Spotlight on ... Witness To History!

A while back I decided to branch off from just telling the stories of my direct ancestors and use some of my posts to share other things of interest.  The main motivation for this was my desire to share some of the many wonderful photos I've found of my extended family (not too many degrees of separation from my direct ancestors).  These photos deserve to be in the spotlight, and I had to think long and hard about an interesting way to do just that.

I decided to put together collections of photos that all share a common thread.  This post will be the fourteenth of these collection posts and this time the spotlight is on ... Witness to History!

Whilst so many of the treasured photos I have collected during my family tree research journey have been either studio portraits of people or photos taken by family members to celebrate important family events and milestones, there are just a few shots that highlight some of the changes in the everyday lives of my relatives over time, and therefore act as a tangible witness to history. 

Let's start  ...  there are a handful of family photos featuring horses that highlight the different roles horses played in their lives.  For so many of my farming ancestors and their families, horses were essential to getting around and/or played a vital role in way they made their living.

This is a photo of Norman Dawes,

1854 -1925, taken on his farm at Albion Park, New South Wales in the late 1890s.

Norman was my paternal first cousin 3x removed. 

I'm not entirely sure what the machinery being pulled by the team of horses is, but it could be a piece of ploughing equipment or a mowing attachment?

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.

This photo shows William Connors, 

1864-1959,

and family.

My paternal great great uncle William is the one driving the team of horses pulling the covered buggy, referred to as a 'bus' in those days.

This photo was taken in 1905 at Blowering, after William had delivered the entire family to safety from raging bushfires at Tumut, New South Wales.  The family was able to escape safely and intact thanks to this sturdy rescue vehicle and its strong team of horses.  I can only imagine the pace those horses must have travelled at to outrun the flames.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents William Conners (Connors) and Eleanor Hickey.

This is Henry Nowlan driving his horse and gig.

Henry was the husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, Susannah Jones.

He used the gig to carry the mail between Spring Grove and Casino in New South Wales.  He did this for 50 years.

This particular photo is thought to have been taken in 1928, when Henry was aged 72. 

Records dated Apr 1914 show that Henry's mail route was 8 1/2 miles long and he delivered the mail three times per week.

Common Ancestors:  (with Henry's wife Susannah Jones)  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

A number of my relatives lived their lives on horseback, as part of the daily routine of living on the land.

This man, my paternal great uncle Cyril Ernest Connors, 1888 - 1942, grew up on his parents' dairy farm, and at the time of his enlistment for service in World War 1, his occupation was that of  'horse breaker'.  

Cyril enlisted in the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment which was a mounted infantry regiment of the Australian Army during WW1. Obviously, being a mounted infantry, horses were an integral part of the regiment.  At that time though, regimental members were expected to supply their own horse.  

B Squadron, 6th ALHR (with Cyril) embarked from Sydney on the 21st of December 1914 aboard the Suevic, and disembarked in Egypt on the 1st of February 1915.  The long voyage to Egypt would have been difficult on the members of the Light Horse, as well as their horses.  Cyril would have worked tirelessly to keep his horse fit, exercising him daily on deck whenever possible, routinely cleaning out the stall, rubbing the horse down, making sure he was eating and drinking.  It's said that the men also slept with their horses to ensure their safety and good health.  

Unfortunately I don't have any information about the fate of Cyril's horse and just how it fared during Cyril's service from February 1915 to November 1918, when Cyril returned home to Australia.  I do often wonder though just what its wartime life would have been like!

Common Ancestors:  my paternal great grandparents Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah Fullagar Hukins.

Now, it's time to move onto other forms of transport that pop up in family photos.

The man standing to the right in this photo is Charles John Hugh McGuiness, 

1859-1952, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed.

Charles worked for the company West & Sharpe for many years carrying timber in the Lismore District.  

This photo (c. 1920s) shows Charles and family standing beside an old time West & Sharpe solid tyre lorry that Charles used for pulling logs.  The beast of a lorry is obviously bogged and perhaps hampered by a broken chassis.  I do wonder how on earth Charles managed to get this thing back on the road.  Spot the crank, hanging at the front of the the vehicle, used to start the engine.  Those were the days!

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Now here is a much classier looking vehicle.

The older rather distinguished looking man is Alfred Barrow Jnr, 1880-1944,

my paternal second cousin 2x removed.

Alfred's second eldest son, John Alfred Barrow, is sitting on running board, and son-in-law Douglas Sydney Fitzsimmons is standing on the right.

The photo is likely to have been taken sometime around the end of the 1930s, just before the outbreak of war.  Alfred's eldest son Harold Allan Barrow, second eldest son John Alfred Barrow (pictured above) and son-in-law Douglas Fitzsimmons (also picture above) all served in WW11, and thankfully, all returned home.

On an Anzac Day many years later, the eldest son mentioned above, Harold Allan Barrow, 1910 - 1971, my paternal cousin 1x removed, was photographed standing beside quite a stylish looking vehicle.  Is it a late 1950s Holden?  

Harold is standing proud wearing his service medals, likely prior to hopping into that stylish car and heading off to an Anzac Day Parade.

I'm unsure about the date of this photo as well, although it's likely to have been sometime between the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The man on the left is John Alfred Barrow again (pictured sitting on the running board two photos above).  He is my paternal 3rd cousin, once removed.

It does look like John Alfred took his cycling rather seriously and was probably competing at a local level.  I'm assuming this photo was taking after a hard training session.

Look at those sleek racing bicycles!

Common Ancestors (with the Barrow clan):  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Here's another great looking bike!

That lovely lady with the big smile is Lucy Emily McGuiness,1863-1959.

She is my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed (sister of Charles John Hugh McGuiness pictured above, beside the broken down lorry).  Lucy would probably be aged around 70 or so in this photo and obviously kept fit and active.

What a fabulous old bicycle, complete with basket at the front and parcel rack at the back.  It does seem to be far too big for Lucy though!  Those wheels are enormous.

Here's Lucy Emily McGuiness once again.

This time she's standing in front of what I've guessed to be a beautiful old Ford Zephyr Six!  

It's likely to be a mid 1950s model.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Now that's Christina Hettrick nee Connors, 1915 - 2000, (my paternal aunty) draped across the hood of what I think might be a post-WW11 MG.

My father, Bede William Connors, 1924 - 2016, is standing on the left, and I think it's likely this photo would have been taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s.  I haven't yet been able to find out just where this photo was taken and exactly how my father and his sister came to be driving around in this sleek automobile.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal grandparents George Connors and Grace Brown.

I'm going to end this post with a photo of a fantastic old workhorse of a car.

I'm really not sure what type of car this is, but it was obviously perfectly suited to loading up an entire family for a day's outing somewhere in the bush.

I do know the photo dates from the late 1940s, and a couple of my maternal O'Donnell uncles and their friends are sitting in the back of this ute ready to head off for a day full of fun!

Common Ancestors:  my maternal grandparents James O'Donnell and Sarah McCane.

