The Harkaway World War One Avenue of Honour was planted in November 1917. The only report of the planting I can find notes that 30 trees were planted, the City of Casey publication, Our Living Memorials (1) note there are 29 trees. It also notes that the Avenue was planted in 1919, but this is incorrect. The trees are Red Flowering Gums (Eucalyptus ficifolia), which is uncommon for Honour Avenues, although Tooradin's Avenue planted in August 1919, also consists of flowering gums. (2)
The stone which stands at the southern entrance to the Honour Avenue near Harkaway, was due to the efforts of Nurse Jessie Traill. She wished to see a more permanent memorial erected then the Honour Avenue. In unveiling the stone, Cr. Rae said: "To have a great country, you must have men and women with physical courage; and in both Gallipoli and France Australians proved that hey had no superiors in this field."
Cr Rae warmly praised Nurse Traill for her thoughtfulness and thanked members of the Berwick R.S.L, and other person who had contributed to the cost of the stone. He also thanked the Berwick Riding councillors for their assistance in erecting it.
Nurse Traill laid a wreath at the base of the stone, after which members of the Harkaway State School, and other local residents also laid wreaths. Every family in the Harkaway district was represented at the service. Two of the soldiers, whose names appear in alphabetical order on the stone, were present. They were Mr. Alf. Edmonson, of Cheltenham, who had not been back to Harkaway for 35 years, and Mr. Alex. McNabb, of Berwick.
Wide interest was taken in the service by people from surrounding districts, especially members of the Berwick R.S.L. The Rev. P Gason and Rev. J. Lloyd conducted part of the service.
The names on the stone are - Nurse Traill / T. Coote / S. Cunningham / J. Davidson / H. Dean / H.L. Dean / J. Dean / D. Drummond / J. Drummond / W.J. Drummond / A. Edmondson / C. Fleer / H. Fleer / R. Glover / C. Halleur / R. Haysey / J.P. Irwin / K.M. Irwin / W.C. Irwin / K. Lucas / C.H. Lyon / R. Munro / A. McNab / A. Wanke / F. Wanke / L. Way.
What follows is some information about the 25 men and Nurse Traill who are listed on the Memorial stone, including their Service Number (SN) so you can read their full record on the National Archives of Australia website, www.naa.gov.au
Traill, Jessie (1881-1967) When the War broke out, Jessie want to England and joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment and nursed in a military hospital in Rouen, France from 1915 until 1919. After the War, she lived in Harkaway and had a distinguished career as an artist. For more information on Miss Traill - I wrote about Jessie Traill for my work blog, you can read it here and the State Library of Victoria has an account of her life, here.
Coote, Thomas Hugh (SN 4999) Thomas was born in Ireland and enlisted on January 13, 1916 at the age of 19. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, James, of Harkaway. Thomas was Wounded in Action in April 1918 (gun shot wound in left shoulder, penetrating chest was the bland description in his file) and Returned to Australia July 31, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds on November 16, 1918. Thomas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm at Rapanyup on his return.
Cunningham, Claude Sydney (SN 1246) Claude was a 24 year old farmer and his next of kin was his mother, Emma, of Narre Warren sometimes listed as Narre Warren East. He enlisted on March 18, 1916 and Returned to Australia April 30, 1919. His brother Albert (SN 1245) also enlisted and survived the war. Albert was born in Dunedin in New Zealand and Claude was born in Sydney. Their next of kin was their mother, Emma Cunningham, of Narre Warren East. I have written more about the Cunningham Brothers, here.
The blog Noble Sons: Harkaway in the Great War, see here, suggests that S. Cunningham is Selwyn Bruce Cunningham (SN 7471). Selwyn enlisted on July 2, 1917 at the age of 19. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Reverend William Richard Cunningham, of The Manse, Korumburra. Selwyn Returned to Australia January 14, 1919. What is Selwyn's connection to Harkaway? Reverend Cunningham, purchased a property in Harkaway in 1920 and he was the minister of the Berwick Presbyterian Church from 1921 to 1925. (5) Given that that Avenue was planted in 1917 and Selwyn's connection to Harkaway appears not to have started until 1920, I don't believe he is the S. Cunningham on the Memorial stone.
