Sydney Harold BARKER
Service No: 3117
Rank: Private
Unit: 57th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Born 26/5/1893, Jan Juc
Son of William and Ellen Barker from Torquay
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a laborer – cleaner – trapper
Sydney enlisted 24/10/1916 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 16/12/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A7 Medic
Served in France
Returned to Australia 1/4/1919
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– TIA
– Barrabool Shire
After completion of his overseas active service, Sydney returned to Torquay continuing to work as a trapper. In 1923 he married Elizabeth Drew and they continued to live at Torquay until the mid 1930s when they moved to Queenscliff and Sydney worked as a labourer. He died at Geelong in 1974.
Henry James Thomas BARTROP
Service No: 1291
Rank: Trooper
Unit: 8th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement
Born 1893, Chilwell
Son of Joseph and Annie Bartrop from St. Kilda
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Henry enlisted 8/09/1915 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 9/09/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A70 Ballarat
Served in Egypt
Returned to Australia 22/11/1916
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board
After his service in the war Henry returned to St. Kilda and married Catherine McKay in 1918. They had one son. He worked for the tramways for a number of years. When they moved to Malvern in the mid 1930s he became a grocer until retirement at Mildura. Henry died 1958 aged 65.
Harold BRIGGS
Service No: 764
Rank: Private
Unit: 29th Battalion
Born 1895, Geelong
Son of William and Mary Briggs from Geelong East
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a teamster on farm
Harold enlisted 20/07/1915 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 10/11/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A11 Ascanius
Served in Egypt, France
Killed in Action 13/9/1916
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Harold Briggs (1895 – 1916) was born in Geelong, the fifth of five children to James and Mary (nee Moyses) Briggs. He was a 20 year old teamster on a local farm when he enlisted at Melbourne on 20 July 1915 and was initially attached to 59th Coy training at Seymour before transferring to C Coy, 29th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements machine gun section, training at Broadmeadows. Harold embarked with his unit from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915 arriving at Suez on 7 December. With six months further training while in Egypt the unit arrived in France on 23 June 1916. The 29th Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. The nature of this battle was summed up by one 29th soldier: “the novelty of being a soldier wore off in about five seconds, it was like a bloody butcher’s shop”. From Fromelles they billeted at Bac St. Muir and spent a lot of time rebuilding the old front line and communication trenches as well as training focusing on rifle and grenade training. They engaged in combat again at the front line at Fleurbaix – Bac St. Maur. While in the trenches here Harold was killed on 13 September and buried at the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery.
John Joseph CANTWELL
Service No: 368
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: 8th Battalion, C Company
Born 1889, Geelong
Son of John and Alice Cantwell from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a contractor
John enlisted 24/08/1914 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 19/10/1914 from Melbourne on HMAT A24 Benalla
Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front
He was decorated with the Military Medal
Killed in Action 25/10/1917
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board
At the age of 25 John, a contractor from Freshwater Creek enlisted at Geelong two weeks after recruitment started in Australia. He was assigned as a Private to C Coy of the 8th Infantry Battalion training at Broadmeadows. John set sail for overseas with the first contingent on 25 October 1917 aboard the HMAT A24 Benalla. The first port of call was Albany, WA and by the end of December there were seventeen ships ready to set sail for Colombo before anchoring off Suez. With the Turks attacking ships going through the Canal the 8th Battalion stopped at Ismailia to support the British troops there. The 8th Battalion later took part in the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the second wave. Ten days after the landing, the 8th Battalion along with the rest of the 2nd Brigade was transferred from Gallipoli to Cape Helles to help in the attack on the village of Krithia. The attack captured little ground but cost the brigade almost a third of its strength. They returned to Gallipoli to help defend the beachhead, and in August the 2nd Brigade fought at the battle of Lone Pine. They served at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December when the battalion returned to Egypt.
While in Egypt John was promoted to Corporal just before the battalion sailed for France in March 1916. During May and June John was sent to hospital in England with Influenza. He returned to his unit in France where it was heavily involved in operations against the German Army at the Western Front. However, first major action by the battalion was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July, then at Ypres, in Flanders, returning to the Somme for winter. By this time John had been promoted to Sergeant.