Spotlight on ... Bearded!

This is another of my posts that branches off from just telling the stories of my direct ancestors.  The main motivation for these 'Spotlight' posts is my desire to share some of the many wonderful photos I've found of my extended family (not too many degrees of separation from my direct ancestors).  

These photos deserve to be in the spotlight, so I thought long and hard about an interesting way to do this.  Hence the decision to put together collections of photos that all share a common thread.  

For the thirteenth collection post, the spotlight is on ...  Bearded! 

Looking through my family tree photos, it's become apparent that there were not many men on either side of my extended family tree who were fans of beards, and there was a definite time period for those men who are bearded in the family tree photos.  These bearded men were born between 1814 and 1861 and all seemed to have preferred the full beard style.

Edward Bannister Daw / Dawes  (the spelling varied), born about 1814 in Kent, England.

He married my paternal 3rd great-aunt Elizabeth Hukins in Woodchurch, Kent and then emigrated to Australia the following year with his wife and baby son.

They went on to have another ten children and Edward died in 1897 after living a long life of 83 years.

Common ancestors:  (with Edward's wife Elizabeth)  James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar, my paternal 3rd great grandparents.

James Exton, my paternal 3rd great grandfather, was born in Lincolnshire, England in 1816.

He married Susannah Lancaster in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1835.  They went on to have nine children, but after the arrival of their fourth daughter, they emigrated to Australia, arriving in 1844.

James went on to become a prominent pioneer in the Richmond River area.  He died in 1876 at the age of 59.

Common Ancestors:  John Hukins and Elizabeth Crittenden, my paternal 4th great grandparents.

Richard King, the husband of my paternal 3rd great-aunt, was born in 1818 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.

He emigrated to Australia on his own in 1841, married Sarah Brown in 1847 and they went on to have a family of ten children.

Richard died in 1903 at the age of 85, having worked most of his life as a farmer.

Common Ancestors:  (with Richard's wife Sarah)  Henry Johnson Brown and Eleanor Gowen, my paternal 3rd great grandparents.

James Wright, husband of my paternal 3rd great-aunt.

He married Hannah Browning in 1848 and they went on to have eighteen children over the following twenty years.

James died in 1875, aged 53.  Sadly he had been killed by a falling tree when he and two of his sons were out in the bush looking for a bee's nest to harvest its honey.

Common Ancestors:  (with Frederick's wife Hannah)  William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns, my paternal 3rd great grandparents.

Michael Farrell, my maternal 2nd great grandfather, born in 1834 in County Leitrim, Ireland.  He moved to Scotland initially in search of work and that's where he met and married Susan Muldowney (also spelt Downey).

They married in 1865 and soon after, moved to north-eastern England where their nine children were born.

In 1887 Michael emigrated to Queensland, Australia with his wife and seven of his children, as two of his daughters had already emigrated.

Michael died in 1917 having lived a long life of 83 years.  In the year before his death, 1916, his three youngest sons had enlisted to serve in WW1 and were all fighting overseas in 1917.  

Sadly one of his boys was killed in action in September of 1917 and Michael died two months later. 

Common Ancestors:  Thomas Farrell and Anne Conoly (or Conway), my maternal 3rd great grandparents.

John Potter Davis, my paternal 3rd cousin 4x removed, was born in Kent, England in 1834.

He emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1849 with his father, mother and siblings, when he was 15 years old.

John married Mary Mack in 1855 and they went on to have three children.

John and his wife Mary were induced by the Poor Commissioner of Wisconsin to undertake the management of the Poor Farm in Walworth County, and all its inmates.

Their administration began in 1882, ended in 1901 when they retired and earned them the approval of the Commissioners, the County Supervisors and the community, earning a place in the history of the county.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 6th great grandparents John Fullagar and Elizabeth Potter.

Francis Fredericks, the husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in New South Wales, Australia in 1839.

He married Eliza Jones in 1871 and they went on to have twelve children.

He was regarded as a pioneer of the Richmond River District, establishing a  dairy farm in an area where timber getting and maize growing were the principal industries.

Common Ancestors:  (with Francis's wife Eliza Jones)  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Edward Hocking Edwards, the husband of my paternal 2nd great-aunt.

Born in 1840 in Cornwall, England, he emigrated to Australia with his parents and siblings when he was 16 years old.

In 1871, at the age of 30, he married Anna Caroline Penelope Brown.  They went on to have 12 children

Edward was one of the first converts to the Salvation Army Corps in Lismore, New South Wales, serving as Treasurer, Colour Sergeant and Corps Sargeant Major during his lifetime.

He died in 1920, aged 80.

Common Ancestors:  (with his wife Anna)  my paternal 2x great grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning.

Michael James Hickey, my paternal 3rd great uncle.

Michael was born in 1842, the year after his parents and older siblings had emigrated to Australia from Ireland.  

He was born in the Maitland area of New South Wales.  

He married Mary McCarthy (known as Ellen) in 1862 when he was 20 years old.  They went on to have six children.

Michael died in 1916, aged 73.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Hickey and Margaret McNamara.

Francis Thomas McQuilty, the husband of my paternal 3rd great-aunt.

Born in 1843 in Sydney, New South Wales.  His pioneering parents moved to the Richmond River area when he was six months old. 

He married Elizabeth (Betsy) Exton in 1866 when he was 23 years of age.

They lived in the Richmond River area for their entire married life, and went on to have ten children.

Common Ancestors:  (with Francis's wife Betsy)  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Richard Dawes, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in 1845 in Marshall Mount, New South Wales.

He married Mary Pearson in 1868 and they went on to have a family of eight children.

Richard died in 1920 at the age of 75 and was recognised as one of the "great pioneers of the fertile district" of Lismore, having established a large dairy farm near Eltham in the Lismore District.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

William Henry Barber, the husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed.

William was born near Goulburn, New South Wales in 1847.

He married Hannah Maud Wright in 1868 when he was 21 years old.  They had a family of eleven children.

During his lifetime, William turned his hand to any form of work he could find, from timber cutting to gold digging.  

He died in 1941 at the ripe old age of 94.

Common Ancestors:  (with William's wife Hannah Maud Wright)  my paternal 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

Alexander Johnson Brown, my paternal 2nd great uncle, was born in  1849 in the Richmond River District.

He was known as Sandy for his entire lifetime, and claimed to be the first white child born in the Lismore area.

Alexander (Sandy) was known to have an extensive knowledge of the dialects of all Aboriginal groups living from the Tweed River to the Clarence River at that time.  

He was the first timber consignor in the Richmond River district to brand his cedar logs, and his was the first branded timber to be sent to the Sydney market.

During his lifetime, Alexander worked as a timber cutter, a publican, a mail contractor and a farmer.  He married Margaret Jane Bustard in 1871 when he was 22 years old.  They went on to have a family of twelve children.

Alexander died in 1931 at the age of 82, just a few months after the death of his wife.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning.

