Remembrance Day 2012 - Lest We Forget

In memory of all our family members 

who have gone before 

who fought for our freedom 

through the horrors of war.

Because of  the poem, In Flander's Field, written by Canadian Doctor and poet, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae M.D. (1872 - 1918) the Poppy has become the flower symbol of remembrance.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.  Short days ago 

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie 

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders field.

Trove Tuesday - Tarraville To do

Recently while researching my great great grand Uncle John Kelly  and some of his life at Tarraville in South Gippsland, Victoria, I came across these two letters written by Dr. Eccles and John Kelly and published in the Gippsland Times newspaper in December 1869.  

John Kelly and Mary Ann nee Francis did have a son in 1869 according to the birth registrations but I don't know if this is them or not yet.  More searching to be done.

I think the original letter from "Humanity" must have been published in a Sale newspaper that is not yet digitised, either that or I have missed it in my searches.

Gippsland Times 11 Dec 1869

THE MALICIOUS CHARGE AGAINST.   DR. ECCLES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE GIPPSLAND TIMES. 

Sir,--I was not a little surprised in having 
my attention directed to a letter which 
appeared in the South Gippsland newspaper of the 7th instant, signed " Humanity," and dated Port Albert, Nov. 30th, 1869, which, to say the least, is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. I will briefly narrate the circumstances as they occurred. 
For some months past I had been wait ing for a favourable opportunity to visit Sale, to transact business of a private nature; and as the cricket match was about to take place between the Sale and South Gippsland Clubs, I determined to kill two birds with the one stone, andaccordingly went to Sale with the cricketers, leaving Tarraville on Sunday, the 28th ult., about 9 a.m., having made it generally known the week previous that I purposed doing so, should nothing occur in the interim to prevent me. I have been informed that the woman referred to had been in labour two or three days previous to my leaving home,   so that my attendance could have been   easily secured; not as "Humanity"'would lead persons to suppose, that it was after my departure the unfortunate woman was unwell. I was not enquired for untilMonday morning, when, as a matter of course, being absent, a great uproar was set up by, I presume, "crowing" " Humanity" and his clique. As to the lady who had gone to the expense of 10s sending a messenger for me, I may inform "Humanity" that the lady in question was put to no such expense, nor was I ever sent for. 
May I ask who is the "clever" Government oficial referred to by" Human manity." I have spoken to a great number of persons in order to get the information, but, as yet, have failed to obtain doing so. If " Humanity" be a friend to the official referred to, I think he would be showing his friendship in a much more practical manner by having his name left out of the question. 
In conclusion, I would ask "Humanity" to come out of his shell and appear in his own plumage, as I consider his letter to be an un-English stab in the dark,written for the purpose of conveying an untruthful impression on its readers. Imay also assure him that he is greatly mistaken if he thinks I am afraid ofhaving either Dr. Goldie or any other medical practitioner brought by his (" Humanity's") influence into the field against me. Trusting you will give this publication, 

I am, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
J. HOWARD ECCLES, 
L.R.C.S.I.
Tarraville, 9th December, 1869.

Gippsland Times 11 Dec 1869

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GIPPSLAND TIMES 

SIR - A letter having appeared in your Sale contemporary of the 6th inst., signed " Humanity," calculated to do Dr.Eccles an injury. I am induced, in justice to that gentleman. to acquaint the public with the facts. Dr. Eccles was never engaged to attend my wife, and if there had been any intention on my part to have secured the services of that gentle man, I had ample time to have done so, for my wife was ill for four days prior to the doctor's leaving here for Sale, and I was led to believe by the persons who were in attendance upon her that a medical man was not required. On the fifth day of her illness, however, becoming alarmed, I called at the doctor's house, and found he would not be home till the next day. I left a message for him to call immediately upon his return, which he did; and I am glad to say he found my wife pro gressing favourably, the child having beenborn the day before. Those are the facts, and I think if there is any blame attached to any one it is to myself for al lowing myself to be persuaded by a lot of old women not to call in a medical man. 
By inserting this explanation you will oblige 

Your obedient servant, 
JOHN KELLY. 
Tarra Bank, Tarrarille, Dec. 8th.


For the  Trove Tuesday theme by Amy Houston from Branches, Leaves & Pollen

Yarram continued

I wrote in my previous post Y is for .... Yarram that I had received a copy of this photo from New Zealand of two girls named Miss Bessie and Miss Kate.  No one knew who they were though.  It was at first thought that one of the names was Annie but too many opinions were definite that it said Bessie.

Recently I made contact with Kim who sent me some information about the families at Yarram which had been researched by her grandmother over the years.

