Anzac Tribute to those who enlisted from the Region

For 100 years, Australians have gathered to honour those who served their country, in both World Wars and in many other conflicts since 1915.

On 11th November, at 11.00 tradition has held that 0ne minute's silence be observed to remember the end of the First World War. Armistice Day is observed in France and Belgium. The services are held at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypers, Belgium then in France at Villiers-Bretonneux.

Thousands of headstones stand sentinel as a reminder of those who lay often in unmarked graves or buried beneath. Thousands and thousands of names are etched in the numerous monuments, all that is left of someone's loved one. The headstones are often in the middle of a family farm, and all are so well kept.

Tower of London Poppies

Red poppies have become the universal symbol. Poppies grew as the first flowers on the battlefields, both in Europe and Turkey. At Gallipoli, rosemary bushes provide another symbol.

Locally

In the Region of Bald Hills and Bracken Ridge, men who enlisted often indicated their place of birth, or residence to be Zillmere, Bald Hills or Sandgate, never Bracken Ridge!

Consequently, while every effort has been made to locate the names of those local residents, there will be some that are missing, especially if they were born elsewhere, then moved to the area, or simply listed their place of birth as Brisbane.

Such was the case with the McPherson Boys.

David and John McPherson

David McPherson listed Brisbane as his birth place S/N 21256 NOK Annie McPherson

John Mc Pherson listed Brisbane S/N 3400 NOK Annie McPherson

Both were the sons of Russell and Annie McPherson, who lived at Springfield, Sandgate (sometimes referred to as Bald Hills.

Sandgate War Memorial 1923

The list is extensive, and includes place of birth, Serial Number and next of kin.