William Consett Proctor, husband of my paternal 2nd great aunt, had a distinguished career in the law and public office, but quite a messy private life.

William was born in Lancashire, England in 1850, but came from a long and quite prominent lineage of Irish Proctors.

He was the son of a police constable John Proctor J.P.; the grandson of a Henry Proctor, manager of the Northern Bank in Galway, Ireland; the great grandson of a Major William Proctor, Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms; and the great-great-grandson of the Very Rev. Dr. Quarrie, who was the Dean of Cork in Ireland.

William emigrated to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1851, at the age of 1.  He passed the preliminary examination in law in 1867 when he was just 17.  He was invited to "the mysteries of the Masonry" in 1873 when he was just 23 years of age, and was appointed Junior Deacon the following year.  He was a member for 15 years, went on to become Senior Warden, and 'Worshipful Master of Lodge Harmony' No.5 in Sydney.

William became a solicitor in 1875.  He was elected Mayor of Armidale in 1877 and held office until 1879.  William was then elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Member for New England in late 1880, and served for three terms of office - from Dec 1880 to Nov 1882, Dec 1882 to Oct 1886, and then for a few weeks in 1887.

In 1886, William had became a Director of the Mercantile Building, Land and Investment Society as well as the Universal Land Building and Investment Society.

William's private life was complicated and the subject of a number of headlines in local newspapers at the time.  He married twice.  His first wife was Kathleen Roberts whom he married in 1878 when he was aged 28.  A warrant for wife desertion was placed on William in 1897, and Kathleen was granted a divorce later that same year on the grounds of drunkenness and desertion.

William and Kathleen had two children, a son named Frederick William Proctor and a daughter named Alethea Mary Proctor (who went on to become a well-known artist by the name of Thea Proctor).

William had begun an affair with my paternal 2nd great aunt, Julia Cusack, before he divorced his first wife though.  William and Julia had four children together, the first born in 1896, and the last born two months after William married Julia in 1903.  At the time of their marriage, William was 53 and Julia was 36.

Sadly, William died just two years later in late 1905 at the Hospital for the Insane in Gladesville, New South Wales.  Interestingly, there's a short page on Wikipedia dedicated to William!

Common Ancestors:  (with William's second wife, Julia Cusack)  my paternal 2x great grandparents Patrick Cusack and Eliza Exton.

William Edward Wright,  my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was the son of James Wright (pictured above) and the older brother of Hannah Maud Wright (the wife of William Henry Barber, and pictured above).

William was born in the Armidale district in 1852. 

He married Mary Jane Aspinall in 1873 when he was 21 years old.  They went on to have a family of six children.  William died in 1931 at the age of 79 in the township of Alectown, which was within the Parkes Shire of New South Wales.  He was well-known as one of the pioneer miners in that area.

Common Ancestors:  William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns, my paternal 3rd great grandparents.

Oliver Richard Jones, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was the son of a convict named John Michael Jones and the daughter of a pioneering family, Harriett Lancaster-Exton.

Oliver was apprenticed to the shipwright trade at a young age.  He was employed at William Yabsley's shipbuilding yard during the boom days of the timber and shipbuilding industries.  

He married Elizabeth, the daughter of his employer William Yabsley, in 1878 when he was 22 years old, and they went on to have a family of ten children.

William died in 1951 at the age of 99.  He was survived by seven of his children, 40 grandchildren and 83 great grandchildren.

Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Andrew Thomas, the husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in Molong, New South Wales in 1856.

He married Harriet Matilda Wright in 1876 when he was aged 20.  They went on to have thirteen children.

Andrew died in mid 1915 when he was 59 years old.

Common Ancestors:  (with Andrew's wife Harriet Matilda Wright,  William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns, my paternal 3rd great grandparents.

Thomas Atkin, husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in 1857 at Wiseman's Ferry, New South Wales.

He married Hannah Jones  (the brother of Oliver Richard Jones pictured above) in 1882 when he was 25 years old and they went on to have a family of five children.

Thomas spent his life framing in the Blakebrook area and lived until he was aged 71.  He died in Lismore in 1929.

Common Ancestors:  (with Thomas's wife Hannah Jones) my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.  

Edwin Cusack, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed, was the son of convict John Cusack and Frances Seale.

He was born in Tabulam in 1861, married Jane Cochran in 1882 when he was 21, and went on to have a family of eight children.

Edwin was a farmer and spent most of his life on his property on the Dunoon Road, north of Lismore.

He died in 1931 at the age of 70.

Finally, one of Edwin's older brothers John Thomas Cusack.

John Thomas was also born in Tabulam, like his brother Edwin, but earlier, in 1858.  

When he was 22 years old, he married Emma Bridget Lofts.  They went on to have six children.

John died in 1933 at the age of 75 in Lidcombe, New South Wales.

Common Ancestors:  (with brothers Edwin and John Thomas)  my paternal 3x great grandparents, Michael Cusack and Mary Green.

Spotlight on ... My Family's WW11 Veterans.

All my family's WW11 veterans in one place .........

I've previously posted about all the brave men in the family who sailed off overseas to fight in World War 1 (click on this link: Lest We Forget) and now it's time to pay tribute to all the women and the men on my family tree who served Australia's cause in the second World War.

The family members highlighted in this post were members of what has come to be known as the "greatest generation".  This was a generation who knew real hardship and heartache and withstood the trials and tribulations that came their way with great fortitude and forbearance.  

They were mostly born in the 1900s to 1920s and lived through very difficult times bought on by economic stress and global warfare.  They were born during or just after WW1, grew up or came of age during the Great Depression and served during WW11.  They left an amazing legacy of integrity, commitment, self-sacrifice, personal responsibility, frugality and a strong work ethic.

When looking over the records of the 84 family members I've researched so far, I noted a few interesting points:

  

When it came to the military branch most of the family members served with, there was a clear winner. 

• The majority of these relatives, 41 in all, served with the 2nd AIF - the Second Australian Imperial Force - the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army who served worldwide.  The 2nd AIF was disbanded after WW11.

• 23 served with the Citizens Military Forces - partly conscripted and liable for service within Australia and a defined area in the South West Pacific.  The CMF were initially involved in garrison duties at home in Australia and New Guinea, which was an Australian territory at the time.  This all changed when Japan entered the war on the 8th of December, 1941 though.  A number of the CMF units served overseas during the Pacific War as well.  1941 also saw the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corps) officially incorporated into The Australian Army as part of the CMF.

• There were several who served with both the CMF and the AIF at different times during their war service, but I have only included them in the numbers for the AIF.

• 20 family members served with the RAAF - the Royal Australian Air Force.

Something else that caught my eye during this research were the enlistment dates for these family members.

• 34 enlisted fairly early on, in either 1940 or 1941, when the theatres of war only included Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa.

• 50 enlisted in 1942 to 1944 when the horrors of war moved closer to home.

Japan had occupied most of south-east Asia and large areas of the Pacific after they entered the war at the end of 1941, so I can understand why so many more family members enlisted from the beginning of 1942 onwards ... the war had come to our shores!  

