Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2466A Private Lindsay Bartlett Chalmers Morehouse, 46th Battalion AIF, killed in action 11th April, 1917, age 27.
Lindsay was the son of Nathaniel and Sarah Louisa Morehouse, born at Cobram, Victoria, and attended Cobram State School. Lindsay was involved in many social and sporting clubs around Cobram, secretary to the rowing club, the coursing club, the Australian Natives Association (the equivalent of today’s Rotary Club), tennis club and quite a few other organisations. He was a very industrious and responsible young man. He enlisted in Cobram, as a 25 year old clerk. It was reported in the Courier during June 1916 that “Lindsay Morehouse, who was rapidly promoted to sergeant by virtue of his success in examinations, returned on leave to this town last week to meet the people of his native place. Military training has made a new man of Lindsay, his gait being erect, chest O.K., and heart in the right place." Lindsay disembarked in England in October 1916, was sent France shortly after. Lindsay wrote to The Cobram Courier during February 1917, describing France, and thanking the Recruiting Committee for the parcel he had received. As did many Australians, he was struggling with the icy French winters, “it is very cold, everything is covered in white, and the ice is that thick that the point of a pick will not break it.” Sadly it was published in the Courier only 5 days before his he was killed at Bullecourt on 11th April 1917. That day the 46th Battalion took part in the attack mounted against the heavily defended village of Bullecourt – part of the formidable Hindenburg Line to which the Germans had retreated during February and March. Extreme wastage of Australian lives for little gain again marked this battle, though still today the French in Bullecourt still honour the Australians who fought for their town. Lindsay was listed as missing, and still today has no known grave, his name is remembered on the Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France which is a monument that it perpetuates the memory of the Australian Imperial Force in France and Flanders, and of 11,000 of them who fell in France and have no known grave.
It took over 8 months for Lindsay’s death to be confirmed, and the news caused much sadness in Cobram amongst his many friends. The Courier reported, “Lindsay Morehouse was born, reared, educated, and commercially trained in this town, where he showed himself to be possessed of more than average ability, and it was predicted of him that he would rise to a high position. As honorary secretary of various local clubs and institution he was thoroughness itself in all his work, and it was great treat to see the neatness of his books, also to note the promptitude with which he got out balance sheets of every function or movement he was connected with. Lindsay was popular with all who knew him for what he really was—a capable, lovely dispositioned and gentlemanly young man—and his loss will be long felt by many others besides his sorrowing mother, sisters, and brother.”
Lindsay's brother, who was also born in Cobram, and as not to be confused with anyone else, was named Murray Wiggins Hedberg Hudson Morehouse. He served with the 29th Battalion and survived the war.