Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Chute, a locality in central Victoria, Australia, 173 kms [107 miles] west of Melbourne, situated 61 km [38 miles] west of Ballarat; 13 km [8 miles] north of Beaufort, the area is dominated by 302m Granite Hill, part of the Great Dividing Range.

Arriving, in 1852, Lochaber, Argyleshire, Scotland born, Norman MacPhie [1834-1924], a 55 year resident of Granite Hill, 13 kms south-west of Lexton, married Euphemia Duncan McFarlane [1847-1934], a native of Mount Barker, South Australia. Norman, together with Euphemia, commenced a Granite Hill farming/grazing property, as well as raising a family of five sons and three daughters.

Sixth child, fourth son, Angus [1881-1914], in February 1901, participated, at 21 years of age, as a corporal in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, under the command of Colonel Thomas Price. Returning to Australia, Angus MacPhie enlisted in the 1st AIF.

Arriving, at Lexton, Victoria, in 1877, Euphemia MacPhie [1877-1925], fourth child and second daughter of Norman and Euphemia, married, in 1893, John Patrick Carland [1874-1917]. Obtaining, in 1898, 20 acres of land at Waterloo, John, together with Euphemia, set about raising a family of 11 children, as well as establishing a farming property. In May 1914, Euphemia Carland nee MacPhie caused to be published -

Angus MacPhie

In loving remembrance of my dear brother and our uncle, Sergeant-Major Angus MacPhie, 6th Battalion, B Company, 2nd Brigade, who was killed in action on May 8, 1914, at Cape Helles, aged 35 years [late constable of Russell Street Barracks] — [Inserted by his loving sister, E. Carland, and nieces and nephews, Lizzie, Nina, Phemie, Doris, Bernard, Norman, and Frank [on active service.]”

Enlisting, on 20 March 1916, Waterloo, Victoria born, 18 years 11 months of age, Francis James Carland, second child and first son of John and Euphemia Carland, was initially assigned to permanent guard duty.

Joining the 14th Battalion, Private Francis Carland, regimental number 6486, embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Nestor on 2 October 1916.
Initially, the 14th Battalion was raised in Melbourne in September 1914. Participating in the Gallipoli campaign, until the December 1915 evacuation, the battalion was transferred to Egypt. Forming part of the AIF re-organisation, new units were raised, utilising experienced personnel, supplemented by new recruits, arriving from Australia.

In mid-1916 the decision was made to transfer elements of the AIF to Europe to take part in the fighting in the trenches along the Western Front.

Following their arrival in France in July, the 14th Battalion's first major engagement came in August 1916 when they were committed to fighting around Pozières. Over the course of next two and a half years, it was involved in a number of other battles, sustaining loss of lives to be reinforced by others including Private Francis James Carland.

During April 1917, the 14th Battalion participated in the fighting around Bullecourt, France. Being wounded in action, on 17 July 1917, sustaining a gunshot wound to the right foot, Private Francis Carland was hospitalised until his complete recovery.

Undertaking a defensive role, the 14th Battalion, assisting in turning back the German spring offensive, in April 1918, many soldiers, including Frank Carland, were gassed.

Participating in the Allied Hundred Days Offensive on 8 August 1918, the 14th Battalion, at Amiens, advanced in the centre of the brigade, along the Hamel–Cerisy road, amid a blanket of fog, seizing the village of Morcourt in the second phase of the attack along the Australian front. Following the initial attack, the battalion continued further operations as part of the Allied advance. Its final engagement came in late September and early the following month.

Sustaining his third wounded in action, on this occasion a gunshot wound, initially to the chest then passing through his body, to exit below his shoulder blade, Frank Carland was ultimately declared permanently unfit for service.

Returning to Australia, on Wednesday, 23 April 1924, Francis James, eldest son of Euphemia Carland and the late John Carland, of Waterloo, was married, at Trawalla, to Marion [1899-1981], fourth daughter of Mr and Mrs Adam Dalgleish, Nerring, Victoria.

Residing at ‘Lochaber’, Nerring, 11.6 kms south-east of Beaufort, Victoria, farmer, Francis shared four children with Marion between 1924 and 1931.

Passing away on 9 August 1931, 34 years of age, Francis James Carland [1897-1931], rests in eternal peace in the Beaufort cemetery.

Francis James Carland

On 9 August 1931, at Repatriation Hospital, Caufield, Francis James [late private 14th Battalion A.I.F.] of Nerring, via Beaufort, dearly loved husband of Marion Carland, and loving father of Norman, John, Marion and baby Margaret, aged 34 years. At Rest

245/492 Francis J Carland: Grant of administration
Given name: Francis J; Family name: Carland; Residence: Nerring; Occupation: Farmer; Nature of grant: A
Date of grant: 12 Oct 1931; Date of death: 9 Aug 1931
Part of record series: Probate and Administration Files (28
Most recent creating agency: Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court
Record
VPRS 28/P0003, 245/492 1931 to 1931
Open, for physical inspection by arrangement with PROV, North Melbourne