I found the ages of enlistment quite interesting as well.

• 18 enlisted before they had turned 20 - when they were 17, 18 or 19.

• 33 enlisted when they were in their 20s.

• 21 enlisted when they were in their 30s.

• 9 were in their 40s, including Robert Dooley, Albert Hokin and Alan Desmond Whitbread Johnston who re-enlisted after serving in WW1.

• 3 were in their 50s, including Cyril Ernest Connors and Charles Barrow who had both served in WW1; and there was also one fellow, Eugene John McQuilty, who was one year shy of 60 when he enlisted!!!

There were also quite a varying array of occupations these family members had before they enlisted ... including one who worked as a cordial maker, one who was apparently a traveller, and one who worked as a butter churner!!!

I've included information about how these family members served, primarily focusing on their last posting before being discharge.  It was fascinating to me that out of the 72 family members, the majority did not end up serving with the same unit,.  

3 family members all served with the 1st NSW Battalion Voluntary Defence Corps.

2 family members served with the Australian Women's Army Services.

2 brothers (twin brothers) Harold and Hector Cusack, who enlisted on the same day, served with the 2nd/14th Infantry Battalion.

There was such a variety in the ways these people served their country, everything from the Australian Forestry Company, the Australian Entertainment Unit, the Light Field Ambulance, the Topographical Survey Company, the Flying Boat Repair Depot to various Infantry Battalions and Field Companies.

Thankfully, the majority of those who served returned home and lived fairly long lives.  There were five who never returned home however.  Two were killed in action and three died as a prisoners of war.   

There were two family members who survived being prisoners of war, which was heartening to see!

Extra notes:

In this post I've sorted the family members into two primary groups - those on the maternal side of my family tree and those on the paternal side.  Then I further sorted into smaller groups according to the ancestors we share.

I also included as many enlistment photos as possible, so I could put faces to names.  I find that makes all these people far more real somehow, knowing what they looked like upon their enlistment.  Not all service records had photos attached however.

This is a long post as I wanted to keep a record of all my family's WW11 veterans in one place.  I will be adding to this post as more discoveries come to light during my research efforts.

On my maternal side:

1.  Common Ancestors:  my maternal great grandparents Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret Farrell.

Thomas Owen McCane  1899-1967, my maternal great uncle.

Son of Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret Farrell.  Known as 'Tom'.

Enlisted at the age of 43 with the CMF/VDC.   

Served part-time with the 15th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in Queensland, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  State School Teacher

Edward Joseph McCane  1923 - 2009, my maternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Thomas Owen McCane (listed above) and Agnes Theresa Parnell.  Known as 'Teddy'.

  Enlisted at the age of 19 with the RAAF.

  He completed quite extensive training including Initial Training School, Wireless Air Gunner School, School of Technical Training, Service Flying Training School, mostly in Queensland.  

   He then served as a Wireless Assistant at the RAAF Station Tocumwal in New South Wales, Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  School Teacher.

Leonard Ashley Bidgood  1920 - 1999, my maternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Frank Alexander Bidgood and Susan Mary McCane.

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the CMF.  

Served with the 31st Battalion D Company in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.  

Discharged in 1942 because he was needed for essential service with the railways.

Occupation before enlistment:  Railway Employee  

Ernest Alfred Bidgood  1922 - 1973, my maternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Frank Alexander Bidgood and Susan Mary McCane.  Known as 'Ernie'.

Brother of Leonard Ashley Bidgood (listed above).  

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the CMF/VDC.  

Served with the 22nd (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in Queensland, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer

Ernest's name is inscribed on the North Queensland Garden of Remembrance memorial which stands on the Strand in Townsville, north Queensland, Australia.

Edward Michael Lawlor, 1920 - 2022, brother-in-law of Leonard & Ernest (listed above).

Son of Edward Lawlor and Gretta Grace Dunstan.  Known as 'Ted'. 

Husband of my maternal 1st cousin once removed, Irene Alma (Bon) Bidgood, sister of Leonard & Ernest.

(Connection by marriage to my maternal great grandparents Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret Farrell).

  Enlisted at the age of 20 with the AIF.

  Served with the C Squadron of the 2nd/4th Armoured Regiment in New Guinea.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Unemployed.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Common Ancestors:  my maternal 2x great grandparents, Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney (Downey).

John Michael Farrell  1905 - 1989, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of Michael Farrell and Hannah Margaret Hynes.

Enlisted as the age of 34 with the AIF.  

Served as an Accountant with the Australian Army Canteen Services with the 2nd/25th Australian Infantry Battalion in the Middle East & New Guinea, and in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Clerk

John's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Victorian Garden of Remembrance at Springvale in Victoria, Australia.

Edward Francis Farrell  1911 - 1977, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of Michael Farrell and Hannah Margaret Hynes.

Brother of John Michael Farrell (listed above).

Strangely, his name is recorded as 'Edward Farrell Farrell' on many of his military service records!

  Enlisted at the age of 33 with the AIF.   

  Served as an engine fitter with the 60th Australian Corps Field Park Company (Engineers) in Indonesia & Borneo, as well as Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Laurine Florence Farrell    1916 - 2015, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Daughter of Michael Farrell and Hannah Margaret Hynes.

Sister of both Edward Francis and John Michael Farrell (listed above).

  Enlisted at the age of 25 with the RAAF.

  Served in Wireless/Telegraphic Stations in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, in Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Typist

Alan Desmond Whitbread Johnston  1899 - 1964, husband of my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed, Margaret Hilda Shaw.

Son of James Barret Johnston and Annie Ethel Beatrice Tooth.

(Connection by marriage to my maternal 2x great grandparents, Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney (Downey). 

Had previously served in WW1.

Re-enlisted at the age of 41.

Served with both the AIF and CMF/VDC during WW11 and had two Service Nos. QX17363 (AIF) and Q140765 (CMF).

Served with the 2nd/26th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF) in Australia and Malaya.  

Then served at the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corps) Headquarters.

Occupation before enlistment:  Cane Inspector.

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3.  Common Ancestors:  my maternal 2x great grandparents James Burke and Catherine Crotty.

Joseph Vincent Burke  1907 - 1995, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Maurice Burke and Mary Ann Murphy.

  Enlisted at the age of 34 with the CMF.   

  Served with the 4th Field Regiment in Bougainville & New Guinea.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Mail Officer

John Gregory Burke  1917 - 1995, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Maurice Burke and Mary Ann Murphy.

Brother of Joseph Vincent Burke (listed above).  Known as 'Jack'.

  Enlisted at the age of 22 with the CMF.  

  Served with the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion in New Guinea, Bougainville & Solomon Islands, as well as Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Clerk.

John's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Queensland Garden of Remembrance in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Maurice Augustine Burke  1909 - 1992, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Maurice Burke and Mary Ann Murphy.

Brother to both John Gregory and Joseph Vincent Burke (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 32 with the RAAF.  

