Showing posts with label World War One. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World War One. Show all posts

Sunday, March 30, 2025

World War One Soldiers from Malakoff Street St Kilda and Malakoff Street Caulfield

I have an interest in place names and street names and there are a number of such names in Victoria which are connected to the battles and personalities of the  Crimean War. The Russian War, also known as the Crimean War, was fought on the Crimean Peninsula between Russia and an alliance consisting of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia. It began in October 1853 and ended on March 30, 1856. (1)

A prime example of these Crimean War names can be seen in the suburb of St Kilda which has a Crimea, Odessa, Sebastapol, Raglan, Alma, Inkerman (2), Malakoff, Redan and Balaclava Street. St Kilda is also next to the suburb of Balaclava.  Odessa is a port on the Black Sea, near the Crimean Peninsula; Sebastapol is named for a city on the Crimean Peninsula, which was besieged for eleven months from October 1854. It is also the source of the name of the town of Sebastapol, near Ballarat. Raglan is named for Baron Raglan (1788-1855) a commander of the British troops during the War and  there is also a town called Raglan, near Beaufort. Alma, Inkerman, Redan and Balaclava were Crimean War battles. Malakoff was named for Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier, duc de Malakoff (1794-1864), the last French commander in chief in the Crimean War. (3)


Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier, duc de Malakoff (1794-1864)

Because I like the sound of the word Malakoff, and that is the only reason, I thought we would look at the soldiers who served in the First World War who are connected because their address was Malakoff Street. There is also a Malakoff Street  near the eastern end of Inkerman Road where it crosses Hawthorn Road in what is now called Caulfield but was then known as Malvern, so we are looking at these men as well. In fact even then some of men who lived in the street used Caulfield as their address and some Malvern.  I may eventually research the Great War soldiers who lived in the other St Kilda Crimean War streets.


St Kilda - Malakoff Street subdivision, c. 1860.
Plan of 34 building lots, East St. Kilda, State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/164955

Malakoff Street, East St Kilda, is a dead-end street running off Inkerman Street; it originally had 19 houses on each side, so 38 in all. It appears that Malakoff and neighbouring Sebastapol Streets were sub-divided around 1860 as they appear that year in the St Kilda Council Rate books as vacant blocks of land, most of which have a thirty foot frontages. Malakoff Street in Malvern/Caulfield runs from Hawthorn Street to Carnarvon Street and originally had 24 blocks with frontages from fifty to sixty feet; so it was a more 'middle class' street than it's St Kilda counterpart.  It was part of the Carnarvon Park sub-division, first advertised for sale in March 1888.


Carnavon Park Estate, Malvern 1888
State Library of Victoria image http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/130937

The AIF Project - https://aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html and other sources lists ten soldiers who enlisted from Malakoff Street, East St Kilda (sometimes listed as St Kilda on the Attestation papers) and thirteen from Malakoff Street in  Malvern/Caulfield. What follows are some details of their service, their family life and their life after the War. I have included their service number (SN) and you can look up their full service record on the National Archives of  Australia website, www.naa.gov.au Other information comes from records at the Australian War Memorial, www.awm.gov.au - the Embarkation and Nominal rolls and Roll of Honour; the Electoral rolls on Ancestry.com; the Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages and newspapers articles as specified.

Malakoff Street, St Kilda East

Beach, Victor Henry (SN 1655) 1 Malakoff Street, St Kilda. Victor was born in Coolgardie in Western Australia in 1897 to Henry and Annie Priscilla (nee Fuller) Beach. They had moved to St Kilda by 1908 and by 1915 had settled at 1 Malakoff Street. Henry enlisted on February 7, 1916 at Prahran  when he was 18 years, 9 months old and his occupation was a market gardener. Henry Returned to Australia September 6, 1919. He married Dorothy Elizabeth Mary Taylor in 1920 and they lived in various addresses in St Kilda.  He died in 1975, aged 78. 

Coulthard, Roland Claude (SN 782) 29 Malakoff Street, East St. Kilda. Rowland was 22 years, 4 months old, a carpenter, when he enlisted in Melbourne on August 18, 1914; less than a year later he was dead, injured at Gallipoli, gun shot wound to the abdomen on May 8, and as a result died on May 11, 1915. Roland was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania on April 28, 1892 to Walter and Sarah (nee Sponge) Coulthard; they first appear in the Electoral Roll at 29 Malakoff Street in 1914. Walter and Sarah's daughter, Beatrice, married Paul Osborne of 23 Malakoff Street; he and his brothers are written about, below.


Roland Coulthard (1892-1915)


Death notice of Roland Coulthard - Deeply loved, deeply mourned. 
For King and country he laid down his life. 


Coulthard, Walter Fenwick.  29 Malakoff Street, East St. Kilda  Roland's brother Walter, also enlisted; he was also born in Ulverstone, in November 1899, and enlisted on October 21, 1918, one month before his nineteenth birthday. He was discharged on December 24, 1918 due to the War ending. Walter married Viola Duncan in 1940 and he died in 1976, aged 77.


Walter's death notice; interestingly his sister Beatrice is listed as Patrice. 
The Age, August 4, 1976, p. 23 from newspapers.com


Fookes, Charles Thomas (SN 7971)  20 Malakoff Street, St Kilda East. Charles was 35 years old when he enlisted on September 11, 1915; he was a chemist storeman and his next of kin was his wife, Edith. Charles was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 1, 1917.  Charles was born in Fitzroy in 1880 to William and Mary (nee Keneley) Fookes and he married Edith May Dalton in 1907. They had three sons George (born 1907), Charles (1910) and Frederick, who only lived one day, in 1914. In the 1930s Edith was living in Perth where her sons lived; however in 1949 she was back in Melbourne at 49 Ebden Street, Brighton and was still at that address when she died on August 4,  1964, aged 81.


