Thursday, August 11, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

Victorian Mounted Rifles leaving for the Boer War. Photo taken in 
Market Street in Melbourne. Photographer: Lewis F. East. 
State Library of Victoria Image H28378

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

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


Donald Bain of Berwick, promoted to Lieutenant
South Bourke & Mornington Journal November 6, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70047917

Barnes, John Christopher.   Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 346).
Enlisted in the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. There was a report in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal of June 5, 1901 (see here), about the Dandenong meeting of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows where Br. Chris Barnes was welcomed on his safe return from South Africa and at the event he gave a few of his experiences at the Front. I am assuming that Br Chris Barnes and John Christopher Barnes are the same man and I have no other information about him.  As  a matter of interest, he enlisted the same time as Alfred Hillman, below, who is SN 352.

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


Procession of the Victorian Contingent of armed forces to the South African War, along Spring Street, Melbourne, 28 October 1899.  Photographer: E.J. Frazer 
State Library of Victoria Image H36420/42


Davies, Arnold Mercer.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 454).
Enlisted in the Victorian [Citizen] Bushmen.  Arnold was the son of Sir Matthew Davies - the first Australian born Speaker of the Victorian Parliament (4). Arnold had a letter about his experience of fighting in South Africa, published in The Argus on September 14, 1900 (see here) - this is the start of his letter-
We are camped now - that is 20 of our division - on a large kopje, about a mile from our old camp, on the Water Hill Fort, and it looks as if we were going to have fairly easy times for a day or two, and I think we could all do with a rest. I suppose you have heard by now that we had a go with the Boers last Sunday, and I think even the most sanguinary amongst us had enough fighting then to do them for a day or two. The wonder is that any of us came through alive; as it is, there are four killed and 21 wounded and missing.

 I am not actually sure how he is connected to this region, however Arnold and Alfred Robinson were welcomed home at a function at the Narre Warren North Mechanics' Institute on Friday, February 22, 1901, so I presume he was farming in the area. There was a report of the welcome home in the  South Bourke & Mornington Journal of  February 27, 1901 (see here) -
It is hardly possible that at any country town within the colony such a handsome welcome home was extended to our returned soldiers as that which took place at the Mechanics Institute, Narre Warren North, Friday night last.

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

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

Elmes, John Turner. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, listed as Elms. (SN 51).
John served with the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, where he attained the rank of Lance-Corporal. John was the son of the late Dr Elmes of Berwick who had served the Berwick community from around 1870 until his death in 1893, at the age of 54. Early Days of Berwick says that Dr Elmes also treated cases at Brandy Creek [Warragul] thirty five miles away, being their nearest Doctor.  When John returned from South Africa, he managed various farms in the Western District, including Terang where he died in 1945, aged 69. John's brothers, Frederick and Herbert served in World War One; Herbert was Killed in Action in France on November 5, 1916.


Welcome home for John Elms and Arthur Ogilvy.

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


Welcome home to Hugh Esler
Lang Lang Guardian October 11, 1902, p. 2


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

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

The Herald 'World of Sport' column of July 20, 1900 (see here) published a letter from Charles Searle (listed below) about life in South Africa and he mentioned John Gardiner -
Though they have to take their share of shot and shell the boys in South Africa manage to find time for football. A Berwick boy with the Tasmanian contingent has sent an account of a match to Mr. Searle of Berwick, and Mr Searle has very kindly forwarded It to me. It is as follows:— "A most interesting and exciting combat took place to-day between the Tasmanian and South Australian Bushmen Contingents on the eve of the departure of the Tassies for Bulawayo, resulting in a win for the Tassies by 6 points, Stanworth (capt.) and Sergeant Gardner of Berwick, both Victorians, being conspicuous for Tasmania, and Wilson, Roberts and Kerr for South Australia."

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

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

Boer War Nominal Roll entry.

