Colonel Eric Ewen Paterson, MC ED 

42nd Battalion, AIF

44th Battalion, AIF,

47th Battalion, Militia

by Robert Simpson

Eric Ewen Paterson was born in Theebine on 22^nd September 1894, a son to Marcus Wyndham Paterson and Harriet Effie Bull, who had married in 1891 at Sunnyholme in Queensland. He was one of seven children to them. . His Father had migrated to Queensland before 1891 and his Mother was from Victoria. His Father, who was a Station Master with the Traffic Branch in the Southern Division, died in 1905 and his Mother remarried to Robert Gwynne in 1908, having another three children. But out of the 10 children only five lived to adulthood. Eric became the provider for the family before his Mother remarried. In 1899 he started school at Tiaro State School. He joined Queensland Railway on 1^st April 1904 at 10 years old at Kilkivan but did not last long; he resigned on 25^th September 1904 due to unsatisfactory conduct. In 1905 he was at Yengarie State School. He rejoined QR as a Lad Porter at Southbrook on 26^th February 1908 at the age of 13 and worked in QR until his retirement. He did 4 years in the militia in Maryborough after he was transferred there with the railway. On 10^th August 1915 he was Night Officer at Maryborough, then Yengarie.

His Grandfather was Colonel Wyndham Francis Paterson from Ireland, who was an appointed Magistrate in County Clare. Before that in 1850 he was shown to be in the Royal Militia and Yeomanry Cavalry and Army Lists had him as being a Lieutenant in the 94^th or Clare Regiment of Militia at Clare Castel, Ennis. One of his Great-Grandfather’s was John Edward Newell Bull, born 11^th October 1806 in Ireland and died in 1901, who was in the 78^th Highland Regiment in April 1825 and came to New South Wales with his regiment to look after convicts. He became the Superintendant of Roads in New South Wales.

On 8^th November 1915 Eric enlisted as Private 898, C Company 42^nd Battalion in Brisbane. His religion was Church of England; he was single and aged 21 years and 2 months. He was listed as an operator (railway) and was living in Brisbane. His Mother, Harriet Effie (Paterson) Gwynne was nominated as next of kin. He was 5 foot 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, 33.5 to 37 inch chest measurement, dark complexion, brown eyes and hair and had a hairy patch on his right shoulder. He was a Private in D Company 8 D/Btn. from 8/11/15 to 15/1/16, in 34^th Battalion from 15/1/16 to 22/1/16, 36^th Battalion D Company and promoted to Corporal from 21/1/16 to 8/2/16, 42^nd Battalion D Company from 8/2/16 to 2/6/16 and posted to 42nd Battalion C Company from 2/1/16. He was the Commanding Officer’s Batman at some stage.

On the 5^th June 1916 he embarked on HMAT Borda A30 with the 42^nd Battalion. They disembarked at Southampton on 23^rd July 1917. He proceeded from Southampton to France on 25^th November 1916. There is a photo of Corporal Eric Paterson and others of Signals Section C Company A.I.F. taken while having a break behind the lines on 29^th April 1917. Still a Corporal, he was selected to attend No. 4 Officers Cadet Battalion at Oxford commencing 5^th July 1917, as he was recommended a commission after the Battle of Messines, where detonation of mines before the attack destroyed the German front lines and all objectives were captured and held. The battle is cited as a model for a well planned limited objective attack. A picture shows Cadet E. E. Paterson 42^nd A.I.F. in the Old Quadrangle Hartford College Oxford with some fellow cadets in August 1917. He was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements on 1^st November 1917 and proceeded overseas from Southampton to France on 19^th November 1917. As a 2^nd Lieutenant he was marched in from England at Havre on 21^st November and marched out to 2^nd ANZAC Corps on the 23^rd and taken on strength in the field. On 21^st May 1918 he was to be a Lieutenant in the field. In July 1918 the Battalion was involved in the battle of Hamel and captured all its objectives with very few losses, showing what a well planned and supported attack could achieve. The Battalion was then involved in the Allies offensive from August 1918. He was recommended to receive a Military Cross in October 1918 for the following action: On 29^th September 1918 during operations south of Bony, at the Hindenberg Line, Lieutenant Paterson was sent forward to establish Forward Battalion Headquarters. On reaching the Hindenberg Line he was suddenly confronted by a strong enemy machine gun post. He immediately rushed towards it with his runners and engaged the post with bombs. Finding that the frontal attack had no effect on the enemy, Lieutenant Paterson rushed forward alone to a flank and endeavoured to take the enemy in the rear, but was wounded by enemy bombs before he attained his object. Despite his serious wound he displayed great fortitude and initiative, and managed to extricate his party together with their signal equipment. It was awarded and promulgated in the London Gazette on 8^th March 1919 (as Lt. Eric Ewen Paterson, 44^th Bn., frmly. 42^nd Bn., Aust. Infy.) and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 17^th June 1919. He appeared in the Brisbane Courier on 22^nd November 1918 in the wounded list on the Roll of Honour, Casualty List No. 443. He carried the family bible for the duration of the war in his pocket. It was given to his Father, Marcus in 1873, who passed it onto Eric as the eldest living son. It was then passed on in the family after his death. He also received a letter from General W. Birdwood on 7^th April 1919 for his Military Cross, which includes the above and also has “Despite your serious wounds, however, you continued at your post, and extricated your party from the position with their signal equipment. Your work was a fine example of courage, initiative and devotion to duty, and I thank you very much for it”. He was wounded in the above action with multiple guns shot wounds in the legs which were classified as mild and he was admitted to a Hospital in France on the 30^th and admitted to the 3^rd London General hospital on 3^rd October after being sent on HS Canisbrooke Castles from France to England. On 29^th October he was transferred to the 44^th Battalion in England. He returned to Australia on Demosthenes as a Lieutenant on 2^nd March 1919 and on 16^th April 1919 his Appointment was terminated.

A postcard sent by Corporal Paterson on 29^th April 1917 which reads on the back “And we are not downhearted yet. Myself and Sig Section taken while we were having a weeks spell behind the line.” Sig Section C Company AIF.

The Brisbane Courier of Thursday 17^th April 1919 had the following announcement; “The engagement of Miss Molly Grieve (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G B Grieve, Murgon) to Lieutenant Eric E. Paterson, M.C. (late of 42^nd Battalion, and eldest son of the late Mr. M. H. Paterson and Mrs. R. Gwynne, Murgon). In 1919 he married Martha Molly Crawford Grieve and lived at Yengarie as a Railway Night Officer. He was transferred to Woolooga on 1^st July 1919 and was still there in 1920 when he received the letter of his Military Cross award. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers list in 1920 and was associated with the 9^th Light Horse Regiment, the 47th and 42^nd Battalions and rose in rank to Major. By 1922 they had moved to Murgon and were living in Braeburn Boarding House and he was a Night Officer. They were still there in 1925. By 1930 the Electoral Roll shows them living in Kolijo in the Herbert region, in the Station house and he was a Station Master. They were still there in 1934. In 1935 he must have been transferred to the Howard region as he enlisted in the Australian Army on 12^th April 1935 in Maryborough with the service number Q24601. In 1936 the Electoral Roll shows him as being at Mungar Junction as a Station Master. They were still there in 1937.

Eric as Station Master.

He continued service in Australia in the Militia and in 1936 he was given command of the 47^th Battalion (Wide Bay Regiment) whose Headquarters was at Maryborough. He held the rank of Major and was then promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 10^th November 1938. His address was given as HQ, 47^th Battalion A.M.F., Lennox St. Maryborough Queensland in 1939. He remained their Commanding Officer for 6 years including 3 years in World War 2. They regularly held training camps before being mobilised in 1941 and they moved to Townsville in early 1942. He also did various courses throughout those years.

On Anzac Day in 1939, “in the morning a parade was held to the memorial, the colours of the 47^th Battalion A.M.S., being carried. Wreaths were placed on the memorial and the Last Post was sounded. Colonel Paterson took the salute at the Town Hall steps “. This was noted in the Courier-Mail the next day. Lieutenant-Colonel E. E. Paterson was awarded the Efficiency Decoration for Long Service in 1940. He relinquished command of the 47^th Battalion on 23^rd August 1942 and on 5^th October 1942 he was discharged from the 47^th Battalion to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. During the 6 years he was in command, the regiment became known as one of Australia’s finest. Its success in war was attributed to the solid and efficient training it had received under him. After relinquishing command he spent the remainder of the war as Claims and Quartering Officer at Maryborough. His step-brother Robert Leonard Gwynne was a Sergeant in WW2. The dedication of the ANZAC Memorial Crypt was organised by him in 1941.

Eric, Brian and Mark Paterson at the dedication of Colours in ANZAC Memorial Crypt, organised by Eric and conducted by Brian.

