Monday, April 25, 2016

BHBR 21.7 Early residents Elwin Shaw and his son Edwin Shaw.

As well as the farming community many of the Early Settlers of the area included people who served the community in business and who became important civic leaders of Brisbane.

One of those was Elwin John Shaw

Elwin John Shaw


A rather well known resident of the area was Mr Elwin John Shaw.  He lived at Slaughter Street Sandgate.   But where was Slaughter Street?  Certainly not in the position that it is now, in recognition of Charles Slaughter, but this Slaughter Street was near the Esplanade.

There is however a lot of interesting information about Mr Elwin J. Shaw.


Edwin was the son of James Shaw and his wife Eliza Harriet Hey.  He was born in Scotland, and travelled to Australia on the "Famenoth" arriving in 1876.  He married Paulina Ball, in 1878.  Some time later he returned to Scotland.

He died in 1935, but for the years in between he devoted himself to Public duty in Brisbane.  He became the Town Clerk of Brisbane,




Name:
Edwin John Shaw
Spouse Name:
Marriage Date:
04 May 1878
Marriage Place:
Queensland
Registration Place:
Queensland
Registration Year:
1878
Registration Number:
B006052
Page Number:
13458


Name:
Edwin J Shaw
Age:
21
Birth Year:
abt 1855
Ship Name:
Famenoth
Port of Departure:
Greenock, Scotland
Port of Arrival:
Brisbane
Arrival Date:
4 Nov 1876



Name:
Edwin John Shaw
[User-submitted-comment
Death Date:
30 Oct 1935
Death Place:
Queensland
Father's name:
James
Mother's name:
Eliza Harriet Hey
Registration Year:
1935
Registration Place:
Queensland
Registration Number:
B029??
Page Number:
1703




In 1885 he had some personal items stolen, and in 1889 he is writing to the Sandgate Council regarding the state of Slaughter Street.  Also writing is Mr Hutchinson, who is complaining about the state of Barrett Street.



  




 The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Monday 24 November 1902 House to rent




From the Brisbane City Council:

Edwin Shaw was Town Clerk of the original Brisbane City Council prior to amalgamation in 1921- 1925. Prior to that he was Assistant Town Clerk. 



     




 



(The Virtue family also lived at Bracken Ridge later selling and living on the Esplanade)

He was present at the unveiling of the Anzac Square Memorial, as the following excerpts tell.

UNDYING GRATITUDE.

Canon Garland, a joint secretary of the Anzac Memorial Committee, said that the movement to erect a memorial really was founded by Mr. J.F. Maxwell, M.L.A. [ James Francis Maxwell, State Member for Toowong ], who, when Mayor of Brisbane, moved that £1,000 be granted to a fund.
Another name which should never be forgotten was that of the late Alderman H.J. Diddams, C.M.A. [ Harry John Charles Diddams ], who In association with Mr. Edwin J. Shaw [ Edwin John Shaw ], then Town Clerk, had taken the matter up with all his heart and soul.
The Anzac Memorial Committee had done much in furthering the object, and he hoped that the day’s ceremony would have the effect of bringing in further donations.
It was not a monument to the soldiers only, but to all men and women who had suffered through the war. It was a monument to the fathers, the mothers, sisters and wives who, by their sacrifice, had earned the undying gratitude of the people.
It was a monument also to such organisations as the Red Cross Society, which had helped and comforted those who were fighting at the front.
The monument was not in glorification of war – there were too many horrors to recall – but it was due to all who served in the war that there should be recognition of their bravery and sacrifice.

UNVEILING OF TABLET.

 Anzac Square which has been the scene of much industry in recent weeks became the scene of more solemnity on Saturday [ 24 May 1930 ] when the Governor (Sir John Goodwin) [ Sir Thomas Herbert John Chapman Goodwin ] unveiled the inscription tablet on the national war memorial monument which is rapidly taking definite form. It was the first public function in connection with the memorial square and was a preliminary to the unveiling of the memorial itself.

ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL

 Thirteen hundred or more persons crowded into St. John’s Cathedral in the morning for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in commemoration of those who fell in the Great War.
Not only was every available seat in the sacred edifice occupied, but the aisles and doorways were thronged with worshippers.

Many people were unable to get into the building at all, so dense was the crush.
About 600 returned soldiers and sailors marched in procession from Albert Square to the cathedral, and they were allotted special seats in the centre of the building.
Many war nurses were also present.

