A Local Diamond Creek Boy

Friday, 24 April, 2015 was a beautiful sunny day, the wind a little chilly, but the view from the paddock of Sutherland Homes in Diamond Creek was beautiful and peaceful, the soft rolling hills of Plenty, and the view looking towards the Kinglake Ranges was breath taking.  It was to be a memorable day; the children from Sutherland’s Child Care Centre were planting a tree for a WW1 Soldier who was killed in action: George Williams (No 2776).

George was born on 23 July, 1898 and lived in Newmarket, Victoria.  He died in France, at the Western Front, on the 10 June, 1918, aged 19 years.

Life was a struggle for this young man right from birth.   His Mother could not look after him and placed him in an Institution in 1900.   His Mother was born in New Zealand, was of ill health, and did not have any friends or relatives in Melbourne to help look after little George.  On his enlistment papers it was stated that both Parents were deceased.  Sister Sanderson, from Sutherland Homes was his Next of Kin.

George was adopted by a Family from Monbulk in 1901.  However, he was put back into care in 1908, and he was placed in an orphanage, set up by Miss Selina Sutherland.   Miss Sutherland’s foundation leased a property at 68 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, and in 1909 acquired a country property in Yan Yean Road, Diamond Creek.  This property was donated by Miss Auguste Meglin from Diamond Creek for Miss Sutherland to use, as a country home for neglected children.    George was 10 years old, when he was transferred to the Country Home, Sutherland Homes in Diamond Creek.      He was educated at the Sutherland Homes Primary School, later known as Meglin Primary School (3660).  Looking at George’s signature on his enlistment papers, he did have a good hand, and a good education.  George would have been working as a Farm Hand, either at Sutherland Homes or on local farms, as Diamond Creek was a farming community – orchards, dairy, poultry,   pig farming, and he would have been familiar with managing horses, even at his young age, as they were used for ploughing the fields, transporting goods to market, and riding as a form of transport..   Sutherland Homes would have been self-sufficient growing everything on the property.  He would have been very adept at country living, which is probably why he was nominated for intensive training on cold shoeing, as a farrier on his arrival in England.

Whilst sitting on the hill at Sutherland Homes looking over the valley, reflecting on George’s life, I was pondering the thought that the view had not changed much, all but for a few more homesteads dotted along the hills – we could have been sitting there 100 years earlier – a very serene sight.  The Sutherland Homes also overlooks a neighbouring property in Heard Avenue,   which in the 1800’s, and early 1900’s was originally owned by the Starling Family. The property being called “Hazeldene”, or in the early days “Firs”.   The Starling’s being Pioneers of (Nillumbik) Plenty, via Diamond Creek.    My mind was wandering, and I wondered whether George knew Fred Starling (Enlistment Nbr 2789) and Walter Starling (Enlistment Nbr 3004).  These two young boys also enlisted around the same time.  Then there were the daughters of the Starling family, their husbands, George Fineran (Enlistment Nbr 2641), and Frank Winsor (Enlistment Nbr 2468) also enlisted.  Sadly George Fineran and Walter Starling also did not return to Australia.    George Fineran, Killed in Action, and Walter Starling died in England from his wounds, both on the Western Front.

Three young men killed from the Plenty/Diamond Creek area, the families living only ½ mile from each other.  Being early in the history of Plenty, the young men would have known each other.  George Williams, Walter Starling and George Fineran, their names are engraved on the cenotaph at Diamond Creek, along with others –“Killed In Action”.  If you sit and reflect on all the names on the cenotaph, the stories these young men and women could tell, they had their lives, had their dreams, left their homeland and their families and were killed.  Of those who did return many suffered illnesses, and premature deaths, many also suffered mental illness which was not recognised at that time as post-traumatic stress.  In those times, you were encouraged to place a rod up your back and move on.

The Cenotaph at the Diamond Creek Community Centre, Main Road (previously Collins Street, relocated 6 October, 1996.

