With the ebb and flow of time, a little of Victoria's jettisoned past has washed up upon my desk: a discarded photo, a worn postcard, or a fading newspaper. Their long forgotten characters now retell their stories in a digital sampling, post by post. Their voices are my blog's vignettes. Researched and written by Heather Arnold.
Friday, August 5, 2022
Floral bordered postcards of Melbourne
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Crimean War, Indian Mutiny and Boxer Rebellion veterans in West Gippsland and surrounds
This post looks at veterans of the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and the Boxer Rebellion who had a connection to West Gippsland, and the old Shires of Berwick, Cranbourne and Dandenong.
The veterans I have found have written about are Tom Drummond and a Mr Adams of Berwick; William Fist of Lyndhurst; Alfred West of Darnum; Edward Mills of Warragul; Charles James Jago of Springvale; William John Ward of Hastings and Joseph Edward Hughes of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, most likely Iona. As you can see it is a flexible geographical area and I would be interested in hearing about any others. At the end of the post are a list of Crimean War related street names in the area.
We will start of with a short history of the conflicts from the Australian War Memorial website.
The Crimean War (1853 - 1856) was fought between Imperial Russia on one side and an alliance of France, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire on the other. Most of the conflict took place on the Crimean Peninsula, with additional actions occurring in western Turkey, and the Baltic Sea region (1).
The Indian Mutiny - The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of British East India Company's army on the 10th of May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to the region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, northern Madhya Pradesh or Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, Delhi, and Gurgaon. The rebellion posed a considerable threat to British power in that region, and it was contained only with the fall of Gwalior on 20 June 1858. The rebellion is also known as India's First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, the Revolt of 1857, and the Sepoy Mutiny (2).
What was the Boxer Uprising? Western Countries, especially France, Germany, Britain and the United States controlled most of the trade between China and the West at the end of the nineteenth century. Merchants from these countries also demanded land, the right to build railways and ‘extra territorial rights’ where they were subject only to the laws of their own country and not Chinese law. As a result, many Chinese joined anti European Secret Societies, including the violent I-ho-ch'uan (the Righteous and Harmonious Fists) who were named the Boxers by Western media. In 1899, the Boxers and other militant societies combined in a campaign against the Westerners, including merchants, Missionaries and westernised Chinese. In 1900 this uprising became more wide spread and nine Western nations responded by sending in warships and armed forces. Though Australian troops were largely involved in the Boer War in South Africa, the Australian Colonies sent Naval Contingents to China to support Britain. One hundred and ninety seven men came from Victoria, two hundred and sixty three from New South Wales and one hundred and three from South Australia. The first Australian contingents left at the end of July 1900. Many of the Australians were too late to take part in battle and instead had a role in restoring civil order, and they left China in March 1901 to return to Australia. No Australian was killed by enemy hand, although six died of illness or injury (3).
Tom Drummond and Mr Adams of BerwickI knew we had some Crimean veterans who had migrated to Australia from England and lived locally as there is this paragraph in the book Early Days of Berwick (4) - Two Crimean War Veterans, Mr Drummond and Mr Adams, resided in High Street, Berwick. These two old gentlemen wearing their Crimean War medals, could often be observed sitting in the Boulevard, enjoying the sunshine. It was said that Mrs Drummond was contemporary with and associated with Florence Nightingale, nursing at the Crimea. (5).
I can find no information on Mr Adams, but a report in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of August 10, 1911 noted that Tom Drummond celebrated his golden wedding anniversary on Friday evening and Private Tom wears a couple of Crimean medals of which he is justly proud (6). So, now we know Mr Drummond's first name and according to the Electoral Roll, his wife was called Mary. The Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages Index tells us that Tom died in 1915 at Berwick, that he was aged 86 and his mother's name was Mary and his father's name was Thomas. His obituary in the Berwick Shire News of June 23, 1915 said that he came to Adelaide in 1875 and eight years later moved to Victoria where he lived at Toora and Mirboo North and he came to Berwick about four years ago. Tom was attached to the Coldstream Guards and was in the trenches at the taking of Sebastapool and the battle of Alma. He was also in other minor engagements, and was awarded the Crimean war medals issued by the English and Turkish Governments, which he greatly treasured (7). I am not sure when Mary passed away - there is a Mary Anne Drummond who died in 1927 in Cheltenham, aged 89 (parents listed as Michael Seabright and Elizabeth Tobin). This is possibly her. It is quite interesting that Mrs Drummond nursed with Florence Nightingale, I will do some more research on her (Mrs Drummond) one day.
