Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Michael Shepherd, 'Viney, Horace George (1885–1972)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/viney-horace-george-8927/text15683, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 18 June 2025.

Additional Biography

Early Years and Education

Horace George Viney was born to George Viney (Jnr) and Grace Viney (née Burnard) on the 8th of June 1885 at Parkside, Adelaide (See Appendices for the Family Tree). Horace's father George had arrived as an infant with his family as emigrants from Langport, Somerset, England, in May 1849 aboard the Eliza, which arrived at Port Adelaide in August 1849. His mother, Grace was born in Adelaide in 1844; her parents were Cornish and had arrived in February 1840 aboard the Java. Horace's father was a man of religion and temperance and was the founder of the Mitcham Wesleyan Church and was an original trustee of the Parkside Methodist Church. He was also a Superintendent of the Parkside Sunday School in its formative years. The Burnard family were also associated with the Parkside Methodist Church and Sunday School.

Horace's early primary education was probably at the township of Noarlunga. Although the original family home was at Parkside, the Viney family for a time in the 1890s, were residing at Noarlunga where his father George operated the local flour mill, situated on the banks of the Onkaparinga River. The family had other mills and businesses scattered in the city and country. George also was a Commissioner of the Peace for the area and on the local Noarlunga Council. He had previously been on the Unley Council, representing the Fullarton Ward from 1887 and on the board of the Mitcham and Unley Tramways.

On moving back to Adelaide later in the 1990s, Horace attended the Parkside Public School and the Parkside Sunday School, along with other family members, where their father was the Superintendent. He and some of his siblings were active members of the Sunbeam Society and a contributor to "Uncle Harry's Children's Column” in Adelaide newspapers. Horace was a noted performer at the Sunbeam Society Picnics, in their athletic events.

In 1897, at 12 Years of age, Horace was mentioned in "Uncle Harry's" Children's Column in the Adelaide Observer. He was then living at Noarlunga.

Sport

Horace showed athletic ability from a young age and participated sporting activities, including sprinting events at picnics held by the Sunbeam Society and the Adelaide Bakers.

In 1900, he joined the St John's Ramblers Hockey Club and later moved to the Parkside Club after it was formed.

In April 1899, Horace, now attending the Flinders Street Public School, was appointed as a Monitor , by the Education Department. He must have shown aptitude to be a teacher, because in April 1900 at 14 years and 10 months of age, Horace was promoted to the position of Pupil Teacher . Being a pupil teacher was hard work, poorly paid and would have been very much left on his own as far as learning teaching methods. Pupil teachers were often used to cover shortages of qualified persons.

In September 1900, Horace sat and passed the Preliminary Examination which would have secured his place at the Pupil Teachers School in Grote Street, Adelaide in 1901. Only those who showed the most promise would be given the opportunity to study and teach there. Horace was required to also study and sit for the Junior Public Examinations which were administered by the University of Adelaide. In the end of year exams in 1901, Horace did well, passing six subjects (English Literature, English History, Geography, Algebra, Geometry & Physics).

While studying at the Pupil Teachers School, Horace was also required to teach certain lessons at the Flinders Street School. At the young age of 15 years, it was an onerous task to both teach and pass examinations. Many dropped out of this pathway and chose other careers or were transferred to other schools as assistant teachers.

At the end of 1902, Horace was successful in passing five subjects in the Senior Public Examinations (English Literature (Honours), Physics (Honours), Arithmetic, Geometry and Trigonometry). That year he also passed two more Junior Examination subjects (Latin and German). At the end of 1904, Horace was advised that he had been successful in gaining entry in 1905 to the University Training College for teachers.

Adelaide University and University Training College for Teachers
Horace spent two years at the University Training College and while there he was able to take subjects at Adelaide University without paying fees, however this would mean he was bonded to the Education Department for several years and likely that he would be required to teach in the country.

In January 1905, the family home at Parkside was put up for sale.

In 1905, Horace passed four subjects at Adelaide University (English Language and Literature (1st Class), Psychology, Compulsory Mathematics and Compulsory Physics). He also completed a further Junior Public Examination subject (Greek) and passed Model Drawing (conducted by the Art Gallery of SA).