Major-General Bruche [ Sir Julius Henry Bruche ] represented the Governor-General, and Brigadier-General L.C. Wilson [ Lachlan Chisholm Wilson ] the State Governor, whilst Lieutenant-Commander Mutton (District Naval officer) [ Edward Smith Mutton ], the Mayor (Ald. H.J. Diddams) [ Harry John Charles Diddams ], and the Town Clerk (Mr. E.J. Shaw) [ Edwin John Shaw ] were also present.

Archbishop Sharp conducted the service which was of a very impressive character.
Other clergy present were: Canon de Witt Batty [ Francis De Witt Batty ], Minor Canon Simmons [ Hugh Simmons ], Canon H. Gradwell [ Harry Gradwell ], Rev. A. Maxwell [ Alexander Maxwell ] and Rev. Harold Osborn, M.C. [ Arthur Harold Osborn ].
A special sermon was preached by the Rev. Cecil Edwards [ Cecil Howard Edwards ], a returned war chaplain.





Elwin and his wife Paulina, had a son Ernest John Shaw.  In 1902 he married Gertrude Hindmarsh.

They lived on a property known as "Fairmont", the address was Zillmere.

He was a member of the RNA, and in 1920 donated prizes.  His property was "Fairmont" Sandgate.
His father in law, was a grazier at Eidsvold.  

He was listed as a Grazier.  The home featured as the site for several weddings including the wedding of Miss Flewell-Smith to Lex Wilson in 1916.



HINDMARSH-ATHERTON-On January 23rd, 1917, at "Fairmont" Zillmere, by the Rev. S.
Bagley, H. N. Percy Hindmarsh, A. I.F., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hindmarsh,
of Rawbelle. Eidsvold, to Edith Henrietta, youngest daughter of Mr. J. T. Atherton, Miva.










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BHBR 21.6 Early Residents Isaac and Georgina Denning.

Another early settler was the Denning Family

Ann Amelia, eldest daughter of Jane and Isaac Adsett, married Henry Denning (from Monmouthshire, England) in 1877. The following passage is reproduced from The Adsett Families 1851-1981:

http://www.adsetthistory.com.au/ads5.htm


She married a coal miner, Henry Denning. The wedding ceremony was performed by a Wesleyan Methodist minister in the Goodna residence of her father, Isaac Adsett.

They then lived on a 100-acre property at Glamorganvale which had been selected by Henry in 1876. Fourteen acres were cultivated, seven acres were fenced and two acres were cleared and stumped. Beside the two-roomed house and barn, an underground tank of bricks was built. The homestead still stands, overlooking the township of Glamorganvale.

The property lay between Glamorganvale and Tarampa and the two centres are not more than a few miles apart. Aborigines were troublesome during the family's early years on the farm, and the house was secured each night. Firearms were held in readiness for self-protection. During his last years Isaac Adsett lived here with the Denning family, occupying a room under the residence.

On the Tarampa farm the Denning family milked twenty to thirty cows. Fodder, vegetables and grapes were grown. Each Friday a trip was made to Ipswich to sell butter and produce. Ann Denning was esteemed as a cook, and she had good skill in needlework. She made clothing for the family, and also accepted work from outside the family.

The family lived for many years at Tarampa before moving to Sandgate, probably in the early 1920s. In Sandgate Henry Denning worked in a sawmill. During this period the Smallwood family lived with them.

Ann Amelia Denning died in December 1924, in Sandgate. Henry Denning continued to live for a time in Sandgate. but later held a property at Roma. where he cultivated grapes. Later yet he held a property at Burpengary. His death took place at Booval in 1947. Descendants remember him as a deeply religious man. Henry and Ann Amelia Denning are buried at Bald Hills.

Four sons and three daughters were born to Ann Amelia and Henry Denning. The first two sons, William John (born 1878) and Charles (1880) died in early childhood.

The eldest daughter, Louisa Matilda, was born in 1886. She married Joseph Smallwood, and the couple had one son, Norman. Joseph Smallwood was a dairy farmer at Lake Clarendon, with a milk run in Ipswich. The family later shifted house into Lowood, and lived there until the middle 1920s. At this time a property of 53 acres at the back of Bundamba Racecourse was purchased, and the couple retired here.