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

Alfred spent most of his life in Pakenham, involved in many community groups and his obituary in the Pakenham Gazette (8) said that he had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service 
  
Leggett, Sid. Not listed in the Boer War Nominal Roll. 
Sid joined Robert's Light Horse in South Africa with Donald Bain. The boys were both from Berwick, and I have no other information about him.



Report of Don Bain and Sid Leggatt from South Africa
South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 18, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70046016


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


Report of a letter Malcolm sent to his parents.


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


John Crisop Morris
 originally published in The Queenslander, 31 May 1902


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


Captain Ogilvy pays a visit to Berwick, after he returned home from World War One
South Bourke & Mornington Journal May 29, 1919. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66196124


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


Corporal Jago at Harold Ordish's send-off. 
Corporal Jago had served in the Crimean War, see here.
South Bourke & Mornington Journal October 25, 1899 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70022299


News about Harold Ordish

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

Pritchard, George.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 305)
Served with the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. Note in the Nominal Roll - Returned Victoria 5/1/01; reported fit; Returned to South Africa and rejoined 4/4/01. George and his wife, Janet, are listed in the Electoral Roll from 1908 at Lang Lang East, until around 1919 when they moved to Neerim. George also served in World War One (SN 433). He enlisted on September 11, 1915 at the age of 47, his address was Yannathan, which is just east of Lang Lang. See his World War One Personnel Dossier, here.

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


Alfred Robinson, 'invalided home'


Searle, Charles John.  Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 390)
Served in the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. Note in the nominal roll - Discharged in South Africa, 5.8.02.  Charles was the son of Henry Searle, of Berwick. Henry was a Blacksmith and operated from the corner of High Street and Wheeler Street from around 1860. Charles Searle had a long letter he wrote to his parents from South Africa published in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, on August 22 and August 29, 1900 (see here and here). This is the first paragraph - 
It is a long time since I last wrote, but you will understand that it is a bit hard to get a letter written out here. We got into harbor at Beira on the 23rd of May, but we were not allowed to land until the 2nd of June. We saw a great number of flying fish the day before we got in, and it was a pretty sight. We were met out side by the man-of-war "Partridge," and conducted into the bay in great style. The water is very shallow and dirty; and everything is very dear at Beira, cocoa nuts 9d, bananas 1s, jam 1/6 half-lb. tin, bread 6d small loaf. A number of the men got fever and dysentry whilst there, but none of the cases were very severe, and all recovered in a few days. I have kept in grand health throughout, and not at all afraid of catching fever as I am not fat. 
Early Days of Berwick, noted that Charles remained to reside in South Africa at the conclusion of hostilities. 

Shreeve, James William. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 663)
Served in the 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.  His Attestation paper for service in South Africa, has been digitised, see it here. It lists his address as Oakhill farm, Garfield.  James was a professional soldier and also served in the First World War; enlisting in the A.I.F., at the age of 36, with the rank of Lieutenant.  His parents were William and Emma (nee Daniels) Shreeve, of Mount Marshall, Garfield. See his World War One Personnel Dossier, here.

Towt, Arthur Edward. Boer War Nominal Roll, here, (SN 2387)
Served in the 4th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. His Attestation paper for service in South Africa, has been digitised, see it here. It tells us that he was born in Broadford, enlisted on February 11, 1902 at the age of 20, that he was a station hand and his next of kin was his mother, S. Towt, of 23 Liddiard Street, Glenferrie. In the 1962 'Back to Garfield' souvenir booklet,  local historian, Bill Parish, has a history of the town, decade by decade. In the 1901-10 decade he notes Several Boer War veterans took up properties including Mr A. Towt, at Garfield North (11). Arthur established an orchard on his property, there was an interesting article about this orchard in the Weekly Times in 1939, read  it here. later carries on by his sons. Arthur married had Margaret Brew in 1908,  they had seven children and he died on August 3, 1954. 