In 1906, Horace completed a further Senior Public Examination subject (Latin). He remained enrolled as a student at the University through to 1908 as a "Non-Graduating" Arts Student, however from now on his teaching career would see him posted to country areas with little chance to progress with any further university studies.

University Sport

In early 1905, University attempted to enter a team in the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) , however their application was rejected. This led them in 1906 to enter a team in the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association. The Adelaide University Football Club was officially formed in March 1906 and joined the Adelaide University Sports Association on the 9th of April 1906. The athletic Horace Viney was one of the students who came forward to play for the Club.

It is unclear how many matches Horace played however it appears that the University team was flush with football talent as many good South Australian Football Association players, who were University students, opted to join the team for their first season.

In 1906, Horace joined the Adelaide University Boat Club and competed in both fours and eights events.

Horace was also an accomplished hockey player, having played since he was about 15 years of age, and it appears that he eventually decided to concentrate on this sport instead of football. At this stage, Adelaide University did not have a hockey team, so he played with the Parkside Hockey Club. He was selected in a combined team in 1906 indicating the level of his talent.

Horace was also a member of the University Athletic Club, and he competed in the University Championship held in August 1906 on Adelaide Oval. In a remarkable performance, he won all three distance events (half-mile, one mile and three-mile races). He also represented University in the South Australian Amateur Association Championship held on Adelaide Oval in September 1906, however he was beaten into second place by fellow University athlete, R.H. Wallman, in the half-mile event.

Professional Career

In 1907, Horace was appointed to take charge of the new Continuation School at Mt Gambier. He would have 40 students in his class.

Horace would spend only one year at Mount Gambier, but during that time he became involved in several community activities including the "Young Men's Literary and Debating Society". At the end of the school year, Horace was presented with a gift of appreciation.

Teaching and Officer with The Commonwealth Cadet Corps

It is not clear exactly when Horace became involved with the Army Cadets.

Having established three battalions in Adelaide in 1906, a fourth battalion of cadets was formed, encompassing Wallaroo, Kadina, Moonta and Mt Gambier. In 1907, during the time Horace was teaching the continuation class at the Mount Gambier School, it had an established, well organised cadet unit with sixty boys, including a military band of twenty-five lads. Capt. J. Fowler, the headmaster, was in command and it would have been anticipated that he would have wanted Horace to be involved.

In January of 1908, Horace was transferred by the Education Department to Kadina as an assistant. He had apparently requested a transfer to a drier climate.

On 31st March 1908, Horace was formally appointed as a Lieutenant (on Probation) in the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps. On April 2nd, he was one of the officers in charge of the 37 strong Kadina contingent that went into camp on the Wallaroo oval.

While teaching at Kadina, Horace became involved with the Taylor Street Literary Society, continuing the interest he had developed in Mt Gambier.

In July 1909, Horace took the role of the Minister of Education in the Kadina Model Parliament. This was a popular method of the time that gave young men an understanding of parliamentary processes to debate topics of the day including government policy.

Although Horace was a skilled hockey player, it appears that while in Kadina he had taken up lacrosse. The Kadina school had just introduced hockey into their sporting games, and it is probable that he assisted coaching the team.
He played lacrosse for the Kadina team in the Yorke Peninsula Association competition and was selected to play in a combined side against the visiting Sturt team from Adelaide.

At the end of the 1908 school year, Horace accompanied his cadets to a school camp at Port Riley near Wallaroo.

In February 1909, a Military Tattoo was held at the Kadina showgrounds with Horace in charge of the school cadet contingent, who was performing in the evening programme.

In March 1909, Horace attended a meeting of the Peninsula Teachers' Association held at the Moonta Public School. He was appointed as a delegate to the annual Teachers' Association Conference in Adelaide.

In May 1909, Horace sat for and passed cadet officers exams and excelled in practice drills, regulations and standing orders. Horace had his appointment as a Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps confirmed.

In July 1009, a large crowd witnessed a lacrosse match, where Kadina defeated arch rivals, Moonta.

