at only 29 years of age. As you can see from the death notice, below, there was no mention of Elsie, so it appears the marriage did not last. 

Death notice for  Sydney Tompsitt.

The Argus September 24, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198486257

Wells, George Murray Wells

Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

Wells, Thomas Henry 

Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen and Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.

The men are the sons of William and Hannah Maria (nee McKane) Wells; they were both born in St Kilda, Thomas in 1879 and George in 1880. The brothers moved to Western Australia where they both enlisted in the AIF, both in the 10th Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcements. Henry enlisted in August 1915, he was 38 years old and a carter, his next of kin was his wife, Elsie Mary of Leederville. He returned to Australia March 1919. George enlisted in October 1915, he was 35 and his occupation was a lumper (a dock labourer who unloads cargoes).  His next of kin was his wife, Mary Theresa Wells, of West Perth. He returned to Australia in August 1919. The brothers lived the rest of their life in Western Australia and Thomas died in 1935 and George in 1950,

Thomas Henry Wells' death notice March 1935

The West Australian, March 9, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32839723

George Murray Wells' death notice

The West Australian August 22, 1950 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47881953

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge Isaac Hermann for supplying the photographs of the Brighton Street School memorial tablet, the one of the school and Wilfred Cowden's memorial plaque. I would also like to acknowledge Sally Wall, the St Kilda Elsternwick Baptist Church administrator, for kindly arranging access for Isaac to photograph Wilfred's plaque. Thank you!

Footnotes

(1) Prahran Telegraph, August 31, 1901, see here.

(2) I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove, relating to Nathaniel Dear. You can access it here. 

(3) Prahran Telegraph, March 1, 1902, see here. I have created a list of  newspaper articles on Trove, connected to the death of Edwin Knox and the erection of the memorial fountain, access it here.

(4) When did the fountain disappear from the memorial? There is a Rose Series postcard, which the State Library of Victoria has dated as c.1945 (see here) which shows the memorial intact and another postcard which I believe is from the early the 1960s which shows only the base. If these dates are correct then the fountain disappeared sometime after 1945 and before 1960.

This image is dated c. 1945 and shows the intact memorial fountain.

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Imag6 H32492/6378. 

Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/59715

This is a later image, possibly early 1960s and all that remains of the memorial is the bluestone base and plaque. 

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda: Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/6985

Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/66927