Another Crimean veteran, who also served in the Indian Mutiny, who lived in the area was Color-Sergeant (9) William Fist who died February 14, 1921 at the age of 80. He was also a veteran of the Indian Mutiny. William Frederick Fist is listed in the 1919 Electoral roll at 4 Grattan Street, Prahran, with his wife Fanny Maria Fist (nee Croxford) whom he married in 1912, and at Cranbourne Road, Lyndhurst, in the death notice and the short obituary which appeared in the Frankston and Somerville Standard (see below) refers to him as an old Lyndhurst identity, and who had taken part in the Siege of Lucknow.
From various newspaper reports we can build a picture of some of William's life. In April 1875, William was brought before the Emerald Hill Court by his wife Elizabeth for maintenance. The report said that the marriage of the pair took place in India in 1860, and in consequence of the insobriety of Mrs. Fist, a separation took place some time since. The defendant, who held a commission in the 16th Lancers in India, and was now filling the occupation of coachman at Toorak (10). The result of the court case was that Mrs Fist was granted 7 shillings and six pence per week. Mrs Fist was back in Court in August 1889, claiming the William had not paid maintenance since October 1886 and that she was thus owed £52 (11).
Two years later William was back in Court on a perjury charge. William had given evidence at an Inquest at the City Morgue that the deceased woman, Mary Anne Keilly, who was the subject of the Inquest, was his wife, when in fact they were not married but had been living together for years and she was known by the neighbours as Mrs Fist. His Honor said that in committing the crime of perjury the accused did not appear to have been actuated by any sordid motive. But the circumstance did not justify the prisoner in perjuring himself. His Honor believed that he swore what was untrue to save the character of the woman with whom he had been living, and for the sake of the character of her children (12).
In 1909 the Weekly Times had some photographs of Naval and Military Veterans taken at the Victoria Barracks, and William Fist was in one of them.
One of the Crimean veterans Mr Alfred West, is a resident of this district. He is nearly 80 years of age. A movement is being initiated in Warragul for the purpose of enabling him to attend the dinner given by the Minister of Defence (Mr Ewing) on Saturday next. Mr West was a private in the Coldstream Guards, and fought in the trenches before Inkerman, Balaclava and Sebastapol. He was on the ground, and has a vivid recollection of the charge of the Light Brigade.
A Crimea veteran, Mr. Edward Mills, of Warragul, has just died at the age of 89 years. He was one of the few remaining veterans of the Crimean war. He used to say that he was a blue-jacket on the man-o'-war on which Florence Nightingale was conveyed to her nursing work in the Black Sea. A service was held in St. Paul's Church, Warragul. Representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association were present to do honour to their fellow-warrior of other days and other battles, and the boy scouts formed a guard of honour. The rector, the Rev. P. W. Robinson, conducted the service, and the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed between lines of choristers, scouts, and soldiers from the church to the cemetery. The Dead March was played by the organist, Mr. C. Lander (14).
Charles James Jago of Springvale
At the age of 16 he was engaged as a bugler in the Crimean war, and was engaged right through the campaign, with all its hardships and privations, and later took a prominent part in the siege of Sebastopol (17).
Given the years his children were born in Koo Wee Rup and Iona it is likely that Joseph was part of the Village Settlement scheme (24) where unemployed men from the city were given a small allotment of land (up to 8 hectares) and were to work for wages clearing the drains for two weeks and and undertake improvements on their block and hopefully become self-sufficient small farmers on the alternate two weeks. By 1899 the Village Settlement Scheme was abandoned, and at least one third of the settlers had left the area, including the Hughes family. The most common reasons for leaving were the fact that blocks were not a sufficient size of land to support a family, there was no alternative employment and many settlers had no previous farming experience, such as Joseph Hughes, whose occupation is listed in The Australian Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Boxer Uprising, 1899-1901 (25) as a painter.
