Cootamundra War Memorial
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COOTAMUNDRA WAR MEMORIAL ALBERT PARK – HOVELL STREET COOTAMUNDRA WORLD WAR 1 HONOUR ROLL Compilation by Kevin Casey, Breakfast Point 2012 COOTAMUNDRA WAR MEMORIAL – WORLD WAR 1 A marble obelisk and other memorials have been erected in Albert Park in memory of those citizens of Cootamundra and District who served and died in the defence of Australia during times of conflict. The names of many of those who served in World Wars 1 and 2 are engraved and highlighted in gold on the obelisk. This account has been prepared to provide a background to the men associated with the Cootamundra district who served and died in World War 1. While it is acknowledged that an exhaustive list of local men who served in the war has not been compiled, this account briefly highlights the family and military backgrounds of those who did and who are recorded on the obelisk. Other men not listed on the obelisk but who were associated with the district and who also served and died in the war have been identified in the course of the research. They are also included in this account. No doubt further research will identify more men. Hopefully this account will jog a few memories and inspire further research into the topic. An invitation is extended to interested people to add to the knowledge of those who served Those who served came from a wide range of backgrounds. A number of the men had long family associations with the district and many have family members who are still residents of the district. Others have been men who worked in the district on farms in various capacities, in local shops, banks, railways and in other occupations. Some may have simply been passing through the district and heeded the call to join and serve their country. The presence of large numbers of men in the AIF Camp in the district at the time also contributed to the formation of associations with the district and its people. Local Historians Edward “Ted” O’Connor and John Connell have been of assistance to me in my research and their work is appreciated and acknowledged. Any errors or omissions in the account are mine. THOSE WHO SERVED The names of men recorded on the World War 1 Memorial are listed below in the order of their appearance on the Memorial. At the end of the list are the names of other men who were later identified as having also served and died in the war. ADAMSON Arthur George 3752 Arthur was the fifth child of John Adamson and Emma Pratt. John and Emma married in Hay in 1884. John died in Hay in 1914 and Emma died in Katoomba in 1924 aged 62 years. Arthur was born in Hay in 1892 and had seven siblings: Grace Emma b.1885, Clarissa M. b. 1886, John William b.1888, Louisa Catherine b.1890, Minnie D. b.1895 m.1915 Clarence Pellow m. 1941 Silas Joseph Eddy, Leslie Alfred b. 1898 and Henry J. b. 1901. Arthur was educated at Hay Public School and lived with his family in Macaulay Street, Hay at the time of his enlistment. Arthur was single, an Ironmonger by calling and a Methodist by religion. Arthur enlisted in the 18th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement in the AIF Camp Cootamundra, on 27 September 1915 aged 22 years. His Unit departed Sydney aboard HMAT A54 Runic on 20 January 1916. Arthur was killed in action in France on 28 July 1916 aged 23 years. Arthur was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal ADDISON Bernard Joseph 5783 Bernard was the son Joseph Addison. He was born in Cootamundra in 1885 and educated at the Cootamundra Public School. Joseph died in 1935.There are no records of his parent’s marriage, neither the name of his mother nor evidence of any siblings or other relatives. At the time of Bernard’s enlistment he resided at “Butrapine”, Nambucca River, NSW. He was earlier employed by a Mr. H Brooks from Berry at a property in Kangaroo Valley and was well known in Berry. In a conversation with Mr. Brooks he stated that he “had neither kith nor kin in the whole world that he knew of”. A check with the Parish Priest in Cootamundra following Bernard’s death failed to reveal evidence of any relatives. Bernard was single, a Farmer by calling and a Roman Catholic by religion. He enlisted in the 20th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement on 6 may 1916 aged 31 years. His Unit departed Sydney aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916. Bernard was killed in action in France on 3 May 1917. Bernard was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal ANDERSON William Watt Private 153 William was the