In May 1917 John fought in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. He was later awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 6 and 9 May. The report of his action states that “while the Battalion was in occupation of the Hindenburg line near Bullecourt, France. Sgt. Cantwell did splendid work in repelling counter-attacks and reorganising the line under continuous and furious bombardment. He worked unceasingly and fearlessly without sleep and set a splendid example to his men. Sergeant Cantwell has been with the battalion since its inception and with the exception of ten days leave, has never been away” Brg General M. Bennett, endorsed by Lt. Gen. Birdwood.
On 4 October 1917, John was part of the division that captured Broodseinde Ridge which was a vital victory for the allies. But then it began to rain and the 2nd Division suffered heavily in a further attack in the mud. On 9 and 12 October the Battle of Passchendaele began with the allied attackers nearing exhaustion as the Germans increased their manpower and aided their defence with the use of mustard gas (as opposed to chlorine gas used previously) which resulted in chemical burns. On 23 October the battalion moved from the barracks at Ypres to Westhoek Ridge to relieve the 15th Battalion. Here they encountered heavy shelling, severe weather conditions with mud knee deep everywhere. The men had practically no cover. During the heavy enemy barrages and persistent shelling with heavy calibre guns John was killed in action on 25 October, he was 28 years old. There is no known grave for him so he is commemorated at The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 7), Belgium.
Herbert John Cyril CARMICHAEL
Service No: 2636
Rank: Private
Unit: 46th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
Born 1896, Geelong
Son of William and Susan Carmichael from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Herbert enlisted 11/07/1916 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 20/10/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A17 Port Lincoln
Served in France
Returned to Australia 2/6/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After returning from the war Herbert, known as ‘Curley’ or Bert, returned to farming at ‘Forest View’, Freshwater Creek for a few years. He married Irene Pengilley in 1927 and shortly after they moved to Mildura for a short time before settling in Moyhu around 1936. They had two children. On 12 Sep 1940 Herbert enlisted in the Australian Army once again. He was a Captain at the time of his discharge in December 1943. The family packed up again in the late 1940s and moved to Mooroopna North where Herbert worked as a grazier, stock and station agent as well as a real estate agent. Herbert died at Shepparton in 1977. (source: Photos and text Peter Spark)
James Allan DUPREE
Service No: 5333
Rank: Private
Unit: 50th Battalion
Born 1884, Hindmarsh, SA
Son of Noah and Mary Dupree from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a clerk
James enlisted 17/12/1915 at Adelaide as a married man
He embarked for overseas 12/08/1916 from Adelaide on HMAT A70 Ballarat
Served in France
Returned to Australia 1/1/1920
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Bellbrae
– Freshwater Creek
James returned after his service in the war to live in Geelong for a short time where May and their daughter were living. He worked as a grocer, the same occupation he held before enlisting. Then they moved to South Australia where James died in 1939.
Francis FORSTER
Service No: 72205
Rank: Private
Unit: depot – 8TH EGSR
Born 21/7/1897, Mt Duneed
Son of Johann and Rachel Forster from Mt. Duneed
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Francis enlisted 1/08/1918 at Melbourne as a single man
He didn’t embark for overseas. The demobilisation of the AIF in December 1918 provided Francis with 177 days of training.
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After leaving the AIF he didn’t return to farming, however stayed living in Freshwater Creek as a labourer. He married Alma Hill in 1935 then shifted to Mannerim, farming in 1937, retiring in Whittington not long before he died at Geelong in 1972.
Harold Thorpe FULLER
Service No: 3103
Rank: Private
Unit: 58th Infantry Battn
Born 1894, Black Flat Oakleigh
Son of Jacob and Caroline Fuller from Barwon Heads
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Harold enlisted 17/07/1915 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 26/11/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A73 Commonwealth
Served in France
Returned to Australia 5/3/1919
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barwon Heads
– Barrabool
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
Harold returned home to Connewarre working as a labourer before moving to Geelong after his marriage to Evelyn Gainger in 1922. Harold died at Heidelberg in 1961.