Death notice for Charles Fookes
The Argus, December 8, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1669302

Hall, Arthur  (SN 762) 30 Malakoff Street, St Kilda.  Arthur enlisted on August 15, 1914; he was 19 years and 2 months old, and his occupation was a cellarman. he was part of G Company, 5th Infantry Battalion. He had an interesting military career. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal;  was court martialled, charged with absenting himself without leave for six weeks from the end of October 1917. The hearing was held in January 1918, and he refused to be cross-examined but stated - I joined the AIF in 1914. I was present at the landing on Gallipoli and served eight months there. I have has sixteen months service in France and was evacuated on 20th July 1917. 

His commanding officer Lieutenant Meikle said in his evidence that he had known Arthur for three months and  his work had always been carried out satisfactorily and he has always borne an excellent character. He is one of the best N.C.O's I have in the Company.  The Court recommended mercy due to Arthur's previous good character and long service; he was found guilty and was sentenced to be reduced to the ranks.  I just feel for the poor man.

1918 was an extraordinary year for Arthur - he was awarded the Military Medal and two Bars and then was wounded in the August  - gun shot wound right leg femur and and the leg was amputated. He finally returned to Australia in August 1919, five long years since he enlisted as a young man of 19.

His next of kin on enlistment was Frances Hall of 30 Malakoff Street, more of her later; his birthplace was listed on his Attestation papers as St Kilda East. In the Electoral Rolls from 1905 until 1927 Frances Louise Hall and James Hall (occupation - gardener and later a mason's fixer) were listed at 30 Malakoff Street and from 1928 until 1934, they lived at 18 Malakoff Street. After the War, Arthur (occupation - mechanic) was listed with them in the Electoral rolls from 1921 until 1924, but not in 1925.

I lost track of Arthur after 1924 until I looked at his Inquest at the Public Records Office of Victoria. Arthur died June 10, 1961 from a Subdural Haemorrhage. He was living at the time at 218 Wellington Street Collingwood, boarding with Mrs Anne Christy. In her evidence she said that In January 1947 I put the advertisement in the paper for a room. Mr Hall came in answer to the advertisement. He formally lived  in Harmsworth Street [Collingwood]. Arthur had got up that morning and had breakfast, and then he remained in the kitchen whilst she was tidying his room. When she returned to the kitchen she said to Arthur, "Don't you feel well today, Mr Hall" and he replied "No, anything but well." He then fell from his chair but managed to crawl back to his room. He laid on his bed and Mrs Christy heard that he was breathing heavily, and Dr Thompson was called. The Doctor came about an hour later, and by this time Arthur was comatose. Arthur was then taken by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital where he died that day. He is buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park.

His friend, Arthur Gordon, greengrocer, of Napoleon Street, Collingwood also gave evidence. He had seen him the night before. Mr Gordon said that ''He [Arthur] said he was feeling the best and he did not look best. His eyes were going and he was going deaf. He used crutches."  Dr Thompson's evidence was that Arthur had high blood pressure, didn't always take his tablets, that he often complained of  dizzy spells and at times when it was suggested that he go to hospital he refused to do. 

Arthur didn't leave a will but his probate papers list his assets as just over £426 - £216 in the bank, a radio valued at £4; cheques belonging to the deceased from the Repatriation Depart, £129 and £76 due from Limbless Soldiers Provident Fund. 

There are a few mysteries surrounding Arthur. Firstly as I said before, I can't find any reference to his birth in the Indexes, but his given his age on enlistment he must have been born around 1895. I believe that he was adopted or fostered by Frances Louise Hall and her husband James.  Secondly Frances and  James Hall are listed in the 1934 Electoral Rolls at 18 Malakoff Street; however on May 3, 1934 a Florence Louisa Hall (nee Stapley) died at 18 Malakoff, she was 84 years old, had been born in England and the wife of James Hall. They must surely be the same woman. She was actually 89; Frances appears to have taken at least five years off her age over the years. 

I  purchased their marriage certificate and discovered that Frances and James had married in Melbourne on May 8, 1897, that she was [allegedly] 48-year old years old; and a widow, who had five children, but only one of whom was living and James was 28 years old, a bachelor, born in Windsor in Melbourne and his occupation was a gardener.   Frances had actually been widowed twice - her first husband was Robert Holmes, with who she had a daughter, Flora Louise in 1880. After she was widowed and when she was 38, she  married 29 year-old Felix Werry, a lithographer; the marriage took place in September 1883. Frances and Felix arrived in Melbourne in February 1885, with little Flora. Felix died at only 32 years of age in December 1886. Sadly Flora died on June 2, 1893 aged 13 years eleven months; at the time Frances was living in Glen Huntley Road, Caulfield.  James died in 1943 and is buried with  Frances/Florence at the Brighton General Cemetery and his brother Archibald. Felix and little Flora are buried at  the St Kilda Cemetery. 

I feel for Frances, who was widowed twice and gave birth to six children, of whom none it seems  survived to adulthood and she deserves credit for looking after Arthur and raising him to be a man who served his country with distinction. I hope Arthur, who never married, had some happiness in his life, he sounds modest and uncomplaining.  For a man who fought for his country throughout the duration of the entire War and was awarded the Military Medal, and two Bars for conspicuous service,  he deserves more recognition and I can't help but feel if he wasn't just a working class boy that he would have had that recognition. (4)


Arthur awarded a Second Bar to the Military Medal
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920


Hodges, Edward (SN 1078)  13 Malakoff Street, St Kilda. Edward, born in Balaclava to Angus and Annie Hodges, was 19 years old when he enlisted on January 11, 1915; his next of kin was his mother Mrs Annie Bailey of 13 Malakoff Street and his occupation was a farm hand. Edward Returned to Australia March 23, 1919. In 1924 he married Eileen Coyne and they had four daughters - Bernice, Wilma, Margaret and Valarie. Edward also enlisted to serve in World War Two  in April 1941 (SN  V92230). His occupation at the time was a cleaner in the Defence Department; he was discharged in August 1944 due to his age, which was 49, and chronic bronchitis. Edward died in 1969, aged 74. 