Arthur Richard Aland	Sandgate, Queensland	2956	Eliza Aland
Charles Herbert Albury	Sandgate, Queensland	3003	Madeline Albury
George Vincent Ayre	Sandgate, Queensland	1157	William Henry Ayre
William John Ayre	Sandgate, Queensland	369	Winifred Mary Ayre
John Joseph Battagline	Sandgate, Queensland	4677	Annie Battagline
Robert Spear Lyon Begbie	Sandgate, Queensland	3554	Jane Begbie
Joseph Bolger	Sandgate, Queensland	9659	Philip Bolger
William Clement Bolger	Sandgate, Queensland	367D	Annie Nelson
Leonard Llewellan Brookes	Sandgate, Queensland	1308	A H Brookes
Clarence Norman Buckby	Sandgate, Queensland	4084	Clara Buckby
Joseph Harvey Buckle	Sandgate, Queensland	7703	Joseph Thomas Antipas Buckle
Owen Richard Burton	Sandgate, Queensland	8665	R E Burton
Christopher Callanan	Sandgate, Queensland	2029	Mary Margaret Callanan
Charles Horatio Capel	Sandgate, Queensland	2546	Marian Capel
Frank James Carver	Sandgate, Queensland	6233	Frederick William Carver
George Fredrick Casberg	Sandgate, Queensland	6053	Amelia Casberg
Clifford Hartley Churton	Sandgate, Queensland	8140	Mary Churton
Maurice Colman Cohen	Sandgate, Queensland	3518	Arthur Charles Cohen
Frederick Francis Collins	Sandgate, Queensland		Mary Ellen Collins
James Buchanan Crawford	Sandgate, Queensland	35538	Catherine Crawford
William Charles Cunningham	Sandgate, Queensland	6924	Charlotte Cunningham
John Thomas Dickinson	Sandgate, Queensland	3491	Annie Dickinson
James Oakwell Dougherty	Sandgate, Queensland	3317	Mrs E Dougherty
Victor Clyde Dougherty	Sandgate, Queensland	3328	Robert John Dougherty
Ralph Edmonds Douglas	Sandgate, Queensland	1440	Ada Douglas
William Joseph Fletcher Douglas	Sandgate, Queensland	3970	Rev Alexander Douglas
John Douglas Drummond	Sandgate, Queensland		Annie Drummond
Edward Victor Herbert Dyer	Sandgate, Queensland	1689	Mr E Dyer
Harry Moreton Dyer	Sandgate, Queensland	5324	Margaret Dyer
James Christian Ehrke	Sandgate, Queensland	53307	Mrs C Ehrke
Horace Evelyn Flower	Sandgate, Queensland	6962	Susan Josephine Flower
Cecil Stanley Fox	Sandgate, Queensland	2860	Lucy Jane Fox
Albert Oscar Cedric Giraud	Sandgate, Queensland	1673	N/A
Roy Godfrey	Sandgate, Queensland	14	Hannah Godfrey
James Duncan Greenwood	Sandgate, Queensland	9448	A Greenwood
Spencer Leslie Samuel Hale	Sandgate, Queensland	20802	Edgar Spencer Hale
Harold Anton Hansen	Sandgate, Queensland	7703	N P Hansen
Charles Cyril Beswick Johnson	Sandgate, Queensland	2651	Lydia Johnson
Frank Jones	Sandgate, Queensland	21236	Elizabeth Jones
Leonard Joyce	Sandgate, Queensland	2190	James Joyce
Denis Joseph Kavanagh	Sandgate, Queensland	4588	D Kavanagh
Ernest Kemp	Sandgate, Queensland	3313	Bessie Kate Kemp
Eric Love	Sandgate, Queensland	645	Martin Rungert
Albert Lubke	Sandgate, Queensland	1629	Molley Lubke
Edward Otto Lubke	Sandgate, Queensland	2640	Mrs Lubke
Alexander Sydney Macdonald	Sandgate, Queensland	2957	Margaret Mitchell
Aubrey Charles Halliday Markwell	Sandgate, Queensland	3433	Adelaide Eliza Markwell
Reginald George Pryor Markwell	Sandgate, Queensland	1302	James Isaac Markwell
Robert Edward Mason	Sandgate, Queensland		Robert Edward Mason
George Pengwerne Matthews	Sandgate, Queensland	2342	George Frederick Matthews
Marcus John McManus	Sandgate, Queensland	2378	Jeannie Gertrude White
Edward Erskine Miller	Sandgate, Queensland	3427	Ellen Miller
Arthur Mirls	Sandgate, Queensland	371	C Mirls
Harry Charles Morgan	Sandgate, Queensland	2939	Emma Francis Morgan
Thomas Joseph Mulqueeney	Sandgate, Queensland	1090	Ellen Mulqueeney
Francis Farrington Parkinson	Sandgate, Queensland	3439	Janet Parkinson
Gordon Stanley Patterson	Sandgate, Queensland	734	Charles Patterson
Arthur James Paul	Sandgate, Queensland	1659	G W F Paul
Ralph Paul	Sandgate, Queensland	7108	Henrietta Matilda Paul
Hampden Wendell Phillips	Sandgate, Queensland	5820	Isobel Lilian Phillips
Oliver Kilk Phillips	Sandgate, Queensland	33739	Elizabeth Susan Phillips
Frank Waldo Potts	Sandgate, Queensland	14352	Blanche Lillian Wiley
Norman Charles Prackart	Sandgate, Queensland	4193	Emily Prackart
William Roy Henry Prackert	Sandgate, Queensland	38749	Margaret Reedy
Roy Stevenson Prentice	Sandgate, Queensland	17200	Elizabeth Prentice
Percy Leonard Ramsay	Sandgate, Queensland	5396	Alice Ramsay
Stewart Leslie Reid	Sandgate, Queensland		Louise Reid
Edmund Edward Righetti	Sandgate, Queensland		Mary Righetti
Albert Ross	Sandgate, Queensland	3062	Emma Ellen Ross
John Scanlan	Sandgate, Queensland	1761	M Scanlan
Roy William Sergeant	Sandgate, Queensland	5822	Edward Sergeant
Frank Roy Slaughter	Sandgate, Queensland	14720	Mary Ann Slaughetr
Reginald Charles Slaughter	Sandgate, Queensland	14719	Mary Slaughter
Henry William Smith	Sandgate, Queensland	1753	H Smith
James Smith	Sandgate, Queensland	10536	Jean Henderson Smith
William Stokes	Sandgate, Queensland	1431	Eliza Ann Stokes
Alexander Frederick Sutherland	Sandgate, Queensland	57266	Anna Elizabeth Sutherland
David Everet Thomsett	Sandgate, Queensland	4241
William Train	Sandgate, Queensland	6815	Louisa Train
George William Turnbull	Sandgate, Queensland	1639	Mary Turnbull
Arthur Edward Turner	Sandgate, Queensland	2512	Mary Turner
Thomas Richard Twine	Sandgate, Queensland	3152	M M Twine
David Veitch	Sandgate, Queensland	11385	Rose Ann Veitch
George Veitch	Sandgate, Queensland	16485	Rose Veitch
Arthur Walker	Sandgate, Queensland	7078	Annie Walker
Charles Villiers Warner	Sandgate, Queensland	3533	Mary Annie Warner
Frederic David Gilmore Wilson	Sandgate, Queensland	2698	W A Wilson
Marjorie Jane Gilmore Wilson	Sandgate, Queensland		Annie Wilson