Horace was obviously very much involved with community activities and in late July 1909, he participated in a fancy-dress ball held in the Wallaroo Town Hall.

The following month, he represented the Yorke Peninsula Association again, when a visiting lacrosse team from Jamestown defeated the locals, however Horace was one of the sides best players.

Horace attended the annual military ball held in August 1909 in the Wallaroo Town Hall.

In August 1909, Horace was advised that he was being moved from the Kadina School. At first he was told he would be transferred back to the city to the North Adelaide School, however that was changed, and he would be sent to the Moonta School.

Later that month, Horace, as a member of the Kadina Dramatic Club, performed at a benefit concert in the Kadina Town Hall.

It appears that Horace was unhappy with his transfer to Moonta and in October 1909, he resigned from the Education Department and moved back to Adelaide where he was soon appointed to the Adelaide Shorthand and Business Training Academy (A.S. & B.A.). At the end of year awards presentation night of the A.S. & B.A., the Principal praised the work of Horace after only a short time working there.

Horace continued teaching at the A.S. & B.A. in 1910 and was even now showing his sporting versatility by playing cricket for their team.

By April 1910, his involvement with the military was becoming more important and in March 1910, he was transferred to the staff of the senior cadets (boys 14 - 18 years of age).

From March 29th until April 2nd, Horace attended a school of instruction, where he passed both practical and theoretical examinations with honours.

During his first winter back in Adelaide, Horace joined up with the Adelaide University Lacrosse Club. Although no longer a student, because he had matriculated (qualified to enter university) within the last eight years, he was eligible to play under the rules of the day.

Horace was a reserve for the Adelaide University lacrosse team in the annual Intervarsity match against Melbourne University in 1910.

Sadly, for the family, Horace's father George passed away on the 26th of June 1910, aged 62.

In addition to playing lacrosse during the winter, Horace also payed some hockey for Sturt and played in the winning semi-final team. Unfortunately, on the following Saturday, Sturt lost in the final and it appears that Horace was unavailable for that game as he was committed to play lacrosse for University.

In February 1911, Horace resigned his Lieutenant's Commission in the South Australian 10th Infantry Regiment but remained on the list as a 2nd Lieutenant.

The reason for his resignation, from the South Australian 10th Infantry Regiment, is explained by his relocation to Queensland in early 1911. He had by then, left his teaching position at the A. S. and B. A. in Adelaide to take up a teaching role at the Southport High School.
In December 1910, The Defence Act (1910) was passed by the Australian Parliament, which made it compulsory for male students to join the school cadets for military training. With his previous experience, Horace was possibly recruited to help set up the Southport High School Cadet Corps. He also played cricket for the Southport High School team.

In September 1911, no longer residing in Adelaide, under Commonwealth Military Regulation 139 (a), Horace was made a "supernumerary" to the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment (Adelaide Rifles). He still retained his current rank and pay and could be reassigned to duty later.

While at Southport High School, Horace was put in command of the Queensland 9th Battalion Cadets Corps but was the officer in charge of the school's cadet company.

At the commencement of 1912, after only one year teaching in Queensland, Horace received notification that he had qualified and been appointed to the Army Administrative and Instructional Staff back in South Australia. He took up his position with the 20th Brigade on the 1st of March 1912.

In 1912, Horace was transferred from the 20th Brigade Area to the 19th Brigade Area, with the rank of Assistant Brigade-Major. The 19th and 20th Brigade were militia units, raised as part of the new compulsory training scheme. In November 1912, he was transferred to Albury, to be an instructor at the special school for non-commissioned officers.

Horace was advancing his career in the military and in May 1913, on returning from Albury, he was appointed to the position of Adjutant of the 23rd Light Horse Regiment based in Adelaide.

In November 1913, Horace sat for an examination for officers seeking further promotion in the Permanent Forces.

In December 1913, Captain (sic) Viney, initiated a new Corps of the Light Horse Volunteers at Houghton, North-East of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Preparing for what may possibly have seemed inevitable, Australia had been proactive in building up military capacity in preparation for hostilities and from 1912, had introduced compulsory training.