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

Footnotes
(1) Early Days of Berwick and its surrounding districts, compiled by Norman E. Beaumont, James F. Curran and R.H. Hughes (3rd edition published by Rotary, 1979). The book was originally published in 1948.
(2) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks: a history of the Shire of Berwick (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982)
(3) Donald Bain's Boer War service - South Bourke and Mornington Journal July 18, 1900 says he enlisted in the Robert's Light Horse, see hereSouth Bourke & Mornington Journal November 6, 1901 says he joined Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, see here;  his World War One Personnel Dossier says he also served in the Kaffarian Rifles, see here
(4) Matthew Davies - see his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
(5) This information is from Mrs Gamble's short obituary was in the Dandenong Journal, January 12, 1944, see here
(6) Gardiner Family -  the sons of James and Mary (nee Church) Gardiner, who had married in 1870. They lived in Brisbane Street, Berwick. 
Gardiner, John James (SN 1651) John enlisted at the age of 44 on May 11, 1916. His occupation was Civil Engineer and Surveyor and his next of kin was his wife, Mary Ann, of Berwick. Mary is called Matilda and Moya in some sources. John Returned to Australia August 24, 1918. John had also served in the Boer War, he was part of the 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen and was Mentioned in Commander-in-Chief's Despatches on April 2, 1901. John was a Shire Engineer in New South Wales and Queensland and after his retirement in 1935 he returned to Berwick and was elected as a Shire of Berwick Councillor. You can read his obituary in the Dandenong Journal of January 9, 1946, here.
Gardiner, George Peter (SN 4401) George enlisted on January 5, 1916. He was 37 years old, his occupation was Slaughterman and his address was Cockatoo Creek, a previous name for Cockatoo. George's next of kin was his father, James, and he Returned to Australia April 10, 1919.
Gardiner, Ernest Edward (SN 48) Ernest enlisted on August 22, 1914 at the age of 27. He was a farmer and he enlisted in New South Wales. He was reported as being 'dangerously ill' and invalided to Australia July 31, 1915 and medically discharged June 6, 1916. Ernest is incorrectly listed on the Embarkation Roll as Gardener.
Gardiner, Clarence Eustace (SN 4707) Clarence enlisted on August 7, 1915. He was a 23 year old fireman, working for the Victorian Railways. His father was his next of kin. Clarence was Wounded in Action - gun shot wound left ankle and compound fracture right thigh. Clarence was discharged on medical grounds on April 9, 1918.
Sadly, for James and Mary Gardiner, even though their four sons survived, two of their grandsons did not, Frederick and Edward, who were the sons of Amelia Gardiner and her husband, Justin Sibert, did not return.
Sibert, Frederick John (SN 3482) Frederick was born in Berwick and living in Blackbutt in Queensland when he enlisted at the age of 22 on October 18, 1916. He was a timber-getter. His next of kin was his mother, Amelia, of Yarloop in Western Australia. Frederick Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France, on October 10, 1917.
Sibert, Edward Justin (SN 4551, listed in NAA as 4557) Edward was born in Collie in Western Australia and was 18 when he enlisted on March 1, 1916. His mother was his next of kin. Edward was Killed in Action, sometime between November 3 and November 6, 1916
(7) Sir General John Monash's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry (see here) written by Geoffrey Searle, said that although Monash was a member of the North Melbourne Battery of the Metropolitan Brigade of the Garrison Artillery, he did not volunteer for and was not invited to take part in the South African War. Possibly, Alfred may have served under Monash in the Garrison Artillery before he went to South Africa.
(8) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947.
(9) Probate notice for John Crisop Morris, which gives us some idea of his death date.



(10) Brennan, Niall Chronicles of Dandenong (Hawthorn Press, 1973), p. 125.
(11) Parish, Bill Back to Garfield, 1887-1962 souvenir booklet (Back to Garfield Committee, 1962), p. 9.  