Osborne - Three sons of William and Johanna (nee Griffin) Osborne, of 23 Malakoff Street, St Kilda enlisted in the First A.I.F. - Vincent, Paul and Joseph. They all survived the war and returned home.

Osborne, Vincent Bernard (SN 8988)  23 Malakoff Street, St Kilda. Vincent, the eldest of the three boys who enlisted was born in Warrnambool in 1893. He enlisted at the age of 21 years, 10 months on July 17, 1915. His occupation was a diamond setter, an unusual occupation. Vincent Returned to Australia April 27, 1919 and he married Matilda Kathleen McAllister in 1921. They are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Rosanna and later at West Brunswick; his occupation was watchmaker. Vincent died on July 10, 1958, aged 64. 


Death notice of Vincent Osborne
The Age, July 12, 1958. p. 21 from newspapers.com

Osborne, Paul Clement (SN 1034) 23 Malakoff Street, St Kilda. Paul was 19 years and 2 months old when he enlisted on November 10, 1914. He was born in Warrnambool in 1895 and was a sawyer.  He embarked in June 1915, but before he left he married Beatrice Coulthard, the sister of  Roland and Walter, as listed above, of 29 Malakoff Street. After four years, Paul Returned to Australia December 24, 1918. Paul was a plumber and he and Beatrice lived at various addresses in St Kilda, Prahran and Malvern; they had two children, both born in St Kilda, Claude in 1915 and Norma in 1920. Paul died in 1959, aged 63 and  Beatrice in 1993, aged 98. 

Osborne,  Joseph Alphonsus (SN 51669) 23 Malakoff Street, East St Kilda. Joseph, a grocer, had just turned 18 when he enlisted on April 19, 1917, he had been born in St Kilda in 1900. His parents did not allow him to embark for overseas service until he turned nineteen, thus it was June 1918 before he sailed. He Returned to Australia July 22, 1919.  Joseph married Marjorie Margaret Reynolds in 1933 and they lived at 13 Arthur Street, Moonee Ponds. His occupation in the Electoral Rolls was a transport officer. Joseph died on July 16, 1961 aged 60, leaving behind Marjorie and children Eileen, William and John. 


Joseph's death notice 
The Age, July18, 1961, p. 14. from newspapers.com

Young, Gavin Glenday (SN 8011) 11 Malakoff Street, East St Kilda. Gavin enlisted on July 22, 1915. He was 31 years old and his occupation was Slot collector, Gas Company. He embarked in November 1915 and Returned to Australia March 28, 1919. Gavin was born in Macedon in 1884 to David and Isabella (nee Smith) Young. He married Alice Lucy Wilson in 1913; he died on June 16, 1950, aged 66 at their home at 20 Packer Street, Murrumbeena. 


Gavin Young's death notice

Malakoff Street, Malvern/Caulfield

Aitken, Herbert (SN 3676) Chatterton, 24 Malakoff Street, Caulfield. Herbert was a 25 year old mechanical engineer when he enlisted on August 3, 1915. In September 1916, whilst serving in France,  he suffered a gun shot wound to the arm (severe); after treatment he returned to the Front and in May 1918 was shot in both legs and the left thigh. Herbert Returned to Australia September 15, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds in the December. Herbert was born in Geelong in 1890 to Charles and Alice (nee Cooper) Aitken. After the War Herbert was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Oakleigh, occupation mechanic.  He died in 1958 aged 67.


Death notice of Herbert Aitken
The Age, May 24, 1958, p. 21 from newspapers.com

Crisp, Thomas Reginald (SN 887/234)  Malakoff Street, Malvern. Thomas first enlisted at the age of 36 on December 16, 1914. He fractured his tibia in September 1916, Returned to Australia in the November and was medically discharged in January 1917. After he recovered, and when he was 39, Thomas re-enlisted on December, 11 1917 as a clerk at Base Records in Melbourne and was discharged from that position in November 1919. Thomas was born in Brighton to Thomas and Jessie (nee King) Crisp and was  a clerk with the State Savings Bank (SSB).  He died at the Repatriation Hospital on January 6, 1953, aged 74. In 1912, the following article appeared in the newspaper, where apparently Thomas was paid £750,000 by a millionaire syndicate in America for an invention which will entirely revolutionise the cold storage industry. That was an extraordinary amount of money at the time, but given that Thomas was still employed at the SSB when he enlisted, he either loved being a bank clerk or the money did not eventuate.

Thomas' fortune
The Border Mail, December 9, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111408513

Edwards, Murray Francis (SN 545) Corona, Malakoff Street, Malvern. Murray was a 28 year old Mining Engineer when he enlisted on September 14, 1915 in the 2nd Company Miners Corp. After serving overseas he Returned to Australia on April 21, 1918 for discharge due to pleurisy. Murray was born in Malvern in 1887 to Edward and Mary (nee Murray) Edwards. After the War Murray was listed in the Electoral rolls at various addresses in the Caulfield-Malvern area and his occupation was a manger and later a merchant. He died in 1964, aged 77 at the Repatriation Hospital.