In 1943, he was listed as working at Mungar Junction and they were living in Maryborough. In the Maryborough Chronicle in 1944 was an article saying “Tinana residents turned out in force last night to give a rousing welcome to members of the fighting forces on leave. The Shire Hall was packed long before the event started and an extra loud cheer was raised for Lt.-Colonel E. Paterson, M.C. former commander of the 47^th Battalion. In 1946 he was a candidate running for either the House of Representatives or the Senate and had resigned from the railway on 1^st September, but he obviously did not win as he was reinstated to his normal position on 10^th October. By 1949 he had been transferred to Sandgate (December 1947) as Station Master and they were living at 4 Hancock St. in Brisbane. He was then sent to Cloncurry and lived at Ramsay St., Cloncurry and he still was Station Master. On June 1953 he was transferred to Mareeba. In September 1953 they went to Wallangarra, Stanthorpe.

On Wednesday 27^th May 1953 and article was printed in the Townsville Daily Bulletin from Cloncurry dated the day before about Cloncurry’s railway stationmaster Mr. E. E. Paterson and his wife being transferred to Mareeba. They had spent two and a half years in Cloncurry and according to the article “had proved worthy citizens and their popularity was made manifest by the farewells tendered them by various organisations to which they were prominently connected”.

The Reverend at the Methodist Church spoke of these good people as staunch supporters of the church, and of Mrs Paterson who was a very active worker on the Ladies’ Committee, and wished then God’s blessing. They were presented with a handsome dressing table clock.

They also attended a campfire by the Scouts and Cubs of Cloncurry’s Scout Movement to farewell there former Group Scoutmaster. Eric had reformed the group in Cloncurry. It was said his presence and valuable assistance would be very much missed and they spoke of his fine work in connection with the movement. They were presented with silver salad servers.

The R.S.L.L.A.I.L.A. met to say “cheerio to their Digger cobber Eric Paterson”. The President made reference to the departing Vice-President as an extremely valuable and most energetic member and acknowledged his super ability in the manner in which he most capably handled many problems to the branch, and was a tower of strength to the President on more than just one occasion. He was presented with a silver beer mug. Eric replied saying that any work he had done and efforts contributed had been done for the good of the league. They then reminisced and exchanged tales of war incidents for the rest of the evening.

A number of railwaymen assembled in Stationmaster’s Eric Paterson’s office on Wednesday afternoon to farewell him. They spoke of his conscientiousness and ability of him and of the manner in which he endeavoured at all times to assist his fellow workers and give advice when necessary. He was presented with a silver coffee percolator on a sliver tray.

The article also noted his war service, saying how he rose in the ranks from Private to Lieutenant-Colonel in just over 3 years. He was warded the Military Cross in the Hindenberg Line Battle on September 29^th 1918 and was severely wounded on the same day. After five months in hospital in England he returned to Australia. He served with the 42^nd and 47^th Battalions and commanded the later until returned to base duty at the end of 1942 as medically unfit. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration and Coronation Medal (Military Division) and was placed on the retired officers list. He was promoted to Honorary Colonel with permission to wear the prescribed uniform and badges of that rank. This was a fitting tribute to a man who had given to his country 38 years of service.

He retired on 28^th February 1955 and on the 1959 electoral roll they were living in Thomas St., Howard. Eric was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Battalion in November 1955. He was the RSL president at some stage. He passed away on Friday 27^th October 1961 at his home in Howard at the age of 67. Advertisements were placed in the Chronicle and other newspapers and on 4MB. A Ceremonial Funeral was held in Maryborough on the Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. from Wesley Methodist Church to the Town Hall where his body was conveyed through a guard of honour back to the Funeral Chapel before leaving for Brisbane to the Mt. Thompson Crematorium where he was cremated at 11.15 a.m. on Monday the 30^th October. His ashes are interred in War Service Memorial, position 120, Section 9, Wall 12 there. His religion was listed as Methodist. There was a memorial service at the Howard Methodist Church on 28^th October 1962 and a memorial to him was unveiled there. They had no children.

His wife, Molly, presented a Grandfather clock to the Maryborough RSL in memory of fallen comrades in the 47^th Battalion on 6^th October 1973.

He was awarded the Military Cross, Efficiency Decoration, British War Medal and Victory Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 1939-45 and the Coronation Medal 1937.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Lieutenant Thomas P Chataway

15th Battalion, AIF

Area Staff WW2

by Robert Simpson

Thomas Percival Chataway was born in Mackay Queensland on 25^th October 1891. He was the eldest of five children born to Thomas Drinkwater Chataway and Anna Maria Alterieth. Thomas Drinkwater married Anna in Rockhampton on 8^th November 1890. He had been born in Rotherwick England in 1864 and Anna in Indonesia in 1861. Thomas Drinkwater followed his brother James Vincent to Australia and into both journalism and politics. James was very involved in matters around Mackay and was a member of many local organisations. He also held a commission in the Mackay Mounted Infantry. James died of heart disease in 1901, received a state funeral and is buried at Cleveland cemetery. Thomas Drinkwater arrived in Sydney in 1881 and worked as a journalist there before moving to Queensland. After marrying Anna, they then lived in Mackay in the early 1900’s where he was originally a journalist. In 1901 with another person, he applied for a patent for a machine for cutting sugar cane, but it was not registered. He was mayor of Mackay from 1904 to 1906 and then he moved into politics, becoming the local M.P in the Senate in December 1906. He only served one term.

In 1914 they moved to Victoria, where he continued his journalistic work and he was also involved in government positions during the war. Thomas Drinkwater and his brother James Vincent were sons to James Chataway and Elizabeth Ann Drinkwater who had been married in the early 1850’s in England. James was born in Birmingham in 1829 and Elizabeth in Gibraltar in 1833. James had gone to Cambridge University in 1846 and received his Batchelor of Arts in 1851 and Masters in 1854. He became an ordained Deacon in 1852, a priest at Worecester in 1853, Vicar of Wartling Sussex from 1856 to 1866, Curate of Heckfield from 1866 to 1870, Rector of Rotherwick from 1870 to 1895 and then he resigned. In 1896 they travelled to Australia and Canada and returned home in 1898. He died in 1907 in Rotherwick. Elizabeth died in 1893 and was buried at Rotherwick Churchyard in Hampshire England. They had fifteen children, three of whom moved to Australia. One of their daughters, Ethel, married Charles Frederick Moberly Bell who was managing director of The Times. They had a son, Clive Vincent, who served in the Boer War, in India and in WW1, rose to the rank of Major and was awarded the O.B.E.

Left to right: T. D. Chataway who became Mayor of Mackay and Senator of Queensland, T. P. Chataway who wrote the history of the 15th Bn. 1st AIF which he served in during World War I and Rev. James Chataway, Rector of Rotherwick in Hampshire, England. From State Library of Queensland.

By 1914 Thomas Percival Chataway was still living with his parents in their home, “Nebia” at Gordon Street Toorak and was a journalist, following on from his father.

Thomas enlisted on 9^th October 1914 with the 1^st Reinforcements, 15^th Battalion, of the 4^th Infantry Brigade in Melbourne. The record states he was born in the Mackay District near Mackay. His next of kin was listed as his father, Thomas, of 20 Gordon St Toorak and was later changed to his wife with a London address. His terms of service were for the period of the war and longer if required. Another attestation form also lists the maiden name of his future wife with an address care of another person in Albert Park. He was 23 years old, 5 foot 11.5 inches tall, weighed 10 stone 12 pounds, had a chest measurement of 33 to 36 inches, and was of medium complexion with grey eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was listed as Church of England. He had a scar on the outside of his left knee and had no vaccination marks.

Most of the volunteers for the 15^th Battalion were from Queensland and the rest were from Tasmania. They trained together in Melbourne, with him being in No. 3 Company. As Private 1401, Thomas, a labourer from Gordon Street, Toorak, Victoria embarked with the 15^th Battalion on HMAT Berrima A35 on 22^nd December 1914. They arrived in Egypt in early February 1915 and proceeded to join the M.E.F. on 15^th April, for Gallipoli.

A letter dated 20^th February 1915 to the Camp Commandant at Broadmeadows from Base Records was asking of the whereabouts of Thomas and stated “I understand the matter is of the utmost financial importance to the enquirer”. What the details are about is not known, but he was overseas at the time. Another letter on the 25^th asks if he was serving there to which the reply of “T. D. Chataway is not in the strength of the Depot” was added. There is also a pencil note stating “Base Records evidently sent here in error”.

On 25^th April, as part of the 4^th Brigade they landed at Anzac, late in the afternoon. The battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the Anzac beachhead for the next few months. He was wounded in action on 10^th May. On 19^th May 1915 he was transported on the Gascon and admitted to the Raz-El-Tin hospital with a gun shot wound in the neck. He was transferred to England on 24^th June 1915 on the Glenart Castle. On 6^th July 1915 he was admitted to the hospital at Manchester. His date of discharge from hospital was not recorded.

After recovering from his wound, he rejoined the Battalion at Ismailia on 15^th January 1916 after disembarking from the Onana. A letter from his future wife, Francis Campbell-Walker, was replied to stating Thomas had returned to duty in Egypt and if there were any future reports on him, she would be notified immediately. Her address was gives as C/o Miss Gore, 145 Mills St., Albert Park, Victoria. She had been sent a letter on 23^rd July stating he was now in hospital at Manchester and giving his postal address. His father got the same letter and another one on 19^th June stating Thomas had been wounded, but not seriously and that was assumed that in the absence of further reports that things were progressing favourably.