Andrew Miller FULLER
Service No: 3538
Rank: Private
Unit: 29th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Born 1884, Mt Duneed
Son of Robert and Susannah Fuller from Connewarre East
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Andrew enlisted 17/04/1916 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 1/08/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A67 Orsova
Served in France
Killed in Action 26/9/1917
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barwon Heads
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Sth Barwon Shire
Albert Clement HALL
Service No: 1952
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: 8th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Born 1/1/1891, Port Melbourne
Son of John and Dinah Hall from Berringa
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Albert enlisted 18/01/1915 at Ballarat as a single man
He embarked for overseas 17/04/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A20 Hororata
Served in Western Front
He was decorated with the Military Medal
Military Cross
Returned to Australia 12/6/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After returning to Australia near the end of the war, Albert married Gladys Donelan in 1924 at Albury, NSW. They lived in Croydon and Albert worked as a clerk. In 1939 he enlisted in WW2 returning to Croydon after that war. Albert died at Heidelberg in 1971.
Russell Highfield HAWSE
Service No: 967
Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: 23rd Battalion, C Company
Born 1893, Kilmore
Son of John and Evees Hawse from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a salesman
Russell enlisted 27/03/1915 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 10/05/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A14 Euripides
Served in Gallipoli, Eypt, France, Belgium
Killed in Action 9/10/1917
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Richard Frederick HUNT
Service No: 51376
Rank: Private
Unit: 2nd General (Victorian) Reinforcements
Born 28/10/1897, Waurn Ponds
Son of John and Mary Hunt from Pettavel
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Richard enlisted 1/02/1918 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 1/05/1918 from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides
Served in France
Returned to Australia 22/7/1919
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Waurn Ponds
– Anglesea
Richard returns home from the war to farm at Moriac. He died at ‘Koonwarra’ Private Hospital, Armadale in 1922.
Charles KEITH
Service No: 5038
Rank: Private
Unit: Aust Veterinary Corps Hospital
Born 1877, Mt Duneed
Son of Andrew and Elizabeth Keith from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Charles enlisted 2/02/1916 at Longwarry as a single man
He embarked for overseas 3/07/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A33 Ayrshire
Served in France
Returned to Australia 9/4/1919
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Barrabool
After returning home from the war Charles headed for Berwick where he worked as a farmer. He died there in 1940.
William James KENYON
Service No: 3812
Rank: Private
Unit: 29th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
Born 5/11/1898, Adelaide
Son of John and Charlotte Kenyon from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a millhand
William enlisted 25/07/1916 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 19/09/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A73 Commonwealth
Served in France
Discharged in England 8/5/1923
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
William was discharged September 1919 in England with the intention of working at the Imperial War Graves Commission. He married Florence three months later. He returned to Australia in May 1925 with his wife and two children. They lived in Geelong and had another three children. William worked as a telephone linesman and re-enlisted during World War 2. He died at Geelong in 1989.
Leslie Frederick LEIBHARDT
Service No: 57438
Rank: Private
Unit: 4th General Service Reinforcements (Egypt) (Victoria)
Born 22/9/1899, Freshwater Creek
Son of Frederick and Henrietta Leibhardt from Belmont
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a horse Driver
Leslie enlisted 27/04/1918 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 17/08/1918 from Sydney on HMAT A15 Port Sydney
Served in Egypt
Returned to Australia 3/9/1919
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
After the war Frederick married Ruby Bench in 1921. They lived in Newtown with their daughter. Frederick worked as a quarryman initially, in 1931 and later he was working as a labourer, then boiler attendant. He died at Geelong in 1976.
Frederick George MARGRIE
Unit: Depot
Born 1891, Melbourne
Son of Florence and John Owen from Queenscliff
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a hospital wardsman
Frederick enlisted 3/03/1916 at Ballarat as a single man.
Frederick enlisted twice and each time his request was denied because of poor eyesight.
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
The following year he married Florence McGrath in 1917. His occupation at the time was as clerk. They lived in Ballarat, Frederick’s occupation was a woodworker. In 1942 Frederick moved to Footscray working as a fettler.