Served with the RAAF's 3rd Central Recovery Depot based in Amberley, Queensland, in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Railway Clerk.

Terence Vincent Wilkes  1912 - 1991.  Brother-in-law of Joseph, John and Maurice (listed above).

Son of  Ferdinand John Wilkes.

Married to my maternal 2nd cousin once removed, Monica Josephine Burke, sister of Joseph Vincent, John Gregory and Maurice Augustine Burke.

(Connection by marriage to my 2x great grandparents James Burke and Catherine Crotty).

  Enlisted at the age of 29.

  Served with both the CMF and AIF during the war.  He had two Service Nos. Q147263 and QX43222.

  Served with the 14th Works Company (AIF) in Australia & Indonesia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Cordial Maker.

More information about the Works / Labour / Employment / 'Alien' Companies:  Link

Edward Francis Dever   1924 - 1997, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of James Bernard Dever and Bridget Mary Burke.  Known as 'Ned'.

  Enlisted at the age of 17 with the RAAF.  

  Served with the 33rd Squadron in Townsville, Australia, and in New Guinea.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Assistant to Commission Agent.

Edward's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Maurice Patrick Dever  1912 - 1987, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of James Bernard Dever and Bridget Mary Burke.

Brother to Edward Francis Dever (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 28 with the AIF.  

Served with the 2nd/2nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (artillery support) in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Blacksmith Assistant.

Both Edward and Maurice's names are inscribed on the Millmeran War Memorial in Toowoomba, southern Queensland, Australia.

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4.  Common Ancestors:  my 2x great grandparents Patrick Muckian and Sarah McCann.

James Gerard McCabe  1920 - 1999, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

(Also known as James Gerry McCabe).

Son of William Joseph McCabe and Elizabeth Rocks.

Enlisted at the age of 22 with the CMF.

Served with the 31st/51st (Amalgamated) Australian Infantry Battalion in Australia, New Guinea, & Indonesia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Laboratory Boy.

Patrick Gerard McCabe  1921 - 1994, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of William Joseph McCabe and Elizabeth Rocks.

Brother to James (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the AIF.

Served with the 2nd/1st Field Company (artillery) in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

On my paternal side: 

1.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal grandparents George Connors and Grace Brown.

Thomas Richard Connors 1911-1972, my paternal uncle.

Son of George Connors and Grace Brown.  Known as 'Tommy'.

  Enlisted at the age of 29 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/15th Australian Infantry Battalion in the Middle East, New Guinea and in Australia.

  Thomas was a 'Rat of Tobruk' during 1941.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Farm Labourer.

Thomas's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Queensland Garden of Remembrance in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Reginald Frederick Connors  1924 - 1996, my paternal uncle.  

Son of George Connors and Grace Brown.

Brother to Thomas (listed above).  Known as 'Reggie'.

  Enlisted at the age of 18. 

  Served with the CMF first, and then the AIF. 

  Served with the 2nd/13th Composite Australian Anti Aircraft Regiment (artillery) in Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Shop Assistant.

John Frederick Hodgins  1909 - 1994, brother-in-law to Thomas and Reginald (listed above).

Son-in-law of George Connors and Grace Brown.  Known as 'Bunny'.

Husband of my paternal aunt Betty Patricia Connors, sister to Thomas Richard and Reginald Frederick Connors.  

(Connection by marriage to my paternal grandparents George Connors and Grace Brown).

  Enlisted at the age of 33 with the AIF. 

  He enlisted in Unit 5 of the Australian Division Concert Party (the Australian Entertainment Unit), as he was a musician by profession.

  He served in New Guinea between 1943 and 1944.

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2.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal great grandparents Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah Fullagar Hukins.

Cyril Ernest Connors  1888 - 1942, my paternal great uncle.

Son of Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah Fullagar Hukins.

Photo from WW1

  Had previously served in WW1 with the AIF, and fought at Gallipoli.  Served with the 6th Light Horse Regiment and the 1st Camel Brigade.

  Re-enlisted at the age of 52 with the CMF/VDC.  

  Served with the 8th Garrison Battalion and was posted at the Headquarters of the Volunteer Defence Force in New South Wales, Australia

  

  Occupation before re-enlistment:  Labourer

Special Note:  Whilst Cyril died in 1942, he did not die in conflict.  He died of illness at the Yaralla Military Hospital in Concord, New South Wales.  His name is however inscribed at the Australian War Memorial.

Cyril's name is inscribed on the Baerami Creel Roll of Honour Memorial at Baerami, Muswellbrook,

and the Berry Honour Roll at Berry, in New South Wales.

His name is also inscribed on Panel 94 on the Wall of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.

There is also a monument standing in the Alstonville Cemetery, in New South Wales, in honour of Cyril.

Thomas James Connors  1922 - 1994, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Cyril Ernest Connors (listed above) and Vera Agnes Coleman.

  Enlisted at the age of 19 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/4th Field Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) in New Guinea & Borneo.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer & Diesel Engine Worker.

Erice Alfred Connors  1917 - 1975, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Augustus Connors and Florence Maud Mackney.

Enlisted at the age of  24.  

  Enlisted with the CMF first in August of 1941, then enlisted with the 5th Australian Field Survey Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers).

  Served with the 2nd AIF from August 1942 until his discharge in 1947.

  Served in Morotai and the Torres Strait Islands.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Assistant Surveyor.

Cyril James Connors  1927 - 2019, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Augustus Connors and Florence Maud Mackney.

Brother to Erice Alfred (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the AIF.

Served with the 2nd M D B I P O D (Military District Bulk Issue Petrol & Oil Depot) in Australia. 

Occupation before enlistment:  Tobacco Assembler. 

Francis Henry Connors  1922 -  , my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Augustus Connors and Florence Maud Mackney.  Known as 'Frank'.

Brother to both Erice Alfred and Cyril James Connors (listed above).  

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the AIF.  

Served with the 106th Light Field Ambulance in New South Wales, Australia.  

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

William James Connors  1902 - 1958, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of John Edgar Connors and Catherine Ann Crummy.

Enlisted at the age of 39 with the CMF.  

Served with the 16 Garrison Battalion in New South Wales, Australia.  The 16 Garrison Battalion was formed to guard prisoner of war and internment camps.

Occupation before enlistment:  Motor Car Salesman.

Cyril Ernest Bates  1917 - 2004, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of John George Bates and Mary Ellen Connors.

  Enlisted at the age of 24 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/12th Australian Infantry Battalion in New Guinea & Borneo.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Sawyer.

James Erice Bates  1909 - 1985, my paternal 1st cousin once removed.

Son of John George Bates and Mary Ellen Connors.

Brother of Cyril Ernest Bates (listed above).

  Enlisted at the age of 33 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/7th Australian Commando Regiment in New Guinea & Indonesia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Traveller.

James's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Toowoomba Garden of Remembrance in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

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3.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents William Conners (Connors) and Eleanor Hickey.