Thomas proceeded to join the B.E.F. at Alexandria on 1^st June 1916. On 8^th August 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal in France after disembarking at Marseilles on that day. The battalion had its first major action at Pozieres in that month.

He was promoted to Corporal on 19^th January 1917.

The battalion suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt in April 1917 when the 4^th Brigade attacked German positions without the promised tank support. On 5^th May 1917 he was marched in and reported for duty as a Cadet with No. 2 Officers Cadet Battalion at Cambridge from 15^th Battalion in France. He was detached from the 15^th Battalion to the Officers Cadet Battalion on the 12^th and placed on the supernumery list of N.C.O.’s on the 15^th and taken on their strength.

On 1^st September 1917 he was appointed as 2^nd Lieutenant and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements. He proceeded overseas to France on 18^th September 1917 and was taken on strength of the 15^th Battalion from the Cadet Officers Battalion on 24^th September. He was with the 4^th Division at Roulles at that time. The Battalion spent most of 1917 in Belgium advancing to the Hindenburg Line. Thomas was promoted to Lieutenant on 8^th December. On 16^th January 1918 he was sent to U.K. on leave and he returned to his unit on 1^st February. The Battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive in March and April and was involved with the allied offensive of 1918 and fought near Amiens in August. Again, on 8^th September he was on leave, during which he married, and rejoined the unit on the 25^th. On 8^th November as a Lieutenant he proceeded on 1914 leave to U.K. and rejoined his unit on 30^th January 1919.

On 13^th September 1918 in West Dulwich Emmanuel, he married Frances Alice Campbell-Walker. She had boarded the Osterley in Melbourne bound for Liverpool in August 1917. Frances had been born in 1894 in Horsham Victoria and was a teacher at the time she left for England. Not much is known about her father George Walker except he was a farm assistant. Her mother, Frances Homan Campbell, married George in 1891 when she was 27 but they must have separated some time after Frances birth as they are found at different addresses in Electoral Rolls. Frances Hoffman’s parents were Colin Campbell and Frances Elliott McWhirter who had married in 1851 in Victoria. Colin’s father, Alexander was a Scotsman who was a partner in the West Indies trading company John Campbell Snr & Co. It was the largest and wealthiest of the West Indian sugar companies in Glasgow. Apparently, he was a man of great energy, a Captain of the Highland Sharpshooters and an ardent supporter of the Celtic Society. Colin was a Reverend who had moved to Australia before marrying. He had graduated with honours at Oxford in 1838 and then left for Australia, arriving in Hobart Town in March 1839. He originally was a journalist and a squatter and he later moved to Victoria worked in various government offices until he was elected in 1854 in Melbourne. After retiring from politics in 1877 he applied for admission to holy orders in the Church of England, having been a volunteer for church work for 25 years. Colin retired from the Ballarat diocese in 1889, travelled to England and returned and then devoted himself to the promotion of religious instruction in state schools until his death in 1903. His wife Frances was born in Edinburgh and studied medicine unofficially with her brother. She came to Australia in 1848 to ease an asthmatic condition. Her father was at sometime the physician to the Viceroy of India and he became president of the Royal College of Physicians at Edinburgh. Frances Alice gave her address at the time as 22 Rosedale Rd, Dulwich, London and another form has it changed to C/o Union Bank of Australia, 71 Cornhill, London.

He was granted 75 days long service furlough abroad on 8^th November 1918 as noted above and on 6^th April 1919 he was marched out to England from France for Return to Australia. He marched in to No. 4 Group, Hurdcott on the 15^th.

Family members who served included Mary Esme Chataway, who was a cousin. She was a Staff Nurse with the 11^th Reinforcements of First Australian General Hospital who embarked on the HMAT Orsova on 10^th November 1915 and was listed as a 25-year-old from Mackay. She returned to Australia as a Sister on 19^th December 1918. Another cousin, Vincent Maxwell Chataway, embarked at Queensland on HMAT Clan McGillivray on 7^th September 1916 as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 20th reinforcements, 9th Battalion. Vincent was awarded the Military Cross “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He handled his platoon with great coolness and quick decision assisting to drive the enemy out of his position. Later, he continued to advance after the retreating enemy, capturing and sending back many prisoners. He displayed great ability and leadership throughout.” This was at Lagnicourt, France on 15^th April 1917 as noted in another citation of the event. Together with an unidentified fellow member of the 9th Battalion, Chataway removed a painting from the burning cathedral at Bapaume, France, by cutting it from the frame with bayonets and then cutting it in half. “Chataway’s half was presented to the Australian War Memorial, and will be returned to France in March 1999.” (‘The Australian’, 16 December 1998, p. 7). He returned as a Lieutenant on 18^th July 1919. Another cousin, Seymour Darcy Eagle Chataway, embarked with the 8^th reinforcements 26^th Battalion as Private 3472 from Brisbane on 3^rd January 1916 and returned on 24^th December 1918. He was the Mayor of Cairns from 1960 to 1967.

A brother, James George Drinkwater Chataway also served and embarked at Sydney on RMS Mooltan with the 3rd Depot Unit of Supply, 21^st Army Service Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant on 11^th December 1915. He was living with his parents at “Nebia” and his occupation was listed as an Amanuensis. He returned as a Lieutenant with the 3^rd D.U.S. on 23^rd March 1919.

Thomas returned to Australia on 16^th June 1919 from England as a Lieutenant with his new wife on the Ormonde. After arriving back in Australia, they lived at “Nebia” with his parents in 1919 while they both worked as journalists. At some stage they had used the returned soldier settlement loan to buy a block at Tumbarumba as listed in the loan file [12/6891] 02888. Another record has listed – CHATAWAY, Thomas Percival, Manus Estate Tumbarumba, Tumbarumba, 24 Nov 1919, 31 Aug 1928; with the dates being the start and end dates, but not stating what for. If they had a block there they were not living there all the time. His appointment with the AIF was terminated at Melbourne on 16^th August 1919. On 7^th November 1921 the Department of Repatriation asked Base Records for them to forward his hospital admissions to them. Another note asked to threat the matter urgently as his pension could not be dealt with until they received the information. He signed for his Victory medal in 1922 at Victoria Barracks.

By the 1924 Electoral Roll they had moved to 5 Tashinny Rd. Toorak. His father died of arteriosclerosis on 5^th March 1925 in Melbourne at his home at 6 Balmerino Avenue, Toorak. He was buried in Brighton Cemetery. In the 1931 to 1937 electoral rolls they give their address as C/o G Walker Murmungee, so they had some contact with her father. On 7^th April 1926 Frances applied to the Australian government for the registration on the Copyright for a poem titled “A Plea”, which was written about the tragedy of the war. It was written for the Friendly Union of Soldiers’ Wives and Mothers. The application was not successful. They were living at Jeny Manor, Davidson St. South Yarra at the time. In 1937 Thomas wrote to Base Records asking for a certified copy of his discharge from the AIF in 1919 as he had lost the original one years before. He was applying for entry into the Public Service under the Returned Soldier’s Act.

During World War 2, Thomas served in the army as a Lieutenant in the Staff Area. He joined in Caulfield, Victoria and was living at Beechworth with the service number V1446 on 8^th July 1940 and was discharged on 19^th April 1944. Frances was listed as next of kin. As his service records are not open it is not known what he did. Thomas was reported in the newspaper in 1940 as being the secretary of the Beechworth Public Library. In the 1942 roll they were living at 99 Templeton Street Wangaratta and were both still journalists (obviously the electoral roll did not register his service). Other family members also served in the war, with two being killed. Thomas wrote the unit history of the 15^th Battalion and in 1948 he was presented a red leather-bound copy by the Angels Remembrance Club. They were so called, as “angels” was a code word for the Battalion. A change of occupation by the 1954 roll has Thomas as a clerk and Frances was a housewife. By 1963 he had retired and they were living at Bartels Street. McCrae. He passed away there on 28^th May 1964. Frances was still there in the 1980 Roll and she passed away on 16^th November 1987. Probate for her was granted on 1^st February 1988. He was cremated, but his ashes were interred on 3^rd March 1966 at Cheltenham Cemetery. Frances was interred with him. It would appear they had no children.

Aged 72. I walked with the elect of the gods.

Aged 93. Loved wife of the late Thomas P Chataway.

The Australian War Memorial has a manuscript from him which contains two typescripts, “Mourning Glory”, a play set partially in the trenches in France in 1916, and “Death Rides Abroad”, an account based on the author’s experiences at Gallipoli (Quinn’s Post) and at the Somme, written under the pen name of “Lewis Gun”.