Woohoo this information confirmed my theory!  The girls in the picture were in fact Elizabeth Ann (known as Bessie) and Catherine (known as Kate) Lawler.

Kim's great-great  grandmother, Alice Francis Kelly, was the first cousin of my great grandmother Mary Agnes Morgan.
Alice was the daughter of John Kelly and Mary Ann Francis.


The witness at Mary Morgan's wedding (left) show Bessie Lawler's signature in 1887 with a bit of a fancy tail on the first S, (perhaps a medial S as in old fashioned writing) and below at the wedding of Alice in 1900.  Only a small difference in the signature after thirteen years.

Alice's mother was Mary Ann Kelly nee Francis.  She was the daughter of Mary Kilroy and Thomas Francis. When Thomas died Mary Kilroy remarried Fenton Lawler (often spelt Lalor).  Elizabeth Ann and Catherine aka Bessie and Kate were their daughters; so half sisters of Mary Ann Francis.

Bessie started at Melbourne University in 1889 to study nursing.  She went on to become a much loved nurse in Yarram, conducting the Kilroy Private Hospital on the corner of Station and Rodgers Street.  The original building is now a private residence.

Z is for ... Zither at the Zenith

Here we are at the ZENITH of the Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge


Many thanks to Alona from Gould for this theme. 
I have thoroughly enjoyed both writing and reading other bloggers posts throughout the challenge.

For the letter Z in this challenge I was always going to write about how my Nana, Daisy Marion Morgan, played the Zither.  

I don't remember hearing her play it as it was quite fragile and it may well have been handed down from her German great grandparents.  
Mum often mentioned the zither and I remember seeing it a couple of times as I was growing up but I don't know what happened to it. 

 My family history through the alphabet list

Y is for .... Yarram

  YARRAM

I am a little late with my Y contribution for the Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge issued by Alona of Gould's  

I was going to write about my husband's ancestors the Young family but I haven't done a lot of research on them yet and I have been enthralled lately with my current project about a family connection, I have only just found, to Yarram in South Gippsland, Victoria. 

This connection is still quite confusing and may take a bit of unraveling yet.  

A brief rundown so far:-

My great great grandmother was Margaret "Alice" Kelly.

One of her brother's, John Kelly, brought their two younger brothers to Alice in Melbourne just before her wedding to John Morgan in 1858.

I knew John went to Gippsland as he married Mary Ann Francis at Tarraville in 1869.  Tarraville, Yarram and Alberton are all close by one another.

In searching Trove I found quite a few references to a John Kelly but there may well have been more than one living in the area.  

Yet to be sorted.

There was a John Kelly who was a tanner at Nightingale's tannery at Tarraville in 1874.

My John Kelly was a currier (tanner) when he died at Yackandandah in 1905.  

There was a John Kelly who became insolvent at Tarraville in 1878.  Reasons given were lack of employment, death of a son, illness of wife. 

There was a big "to-do" over a Dr. Eccles in several articles, one being in the Gippsland Times in December 1869 where John Kelly's wife may have lost a son soon after childbirth. There is a birth registration for a John Kelly born to John Kelly and Mary Ann Francis in 1869 at Alberton which is near Tarraville.

Mary Ann Francis' mother was Mary Kilroy.  After the death of her first husband, Thomas Francis, Mary Kilroy married a Fenton Lawler.

They had three children, Michael, Elizabeth and Catherine.  Catherine married Edward Slavin in 1887.

I sent a query to the rootsweb Gippsland mailing list and learned that there is a book called  "Clonmel to Federation: a Guide to People in the Port Albert area 1841-1901". compiled by Gwen O'Callaghan at the Gippsland Regional Maritime Museum which contains quite a bit more about the Francis and Lawler families.  I have yet to get access to the book but Gwen did give me a couple of snippets and one little piece of information which grabbed my attention immediately.  Elizabeth Lawler was a much loved nurse who delivered thousands of babies at Yarram for many years.  She was known as Bessie.

A few months ago I received copies of a batch of photos from descendants of John Kelly's nephew, Alexander Morgan, who went to New Zealand.  

One of these photos was of two young ladies.  

Written on the base of the photo was "Miss Bessie and Miss Kate" but none of the descendants knew who they were.

I believe they could well be Elizabeth and Catherine Lawler.

One of the witnesses at the marriage of John Kelly's niece, my great grandmother Mary Morgan, in 1887 was a miss Lawler but the first name isn't very legible. I don't know yet if she is of the same Lawler family.  Bessie Lawler was known to be in Melbourne doing her nursing training around 1889.

I'm still searching, sorting and wondering but perhaps one day I will find enough confirming detail that all these pieces will fit together.

