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About this blog

Some soldiers that I find interesting enough to write up a biography on.

Entries in this blog

AIF

D Company’s Advance to the Armistice

‘D’ Company, 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade Company Commanders Captain Arblaster; March 1916 to July 1916 (PoW/DoW) Captain Ramsay MC; September 1916 to September 1917 (WiA) Second Lieutenant Cooper; March 1917 (Temp; KiA) Captain Jackson MC; September 1917 to April 1918 (WiA) Captain Lindsay MC; April 1918 to September 1918 (WiA) Lieutenant Waite MC and Bar; September 1918 (Temp) Lieutenant Thompson; September 1918 (WiA) Captain Cooke; October 1918 to November 1918 Co
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J.M Dougall, 'his men have no confidence in him'

John Mitchell Dougall was born on November 23rd, 1879 at 104 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire to William Dougall and Mary Mitchell, John being the eldest out of 4 children. In 1881 his parents as well as him immigrated to Victoria, Australia whilst he was still an infant. He grew up in South Melbourne before the family went back to Scotland in 1891. Upon his return, John Dougall attended a Military College but then his family immigrated back to Australia in 1894. Upon his arrival in Austral
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P. Molloy, Fraud or Hero?

On January 17th, 1922 on a Tuesday at 4pm, there was a crowd present in the A.I.F Cemetery in West Terrace. Among them were veterans, a grieving wife and step-children with bemedalled veterans of past campaigns standing fast alongside the mans comrade from his latest unit - the 10th Battalion; his former commanding officer, Brigadier Price-Weir was in attendance. ‘Old Peter’ Molloy’s experiences seem to be vast, in-fact he spoke of it multiple times. His usual story was that he enlisted at a you
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F.H Clark M.B.E, Shell Shocked Corporal to Home Guard Captain

Frederick Henry Clark was born in 1881 in Lismore, New South Wales to James Clark [1851-1929] and Emma Edwards [1858-1919]; Frederick was the fourth eldest child out of 13 children! Of those 13, 7 were males and able to serve and of which all but 2 did - out of those 5, 1 was killed and a handful who were able served in the Boer War. It does appear that Frederick served in the Second Boer War, evidenced by pictures of him, but I have been unable to find a definite record of his actual service -
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R. Ramsay, M.C, MiD; From ANZAC Cove to Cowra Camp

A remarkable man, yet so little is told about him Robert 'Bob' Ramsay was born on September 6th, 1888 in what was then Germanton [now Holbrook], New South Wales to Alexander Ramsay and Janet Dick. He was the middle child out of 7 the couple bore between 1881 - 1902, and out of the 3 other brothers of serving age, he was one of two to serve. Ramsay Family in 1908. This is the only photograph that Robert Ramsay is positively identified in; he's back left On July 12th, 1911 Robert R
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D. Thomson, M.C; a mediocre Major?

David Thomson was born in February-March 1879 at Aberlady, East Lothian, Scotland to John Thomson. David enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders on May 11th, 1899 at Edinburgh with the service number 6735. At the time, he was 20 and 2 months and joined the 1st Battalion. He fought in the Second Boer War with the 1st Battalion, serving from December 16th, 1899 to December 31st, 1901; just over a full two years! He earned both South African campaign medals, QSA with 5 clasps and KSA with 2 clasps. He
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AIF

McGrath Brothers; A DCM, MM and 3 MiD's

These gallant brothers who served in the First and Second World Wars were decorated for their bravery in the Middle East, a DCM, MM and 3 MiD’s between them. They were the only sons of William Joseph McGrath and Bridget O’Neil, with 4 other daughters older, in between and younger than the trio of brothers. 2425a (Q55010) Thomas Cornelius McGrath M.I.D Thomas Cornelius McGrath was born on June 16th, 1890 in Trafalgar, Victoria, the eldest of the three. He was a member of ‘3’ Squadron, 1
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N.C.D Burgess, MM and Bar, CdeG [Belgium]