Davidson, J There is a J. Davidson listed on the Memorial Stone. We know that he had a farewell at the Harkway Hall in August 1915, at the same time as Robert Munro, Robert Haysey and one of the Fleer brothers (see article below under Robert Munro's entry) and we also know that he was sick in August 1915 (see below), and the article tells us that his middle name started with W. What I don't know is who he actually is. I can't find a J.W Davidson or a J. W. Davison with a connection to Harkaway or any neighbouring area. If you know who is he, then I would love to hear from you.
Dean, Henry (SN 5585) Henry enlisted at the age of 29 on February 26, 1916. He was a labourer and his next of kin was his father, Thomas, of Harkaway. In August 1918 he was wounded by machine gun fire - a gun shot wound to the left wrist, smashing several carpal bones and another gun shot wound to the buttock, penetrating the thigh - once again the bland description does not give any indication of the horror of the wound. Henry Returned to Australia on November 20, 1918.
Dean, Herbert Leslie (SN 570) Herbert was 23, a labourer, when he enlisted on February 22, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Sarah Dean of Harkaway. Lance Corporal Dean Returned to Australia on January 25, 1919.
Henry and Herbert were brothers, the sons of Thomas and Sarah (nee Meara) Dean. Sarah died in April 1918 and a short obituary in the Dandenong Advertister said that she was of an exceedingly kind and generous disposition and that she had two daughters and seven sons. Three of her sons are on active service abroad. (6) I can't work out who the other son was that enlisted, and as there is also a J. Dean on the Memorial stone, it's possible that it was either their sons named John and James (7), but I can't find a matching record for them or any of the other sons. I have found another possible candidate, a James Dean, born c. 1874, see below, so he was not the son of Thomas and Sarah, but he lived locally, so the address fits.
Dean, James (SN 2999) James, born in Sydney, was 42 when he enlisted an May 31, 1916, he was a market gardener from Narre Warren North and his next of kin was his wife, Francis. He Returned to Australia on March 28, 1919. James is also listed on the Narre Warren North War Memorial, see here.
Drummond, Daniel George (SN 3082) Daniel enlisted on July 12, 1915 at the age of 27, he was a farmer and his next of kin was his mother, Margaret, of Officer. He married Annie Hopkirk in Scotland before he Returned to Australia April 13, 1919.Drummond, William John (SN 2902) William enlisted on January 31, 1916 at the age of 29. He was a baker and his next of kin was his father, William Peter Drummond of Harkaway. He Returned to Australia on September 5, 1919.
Daniel and William are the sons of William and Margaret (nee Duncan). Daniel was born in Mitta Mitta and William, was born in the neighbouring town of Eskdale.
Edmondson, Alfred (SN 5493) Alfred, born in Horsham, enlisted on March 4, 1916, he was a 31 year old farmer and his next of kin was his father, John, of Harkaway. Alfred Returned to Australia on July 22, 1917 and was medically discharged in November 1917. Alf was present at the unveiling of the Memorial stone in 1959.
Fleer, Cyril August (SN 6263) Cyril was an 18 year old farm hand when he enlisted on May 5, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Martha, of Harkaway. Cyril suffered from trench feet, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to water in the trenches which led to swollen feet, blisters, ulcers and even gangrene. He Returned to Australia on April 5 1918.
Cyril and Harold, both born in Melbourne, were grandsons of Prussian born Harkaway pioneers, Carl Ernst August Fleer (1832-1904) and his wife Emma Metzenthin (1841-1927), who had a small farm at Harkaway. (8)
Glover, Francis Robert Dean (SN 50059) Francis enlisted on November 24, 1917. He was 19 and his occupation was listed as Station hand and his next of kin was his uncle, George Lyon, of Harkaway. There is a letter in his file, from his mother, Edith Glover, who lived in Sydney asking why she was not listed as his next of kin. George Lyon had signed a paper saying that Francis was adopted by him when he was a child and that Francis' father was dead. Francis is the first cousin of Charles Lyon listed below. He served in France and Returned to Australia January 18, 1919. Correspondence in his file showed that in 1938 he was the Station Manager at Carriewerloo Station in Port Augusta, a long way from the rolling hills of Harkaway. As a matter of interest, Carriewerloo Station was where the 1975 film, Sunday too far away, starring Jack Thompson, was filmed.
