Robert Herbert Thompson is one of dozens on our Darebin In Memoriam Roll that is not acknowledged on the Australian War Memorial as dying in the service of his country. Most of these were men (and a couple of women) that died immediately post-war, usually in a military facility and almost always as a result […]
Tag: Casualty
World War 1 : Home Nurse Jessie FLANNERY
Nurse Jessie FLANNERY, Hutton Street, Thornbury Home Service Nurse, Bodington Soldier’s Home and Sanatorium, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales Parents : John Thomas and Mrs Matilda Flannery (nee Horgan) Jessie Flannery is not listed in official records as a member of the A.I.F., but her demise was listed in the “Died In Service” column of […]
World War 1 Casualty : Rozell Taylor Stevens (Eltham)
One of the more difficult casualties to trace – at one point he is shown as “Roslyn Stevens”, in another reporting the unveiling of the Eltham War Memorial as “Private Rozell Stevens“. At least the latter got the name right, but in fact he never enlisted in the armed forces and hence the rank of […]
World War 1 Casualty : Malcolm Stuart Kennedy (Greensborough)
Malcolm Kennedy was the highest ranking officer from the Shire of Heidelberg to be killed during the war. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Greensborough War Memorial, but his link to the area appears tenuous and his background proved one of the most difficult to trace. His father was noted at “St. Cliens”, Greensborough when […]
World War 1 Casualty : Albert Arthur Carr (Fairfield)
The discovery of Arthur Carr‘s relationship to the district was one of the more fortunate only being detected in a brief Death Notice from an aunt, Mrs. F. A. Copperthwaite (Frances Anne, nee May), who suggested he was “the eldest son of the late Mary Carr, late of Fairfield Park”. 1892 directories show Richard and […]
World War One Casualty : Benjamin Alfred Starling (Greensborough)
Benjamin Alfred Starling was a member of a well-known from Greensborough and a qualified civil engineer (University of Melbourne) working on railways in the Federated Malay States; but just before war broke out, he was called to England to testify in a legal case, after which he volunteered and served as a Second Lieutenant with […]
World War 1 Casualty : Alfred Shanhun (Diamond Creek)
Alfred Shanhun – Perhaps the most fascinating family background in our archives, but one that is one of the lesser known. The unusual family name is used by the AWM and National Archives as well as by the family in all correspondence in the latter, but it was, in fact, Shan Hun. Alfred was one of […]
World War 1 Casualty : Cedric Ernest Howell (Eaglemont)
Cedric Ernest Howell appears on the Heidelberg War Memorial as the most highly decorated serviceman from the district, and proved one of the most difficult to track down. The effort was, however, worth while, with Howell rising from a humble Private in the Infantry to a near-national hero in just under four years! There is […]
World War 1 Casualty : George Pinnock Merz (Ivanhoe)
Our feature image shows the ill-fated Cauldron GIII aircraft piloted by Lieutenant George Pinnock Benz taking off from Nasiriyah for the return flight to Basra. Lieutenant Reilly’s aircraft can just be seen in the background. Nearby Northcote boasts William George Vincent Williams as the first serviceman to be killed in the war, but to Ivanhoe […]
World War 1 Casualties : Adrian, Henry and John Connor
Very little is known of George Connor, listed as being resident at an unknown address in Heidelberg and the father of three sons killed in the conflict – the brothers all lived with their mother in Geelong and their parents appear to have been estranged. Adrian and John Connor embarked together with the 58th Infantry […]