Cecil Harper Black	Zillmere, Queensland	5312	Samuel Black
Sidney Leichhardt Crompton	Zillmere, Queensland	41	Eliy Annie Crompton
Alfred Francis Davis	Zillmere, Queensland	1615	A J Davis
David Ewers Fischer	Zillmere, Queensland	3170A	Ellen Robinson Fischer
Jesse Francis Gaskell	Zillmere, Queensland	1767	Peter Gaskell
William Roberts	Zillmere, Queensland	5398	George Roberts
Kennedy Adams Robinson	Zillmere, Queensland	67	H W Robinson
Samuel Leslie Robinson	Zillmere, Queensland		Henry Walton Robinson
Stanley Oswald Robinson	Zillmere, Queensland	1216	George F W Robinson
Kenneth George Vidler	Zillmere, Queensland	1809	G A J Vidler

At Marchant Park (Bald Hills was part of the Kedron Shire)

Harold Edwin Carseldine	Bald Hills, Queensland	1019	Agnes Carseldine
William Cullimore	Bald Hills, Queensland	44	Mrs Cullimore
Walter Davis	Bald Hills, Queensland	20939	Henry Davis
Albert Day	Bald Hills, Queensland	3039A	W Day
James Ross Duncan	Bald Hills, Queensland		Miss A Duncan
John Thomas Hammer	Bald Hills, Queensland	6131	Mary Hammer
Albert Victor Lacey	Bald Hills, Queensland	155	Mary Lacey
Ernest Wilbert Lacey	Bald Hills, Queensland	509	Marie Jensine Lacey
John Stewart Latham	Bald Hills, Queensland	628	Samuel Latham
William Alfred Latham	Bald Hills, Queensland	256	Samuel Latham
John Albert Rilley	Bald Hills, Queensland	2705	Sarah Elizabeth Rilley
William James Service	Bald Hills, Queensland		R Service
Allan Duncan McGaw Stewart	Bald Hills, Queensland	7131	John Stewart
Stephen Hertford Weedon	Bald Hills, Queensland		Stephen Henry Weedon
Henry Thomas Wigley	Bald Hills, Queensland	193	E Lade
Septimus Williamson	Bald Hills, Queensland	4277	Elizabeth Eleanor Williamson

The Australian War Memorial provides the following information in relation to Honour Boards:

"Honour boards and rolls were erected in many local schools, halls, churches and offices as a means of acknowledging the commitment made by the community to the military forces.

The criteria used for inclusion of names on an honour board were determined by those creating the board and can vary. For example, the board may only include those who were born in the town, those who enlisted in the town, those who were living or working in the town when they enlisted or veterans who became associated with the area after the war when the honour board was being created. Some honour boards include all those who served and others only list those who died in the war. In some cases an individual may appear on more than one honour board".

The Bald Hills Memorial Hall contains an Honour Board erected to honour those who fitted their criteria.

However one name which took my interest was Dr Stephen Hertford Weedon. His surname was not one that had come up in any research. Who then was he?

Dr Stephen Hertford Weedon

The answer lies with the Queensland Railways. His father Stephen Henry Weedon was a surveyor and Engineer with the Queensland Government, and he surveyed different railway corridors.

He was based at Bald Hills at the Railway Camp and married Mabel Frances Carter in 1884. Their son Stephen Hertford Weedon was born at Bald Hills in 1887.