Later in March, Horace as Adjutant to Major Brand, participated in a significant gathering of the Light Horse Corps for training at Kapunda. After the camp he was one of the officers who claimed that they should have received a larger meal allowance.

In July 1914, Horace was detailed to attend a Signal Camp at Brighton, South Australia, which was to be held in January 1915. Prior to that he had attended musketry practice in Sydney.

Following Britain's Declaration of War against Germany on the 4th of August 1914, plans were well advanced for the deployment of Australian troops overseas. Horace was present at the Military Council in Adelaide, discussing the South Australian quota of troops.

In September 1914, Horace was pleased to accept a donation of books for use by his regiment by C. T. Barnes, a member of the Eastern Suburbs Literary Society.

Adjutant-Lieutenant H. G. Viney, had been appointed to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment on the 20th of August 1914. The following month, with further training for the troops at the Morphettville Camp, he had overseen improvements in discipline and military manoeuvres.

Adjutant-Lieutenant H. G. Viney, had been appointed to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment on the 20th of August 1914. The following month, with further training for the troops at the Morphettville Camp, he had overseen improvements in discipline and military manoeuvres.

A few weeks before the 3rd Light Horse Regiment departed for overseas, Horace announcement his engagement to Irene Bancroft Radford. For other couples, this was a common practice prior to the departure of the troops for overseas service, however sadly, many girls would be left grief stricken, when their fiancées were one of the many men who did not return. It was a much different situation with Horace.

Although Horace was already a lieutenant in the permanent Australian Military Forces, to serve overseas, he had to still formally volunteer, and apply for his Commission, in the 1st Australian Imperial Forces (1st A.I.F.). Australia had committed and raised 20,000 men, consisting of one Infantry division, one light horse brigade and supporting units, but was to be under British command.

On the 18th of October, Horace received his Commission as a Captain in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment (Gazetted 13/2/15).

Chronological Record of Service

The following documentation has been copied from Horace's War Service Records, held by the National Library of Australia (see document). Although it provides a chronological report of his service, it provides little detail of his activities during his time spent in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front in France and Belgium. While on active service, he was promoted first to Major as a Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General, and then to a Lieutenant Colonel, as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General . He performed a critical role assisting his commanding officer. The documents that tell of his awards explain the exemplary and brave discharge of his duties.

Horace, had on the 22nd of October 1914 with members of the South Australian 3rd Light Horse Regiment and their horses, departed Adelaide for duties overseas. Horace and the men boarded the HMAT A17 Port Lincoln at Outer Harbour with their initial destination, Egypt.

A Letter Home

For a transcript of a letter Horace wrote to his family (see document), describing the voyage to Egypt which was published in several of the Adelaide Newspapers. Horace's literary skills show through and point to a future career after the War.

Gallipoli

After several months of training in Egypt, Horace, with the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, proceeded to join the Australian Military Expeditionary Forces on Gallipoli, on the 9th of May 1915.

On the 11th of September, Horace was transferred to hospital in Malta suffering from gastritis. By the middle of the following month, he was well enough to rejoin his regiment based at Destroyer Hills, Gallipoli.

Court Martial

In Horace's Service Records, there was a single reference to a Court Martial in June of 1916. Shortly after being evacuated from Gallipoli to Egypt (Alexandria), he was promoted on 1st of February 1916, to be a Major in the AIF's 5th Brigade. The 5th Brigade were then were mobilised in mid-March to France (via Marseilles) and in July were committed to the Battle of Pozières. During that campaign, Horace was Mentioned in Despatches for "Good Service" supporting his Division.

This was confusing, as it was after the Gallipoli evacuation and before the action at Pozières, that an event occurred regarding his "Questionable Conduct" and resulted in him facing a Court Martial. Fortunately, he was found "Not Guilty" of any offence. It would have been somewhat paradoxical for someone of Horace's record of service for him to have been found guilty of an offence.

Information from his records may explain why he found himself in trouble.
Horace was known to be:
"Sometimes inclined to be argumentative."

" A strong-minded and intelligent officer, one of his subordinates recalled: Viney, a disciplinarian, admired rather than loved, was a man remarkable in his administrative abilities, whose voice and crushing utterances were feared by officers and men alike."