Friday, August 5, 2022

Floral bordered postcards of Melbourne

These are part of my postcard collection - a series of views of Melbourne with a pretty border of 
native flowers. The views are a fairly standard, and seen on other postcards. I am sure the addition of the border was just a marketing exercise to encourage the purchase of more postcards to fuel the postcard collection craze of c.1904 to the start of the First World War. The marketing tactic clearly worked, because over 100 years later I bought these from Ebay. I have another pretty series of Melbourne postcards - ones with a forget-me-not flower decorated horseshoe, you can see these here

Treasury Gardens, Melbourne


Treasury Gardens, Melbourne.
I have written about the Treasury Gardens, here on  a post about Postcards 
connected to Carlo Catani.
The postcard has not been used.  


Princes Bridge Melbourne


Princes Bridge, Melbourne.
This bridge was opened October 1888. Carlo Catani was the assistant engineer on the project, 
for the Public Works Department, read about this here.  
Carlo also designed the Alexandra Gardens, read about them, here

Postmark: North Melbourne, stamp removed.
Address: Miss Ella Baigent, East Takaka, Nelson New Zealand.
Text: Chapman Street 12.5.07. Thanks very much for your very pretty view. Can you send me any of your public buildings, churches etc. I am collecting a representative book of buildings and would 
be so pleased if you could. Hope you are quite well. Fond love, Fanny M. Fidler.


Princes Bridge, Melbourne, verso.

Ella Baigent - An Ella Millicent Baigent was born in New Zealand in 1878 and an Ella May Baigent was born there in 1888. Either of them may the recipient of the postcard, but more likely the older one.

Fanny M. Fidler, Chapman Street, North Melbourne  - Fanny Mary Fidler as born in Wangaratta in 1878 to Joseph and Elizabeth (nee Ramsay) Fidler. She was the fifth of their eight children, who were all born between 1869 and 1889; her siblings were all born in Melbourne, Carlton or North Melbourne. The family lived at 24 Chapman Street and her father, who was a miller, was accidently drowned  at Cumberoona in New South Wales on March 30, 1898 at the age of 65.  Elizabeth died two years later, aged 55.  In the 1903 Electoral Roll, Fanny (occupation, home duties) was living at 24 Chapman Street with her brothers, John and Joseph.  

Fanny married William George Iffland, an Accountant, in 1908. In the 1909 Electoral Roll they were at 21 Victoria Road, Auburn. Sadly, it turns out that William was already married and he pleaded guilty to bigamy in a trial at the Supreme Court in April 1911. His lawful wife,  Rosa, whom he married in 1890 and had four children with, was still alive and living in Princes Hill. He was sentenced to eighteen months in gaol, the Judge noting that he had ruined the young woman with who he went through a second form of marriage, but he had also ruined the prospects of his own wife. In the 1914 to 1936 Electoral Rolls Fanny was listed at 83 Wright Street, Middle Park, still under the name of Iffland; her brother John Fidler was listed at the same address. Fanny died in 1943, aged 64. (1)


Melbourne from Fire Station Tower


Melbourne from Fire Station Tower. 
The fire station, located on the corner of Victoria and Gisborne Streets, 
was opened November 3, 1893. 

Postmark: Wycheproof August 17, 1906
Address: Miss Dot Skinner, Training College Carlton Melbourne 
Text: Dear Dot, you might relieve my most anxious mind as to the bruises. Have you heard from Roy? My boss man is leaving me in charge for  a few days as his mother is dying so he's going to Maryboro.  Farewell social to Rene Currie last night got home at 1.15 Monday and Euchre + dance (humiliation) and send off to the Kinahans who are going to Sale. Many kind regrets that you were absent last night. Love from ?


Melbourne from Fire Station Tower, verso.

