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.

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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 - 2008, 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  23.  

  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.

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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.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.  

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Spotlight On ... Newest and Youngest!

This week my post focuses on the newest subject of my family research ... the youngest child of my 2x great grandmother Caroline Penelope Brown / Taylor / Collins nee Browning and her first husband, my 2x great grandfather Henry Johnson Brown.  

Caroline and Henry married in 1846 and went on to have twelve children born between 1847 and 1867.  

The youngest of the siblings was Robert Frederick Bayley Brown, my great great uncle, who was born on the 24th of April 1867.  At the time, his mother Caroline was aged 37 and his father Henry was 47.  They had lost two of their sons by the time Robert was born, so the family was a little smaller in size.

Robert was born in Lismore where his father owned a home, extended to become the first hotel, a store and a large garden; and Robert's father had also been working as a timber merchant.  Unfortunately by the time Robert was born, his father Henry was in quite a bit of financial hardship and things were not going well for the family.  They were about to lose most of their assets, including the hotel, the store and almost all the land parcels Henry had acquired over the years.

Robert's father Henry died in December of 1868 when Robert was only 20 months old, so Robert never got to know his biological father.  My 2x great grandmother Caroline was left widowed with a number of young children and the insolvency case against her husband still proceeding.  She apparently supported her family of dependent children by running a boarding house for a number of years.

Robert's older brothers Alexander aged 19, and John aged 18, would have been working, but Robert's other siblings would have still been living with their mother Caroline.  Anne was 15, Henry was 13, William was 10, James was 9, Richard was 7, Eliza was 5 and Francis was 3.  It's highly likely that the eldest daughter Anne would have spent a lot of her time looking after the younger children, including Robert, the youngest of them all.

Just after Robert's 7th birthday, his mother married for a second time to a man named Nathan Taylor.  Nathan would have been a familiar person to the family, as he was a well-known figure in Lismore.  Robert's new step-father had been the Constable for a number of years, had built a hotel on the south side of the Richmond River and been a business competitor of Robert's father Henry when he was alive, and had then bought Henry's hotel after his death.

By the time Robert's mother Caroline had re-married, it's likely there would have only been four of the children still dependent on their mother, and I think it's highly probable that Robert's other sister Eliza, would have taken on the mothering role by that time.  

Sadly, Robert's new stepfather died just two months after the wedding and their mother Caroline was left to carry on by herself once more.  Robert's mother did not benefit a great deal from her new husband Nathan's estate, apart from gaining just over an acre of land in Lismore, as the majority of the estate passed on to his children from his previous marriage. 

When Robert was 11 years old, his mother married for the third time and moved to Sydney with her new husband.  I'm assuming Robert, his brother Francis and sister Eliza (who would have been the children still dependent on their mother) all left Lismore and went to live in Sydney, where their mother Caroline's new husband had a home.  Life may have become a little more comfortable again at this time.  

Robert's second step-father died less than three years later however, in early 1881.  Robert's sister Eliza got married at the end of that year, and mother Caroline carried on living with her daughter and her new son-in-law in their new home close to Sydney.  Robert would have been aged 14 at that time, and I doubt that he would have moved in with his sister and brother-in-law, along with his mother. 

Where was Robert around the end of 1881?  All his other siblings were now living out lives of their own, so I wonder if he was now pretty much left to his own devices?

His oldest brother Alexander was still living in Lismore.  He had married, had a family and was successfully earning his way in the world.

His second oldest brother John had married and had started his family, but had moved away from Lismore.

Robert's oldest sister Anne had married, had started a large family and was still living in Lismore.

Brother Henry had also married, started a family and was still living in Lismore.

Brothers William, James and Richard were working in the Lismore area, but they all were to marry in the next couple of years and begin families of their own.

Sister Eliza and her new husband moved into their home at Penrith, along with mother Caroline.  

Brother Francis was now 16 and had likely left home looking for work.

I'm assuming Robert did the same.  I haven't been able to find out any information about his life between the years of 1881 and 1889, which was the year his mother Caroline died.  At that time, Robert was 21 years old.

Interestingly, Robert's mother left all her estate to Robert and his sister Eliza.  She left nothing to any of her other children.  That does seem rather strange!  

Eliza inherited a 49-acre farm at Blakebrook, north west of Lismore; along with all her mother's furniture, cattle and horses, implements, chattels and things in and around the farm.

Robert inherited the balance of the estate, including all the money his mother had in the bank and a piece of land situated on the Girard Estate in Lismore.

