Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Researching_a_person_WWI_2019_v2.pdf

Guide_to_Reading_a_Service_Record_2021.pdf

Abbrev___Glossary.pdf

Guide_to_Reading_a_Unit_Diary_edited.pdf

Finding_photographs_2019.pdf

Researching_Trove_2019.pdf

Student_Guide_Building_a_Profile_updated.pdf

01_Transcript_-_Part_01_Michael_von_Berg.pdf

03_Transcript_-_Part_03_Michael_von_Berg.pdf

04_Transcript_-_Part_04_Michael_von_Berg.pdf

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=689900&c=WW2#R

The Sun 6 May 1917 p 11 ENLISTED AT FOURTEEN BOY SOLDIER AT "MOOCOW FARM" “Gas Smells Like Fruit” PATROL'S DEVOTION Beside the fire at 8 Pine-street, Manly, there sits a boy of 16, who is gradually recovering from shell-shock contracted on the historic field of Mouquet Farm in France, He enlisted at the age of 14 and a few months, and his name is Cecil Thomas. He Is fair and slight, and serious-looking, and as he talks he stares into the fire, seeing, you hardly dare imagine what ghastly pictures in the glowing coals. He gave his age as 18 at the Town Hall recruiting depot, and as he was fairly tall, the white lie passed undetected. His parents' permission lie filled in himself, writing backhand to disguise his boyish penmanship. They put him into reinforcements;' and after a time spent in Egypt Cecil Thomas had his 15th birthday on a troopship' 'bound for France! "No, no one guessed how young I was," heasoys; "they all took me on as one of themselves, and It- was not until I returned that some of the officers found it out. There was another boy there a month older than me, but I never got a chance of talking with him. He is still in France, I believe." Private Thomas's father left with another battalion soon after the boy enlisted, and he is still fighting in France, but his son, hearing that the elder Thomas's battalion was quartered near his own, searched it out, and on two different occasions was able to have a chat with his father. Of the actual battlefield the boy is yet unable to speak fluently. There are phases of it, which touched upon ever so gently, set his lips trembling with memories — memories to be pushed hastily aside as part of an evil dream that is over. His mother says that a thunderstorm makes him "restless as a kitten," and that for weeks after his return he sat listlessly with his head in his hands, hardly speaking to anyone, and showing interest in nothing about him. THE MOTOR BIKE CURE For two months his anxious little mother hoard not one word from her boy's lips about | war or any of the experiences through' which he had, passed. His one desire, he told her, I was to get out into the country, away from I the noise and clatter of the city. So off she packed him to relatives on the North Coast, and here the thing that made him a boy again was — a motor bike! He laughs softly at the incongruity of seeking quiet and practically living on a snorting, shaking, fussy machine of that kind. But on the bike his mind rode back to normal. Talking of gas, Cecil Thomas gives a surprisingly novel description. "It smells like all the fruit you ever smelt — as if the breeze were blowing oft an orchard. It is so lovely that you could go on snifllng and snifllng it, and all tho time it would be killing you. As soon as the first whiff reaches you, though, you put on your gas helmet. Usually the word is sent along that a gas attack is expected, just the 'same as you get warning of the bombs that you have to put on tear goggles for. They have cayenne and stuff in them that makes your eyes sore for some time. The tear goggles are made of rubber, in sections to lit closely against the eye, and have bits of mica to look through." "The thing that always beat me was how our side got all the information they did. We'd get word seat along that at 9 o'clock the enemy was going to bombard us for five minutes, and sure enough it would be as true as if we had arranged it ourselves. "There was. one. officer: I can't remember his name, who belonged to the Intelligence Department. He had a German uniform and could speak German, so they said, and used to go into the enemy lines for hours at a time. He is in England now with one leg amputated. The Germans put out – papers and a bag in No Man's Land one day, and dared our side to get them. He and another officer took up the challenge. He got the papers, but the other chap was killed. Often the Germans would stick a flag, out and dare us to get it. Once or twice when fellows went out a mine went off as soon as they pulled the flag out of the ground." The boy soldier did not find listening-post duty as dreadful as he has heard others describe it. He pokes the fire and talks quietly ON LISTENING POST "The first night you go out on listening post your hair stands on end at every sound and you see faces in the dark! (That is the fifteen-year-old speaking!) "The second night out you scrag the new chum that goes with you for yelling out when he sees things. You have to stand stock-still and not even breathe louder than you can help! When the flares go up from the German lines any movement from the listening post would mean death, but standing still you look just like one of the stumps that are scattered about in dozens all over the ground at Mouquet Farm." He tells you that at first he used to take a delight in potting these stumps, until he found that it attracted the enemy's attention to his part of the trench and made things too hot for him. Patrol duty, which entails crawling under the enemy's barbed wire entanglements and staying near their trenches In the hope of hearing something, did not appeal to him at all. He was glad when that was over. But the mention of it brings to' his mind a story that fires his imagination and sets a light burning In his quiet eyes. The battalion was to make a raid, the artillery first cutting the enemy's wires. By some miscalculation it was our own wire that was cut, and as the men dashed on, the enemy's entanglements confronted them with certain death. It was then the patrol threw themselves across the wires and made a bridge by which the raiders were able to cross. The raid was successful and the patrol had not given their lives in vain. Cecil Thomas pokes the fire and stares into the coals for a space. When he is 18 ho hopes to go hack and finish up what he began as a fifteen-year-old. He returned to Sydney in December and celebrated his 16th birthday a week later. His mother's eyes have not yet forgotten their anxiety of it year ago, but she laughs us she says; "He was always serious, and even as a baby he took his pleasures seriously. He always used to say that when he grow up he would build me a nice house und then buy a yacht and go sailing round the world. But he did the sailing first instead of last!"