Murray's death notice
The Age, March 12 1964, p. 18 from newspapers.com

Gartly, John George (SN 5966) 22 Malakoff Street, Malvern. John enlisted on March 11, 1916; he was a 35 year old salesman and had been born in Richmond, the son of  Robert and Mary Ann (nee Strachan) Gartly.  Before he Returned to Australia September 6, 1919 he was granted two months leave to study Wholesale Trade at Messrs Buckley and Nunn Ltd in London. In 1920, John joined the firm of Grutzner & Tobias, Furriers, operated by Albert Grutzner, whose premises were in Queens Walk, off Collins Street; by the end of that year the company was known as Grutzner and Gartly. (5) John married Florence Lilian Thorpe in 1924 and they lived in Malvern  He died on  July 3, 1954, aged 74.


Grutzner and Gartly, Furriers

Hamilton, Robert Charles Gordon (SN 6106) 20 Malakoff Street, Malvern. Robert enlisted on August 2, 1915. He was a 28 year old bank clerk. Robert was stationed initially at Broadmeadows and did not embark for overseas service until July 1916. He attained the rank of Lieutenant, and in June 1918, he suffered a gun shot wound to the right arm and scalp. Robert Returned to Australia November 7, 1919. Robert was born in Daylesford to James and Elizabeth (nee Brown) Hamilton. He married Hilda Kathleen McBride in 1915, after he had enlisted. They had three children Anne, Elizabeth and James. Robert died on October 3, 1959, aged 72


Death notice of Robert Hamilton
The Age, October 5, 1959, p. 14 from newspapers.com

Johnston, John George (SN 3052) 28 Malakoff Street, Malvern.  John, born in Bendigo, enlisted on July 12, 1915. He was a 39 year old electric tram fitter. His next of kin was his wife Minnie Riverina (nee Wright); her middle name came from the fact that she was born in the Riverina at Deniliquin.  John Returned to Australia March 21, 1919. After his return the couple lived in Buxton Street, Elsternwick and John resumed his employment with the Tramways. John died on July 7, 1950 aged 74. As you can see from his death notice, below, he was the father of William, Jean, John, George and Marjorie; George was the journalist, war correspondent and novelist, whose perhaps most famous novel is My Brother Jack. (6)


John Johnston's death notice

Lamont, Robert William (SN 33) Springburn, Malakoff Street, Malvern. Robert enlisted on August 17, 1914 and embarked two months later; he was a 23 year old clerk. He served in the Gallipoli campaign and in France. He Returned to Australia October 23, 1918. Robert was born in St Kilda in 1890 to Malcolm and Harriet (nee Forsythe) Lamont. After the War Robert lived in Narong Road in Caulfield and continued his occupation as a clerk. He married Doris Lanceter in 1930 and they had two sons, Ian and Wallace, and later moved moved to McCrae. Robert died on September 6, 1963.


Death notice of Robert Hamilton
The Age, September 7, 1963, p. 23 from newspapers.com


Robert Lamont was one of the men who left Australia in 1914, and needed to be relieved by new volunteers


Simonson, Paul William (Captain)   17 Malakoff Street, Malvern. Captain Simonson was the only soldier I found who wasn't living at Malakoff on enlistment, but whose parents moved there during his service. Paul enlisted as a 19 year old on July 14, 1915; he embarked a few months later in September. Paul received an Order of the British Empire Medal (OBE) for valuable services rendered in connexion with military operations in France; he was also Mentioned in Despatches and received the Distinguished Service order. Paul Returned to Australia September 28, 1919. Paul, born in Brighton,  was the son of Max and Sarah (nee Moss) Simonson.  At the time of enlistment they lived at 52 Auburn Road, Auburn but around 1917 moved to 17 Malakoff Street.  Paul attended Scotch College and their World War One website - https://portal.scotch.vic.edu.au/ww1/honour/simonsonPW.htm - notes that  On 10 July 1917 Paul was seconded for duty as aide-de-camp to the General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, General Monash, an arrangement which seems to have become permanent in September. In August 1917 Paul was promoted to full Lieutenant and in December to Captain. He was hospitalised in April 1918, but on 1 June 1918 he was seconded as ADC to the General Officer Commanding the Australian Corps, again General Monash.  General Monash was actually Paul's uncle, as he was married to Sarah Simonson's sister, Victoria Moss - see more here - https://www.greatwarforum.org/blogs/entry/1632-monashs-nephews-the-simonson-brothers/

Before returning to Australia  Paul married Beatrice Fleming Inglis in London and on their return they lived in Manning Road in Malvern and his occupation was an Importer, the same occupation as his father. They had two sons Donald and Robert. Paul died March 31, 1966, aged 70. 


It was this engagement notice that led me to discover Paul Simonson and his connection to Malakoff Street; and the further discovery of his connection to General Monash, and then finding out he had a brother Eric (see below).
Weekly Times, February 8, 1919 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221836211


Major General John Monash, General Officer Commanding, 3rd Australian Division, with Captain (Capt) P. W. Simonson, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) (left) and Capt A. M. Moss, ADC Camp Commandant (right), at the Divisional Headquarters, in the Villers-Bretonneux sector, May 25, 1918. 
Captain Aubrey Moss was another nephew of General Monash. 
Australian War Memorial image E02351


Simonson, Eric Loudon (Captain) Paul's younger brother Eric, who was an engineering student at Monash University also enlisted; he was commissioned as a Lieutenant on July 16, 1915 and embarked a few months later in September. The following information comes from https://www.greatwarforum.org/blogs/entry/1632-monashs-nephews-the-simonson-brothers/ 
In common with his brother, Eric also worked closely with his uncle, General Monash and on  the 4th of January 1916, Eric was transferred to Brigade HQ as Monash’s Orderley Officer and later became his Aide de Camp. 