Mabel Frances Carter was the daughter of Joseph Carter and Grace May Baxter. She was born in Naracoorte in South Australia, when her father was the manager of Naracoorte Station, and later came to Queensland.

February 1887

BIRTH.

WEEDON.—On the 15th instant, at Bald Hills, South Pine, Mrs. Stephen H.Weedon, of a son.

Residents of Mount Gambier: Joseph Carter • Photograph ...

collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource

Stephen Hertford Weedon

Rank: Captain

Roll title: Medical Officers (February 1915 - January 1919)

Conflict / Operation: First World War, 1914-1918

Date of embarkation: 17 October 1916

Place of embarkation: Sydney

Ship embarked on: HMAT Borda A30

After graduating as a Doctor, he began practice in Wagga NSW. He volunteered for service in 1916. He became ill while on duty and spent time in hospital in UK

He was later promoted to Major and served in UK, he again became ill, and was returned to Australia in 1919 on the Takada, and resumed his medical duties..

He married in a society wedding in 1934 to Phyllis Bragg.

He died in 1963

His father's obituary details of his working life

Dr Stephen Weedon is just one of the many who enlisted, and who thought it their duty to serve their country. As parents, it would be inconceivable to understand what they went through, never knowing if their children would return, let alone having any idea of what horrors they were a part of.

***********************************************************************************

There are no memorials or monuments in Bracken Ridge, perhaps there should be.

The are many sons and daughters of pioneering families of Bracken Ridge

whose names would then be included.

Frederick and Isabella Francis's boys enlisted.

Frederick John Francis Born Brisbane S/N 3764B NOK Frederick Francis

Robert Allan Francis Born Lillmere S/N 1766 NOK Frederick Francis

(transcription error should be Zillmere, but really Brackenridge)

The Slaughter family two sons away serving. The boys enlisted together.

Frank Roy Slaughter S/N 14720

Reginald Charles Slaughter S/N 14719

William and Ruth Albury were another with three sons enlisted:

Clarence Frederick Albury S/N 124 He enlisted in Roma

Cecil William Albury S/N 1501 He enlisted at Stanthorpe

Oliver Earnest Albury S/N 20764 Her enlisted at Brisbame.

One son and two daughters of David and Marion Brown enlisted.

Dorothy Brown Born Sandgate NOK Mrs D.F. Brown

Archibald Lorimer Brown Born Brisbane S/N 4455 NOK Minnie Brown (Mother)

Ruby Davina Mary Brown Born Brisbane NOK Marion Brown (Mother)

As Nursing Staff they appeared not to have Serial Numbers.

Jesse Francis Gaskell born Zillmere S/N 1767 NOK Peter Gaske

Jesse returned and was a farmer in Bracken Street. Bracken Ridge

The Francis, Slaughter, Brown, Gaskell and Albury sons and daughters returned.

Russell and Annie McPherson were not so fortunate. When they said their goodbyes to their sons, it was for the last time.

Both were killed and both are buried in France.

McPHERSON, JOHN

Rank:

Private
Service No:: 3400
Date of Death:: 08/08/1918
Age:: 29
Regiment/Service:: Australian Machine Gun Corps
4th Bn.
Grave Reference:: III. A. 14.
Cemetery:: HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES

Additional Information:: Son of Russell and Annie McPherson, of "Springfield," Sandgate, Queensland.

David McPherson
Rank:: Driver
Service No:: 21256
Date of Death:: 23/07/1917
Age:: 27
Regiment/Service:: Australian Field Artillery
: 7th Bde.
Grave Reference:: I. D. 11.
Cemetery:: WESTHOF FARM CEMETERY

Additional Information:: Son of Russell and Annie McPherson, of "Springfield," Sandgate, Queensland

http://www.cwgc.org/

There was another Bracken Ridge Family where not only the son, but his father also enlisted.

John Flewell-Smith was a Veteran of the Boer War. He enlisted again in World War I.

His achievements are included in the Chapter on his life.

His son Bernard Flewell-Smith also enlisted.

Flewell-Smith Bernard Born Lowood S/N 7707 NOK John Francis Flewell-Smith

Name:	Bernard Flewell-Smith
Birth Place:	Lowood, Queensland
Dossier Year Range:	1914-1920
Enlistment Place:	Brisbane, Queensland
Service number:	7707
Next of Kin:	John Francis FlewellSmith
Relationship to Soldier:	Father

Bernard was recommended and award the Military Medal.