Dot Skinner - I have no other information about Dorothy. I assume she was undertaking teacher training, as the Teacher's Training College was in Grattan Street, Carlton, and thought she may have been found in the Teacher Records (1863-1959, Series 13579) at the Public Records Office of Victoria  but she is not listed. 
Rene Currie - is likely to be Florence Irene Currie born in 1888 to John and Margaret (nee Quihampton). She was born in Moliagul, but her siblings Evelyn Mary (1889), Olive May (1891), John Gilbert (1894), and Wilfred Roy (1896) were born in Wycheproof. Rene died in Sydney on December 29, 1951. 
The Kinahans - the 1906 Electoral Rolls have  a Kate, Kathleen Frances and Walter Patrick at Wycheproof  - Walter is a railway ganger; Kathleen is a dressmaker and Kate is listed as home duties. In the 1909 Electoral Rolls Kate and Walter are listed at Wurruk Wurruk, just west of Sale. Kathleen married Eustace Leonard Wheare in 1906, a Wycheproof local. (2).


Federal Government House - Melbourne


Federal Government House - Melbourne
Government House, was built between 1872 and 1876, for the use of the Governor of the Colony 
of Victoria. After Federation, between1901 and 1926, it was the residence of Governor General 
of Australia
Source: Victorian Heritage Database, see here.

Postmark: Rupanyup, June 5 1907
Address:  Miss Wade 219 Cardigan Street Carlton  
Text: 4.6.07   Dear Daph, I thought you know a style to suit the stuff. I shall be pleased with what ever way you make it. Love Aunt Pat (?)  


Federal Government House - Melbourne, verso

The first reference to Daphne Wade in the Electoral Rolls was in 1909 at Rupanyup. Her occupation was home duties, but it appears she may have been  a dressmaker, either by profession or a talented amateur, going by the postcard. Daphne Florence Wade married Louis Sylvester Crawford, a bootmaker, in 1913. They had three children - Leonard Lewis (1914), Winifred Lucy (1917) and Alfred Derrick (1918).  The family lived at addresses in North Fitzroy and Preston and then at 20 Wales Street, Northcote. Daphne died in 1928, aged 45 - a tragic event as the children were only 14, 11 and ten years old;  Louis died in 1937 aged 61.

Daphne was the daughter of  Alfred and Martha (nee Derrick) Wade. Alfred and Martha are in the 1909 Electoral Roll at Lallat, just north east of Rupanyup and are later living in Rupanyup.  Martha died January 26, 1951 at Rapunyup; Alfred had already passed on. Their children were listed in the death notice as - Daphne, Alfred, Lucy, Rupert, Dorothy, Ellen, Beatrice and Bertha (3). 


Botanical Gardens, Melbourne. The building is Government House. 
This postcard has not been used.


Footnotes
(1) Information about Ella Baigent and Fanny Mary Fidler from the New Zealand and Victorian 
Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Joseph Fidler's death notice - The Age, April 2, 1898, see here ; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry. Reports of William Fidler's Bigamy case - The Age, May 13, 1911, see here; The Herald, April 20, 1911, see here; Ballarat Star, April 14, 1911, see here.
(2) Information about Dot Skinner, Rene Currie and the Kinahans from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry. Rene Currie's sister's (Evelyn Young) obituary in the Dubbo Liberal of December 16, 1944, see here told me she was in Sydney and her 
death notice was in the Sydney Morning Herald, January 3, 1952, see here.
(3) Information about Daphne Wade - Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.

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 Berwick
I 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.


Tom Drummond's obituary
Berwick Shire News June 23, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92089405

I found this in Punch of May 14, 1914 and I believe the article must be about Tom and Mary Drummond - An interesting presentation was made to Lady Stanley during her visit to Beaconsfield last week. This was an old Crimean veteran, as far as is known, the only surviving one in this part of the world. His wife, an elderly lady, who was also present the same afternoon, came in for much attention. She was one of Florence Nightingale's nurses, and pursued her work of healing through the horrors of the Crimean War also. The old gentleman is eighty-five, and his wife is seventy-five. The old lady was very worried because her husband had been presented to Lady Stanley whilst she had not, and "e'll be crowing over me, too, and I've got something interesting to tell Her Ladyship." Later in the afternoon the second presentation was duly made, and Lady Stanley was very interested to hear that her grandmother was also one of the volunteer nurses who went out with Florence Nightingale. When the guests departed the old couple were left happily hand in hand comparing notes over the events of the afternoon, both looking well and happy, in spite of the fact that the old lady had been operated on only six weeks ago (8).