The family had moved from the Swamp and were living in Surrey Hills in Melbourne in 1900 when Joseph enlisted. He embarked for China on July 30, 1900 on the SS Salamis, his rank was Able Seaman, and returned to Australia on the SS Chingtu on April 25, 1901 (26). It then appears the family moved back to New South Wales and lived in another Surry Hills, this time in Sydney. Joseph died at the age of 64 in 1925 and Elizabeth died in 1921, aged 57. They are buried at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney (27).
Joseph and Elizabeth’s sons Joseph and Neil enlisted in the First World War. Joseph was 23 when he enlisted in April 1918, but he was rejected on medical grounds due to acute rheumatism. His next of kin was his father, Joseph, of 565 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney (28). His birthplace was listed as Bunyip, but as we saw before the birth was registered at Koo Wee Rup, because the first Registrar of Births and Deaths at the eastern end of the Swamp was not appointed until January 1, 1895 when James Pincott was appointed for Bunyip South (29).
Neil (service number 3322) enlisted in August 1915 at the age of 19, his birth place is listed as Bunyip and his next of kin was his father of the Crown Street address. In July 1916, Neil suffered a gunshot wound to the back and abdomen and later returned to Australia and was medically discharged in November 1917 (30). I do a lot of research and sometimes you are fortunate that you find a document that ties everything together, so I was pleased to find this letter written by Joseph senior in Neil's A.I.F file at the National Archives of Australia. The letter gives 19 year old Neil, permission to enlist and is signed by his father, Joseph Hughes and underneath he has written Late of the Naval brigade and China Naval Cont [Contingent].
Street and Place names
Lyons - Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons (1790-1858), Ist Baronet Lyons, commanded the Black Sea fleet during the Crimean War.
I also believe that Pakenham was named after Lieutenant-Colonel Edward William Pakenham (1819 -1854) who was killed at Inkerman during the Crimean War. This has been disputed, but I stand by my research. You can read more about the naming of Pakenham, here.
Saturday, July 23, 2022
World War One Soldiers with a connection to Officer
The Officer Public Hall has an Honour Board from the First World War. It was unveiled on Saturday, November 16 1918, in front of a large gathering of residents, according to a report in the Pakenham Gazette. The report notes Like most districts in Victoria, Officer has done its share in providing men who were willing to go overseas to fight for the British flag, and to maintain that liberty and freedom so dear to every Britisher.....The Honor Roll, which was given by Mrs Brunt, sen., is of tasteful design and is constructed of Australian blackwood, on which the names have been painted in gold lettering. You can read the full report in the Pakenham Gazette of November 22, 1918, here. A supplementary report with some updated details, was published in the next edition of the Pakenham Gazette, here. There are 40 names on the Honour Board and ten of the men were killed whilst serving.
There is another memorial to soldiers in Officer and that is the War Memorial Gates at the Recreation Reserve. They were unveiled on November 11, 1951 (Armistice Day) in front a crowd between 300 to 400 people. This event was reported in the Pakenham Gazette of November 16, 1951. The plaques record the names of ten local men who died in the First World War and five who died in the Second World War.
What follows is a list of the First World War soldiers on the Honour Roll and Memorial gates, plus some others with an Officer connection, their fate (i.e. when they Returned to Australia after active service or when they were Killed in Action) and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au).
The book Officer Primary School, No. 2742 Centenary 1886 - 1986 written by Eileen Williams was very useful in helping to identify the soldiers and is referred to as the Officer Primary School book.
Beadel, Percival Thomas (SN 820) Percival enlisted on March 29, 1915 at the age of 19. He was a labourer and his next of kin was his mother, Mary Beadel (later Maybury), of Officer. Percival Died of Wounds on January 17, 1917 - he had suffered multiple gun shot wounds to the abdomen and thigh. Percy is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates. Percy is the cousin of Albert Moss, listed below.
Bell, Thomas Stanley (SN 3773) Thomas was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on August 12, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Bell, whose address was St Germains, Clyde. A notation on his file said that his father was 'not recognized'. Thomas Returned to Australia October 18, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds in January 1918 - Gun shot wound to the thorax. Thomas was also honoured at Cardinia in 1917 when a memorial grove of trees was planted at the Cardinia State School. You can read about this, here. He is also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Honour Board, see here.