Reporting to the No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading on the 7th September [1917], Eric was then attached to the 29th Training Squad, AFC at Shrewsbury in November, followed by the 43rd Tng Squad, RFC at Fernhill in December. On the 18th January 1918 he was appointed Flying Officer Pilot, and then a couple of weeks later posted to 28 Tng Squad, Castle Bromwich for higher instruction.....At the beginning of April Eric finally headed back to France, where he was posted to No. 2 Squadron, AFC the following month. It wasn’t until the 24th of September however, that he shot down his first enemy plane and then proceeded to tally up 5 more in the following two months.....On the 19th December, Eric also returned to England, and from the 10th January 1919 to the 9th of September he was granted leave with pay. His leave time was spent at the Boulton & Paul Aircraft Dept in Norwich. During the war the company had been building planes and it was decided to continue this practice, so they also opened a design department.

After his return to Australia in 1923 Eric married Olive Jenkins and they lived in Dandenong Road, Caulfield, his occupation was a contractor.  They had two daughters Lesley and Vivienne. The marriage did not last and Eric filed for divorce in 1931 - it seems that as Olive was an only child and they lived next door to her parents and that they were constantly interfering in our domestic affairs and this and other reasons led to coolness between the couple.  Eric served again in World War Two as a Squadron leader in the RAAF and he died on July 17, 1954 aged 60. His address at the time of his death was Majestic Mansions, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. 


Death notices for Eric Simonson

Taylor, George Geoffrey (SN 7447) 11 Malakoff Street, Malvern. George, a bank clerk, enlisted when he was 21 on August 10, 1915. Sadly he was Killed in Action in France on August 26, 1917. George was born in Elmore to George and Adeline (nee Cotton) Taylor. At the time of his enlistment his father who was a Lieutenant was stationed at the Victoria Barracks and the family home was 11 Malakoff Street. A short obituary for George in the Elmore Standard of September 22, 1917 (see here) noted that - a promising young life has been cut off in the bud like many another in response to the call that has brought together gallants who are men in every sense of the word to battle for the cause of Humanity.

Gunner George Taylor
The Herald, November 10 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242448471

Watts - Harold and Arthur were the sons of Thomas Salter Watts and his wife Anna (nee Ankatell). They were born in Caulfield. When they enlisted their next of kin was their mother, Anna, of Ki-u, Malakoff Street; their father had died in 1910.

Watts, Thomas Harold Anketell (SN 334/6440) Ki-u, Malakoff Street, Malvern. Harold, as he was called, enlisted on August 15, 1914. He was a 27 year old builder. He was sent back to Australia for change in January 1916 and re-embarked in November 1916; during this time back in Melbourne he married Beatrice Elizabeth Ripper. In October 1917 he suffered gun shot wounds to  his thigh, left knee and neck. Harold Returned to Australia December 12, 1918.  After the War, the couple lived for a time in Merino, in the Western District, where they operated a farm and they later moved back to Melbourne - Camberwell then Balwyn.  Harold died on August 16, 1971 aged 84.

Harold Watt's death notice.
The Age, August 17, 1971, p. 25 from newspapers.com


Watts
, Arthur Thomas Salter (SN 7118)   Ki-u, Malakoff Street, Malvern. Arthur was a 27 year old grocers assistant when enlisted on April 3, 1916. He embarked in November 1916 and then Returned to Australia July 22, 1917 and was medically discharged in the November of that year due to rheumatic pain. Arthur married Mary Alma Stonehouse in 1919 and they lived around Camberwell, Auburn area. Arthur's occupation was listed as a salesman and a porter; he seemed to have various jobs. Arthur and Mary had four children - Eileen, Robert, Ian and Wilma. Arthur died on November 2, 1965 aged 76


Footnotes
(1) https://www.britannica.com/event/Crimean-War
(2) Inkerman Street was originally spelt as Inkermann, which was how the town on the Crimean Peninsula was actually spelt. I don't know when the last n was dropped. (Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931), p. 93)
(3) https://www.britannica.com/event/Crimean-Warhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/FitzRoy-James-Henry-Somerset-1st-Baron-Raglanhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Aimable-Jean-Jacques-Pelissier-duc-de-Malakoff 
(4) The information about Arthur, Frances and James Hall comes from birth, baptism, marriage and death certificates - both Victorian ones and English ones on Ancestry.com; the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; family notices in the newspapers; Shipping records and Arthur's Inquest at the  Public Records Office of Victoria.
(5) I am basing this information on - The Argus, April 2, 1917, see here;  advertisements for staff - The Age, October 11, 1919, see here; this advertisement - Table Talk, May 13, 1920, see here; and this Table Talk, November 4, 1920, see here.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Frankston Avenue of Honor and War Memorial

Frankton established a Avenue of Honor, to commemorate their Great War Soldiers in 1918. The first tree was planted on July 13 and The Age had the following report -
In wintry and showery weather conditions the State Governor on Saturday afternoon performed the opening ceremony in connection with the planting of an honor avenue in Point Nepean-road, Frankston, in memory of the men who enlisted from that district. There was a large attendance of local residents and about 200 invalided soldiers from the base, Caulfield, M'Leod and Highton military hospitals, in charge of Warrant Officer Arrowsmith. The men were convoyed to Frankston by about 50 cars belonging to members of the voluntary motor corps. The Langwarrin band attended, and there was also a guard of honor from Langwarrin camp. In planting the first of a line lot of eucalyptus botryoides in honor of Private A. Bolger, who was the first local soldier killed in action, Sir Arthur Stanley congratulated the people of the district on the splendid patriotism they had always shown, and the whole-hearted hospitality the lady members of the Wattle club had extended to the soldiers. He said the avenue of trees, individually supplied by the people, would be a lasting memorial to those brave fellows who had shown a magnificent example of self-sacrifice in the Umpire's cause. The names of those men would live for ever and be always cherished for generations to come....The trees were then planted under the supervision of Mr. Hartland, of the Forestry department, and extended for a distance of nearly a mile. (1)  