Halleur, Clarence (SN 1026) Clarence was 18 years old and a labourer when he enlisted on March 8, 1915. He was born in Harkaway and his next of kin was his mother, Christina. He Returned to Australia April 27, 1919. Clarence was the son of Rudolph Ernest and Christina (nee Dugard) Halleur also of Harkaway, and the family are the source of the name of Halleur Road in Harkaway. (9)
Haysey, Robert Ellsmere (SN 2588) Robert, born in Seyour, enlisted on May 17, 1915, he was 20 years old and an orchardist. His next of kin was his mother, Anne, of Narre Warren North. Robert was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the King of the Belgians in February 1918. He Returned to Australia May 30, 1919. His brother Norman (SN 6813A) also enlisted, when he was 19 on August 12, 1917. He was Killed in Action on July 4, 1918. I have written more about the Haysey brothers, here, on my post on soldiers from Narre Warren and Narre Warren North.
Irwin, James Purser (SN 5035)Irwin, Horace Mark (SN 967)
Irwin, Walter Gray (SN 968)
The brothers were a born in Carlton to David Gray Irwin and Hannah Purser, who married in 1894. David and Hannah were farming at Harkaway but in 1918 moved to the suburbs (St Kilda, Caulfield areas) and he became a tramway employee, according to the Electoral Rolls.
Irwin, James Purser (SN 5035) James enlisted on January 20 1916 at the age of 20. He was a warehouseman. James served in France but Returned to Australia on August 27, 1917 and was medically discharged in January 1918 - he suffered from Psoriasis. In 1918 he married Daphne Idina (known as Ida) Mickle and they are listed in the Electoral Rolls as living at Brighton for twenty years and then various other Melbourne suburbs, he was a Clerk. James died in 1986. James' dairy recording his experiences in the War is held at the State Library of New South Wales and can be accessed here. He donated the diary to the Library in 1920. The Trustees of the Mitchell Library (as the State Library of N.S.W is known) started the Soldiers' Diaries Collection in 1918 - we are fortunate that they had the foresight to start this collection when many soldiers were still in possession of their diaries.
Irwin, Horace Mark (SN 967) Horace enlisted on February 9, 1915 at the age of 18 years 8 months. He was an Orchardist. David Returned to Australia on July 8, 1919. After the War, Horace married Mina Slater in 1922 and they lived in St Kilda and other suburbs. Horace was a tramways employee, like his father, and died in 1972.
Irwin, Walter Gray (SN 968) Walter enlisted on March 3 1915 at the age of 18 years and 7 months. He was a farmer. Walter served at Gallipoli and Returned to Australia February 8, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds in the July of the same year. He suffered from 'Neurasthenia' which is now described as an obsolete term to cover lassitude, inability to concentrate, mental and or physical fatigue. Walter married Lena Petersen in 1918 and died in 1968. Walter and Lena lived in Bendigo and Tatura then in the mid 1930s moved back to Melbourne to Oakleigh. Walter was a 'traveller' or salesman.
Lucas, Keith Mackie (SN 9315) Keith, born in Bright, was an 18 year old student when he enlisted on August 18, 1915. his next of kin was his mother, Mary Janet Lucas of Kalimna, Harkaway. Keith Returned to Australia April 27, 1919.
Lyon, Charles Hugh (SN 412) Charles was the first cousin of Francis Glover, listed above. His next of kin was his father, George, of Harkaway. He enlisted at the age of 26 on October 13, 1914 in Walebung in Western Australia. Lieutenant Lyon was Killed in Action in Palestine on November 7, 1917. Charles' mother, Kate, wrote a letter to the Army on December 1, 1917 - Lieutenant C.H Lyon is our only son. The news of his being 'Killed in Action' came direct to me, according to our dear sons own wish his father being over 70 we did not want him to hear the news unawares. Is it possible for us to ascertain where in Palestine he was killed? We regret the country has lost another of its brave defenders but his place is already filled by our young nephew and adopted son who enlisted last week and hopes to be as true a soldier as his cousin has been since the beginning of the War. Charles attended Berwick Grammar School and is commemorated in their Avenue of Honour, see here. He also attended Geelong College and they have a tribute to him on their website, you can access it here.