Christmas Cakes and a Wedding

During his time on active service there were some lighter moments. On one occasion, Horace received a parcel from ladies from Mt Gambier, where a decade earlier, he had been a school teacher. The parcel of items included a Christmas cake and a card with the names of the senders, one of whom was one of his "lady friends".

Horace had a fiancée (Irene Radford) back home in South Australia. Apparently, following years of separation it did not work out and by April 1918, she had married a farmer from Percyton, a town in the mid-north of South Australia. Coincidentally, Horace had also met Miss Darragh O'Neill of Belfast and they were also due to be married in April 1918. The wedding was postponed when Horace's leave was cancelled, however they were able to be married later in June.

Recognition for the Y.M.C.A.

In November 1918, Horace place on the official record, a commendation for the great work performed by the Y.M.C.A., supporting the troops. In all, the Y.M.C.A. establish 13 centres in the divisional areas.

Return to Australia

On the 3rd of July 1919, Horace received orders for his return to Australia on the next available ship. It happened to be the passenger liner the SS Orsova, which had been used as a troopship during the War. Horace along with his wife embarked on the 1st of August 1919.

The Orsova reached Sydney on Saturday the 6th of September 1919. Fortunately, by then the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in Australia had eased significantly, and the Diggers on board were permitted to disembark without the customary medical examination! Horace had been made "Officer in Charge" during the voyage, so it was likely he would have enjoyed comfortable quarters with his wife, who was into her 6th month of pregnancy. They remained on board until the final load of troops disembarked in Brisbane, eventually travelling to Melbourne and then returning to Adelaide on the Melbourne express on the 18th of September 1919.

Horace's A.I.F. appointment was terminated on the 17th of November 1919. It was anticipated that the Lieutenant Colonel would have a long and distinguished career in the regular Australian military forces.

Horace was back into life in Adelaide and in December 1919, he was helping his old school, Adelaide High, by assisting as an official at the initial Adelaide High Sports Club athletics meeting held at Adelaide Oval. Other old scholars who had served in WW1 also attended.

On Christmas Day 1919, the Viney family welcome a son (Lawrence George), born at "Quambi" an Adelaide nursing home on the corner of South Terrace and Louisa St.

Visit of the Prince of Wales

In July of 1920, Horace played an important organisational role as the "Sub-Marshal" for the post-War Royal Visit of His Royal Highness, Edward, The Price of Wales (later King Edward VIII and on abdication - The Duke of Windsor). Horace had previously met the Prince when he was with the Australian Corps Headquarters in France.

In early 1920, Horace and his family travelled to England where he was to complete a one-year course of training at the Camberley Staff College in Surrey.

In August 1922, there was a shock development for the highly decorated soldier, when Horace was retrenched along with other officers of the permanent Australian Military Forces. He was transferred to the unattached list of the Citizen Forces.

Horace now would have to embark on a new career. It was not long before he became involved in a business as a director of a new company called Standard Securities Ltd. The other directors would have been keen to have him involved because of his high profile and administrative experience. The company had offices in Adelaide and Brisbane.

One of the early investment schemes that Standard Securities promoted was for an investment in cotton growing.

Standard Securities offered a wide range of stockbroking and business broking activities.

It appears the business did not operate for long and after 1923, it seems to have folded, so Horace was again looking for another career. For the next four years, he had a low profile in the newspapers, apart from mentions in the social pages and his involvement with hockey, however he had taken up accountancy studies.

After being "delisted" from the regular army in 1922, in September 1927, he was put back on the reserve list of officers.

In 1927, while his literary expertise had opened a new opportunity as a journalist, he also became a popular public speaker. He was a member of the 3rd Light Horse Regimental Club.

In 1928, he is reported to be working for the Advertiser newspaper.

Horace's WW1 experiences and intimate knowledge from the highest level of command during WW1, made him a highly sought-after lecturer, particularly at RSL gatherings. He also spoke on other subjects of public interest and was keenly sought by organisations as an after-dinner speaker.

