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 […]
Tag: World War One
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 […]
Percy Chaster Brearley
By Cheryl Griffin. Percy Brearley was born at Geelong, but enlisted in the 23rd Battalion at Rutherglen in February 1915 aged 25 years 6 months. He qualified for a commission and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in December 1916 and then served with the 46th Battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in July […]
Coburg Drill Hall opens in Reynard Street
By Cheryl Griffin. Until the opening of the Drill Hall in Reynard Street, Coburg, the area’s cadets (Area 59) had no permanent building in which to meet. Although they had tried to secure Coburg Public Hall, the Council refused permission, because the Hall was a valuable revenue raiser and its use as a drill hall […]
The Fisher brothers of Campbellfield and Coburg
By Cheryl Griffin. James, John and Daniel Fisher were sons of Daniel and Edith (nee Pickett) Fisher who lived at Campbellfield where they raised eight children. (Two children died in infancy and are buried at Will Will Rook Cemetery). Merri Creek at Campbellfield, circa 1925. Image courtesy Coburg Historical Society. The children had a tough […]
Conscientious objectors in Coburg
Three conscientious objectors appeared before the Coburg Court the same day as Rollo Heskett and Claude Cash. They were Harold Frederick Swanson, George Alfred Summers and Edward Hamilton Paul. This is their story. Harold F. Swanson The records of the National Archives of Australia show that Harold Swanson did not serve in World War One, […]
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 […]
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 […]