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=137281&c=WW2

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2165025/ROBERT%20JOHN%20WORKMAN/

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=447299&c=WW2

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2164875/GORDON%20JAMES%20WATKINS/

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1025409&c=WW2#R

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8035184

02_Transcript_-_Part_03_Laurence_McEwen.pdf

03_Transcript_-_Part_04_Laurence_McEwen.pdf

In July, 1944, Flight Lieutenant Fopp was acting as instructor during a night flying test, when his aircraft collided with another aircraft, tearing away the whole of the starboard elevator and about one-third of the starboard tail' plane. In addition, the port tail plane was damaged and all but one foot of the port elevator torn away. The aircraft' became uncontrollable. Assuming command, Flight Lieutenant Fopp made preparations to abandon the aircraft but by careful piloting was able to regain control and fly it back to the airfield. He lowered the wheels and made preparations for landing but the aircraft went out of control again. With great skill and presence of mind, he raised the flaps and, regaining some degree of control, effected a landing, at the same time succeeding in preventing a blockage of the runway. It was then found' that the tail wheel had also been ripped away in the collision. Throughout the whole incident, this officer showed the greatest coolness and skill and his action was entirely responsible for the safe landing of the aircraft and its occupants."

01_Transcript_-_Parts__01___02_Laurence_McEwen.pdf

04_Transcript_-_Part_05_Laurence_McEwen.pdf

05_Transcript_-_Part_06_Laurence_McEwen.pdf

Born: 10/8/1884 in Norwood, Adelaide, South Australia (SA Birth Records 1842 - 1906 Book: 333 Page: 200 District: Nor.) Father Rowland Barbenson Robin and Mother Mary Friend Whitney Robin (nee Canaway), living at 28 Edwin Terrace, Gilberton, SA. Sisters: Mrs E C Ashwin Dorothy Margaret Robin (b. 3/7/1887 East Adelaide - d. ___) - SA Birth Records 1842-1906 Bk:399 Pge:486 District: Nor. Beatirce Ruth Robin (b. 31/10/1888 East Adelaide - d. ___) - SA Birth Records 1842-1906 Bk:427 Pge:315 District: Nor. Mary de Quetteville Robin (b. 14/5/1894 East Adelaide - d. ___) - SA Birth Records 1842-1906 Bk:543 Pge:406 District: Nor. Rowland Cuthbert Robin (b. 5/8/1898 St Peters - d.___) - SA Birth Records 1842-1906 Bk:627 Pge:14 District: Nor. Next of kin in service - Cousins: 2180 Corporal Arthur Mervyn Robin, 7th Battalion (KIA 29/6/1916 at Messines) 329 Sergeant Geoffrey de Quetteville Robin, 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion (KIA July 1916 at Fromelles) Lieutenant James Keeling Robin MC, 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery (KIA February 1917) Julieanne Ryan 2014

