by Doug Orford
Frederick John Orford
Frederick John Orford was born in Eltham 1889 and attended Dalton Street and Research Schools. Headmaster Cole cared for him after his mother died. He enlisted for active service on 9.7.1915 and left on 8.2.1916 and disembarked at Marseilles on 27.5.1916. He joined the 24th Battalion on 6.7.1916 and was promoted to Lance Corporal and then on 11.11.1916 to Corporal. At Bullecourt he was buried alive when a German shell exploded in their trench. He had a cape over his head for protection against the weather and when dug out was still alive. The cape had created a pocket of air which saved him. He suffered a heart condition and was transported to England and returned to Australia for discharge on 27.11.1917.
William Henry Orford
William Henry Orford was born in Eltham in 1884 and attended Dalton Street Primary School. He was working for Sir William Irvine when war started. He enlisted on the 1.2.1916 and joined the 5th Tunnellers Co. at Broadmeadows on 7.3.1916. The Company left Melbourne on 25.5.1916 then proceeded to France where the 5th Tunnellers were transferred to the 2nd Tunnellers Co. on 29.9.1916. The 2nd Tunnellers Co. were involved in the blowing up of Hill 70 at Ypres. They were so close to their enemy they could hear them working on the opposite side of the hill. William sent home to his brother (my father) a coloured printed Christmas Card which has the 2ndAustralian Tunnelling Company insignia on the back face of the card. On the 2.7.1917 William was wounded in action but rejoined the Unit on 29.7.1917 – he also suffered the effects of a gas attack. On the 16.5.1919 he returned to England and left on 7.7.1919 for Australia, arriving home on 5.9.1919. The Eltham Shire Council had a medal made in honour of the men who went to the War from the Shire – each medal showed the “soldier’s name – we honour you – Great War 1914-1919.”
Image: Fred Orford
This story was first published in “Fine Spirit and Pluck: World War One Stories from Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea” published by Yarra Plenty Regional Library, August 2016