It wasn't until the age of 25 that Robert got married.  In 1892 he married Alice Maguire, who was 17 years old.  

Map showing Pilliga in relation to Lismore

On the marriage certificate, Robert stated his occupation was that of 'storekeeper' and that he was working in the town of Pilliga, New South Wales.  

How did Robert end up in Pilliga, so far away from his home town of Lismore, where many of his siblings were still living, and where he had inherited a parcel of land?  Perhaps he had sold the land on the Girard Estate as he was not of a mind to become a farmer, working on the land. 

Map showing Walgett in relation to Lismore

Robert and Alice married in Walgett, which was not too far away from Pilliga. 

It's likely Robert and Alice met at the store Robert was working in at the time.

Alice was under the legal marriage age at the time, and had to get her mother's permission to marry, which is noted on the marriage certificate.  Robert and Alice went on to have four children during their marriage.

Their daughter Winifred was born in 1895 in the Nyngan area of New South Wales.  Nyngan was quite a distance to the south-west of Walgett, where Robert and Alice had married.

Their daughter, Marietta Madge (known as Madge), was born in 1898 at Goangra, near Walgett.  

Daughter Vivian Hopetoun was born in 1900 in Wee Waa, again quite a distance to the east of Walgett.

During these years, 1895 to 1900, Robert was apparently still working as a draper in the township of Pilliga, so I'm again left asking questions ... why were his daughters born at various spots scattered all around Pilliga, where Robert was holding down his job?  Didn't they have their own home in the township of Pilliga?  Was his wife Alice spending her confinement with members of her own family?   So many questions!

This lovely photo was taken in 1901 and shows Robert's wife Alice with their three daughters Winifred aged 6, Marietta (known as Madge) aged 3, and baby Vivian aged 1.

Where was Robert when this photo was taken?

It's at this point in the story I'm starting to think Robert was not the most reliable father and husband.

In 1903 another daughter was born to Robert and Alice.  Their newborn was named Alice Jane Victoria Beatrice.  She was born in the Nimbin area to the north of Lismore, so it seems the family had moved at some point between 1900 and 1903 and were now living closer to some of Robert's own family.

Sadly, Robert's wife Alice died in 1903.  I'm unsure whether it was as a result of complications from childbirth, but that is likely given that she died a mere two months after baby Alice was born.  At the time Robert's other daughters were very young and according to the eldest Winifred, the girls didn't see their father after the death of their mother.

Winifred was aged 7, Marietta was aged 5, Vivian was aged 3, and baby Alice was only 2 months old when their mother died.  I assume that the girls were taken in by members of Robert's family at that time.  If Winifred recalls never seeing her father after her mother had died, then I'm sure that Robert didn't take care of his younger daughters either!  Such a sad point in Robert's story.

I have almost no information about what happened in Robert's life between the death of his wife and the end of 1914.  It's quite a lengthy period of time where he seems to have drifted out of the lives of his own daughters and his close family.  According to information gleaned from the rather reliable source of information about the Browning/Brown family (the book titled 'The Browning Story: Tracings From The Past' written by Esme Smith), it seems Robert sank into alcoholism around this time in his life, but was still able to keep down a job, working at times as a farmhand.

Robert then enlisted in the AIF on the 29th of December 1914 in Nimbin, New South Wales.  

He enlisted in the 3rd reinforcement of the 15th Battalion of the 4th Infantry Brigade.  Upon enlistment he stated his age as 44, but he lied as he was in fact aged 50.  

He further stated he was a widower by then and stated his occupation was "draper", which was probably not true by that time.

The 3rd departed Brisbane on the 13th of February 1915 on HMAT A49 Seong Choon.  

In April of 1915, the 3rd joined their Battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula, reinforcing the 15th Battalion which had been reduced to around 30% of its strength.  The 15th Battalion, under General Monash, played a part in the Battle of Sari Bair.

Around June, Robert started suffering from pains in his joints and muscles. He was transferred to Anzac Hospital on the 5th of September 1915 where he was diagnosed with rheumatism and failing eyesight, and identified as having previously suffered from malaria  (two years before when living in Queensland). 

 

On a side note:  that tells me Robert had moved quite far away from where his daughters were living long before war broke out, which adds weight to my belief that he had handed over the responsibility for his daughters after their mother's death and had moved quite a long way from all his family.