The planting of the Frankston Avenue of Honor
1. Mr. and Mrs. James Grice planting a tree in honor of their son, Lieut. Grice. 2. Guard of Honor. 3. The Governor (Sir Arthur Stanley) addressing the residents. 4. Tree in Honor of Pte. E. M'comb, planted by his brother-in-law, Sergt. Moon. 
Avenue of Honor at Frankston in Memory of Men of the District who have Enlisted.
Weekly Times, July 20, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129476803 


However, two years later the Avenue was a sorry sight, as recorded in this letter to the Editor of the Mornington Standard  
Frankston Honor Avenue, Sir- The avenue of trees planted along the Melbourne road last year, after a years growth, do not at present give the indications of their ever attaining to the noble avenue of trees which is so much desired, considering the purpose for which they were planted, and it must be a disappointment to many to seen such unsatisfactory results. As it is, some trees that have been looked after have made good growths, one in particular having taken such a lead that may always leave it far ahead of the rest. This is not  desirable, as I take it an avenue should have for its greatest beauty and glory a uniform growth with each tree. This could best be attained by attention to each tree during the first year of planting, and by such attention as watering and stimulating the weaker trees by reinforcing the soil around their butts, an providing a litter to conserve moisture, they would have made a better growth, and perhaps all would have survived the past summer's long dry spells and the avenue being a fair way to become what we all wish: To glory and pride of all. Yours. etc, VISITOR. (2)

The Avenue did survive and in 1931 in a report of the  Provincial Press Association's Outing to Frankston we find that it was thriving -  
As the cars turned again toward the town along Point Nepean-road the Honor Avenue was passed. This is a double row of Australian Gums about half a mile in length. Point Nepean-road at this part is two chains in width and contains some beautiful homes and some of the finest hedges in the state. The Honor Avenue is in the centre and provides a sheltered walk for pedestrians. (3)

The Avenue was removed in the 1960s for road widening and there is now a memorial to mark the original location (4) 

This wasn't the only Great War memorial in Frankston, there was also a monument. The Frankston Soldiers' Memorial Committee was established in 1919 (5). There was much discussion as to the location of the memorial, outside the Mechanics' Institute was a favoured location, however, in the end the site selected in Bay Street, opposite the Post Office (or essentially outside the Grand Hotel, on the intersection of Bay Street (the Nepean Highway) and Davey Street)  (6).  In September 1921, designs were invited for the War Memorial, which was to cost £1200. (7) 


Designs invited for Frankston War Memorial

In November 1921, the Frankston Standard could report that -
On Tuesday last, Cr Mason and Messrs Utber and Vicars, representing the Frankston Soldiers'
Memorial Committee, visited Melbourne and inspected the designs submitted for the Frankston Memorial in the competition arranged by the War Memorials Advisory Committee for Victoria. There were seven competitors, and the adjudicators placed Mr. Alex S. Hall's design first, a decision which was fully endorsed by the Frankston committee. This design is now on view in the window of Mr W. P. Mason, Bay Street, Frankston. (8)

Alexander Sergeant  Hall was a Melbourne Architect and had trained with the firm Bates, Peebles and Smart. Alec enlisted in the  A.I.F in July 1916 at the age of 21 and was discharged in June 1919.  In 1928 he won first prize in the competition to design the Ararat War Memorial; in 1935 he entered into a partnership with Architect Frank Stapley, who was also a Melbourne City Councillor from 1901 until his death in 1944. In 1948, along with Architect, E. E. Milston, Alec won the competition to design the memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War Two at the Shrine of Remembrance. He died on January 6, 1972 1972, aged76 and left behind his wife Eileen and sons David and Peter.  (9)

The project moved slowly as there was shortage of funds; in April 1922 the committee held £622 and still required another £500 (10). A year later in April 1923 a meeting was held to discuss modifications to the original design -
Mr. Hall, the architect whose design for a Soldiers' Memorial at Frankston was accepted, met the committee at the Council Chambers, Frankston, on Wednesday evening last. Cr. W. J. Oates was in the chair, and others present were: -  Cr. Mason, Dr. Maxwell, Messrs. P. Wheeler, M. Brody, H. Morrison, A. Hill, J. D. Jenings, W. M. Hanton, W. C. Young, and Lieut.-Colonel Lazarus (hon. sec.). The object of the meeting was to discuss with Mr. Hall the practicability of the proposal to reduce the cost of the memorial, without materially altering the original design. Mr. Hall agreed that granite and blue-stone could with advantage replace the free-stone provided for in the original estimates. It was ultimately resolved that the architect prepare a fresh estimate of cost, allowing for substituted material, but retaining the original brass tablet, bearing the names of soldiers. It is hoped that the revised specifications will permit of the Memorial being erected for about £800. The original estimate was £1180. (11)


Tenders invited for the construction of the War Memorial

Finally in June 1923, the Architect, Alec Hall, could advertise for tenders for the construction of the new memorial. (12) Seven tenders were received (13) and on June 27, 1923 the Frankston Soldiers' Memorial Committee met and -
The secretary then read a letter from the architect, giving details of the tenders received for the erection of soldiers' memorial at Frankston. The lowest tender was that of Messrs. Corben & Sons, and the architect recommended the acceptance of same. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Mason, seconded by Mr. Brody that Corben & Son's tender at £580 be accepted. (14)

The Memorial was unveiled by the Prime Minister, Mr Bruce on Anzac Day, 1924. The Age began their report with a description of the monument -
A memorial to the Frankston soldiers, erected on an elevation in the main thoroughfare, was unveiled yesterday by the Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce). The monument, which takes the form of a sandstone drinking fountain, contains a bronze plate, on which are engraved the names of the local volunteers. (15) You can the rest of the article here and another account of the unveiling from the Frankston and Somerville Standard, here.