Norman Christopher Donald Burgess was born on January 14th, 1892 in Parkes, New South Wales to Edward Allen and Margaret Burgess [Nee McKenzie] as their second youngest child. Norman's parents were from Wales [Glamorgan and Monmouthshire specifically] and a portion of his 10 siblings were born in Wales, New Zealand before his parents settled in New South Wales, Australia. It is known during his early life that he took part in football, evidenced by the photo below. He is located in the middle.
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A.W. Yeates

Alfred William Yeates was born around 1874 in Chelsfield, Kent, England to James and Caroline Yeates [Nee Bridger]. Information concerning his early life is sparse, but he enlisted on April 17th, 1891 into the Royal Artillery, serial number 87492. He was a Gunner when he was posted to Gibraltar in 1893, then he went onto the Northwest Frontier at Chitral and Tirah. He was a member of the Army Temperance Association, to which his battery awarded him a ring of appreciation due to his work with the
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V.K McNamara

Vincent Kiern/Kearn McNamara was born on September 3rd, 1894 in Hammond, South Australia to John and Margaret McNamara [nee Smith]. He was one of a large family which numbered around 9 siblings. His life prior to service is not well documented. At the outbreak of war, he was a School Teacher in the county of Jervois and his brother [James Stephen McNamara] enlisted at the start of hostilities and was allotted into the 2nd Battalion. James would land on Gallipoli and send a letter to his brother
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O.M Blumenthal

Oscar Maximillian 'Max' [de] Blumenthal was born on July 1st, 1892 in Paddington, New South Wales to a French father and British mother. He was one of two children the couple would have with the other one being a boy; Stanley Joseph 'Stan' [de] Blumenthal [1893-1972] who also served in the First World War in New Guinea [1914] and then the Light Horse. Oscar attended Rawdon Vale School and was Laborer during his pre-war adult life. Max is located back row, second from right Max enlisted into
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AIF

F.J Ludbrook and H.C Ludbrook

A bit of a special one, a post concerning two cousins who came from Ballarat and went to the First World War. 3196 Francis John Ludbrook Francis at Tel-El-Kebir, 1916 Francis John Ludbrook was born on July 31st, 1895 in Ballarat, Victoria. He had been apart of the 70 Battalion [Cadets] and was a carpenter upon enlisting on March 24th, 1915 with his cousin Bert. He had to sign on with his parents consent. A month after enlisting, he was appointed Lance Corporal on May 11th. He embarked
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A.E Harrison, 'The Vanishing Captain'

This one is quite an interesting case by any measure. Albert Edward Harrison was born on August 28th, 1879 in Richmond, Victoria to William [1827-1908] and Catherine [1839-1891] Harrison [nee Miller], being one of two children they would have as well as being the youngest. He attended South Melbourne College for High School and during which, he enlisted into the Cadets and earned the rank of Colour-Sergeant. Albert decided to enlist on January 15th, 1901 into the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles,
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W.F Lindsay, M.C, E.D

William Frederic Lindsay was born on December 27th, 1880 in Unanderra, New South Wales to George and Eliza Lindsay [Nee Cochrane] and was the eldest of 12 children. He lived in Unanderra with his family and then married Alice Selina Spence [1877-1960] on October 27th, 1903 in Wollongong, New South Wales. The couple would have three children, two males and a female. Both of the sons served in the Second World War, one of them would win a Military Cross in Greece and the other would be on a gun em
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G.H.T Robey, D.C.M, M.I.D

George Horace Townsend Robey was born on July 14th, 1884 in Manly, New South Wales to Horace Townsend and Violet Florence Robey [nee Townsend]. He was one of five children they would have, and he was the second oldest. He was baptized on August 16th, 1884 in Sydney. In the pre-war period, he was an Engineer and a prominent member of both the Lifesaving Club and Sailing Club in Manly. On August 18th, 1914 he enlisted into the A.I.F at Maryborough, Queensland, and he states he served 2 years
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H.B O'Donnell