Photo taken in 1915 at the Australian General Hospital
in Gezireh Palace, Cairo, Egypt

Robert was to spend the remainder of 1915 in hospital in Heliopolis, Egypt; and then spent early 1916 in the military hospital at Ghezireh Palace in Cairo, Egypt.

Robert's army service did not last long.  He returned to Australia aboard the ship Runic on the 11th of April 1916 and was officially discharged as medically unfit on the 4th of June 1916, having only served sixteen months.  Robert was paid a military pension upon his discharge, as he had been identified as having a disability of rheumatism and alcoholism.

Upon his return to Australia, Robert's daughters were aged 21, 18, 16 and 13 respectively.  It seems he continued to have no contact with any of them and did not return to New South Wales.  When his eldest daughter Winifred married in 1923 she stated on her marriage certificate that her father was living in Brisbane, working as an insurance agent.

A passage from 'The Browning Story: Tracings From The Past' by Esme Smith gives a very clear picture of the last years and day of Robert's life.

"It would appear that Robert's problem with alcoholism was to plague him for the rest of his life.  He lived out his later years at Bribie Island, Queensland, where he rented a hut.  Occasionally he travelled to Brisbane - at times to see a Repatriation Department Doctor. 

 

On the day he died, he came to the mainland from the island by motor boat.  Arriving at the wharf he contacted a friend, Norman Abdy, requesting that he meet him and take him to his accommodation ... in the city of Brisbane.  He accepted an invitation from Abdy to have dinner at his home that evening. 

 

On the way between the wharf, the boarding house and Abdy's home ... he and Abdy stopped off at various hotels for a rum or beer.  By the time they reached (Abdy's) home Robert was intoxicated, and it was while having tea that a piece of steak lodged in his throat, which he was unable to dislodge. 

 

Evidence was given that, because of his intoxicated state, he was not able to cough the meat up, whereas with a person who had not been drinking, this would have been easy to do.  On the day of his death he had a blood alcohol reading of .20 percent."

 

Robert died  on the 5th of June 1941, aged 74.  The cause of death listed on the death certificate was "impaction of meat in larynx - asphyxia."

Of particular note, was the added comment that "an inquest of death was held at Brisbane on 20 August 1941."  Given that Robert had died early in June, it's quite telling that the inquest was not held until over a month later.  It had taken the police quite some time to track down anyone who had some knowledge of Robert and the details of his life.

Robert's burial place is an unmarked grave in the war section of the cemetery at Toowong, in Brisbane.

I wonder if anyone attended his funeral?  I do hope so.

 

Spotlight On ... Oldest!

My post this week tells the story of the oldest sons of my Great Great Grandmother, Caroline Penelope Brown/Taylor/Collins nee Browning and her first husband, my Great Great Grandfather, Henry Johnson Brown.  

Caroline, aged 15, and Henry, aged 25, married in 1846 and were married for 22 years, until Henry's death.  The details of Caroline's and Henry's eldest children were very sketchy when I began researching the family, and it's taken me a while to work it out.  It was all a bit of a riddle to start with.

Of course, given that Caroline and Henry lived rather a nomadic life at the beginning of their marriage (with both of them working as shepherds to start with, then living the life associated with Henry's work as a hawker and a cedar cutter), official records are few and far between, so I've had to rely on other sources of information. 

I started with evidence from the death certificates of both my 2x great grandparents.  There was however a mismatch straight away.  One death certificate listed what looked like 11 children, and the other listed 12. 

Extract from death certificate
for Henry Johnson Brown

Looking firstly at my 2x great grandfather's death certificate, dated 1848, was not all that helpful.

11 children were recorded but no names were listed and no ages which would have been helpful in working out years of birth.  

The informant was a clerk named Chatfield and as far as I know, he didn't have an intimate knowledge of Henry's family members.

12 children were recorded on 2x great grandmother Caroline's death certificate, dated October 1894.

All the children's names were listed, apart from two males who were identified as deceased at that time, and the respective ages of those children still living.  Far more helpful!

The informant for Caroline's death certificate was a family member.  It was her son-in-law Robert Gall, wife of her daughter Eliza, who provided this information.  Caroline was living in their home when she died and had been living with them for some time.

As a result, I was more inclined to believe that Caroline and Henry actually had 12 children together.

One of those children listed on Caroline's death certificate was a son named Alexander Brown, who was known as Sandy for most of his lifetime (I have no idea why!) and he was listed as the eldest, so I originally thought he might be the first born.    