The Frankston War Memorial
Frankston and Somerville Standard, April 30, 1924  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73499570

Recently, I came across the photograph, below, which was the catalyst for all this research and when I saw the original illustration I realised that the memorial had been altered with a more elaborate addition, on the top. This addition took place in 1928, although not without some controversary as reported in the Frankston and Somerville Standard in the April -
The additions to the Soldiers' Memorial, the proposed alteration of which raised a good deal of controversy in architectural circles, are now being carried out. The work is being done at the direction of Mr. H. M. Collins, of "Gracehill," Frankston, and those who have been dissatisfied with the present memorial will be grateful to Mr. Collins for his generosity. Many, on the other hand, are opposed to any alteration of the original structure. Those versed in art and with an eye for the beautiful in architecture contend that the original design ranked with the finest war memorials in the State. (16)


The War Memorial, on the right.
Shopping Centre, Frankston, around late 1940s. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. 
State Library of Victoria image H32492/6366

Henry Michael Collins, was the benefactor of this addition; he had previously donated £5 to the Memorial building fund in 1922 and another £10 towards the fund in 1925. He was a man to whom memorials were important; in October 1925 there was dedication service at St Paul's Anglican Church in Frankston of window in honour of his son, Major Percy Robert Murdoch Collins, D.S.O., R.G.A., who was killed in action near Ypres, on June 25, 1917 aged 26 and Percy's widow, Anne Elinor Lula Collins (nee Grice), who died on December 8, 1918 at the age of 23. At the same service a memorial tablet was unveiled to Henry's wife, Isabella Maria Collins, who died in England, on February 11, 1917. Sadly, the memorial window was destroyed by fire in 1957. (17)

Henry was born in 1844 in England and spent his working life with Reuters Agency; he worked all over the world and in 1878 he was appointed General manager for Reuters Australasia, a role he held for 30 years. Henry was also on the board of management of the Alfred Hospital from 1895. Mr Collins died on June 11, 1928. (18) His last local deed of benevolence was his order for the improvement of the Frankston Soldiers' Memorial. Although architects and artists differed on the question of adding to the centre portion of the memorial there is no room for argument that the scheme which was being carried out under Mr. Collins' direction for the beautification of the surroundings and approach to the memorial itself is a vast improvement. It is a matter for lasting regret that this public benefactor did not live to see the fulfilment of his plan for a more fitting tribute to the memory of those to whom he never tired of doing honor. (19)
There are not many photographs of the War Memorial (that I can find) but here are four of  various quality, which give some indications of the location and what it looked like.

Hard to see, but the War Memorial is on the left, you can see the steps which lead to it. 
Post Office and Portion of shopping centre, Frankston, around late 1940s. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. 
State Library of Victoria image H32492/3649


The War Memorial in 1935
Adelaide Chronicle, January 17, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92363405


The War Memorial in 1946. 
Frankston Standard, November 14, 1946 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73594317


The War Memorial in 1947
Frankston Standard, May 1, 1947 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73596240


What happened to the Frankston War Memorial? It was removed around 1962 and the brass plaque with all the names of the soldiers was added to a new monument at the Civic Centre in Davey Street, which also honours service personnel  from other conflicts. The Civic Centre memorial appears to be just a number of plaques mounted on brick wall. (20) A  new memorial was created in 2016 in Beauty Park in Frankston in 2016, a half circle of concrete with the names of the 228 men and women who served in World War One engraved upon it (21).  It is equally as bland as the Civic Centre memorial was. 

The original brass plaque from the World War One soldiers does not appear to have been relocated to Beauty Park - where is that now? In fact, what happened to the original sandstone monument and Mr Collins's addition? 

Footnotes
(1) The Age, July 15, 1918, see here
(2) Mornington Standard, May 7, 1920, see here.
(3) Horsham Times, January 16, 1931, see here
(4) Virtual War Memorial Australia https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/6801
(5) I believe it was 1919 - that's the earliest mention I can find. Mornington Standard, August 16, 1919, see here
(6) Location - Mechanics' Institute - Mornington Standard, April 30, 1920, see here; Bay Street - Frankston and Somerville Standard, April 9, 1920, see here and  Frankston and Somerville Standard, June 29, 1923 see here;  Frankston Standard, October 17, 1941, see here.  
(7) The Age, August 6, 1921, see here.  
(8) Frankston and Somerville Standard, November 25, 1921, see here
(9) Alexander Sergeant Hall - WW1 enlistment papers https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3007001  The Herald, July 23, 1928, see here; The Argus, July 11, 1935, see here; Frank Stapley obituary The Argus, September 13, 1944, see hereSun News-Pictorial, February 28, 1948, see here.    