Son of Sir David John Gordon and Lady Anna Louisa (nee PEEL) GORDON of Victoria Avenue, Unley Park, Adelaide South Australia. Sir David John Gordon (4 May 1865 – 12 February 1946) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913 and a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1913 to 1944. He was briefly Minister of Education and Minister of Repatriation under Archibald Peake in 1917. Husband of Annie Marjorie GORDON. Father of Heather Rutherford GORDON (born 2nd October 1925) John Llewellyn GORDON (born 27th July 1927) Richard Martin Peel GORDON (born 12th April 1932) Bruce Rutherford GORDON (born 16th August 1935) Brother of 845 Driver Douglas Peel GORDON - 4th Company Australan Army Service Corps, returned to Australia 25th November 1915 (born 1892) Ex - Wing Commander J.R. Gordon was presented with an Air Efficiency Award on 21st March 1968. The Air Efficiency Award, post-nominal letters AE for officers, was instituted in 1942. It could be awarded after ten years of meritorious service to part-time officers, airmen and airwomen in the Auxiliary and Volunteer Air Forces of the United Kingdom and the Territorial Air Forces and Air Force Reserves of the Dominions, the Indian Empire, Burma, the Colonies and Protectorates. The award of the decoration was discontinued in the United Kingdom on 1 April 1999, when it was superseded by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal. The decoration is still being awarded in New Zealand, but between 1951 and 1975 it was superseded by local awards in other Dominions. In Canada, the Air Efficiency Award was superseded by the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1951. In South Africa, it was superseded by the John Chard Medal in 1952. In Australia, it was superseded by the National Medal in 1975. Daryl Jones

SA Aviation Museum - RAAF Mount Gambier and No. 2 Air Observers School - History

https://www.saam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SAAM-Profiles-RAAF-Port-Pirie-History-v.-MM-15Apr2017.pdf

On 1 August 1943 while Flight Lieutenant Fry (No. 10) was cooperating with 2nd Escort Group in this same area he saw a U-boat travelling surfaced at ten knots in a very rough sea only six miles from the sloops. He swung immediately towards the enemy and flew overhead, then made a tight turn to port to attack from the U-boat’s starboard quarter against very accurate fire. His starboard-inner engine was hit, and when the Sunderland closed to 400 yards a shell exploded in the starboard main fuel tank and petrol flooded the bridge. All three pilots were probably seriously wounded at this point but Fry with supreme determination pressed home the attack. The tail gunner saw the U-boat enveloped in the explosion plumes and then sink bows first. The Sunderland maintained course for about six miles, turned towards the ships and plunged into the sea, bouncing twice before settling heavily into the 15-foot swell. Meanwhile HMS Wren turned immediately to help the crashed aircraft. When it arrived ten minutes later all that remained was a stump of the mainplane with five of the crew clinging to it while a sixth man was seen swimming a quarter of a mile away. It was too rough to launch a boat even after oil had been pumped into the sea, but five men were hauled aboard by lifebelt and a seaman dived overboard and supported the other who was near exhaustion. Fry himself, whose indomitable spirit and skill combined to make this attack under conditions which might well have daunted the bravest heart, did not survive; but those members of his crew rescued soon learned that U454 had been broken in two and had sunk within thirty seconds. Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 443