 My family history through the alphabet list

Trove Tuesday - more on Sgt Major Albert Henry Percival Fleming

For the  Trove Tuesday theme by Amy Houston from Branches, Leaves & Pollen 

I was searching for further news articles to include in my post about my Mum's Uncle  Sgt Major Albert Henry Percival Fleming  

I found an article that was not yet available so I registered for an email to be sent to notify me when it was ready.  

The email came through last Wednesday and this is the article 

Sgt Major Albert Henry Percival Fleming

Albert Henry Percival Fleming, service number 24, enlisted on the 15th of August 1914 into the 5th Battalion's A company. 

The 5th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions it was recruited from Victoria and, together with these battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade.

The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later... read more 

Fleming was recommended for the Mililtary Cross by G.O.C 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade on the 6th of October 1916
"For consistent good work during the period 1/3/16 to 1/10/16.  This Warrant Officer has been a consistent worker right through.  During operations at POZIERES in organizing carrying parties and bringing up ammunition and bombs on many occasions through heavy enemy shelling.  He was of great assistance in the attack".
signed ? Smyth ... Major-General, Commanding 1st Australian Division.

His promotions over the time were as follows:

to Corporal 10 April 1915
to CQMS 23 June 1915
to sergeant 2 May 1915
to CSM 9 May 1915
Appointed A/R SM 19 May 1915
promoted to RSM (W.O.I)25 March 1916

Wangaratta Chronicle - Wednesday 28 July 1915
The friends of Mr. Alfred Fleming, of King Valley, will be pleased to know that he has been rapidly promoted in the military since he volunteered his services to his King and Country. Mr. Fleming enlisted as a private in the 5th Battalion, Scottish Regiment, and has now attained the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. He is fighting at the Dardanelles.

Image copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

ID number

P02347.001

Object type

Black & white

Physical description

Black & white

Collection

Photograph

Description

England. c. 1918. Group portrait of No. 24 Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Albert Henry Percy Fleming MC DCM MM 5th Battalion, seated far right and three unidentified Warrant Officers. RSM Fleming was one of the few non-commissioned officers to be awarded the Military Cross during World War I. (Donor A. Fleming)

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02347.001

Wangaratta Chronicle  Dec 14, 1918
King Valley
On Tuesday evening, 10th inst, the King Valley State School was crowded to its fullest extent, whilst almost as many more were forced to remain outside.  The occasion being a welcome to Reg. Sgt-Major A. Fleming and Lance-Cpl F Laffy who have both recently returned from the great European war.  The local residents have indeed reason to be proud of their young men for the fine patriotic spirit they have shown in response to the call of the Motherland.  Sgt-Major Fleming bears the proud title of Anzac, having recently returned on a well  earned home furlough.  His fine physique and soldierly bearing, together with the inevitable smile and jocular manner, mark him as a typical Aussie, the very dread of the boasting Hun.

My Mum's Uncle Albert, known as Alf, was born at Camberwell, Victoria on the 20th of May 1889, the eldest son and the first of eleven children of Donald Fleming and Margaret nee Hart.  My grandfather, Archie Fleming, was his younger brother and child number ten.


The North Eastern Despatch,  Wednesday, November 23, 1910....page 2 - Whitfield
A wood chopping match that is creating a good deal of interest has been arranged to take place on the recreation reserve on Saturday, between Mesrs.  Jack Slater and Alf Fleming.  A stake of 5 pound aside had been lodged.

The North Eastern Despatch,  Wednesday, November 30, 1910....page 3 - Whitfield
The log chopping contest between Messrs. Jack  Slater and Alf Fleming for 5 pound aside attracted a very large attendance on the recreation reserve on Saturday afternoon.  Much interest was taken in the match the log was lying 15 inches in diameter,  and Mr. Isaac Macklin was referee,  Mr. F. Lawson, time-keeper.  The Bobinawarrah man was the first to turn,  but he soon was followed by his opponent who eventually won an exciting contest by a few strokes.  Mr. Fleming was congratulated on his win.  The time was officially given as 58 seconds, and this is only three seconds behind Charles Miley's best.


At his enlistment in 1914 Alf was a tramway employee living at 9 Hotham Street, Collingwood with his wife Margery Marie nee Waters.  He and Margery had 2 children, Alan Percy and a daughter.

After the war he and Margery separated and later both remarried.  
Alf married Mary Ann Ostler/Osler in 1927.  They had one son that I know of.

Albert Henry Percival Fleming died in 1956 at Heidelberg, Victoria aged 66 years. 

Tribute page for our Servicemen