His medals are 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals, WWII War Medal and Australian Service Medal as well as a cased Gallipoli Medallion.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

529 Dvr Charles Alexander James Crawford, MM MiD

2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, AIF
by Robert Simpson

Charles Alexander James Crawford was born in Maryborough on 23^rd January 1887, a son to Thomas Girvan Crawford and Jane Fletcher. Even though he was born in Maryborough, they actually lived at Kilkivan. He was one of a very large family with 15 children being born, 7 boys and 8 girls, from 1869 to 1895. He was the third last child and last boy to be born. As a testament to the parents, most children lived to adulthood. Thomas had been born in Ireland in 1840 and had married Jane in Queensland on 31^st January 1868. His parents, John Crawford and Elizabeth Girvan were born in Ireland and married there in 1830. Jane had been born in Tenterfield in 1853, a daughter to George Fletcher and Elizabeth Jane Bergen (Burgin) who had been married in 1852 in Drayton. Not much is known of their early life in Queensland due to lack of records, but by the 1903 Electoral Roll they were living at Jimmy’s Scrub, Kilkivan. A note in the newspaper stated “The public are cautioned against giving credit in my name, without my personal authority”, dated in 1875. Thomas was a timber-getter. He passed away in Maryborough on 15^th February 1905 due to stomach cancer and is buried in the cemetery there. Charles first appears in the 1913 Electoral Roll as a labourer, living at Elgin Vale via Nanango.

Charles enlisted on 11^th November 1914 as Private 529 in the 2^nd Light Horse Field Ambulance. He was listed as a teamster, was a natural born British subject of age 28 years and 10 months. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs J Crawford of Kent St Maryborough. He had never served before and enlisted in Brisbane at Pinkenba. Charles was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 152 pounds, chest measurement of 36.5 to 38.5 inches, of dark complexion with grey eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was listed as Wesley (maybe Wesleyan Methodist). He enlisted for the duration of the war and 4 months afterwards.

On 2^nd December 1914 his rank was changed to Driver. He embarked with the 2^nd Light Horse Brigade, 2^nd Light Horse Field Ambulance on 16^th December 1914.

On 20^th December 1915 he was admitted to hospital and transferred to 4^th Auxiliary Hospital at Cairo with mumps. He was discharged from isolation at Heliopolis and re-joined the 2^nd Light Horse Field Ambulance on 12^th January 1916.

Noted in General Routine Order No. 181 on 4^th August 1916, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field at Ismailia.

His award reads:-

No. 529, Driver CHARLES ALEXANDER JAMES CRAWFORD, 2^nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance.

For distinguished gallantry. On 9^th August, 1916, at BIR-EL-ABD, in company with Captain D. D. Jamieson, Driver Thomson and Private Davis, went with a sandcart to the left flank. Leaving the nearer wounded, they passed through the line which was rapidly retiring, reached two wounded men in the front. Under heavy rifle and shell fire, loaded them into the cart with great difficulty, as bursting shells were frightening the horses and causing them to plunge.

Captain Jamieson having searched in front to make sure there were no more, the party returned, with their harness in a tangled condition, picking up three other wounded on the way back.

His mother was sent a letter on 25^th April 1917 a copy of the extract from the London Gazette on 20^th October 1916 relating to the conspicuous services rendered by Charles for which he was awarded the Military Medal:- “ HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field to the undermentioned soldier:-

No. 529 Driver CHARLES ALEXANDER JAMES CRAWFORD”.

Another letter on the same date refers to the London Gazette of 1^st December 1916 which related to the award of a Mention in Despatches “In accordance with the final paragraph of the Despatch dated 1^st October, the following were mentioned for distinguished services rendered during the period of General A. J. Murray’s Command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force:-

No. 529 Driver CHARLES ALEXANDER JAMES CRAWFORD”.

He was to be a Lance Corporal from 5^th November 1916 at Hill 70 and was on detachment on the 11^th. At his own request he reverted to the rank of Driver on 12^th June 1917 at El Fukhari. At Cairo on 10^th July 1917 he was charged with being absent without leave in that he overstayed leave from 1200 on 9^th July to 1200 on 10^th July 1917. His award was that he was admonished and forfeited 2 days’ pay. On 1^st September 1917 he was detached for duty with the 5^th Brigade Transport Park. On the 21^st he re-joined his unit from this temporary attachment. From the field on 7^th November 1918 he was sent to Moascar for embarkation for 1914 leave and arrived there on the 8th.

After returning on HT Argyllshire on 1^st February 1919 from Cairo to the 3^rd Military District, he was discharged in the 1st Military District on 15^th April 1919.

Charles signed for his oak leaves (1 large and 1 small emblem) for his Mention in Despatches on 3^rd September 1920. His Mention in Despatches certificate was also posted to him in November 1920 and it was signed by Winston Churchill.

A brother, Dennis George also enlisted. He was a labourer of Kent St. Maryborough and listed his mother as next of kin, also at the same address. As Private 3578 in the 7^th Infantry Brigade, 7^th Field Ambulance Australian Medical Corps “A” Section they embarked on 24^th May 1915 on HMAT Ascanius A11. Dennis was wounded in 1917 with a gunshot wound to the back which was described as mild. He was promoted from Driver to Lance Corporal, then Temporary Corporal and finally to Corporal. He returned to Australia in September 1919, was discharged and he was entitled to the trio of medals. Dennis passed away in Brisbane in 1950 and is buried in Lutwyche cemetery.

On 15^th January 1921 he married Jane Robertson Vary. Jane had been born on 15^th January 1895 in Queensland, one of eight children to William Vary and Elizabeth Agnes Bailey, and the first of two daughters. William came from Scotland, arrived in Brisbane in 1874 and married Elizabeth in 1884 in Queensland. Elizabeth came from England and arrived in Maryborough in 1882. They lived in Saltwater Creek Road as recorded on Electoral Rolls from the early 1900’s and he was listed as an engineer. William passed away in 1911 and is buried in the Maryborough cemetery.

In 1922 Charles and Jane are living in Kilkivan at a property called Balmoral, and Charles was a farmer. They had a daughter, Rita, born on 12^th March 1922 in Maryborough. By 1925, Charles had changed occupations and was a timber-getter. On 21^st July 1925 a son was born, James, also in Maryborough. James attended Kilkivan State School when he turned 5 years old. Both Rita and James served in WW2. Rita served in the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service as Private QX 59845 (Q26711), enlisted on 18^th January 1944 and was discharged on 3^rd July 1946. James joined the 26^th Battalion on 1 June 1945 as Private QX64042 and was discharged on 17^th December 1946. Unfortunately Rita’s service record is not open, so not much information is known of her wartime experiences. Her Discharge certificate lists her as being in the Australian Army Medical Women’s Services from 16^th December 1942 to 17^th January 1944 and the A.A.M.W.S. (A.I.F.) from 18^th January 1944 to 3^rd July 1946. She had no overseas active service and 1296 days active service in Australia and was employed as a nursing orderly. There were no decorations or awards during that service and she was not issued a war badge. In James’ Attestation Form he was listed as a sawmill hand, single, age 19 years and 10 months, he had not been convicted by a court and had an educational qualification of 7^th Grade standard. He listed next of kin as his mother, living at Kilkivan. His religious denomination was Methodist. On another form, he was described as age 20 years and 2 months, height 5 foot 8 inches, fresh complexion, auburn hair and small scars on his left leg. He embarked on Kanimbla from Sydney on 23^rd March 1946 and arrived in Rabaul on the 31^st. In April he was marched out to the 22^nd Battalion and then transferred to A Company 26^th battalion on 16^th June. James may not have seen action as hostilities ceased in August, but the Battalion spent September 1945 to March 1946 in Rabaul for garrison duty. His service record states he was in New Guinea from 23^rd March to 17^th July 1946 and was with HQ 1 Salvage Depot, then 2 Division Salvage Unit, then 1 Advance Ammunition Depot. It also states his unit for discharge purposes was the 26^th Battalion. He embarked on the Westralia on 12^th July 1946 and arrived in Brisbane on the 17^th. It appears he was previously granted an exemption in 1943 at Nambour. His form states he was not eligible for any medals. After the war James was a carpenter and lived in various locations around the Wide Bay.

Jane Crawford passed away on 19^th October 1937 in Maryborough and was buried in the same plot as her husband in Monumental Section C plot 554, along with a daughter, Catherine, who had died in 1902 at the age of 22 years. Elizabeth Agnes Vary passed away on 17^th September 1943 and is buried beside her husband in the Maryborough cemetery.

Charles and Jane were still at Kilkivan and he had the same occupation until after the 1954 Electoral Roll. Then he retired and they moved to 20 Coral St Urangan before 1958. They remained there. Before or during 1960 he must have been admitted to Wahroonga Nursing Home as on 13^th August 1960 he passed away in Maryborough at Wahroonga and was buried in the cemetery in the Garden of Rest section in Plot 48 on the 15^th. His death notice appeared in the Maryborough Chronicle on 15^th August 1960 –

CRAWFORD – Charles Alexander James M.M., M.I.D.

At Wahroonga Hospital, Maryborough, on August 13, 1960, Charles Alexander James, beloved husband of Jane Robertson Crawford, of 20 Coral Street, Urangan, formerly of Kilkivan, beloved father of Rita (Mrs E. J. Crawford, Baddow), James (Gympie), father-in-law of Mr E. J. Crawford (Baddow); brother of John (Cairns), Sarah (Mrs Rossiter, Rockhampton), Faith (Mrs Sinclair, Maryborough). Aged 73 years..