Boase, Arthur Leslie (SN 7213) Arthur enlisted on August 2, 1915 at the age of 26 and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs H. Jolly of Garfield. He was discharged on September 16, 1915 due to suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. He re-enlisted in July 1916 for ‘home’ not active service, but was discharged again on November 7, 1916. Obviously he was very persistent as he enlisted for the third time on November 10, 1916. He was sent to England but Returned to Australia on September 27, 1917 and was discharged as medically unfit on February 1, 1918 as he suffered from bronchitis. At the time of the second enlistment he was living in Officer and by the time of the third enlistment he was married to Linda and still living in Officer. Arthur is also listed on the Garfield State School Honour Roll, see here.
Brown, P Cannot specifically find a P. Brown from Officer, although he is listed on the Honour Board. There is a Percy Brown (SN 2111) from Beaconsfield Upper and a Percy Brown (SN 7211) from Pakenham, so possibly one of those. I cannot find a Brown in the Electoral Roll at Officer nor is there a Brown listed in the list of pupils from Officer Primary School book, so Mr P. Brown is a bit of a mystery at the moment
Bromley, John (SN 1171)Bromley, Harold (SN 22094)
Bromley, Norman John (SN 20024)
John was 44 when he enlisted on May 4, 1917. He was a farrier and his enlistment papers said he had already served 394 days in the AIF, but had not served abroad. He was sent overseas but Returned to Australia March 16, 1918 suffering from bronchitis and pleurisy. John and his wife, Susan, were living at Officer when their two sons, Harold and Norman, enlisted. The boys both enlisted on June 28, 1915 - Harold was a 22 year old engine driver and Norman was a 19 year old farrier. Harold Returned to Australia June 21, 1919 and Norman in January 1920. Norman married Florence Louise Batchelor in England on August 27, 1919.
Brunt, Archibald Andrew (SN 101) Archibald enlisted January 11, 1915. He was a 21 year old farmer. Archie Returned to Australia December 18, 1918.
Brunt, Trevor William (SN 358) Trevor enlisted at the age of 24 on August 20, 1914. Lieutenant Brunt Returned to Australia March 5, 1919.
Archie and Trevor were the sons of William and Sarah (nee Buckland) Brunt. William was the son of Ralph and Mary Jane (nee Funston) Brunt of Gin Gin Bean, Officer.
Clements, John William Henry (SN 5995) John was a 26 year old teacher at Officer State School when he enlisted on June 10, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Robert, of North Fitzroy. John Returned to Australia September 25, 1919.
Davies, Alan Cathcart. Lieutenant Davies was 25 when he enlisted on July 8, 1915. Alan Died of Wounds on April 25, 1918. Alan is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates.
Davies, Basil Rayner (SN 804). Basil enlisted on February 25, 1916 at the age of 24. He Returned to Australia April 5, 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal. Alan and Basil were farmers from Officer working for Mr J. D. Patterson of Jesmond Dene, Officer. Their next of kin was their mother, Jessie, of Toorak.
Drummond, A. I don't know who this is, he is listed on the Honour Board. I cannot find him in the Electoral Roll at Officer nor is he on the list of pupils from Officer Primary School. I thought he might be connected to the family, below, but I cannot trace an A. Drummond with the parents listed below.
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. Daniel was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file, here. For some reason Daniel, is not on the Officer Honor Roll.Drummond, Walter Neil (SN 2571) Walter enlisted at the age of 18 on June 28, 1915. He was a Blacksmith. His next of kin was listed as his father, William, of Officer. Walter Returned to Australia April 13, 1919. Walter is also listed on the Nar Nar Goon Honour Board, see here.
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. William was also granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here. I presume he is the J. Drummond listed on the Honor Board.
Daniel, Walter and William are the sons of William and Margaret (nee Duncan) Drummond. Daniel was born in Mitta Mitta and William and Walter were born in the neighbouring town of Eskdale. I presume that William and Margaret moved from Officer to Harkaway in 1916.
Gregson, Arthur Henry (SN 1552) Arthur was born at Officer and he enlisted on October 6, 1914. He was a 30 year old bushman and his next of kin was his father of Fitzroy. Arthur Returned to Australia October 17, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds - DAH - Disordered action of the heart, a stress syndrome. [If you are looking for Arthur's Service Record on the National Archives of Australia website then they have his Service Number incorrectly listed as 1597]
Handley, C I cannot find a C. Handley with an local connection (or a Hanley in case the name was spelt incorrectly), nor can I find a Handley who went to school at Officer or a Handley at Officer in the Electoral Roll - so another mystery, even though he is listed in the Honour Roll.