son of Mr. R.J. and Helen Anderson, 12 Balgay Avenue, Dundee, Scotland. He was educated at Blackness Public School, Scotland and arrived in Sydney in 1912. He was single, a Labourer by calling and a Congregationalist by religion. William enlisted in the 19th Battalion, A Company on 10 February 1915 aged 21 years. His Unit departed Sydney aboard HMAT A Ceramic on 25 June 1915. William died of disease on 30 October 1915 and is buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta in Plot D, Row 1D, Grave No. 6. A friend of William’s, W. Williams from T. Williams & Co., Auctioneers, Property & Stock Salesmen in Cootamundra, wrote in response to an advertisement in the City newspapers on 13 November 1915 seeking information indicating that William as he was reported to be seriously ill. William was awarded the 194-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. ATTWOOD Holbrook Mitchelmore Trooper 1001 Holbrook was the eldest child of George Thomas Attwood and Edith Mary Mitchelmore. George and Edith married in 1890 in Cootamundra and George died in 1939. He had siblings: Elsie b.1894 m.1920 Frederick E. Hopkins and Reece T b.1896.Holbrook was educated at Sydney Grammar School Holbrook was single, a General Merchant by calling and a member of the Church of England. He enlisted in the 1st Light Horse Regiment 6th Reinforcement on 26 March 1915. Holbrook died of pneumonia at his home in Cootamundra on 30 June 1915 and is buried in the Church of England Cemetery in Cootamundra AYERS Charles Thomas Private 3002 Charles was born in Temora in 1887 the eldest son of Thomas Gabriel Ayers and Ellen M. Kennedy. Thomas and Ellen were married in Temora in 1884 and moved to Gundagai Road, Cootamundra prior to the birth of their second child Victor in 1891. Thomas died in Ashfield in 1945 and Ellen died Darlinghurst in 1952 aged 84 years. Charles was educated at Brawlin Public School and was employed as a Tram Guard in Sydney at the time of his enlistment and was a Roman Catholic by religion. Charles was the eldest of nine children: Victor A. b.1891, Sydney Winton b.1893 KIA 24 November 1917, Rose E. b.1895, Thomas A.A. b.1897 d.1932, Eugene F.G. b.1898, Mary E.R. b.1900 m.1922 David J. Meredith and twins Anne b.1903 and Ferdinand b.1903 d.1977 and John Joseph d.1952, Charles was single and lived at Cootamundra prior to moving to Sydney. His next of kin was given as his father Thomas. Charles enlisted in the AIF on 5 August 1915 in the 3rd Battalion 10th Reinforcement aged 28 years. His Unit departed Sydney aboard HMAT A69 Warialda on 8 October 1915. He later transferred to the 55th Battalion. Charles was killed in action by a shell at Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium on 26 September 1917 and buried where he fell. The Chaplain who conducted the service was killed an hour later. Charles has no known grave and is remembered on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 29), Belgium. Charles’ brothers 2518 Private Victor Albert AYERS, 37th Battalion, returned to Australia on 27 August 1917 and Lieutenant Sydney Winton AYERS, Australian Flying Corps, died of wounds 24 November 1917. Charles was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal AYERS Sydney Winton Lieutenant 612 Sydney was born in Cootamundra in 1893 the son of Thomas Gabriel Ayers and Ellen M. Kennedy. Thomas and Ellen were married in Temora in 1884 and moved to Gundagai Road, Cootamundra prior to the birth of their second child Victor in 1891. Thomas died in Ashfield in 1945 and Ellen died Darlinghurst in 1952 aged 84 years. Sydney was the third eldest of nine children: Charles Thomas b.1886 KIA 26 September 1917, Victor A. b.1891, Rose E. b.1895, Thomas A. A. b.1897 d.1932, Eugene F.G. b.1898, Mary E.R. b.1900 m.David J. Meredith and twins Anne b.1903, Ferdinand b.1903 d.1977 and John Joseph d.1952. Sydney moved to Main Street, Lithgow where he was employed as a Mechanic at the time of his enlistment and was a Roman Catholic by religion. Sydney enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps. No. 2 Squadron, A Flight on 14 September 1916 aged 23 years. His Unit departed Melbourne aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916. Sydney’s plane was hit by enemy gunfire near Cambrai, Bourlen Wood. His plane crash landed. He got out of the plane, apparently uninjured, and while running across no-man’s land toward his own lines was hit by enemy fire in the abdomen. He died of wounds on 24 November 1917. At the time of his death he was a member of the 68th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.