On 13 September 1915, local Eltham Butcher, William James Capewell, enlisted in the Australian Remount Unit 1, Squadron 2 which played an important and often overlooked role in the history of the Australian Light Horse Regiments. The following day, the local Eltham Blacksmith, Alfred Edgar Knapman followed in Mr Capewell’s footsteps, enlisting in the same […]
Tag: First World War
100 years later – Private Harold Underwood McDonald, Arthur’s Creek
The Melbourne Town Hall The Melbourne Town Hall was alive with music, Union Jack flags, excitement and speeches. The meeting was in August 1914 and the British Empire had just declared war. As a result, Australia also entered the First World War. The evening had been organised to garner support for Victorian men to enlist. Thousands […]
A Devotion to Duty
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer rendered valuable service throughout three days’ operations. The information furnished by his reconnaissance was invaluable, and helped greatly to the success of two advances. He showed marked ability in adapting captured machine guns for use against the enemy, instructing the gunners and helping them in every way. He led a […]
Heidelberg in World War 1
Based on a talk by Cyril Cummins and published as “Heidelberg in World War 1 and II in the Heidelberg Historian No 138 June 1990 Living in Heidelberg during the years of World War I and World War II was one of great contrast to other years in its history. When World War I broke […]
World War 1 : Matron Jessie McHardy White (M.B.E., R.R.C)
Jessie McHardy White (M.B.E., R.R.C) (nee Williamson) Address : Crathie House Private Hospital, Gipps Street, East Melbourne Next of Kin : Sister, Margaret Woodhead, “Glenarra”, Queen’s Parade, North Fitzroy Parents : John and Mary Williamson (nee McHardy) (“McHardie” is the spelling in most of the first World War documentation and many other references; it was […]
Coburg General Cemetery : At War
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 176 World War One servicemen and women as being buried in Coburg General Cemetery in Bell Street (or now the Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery to use the official Commission designation). The Cemetery appears to have been the preferred place of burial for many of those that died while in […]
World War 1 Casualties : The Shire of Heidelberg
World War 1 : The Shire of Heidelberg The original scope of the project was to research the areas covered by the Yarra Plenty Regional Library, i.e. the existing municipalities of Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea. This proved somewhat difficult in assess just where some of the outlying settlements would have fitted into today’s topology, hence a later decision was to instead take Dr. […]
World War 1 Casualty : Harry Conway (Christmas Hills)
Harry Conway from “Penrith”, Christmas Hills died of wounds at Rouen, France on 28 April, 1918. Conway had certainly the most remarkable background of any serviceman from the-then Shire of Eltham to die in the Great War – born in the Singapore states, educated in India and having served four months Nigiri Volunteer Rifles before […]