Hugh Brian 'Hughie' O'Donnell was born on September 1st, 1898 in Boulder, Western Australia, the day before Kitchener took Omdurman in the Sudan. His parents were John 'Jack' and Lilly Elizabeth O'Donnell [nee Dreyer], who both originated from South Australia, married in New South Wales, then settled in Western Australia. He was still a lad in High School when he enlisted at Helena Valley, Western Australia on November 12th, 1914 at the age of 16 and a month, whilst his army age put him 3 years
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H. Cross, M.B.E, M.C

Harry Cross was born on June 12th, 1890 in Hackford-next-Reepham, Norfolk, England to Jabez and Kate Cross [nee Hammond]. He was the youngest child in the marriage which produced 3 children, a daughter and two sons. Harry was educated at Harringay Primary School in London between 1895 and 1904 before he went to the Northampton Institute in London for a three year engineering course. During this time, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps Volunteers, specifically in 1905. In 1907 when he went to
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A.E Morris

Alfred Ernest Morris was born on April 12th, 1889 in Mount Gambier, South Australia to Evan and Jemima Keziah Morris [Nee Watts]. He was one of 12 children the couple would have between 1882 and 1901. His family lived around Mount Gambier, but it appears that Alfred moved to Western Australia in about 1914. Alfred Morris in civilian clothes Alfred enlisted into the A.I.F on February 18th, 1915 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and allotted service number 2021. He was assigned to the 16
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H.J Wegener, D.C.M

Hugo Johann/John Wegener was born on July 18th, 1897 in Palmer, South Australia to Johann Heinrich Christoph and Johanne Louise Wegener [Nee Linder], both of Prussian descent. He had 2 older [1893 and 96] and 2 younger [1901 and 05] sisters, so unfortunately he was the only boy. Johann and Johanne Wegener He enlisted at Keswick Barracks at the age of 17 years and 11 months on June 16th, 1915 with the service number 3031, listing his age as 18. His mother had a note allowing him to e
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R.E Nicholls, D.C.M, M.M

Richard "Richie" Edwin Nicholls was born at some point around 1899-1900 (Sources vary) in Victoria, Australia to William [1866-1908] and Ida Theresa [1873-1948] Nicholls. He had 2 older brothers and 3 younger brothers as well as 2 younger sisters. Not much is noted in Richie's early life unfortunately. Richie enlisted in Melbourne on June 12th, 1916, either way he was a boy soldier and given a serial number, 2761. He was assigned to the A.I.F Training Company on June 27th, and 3 months later
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W. Waite, MC and Bar

William Waite was born on September 27th, 1888 to Michael John [1860-1934] and Margaret [Nee Roberts/Robarts] Waite [1870-1936] William Waite enlisted into the AIF on August 20th, 1914 at Broadmeadows and was given the service number 363. He trained there and was assigned to C Troop [O.C Lt Pollard], B Squadron [O.C Cpt Armstrong], 4th Light Horse Regiment, which was then commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Keatly Forsyth who was tasked with raising the 1st Light Horse Brigade whilst the act
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J.M. Thorburn, D.C.M

John Myles Thorburn was born on April 20th, 1886 in Kerrie, Victoria to John Myles Thorburn Snr (1847-1936) and Mary Ann Farro (1850-1908). He was one of 10 children that the couple would have between 1870 to 1891 (5 daughters, 5 sons though he'd be the only one to serve). John and Mary Ann Thorburn His mother, Mary Ann Farro died on October 10th, 1908 in Romsey, Victoria. On February 7th, 1914 one of John's siblings (Mary Ann 'Mollie' Thorburn) would die in Romsey, Victoria, the only
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C.A.W.E Ashburner, man of 3 wars!

Clifford Arundell William Ernest Ashburner had a proud heritage. He was son of Ernest Ashburner (1862-1939) who raised the Ashburner Light Horse at Kimberly on January 23rd, 1901 and was disbanded near the end of the Second Boer War on April 5th, 1902. Clifford's grandfather was Colonel William James Ashburner (1818/19-1888) William James Ashburner started out as a Cornet in the Bombay Army in 1837. He was then posted to the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry in December 1837, and promoted to the rank
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