Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Over the past six years we have submitted the service records and causes of death of several hundred veterans to the Office of Australian War Graves for assessment for Official Commemoration. To date, more than 100 of these veterans interred at Lutwyche Cemetery have been accepted as Official Commemorations, and their graves are now being formally marked and will be maintained in perpetuity by the Office of Australian War Graves.

Two Brothers
Among those recently recognised are brothers Private John Durham (who enlisted under the name George Morriss), service number 3423, and Private William John Durham, service number 16250. Their graves were previously unmarked among the World War One veterans buried at Lutwyche Cemetery, but they have now been accepted for Official Commemoration by the Office of Australian War Graves.
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

OAWG Official Commemoration links:
William: https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html...
John: https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html...
The brothers were born in Waterloo, New South Wales, to John Durham and Mary Durham (née Morris). William John was born in 1884, and John in 1886.

Private John Durham (3423), who enlisted under the name George Morriss, enlisted in Bathurst, NSW, on 9 October 1916 and embarked for overseas service on 24 January 1917 aboard HMAT Anchises from Sydney. In February 1917, he was admitted to a ship’s hospital and discharged later that month. In April 1917, he was again admitted to hospital at Fovant. After treatment, he marched into No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth in July 1917. Private John Durham returned to Australia aboard the transport Demosthenes on 27 July 1917. He was discharged from the A.I.F. in Sydney on 1 November 1917, recorded as medically unfit due to disability (chronic rheumatism).

Private William John Durham (16250) enlisted on 15 December 1916, aged thirty-three, and served with the Darwin Guard, a home-service unit responsible for defending strategic installations in northern Australia. During his service he developed persistent stomach complaints recorded as dyspepsia (possible peptic ulcer), later accepted as a war-related disability, entitling him to treatment through the Repatriation Department. He was discharged on 6 August 1917. After the war he settled at Ashgrove, Brisbane, with his wife Rose, working as a cement or concrete worker while continuing to receive medical treatment for his service-related stomach condition.

Private John Durham (3423) died on 15 November 1943, aged 57, and was buried in Anzac Portion 7, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

Private William John Durham (16250) died on 28 July 1951, aged 67, and was buried in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

In 2024, we received notification that the Office of Australian War Graves had accepted our applications for Official War Graves Commemoration for the Durham brothers.

After decades in unmarked graves, their final resting places now bear plaques commemorating their service to Australia — ensuring their names endure among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. Their identity and dignity have now been restored.

Lest We Forget