Horace and Mrs Viney were both highly visible on the Adelaide social scene during the 1920s and 1930s.

Another of Horace's favourite subjects in his lectures, was about the importance of a British presence in Singapore. He was well-aware of the continued emergence of Imperialist Japan and their threat to peace in the Asia/Pacific region. Having a British naval base in Singapore was important to a wider defence capability.

In September 1929, Horace was a member of the Adelaide premiership winning hockey team.

Obviously still very fit from his continued participation in sport, Horace won an "Old Buffers' Race" at the Adelaide newspapers literary staff's picnic in 1929, held at the Belair National Park.

In February 1930, Horace lectured to the Unley RSL sub-branch on Field Marshall "Haig's Final Triumph". This was referring to Haig's command of the final "Hundred Day Offensive" which led Germany to request an Armistice after his forces penetrated The Hindenburg Line at it strongest point.

By 1930, Horace was the President of the South Australian branch of the Australian Journalists' Association.

On 11th November 1930, Horace was invited to speak on local radio station 5AD about the first Armistice Day.

In September 1931, Horace addressed the Glenelg Optimist Society. He again spoke of the importance of the British Naval Base in Singapore.

In his role as a journalist, Horace promoted South Australia's need to develop a strong manufacturing industry and the need to promote local products. In November 1931, he represented the Advertiser on a Chamber of Manufacturers tour of some Lower North towns of South Australia.

Mrs Viney was also widely known in the Adelaide establishment's social circles. She was good friends with the wives of many of South Australia's leading identities. In March 1932, she attended a morning tea party given by Mrs Luther Scammell, whose husband was head of the family that owned Faulding, at the time one of Australia's largest locally owned, Chemist wholesaling and manufacturing companies.

In July 1932, Horace found himself in a controversial court action involving the passing of a worthless promissory note for nearly £59, written originally by E. J. Shepherd, Speaker in the House of Assembly of the South Australian Parliament. Horace had then unfortunately endorsed it to another person as a payment which was subsequently dishonoured by bank. In today's money it would be worth about $6,000, so it was quite a substantial amount.

Horace gave one of his "popular lectures" to the women of the Unley RSL sub-branch in February 1933.

In an article in the Adelaide Advertiser in March 1933, Horace explained the facts about Courts-Martial procedures. Having been himself trialled by Court-Martial in 1916 and acquitted, he was familiar with its operation and fairness.

In July 1933, he was quoted in the Sydney Press, in an article where he corrected some discrepancies in Colonel Thurlow's book, "Pill Boxes in France". Horace was now being recognised as an authority on WW1 history.

In May 1934, Horace was involved with the 50th Year Jubilee celebrations for the Parkside Methodist Church. He had attended Sunday School there with his other siblings. His father, George, had been a founding member of the congregation and an early superintendent of the Sunday School in 1884.

In December 1934, Horace was guest at the "Shiplovers' Society" meeting where he spoke of his voyage to Egypt with the 1st A.I.F. troops and the near disastrous encounter with the German cruiser Emden near the Cocos Islands.

In an article written by Horace before Anzac Day 1935, he gave his view on the failed Gallipoli campaign. In it, he presents a different perspective, making comparisons to other WW1 actions that incurred heavier losses.

Horace was also very vocal on the developing situation in Europe and wrote in Sunday's Mail about Italy's desire to gain control of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in North Africa.

In 1936, part of the South Australian Centenary celebrations included an Australia-wide motor rally. Horace was on the Centenary organising committee and secretary for the car rally.

Horace was knowledgeable and concerned about the international political turmoil and saw it as a precursor to another major global conflict. He was warning that Australia needed to pay more attention to the defence of its own lands.

Now 51 years of age, Horace started playing hockey again for the 10/50th Battalion team.

Plans for the centenary car rally were in full swing and in October 1936, Horace placed an article in the Mail seeking passengers for one of the entrants in the Adelaide/Sydney/Adelaide event.

In November 1936, Horace had a nasty fall in the Angas Street. This would probably have been after leaving the RSL headquarters, located in the same street.