William Fist of Lyndhurst
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.


Death notice of William Fist, Crimean War veteran
The Argus February 16, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1736766


Obituary of William Fist
Frankston and Somerville Standard, February 25, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75948196

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.

Veterans of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny Wars - William Fist is seated on the right.
Weekly Times November 20, 1909. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221824966
 

Alfred West of Darnum
In 1907 The Argus reported on a Crimean War veteran from Darnum, Mr Alfred West -
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. 

"Oh, that was a mad charge," said the old veteran, in the course of conversation with a representative of 'The Argus" this afternoon "The men and horses were mown down like wheat before the sickle. But Lord Raglan was a grand warrior, for all that," and as the old man spoke he pointed with pride to a picture of his regiment hanging on the wall. He enjoys an Imperial pension of 1/- per day, but is in very feeble health. He and his wife, who is over 80 years of age, live in a little hut near the township of Darnum, about three miles from Warragul. West served in the Turkish war as well as the Crimea. The day (Saturday) fixed for the dinner is inconvenient, as the old men living in the country think they will have to remain in Melbourne over Sunday, to which they manifest a decided objection. (13)

Alfred died the next year, 1908, aged  78


Alfred West of Darnum - a  Crimean War veteran
The Argus November 19, 1907 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10133927


Edward Mills of Warragul
In 1924, Edward Mills, a Crimean War veteran passed away, at Warragul, which is two stops west of Darnum along the railway line. This is his short obituary from The Argus of February 7, 1924 -
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). 


Obituary of Edward Mills, Crimean War veteran
The Argus, February 7, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1939117


Charles James Jago of Springvale
Crimean War veteran, Charles James Jago, died February 1, 1914 at the age of 77. He had been Mayor of Richmond on three occasions and then left Richmond and retired to his handsome country residence at Springvale (15). His property was called Richmond Grange. Mr Jago was the Shire President of Dandenong 1895/96 and 1901/02 (16) His obituary in the Dandenong Advertiser of February 5, 1914 mentioned his life in Richmond and his time on the Richmond Council and had this to say about his experience in the Crimean War -
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).

Death notice of Charles Jago

Charles Jago's death notice mentions his daughters, Letitia, Clavinia and Millie. When he was  the Mayor of Richmond  he was presented with a silver cradle to celebrate the birth of one of his children (18). 

William John Ward of Hastings
William John Ward of Hastings died at the Austin Hospital on September 13, 1912 (19). This obituary appeared in the Border Morning Mail, an Albury newspaper, showing the interest that the broader community had in these veterans - 
A Crimean veteran, Mr. William Ward, died on Saturday, at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne, at the age of 75 years. Deceased was born in Surrey, England, and served right through the Crimean war in the British Navy, on board H.M.S. Albion, and took part in the shore attacks with the naval brigades, under Lord Edward Russell, at the Crimea, and Lord Charles Napier in the Baltic, and was wounded at the siege of Helsingfors. Settling in Victoria in the fifties, he resided at Hastings for 44 years, and served as quartermaster sergeant in the Hastings battery for fourteen years (20). 


Obituary of William Ward
Border Morning Mail, September 20, 1912 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/111406726


Joseph Edward Hughes of Iona
I have found one local connection to the Boxer Rebellion.  Joseph Edward Hughes, who was born in 1861, was part of the Victorian Naval Contingent (21).  Joseph had married Elizabeth Anna McDonald in 1887 in Sydney. His occupation on his marriage certificate was ship's mate (22). The couple moved to Victoria where their children were born - Edward Dominick, 1889 and registered at Collingwood; Emma Augusta, 1890, Collingwood; Elizabeth Anna, 1892, Carlton; Joseph Edward, 1894, Koo Wee Rup;  Neil Alexander, 1896, Bunyip South (later called Iona) and George, 1900 in Surrey Hills, Melbourne (23)

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].



