(See also A – K) The two entries comprise a list of all known volunteers for World War One service from the Shire of Whittlesea (as per 1918 boundaries) compiled from local newspaper reports, honour boards erected around the district and an exhaustive search of records held in National Archives and the Australian War Memorial.
Whittlesea at the time included Arthur’s Creek, Bruce’s Creek, Bundoora, Doreen, Eden Park, Epping (population 625), Mernda, South Yan Yean (700), Merriang, Morang (South, 725), Nutfield, Scrubby Creek, Tanck’s Corner, Thomastown (283), Whittlesea (800), Woollert, Woodstock (275) and Yan Yean. Kinglake is also included as several servicemen from there were commemorated on the Whittlesea Memorial.
A handful of those mentioned (marked NT) cannot be traced – vagaries of spelling and incorrect initials undoubtedly account for some – others may have moved from the district but were still mentioned as “locals” because of their previous association with the Shire. Those marked with as asterisk paid the supreme sacrifice as a result of their service.
The full record of the service and backgrounds is far too long for a Wiki entry : it can be downloaded from this link
A typical entry :
“3346, Alfred Howard A’Beckett (shown as A. Beckett). Private (later Lance Corporal), 58 Infantry, embarked 16.07.17, returned 05.07.18 on account of general debility. Noted as dying 05.12.50”.