In 1936, at the time of King Edward VII's abdication crisis, journalist for the News, Jack Edwards (writing as Mr Pim), recounted stories of Horace's encounters with the then Prince of Wales during the War.

One of Horace's major journalistic works was his volume on the "History of Commerce in South Australia, 1936 - 1936". He had been commissioned to author the publication.

In 1937, Horace moved to Victoria, where he took up a role as secretary of the Pacific Trade and Peace Promotion Association. At this time his wife Darragh and son Lawrence remained in Adelaide. Horace had possibly been separated from his wife prior to this, living at different North Adelaide addresses since at least 1932. Lawrence was now attending Adelaide University, after completing his early education at Queen's School, St Peter's College and Muirden Business College. Darragh, a keen tennis player, continued playing and winning tournaments in the Adelaide Suburban Methodist Association.

Horace was critical of the recently introduced "Trade Diversion Policy" that set up tariffs on goods imported from Japan and the United States of America in favour of Great Britain. This had resulted in upsetting Japan and the U.S.A. who retaliated with a resultant trade war emerging. Australian exports to these countries suffered badly costing many local jobs.

In February 1938, Horace published an article in the Returned Servicemen's League (NSW Branch) newsletter. In it he praised the Victorian Railways Commissioners, for looking after the WW1 veterans with their employment and general wellbeing.

After moving to Victoria, he continued his interest in motor sports and Horace became involved in the organisation of the Melbourne Carnival Car Rally. However, with the outbreak of World War 2 and with the need to conserve fuel, the rally was cancelled.

In May 1939, with increasing trouble in Europe, Horace was put back on the 3rd Military District's reserve officers list. This was with the administrative section of the army based in Melbourne. In December 1939, following the outbreak of World War 2, Horace was mobilised in the permanent military forces (with pay equivalent to the rank of captain) to the Master-General Ordnance Branch Headquarters, Victoria Barracks. This of course was a role he was well suited having excelled at logistics during WW1, but inexplicably, Horace was discharged on 23rd March 1941.

Shortly before his discharge from the army, Horace was still in demand as a guest of honour at a charity event for the servicemen.

After being discharged from the Australian Army, Horace became involved with People's Volunteer Defence Auxiliary in Sydney, an independent of government, home defence organisation. He was a member of the auxiliary's central executive.

More than a year after his discharge, Snows Mens Ware, a supplier of military attire in Melbourne, was seeking to contact him regarding goods previously supplied to Horace. The Army were not able to provide his contact details on the grounds of privacy, however by now, Horace had relocated to New South Wales.

In 1942, Horace was living in Darlinghurst West, East Sydney. It is apparent at this stage of his life that he is estranged from his wife and son who remain in Adelaide. He was working as a Clerk for an unknown company. From 1943 until the early 1950s, Horace did not attract any attention from the media, which is in stark contrast prior to WW2. However, in April 1952, as a Gallipoli veteran, he was invited by the State President of the NSW R.S.L., to meet with two Turkish visitors whose relatives fought the Anzacs in WW1.

Horace's wife Darragh passed away in May 1955. Horace had been separated from her from before WW2 and she had moved to Victoria in the late 1940s to live with her son, Lawrence who had moved there for employment after the end of WW2, transferred there by his employer, BHP.

Shortly after his wife's death, Horace married Margaret Jane Lillian Browne, a law clerk from Victoria. Although marriage records show the civil ceremony was conducted in the Sydney Registry Office in June 1955, Census records suggest that Margaret was using the surname Viney, a year earlier.

In the 1954 Census, Horace and Margaret were living at 13 Rosslyn St Bellevue Hill NSW. Their occupations were both were listed as Clerks. Horace was almost 70 years of age.

In retirement, Horace and Margaret had moved to Springwood in the Blue Mountains, 72 kilometres west of Sydney.

Death

Horace passed away in March 1972, at the age of 86. Horace's profile in his later years, apart from his appearance in 1952 with the Turkish visitors, was notable by his absence from the public eye, compared with the earlier years.

In his obituary in the Sydney Tribune he was remembered more as a “military personality” in the “Peoples Defence Auxiliary” rather than an exemplary decorated Officer who served in WW1.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.