I came across an article which seemed to back up this assumption.  One of Caroline's and Henry's sons, John Thomas Brown, was interviewed for an article in the Lismore newspaper, The Northern Star, many years later.  He stated that a boy had been born in March of 1847.  His words were "my brother Sandy was born on that night."  Sandy was the nickname for Alexander Brown, so this recount seems to indicate the first born was indeed Alexander.  

I immediately spotted an issue with the dates contained in that article though.  If Alexander had actually been born in 1847, he would have been older than the age listed on Caroline's death certificate, as seen above.  

Another piece of evidence was an obituary printed upon Alexander's death which indicated that he had been born in 1846 in Lismore, New South Wales.  That didn't match with the age listed on the above death certificate either.  

I continued my search and came across two other sources of  information 

- the Lismore Historical Society's plaque (seen to the left).

This gave detailed information about where my 2x great grandfather Henry had lived and worked during the very early years of his marriage, so I could match up a supposed birth place.

  

- and the book titled 'The Browning Story: Tracings From The Past' written by Esme Smith.

This provided very well-researched and detailed information about the Browning family including Caroline, her husband Henry and their children.

Esme Smith's book indicates that Caroline and Henry were in fact not living in Lismore when they married in 1846.

They began their married life working as shepherds on the station known as Runnymede, owned at the time by Ward Stephens.  It was located on the Richmond River and quite a distance to the west of what would eventually become known as the town of Lismore.  So the "facts" printed in the obituary, mentioned previously, appeared to be slightly misleading.

Another article I found, titled "The Late Alexander Brown", was printed in The Northern Star in 1931 and stated that "he was born near Casino in 1844, whilst his parents were travelling in a waggon to what is now known as Lismore, but which was then virgin scrub."

1844?  That didn't match the age listed on his mother's death certificate either.

If he was born in 1844 his mother would have been giving birth at the age of 13!  Unlikely!

Even Alexander himself, when writing a letter to the editor of The Northern Star, dated September 1924, stated "I may further state that I was born on March 11, 1847."

He was claiming to be the oldest white born person in the Lismore district at the time, and indeed in the town of Lismore itself.

This letter was written to contradict the fact that another man named Mr. J. Greenhalgh had been identified as the first born in the district and had been introduced to the Governor as such.

You would assume that a person would know their correct birth date, so if Alexander stated it was March of 1847, wouldn't that be correct?

Well a problem with all this information I had found up to this point became apparent when I then went on and found a baptism record for Alexander.  His parents had indicated his date of birth as March 9th, 1849 on the official record of baptism.

Alexander was not baptised until a year after his birth, in 1850 and he was baptised in the Burnett District which was much further north of the Lismore district. 

This ties is much more accurately with the information about Henry's working life at that time.

After Alexander's parents had left Runnymede to work at Lismore Station, it seems that they had moved again within a year.  By March of 1848 they were working on Maryland Station, a 200,000 acre property on the Darling Downs owned by Matthew Marsh.  At that time the area was still part of New South Wales, but was quite a long way north of Lismore.  Alexander's father Henry also worked as a 'hawker' during this time and continued on with this until at least 1850.  The family was travelling around the Burnett District at this time, and this is how the family had ended up in the Parish of Brisbane for Alexander's baptism, which was at that time part of northern New South Wales.

So it appears that Alexander's parents Caroline and Henry were living a nomadic lifestyle in the far north of New South Wales when Alexander was born, and that he had actually been born in 1849, contrary to all that other supposedly reliable information.  The family was not living anywhere near the Lismore district again until early 1850, when they moved back to the Richmond River area to Bald Hill (later named Bexhill) where Henry started working as a timber cutter.  

The question remained however ... was there a son born in 1847 who was the real subject of that story told by John Thomas Brown?  You know ... the story about a son being born while Caroline and Henry were on the move from Runnymede?

Further research, which included reading the valuable book The Browning Story: Tracings From The Past written by Esme Smith, along with examination of information from other Ancestry.com family trees, and the searching of FamilySearch.com and Ancestry.com databases, led me to believe that Caroline's and Henry's first child was indeed a son, named after his father, and born in 1847 whilst they were leaving Ward Stephen's 128,000 acre property at Runnymede.

Map showing the location of Runnymede Station along the Richmond River

According to information found on both FamilySearch.com and Ancestry.com, Henry Johnson Brown Jnr. was the son born in March of 1847 (not Alexander). 

That would make sense as a lot of married couples at this time named their first born son after the father.

According to these records, Henry Jnr's birth place was recorded as 'Richmond River' (Runnymede Station was located along the river) where his parents were working as shepherds.  

