In August 1914, Len Everitt, aged 20 became the pride of the Heidelberg Shire when he won the five mile handicap race at the local athletes’ meet. In 1915 he was still the pride of Heidelberg. Quarter-Master Sgt Len Everitt became the first Heidelberg man to be killed in what was to become known as […]
Tag: ANZACs
WW1 Casualty : Harold Alexander Letch (Military Cross) (Donnybrook)
Harold Alexander Letch was the sole servicemen killed in the war to be linked to Donnybrook where he was born in 1894. Although Donnybrook does not appear to have been included within the Shire of Whittlesea when the Great War broke out, the little hamlet does form part of today’s City of Whittlesea – even […]
WW1 Casualty : Leslie Grierson, aka Vipont, aka Vipont-Birkett (Yan Yean)
In short, we can reveal Leslie Vipont, born in Doreen and raised in Yan Yean was killed in action while serving as S/9868, Private, with the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment of the British Expeditionary Force in France on 10 July, 1916. That seems a simple summary, but his background is undoubtedly right up there as one of the most […]
No 16 Australian General Hospital Macleod
The following article appeared in “The Number 5 : A Magazine Published Monthly by the Patients and Staff, No. 5 Australian General Hospital, St. Kilda Road. October, 1918”, two months after most of the staff and patients at No. 5 AGH in St. Kilda Road were transferred to Mont Park (There was only one more […]
1919 – Curative Training at Mont Park
Curative training at Mont Park, Victoria (“Repatriation”, December, 1919 – (A Monthly Bulletin Published by the Department of Repatriation for Information of its Local Committees and all interested in the Return to Civil Life of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Forces) “In the past, there was much debate as to when patients in military […]
The Last Man to Leave Gallipoli
By Anne Course The approaching 100 year anniversary of the landing at Gallipolli put my head in a spin, my Grandfather had volunteered, what was his experience and how did it effect his life. I was I like a dog with a bone, can’t let is go until I have all the information possible and […]
On the Armistice in the City of Heidelberg
by Brian Membrey Hostilities in the Great War ceased at 11 a.m. London time on Monday, 11 November, 1918, with the Armistice formally signed at 5.00 a.m. that morning. Although this is the hour (adjusted for time zone) celebrated ever since by a minute’s silence, rumours of a German surrender had circulated for two or […]
Famous Painter Old Resident of Eltham
Advertiser January 27, 1928 The picture “Ghosts of Menin Gate,” which has been presented to Australia by Lord Woolavington (formerly Sir James Buchanan) was painted by Mr. Will Longstaff, who is an old resident of Eltham. Mr. Longstaff lived here for a good number of years, and enlisted when the war broke out, subsequently attaining the rank of captain, and being the […]
Tribute to the Fallen
Heidelberg Memorial Unveiled. Erected by public subscription in the grounds of the shire hall, Heidelberg’s memorial to her fallen soldiers was unveiled by His Excellency the Governor yesterday afternoon. It consists of a granite obelisk, and bears the names of 29 soldiers from the district who lost their lives in the Great War. Three of them had decorations. The president of […]
Anti-conscription Rally
More than 40,000 people attending a WWI anti-conscription rally on the banks of the Yarra in Melbourne on 21 October 1916. The anti-conscription movement was also active in our Shire. An anti-conscription rally was organised in Panton Hill by Kangaroo Ground wheelwright Mr Fryer. A correspondent writing in the Evelyn Observer in 1916 accused Mr […]