Edward Thomas Connors  1915 - 1992, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of Michael John Connors and Clara Margaret Howe. 

  Enlisted at the age of 25 with the AIF.   

  Served with the 1st Field Training Regiment in Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Orchard Work.

Donald Frank Connors   1900 - 1990, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of William Connors and Elizabeth Duffy.

Enlisted at the age of 41 with the CMF/VDC.  

Served part-time with the 18th (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in New South Wales, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Tailor.

Bede Anthony Connors  1914 - 1994, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of William Connors and Elizabeth Duffy.  Known as 'Dick'.

Brother to Donald Frank Connors (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 28 with the AIF.    

Served with the 9th Australian Workshop & Park Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) in Indonesia & Torres Strait Islands

Occupation before enlistment:  Plumber.

Marie Patricia Connors  1923 - 2012, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Daughter of Maurice Edward Connors and Muriel Myrtle Simmons.

Enlisted at the age of 21 with the AIF.

Served with the Australian Army Medical Women's Services in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Hospital Aid

John Joseph Bewes  1920 - 1999, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of John Joseph Bewes and Louisa Maud Coombes.

Enlisted at the age of 21 with the RAAF.

Served with the Air Force Defence Headquarters.

Occupation before enlistment:  Clerk

Frederick James Bewes    1926 - 2020, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of John Joseph Bewes and Louisa Maud Coombes.

Younger brother of John Joseph Bewes (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the RAAF.

Served with 3 Air Observer School.

Trained in Canada.  Served in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Junior Clerk.

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4.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents Henry Johnson Brown & Caroline Penelope Browning.

Lancelot Noel Brown  1895 - 1981, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of Francis Somers Brown and Selina Jane Cameroux.

  Enlisted at the age of 45 with the AIF.  

  Served with supply company originally, then re-enlisted and served on the  2/1 Hospital Ship Manunda.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer / Butcher's Labourer.

Neville Alexander Brown  1919 - 1969, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Alexander Johnson Brown and Susan Charity Ninness.

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the AIF. 

Served with the 2nd/14th Field Company Engineers in Australia, Middle East & New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Plumber.

Neville's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Queensland Garden of Remembrance in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Rupert James Brown  1921 - 1986, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Alexander Johnson Brown and Susan Charity Ninness.

Brother to Neville (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the RAAF. 

Served with the 108 Squadron and 462 Squadron in the Middle East, then with the 467 Squadron and at 53 Base in England and then 2 Personnel Depot in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Apprentice Mechanic.

William Norman Brown  1924 - 1975, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Alexander Johnson Brown and Susan Charity Ninness.

Brother to both Neville and Rupert (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the RAAF.

Served with the 54 Squadron and then with 3 Personnel Depot in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Furniture Salesman.

Keith Bruce Hart  1922 - 1998, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Hector Randall Hart and Sarah (Sadie) Brown. 

  Enlisted at the age of 18 with the RAAF.  

  Served  at Aircraft Repair Depots with the Royal Australian Air Force and then at 5 Operational Training Unit.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Junior Draftsman

Keith's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Lismore Memorial Gardens in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.

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5.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents Adolphus Hukins and Mary Ann Farley.

Albert Edward Hokin  1901 - 1982, my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed.

Son of George Charles Hokin and Amy Jane Hukins.

Had previously enlisted for WW1 at the age of 18, but had been declared medically unfit after initial medical examination because if "defective eyesight".

Enlisted at the age of 41 with the CMF.

Was discharged as medically unfit within four months of enlistment suffering from chronic dermatitis.

Occupation before enlistment:  Porter.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal great grandparents Richard Joseph Brown and Ellen Cusack.

Eric John McDermid  1926 - 2009, husband of my paternal 1st cousin once removed, Joan Aileen Tyler. 

Son of Archibald McDermid and Madeline Blanche Mayo.  Son-in-law of Alfred Loring Tyler and Marcella May Brown.

(Connection by marriage to my paternal great grandparents Richard Joseph Brown and Ellen Cusack).

  Enlisted at the age of 18 with the RAAF.  

  Enlisted in October 1944, and fell critically ill with acute appendicitis in December of 1944.  He was discharged in September of the following year.

  Served with the RAAF 1 School of Technical Training in Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Shop Assistant.

Henry David Rapmund   1910 - 1942, husband of my paternal 1st cousin once removed, Lillian Madge O'Donnell.

Son of John Henry Rapmund and Jane Gilmore.  Son-in-law of Jeremiah (Gerald) O'Donnell and Lillian Ruth Brown.

(Connection by marriage to my paternal great grandparents Richard Joseph Brown and Ellen Cusack).

Enlisted at the age of 32 in January 1942 with the CMF. 

Served with the 36th Australian Infantry Battalion in New Guinea and killed in action in December 1942.  

Buried in the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Henry's name is inscribed on Panel 67 on the Wall of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.

He was buried at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby the capital of Papua New Guinea.

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7.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Eugene John McQuilty  1883 - 1945, my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed.

Son of Francis Thomas McQuilty and Elizabeth (Betsy) Exton.  

Enlisted at the age of 59 with the CMF/VDC.   

Served with the 1st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in New South Wales, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Carpenter / Labourer.

Francis John Patrick McQuilty  1901 - 1969, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Francis Thomas McQuilty and Mary Anne Hall.

Nephew of Eugene John McQuilty (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 41 with the CMF/VDC.

Served part-time with the Volunteer Defence Corps in New South Wales, in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Tractor Driver.

Robert James Dooley  1896 - 1974, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Dooley and Mary Ann Matilda King.

Had previously served in France in WW1.

Re-enlisted at the age of 45 with the CMF/VDC.   

Served part-time with the 1st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in New South Wales, Australia.

Occupation before re-enlistment:  Butter Churner.

Robert's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance in Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Constance Jean Reid  1912 - 1989, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Daughter of Arthur (Alexander) Reid and Mary Jane Dooley.  Known as 'Connie'.

  Enlisted at the age of 30 with the AIF.  

  Enlisted at the Concord Military Hospital, New South Wales in 1943.

  Served with the 2nd/11th A G H (Australian General Hospital) of the Australian Army Nursing Service in Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Trained Nurse.

Constance's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Port Macquarie General Cemetery in Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

Cyril James Reid  1918 - 1989,  my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.  

Son of Arthur (Alexander) Reid and Mary Jane Dooley.

Brother of Constance Jean Reid (listed above).  Known as 'Jim'.

Enlisted at the age of 22 with the RAAF.  


Served with the RAAF 23rd Squadron (based in Brisbane) in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.


Occupation before enlistment:  Bus Driver.

Edward Arthur Chandler  1908 - 1977, husband of my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Constance Jean Reid (listed above).

Son-in-law of Arthur (Alexander) Reid and Mary Jane Dooley.

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster).

  Enlisted at the age of 32 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/18th Australian Infantry Battalion in Malaya.

  Was a prisoner of war in a Malaya P.O.W. camp  in 1944.  Returned    home in 1945.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Edward's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the Port Macquarie General Cemetery in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.