Edmund John MARSH
Service No: 5730
Rank: Private
Unit: 5th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
Born 1898, Langwarrin
Son of Edwin and Anne Marsh from Wandin
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Edmund enlisted 21/02/1916 at Melbourne as a Single man
He embarked for overseas 4/04/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A14 Euripides
Served in France
Returned to Australia 12/6/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After the war Edmund worked in farming across Victoria – Lilydale, Camberwell North, Euroa, Tatura and Ararat. On this journey with him was Pearl Bowden whom he married in 1929. They appeared to have gone their separate ways after 1963. Edmund moved to Kyabram then in 1972 he was living in Murchison, WA where he died in 1979.
John Manson McCANN
Service No:
Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (E)
Unit: Royal Australian Navy – Engineer Midshipman
Born 1897, Geelong
Son of Robert and Emily McCann from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as apprentice engineer
John enlisted 1/05/1917 at Geelong as a single man
He served aboard mine-sweeper H.M.A.S. Gannot patrolling the seas around Rottnest Island
Demobilisation occurred on 30/9/1921
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Barrabool
– Freshwater Creek
– Sth Barwon
John entered the Citizen Naval Forces of the R.A.N.R. in Geelong during 1898. At the time he was undertaking his engineering apprenticeship with Geelong engineering company Humble & Sons. In 1916 they relieved John from his indentures allowing him to volunteer for active service. One enlisted in the Navy John undertook a special course of midshipman training at Port Melbourne Naval Depot, subsequently returning to Geelong as Engineer Midshipman serving as an Office of Guard at Geelong and North Geelong.
John later entered training at H.M.A.S. Cerberus Naval Depot at Williamstown for further training, specialising in the engineering branches. Here he received his appointment as Acting Sub-Lieutenant [E] [provisional]. The appointment was subsequently confirmed in the Navy List 1/4/1918 p22A with the seniority back dated to 1/5/1917.
Following this period of training, John was appointed to H.M.A.S. Brisbane. He caught the train to Fremantle to take up the appointment only to find out on arrival the Captain didn’t want him. Consequently he was appointed to Officer in Charge of Guard at Victoria Quay, Fremantle, until the transfer to H.M.A.S. Gannot arrived. John was afloat on patrol duties and attached to various stations for mine-sweeping around Rottnest Island and instructional work.
This appointment was terminated at armistice. John then returned via steamer to Port Melbourne for demobilization.
After leaving the navy John travelled back to Western Australia and married Faith Cullen in 1924.
Charles John McKENZIE
Service No: 4240
Rank: Private
Unit: 5th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
Born 1894, Ballarat
Son of Hugh and Annie McKenzie from Windsor
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a waiter
Charles enlisted 5/08/1915 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 29/12/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A64 Demosthenes
Served in France
Returned to Australia 7/2/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Charles relationship with Freshwater Creek prior to the war was that his brother, Leslie Gordon McKenzie was enrolled at Freshwater Creek Primary School by their uncle John Cantwell. Leslie and Charles’ parents marriage had broken down so it appears John has helped support the family by caring for Leslie. Charles stayed with his mother and was living with her in Richmond at the time of enlistment. When he returned from the war he again lived with his mother and worked as a waiter. In 1921 he was working as a hotel porter when he married Annie Downes. They lived in Kooyong before moving back to Richmond briefly then settling in at Fitzroy. After initially working in hospitality, Charles worked as a labourer during the 1930’s and had returned to working as waiter by 1943. He died at Parkville in 1969.
James Joseph MOUSHALL
Service No: 880
Rank: Private
Unit: 29th Battalion, C Company
Born 1876, Modewarre
Son of Joseph and Bridget Moushall from Tallarook
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
James enlisted 8/07/1915 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 10/11/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A11 Ascanius
Served in Egypt, France
Returned to Australia 8/4/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After his service in the war James returned to Freshwater Creek to work as a labourer. He had lived here in the early 1900’s with his family before moving to Kyabram to work. Becoming an engine driver, he lived in Healesville in the late 1920’s, married Frances Burton in Camberwell in the early 1930’s. James died on 17 May 1936.