The Citation reads:

Is recommended for conspicuous gallantry and fine initiative in action near Hamel Wood East of

Corbie on 4th July 1918. His section Commander was wounded early in the engagement, and he at once assumed command of his section and led them with magnificent courage and skill. On reaching the objective via Platoon Commander and all NCO's of his platoon with the exception of his Platoon Sergeant were out of action, and Private Flewell-Smith took the initiative, rallied all the men in his vicinity, dispersed the enemy remaining in front, and consolidated the position. His great coolness and fine leadership were an inspiration to all about him, and undoubtedly he cleared up a very difficult situation.

British, American and Australian troops lunching in a wood near Corbie the day before the attack.

(wikipedia)

Bernard Flewell-Smith

Service Number: 7707
Rank: Private
Unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Army
Conflict / Operation: First World War, 1914-1918
Award: Military Medal
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 12 February 1919
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 270, position 113
Date of London Gazette: 21 October 1918
Location in London Gazette: Page 12421, position 69

*******************************************************************************

Marchant Park War Memorial Gates http://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au

Description

: Memorial gates erected after the First World War, listing those who enlisted and those who fell. A second list of enlistments is on the rear of the main posts. A smaller plaque commemorates five names from the South African War 1901 1902 but does not specify if enlistees or war dead.; The plaques were vandalized in 1972 and restored by the Chermside and Districts Historical Society Inc in August 2003. The research was done by Patrick, son of ANZAC Pte Walter Henry O Shea MM
Location
: Cnr Murphy Road and Gympie Road, Aspley Qld 4034
Inscription: Erected in honour of those who enlisted from Kedron Shire in the Great War 1914 1919
List of the Fallen on front of main left post. Those who enlisted are named on the other gateposts, front and rear.
Conflicts commemorated: South Africa War, 1899-1902
First World War, 1914-1918
Memorial type: Gate/Arch
Additional information
: Mason was A L Petrie & Son.
Recorded by
: Lesley McBurney/Dennis Stocks and Doug Tanner/Shirley and Trevor McIvor
Date recorded
: 23 April 2009

The is one special World War I Digger who lived his later years in Sandgate.

His name was Edward David Smout, more commonly known as Ted Smout. Most Bald Hills residents and many Bracken Ridge residents would know his son, Dr.Westall Smout, or have been a patient of his, as we were.

Edward David Smout was born in Brisbane S/N 12947 his NOK mother Emma Elizabeth Smout.

Ted was born in 1898 and was just 17 when he enlisted. He was the oldest survivor of World War I.

From Wikipedia

Sgt Edward David "Ted" Smout OAM (5 January 1898 – 22 June 2004) was an Australian soldier in the First World War. He was Australia's 6th last surviving World War I veteran.

Smout served in the army as a stretcher bearer. He was notably one of the first on the scene upon the landing of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, after he had been shot down and was witness to his final words. He was also the last surviving witness of Richthofen's Death

Smout was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1898. He joined the Australian Army Medical Corps in September of 1915 at the age of 17, giving his age as 18 years 8 months. Upon arrival in France, he was posted to the 3rd Sanitary Section of the Australian Army Medical Corps where he served as a stretcher bearer.

During an engagement near the Somme River on 21 April 1918, Smout was an eyewitness to the final moments in the life and career of the famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (aka the "Red Baron"), whose aeroplane had landed nearby after he was fatally shot. Smout reported that Richthofen's last word was "kaputt" ("finished") just before he died.^[3] Smout said later in life that he resisted the temptation to souvenir the Red Baron's boots and Iron Cross. He was discharged on 8 September 1919.

He was awarded France's highest honour, being made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion d'Honneur in 1998 and also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community. A regular participant in Anzac Day marches, Smout became one of the most celebrated war veterans in Queensland as one of Australia’s last surviving WWI veteran. He died at 106 years old, leaving a widow of 69 years, Ella and son, Dr Westall "Westy" Smout, himself a WWII "Bomber Navigator" veteran.

He married in 1923, Ella Annie Grace Stevens