James Herbert Denning (born 1888) was the first son to reach adult years. He married Elsie Walton, and the couple had a daughter, Nyria, and a son, Leslie. James Denning worked for the Hargreaves jam factory, in Manly. The family home was in Mountjoy Terrace.

Jane Elizabeth (born 1889), second daughter of Ann and Henry Denning, married Edward Francis Mensforth in 1921. They had two children, Edna and Edward. Edward Mensforth was a moulder, working for the railway workshops at Woodend.

Georgina Amelia, the third daughter, was born in 1892. She married Isaac Denning, a cousin, who worked a small crop farm at Manly. Their two children were Elspeth and Desmond. The family later lived at Brackenridge.

Francis Henry Denning, youngest of the family, was born in 1895. He married Irene Violet King. There were six children in the family, Sylvia, Stella, Douglas, Marjorie, Hazel, and Valma. Frank Denning was at first a dairy farmer at Kadanga, near Gympie. In the 1930s he held a property in the Murgon area, and later he worked a dairy farm in Manly Road, growing small crops.














STEALING WATERMELONS.
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) Tuesday 7 January 1919 p 2 Article












... Mnmlirntn cfnion water melons, the property of Isaac Charles Denning. Sergeant Ryan,














WATERMELONS STOLEN. A PRESENTATION TO THE COURT. 
The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926) Wednesday 8 January 1919 p 9 Article












... brought beforo Mr. W. Hnrrm, P.M., in for sent once. Tho melons had been iakeu from the garden of Isaac ... Charles Denning, near the Deagon racecourse, Sand-galo. Sergeant Ryan said thnt accused had admitted that 






According to the census records Georgina and Isaac Denning lived in Quinlan Street Deagon, Sandgate and were fruit farmers in the years 1917 to 1925




Ann Denning is buried at Bald Hills Cemetery.

1Ann AmeliaF6922 Nov 1855Brixton England6 Dec 1924Bald Hills Cemetery


http://gdavis.id.au/family/p00024.htm                               photographed by Greg DAVIS, 2000





BHBR 21.4 Early Residents - Charles Deagon Slaughter


Census records show that in 1921 there were 54 people recorded as living in Brackenridge.

 Many of those families were the sons and daughters of the original farmers.

The Slaughter family were no exception.

Mr Charles Slaughter, was living at his property called Wahroonga, Bracken Ridge in 1932 at the time of his Golden Wedding.



His son Charles Deagon Slaughter married  Ethel Perkins.  Ethel was born 30th September 1910 the daughter of George Herbert Perkins and his wife Sarah Ann Boe.


George Perkins was born 1890 the son of Alfred Perkins and Gertrude Maria Parry


1939 B34493Charles DeagonSlaughterEthel MayPerkins



Charles became a pineapple grower, just like his neighbours.  His property was on one of the highest blocks of land in the area.  Today his home still stands in Slaughter Street Bracken Ridge.

In 1936 Charles Deagon, was living at Inglenook, 6th Avenue Sandgate a Farmer


In 1943 Charles Deagon and Ethel May are living at Rivington, Barrett Street Brackenridge.  Fruitgrower

Vivian and Frank are living at Gladville Farm, listed at farmers and Herbert Stockwell is living at Deagon Street Sandgate as a farmer.

By 1936 there is another family of Slaughter who are poultry farmers at Handford Road. Zillmere



Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Wednesday 30 December 1937, 





















A beautiful lady, and the resemblance to her daughter Desley is uncanny.


Their grand-daughter Desley, was a very popular role model for the children of Bracken Ridge.


For years Desley taught ballet and modern dance.  She was a very patient and understanding teacher.



Thursday, April 21, 2016

A.4. Anzac Tribute Bald Hills Military Medals Smith and Williamson

Every April, Australians gather to remember the sacrifices made by brave men and women, who 100 years ago, put their hands up, undertook training, and then left on ships for foreign shores.

According to the Australian War Museum, 57,705 Queenslanders joined to fight during 1914 to 1918.  Many of them had associations with the Bald Hills District.  More than 60,000 Australians died, their names can be found on Memorials all over the country.

The members of the Bald Hills Sub-Branch of the RSL, dedicated a memorial board honouring  servicemen who served in both wars, and which hung in the Bald Hills Memorial Hall.

Amongst the names are two who won the Military Medal.  

Clarence Leslie Smith and Harry Williamson's medals were deservedly granted by their peers,  to be forever remembered by their family and their community.