Harris, Claud Alfred (SN 12451) Claud enlisted on February 2, 1916 at the age of 25. He was a mechanic. His next of kin was his mother, Rosetta Harris, of Edgevale, Beaconsfield Upper. Claud Returned to Australia February 5, 1920. His parents, Solomon and Rosetta Harris are in the Electoral Roll at Officer in 1909. Claud and his sisters Isa, Lucy, Marian, Ethel and May are listed as starting as pupils at the Officer State School between 1890 and 1900.
Heggart, Edward John (SN 3858) Edward enlisted on July 10, 1915 at the age of 22. His next of kin was H. Heggart - his father according to the Embarkation Rolls and his brother according to his enlistment paper. It was actually his brother Harry who was living at Officer at the time with his wife, Edith, according to the Electoral Rolls. Their parents were Thomas and Ellen Heggart. Edward was Wounded in Action (gun shot wound right leg and left forearm) in November 1916 and Returned to Australia December 4, 1918.
Hulett, Charles Franklin 'Frank' (SN 5690) Frank was born in Officer and was 26 year old electrician - an unusual occupation for the time, he worked at the City Council electric light supply- when he enlisted on March 23, 1916. His wife, Ivy, was his next of kin and her address was Chelsea. Frank was Killed in Action in France on August 9, 1918. According to the death notice, Frank and Ivy had two children 'little Charlie and Ivy'.
Hunter, A Another mystery person listed on the Honour Board. I cannot find a A. Hunter (or any Hunter for that matter) with an obvious local connection.
Johnson, Raymond James (SN 2013) Raymond was born at Officer but was living in Lilydale when he enlisted on March 16, 1917 at the age of 24. He was an Assistant Station Master. His next of kin was his father, James. Raymond Returned to Australia July 1, 1919.
Johnston, William (SN 4740) Incorrectly listed as Johnstone on the Honour Board and the Memorial Gates at the Recreation Reserve. William, born at Bacchus Marsh, was 43 when he enlisted on February 1, 1916 and his next of kin was his wife, May, of Officer. William was Killed in Action in France on November 12, 1916. William is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates.
Kenworthy, Lindsay (SN 1816) Lindsay was 19, an assistant salesman, when he enlisted on March 21, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Ben, of Officer. His Dad later changed his address to Mansfield House, Berwick. Lindsay was Wounded in Action in September 1917 - a gun shot wound to his right leg which was amputated. He Returned to Australia December 13, 1918.
Lecky, James Alexander (SN 19922) James enlisted on February 25, 1916 at the age of 25. He died of 'wounds received in action' in France on November 14, 1918. The wound was a gun shot wound to the chest, which he sustained on October 25 1918.
Lecky, William Mervyn (SN 6612) William enlisted on June 15, 1915 aged 20. He was killed in Action in France on September 1, 1918.
James and William were the sons of James Lecky of Cardinia Park in Officer. James (1841 -1939) was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1876 until 1905. Their grandfather, also James (1802 - 1884) had taken up the Gin Gin Bean Run (later named Cardinia Park) at Officer in 1846 and he was a member of the Cranbourne Road Board and the Cranbourne Shire from 1860 until 1881. Lecky Road in Officer/Pakenham is named for the family. The boys are also listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, see here; the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates and are also listed on the Cardinia State School Honor Board and were honoured by a tree in the Memorial Grove planted at the School, see here.
Lever, Harry (SN 2833) Harry was 21 and a farmer from Officer, when he enlisted on October 31, 1916. His next of kin was his sister, Nellie, of South Yarra. Harry Returned to Australia August 27, 1919.
Maxwell, Henry Charles Kempson (SN 1923) Henry enlisted on February 16, 1917 at the age of 26. He was a grazier. He Returned to Australia May 6, 1919. When Henry enlisted his next of kin was his wife Eileen Josephine Maxwell, c/o G. Tavener, Kerang and Henry's address was Moondah Park, Longreach in Queensland. However on another page of his enlistment papers his address is Luckham, Officer. Henry is listed in the Electoral Roll at Cardinia in 1914 with a Harriet Lucy Maxwell. Harriet was his mother, he married Eileen (nee Tavener) in 1917.