“For God King and Country”

1914-1919

In Memory of the Diamond Creek Men who fell in the Great War

“Lest We Forget”

B Allen

N Coventry

G Fineran

J Gosstray

W Hill

R Laurie

E Mills

J Mills

D Scott

W Starling

S Wadeson

R Whicker

G Williams

One wonders, the effect on families post war, losing so many local lads from a small community.  Australia and New Zealand wide, how many children were placed in institutions such as Sutherland Homes for Children and/or other orphanages around Australia with the bread winner being killed or families unable to take care of their children?   Another consequence of War.

I was brought back to reality on Friday, 24 April, 2015, with the beautiful sound of children laughing, shouting and enjoying their play.  Men and women in the Great War made the supreme sacrifice so future generations of children could run and laugh freely, and live in a democratic country.

 I wondered how I could convey the story of George’s history to the children.    How he joined the Australian Imperial Forces on 31 July, 1916, embarked from Melbourne on the 20 October, 1916 on HMAT A17 Port Lincoln for England, arriving in England in January, 1917 and spent an extra ordinary full year in training before transferring to France early in 1918.  He was part of the 37^th Infantry Battalion, but embarked as a private with the 46^th Infantry Battalion 6-9 Reinforcements (October, 1916 – May, 1917).

This would have been George’s first adventure out of Victoria, his first European trip.

I had to convey to the little children that George had been killed in battle in France on 10 June, 1918.  The little 4-5 year old’s would not know what War was.

Whilst the children were being ferried out of the Centre, I wondered what their future would be like.  Hopefully, safe and no Wars.    I took one last look across the vista, before joining the children and Educators, I wondered whether George took one last look across the valley before he departed from the Sutherland Homes – he was a country boy, needing open spaces; how many times did he wish that he was back in his country, looking at the serene sight across the valley.

The following items were returned to Sister Ellen Sanderson C/- Sutherland Homes.  Sister Sanderson George’s Next Of Kin.  George had verbally mentioned to Sister Sanderson that if anything happened to him, his money was to come back to Sutherland Homes.  Unfortunately, this was not in writing, therefore his pay did not come back to the Homes. Sadly, George’s, Next of Kin, Sister Sanderson passed away in September, 1921.  Ellen Sanderson was possibly the only other living person who remembered him.

The items returned were to Sister Sanderson:

            1 Wallet, 1 Notebook, 1 Fountain Pen (Broken),  unit colours, 2 coins, letters, 1 Collapsible Cup, Photos, Cards – this was all that was left of George Williams life.

George’s medals were also sent back to Sutherland Homes for Children.

George was buried in a small cemetery at the rear of the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial opened in June, 1918.  The Cemetery was established for men and women who died in the months from March to September, 1918 – 5 months and 1 day before Armistice.

It was hard to describe his life to the beautiful angelic little faces of the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children.  I did not want to distress them.  The children sat silently and listened to the story of George Williams.  The Kinder Teacher, and Educators had been talking to the children about WW1 and they had made poppies for ANZAC Day.  They talked about the significance of 25 April, and although they were very young, and they may not remember, we hope that future generations will remember the sacrifice men and women made for the freedom that we enjoy today.

The children lined up quietly and placed soil in the hole, around the tree, and then lined up again, still silent, and placed rosemary around the tree.   The children were sombre and respectful.  Some children planted their rosemary, so we hope that the twigs of rosemary take in the soil, as a further remembrance for George and the many men and women who gave up their lives.  We then played the Last Post – Silence.  A plaque will be organised to remember George.

The children may not know the significance, or remember the planting of a tree, at their young age, however, hopefully in future years they may have a feeling, they may remember, and come back to the home of George Williams, Sutherland Homes and sit under the tree, look across the vista to the peaceful scene that George Williams, Walter Starling, George Fineran, Frederick Starling, would have looked at before they departed for Gallipoli and the fields in France – Lest We Forget.

Neisha Forbes (Rudd)

Plenty Historical Society Inc.

Sources:

Selina M. Sutherland: her life story and work / J.C. Jessop

Oz Child Organisation

Berry Street Heritage Department

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