Harry Williamson lived at Bald Hills and in 1913 was listed in the electoral roll as a labourer.  Harry was born in 1891, the son of William Williamson and Charlotte Godwin.  He enlisted in 1915, and was in the 25th Battalion then transferred to the 9th Battalion.  His Service Number was 2469.  He fought on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. 

He was promoted to Acting Corporal in 1918, and he was wounded.  He reverted to Lance Corporal when he was evacuated to England wounded.  Harry returned to Australia in 1919.

In 1903, William Henry Spence Williamson and Charlotte Williamson lived in Dixon Street Bald Hills, and he was a labourer.

Harry Williamson
Service Number: 2469A
Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: 9th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Army
Conflict / Operation: First World War, 1914-1918
Award: Military Medal
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 25 July 1918
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 1588, position 86
Date of London Gazette: 23 February 1918               Location in London Gazette: Page 2435, position 31




The Citation reads:

9th Infantry Battalion Private Harry Williamson
For conspicuous gallantry and courage during the operations from 1/5th November 1917 at Passchendale Ridge, East of Yprs.

Noticing movement in a shell hole from an apparently wounded man, Private Williamson went forwarded with the intention of rescuing him. On reaching the spot he found it was occupied by a party of the enemy; he engaged then single-handed armed only with a revolver and accounted for two of them.  He returned for bombs and again made his way forwarded and engaged the enemy post, causing many casualties.  After his supply of bombs was exhausted he returned t our limes safely though under heavy fire from enemy snipers.










Clarence Leslie Smith lived at Strathpine. 
He was the son of John Thomas Joseph Smith and his wife Eliza Amelia Hickman.   They married in 1886
John and Eliza had a large family:
Isabella Jane                        1887
George                                1888
George Alfred                      1891
Oscar Oliver                        1895
Clarence Leslie                    1898
Victor Donald                      1901
Hannah Isabel                      1904
Jack Allen                            1906

In the 1903 Electoral roll the family were living at Strathpine and listed as farmer.

Clarence (Clarry) enlisted when he was 18 years old.  His Service Number was 7051.

Clarence Leslie Smith
Service Number: 7051
Rank: Private
Roll title: 15 Infantry Battalion - 1 to 23 Reinforcements (December 1914 - November 1916)
Conflict / Operation: First World War, 1914-1918
Date of embarkation: 25 November 1916
Place of embarkation: Sydney
Ship embarked on: HMAT Beltana A72


He was awarded the Military Medal in 1919


 












Deservedly won, these Awards are not awarded lightly, to not recognise their contributions would be sacrilege.



The Citation reads:

41st Battalion A.I.F.  Private Clarence Leslie Smith 7051
For conspicuously good work as a stretcher-bearer during October operation.

He repeatedly went out to the most exposed positions under intense artillery and machine gun fire and attended to and brought in wounded to the R.A.F.

He has acted as a stretcher-bearer during the operation from March to October 1918, and has always carried out his duties without thought of personal safety.

On 12th August 1918, North of Proyart, this man was most assiduous in bringing in wounded during a daylight attack.

By his bravery and devotion to duty on this day, he was responsible for the saving of the livies of six men.










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Meanwhile in South Australia another family was seeing their sons and brothers off to serve for their country.

Those were the sons of Frederick Smith and Margaret Hume.  Frederick and Margaret lived in the country and had a large family.

Alfred Ernest                      born 1889   Norwood
Errol Victor                        born 1895   Clare
Florence Hume                    born 1886   Norwood
Herbert William                  born 1886   Norwood
Frederick Walter                 born 1887   Norwood
Clarence Leslie                   born 1893  Clare
Aubrey Lyall                      born 1897   Frome

Alfred Ernest Smith died at Yongala on 7th July 1892  and is buried at the Yongala cemetery

At the time of his enlistment in World War I Clarence Smith was married to Ada, and had a child.  He was aged 23.




SMITH FAMILY: Six brothers who were thought to have died in WWI

Published by News Corporation  24th April 2014  Ian McPhedran National Defence Writer   News Corp Australia

NINETY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Lottie Hooper went to her grave grieving for six brothers whom she believed had died in World War I.

The only daughter of a humble South Australian rural family even set a place at the dinner table for the missing boys for years afterwards.

For half-a-century her great grandson Chris Fox has paid homage to a stamp handed to him by Lottie when he was a boy. On the back are written the words, “I go out to return, Jack” — a final message from the front from her favourite brother whose nickname was Jack.