Jane moved to Maryborough sometime between 1968 and 1972 and lived at 44 Richard St. Rita and her husband lived next door at number 42. Jane passed away in January 1985 and is buried in the same plot as Charles.

Charles’ medals are Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf. He also applied for and received a Gallipoli Medallion.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Major Edmund William Jenyns MiD

26th Battalion, AIF

ANGAU (WW2)

by Robert Simpson

Edmund William Jenyns was born in Bromelton, Queensland on 7^th September 1893, a son to Joshua Jenyns and Sarah Barnes. Joshua had been born in England in 1835 and had migrated to Australia, but it is not known when. His parents passed away only a few years after his birth and it looks like his Grandmother looked after him. Sarah was born in Queensland in 1854. She was previously married to James Burley in February 1873, but he died in November that year. She then married Joshua on 15^th April 1875. Edmund was the youngest of nine children and all but two survived past their childhood. Bromelton is a small village in Southern Queensland, west from Beaudesert. One of its claims to fame is that it has a crossing loop on the national standard gauge railway network to Queensland’s narrow gauge. It is not known what they did there. Edmund had to face adulthood with some harshness, as his mother passed away in 1908 and his father in 1913. Joshua was previously married to Elizabeth Willis, whom he married on 15^th July 1858 in Brisbane. She was born in England in 1838, and passed away on 8^th June 1873 in Brisbane. They had five boys and one girl and out of them only two of the brothers lived beyond 20 years old. Edmund was listed in the 1915 Electoral Roll living at Sylvania, Bromelton as a dairy farmer and he had registered on 1^st October 1914.

Private 349 Edmund William Jenyns joined on 14^th April 1915 at Brisbane with the record showing he was born in Beaudesert. He was 22 years and 7 months old; 6 foot 1.75 inches tall, weighed 161 pounds, had a chest measurement of 35 to 37 inches, and was of dark complexion with brown eyes and dark hair. He had a scar on his right shin and had perfect vision. He was appointed to B Company 26^th Battalion AIF.

The Nominal Roll for the 7^th Infantry brigade, 26^th Infantry Battalion B Company showed 349 Sergeant Edmond William Jenyns, single, of Tambourine Mountains, Oxenford, Queensland was paid 10 shillings a day. His next of kin was listed as Herbert John Jenyns, brother, of the same address and Edmund was a carpenter. His religion is listed as Baptist. The 26^th Infantry Battalion departed from Brisbane on HMAT Ascanius A11 on 24^th May 1915 with Edmond. They embarked at Alexandria on 4^th September 1915 to join the MEF at Gallipoli. They arrived at Gallipoli on the 12^th, where the Battalion played a purely defensive role including the defence of Courtney’s and Steele’s Posts and Russell’s Top. They withdrew on 12^th December.

After the evacuation at Gallipoli he was sent to Mudros and from there to Alexandria on 9^th January 1916. They stayed in Egypt for a few months. At Alexandria on 15^th March 1916 he proceeded to join the BEF and disembarked at Marseilles on the 21^st. On the 6^th June they were involved in the first trench raid undertaken by Australian troops in the Western Front.

On 4^th May 1916 he was sightly wounded (a bomb wound) at Armenteres and was sent to the Divisional Rest Station at Rouen after going through the Field Ambulance. He returned to the unit on 15^th May. Edmund was severely wounded on a second occasion with a gun shot wound to the head, thigh and arm at Pozieres on 29^th July. The Battalion’s first major battle was at Pozieres from 28^th July. Initially he went through the 1^st Field Ambulance to the 6^th Ambulance Motor Corps and was taken to 24^th General Hospital at Etaples. He was sent to the 2^nd Birmingham War Hospital on 19^th August from Calais on S.S. Dieppe where he spent the rest of 1916 progressing favourably. He was admitted to the No. 1 Auxiliary Hospital on 6^th October and was granted furlough from 11^th to 25^th November. He was then sent back to Australia for discharge.

On 17^th September 1916 Edmund was recommended for a Military Medal for “good and consistent work in trenches from April 12^th to July 28^th 1916, and for ably leading his platoon in the attack on POZIERES RIDGE on 28/29^th July 1916” but it was crossed out and Mention written under it in the Honour column. Serjeant E M Jenyns was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette on 4^th January 1917, volume 29890 page 255 position 126. A notification of the award was sent to his brother noting the despatch from General Sir Douglas Haig GCB, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France: I have the honour to submit the name of the undermentioned non-commissioned officers serving under my command, whose distinguished and gallant services, and devotion to duty, I consider of deserving special mention :- No. 349 Sergeant EDMOND WILLIAM JENYNS.

On 10^th April 1917 he returned on Karoola to Brisbane with a gun shot wound to the head and right thigh. He was discharged from there on 29^th May 1917.

He enlisted as 7180 Edmund William Jenyns on 21^st December 1917 at Darlinghurst, New South Wales in the 21^st Reinforcements of the 26^th Battalion. He was living at 17 Lyndhurst Chambers, 84 Elizabeth St, Sydney. Edmund was now 24 years and 3 months old, 6 foot 3.25 inches tall, weighed 182 pounds, had a chest measurement of 34 to 37 inches, of a fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Three wounds are shown, on his forehead, left arm and upper thigh. He was appointed on 2^nd February 1918. The Nominal Roll for the 26^th Infantry Battalion, 21^st Reinforcements shows 7180 Sergeant William Edmond Jenyns, a commercial agent living in Sydney, N.S.W. was paid 10 shillings 6 pence of which 4 shillings was noted in his pay book 402036. It documents him as reenlisting and being previously 349 with the 26^th Battalion. Next of kin is still his brother, Herbert John of Upper Coomera. His religion is listed as Presbyterian. He had signed a statement that he had lodged his will with his brother and it was dated 25^th February 1918. The 19^th to 21^st reinforcements for the 26^th Battalion left Sydney on the SS Ormonde on 2^nd March 1918.

He was appointed V.O. Quarter Master Sergeant on the same date. The Ormonde arrived at Suez on 4^th April 1918 and on the 30^th he was transferred to Port Dewfish for embarkation to Southampton when he disembarked on 15^th May. On that date he also reverted to the permanent rank of Sergeant. On 3^rd June he was transferred to 49^th Battalion Details (12^th Training Battalion Codford) where he was until 11^th September. While he was there the Battalion captured the first German tank that the Allies captured, the Mephisto No. 506, which is now on display in Brisbane. Then he was transferred to 26^th Battalion on that date and proceeded to France on 4^th October and joined his unit on the 10^th October. He arrived after the Battalion had seen its last action of the war, the capture of Lormisset. On 22^nd October he proceeded to England for Infantry Cadet School.

As a Sergeant, on 12^th December 1918 he was marched into No. 20 from No. 5 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge in England until 20^th January 1919. A form dated 14^th January noted his standard of education was good, his ability to train a platoon was very fair, and his ability to command a platoon was good. He was appointed a probationary 2^nd Lieutenant in the 26^th Battalion AIF on 6^th January. He was then sent to Havre on 20^th January from England and on the 22^nd he was taken on strength of the 26^th Battalion from Officers Training Corps. In the Field he was to be a Lieutenant from 6^th April 1919. On 19^th May he proceeded to base for return to Australia.

Edmund is listed on AIF List 43C as 2^nd Lieutenant 26^th Battalion on 6^th January 1919 and he was on probation. From 6^th April 1919 he was to be Lieutenant in the 26^th Battalion. He returned to Australia on Ulysses, as per the roll, as Lieutenant Edmund William Jenyns of 26^th Battalion, on 22^nd July 1919 and was struck off strength on that date. His appointment was terminated on 29^th September 1919.

In the 1919 Electoral Roll he is listed as living at Tambourine Mountain, Southport and his occupation was carpenter. His brothers were listed in the Queensland Directory of 1919 as dairy farmers at Tambourine Mountain.

He was listed on the Reserve of Officers as 2^nd Lieutenant on 1^st January 1920. Also in 1920 he was listed in the Queensland Brand Directory as having the brand 7JE at Glasshouse Mountains, N.C. Railway.

Edmund married Daphne Doreen Batten Beilby in 1923. As nothing is listed in Queensland it is assumed they met or at least married in New Guinea. She was born in Queensland in 1901. Her father was a postmaster and moved around Queensland a bit. She was a fine piano player (as were her two sisters) and had been expertly trained in Brisbane. Her parents retired to the Gold Coast and lived in a house called “Beelbee”. In 1927 she attended a pre-wedding afternoon in Kelvin Grove so they must have been back in Queensland then.

Between 1929 and 1936 they made various trips to Queensland and New South Wales and it seems that sometimes Daphne made the trip by herself. She is listed on the Montoro, leaving from Sydney to Brisbane and then to Rabaul on 9^th November 1929. She then arrives back in Sydney on the same ship on 23^rd December 1930. Edmund is listed on the Marsina, arriving in Sydney on 15^th August 1931. They are both at Southport at a tennis club on 7^th October 1931 and Edmund departed on the Maodhul for New Guinea on 29^th October 1931 after spending several months in Southport. Daphne spent several months with her parents in Cairns in late 1934 and early 1935 before arriving in Southport to stay for several months. Daphne was also in Cairns in 1936, playing bridge at the Parish Hall. A note in his service record gives his address as Fileba Plantation, Kavieng, New Guinea and is dated 5^th September 1934.