Des Sheen was awarded his DFC by King George VI for "leading three Spitfires against a superior number of enemy aircraft, of which he forced one into the sea and inflicted serious damage on another. Later he led two British fighters against seven Heinkels, and although wounded in the leg and ear, he continued the attack until a leaking petrol tank forced him to withdraw from the engagement". These actions occurred on 21 October and 7 December 1939.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/curr-francis-lawrence-9882

SKM_C36821042212570.pdf

John Talbot Wright, aged 32, a motor mechanic and former chauffeur, was arrested on 11 September 1920 by Constable Cecil Elliott after a sensational car chase through city streets. Wright had stolen a brand-new luxury car, a Studebaker limousine belonging to Albert Cosman Jones, managing director of a company called Australian Motor Services Limited. Jones told the press that he had parked the car in the street outside his flat in Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay. He was in conversation with a friend inside the flat when he heard the car being started. Rushing from the apartment, he found Constable Elliott on point duty nearby. Together they commandeered a passing car and gave chase to the limousine, Constable Elliott on the footboard firing his revolver at intervals. Eventually, just outside the Captain Cook Hotel in Paddington, the pursuing car drew abreast of the stolen car and Elliott jumped across to the footboard of the limousine, threatening to shoot the driver if he did not stop.1 Wright’s photograph shows him wearing a Returned from Active Service badge. When he came before the court on Monday 13 September, his solicitor pleaded in his client’s defence that Wright was a returned soldier who had enlisted in 1915 and been wounded in action and ‘badly buried as a result of a shell burst’, and that he was ‘a complete nervous wreck when he arrived home’. The solicitor had a letter from a medical specialist stating that Wright had a ‘morbid mental bearing’.2 The solicitor did not mention that Wright had enlisted under the assumed name Jack Russell, Russell being his mother’s maiden name. As Jack Russell he had embarked for the front on 30 September 1915 with the 4th Reinforcements of the 17th Battalion on HMAT Argyllshire. His service dossier shows that he saw active service in Egypt and on the Western Front, that he spent quite a bit of time in military detention for various offences, and that he was hospitalised on a number of occasions for mostly unspecified ailments, but it has nothing specific to say about his being wounded in action. In any event, when Wright appeared before the committal court in August neither the magistrate nor the police prosecutor was sympathetic to the solicitor’s shell-shock plea, the prosecutor asking: ‘If everyone came before the court with the excuse of shell-shock where would we be?’3 Constable Elliott’s actions, on the other hand, were much acclaimed. He was himself a returned soldier, only 22 years old and a policeman for just seven months. As one journalist put it: ‘Before Elliott joined the force he was engaged in the most exciting of all chases – for Germans in France’.4 1.The National Advocate (Bathurst), 13 September 1920, p1. 2.Evening News, 13 September 1920, p6. 3.Ibid. 4.The National Advocate, op cit.

Guide_to_Remembrance_Day.pdf

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3511572

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1060032&c=WW2#R

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3463994

https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=67016

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=472712&c=WW2#R

https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=263551

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8071539

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1246791&c=VIETNAM

Ohlstrom_MyMaps_-_Teacher_Resource.pdf

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=2018119

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1270858&c=VIETNAM

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon with great gallantry in the attack and set a fine example of determination and skill in reducing at least two enemy 'pill boxes'. He did excellent work in consolidating the final objective, and set a splendid example of courage and leadership.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 137 Date: 30 August 1918

https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=728211&c=WW2#R

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=206054

SKM_C36820112609020.pdf

By all their country's wishes blest ! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallow'd mould, She there shall dress a holier sod, Than e'er before man's feet have trod. By angel hands their knell is runs ; By forms unseen their dirge is sung ; There Honour comes, a pilgrim gray' To bless the turf that wraps their clay ; And Freedom shall awhile repair, To weep o'er hero lying there.