Henry Arthur O’RORKE
Service No: 3609
Rank: Private
Unit: 22nd Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Born 1881, Ballarat
Son of Timothy and Mary O’Rorke from West Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Henry enlisted 12/08/1915 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 5/01/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A19 Afric
Served in France
Returned to Australia 13/2/1917
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Henry returned home during the war to recover from a gun shot wound to the abdomen. In 1919 he was living at the Ozone Coffee Palace and worked as a labourer. By 1924 had moved to East Melbourne, then Fitzroy working as a labourer. In 1938 he was found to have contracted TB and died at Caulfield Repatriation Hospital in 1939.
Richard Thomas Henry STRIPLING
Service No: 15194
Rank: Private
Unit: 14th Australian General Hospital
Born 1898, Geelong
Son of George and isabella Stripling from Newtown
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Richard enlisted 13/05/1916 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 19/08/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A63 Karoola
Served in Turkey
Died as a result of illness while a prisoner of war 30/4/1918
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Richard, referred to by his mates as ‘Strip’, a member of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, died while a Prisoner of War at Gelebek. He was severely injured by earth falling on him while working for a German company. He was buried near Dourak Hospital in an allotment marked for prisoners of war. His and two other Miltary Medals were cancelled because it was hinted that owing to his name, there was a belief that he was German and deliberately gave himself up to the Turks on the date of his capture. Though the official response was “that the notification regarding the award for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the field was cancelled when it was found that the proposed recipients were held by the enemy as prisoners of war. This action was taken by the overseas authorities in order to comply with conditions governing the award of decorations, and name or nationality had no bearing on the matter.”
Henry James THOMAS
Service No: 2767
Rank: Private
Unit: 46th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
Born 1871, Thomastown
Son of Joseph and Ann Thomas from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Henry enlisted 1/06/1916 at Geelong as a married man
He embarked for overseas 20/10/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A17 Port Lincoln
Served in England
Returned to Australia 4/5/1917
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Already married to Mary Townsend, Henry returned home from his service in the war to his wife and son. They moved out of Geelong to Teesdale where Henry worked as a farmer until his death in 1938.
Richard THOMPSON
Service No: 2771
Rank: Private
Unit: 29th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Born 1892, Corrowa, NSW
Son of John and Martha Thompson from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
Richard enlisted 25/02/1916 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 14/03/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A68 Anchises
Served in France
Returned to Australia 31/1/1918
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Barwon
Five months after marching into France, Richard was wounded accidentally whilst attending Lewis Gun Class. This gun shot wound to the right thigh saw him shipped home and discharged. He appears to have returned to farm at Mt. Duneed, married Nellie Smith in 1919 and by 1924 he had moved to Bruswick working as a labourer. They lived there for many years and had three children. In 1971 Richard died at his home in Monbulk aged 79.
John William THOMPSON
Service No: 61932
Rank: Private
Unit: 13th General (Victorian) Reinforcements
Born 7/12/1899, Corowa, NSW
Son of John and Beatrice Thompson from Geelong South
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farrier
John enlisted 2/07/1918 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas 5/10/1918 from Melbourne on SS Zealandic
Served in Died just after arriving in England
Died as a result of illness 6/2/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
James Mitchell TRIGG
Service No: 350
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: 66th Battalion
Born 1886, Mt Duneed
Son of John and Elizabeth Trigg from Mt. Duneed
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
James enlisted 18/01/1915 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 10/11/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A68 Anchises
Served in France
Returned to Australia 15/2/1918
His name is listed on the following memorials / honour boards:
– Freshwater Creek
– Barrabool & Sth Barwon Shire
– Barrabool
After serving three years in the AIF James returned home to Werrap in the Wimmera where he worked as a labourer before enlisting. He married Maud Duffield in 1919. By 1924 they were living at Swan Marsh near Cobden, James was a farmer. Maud died in 1925 and in 1930 James married her sister Lilian Duffield. They lived in Moonee Ponds, James working as a council employee until his death in 1955.