There was an interesting article in the Dandenong Advertiser in March 1918 regarding Lieutenant Lyon's memorial tree -Some months ago the good people of Harkaway planted an avenue of ornamental trees in memory of the young soldiers who had enlisted from that sylvan retreat, and amongst them was Private Charles Lyon, a son of Mr Gorden [sic] O. Lyon, a well known and influential resident. Amongst the reported killed in action in France was Private Charles Lyon, son of the gentleman named above, and deep and genuine grief was expressed in the little hamlet when the official news came to hand. A few days ago the tree dedicated to the memory of the slain young soldier was pulled up by the roots and there was great indignation at such a disgraceful sacrilegious act, and the perpetrator of such a foul deed was worthy of the most condign punishment. It turns out that the culprit was a five year boy with no malicious intent. (10) This report also confirms that the Avenue was actually planted in 1917 and not 1919.
McNabb, Alexander (SN 4166) Alexander, born in Ararat, was a 25 year old Engineer and he enlisted on December 13, 1915. His next of kin was his father, Donald, of Harkaway. Alex Returned to Australia December 22, 1918. Alex was present at the unveiling of the Memorial stone in 1959.
Munro, Robert (SN 6542, incorrectly listed as 65421 in the National Archives) Robert's occupation was Quarrry man and he served as a Sapper, a military engineer, who constructed bridges, trenches, depots, roads etc. He was born at Neilborough and was 25 when he enlisted on June 5, 1915 and his next of kin was his wife, Ettie, of Berwick. Lance Corporal Munro Returned to Australia April 13, 1919.
Wanke, Frederick William (SN 6379) Frederick enlisted on April 28, 1916, he was a 26 year old farmer. Frederick Died of Wounds, whilst fighting in France on May 17, 1918.
Way, Leslie Gordon (SN 4547) Leslie, born in Carlton, enlisted on January 20, 1916, he was a 23 year old farmer and his next of kin was his father, Edward, of Harkaway. Leslie was gassed on two occasions and he Returned to Australia on March 31, 1919.
General Sources
- First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (or Service records as I call them) at the National Archives www.naa.gov.au
- Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts (Berwick & District Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 3rd edition, 1979)
- Early Settlers of the Casey-Cardinia District compiled by the Narre Warren and District Family History Group (2010)
- Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
- Various newspaper articles on Trove
- Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
Footnotes
(1) Our Living Memorials: Avenues of Honour in the City of Casey (City of Casey, 2001) - view and down-load a copy here (it's free) https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/avenues-of-honour
(2) https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2026/05/avenue-of-honour-at-tooradin.html
(3) Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts (Berwick & District Agricultural and Horticultural Society, 3rd edition, 1979)
(5) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 22, 1920, see here; Dandenong Advertiser, March 18 1937, see here.
(6) Dandenong Advertiser, May 2, 1918, see here.
(7) From the the death notice of Thomas in The Argus of April 11, 1924 (see here) and the Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages we can establish that Thomas and Sarah had thirteen children - Frederick Thomas (born 1874, birth registered at Elmore), Annie (1876 Elmore), Sarah Jane (1878 - 1879, ten months old, Diggora), John (Rochester, died 1965, aged 83, hence born c. 1882), James (1882 Elmore), Henry (1885, Rochester), William (1887 Elmore), Arthur Alfred (1889 - 1890, seven months old, Elmore), Joseph Leonard (1891 - 1891, two months old, Elmore), Albert Edward (1891 - 1891, 2 months old, Elmore), Herbert Leslie (1892 Moama), Sydney (1894 Moama) and Ruby (1896 Moama).
(8) Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts and Early Settlers of the Casey-Cardinia District - see General Sources, above.
(9) Ibid.
(10) Dandenong Advertiser, March 21, 1918, see here.
(11) Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts and Early Settlers of the Casey-Cardinia District - see General Sources, above.
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