In 1936 Daphne is listed as living in Southport but Edmund is not on the roll.

He was listed as a Lieutenant in the New Guinea Volunteer Reserve on 20^th January 1940 in Port Moresby. Edmund enlisted at Wau, Territory of New Guinea on 8^th December 1941 and was listed as a Temporary Captain from 3^rd March 1941 to 31^st August 1942. His service number was originally NGX350 and another number P980 is also listed in some records. He was then promoted to Captain on 1^st September 1942. He was listed as a Temporary Major from 30^th November 1942 to 23^rd February 1943 and was promoted to Major in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles on 24^th February 1943. Wau was part of the New Guinea goldfields and the NGVR was set up to defend certain strategic areas including there from enemy attack. He was part of B Company. He was then sent to Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit from 12^th March 1943 as the NGVR had ceased to be an effective force due to losses. ANGAU had been formed in 1942 as a civil administration of Papua New Guinea during World War 2. It was based in Port Moresby and undertook civil tasks of law and medical services. Its major roll was to organise land and labour resources for the war effort. They were highly regarded by the military. It was abolished after the war. Major Edmund William Jenyns was awarded a Mention in Despatches for “exceptional services in filed in S.W.P. Area” which was promulgated in the London gazette on 29^th May 1943 after being recommended in January 1943. The Australian War Memorial has him listed as Temporary Major NG2017 serving with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles. He was discharged on 1^st December 1945 as a Major in the ANGAU.

In December 1941 the New Guinea Administration requested the Australian Government to evacuate all non-essential personnel. Daphne was in the list of passengers who were evacuated by aircraft from various part of New Guinea over five days in December 1941. She was evacuated on 25^th December and her date of birth was noted as 1^st April 1902 (an error) and it states she was the wife of NGX350 Major Jenyns, Edmund William.

There is a document at National Archives listed as ANGPCB [Australian New Guinea Production Control Board] – Return of planters and employees – Jenyns, E W; Jenyns Plantation. It is dated after the war, so he obviously grew something there. There is also a box – Edmund William Jenyns and Daphne Doreen Batten Jenyns [0.5 cm; box 18] which is dated 1941 to 1947. Who knows what it may contain? Other records include JENYNS, Edmund William NGX350 – NGVR Pay ledger and history cards.

By the 1949 Electoral Roll they were living at “Beelbee” Pacific Highway, Tugun and no occupation was listed. In the 1954 and 1959 rolls they were living at Queen St. Southport and he had retired as listed.

Edmund passed away on 24^th December 1960. A death notice was placed in the Sydney Morning Herald on 30^th December stating that he died in Brisbane, late of Southport, formerly of New Guinea. It would appear they had no children.

Daphne continued to live at 21 Queens St. Southport as shown in the 1963 Electoral Roll. Where she went after that is not known, neither is when she died.

Edmund had a brother who also served in World War 1. Joshua Ernest Jenyns was born on 12^th January 1888 in Brisbane. Private 2170 Joshua Jenyns embarked with the 1^st to 8^th Reinforcements of the 25^th Infantry Battalion on 18^th September 1915 on HMAT Armadale A26. He was reported missing and later as being killed in action on 29^th July 1916. Joshua is remembered at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France. His name appeared in The Argus (Melbourne) in the list of missing as J. E. Jenyns, Upper Coomera. Edmund enquired to the Adjutant of the 26^th Battalion and was worried about what had happened to him, to which the reply states “this man was reported missing on 29-7-16 during an attack on Pozieres”. A step-brother, Robert Sylvester, born 1889, also served as Private 16411 in the 2^nd Divisional Train and left Australia on 21^st June 1917 and returned on 4^th July 1919.

The family had shares in the family company which produced Jenyns Corsets. They ran various advertisements in Brisbane newspapers. In 1927 Sarah Jenyns sued her husband Ebenezer Randolph (an older half-brother from Joshua’s first marriage) and other brothers including Edmund over the patent which they said was as improvement on her design and not an infringement. The case seemed to drag on with even the Judge remarking “that it was pathetic that his action should go on”. It appears the court case was awarded in favour of Sarah and she was paid court costs. She then had a nervous breakdown and recovered in 1928. She applied for an extension to the patent, but it appears it was not successful. There are numerous documents from the Patent Office stored at National Archives about the patent and extending it. The company continued to trade under various names until the 1990’s. Sarah died in 1952, aged 86. It is not known if the marriage survived given the previous court drama, but her husband is mentioned in the obituary. Even in death there were court cases over her will. Her husband, Ebenzer Randolphus also had a patent for “improvements in the construction of wrought metal wheels” in 1895.

Other Jenyns family members served in World War 2. QX 9809 Private Leslie Roy Jenyns was killed in action on New Guinea on 1^st January 1943. He was the son of Herbert John, Edmunds eldest brother. His brothers Eric and Leslie also served. John Richard Thompson Jenyns also served and was discharged as a Major in the 15^th Battalion. He was the son of Ebenezer, the older step-brother mentioned above. It appears he may have worked with Edmund in New Guinea.

More information on Edmund and the family would be ascertained if the files at National Archives about them were online, a lot are open, but not available online.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War medal and Victory medal with oak leaf, 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal with oak leaf and Australian Service Medal.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Staff Sergeant Charles William Cowper MM

7th Field Ambulance AAMC AIF

by Robert Simpson

Charles William Cowper was born in the parish of St George in Edinburgh Scotland on 12^th January 1881 at 7.10 am in 11 Scotland St, which was his parent’s home. His parents were James Beattie Cowper and Catherine N MacKintosh who had been married on 4^th September 1868 in Scotland. On the census from 1871 to 1901 James’s occupation was merchant, grocer and wine merchant, and then grocer until his death in 1909. James’s father, William, had been a Schoolmaster in Logie Pert parish, Angus. Catherine had been a dressmaker before her marriage. Her father, John, had been a Church Officer. Charles was one of seven children to James and Catherine, the third of four brothers and the second youngest. In the 1871 census they were living at 10 Dublin St. Edinburgh St. Mary and also for the 1891 census. In the 1881 census they were living at 11 Scotland St. and by the 1901 census they were living at 59 Comely Bank Rd. Edinburgh. James passed away in 1909 at St. George Edinburgh. In the 1891 census Charles was listed as a scholar and in the 1901 he was still living with his parents and was a brewer’s clerk.

On 27^th April 1903 he attested with the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private 4 with the Royal Army Medical Corps Militia Scottish District Company and signed on for 6 years with them. The form stated he was born in St. Cuthbert Edinburgh and was currently living at 88 88 Newhaven Road Leith where he worked as a Clerk at a business in Newhaven. He had not been an apprentice. He listed previous service with the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade, Royal Scots with time expired. They were a part of self-supporting companies that were raised in the mid 1800’s. Listed on the form as next of kin were his father James B Cowper at 13 Grosvenor Terrace Glasgow, which seems a bit odd as for the rest of his life he lived in Edinburgh after his marriage. His brother James was also mentioned, but the handwriting is so poor that his address is unreadable. Charles had completed 90 days drill on 23^rd April 1903 and passed the class at Depot RAMC at Aldershot on the same date. His description was apparent age 23 years, height 5 foot 6 inches, weight 142 pounds, chest measurement 32 to 35 inches, fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian and had 4 vaccination scars on his left arm with no other marks. An officer noted “I consider the man suitable for the RAMCM”. He was considered fit by other officers and appointed on the 30^th April. There is nothing else noted about his time with them. He purchased his discharge from them on 15^th February 1904. What brought him to Australia in not known, but on 18^th August 1912 he departed Glasgow, bound for Sydney on the Warilda. He arrived in Sydney in October 1912. Where he went after that and what he did is not known. There is a Charles William Cowper in the 1913 Electoral Roll in Gayndah as a farm hand on Cedar Farm, Mount Debatable which could be him; but by 1915 he was in Toowoomba and working as a clerk.

On 17^th April 1915 Charles attested as Private 3560 in the 7^th Light Horse Field Ambulance, A Section, Bearer Sub Division. He enlisted in Toowoomba where he was working as a clerk and stated his age as 34 years and 4 months. He listed previous service as three years with the Queens Rifle Volunteer Brigade (Royal Scots) and he had been discharged due to completion of term of embodiment. No mention of his time with the RAMCM or purchasing his discharge. His description was height 5 foot 6.25 inches, weight 140 pounds, chest measurement 34 to 35.5 inches, of dark complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. He had a T shaped scar on the right side of his abdomen. His pay-book number was 196725. Next of kin was listed as his Mother, Catherine Cowper, 59 Comely Bank Rd. Edinburgh Scotland. They embarked on HMAT Acsanius A11 on 24^th May 1915 from Brisbane. He proceeded to join the M.E.F. at Gallipoli on 4^th September 1915.