His uncle and Lottie’s grandson, Nick Hooper, has been the custodian of the family history and he holds a set of precious photographs of the brothers in their military uniforms as well as wartime letters written to Lottie.

Such is the fog of war and the secrets contained in families that two other branches of the Smith family have stepped forward to say that at least two of the brothers Lottie had presumed dead had in fact returned from war, but never made contact with their grieving sister.



                                                                                  WWI soldier. Alfred Ernest                                                                                                       Smith. Source: Supplied
WWI soldier ... Herbert William Smith. Source: Supplied    4633


Another relative, Marcia Nicholl, has researched the family history and she believes that none of the Smith brothers died in the war.
Her grandfather was Herbert William Smith who according to official records died in Adelaide in 1916.
The war history of the brothers is not clear, but Ms Nicholl said the official records clearly show where they died and where they are buried.
“It was a time when details were hidden and families had secrets,” she said.
“Lottie might have been trying to protect the family from some of those secrets.”
Military historian Professor Peter Stanley said research conducted by the Great War Forum supported claims that the brothers did not die.
“Family history is often murky, but in Australia we have more complete military records than any other nation,” he said.

WWI soldier ... Clarence Leslie Smith MM. Source: Supplied











WWI soldiers ... Herbert William Smith (seated) and Frederick Walter Smith. Source: Supplied
“While aspects of the Smith brothers’ post-war lives might be obscure, that’s the point — they did not die in the war.”
Mr Fox said he was told by Lottie that she had waved her brothers off to war and that they never came home.
“The photos and writings are from my great uncles during the war,” Chris Fox said.







WWI soldiers ... Clarence Leslie Smith (Military Medal) (seated) and Errol. Source: Supplied




“The stamp is our family’s most treasured possession and when given to me by Lottie it was done so with great significance to her.”

Lottie was so affected by her loss that she even banned her own son Ronald from serving in World War II.

Like an episode of the television genealogy program Who Do You Think You Are the story of the Smith brothers published by News Corp Australia on Anzac Day has unearthed a complex family story.

It has also revealed that at least two brothers who fought returned home.

Mr Fox said it made no sense why such loving boys, who wrote tender letters to their only sister, would cease contact after the war.

“They were clearly close as a family and to cut contact is illogical.”

Adding to the mystery is the family of South Australian liberal politician and former SAS officer Martin Hamilton-Smith whose grandfather Clarence was one of the brothers.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said there was always an understanding in the family that four of the Smith brothers had died in the great war.

Complex family ... The Smith brothers from South Australia with young Lottie Smith. Her brothers Herbert, Frederick and Alfred are pictured here. Source: Supplied


His uncle, also called Clarrie, remembers a man who returned from war terribly damaged by the wounds he sustained at Bullecourt. Clarence deserted the family and went “walkabout” for 10 years.
“There was never any talk about what happened to the other brothers,” he said.

“There must have been a family breakdown.”

Further deepening the mystery is the fact that two or three illegitimate Smith boys also turned up and one of them assumed the name of a dead brother.

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What would this story about these Smith boys have in connection with the Bald Hills Memorial Hall?

Clarence Leslie Smith born in South Australia, married to Ada, with small child was NOT awarded the Military Cross.

There is a clear case of mistaken identity.  News Corporation and the researchers, should have been able to distinguish between Clarence Leslie Smith, 7031, born in Strathpine, enlisted at age 18, 26th Battalion, and awarded the Military Cross

.And Clarence Leslie Smith, 6588, from South Australia, 10th Battalion enlisted at age 23.


They didn't
                              

 



Both men returned to Australia, both men then had the misfortune of regularly featuring in newspaper articles, in their respective States.



Clarence Leslie Smith SA and his wife divorced due to his being in a relationship with another woman.


Ada Olive Alfreda Smith, of Goodwood road, Colonel Light Gardens, against Clarence Leslie Smith, soldier, of Adelaide, on the ground of adultery with Hazel (or Pat) Barry, of Melbourne street, Lower North Adelaide.
Undefended Divorce Cases  Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thursday 23 December 1943 p 21 Article




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Clarence Leslie Smith Qld, married a lady, in good faith, and then she was arrested for marrying him bigamously.  He also divorced his wife. 

In 1936 he married Priscilla Blanche Melba Werda.