McMahon, John Peter Daniel Muldrick (SN 4151) John and his siblings, Eileen, Leslie and Albert are listed in the Officer Primary School book. As the book calls him Jack, that's what we will call him. Jack enlisted on October 15, 1914 according to the Nominal Roll, October 15, 1915 according to the Embarkation roll or January 18, 1916 according to his date on his 'oath of enlistment' in his service record. Jack embarked March 7, 1916. He was a 20 year old carpenter when he enlisted. Jack Returned to Australia September 25, 1919. His parents were John and Mary Ann (nee Muldrick). Mary Ann died in 1912, her death is registered at Berwick.
Moss, Albert (SN 6150) Albert was 18, a labourer, when he enlisted on August 27, 1915. His address was Officer, he was living with his aunt, Mary Maybury, but his next of kin was his father who lived in London. Mary Maybury is the mother of Percival Beadel, listed above. Albert married Kathleen Abram on May 5, 1919 before he Returned to Australia July 26, 1919.
Nichols, A Not sure who this is - I cannot find an A. Nichols (or Nichol, Nicholls, Nicholl, Nicols, Nicol etc ) with a connection to Officer or neighbouring towns. Nor is there a Nichols listed in the Officer Primary School book or a likely candidate in the Electoral Rolls, so Mr Nichols, listed on the Honour Board, remains a mystery at the moment.
O'Brien, Henry James (SN 3369) There is a Henry James O'Brien in the 1914 Electoral Roll at Officer, occupation Railway employee, so based on this information I decided that serviceman No. 3369 was 'our man' and this was confirmed by a letter in his file from his wife in February 1919 to Base Records, asking where her husband was. Mrs H.J. O'Brien's address was Officer, Gippsland. Henry enlisted on July 13, 1915, he was an Assistant Station Master, born in Kensington and his next of kin was his father, John, of Flemington. Henry Returned to Australia January 25, 1919, so he was on the boat when Mrs James wrote her letter.
Osborne, James Patrick (SN 2733) James was 36 when he enlisted on August 2, 1915. He was Killed in Action in France on August 19, 1916. James' next of kin was his mother, Bridget, of 'Lower Beaconsfield' - I hadn't heard of Lower Beaconsfield before, I presume it was to distinguish the town on the railway line from Upper Beaconsfield and not a location south of Beaconsfield, but as it is next to Officer, I believe I have the right person. James is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates.
Peterson, Oscar Frederick (SN 12407) Oscar was 43 when he enlisted on May 2, 1916. He had been born in Sweden, was a storekeeper and the father of Frederick. Oscar Returned to Australia March 25, 1919. Fred and Oscar's next of kin was their mother/wife Elizabeth, of the General Store, Officer. Oscar and Elizabeth are in the 1914 Electoral Roll at Officer and they obviously operated the General Store together. Their employee, Leonard Whittney, also enlisted in the War, see below.
Pryor, William Alfred Ernest (SN 26734) William was obviously known as Ernest, so that's what we will call him. The 1914 Electoral Roll had an Ernest and Mary Jane Pryor listed at Officer in 1914, so I knew what the Officer connection was, it just took some time to find his service record under William. Ern enlisted on January 3, 1916 at the age of 29. He had listed his next of kin as his daughter, Violet, but his brother Thomas of Warwick in Queensland was also listed because Violet was a child. Mary Jane had died August 14, 1915 and Violet was their only child. Violet was born in 1907, had enrolled at Officer State School in 1913 and her guardian was Mrs Ellen Wilding of Canterbury. Sadly, Ern was Killed in Action in France on April 8, 1917. Ern is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates, although his name is incorrectly listed as Prior.
Rix, Henry James (SN 10918) Henry, a farmer, enlisted on July 19, 1915 at the age of 29. His next of kin was his father, Henry John Rix, of Fairview, Officer. Henry Returned to Australia May 25, 1919, but before he returned he married Mabel Hill in Liverpool, on May 8, 1919. They were both 35 years old at the time (which doesn't tally with his age at enlistment, but never mind) and he was listed as being a widower. Rix Road in Officer is named for the family.
Sackett, Edmond Herbert (SN 1138) Edmond was a 19 year old farmer when he enlisted on June 20, 1915. His next of kin was his mother who lived in Kent in England. He worked on a farm at Officer, Luckham, the same property as Harry Maxwell, listed above. Edmond was Killed in Action in France on October 8, 1918.