It was at this point that Caroline and Henry Snr. decided to leave Runnymede and seek employment with Mr. Wilson on his 23,000 acre Lismore Station located along the Wilson River.

Caroline, nine months pregnant, and her husband Henry made their way on foot to the Wilson property and the story of their first-born son's birth was in fact exactly as told by his brother John Thomas Brown many years later in a newspaper article.

Article in The Northern Star Tuesday, September 10, 1929

Note:  I have already established that the son mentioned in this article could not have been Sandy (Alexander) as stated, but Henry Jnr.

Henry Johnson Jnr. was apparently baptised in the Clarence River District a month later, which means his parents were on the move once again and this coincides with the information I previously mentioned about my great great grandparents leaving the Richmond River area to work at Maryland Station.

Sadly, Henry Johnson Jnr. seems to have died sometime the following year, in 1848, and I know for sure his father was working as a watchman on Matthew Marsh's Maryland Station at that time, but would then go on to become a 'hawker' towards the end of 1848.  Henry Johnson Jnr. would then be one of those two children listed on his mother's death certificate as deceased.

So ... jump ahead another couple of months and Alexander Johnson Brown was born in March of 1849, which would make him the second born son of my great great grandparents.

Apart from the period in his very early life between 1849 and 1850 when his parents were moving around quite a lot in search of work, Alexander lived his life mostly in Lismore, New South Wales.

At the age of 22, he married his cousin Margaret Jane Bustard.  

They were married in November of 1871 at McLeod's Creek in New South Wales, and went on to have twelve children, all born in the Lismore district.

In the very early days of his marriage, Alexander worked "as a timber cutter and as an agent looking for the best timbers available for the market."  ('The Browning Story: Tracings From The Past' by Esme Smith p. 92), as had his father before him.

 

This did not last however, as Alexander became a publican towards the end of 1884.   This was again exactly the pattern of his father, who established the first public house / hotel in Lismore.

Alexander was the publican of the North Lismore Hotel for only a few years, before becoming the proprietor of the Bridge Hotel.  He did not continue working as a publican for long after that though, and by 1891 he was employed as the mail contractor between Lismore, Blakebrook, Goolmangar and Nimbin.

Alexander's and Margaret's children were born between 1872 and 1896.

Elizabeth Margaret was born in 1872.

Henry Johnson came along in 1874.

Mary Ann was born in 1876, but sadly died the following year.

Charles was born in 1878.

Alexander Jnr. was born in 1879.

Martha Jane came along in 1882.

Tempest was born and died in 1885.

Sarah (known as Sadie) was born in 1886.

Mabel came along in 1889.

Sydney was born in 1891.

Bertha Stella in 1893 and

Curtis was born in 1896.

This family photo taken in 1929, when Alexander was aged 80 and his wife (seated in the middle of the photo) was 75, includes their daughter Sarah (back row far left) and their grandchildren Eric, Alan, Hilton (known as Bill) Keith, Mabel, and Dorothea. The other girl is unknown.

It would seem that Alexander and his wife Margaret had quite a close and happy relationship during their almost 60-year marriage.  Sadly, Margaret died in March of 1931 and upon her death, Alexander reportedly stated:  "that he would like to go with her and it would not be long."

It was in fact a mere five months later that Alexander Johnson Brown died, aged 82.  Both had died just months before their 60th wedding anniversary.

An obituary (mentioned before) stated that:

"All that long life he had lived in the district, working hard to rear his family, and having a full share of the ups and downs of life. Beneath a somewhat rugged exterior there was hidden a gentleness and kindness which brought him high regard."

"Personally, I shall cherish his memory as one of the worthy pioneers - as a hard worker, a good husband, a generous father, and as a man of common sense. He set a good example to all around him. At 85 he was loved by all who knew him and then the race was over."

Interestingly, in an article mentioned previously, 'The Late Alexander Brown: Lismore's First White Child' printed at the time of his death, the reporter Mrs. Margaret Kearney stated:

"Alexander (or Sandy) Brown, as he has always been called, had an intimate knowledge of dialects of every aboriginal tribe from the Tweed to the Clarence ...  This stood him in good stead when buying as agent in search of the best cedar patches in the giant scrub.  He was able to converse with each tribe in his own dialect, and had a great advantage over trade competitors."

Alexander and his wife Margaret were survived by ten of their children, although their daughter Sarah, known as Sadie, died just three months after the death of her father.