Reuben Victor Ellesley WALLACE
Service No: 5583
Rank: Private
Unit: Royal Australian Navy
Born 31/12/1897, Paraparap
Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Wallace from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a unknown
Rubin enlisted 21/03/1916 at Melbourne as a single man
He embarked for overseas from on nil
Served in RAN
Returned to Australia 31/12/1920
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
Reuben, served in the Navy for 5 years after enlisting as an eighteen year old farmer who could swim. He was a stoker on HMAS Cerberus [training vessel], HMAS Encounter (Light Cruiser) HMAS Swan , HMAS Australia, HMAS Australia, HMAS Anzac and HMAS Huon during the war. While in the Navy, Reuben studied and completed an Engineering Certificate.
The role of HMAS Encounter (a Light Cruiser) during Reuben’s time aboard (24 Aug – 18 Jan 1917) was to protect merchant shipping sailing around Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia. Several German commerce raiders had escaped into the Atlantic and it seemed likely that the importance of the transport and trade routes in Australian waters might encourage the enemy to extend their attacks. With almost all the Australian Fleet employed overseas, it fell to Encounter and several cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy to provide the necessary convoy escort and patrols.
After his service on Encounter Reuben retuned to the Cerberus training ship for five months before he went on to serve on four of the six ‘River’ Class Torpedo Boat Destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy. They formed the Australian Destroyer Flotilla – HMA Ships Parramatta, Swan, Huon, Torrens, Warrego and Yarra assigned to patrols of the Adriatic Ocean.
The HMAS Swan was undertaking anti-submarine duties in the Adriatic and Mediterranean while Reuben was aboard (1 July 1918 – 6 Nov 1919). On 2 October 1918 the Swan took part as one of the ships used to screen the forces at the bombardment of Durazzo on the Albanian coast, carried out by combined Italian, British, French and American forces. Later the ship was ordered to Port Said to assist the Japanese naval forces escorting troopships to Salonica. Following the Armistice, in December, the Swan and the French destroyer Bisson were chosen to carry out a mission of inquiry at the Cossack (anti-Bolshevik) headquarters at Novocherkassk on the Don, with orders to report on conditions at Marioupol Taganrog and the surrounding country in the eastern Ukraine. The shallowness of Kertch Strait precluded the use of anything but shallow draught vessels. A sudden break through by the Bolshevik forces caused the abandonment of the investigation. Returning south, they visited an ammunition factory at Taganrog, then Ekatwrinodau where a British mission had arrived, rejoined Swan at Marioupol and proceeded for Sebastopol. Here the destroyer helped to guard the railway station at the head of the Valley of Inkerman.
Following assembly at Gibraltar, the Australian Flotilla sailed for England on 3 January 1919 in preparation for the return to Australia. The Australian Flotilla became separated in a storm off Cape St Vincent, with Torrens and Warrego taking refuge in the Tagus – they arrived in Devonport in company on 11 January 1919.
Finally, after many delays, the six destroyers assembled at Malta and in the company of HMAS Melbourne sailed for home waters on 17 March 1919. Proceeding via Singapore and Darwin, Swan entered Sydney Harbour under the command of Commander Burrows on 21 May 1919, after an absence of two years and nine months.
Later that year Reuben was based at Port Melbourne on the HMAS Torrens as stoker, before he was discharged from the Navy on 31 December 1920, two years after the conflict had ceased.
Yvonne Roberts, daughter of Reuben (Vic) Wallace tells us that …….After leaving the Navy, Reuben worked at various jobs including Ford Motors in Geelong, Engineer at the Cooma Pumping Station with some associated weather reporting near Mt. Kosciusko, N.S.W.
On 4th December, 1930 Reuben, married Isabel May Phillips at Willoughby, Sydney. About this time Reuben began using his second name Victor in preference to Reuben. Vic assisted his father-in-law Harry Phillips in his business of photography, printing view books and postcards etc. for some time. Later Victor and Isabel engaged in two mixed businesses, one in Crow’s Nest and another at Castlecrag, Sydney. Times were hard for a small business in the depression years of the early 1930’s. Some years later with a baby on the way, Victor applied for a position with the New Guinea Police Force in Rabaul and was appointed Warrant Officer on 20th February 1935. Isabel later joined him in Rabaul, four months after the birth of their daughter in July. They experienced the devastation of the 29th May, 1937 volcanic eruptions in Rabaul, with a separation from each other for a week not knowing if each other had survived. Victor was away working with native prisoners who were building a road to Rabaul airport. The airport is situated at the foot of Mt. Tavurvur when it and another nearby volcano, Vulcan erupted, killing 508 people. He was very lucky to survive. During his employment with the Police Force, Victor acted in the position of Head Gaoler in Rabaul for 9 months while the incumbent was away on furlough. There was also time spent in living on the main island of Papua New Guinea at Madang with the Police Force. In 1939, Victor made the decision to return to Sydney because if ill health, due to malaria and ulcerated legs.