Charles was promoted to wagon orderly Corporal Temporary on 17^th November 1915. They disembarked from the Minnewaska at Alexandria on 10^th January 1916 after being evacuated from Gallipoli. With the 7^th Field Ambulance on 14^th March 1916 he embarked for overseas at Alexandria on the Minneapolis and disembarked at Marseilles on the 19^th. On 2^nd April 1916 his rank of Corporal pack storekeeper was confirmed at Fort Romfu, France. He was temporarily to be Sergeant general duties on 31^st May 1916 and was then confirmed with the rank of Sergeant on 18^th July.

On 17^th June 1916, while with the 7^th Field Ambulance he was recommended for the Military Medal with the entry reading, “3560 Cpl. (temp. Sgt.) Charles William COWPER for constant and unfailing devotion to duty as a bearer, Gallipoli Peninsula from 13.9.15 until evacuation”.

In the London Gazette of 27^th October 1916, page 10486, position 57 has “His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the undermentioned Non-Commissioned Officers and men- 3560 Sjt. C. W. Cowper, Aust. A.M.C”. His mother was sent a letter on 25^th April 1917 citing the above information about him being awarded the Military Medal.

On 8^th November 1916 he was sent to the Casualty Rest Station, being sick. He was admitted to the 1^st Australian General Hospital on the 10^th with debility and constipation and was transferred to a couple of hospitals in England on 14^th November 1916 with debility and discharged to duty on the 25^th. A note indicated he left his unit on 8^th November with constipation, giddiness and headaches and now felt weak, with the headaches and giddiness improved. He was readmitted on 13^th December with occasional giddiness and was graded B1. He spent most of the rest of 1917 in England and was sent to Rouelles in France, where he arrived on 3^rd January 1918. He was transferred to the 6th Field Ambulance. His company conduct sheet was clear. He was taken on strength of the 6^th Field Ambulance on the 5^th. On the 9^th July 1918 he was admitted to the 6^th Field Ambulance, the 5^th Casualty Clearing Station and then the 1^st Australian General Hospital at Rouen with a Ventral Hernia. He was sent to Havre on the 24^th and then to England on the 8^th August.

Charles was listed as permanently unfit for general service but fit for home service on 16^th August 1918 at 1 Group Monte Video Camp A.M.C., No. 2 Australian Command Depot at Weymouth by Colonel Newmarch. His medical chart show he had a ventral hernia prior to enlistment, which caused acute peritonitis in April 1909. He had an operation on it which left the T shaped scar. The hernia and scar was painful and he was graded at C1. He was sent to Tetbury from the hospital in Weymouth for duty at the Australian Field General Hospital on 21st September 1918. On 14th December he was promoted to temporary Staff Sergeant.

In January 1919 he gave his address to the army as c/o Mrs Taysum, Market Place, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. A Medical Certificate issued on 5^th March 1919 by Colonel Bernard Newmarch and Major Edgar Stephen stated the Charles was suffering from a ventral hernia. He had a history of acute peritonitis in 1909 for which an urgent abdominal section was performed. It was first noticed in October 1915 when he was carrying a stretcher. They noted there was a small ventral hernia at the lower end of the vertical scar and it was the result of weakness in the scar tissue, aggravated by strain and stress. They said he was not the cause of it and it was present since October 1915. They recommended he was partially incapacitated from work for a period of 6 months and lost 20% of his earning power. He was discharged from the 6^th Field Ambulance, Australian Imperial Force on 6^th March 1919 from their London office on behalf of the Director-General of Repatriation and Demobilisation, being discharged in consequence of being medically unfit. Charles was issued with a Silver War Badge, number A14404, after signing for it and was entitled to four blue Chevrons for overseas service but no wound distinctions. He served for 3 years and 324 days. His description was the same, with his age being 39 years and 1 month. He received all his active and deferred pay over 43 pounds on that day, signed for it and his parchment of discharge was number A601, which he received.

He married Ada Taysum in June 1919. Ada Redding was born in July 1866 in Gloucestershire to James Redding and Emma Jenkins. She had originally married Ernest William Walker in 1889 and had two children to him, Reginald Ernest in 1890 and Alec James in 1899. In the 1891 and 1901 census they lived in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and Ernest was listed as a printer or printer-compositor. Presumably it was that occupation which lead to his early death on 24^th December 1909. He was buried in Chesterton Cemetery on 29^th December 1909. Ada then married Harry Taysum in April 1911 in Tetbury, after she had moved there and opened a tobacco shop which she ran in Market Place. Harry had been born in 1873 in Stroud. Harry Joined the Gloucestershire Hussars or Yeomanry as Private 1985 in 1914 and was posted to Egypt, landing there on 24^th April 1915. They were sent to Gallipoli, where he died of wounds on 12^th October 1915. He is buried at Lala Baba Cemetery at Suvla. It looks like Ada did not get his medals, with a note on his Medal Index Card requesting instructions re the disposal of medals in 1920.

One of Ada’s sons from her first marriage also served in World War 1. Reginald Ernest Walker was born in 1890 in Cirencester. He joined on 7th March 1917 as Private 59059 in the Infantry Labour Company Devon Regiment and was transferred to unit 175 Labour Corps as Private 104816. He married in 1918. He was discharged on 10th February 1919. His occupation was listed as a hairdresser. He was entitled to the British War and Victory medals.

Charles and Ada continued to live in Tetbury where Ada ran her tobacco shop, now at 3 Church St. She was listed in various Directories in 1923 and 1925 at that address as a tobacconist. His mother passed away on 26^th March 1926, still at 59 Comely Bank Road. On 3^rd August 1938 Ada passed away in Cirencester. Probate for his will states “COWPER Ada of 18 Tower-street Cirencester Gloucestershire (Wife of Charles William Cowper) died 3 August 1938 Probate Gloucester 12 September to Midland Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited. Effects 665 pounds 10 shillings and 9 pence.” This must have been a blow to Charles, and with his ill-health, took its’ toll, as on 23^rd February 1939 he committed suicide.

The following newspaper articles give some insight to his last years in England:-

1. From Western Daily Press 24/02/1939

Tetbury Man Found Dead At Home

Mr Charles William Cowper, who until recently was in business as a tobacconist at Tetbury, has been found dead in a gas-filled room at his home in Tower Street, Cirencester. His wife died a few weeks ago. (Not strictly correct, it was August 1938). Mrs and Mrs Cowper sold their business at Tetbury and opened a boarding-house at Cirencester. Mr Cowper served with the Australian Forces during the War, and later was stationed at the Australian Flying Corps aerodrome at Leighterton, near Tetbury. He was about 55 years of age, and lately had had an acute attack of influenza.

2. Western Daily Press 27/02/1939

Man’s Gas Death

Cirencester Story of Ill-Health

Fight To Save Him

A two-hours’ fight in an endeavour to save a man’s life was described at an inquest at Cirencester this afternoon on Charles William Cowper, aged 53, of Tower-street, who was found dead in a gas-filled bedroom at his home last evening. A verdict of suicide while his mind was temporary unbalanced was returned. It was revealed by Frederick William Angell, a butcher, of Sheep-street, Cirencester, brother-in-law of deceased, that Mr Cowper wrote a letter in which he stated his intention to take his life. (He married Ada’s sister, Matilda Ann). Mr. Angell said his brother-in-law had undergone an operation two years ago and had since been in ill-health. He saw him on February 20, when he was feeling unwell and depressed. Graham Jack Brooks, a chemist, who lodged with Mr. Cowper, said that he last saw him at lunch. Mr. Cowper said he intended to take a hot bath and go to bed.

Warning Note

Gordon Douglas-Jones, another lodger, said he went home at 4.55p.m. and found a note awaiting him in which Mr. Cowper warned him not to go upstairs because of gas, and suggested that the police should be sent for. Mr. Douglas-Jones said he went to find Mr. Brookes, and together they went by car to the police station and then back to the house. D.C. A. Owner, who returned with them, said that Mr. Cowper was lying in bed with clothes over his head. A flexible tube nine feet long attached to a gas fire led under the bedclothes to a point near the man’s head. Cotton wool had been placed beneath the door, and the flu of the chimney was closed. The body was still warm, and with assistance of Dr. J. E. Winter, other police officers, and ambulance men, artificial respiration was tried for two hours without success. D.C. Owner added “I took possession of several letters addressed to friends and relatives. They all referred to the fact that the deceased was about to take his life.” Dr. Winter mentioned that in addition to artificial respiration he gave injections and used an oxygen cylinder. Death was caused by carbon monoxide due to coal gas poisoning.

3. Western Daily Press 27/02/1939

That death was due to coal gas poisoning, self-administered, whilst his mind was unbalanced, was the verdict returned at an inquest held at Cirencester on Charles William Cowper, of Tower Street, Cirencester, formerly of Tetbury. It was stated that Cowper had been suffering from influenza and was depressed.