Joseph Hughes' letter, giving his son permission to enlist, from Neil's A.I.F. file.
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920


Street and Place names
The other interesting thing about the Crimean War is that many Victorian place and street names are connected to the war. The battles and personalities of the Crimean War were a source of place and street names - a prime example can be seen in the suburb of St Kilda which has a Crimea, Odessa, Sebastapol, Raglan, Alma, Inkerman (31), Malakoff, Redan Street and is next to the suburb of Balaclava; the last five are named after battles; Odessa is a port on the Black Sea. 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. There is also a town called Raglan, near Beaufort.  

The town of St Arnaud, was named for Armand-Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud (1798-1854), the Commander of the French forces.  Napier Street in St Arnaud is named for Sir Charles Napier (1786-1860), commander of the British Baltic fleet in the War.

There are three streets in Cranbourne with a Crimean War connection (32) -
Codrington - Sir William John Codrington (1804-1884) was Commander in Chief of the British Forces in the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856.
Clarendon - George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (1800-1870) was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1847 to 1852 and the British Foreign Secretary on three occasions from 1853 to 1870. He negotiated a favourable outcome for Britain at the end of the Crimean War in 1856 at the Congress of Paris Peace talks. The Crimean War, which was a war between Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia took place largely on the Crimean Peninsula in Russia.
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.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove on these war veterans, you can access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/CN500047
(2) Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/CN500048
(3) Corfield, Justin The Australian Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Boxer Uprising, 1899-1901(Slouch Hat Publications, 2001) and Australian War Memorial    https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/boxer
(4) Early Days of Berwick and its surrounding districts, compiled by Norman E. Beaumont, James F. Curran and R.H. Hughes (3rd edition published by Rotary, 1979). The book was originally published in 1948.
(5) Early Days of Berwick, op. cit., p. 32.
(6) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, August 10, 1911 see here
(7) Berwick Shire News, June 23, 1915, see here.
(8) Punch, May 14, 1914, see here.
(9) Listed as a Color-Sergeant in his funeral notice in the Herald, February 15, 1921, see here.
(10)The Age, April 15, 1875, see here.
(11) The Herald, August 1, 1889, see here.
(12) The Herald, July 27 1891, see here.
(13) The Argus, November 19, 1907, see here.
(14) The Argus of February 7, 1924, see here.
(15) Dandenong Advertiser, February 5, 1914, see here.
(17) Dandenong Advertiser, February 5, 1914, see here.
(18) Ibid
(19) Death notice - Leader,  September 21, 1912, see here.
(20) Border Morning Mail, September 20, 1912, see here.
(21) Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1443019
(22) His marriage certificate is on-line on a family tree on Ancestry. They were married August 8, 1887. Joseph, who was 26,  was born in Monmouthshire, England (According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica on-line - see here - From the 16th to the early 20th century Monmouthshire was sometimes considered administratively a part of England and sometimes a part of Wales). His parents are George Hughes and Emily Maddox. Elizabeth, who was 24,  was born in Pyrmont, NSW to Neil McDonald and Annie Rebecca Baker. 
(23) I believe I have all the children correct - the information comes from the Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/
(24) Village Settlement Scheme - I have written about it here - http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/koo-wee-rup-swamp.html
(25) Corfield, Justin The Australian Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Boxer Uprising, 1899-1901, op. cit.
(26) Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1443019
(27) Ancestry Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003
(28) National Archives of Australia, read Joseph's file, here.
(29) Victoria Government Gazette January 4, 1895. p. 1, see here.
(30) National Archives of Australia, read Neil's file, here.
(31) 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)