His position as Warrant Officer ended on the 30th April, 1939. Victor Wallace and family returned to Sydney where he applied for a position advertised by the Trustees of Ku-ring-Gai Chase and was appointed Chief Ranger for the area. Ku-ring-Gai Chase was established in 1894 and is approximately 37,000 acres or 149.8 square kilometres of virtual natural bushland. The position was later classified as Superintendent of Ku-ring-Gai Chase.
Victor spent the rest of his working life living at the Residence, Bobbin Head supervising the work and activities of the Rangers who lived in various areas of Ku-ring-Gai Chase. He also participated in many court cases, generally involved with the public stealing wild flowers, sand, kaolin (a fine white clay), sandstone etc. from inside the Chase area and the netting of fish in the waterways of Ku-ring-Gai Chase.
Upon retirement in 1963 Victor, Isabel and her mother moved to a 5 acre property between Morisset and Cooranbong on the New South Wales central coast. Victor spent 18 months in retirement on the 5 acre property at Cooranbong, before he passed away on 8th January, 1965 at the age of 67.
William Lorenzo WALLACE
Service No: 6434
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Field Artillery Brigade 4, Battery 10
Born 1894, Tamworth
Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Wallace from Geelong
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a baker
William enlisted 23/09/1915 at Albert Park as a single man
He embarked for overseas 18/11/1915 from Melbourne on HMAT A18 Wiltshire
Served in France
He was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Returned to Australia 8/5/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
William returned from the war to live in Geelong as a farmer. He married Ivy Trigg in 1921 and they continued to live in Geelong with Henry working as a storekeeper. Ivy died in 1937 about the same time William had moved to Waurn Ponds and taken up farming again. In 1939 he married Clara Joseph. They moved to Brighton where William worked in sales. Between 1942 and retirement in 1972, he and Clara moved around the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, William trying many different jobs – clerk, storeman, poultry farmer. By 1972 William and Clara were living at the Judge Book Memorial Village in Eltham, he died in 1983 aged 89.
Henry Thomas WINTER
Service No: 6104
Rank: Private
Unit: 5th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
Born 1896, Geelong West
Son of William and Bella Winter from Geelong West
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a labourer
Henry enlisted 3/07/1915 at Geelong as a single man
He embarked for overseas 28/07/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A32 Themistocles
Served in France
Returned to Australia 14/1/1919
His name is listed on the Freshwater Creek honour board.
After completing his active service in the AIF, Henry settled in Geelong West, worked as a labourer and married Maude Bennett in 1920. While they moved house a few times Henry and Maude continued to live in Geelong West with Henry continuing to work as a labourer. Over that time they had six children. Henry died in 1965 aged 67.
Name not on Honour Board
David John CARTER
Service No: 2591
Rank: Sergeant
Unit: 2nd Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Born 1893, Marong, Bendigo
Son of John and Margaret Carter from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a farmer
David enlisted 11/06/1915 at Liverpool, NSW as a single man
He embarked for overseas 9/08/1915 from Sydney on HMAT A54 Runic
Served in Gallipoli, France
Returned to Australia 4/1/1919
John Thomas JORDON
Service No: 6894
Rank: Private
Unit: 6th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement
Born 1/1/1889, Werribee
Son of John and Alicia Jordon from Freshwater Creek
His occupation prior to enlistment was as a railway employee
John enlisted 22/08/1916 at Melbourne as a married man
He embarked for overseas 25/10/1916 from Melbourne on HMAT A38 Ulysses
Served in France
Returned to Australia 15/02/1918
Together They Served 