His name is also inscribed on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners War Memorial in Ballarat, New South Wales.

Alice Joyce Coldwell  1924 - 2010, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Daughter of George Watson Coldwell and Mary Jane Dooley.

Half-sister to Constance Jean and Cyril James Reid (listed above).  Known as 'Joy'.

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the CMF.

Served with the Australian Women's Army Service in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Shop Assistant (Clerical Work)  

William Harold Lenehan  1926 - 2008, husband of my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Alice Joyce Coldwell (listed above).

Son-in-law of George Watson Coldwell and Mary Jane Dooley.

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster).

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the RAAF. 

Served with the RAAF 100 Squadron in Australian and New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Shipping Clerk.

Murray Aubrey Waddell  1917 - 1968, husband of my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Emma Eileen May Reid.

Son-in-law of Arthur (Alexander) Reid and Mary Jane Dooley.

Brother-in-law of Constance Jean Reid, Cyril James Reid and Alice Joyce Coldwell (all listed above). 

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster).

  Enlisted at the age of 24 in June 1942 with the RAAF. 

  Served with the RAAF in New Guinea and then a discharge was granted to allow Murray to work on his father's property in 1945.

  

  Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.

Thomas Roy Exton  1907 - 1966, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Thomas Henry Exton and Phoebe Mary McKinnon.

  Enlisted at the age of 35 with the AIF.  

  Served at the Cairns Workshops in northern Queensland, Australia.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Salesman.

Frederick Walter Gray  1901 - 1971, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Robert Isaac Gray and Mary Jane Jones.

Enlisted at the age of 40 with the AIF.

Served with the 2/3 RMT Coy (Reserve Motor Transport Company) as a driver.

Was a prisoner of war at a P.O.W. camp on Java from 1942 to mid 1946.  Returned home in 1946.

Occupation before enlistment:  

Frederick's name is inscribed on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial.

Albert Gray   1902 - 1991, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Robert Isaac Gray and Mary Jane Jones.

Younger brother of Frederick Gray (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 39 with the CMF.

Served with 1 Battalion (NSW) VDC

Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.  

Oliver Robert Gray 1907 - 1984, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Robert Isaac Gray and Mary Jane Jones.

Youngest brother to Frederick and Albert Gray (both listed above). 

Enlisted at the age of 34 with the CMF/VDC.  

Served with the 1st (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Dairy Farmer.

Alwyn Gray   1923 - 2007, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Albert Gray (listed above) and Irene Margaret Anderson. Nephew of both Frederick Walter and Oliver Robert Gray (both listed above).

Enlisted firstly with the CMF at the age of 18.  Enlisted with the (Militia) 15th Light Horse Regiment.

Enlisted with the AIF at the age of 19.

Served with 15 Australian Motor Regiment & 39 Transport Platoon.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.

Charles Barrow  1886 - 1948, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Alfred Barrow and Harriet Clarke.

  Had previously served in WW1.

  Re-enlisted at the age of 56 with the VDC and then the CMF.   

  Charles had two service numbers during WW11.

  He first enlisted with the Volunteer Defence Corps in Australia in March of    1942.  

  He was discharged from the VDC on the 2nd of February 1943 and then he    enlisted with the CMF on the 3rd of February.

  Occupation before re-enlistment:  Dairy Labourer.

Harold Allan Barrow  1910 - 1971, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Alfred Barrow Jnr. and Mary Ellen McCann.

Nephew of Charles Barrow (listed above).

  Enlisted at the age of 30 with the AIF.  

  Served with the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) as a truck driver in the Pacific theatre of war, including Indonesia.

  The AASC was often referred to as "the Army's grocers and truckies".  They were responsible for the procurement, storage and delivery of military consumables including food and petrol.  They also moved troops and delivered mail.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

John Alfred Barrow  1913 - 1988, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Alfred Barrow Jnr. and Mary Ellen McCann.  Known as 'Jack'. 

Brother of Harold Allan Barrow (listed above) and nephew of Charles Barrow (also listed above).

  Enlisted at the age of 28 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 8th Training Battalion briefly.  Discharged as medically unfit after two months of service.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Beryl Veronica Barrow nee Wilson  1923 - 2018, wife of my paternal 3rd cousin once removed, John Alfred (Jack) Barrow (listed above).

Daughter of John (Hubert) Wilson and Lorna Gladys Hayne.  Daughter-in-law of Alfred Barrow Jnr. and Mary Ellen McCann. 

Enlisted at the age of 19 with the RAAF.

Served with the RAAF's 3rd Embarkation Depot at Sandgate, Brisbane in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment: Home Duties 

Iris Belle Fitzsimmons nee Barrow  1921 - 1966, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Daughter of Alfred Barrow Jnr. and Mary Ellen McCann. 

Sister of both Harold Allan and John Alfred Barrow (listed above) and niece of Charles Barrow (also listed above)..

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the RAAF.  

Served with the 6th Aircraft Depot in Oakey, Queensland, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Home Duties.

Douglas Charles Fitzsimmons  1916 - 1945, husband of my paternal 3rd cousin once removed, Iris Belle Fitzsimmons nee Barrow (listed above).

Son-in-law of Alfred Barrow Jnr. and Mary Ellen McCann.  Brother-in-law to Harold Allan and John Alfred Barrow (listed above).

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster).

Enlisted at the age of 25 with the AIF.

Served with the 27th Field Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Meat Works Employee.

Alexander James Thompson  1905 - 1943, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of Alexander Thompson and Emmeline Harding.

  Enlisted at the age of 35 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/12th Field Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) in Malaya.

  Became a P.O.W. in Malaya 1943 and died as a prisoner of  war in Thailand.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Boatbuilder / Carpenter.

Alexander's name is inscribed on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

It's also inscribed on Panel 24 on the Wall of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia

Alexander was buried at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand.

Alfred James Gooley  1910 - 1996, husband of my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed Olive May O'Toole.

Son of Patrick J Gooley and Leonora Clara Lulham.  Son-in-law of Edye Lawrence O'Toole and Araicher Dooley. 

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster).

Enlisted at the age of 30 with the AIF.

Served with the 3rd Australian Forestry Company RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) in England.

Occupation before enlistment:  Diesel Engine Driver.

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8.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 2x great grandparents Patrick Cusack and Eliza Exton.

Walter Henry Cusack   1910 - 1978, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of William Hugh Fay Cusack and Mabel Hicks.

  Enlisted at the age of 31 with the CMF.  

  Served with the 190th Australian Ammunition Company in New Guinea.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.

Walter's name is inscribed on the Wondai Shire Honour Roll in Wondai, Queensland, Australia.

Leslie Alan Cusack  1925-1993, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of James Herbert Cusack and Edith Annie Grinstead.

Enlisted with the RAAF at the age of 18.

Served with the 60th Operational Base in Morotai.

Occupation before enlistment:  Sheet Metal Worker.