Skellett, Albert John Kempson (SN 997) As he is listed as K. Skellett, I presume he was called Kempson (his mother's maiden name), so this is what we will call him. Kempson enlisted on February 24, 1915 at the age of 26. He was a farm manager and his next of kin was his mother, Mary, of Clunes. Kempson Died of Wounds on April 20, 1917, having being shot in the abdomen. What was the connection to Officer? I don't know, but he is the only Skellett on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial; he was born in Picton in New South Wales and between 1914 and 1917 he is listed in the Electoral Rolls at Clunes, as a battery employee. I am presuming he managed a farm in the area. Kempson is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates.
Waldon, H There are two H. Waldons who enlisted - Harold Victor, a printer from New South Wales and who enlisted in N.S.W and Harry Mansfield a 21 year old horse driver, who was born in Western Australia and enlisted in W.A. Neither of them seem likely candidates to be on the Officer Honour board. There are also no H. Waldrons that I can find with an Officer connection, the Electoral Rolls were no help, so this man is another mystery.
Were, Clive Wellington (SN 521) Clive enlisted on August 17, 1914 at the age of 25 and was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. His next of kin was his father, who lived in Hawksburn, in Melbourne and as we can see by his obituary, below, he had a farm at Officer. Clive is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates.
Whiteside, Thomas Clair (SN 2821) Known as Clair. Clair was born in California and his father was the Presbyterian Minister at Berwick. Clair was a 21 year old orchardist when he enlisted on July 17, 1915. He Returned to Australia December 4, 1918. The family lived on Whiteside Road at Officer or Beaconsfield Lower as it was sometimes listed in his service record. Thomas went back to the family farm after the War and was also a Shire of Berwick Councillor for ten years. Thomas' daughter, Elizabeth, has complied her father's letters and they were published as A Valley in France : World War I letters to his parents and sister while on Active Service from Egypt, France and Great Britain, 1915-1918.
Whittney, Leonard James (SN 3935) Leonard enlisted on July 22, 1915 at the age of 35. His occupation was storekeeper. Leonard was born in Kapunda in South Australia and his next of kin was his father, who also lived in South Australia. Leonard Died of Wounds (compound fracture of the skull) on February 13, 1917. What was his connection to Officer? Leonard worked at the Peterson's store (see Fred and Oscar Peterson's entry above) and this is confirmed by a letter Elizabeth Peterson wrote to Army Records asking for an address for Leonard and she wrote inter alia he enlisted from our house in Officer. Leonard is also listed on the Officer Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates, although his name is incorrectly listed as Whitney.
Williams, Thomas Henry (SN 5776) Thomas was born at Officer, attended Clyde State School, and enlisted on February 14, 1916 at the age of 26. He was a farm labourer and his next of kin was his mother, Sarah Ridgway, of Clyde. Thomas died on April 18, 1917 when he was a Prisoner of War, held by the Germans.
Woods, Frederick (SN 5773) Frederick enlisted on March 14, 1916. He was 25 year old sawyer and his next of kin was his wife, Hazel. Fred was born at Officer. He Returned to Australia January 25, 1919.
A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Columnar Basalt at Narre Warren North
Max Thomson, published this photograph of Columnar Basalt at Narre Warren North, in his book Little Hills 1839-1977. Sadly, these impressive and interesting basalt columns have been destroyed, but I have found some information about them.
Information from Little Hills 1839-1977 compiled by Max Thomson on behalf of the State School No.1901 Centenary Committee (Narre Warren North State School Centenary Committee, 1977) pages 45 & 46.
Mr Thomson wrote this about the basalt columns -
On the north side of a'Beckett Road was once a fine example of columnar basalt. The late Mr Crsobie Morrison a well known field naturalist and also editor of "Wild Life and Outdoors' visited the area in 1943. An illustrated article appeared in the magazine later.
Mr Morrison wrote as follows: "On a peaceful dairy farm we found a hole in the hillside by a clump of gum trees and wild cherry, and a wall remaining in parts as true as any mason ever dressed a stone. At the end of the wall was a pillar - an absolutely regular six-sided pillar built in sections as any pillar might be: part of it still standing in its original position, but other sections which fitted accurately and were dressed to the same regular outline lay strewn about the floor of the depression"
"The remains of the wall were particularly striking. The rectangular stone which composed it were enormous; probably it would require half a dozen men to lift one of them. And instead of being laid horizontally, their greatest dimension was vertical. Between them was a mortar almost as hard as the rocks themselves. Whoever said that these were ancient ruins could scarcely be blamed for his conclusion. The similarity to human handiwork is most convincing."