Death notice of Alec Hall
The Age, January 7, 1972, p. 13 from newspapers.com

(10) Frankston and Somerville Standard, April 7, 1922, see here
(11) Frankston and Somerville Standard, April 20, 1923, see here
(12) The Argus, June 9, 1923, see here.  
(13) Frankston and Somerville Standard, June 20, 1923, see here. 
(14) Frankston and Somerville Standard, June 29, 1923, see here
(15) The Age, April 26, 1924, see here.  
(16) Frankston and Somerville Standard, April 13, 1928, see here
(17) Henry Michael Collins - donations Frankston and Somerville Standard, August 30, 1922, see here and Frankston and Somerville Standard, March 4, 1925, see here; Church memorials - Frankston and Somerville Standard, October 23, 1925, see here and https://www.stpaulsfrankston.com.au/stained-glass-windows
(18) Henry Michael Collins obituary - Prahran Telegraph, June 15, 1928, see here
(19) Frankston and Somerville Standard, June 15, 1928, see here

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Fairfield's £250 Campaign and Barometer, 1918

I came across this photo of the State Savings Bank in Railway Place, Fairfield and noticed the barometer on the outside and what seemed to be a Red Cross sign. It turns out that it was part of a Red Cross appeal in May 1918 to raise money for their Comforts Fund,  to enable them to continue to carry out their work supplying comforts for sick and wounded soldiers and prisoners of war. This service cost the Red Cross £15,000 per month and they only had a reserve of  £70,000. As the only way to decrease this expenditure was to reduce the allowance to soldiers, which nobody would like to see done, the Red Cross launched the appeal and the people of Fairfield decided to raise £250, by donation. (1)

As a newspaper report said - Carnivals, raffles, concerts and displays of all kinds mean an immense amount of work and expense to make them a success. This time we want the generosity of the people and the objects of the appeal to stand on their merits by relying on the straight-out donation mostly to provide the amount required. (2)


Railway Place, Fairfield, 1918
State Library of Victoria image H84.427/1/37

On May 3, The Herald reported on the committee formed to raise Fairfield's contribution - 
Fairfield has set itself the task of raising £250, at least, as a contribution to the State School appeal for the Special Red Cross Fund, in one month from Monday, May 6. An executive committee, consisting of representatives of the Fairfield State School committee and Red Cross and patriotic bodies, has been formed, with Councillor F. Bryant, Shire President, as chairman. Councillors G. F. Pitcher (treasurer), J. Coate and A. May are also assisting the movement.

A feature of the effort will be straight-out donations from residents, and a barometer will he erected on the Fairfield Savings Bank to indicate each day's progress. Band performances and concerts will be held, and a personal canvass made of each house in the district. Large coppers will be placed at the station for pennies. The joint honorary secretaries are Messrs L. W. Barke and P. W. Hutchinson
. (3)



The scheme to raise the £250 was publicised in the local paper.

The barometer on the State Savings Bank was made by the working committee of the Red Cross and painted by Mr Bryning (4) and provided a focus for community activities, as this report attests -  
A large crowd gathered in Railway place Fairfield, last evening, before the barometer erected on the Savings Bank to indicate the progress of the Fairfield effort to raise £250 in a month for the  Red Cross Fund. A band played and appeals were made by well-known citizen. A large Union Jack was carried among the crowd so that coins might be thrown into it. There was loud cheering as the indicator of the barometer moved up point after point. (5) Each point represented £5. (6)

As well as the visual reminder of the barometer right opposite the railway station and the lady collectors on duty at the station collecting copper coins from railway patrons and going door-to-door, there were newspaper articles explaining the scheme and 4,000 flyers were distributed - the local school children folded them and addressed them and the Scouts delivered them (7). 4,000 was the number of adults in the Fairfield school district, which was from Miller Street to Victoria Road. (8)

In the end after a month of concentrated effort, the Fairfield community raised £348/19/9. A financial report itemised the Receipts as - Direct donations £230/1/3; Boy Scouts' Sunday service £4/8/3; Band performance £6/5/; recruiting picture show 11/3, copper collections (Fairfield station £18/15/, Alphington station £7/6/) £26/1/; proceeds State school concert £71/0/9; scholars' self-denial at State school £25/9/6, total £363/17/.  The Expenditure was listed as - Stationery £1/3/9, printing and advertising (News) £13/13/6, balance £348/19/9 (9)

The £230/1/3 raised through direct donation was £20 short of their hoped for £250. However during the month, as well as the other fund raising, there had also been collected £85 for badges and £39/7/3 for buttons, making a grand total of £473/7/.  As joint secretaries Mr Barke and Mr Hutchinson reported - is very gratifying to know our efforts have met with such good results, and to know also that Fairfield has done its share in helping to send the necessary comforts to the boys at the front, which, of course was the ultimate object of all our efforts. (10)

The State Savings Bank in Fairfield, where the barometer was located, was a new building having been erected in 1916. As the local  paper reported in January 1916 -
Workmen have just finished pulling down two old shops in Railway Parade South, Fairfield, and at
present are engaged in excavating in connection with the erection of brick premises for the State Savings Bank of Victoria. The situation is ideal, and it is anticipated that the building will be a credit to the town.
(11) The bank opened for business on May 24, 1916. (12)  As well as displaying the barometer, the bank manager, Percy Hutchinson was the joint secretary of the £250 campaign. The bank was also used for committee meetings, proved refreshments for the Heidelberg Brass Band when they performed in aid of the campaign, as well as taking care of the funds raised.


You can just see the State Savings Bank on the right with the barometer, so obviously taken the same day as the photograph at the top.
Fairfield Park Railway Station, 1918. (The name changed to Fairfield in 1943 (13))
 State Library of Victoria image H84.427/1/38  


Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Fairfield's  £250 appeal, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Heidelberg News May 4, 1918, see here
(2) Ibid
(3) The Herald, May 3, 1918, see here.
(4) Heidelberg News May 4, 1918, see here. Mr Byrning was either Bertram Byrning of 8 Arthur Street, Fairfield, a coach painter or William Knowles, 4 Austin Street, Alphington, a signwriter. (1918 Electoral Roll information)
(5) The Herald, May 30, 1918, see here.
(6) Heidelberg News May 4, 1918, see here
(7) See various reports on my Trove list, here.
(8) Heidelberg News, June 22, 1918, see here.
(9) Ibid
(10) Ibid
(11) Heidelberg News, January 15, 1916, see here.
(12) The Herald, May 24, 1916, see here.