The 1^st Training Wing of the Australian Flying Corps had its’ headquarters based in Tetbury by 1918. Presumably as Charles was there in a medical capacity, this would explain how he met Ada. After the war he must have become a Special Constable. A Special Constable has all the legal powers of their regular counterparts when on and off duty, but at the time Charles was one, their powers were restricted to within their force areas and neighbouring forces only. They were also generally unpaid. Their uniform was generally identical to their regular colleagues, with additional insignia to identify them. To receive the Queen’s Medal for Long Service, he had to complete nine years’ service with a minimum of fifty tours of duty for each year and be recommended by a chief officer of Police.

He was buried in Chesterton Cemetery Gloucestershire on 25^th February 1939.

His medals are the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge. He also has a Special Constabulary Long Service Medal.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Lieutenant Brian Walton Onslow MiD

11th King Edwards Own Lancers (Probyns Horse), Indian Army,

Anzac Corps Headquarters.

by Robert Simpson

Brian Walton Onslow was born in Chatham Kent on 24^th August 1892, a son to Gerald Charles Penrice Onslow and Flora Frances Mary Donald. He was one of six children and of four boys in the family. His parents were married on 16^th November 1880 in Cheltenham Glostershire. Brian was their youngest child. Gerald served in the Royal Engineers and rose to the rank of Colonel. He comes from a family which has a distinguished military history in the navy and army with family members attaining the rank of Admiral or General. In 1687 the 1^st Baronet of Onslow was created by Brian’s 5xGreat-Grandfather and it was passed down through various lines of the family. By the 1901 census Brian was already living away from home and was a border at Eredine on Filsham Road in Hastings with an older brother Eric. He was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In the 1911 census he was a Gentleman Cadet at Sandhurst Royal Military College in Camberley Surrey. As stated on the census it was a college for training officers for the army.

He was listed in the Indian Army Quarterly List of January 1912 as a 2^nd Lieutenant (from 6^th September 1911) with the 2^nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment and also under remarks it has unattached list. By the 1^st World War he was with the 11^th King Edward’s Own Lancers (Probyn’s Horse) as part of the Indian Army and was with the ANZAC forces at Gallipoli as Aide de Camp to Lieutenant General Sir William R Birdwood, K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O. Birdwwod had been with him in the same regiment in India and wanted him on his staff.

He took part in the landings at the Dardanelles on 25^th April 1915. On 28^th July he was killed at Gallipoli and was buried at Anzac Cove in Beach Cemetery II F 6. He was Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 5^th November 1915, but no indication is noted on his medal index card. A few comments by Charles Bean in a couple of different books he wrote give and idea of what happened to him. Birdwood’s headquarters on Anzac were in the most dangerous area of the beach. Brian had a habit of sleeping outdoors in the hot summer. He was sleeping on the roof of his shelter that hot night in July when a shell from Beachy Bill hit and killed him.

From De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour about Brian “General Sir William Birdwood wrote of him: “A finer fellow or better example of a true English gentleman never lived. A son of whom any mother must always have been most justly proud. Never out of temper, always doing what he could to help others, able far above the average. I had hoped a brilliant career was in store for him. Every individual here regrets and feels his death. I have lost the best and bravest of officers, the truest and trustiest of friends”: and a brother officer: “Few people could be so ill-spared. I never met or hope to meet a more lovable character; best at everything he ever did, both in work and play, and always so cheerful. I never heard anyone say anything but good of him, and he was quite the most popular officer both with the men and in the mess.” Admiral …… wrote from the Dardanelles: “He was a splendid young fellow. We on board only knew him for a few months, but in that short time he made himself very popular with us all. Everybody liked him and admired him, and we looked on him as the true ideal of a British soldier. I fully realise what a great loss his services must be to Gen. Birdwood and to the Service generally.” And the Principal of Cheltenham College: “He has left and influence and power behind him that many an older man would be proud to leave.” While at Cheltenham he won a mathematical scholarship, and was one of the most prominent members of the hockey eleven and football fifteen. He was a keen athlete, a good polo player, pigsticker, golfer, etc. Two of his brothers and two brothers-in-law are (1916) serving either in the Army or Navy. His eldest brother, Lieut-Commander A. G. Onslow, D.S.C., was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland, 1^st June 1916.”

Probate for his will was granted on 11^th December to Flora Onslow widow (his mother). His address was listed as Camperdown Crowborough Sussex. Effects of over 385 pounds was listed. He is listed in Commonwealth War Graves index no. G1 30 Beach Cemetery Anzac page 32 and De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Volume 1 page 274.

Beach Cemetery

His medals were issued by the Government of India as he was part of the Indian Army and he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals which were issued to his mother after her applying for them. The address given was “The Ladies Army and Navy Club, Burlington Gardens, W. He was noted as deceased on the medal index card and there was no qualifying date written.

All of his brothers also served in the war.

The eldest, Arthur Gerald, was born in North Western Provence India in 1886. The 1901 census shows him to be a Naval Cadet on Britannia at Dartmouth. By the 1911 census he was an Executive Lieutenant on HM Torpedo Boat 18 in Stangate Creek Sheerness. In 1912 he married Elsie Hinde Crouch. His service record is quite detailed and shows him going from various ships and how his conduct and ability grew until it stated he was a “good decisive leader”. He has a few mishaps however with a couple of collisions reported which were his fault. In 1913 he was a Lieutenant and they were living at 274 High St Kent. On 1 June 1916 while commanding the HMS Onslaught he was wounded in action at Jutland and died 10 hours later. During the battle, with other destroyers, the Onslaught sunk a damaged German destroyer and then fired torpedoes at the SMS Pommern, scoring a direct hit on a magazine which exploded and sunk it. Immediately after that a shell from the SMS Schleswig-Holstein struck the bridge causing casualties including, eventually Arthur. He was buried in plot 659 Queensferry Municipal Cemetery Edinburgh. For his service, he was awarded 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.

Milo Richard Beaumont Onslow was the second son, born in 1888 in Cheltenham Gloucestershire. In 1901 he was a boarder at a school at Ticehurst Sussex. He was first commissioned as a British officer in the Indian Army on 19^th January 1907 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 19^th April 1909 and was with the 21^st Cavalry. As part of his service in India with the Mohmund Expedition, he was entitled to the India General Service medal with North West Frontier 1908 clasp. He sserved attached to the 33rd Light Cavalry from November 1914. As a Captain in the Indian Cavalry he was awarded a MiD which was published in the London Gazette on 12^th June 1917. On 5^th November 1917 he was killed in action according to CWGC. His probate says he died at the 19^th Casualty Clearing Station in Mesopotamia (at Samarrah) on the 5^th. In De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour he is listed as Captain and Adjutant 21^st Cavalry Frontier Force Indian Army. It also notes he was educated at Eastbourne and Royal Military College Sandhurst and he served with the Indian Expeditionary Force from November 1914. He was wounded in the Persian Gulf at Shaiba in April 1915 and again at the Battle of Ctesiphon in November 1916 and he died at the Casualty Clearing Station in 1917 as above, of wounds received the same day. Apparently he was wounded in an air raid on that day. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals which his mother applied for in 1918. They were issued by the Indian Government. He was buried in the Baghdad War Cemetery (North Gate) in plot II. C. 10.

His eldest sister, Dora Frances, was born about 1882 and married Claud Frederick Pilkington Parry. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Field Artillery and was killed in action on 20^th August 1918. He had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned in Despatches eight times. He was also entitled to a trio. She did not remarry and lived until 1957.

Violet Isabel Onslow was the second sister in the family and second eldest, born in 1882 in India. Maybe a twin, but no birth dates to confirm. She married Alan Goring, who rose to the rank of Major with the 20^th Hussars and fought in the second Boer War. He was entitled to the Queens South Africa medal with clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and 1902. They both lived until the mid-1940’s in England.

The last of the family and second youngest brother was Eric Montague Onslow who was born in 1890 in Aden, India. By 1901 he was in England and a boarder at Eredine, Filsham Rd. Hastings. On 4^th October 1910, while a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was promoted to be a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. By the 1911 census he was in Bombay with the 1^st Royal Warwickshire Regiment. During WW1 he served with the 2^nd Battalion R.W.R. and landed in France on 4^th October 1914. As part of the 7^th Division they served at the Western Front until 1918 when the Division went to Italy. He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1919 as a Captain in the 2^nd R.W.R. It was for gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity. So he was a POW at some stage, but when he was captured is not mentioned anywhere. He returned to India after the war, where he married Nona Osborne Wilshire in St. Martins Church Kashmir on 1^st September 1927. She was born in 1900 in Australia. Before marrying she had travelled a few times to England and back to Australia. By the early 1930’s they had moved back to England and he had been promoted to Major. In 1936 Eric retired on retirement pay and they moved to Melbourne. What he did then is not documented, but on electoral rolls in the 1940’s and 1950’s he is listed as a Military Officer and they are living at 15a Tintern Ave. Toorak. There are no service records for him for WW2 in Australia, but they may be with his other records in India. In the 1960’s he appears to have retired and they have moved to 38 Woodside Cres. Toorak. He died in 1969 and his remains were scattered in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery. Nona died in 1976. He was issued the 1914 Star with Clasp and Rosette and the British War and Victory medals with Emblem.

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women

whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the

Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,

Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.