First published as The Story of the Chalice Heidelberg Historian (Heidelberg Historical Society) October 1994 On 25 August 1994, a special service in the Ivanhoe Grammar School Chapel was the occasion of the presentation of an historical chalice by members of the 2/14th Battalion Association. The story of the chalice was provided in the order […]
Tag: World War One
Called from the Shadows
The news that the United Kingdom had been at war with Germany in 1914 had stirred a rather similar response here in Victoria to that in England in 1852 with the arrival of news that gold had been discovered here in Victoria awaiting those prepared to set sail and dig for it; those responding to […]
Private John Valentine Wilson
19 October 1914, Port Melbourne Pier. Men of the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade board the HMAT Benalla (right) for service overseas. Amongst them was a young Christmas Hills farmer Private John Valentine Wilson, son of David and Elizabeth Wilson. Just eight months later on 3 June 1915 Private Wilson aged 25 was killed in action […]
He Answered his Country’s Call
By Liz Pidgeon Outside the French village of Bullecourt, a bronze statue The Bullecourt Digger stands in the Australian Memorial Park. It reminds visitors of the role our Anzacs played in the Battle of Bullecourt under the British command in early April 1917. Over 3,000 Australians were wounded or killed in the First Bullecourt Battle […]
Searching for the Searcher
Often when searching history you learn about the people involved, their personalities, likes, dislikes and life achievements, other times just about the achievements. In researching the life of Stanley Simpson Addison it was somewhat easier to find out about his achievements than Stanley, the person. Whilst born into a modest farming family at Aldinga, near […]
Memories of the Great War
by Susan Webster The Heidelberg Voice, August 1, 1979 page 6 Modern memory encompasses two world wars. In those two battles we saw the shift from the importance of armed men to military machines. Yet in any war, no matter how much technology is deployed, the human element of man fighting man will still be […]
Christmas Hills cenotaph
The Christmas Hills cenotaph was unveiled on 10 Dec 1921 by Captain Stanley Melbourne Bruce, who had served on the frontline at Gallipoli, and was to become Australia’s eighth Prime Minster (1923-29). The Eltham and Whittlesea Advertiser painted a vivid picture of the moving ceremony of dedication, and captured some of Bruce’s heartfelt speech, delivered […]
The Anzac Story of William James Capewell
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 […]
The Olney Family of Whittlesea
The Olney Family of Whittlesea – WW1 by Gayle Thwaites I am not sure if my great grandfather Allan Murdoch “Murdie” Olney had been allowed to enlist in World War One (WW1), whether or not I would be here today to tell this story. I take it as a blessing that he was not allowed […]
All My Fondest Love – Sam and Bessie O’Donnell
1917 Bessie tore down the path to the mail box. She flung open the latch. At last! Mail! Grabbing the contents from the box, Bessie gingerly opened the envelope addressed to her and greedily soaked in the content. “Bessie, you are my intended. Please wait for me.” Bessie closed her eyes and pressed the card […]