Leslie's name is inscribed on a memorial plaque at the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance in Rookwood, New South Wales.

Sydney Herbert Thomas Busine  1918 -1943, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Francis Sydney Busine and Charlotte Bertha Cusack.  Known as 'Tom' or 'Tommy'.

  Enlisted at the age of 23 with the AIF.  

  Served with the 2nd/30th Australian Infantry Battalion in Indonesia / Thailand. 

  Became a prisoner of war.

 Died as a prisoner of war as a result of malnutrition at a camp in Thailand during the construction of the Burma-Siam Railway.

  He was buried at the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Fitter.

Sydney's name is inscribed on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria.

His name is also inscribed on Panel 58 of the Roll of Honour Wall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.

Sydney was buried in Plot A3, Row C, Grave 5 at the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma, now Myanmar.

 

Samuel Edward Giggins  1920 - 1943, my paternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Son of Philip Austin Giggins and Grace Cook.

Enlisted with the AIF at the age of 19.

Served with the 2/30th Australian Infantry Battalion.

Served in Malaya.

Was a prisoner of war in Siam, now Thailand.

Died as a prisoner of war.   He died as a result of illness when he was a P.O.W.

Buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farm Hand.

Samuel's name is inscribed on a burial plot plaque at Plot 1, Row C, Grave 8 at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand.

His name is also on Panel 58 of the Roll of Honour Wall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.

Samuel's name is inscribed on the Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria.

His name is also inscribed on a memorial wall at the Gunnedah Remembrance Grove.

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9.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents Michael Cusack and Mary Green.

Five brothers .......

Edward Cusack  1904 - 1980, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.

Enlisted at the age of 36 with the CMF.

Served with the 1st Australian Engineers Store Base Depot at Rocklea in Queensland.

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

John Lawrence Cusack  1906 - 1976, my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.

Brother of Edward (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 35 with the CMF.

Served with the 35th Australian Works Company in New South Wales, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Wharf Labourer.

Allan Herbert Cusack  1912 - 1997, my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.

Brother of Edward and John (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of  30 with the RAAF.

Served with the 1st Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga in Victoria, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Aircraft Hand.

Harold Michael Cusack  1918 - 1990, my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.

Brother of Edward, John and Allan (all listed above) and a twin brother to Hector (who will be listed next).

Enlisted at the age of 22 with the AIF.  He enlisted on the same day as his twin brother Hector.

Served with the 2nd/4th Infantry Battalion in the Middle East.

Harold was discharged in early1945 after suffering from a fracture of the left femur in 1944.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.

Hector Patrick Cusack  1918 - 1966, my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.

Brother to Edward, John, Allan (all listed above) and twin brother to Harold (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 22 with the AIF.  He enlisted on the same day as his twin brother Harold.

Served with the 2nd/4th Infantry Battalion in the Middle East and New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farm Hand.

Frederick John Cusack  1913 - 1979, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Charles Frederick Cusack and Veronica Mary Walz.  Known as 'Jack'.

Enlisted at the age of 29 with the AIF. 

Served with the 6th Australian Army Topographical Survey Company in Australia and New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Registered Surveyor. 

Allan Sydney Venn  1915 - 2006, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of James Venn and Annie Francis Bridget Cusack.

  Enlisted at the age of 24 with the AIF.  

  Served in Australia.

  Served with the Infantry Training Battalion as a cook.

  Occupation before enlistment:  Motor Lorry Driver.

Colin Venn  1920 - 2010, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of James Venn and Annie Francis Bridget Cusack.

Brother of Allan Sydney Venn (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 20 with the AIF.

Served with the 655th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Battery (LAA BTY) in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Ironmonger.  

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10.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns.

Edward Noel Joseph Degney  1919 - 1978, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Edward Laurence Degney and Violet Mary Browning.

Enlisted at the age of 21 with the AIF.   

Served with the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) in the 8th Military District of New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment: Storeman.

Geoffrey Earl Browning  1924 - 1990, my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed.

Son of Robert Albert Browning and Pearl Cornelia Barrow.

Enlisted at the age of 17 with the AIF.

Served with the 23rd Infantry Training Battalion.

James Gray Browning  1924 - 1983, my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Son of James Browning and Alma Ruby Gray.

Enlisted at the age of 18 with the CMF.  

Served briefly with 5th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. 

Enlisted with the AIF at the age of 19.

Served in Australian and New Guinea.

Served with the 2/1 Forestry Company.

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Clarence John Edward Moehead  1898 - 1971, husband of my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed Ivy May Browning.

Son of Edward Denis Moehead and Florence Emily Eastment.  Son-in-law of Henry Joseph Browning and Mary Ann Townsend.

(Connection by marriage to my paternal 3x great grandparents William Henry Browning and Anne (Nancy) Littlejohns). 

Enlisted at the age of 42 with the CMF.

Served with the 16th Australian Infantry Training Brigade in Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Labourer.

Harold Lloyd Cupitt  1912 - 1962, husband of my paternal 3rd cousin once removed Norma Beryl Jean Moehead.

Son of Edwin Charles Cupitt and Laura Rose Moll.  Son-in-law of Clarence Moehead (listed above) and Ivy May Browning.

Enlisted at the age of 30 with the RAAF.

Served at the 6th Aircraft Depot at Oakey in Queensland, Australia.

Occupation before enlistment:  Transport Driver.

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11.  Common Ancestors:  my paternal 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.

Cecil Dawes   1914 - 1977,  my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Dawes and Susan Charlotte Timms.  

Enlisted with the CMF/VDC at the age of 28.

Served with the 5th (NSW) Battalion VDC  (Volunteer Defence Corps).

Lance Dawes   1917 - 1943, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Dawes and Susan Charlotte Timms.  

Younger brother of Cecil Dawes (listed above).

Enlisted at the age of 23.

Served with the RAAF 22nd Squadron.

He was killed in action in February of 1943.  Lance was a member of the 3-man crew flying a 'Boston Mark 111' during a raid on Garrison Hill and other targets.  His plane was shot down over the sea off Lapur Point, two miles south-east of Salamaua, New Guinea.

Occupation before enlistment:  Banana Grower.

Lance's name is inscribed on the Murwillumbah High School WW2 Roll of Honour Board in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.  

His name is also inscribed on the All Saints' Church Second World War Roll of Honour Board in Murwillumbah, New South Wales.

There is a memorial plaque for Lance on the Roll of Honour Wall at the Australian War Memorial - Panel 101. 

Lance's name is also engraved on one of the bronze tablets at the Lae Memorial in New Guinea.  This memorial commemorates more than 300 Australians who lost their lives whilst serving in New Guinea and have no known grave.

Wilfred Dawes   1922 - 2019, my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Son of Frederick Dawes and Susan Charlotte Timms.  

Younger brother to Cecil and Lance Dawes (both listed above).

Enlisted with the RAAF at the age of 19.

Served with 203 Squadron.

Occupation before enlistment:  Farmer.

Thank  you  for  your  service.