JENOLAN CAVES IN THE GREAT WAR A centenary commemoration of the Armistice 11th November 1918 During the First World War men from all over Australia enlisted for service. At that time Jenolan Caves was a small community with a school, post office and police station. The caves were a major tourist attraction and Caves House employed a large staff. Many men associated with Jenolan enlisted including some who had been children at the Jenolan school. This poster acknowledges some of those soldiers, their relatives and friends at home and is a tribute to the contribution of Jenolan Caves to the Great War of 1914 – 1918.

It’s a little known fact that Jenolan was the scene of Dr Roy Wiburd Leonard Bailey early wartime propaganda. While Gallipoli is usually James Wiburd was a long time guide who made was the son of Rob- recognised as Australia’s initial experience in World many significant cave discoveries. ert Ervine Bailey who War 1 the first battle actually happened in September His son Dr Roy Wiburd, who grew up at Jenolan, was a co-discoverer 1914 at Rabaul in New Guinea. An Australian con- served with the Australian Army Medical Corps. of caves with James tingent fought and captured a German wireless sta- He is pictured 2nd from right in back row. Wiburd. Leonard Bai- tion. Prisoners of war were brought back to Australia. ley was killed in action In December it was reported that a group of badly on 12th October 1917 behaved German prisoners visited Jenolan causing at Passchendaele, Bel- damage by breaking stalactites. When the caretaker, gium. James Wiburd, was questioned he reported that no fault could be found with the behaviour of the visit- ing Germans who had conducted themselves as gen- tlemen while at Jenolan Caves.

Stanley William Matherson Stilling Hugh Patrick McKenna was manager of Caves was employed at House in the years be- Caves House for 4 tween the world wars. years. At a send off He served in a Light held in June 1915 he Horse Regiment. He is acknowledged the pictured here with his farewell gifts and wife Ada in front of hoped to return to Caves House. his kind employer and his good friends at Jenolan. Joseph Albert Mellor Mr Sydenham, manager at Caves House, and his brother Ernest came to Jenolan felt sure Private McKenna would serve in 1900 to work as electricians. Jo- his King and Country as faithfully as seph Mellor was wounded at Gallipoli he had served his employers. in August 1915 and went on to serve Hugh died of wounds 26th November in France. 1915 after only 27 days on Gallipoli. He is buried in the cemetery on Shell Green. His Executors were George Syd- enham and James Wiburd of Jenolan Archie Tait Caves. was appointed as guide in 1912. He enlisted at the re- cruiting office at Jenolan on 6 April 1916. At age 41 years he was one of the many older men who joined the army. He served in a Signal Company and after the war he was Guide Joseph Luchetti known for his experiments with wireless transmitters in enlisted in December 1915 as Joseph the caves. James Bourke. He was wounded in In August 1919 Archie returned to Jenolan and was pre- Belgium in 1917. sented with an inscribed gold medal and fountain pen by William Henry (Harry) Malthouse James Wiburd. Decorations at his welcome home party was a gardener from the Sydney Botanical Gardens who included his battalion colours, national flags and a ban- came to Jenolan in 1898 to work on the ornamental plant- ner. ings. He was 46 years old when he enlisted. In August 1917 his transport ship was sunk by a German raider and Harry became a prisoner of war. He died in Germany just weeks after the Armistice was signed. Harry was renowned as a Wilsons cyclist and used to ride from Mount Victoria to Jenolan. Jeremiah Wilson was “Keeper of the Caves” who made His bicycle is now part of the collection held by the Jenolan many early discoveries and developed the first accom- Caves Historical & Preservation Society. modation at Jenolan. His brother Fred Wilson was care- taker in 1900. Two sons of Fred Wilson enlisted. Donald Wilson landed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 and was wounded in May and again in August. Cecil Wilson was wounded by a shell fragment in 1916 and died in 1919. The Lithgow Mercury in July 1917 reported cheery let- ters had arrived from local soldiers at the front that men- tioned the Wilson lads, young Dr Wiburd and Harley Cale who were all school mates at Jenolan Caves. JENOLAN CAVES IN THE GREAT WAR A centenary commemoration of the Armistice 11th November 1918

Official Visits Official Visits Renowned geologist and polar explorer Tan- Just prior to the Armistice, French General Pau In April 1920 General Sir William Birdwood made nant William Edgeworth David was 58 visited Australia to express gratitude from the an official visit to Jenolan. He is pictured standing in years old when he enlisted in 1916. He was at- French Government for the generous aid giv- front of Caves House in a light coloured suit and hold- tached to the Australian Mining Corps, or as they en in the war. He visited Jenolan in September ing his hat. Standing next to the General is Major Pain. were known, The Tunnellers. He provided valua- 1918 and is pictured in the Devils Coach House The Jenolan guide leaning on the post near the flag is ble advice on the design of trenches and tunnels. at far left with binoculars. William Robertson. He saw service under Major Pain He was seriously injured when he was dropped and was wounded in a gas attack in 1918. The guide on 80 feet down a shaft while inspecting a well near the far right is James Wiburd. Vimy Ridge. Three times mentioned in dispatches, The grounds were specially illuminated at night in hon- he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order our of the General who on arrival was played through in 1918 and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. the Grand Arch by the Oberon Band. There was a guard Edgeworth David is pictured here unveiling a of honour made up of local returned men. Guide Ar- plaque in the Grand Arch on 23rd February 1929 chie Tait, who served in France, was in charge of the local Diggers.

In 1921 the parents of Leonard Bailey were still looking for his remains. Mary Frances Moran Frank Hurley commenced work in Caves House in August was a photographer known for his work in the Antartic. 1928. Two of her brothers served in the 40th He served in the war as an official photographer with the Australian Battalion and were killed in 1917. Her remain- Imperial Forces from 1917–18. He produced books on Jenolan Caves ing brother served with the New Zealand Ex- and took some of the most iconic photographs of James Wiburd. peditionary Force and returned to live there. When Mary died in March 1950 her head- stone was erected by those who had become her family: the Jenolan Caves staff.

The Government Tourist Bureau applied for a war trophy for Jenolan in 1921. It was proposed that a machine gun be placed in a prominent position within the Grand Arch where every visitor could see it. The application stated that it would be a labour of love and post of honour among the permanent officers at Jenolan to keep the gun polished and in first class condition. It would be located under natural cover and out of the weather. There was a favourable response to the letter but the application was later withdrawn. The only known example of a memorial at Jenolan is in the River Cave. Part of the river forms a pool where visitors would throw coins into the water. Oral history has the story that this practice was in memory of soldiers as some of the money collected was given to the Anzac Memorial Hospital in Katoomba.

Information researched by Kath Bellamy. Set up and design by David Cook. Jenolan Caves Historical and Preservation Society 2018