"In spite of their convincing resemblance to the handiwork of man these relics, it seem are examples of Natures' craftsmanship. The rock of which they are composed was once molten lava pouring from some ancient volcano long extinct."
"Their form is sufficient evidence in itself that this was once a thick lava flow, which extended over Narre Warren North and away beyond Berwick."
"Then there is the puzzling 'mortar'. This does not seem to be a general feature of columnar basalt formations. In the case of these ruins it is probably due to the weathering and cementation over very long ages."
"The Sydenham Organ Pipes are a comparatively recent formation - they belong to the Newer Basalt series in Victoria, or Pleistocene age. The Narre Warren North example is Older Basalt, of the Lower Tertiary. Much more time has elapsed here to permit the washing of minerals into cracks between the columns, and the deposition of the minerals out of solution to form a secondary rock that serves as a 'mortar.' It is just what was needed to give the final touch of realism to the spectacular natural phenomenon."
Information from Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts - Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield, Harkaway, Narre Warren and Narre Warren North, complied by Norman Beaumont, James Curran and R.H Hughes, 3rd edition (Rotary Club of Berwick, 1979) pages 101 & 102
The book Early Days of Berwick, first published in 1948, has this to say about the columnar basalt -To geologists, and also of general interest, is the spectacular natural phenomenon which occurs in Cr. George Rae's property, of columnar basalt. This was the subject of a very interesting illustrated article on "Wild Life' magazine of June 1943 , by Mr Crosbie Morrison. "Dr A.V.G James, the recognised authority on the volcanic rock formations of Victoria, sets out that the rock of which this is composed was once molten lava pouring from some ancient volcano, long extinct. Volcanic lavas, on cooling, assume many different forms, and sometimes the flow of lava has remained intact and very thick. The evidence is that this was once a thick lava flow which extended over Narre Warren and away beyond Berwick. As it cooled it formed a solid crust above, beneath, and at the sides and ends of the mass. Solid rock being a poor conductor of heat, the interior cools slowly, once the initial crust has been formed. The outer crust, as it cools, tends to contract, but is not flexible. As it contracts, something has to give way, and the rock, being fine grained and homogeneous, the stresses are distributed evenly through it, so that when it finally gives way, the cracks occur at regular distances in every direction, the final result being, when all the rock is hardened and cooled, a series of hexagonal columns, not all vertical, but extending from the periphery of the molten mass and meeting at the centre."
The Narre Warren North example belongs to the older basalt series of formation in Victoria of the Lower Tertiary Age. The same formation occurs at the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, the Tesselated Pavement and Organ Pipes of Southern Tasmania, and the Organ Pipes of Sydenham, Victoria - thus Narre Warren North has a formation of uncommon interest.
Information from Volcanoes: An Introduction to Systematic Geomorphology Volume 6 by Cliff Ollier (Australian National University, 1969) Available on-line at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/115134/2/b1032284x.pdf
Image: Volcanoes: An Introduction to Systematic Geomorphology Volume 6 by Cliff Ollier
The top photo is captioned 'Lava Flow at Narre Warren, Victoria, showing lower colonnade with vertical columns, a central entablature, with curved columns and an upper scoriaccous zone without columns (A.A. Baker) The photo at the bottom is The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, as mentioned in the Early Days of Berwick book.
This photo from Cliff Ollier's book referred to above is the only other reference I could find regarding Columnar Basalt in the Narre Warren area. I don't believe these are the same columns as in the photo above - so there must have been more than one example of the phenomenon in the area. Do any still remain?
When were they destroyed?Mr Thomson's book, published in 1977, says there was once a fine example of columnar basalt. The photo in his book is dated 1960, so the destruction date range would be sometime between 1960 and 1977. What of the example published in Mr Ollier's book in 1969? I don't know if they still exist, but I doubt it, or when they were destroyed.
A version of this post, which I wrote and researched and which I am quite fond of, first appeared in my work blog Casey Cardinia Links to our Past.