North Ryde's Taylor brothers, Ernest & Charles feature in our 4th weekly story.

The Northern District Times continues to publish our stories in a series which commenced earlier this month. They are a brief outline of some of our 'Ryde Goes to War project' research on World War One service from the Ryde District.

Week 4 : 22 Oct 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 38  is the story of brothers, Ernest John Taylor, Service No. 126, and Charles Samuel Taylor, Service No. 125, of North Ryde.

Two sons of John and Mary Taylor of Badajoz Rd, North Ryde, they served together with the 9th Machine Gun Company.
Ernest John Taylor enlisted with his brother Charles Samuel Taylor in March, 1916. It was during the battle at Houplines Sector, Armentieres, Ernest was hit by a shell and killed in February 1917.

Brickmaker enlists and pays the ultimate price during raid
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

More reports of the return of the Dead Man's Penny to the Uther family.

Ryde's local weekly newspapers have included the wonderful story of the return of the Dead Man's Penny to the Uther family this week's editions.
For the full stories, try the links below.

The Weekly Times, 22 October 2014, p.3

 ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ found in Denistone backyard

The Northern District Times, 22October, 2014, p.5

Dead man’s penny a priceless tribute

Frank Uther's Memorial Plaque, with poppies for remembrance,
knitted by Ryde District Historical Society members.
Photo : M. Farlow

Second Dead Man's Penny returned to family members! This one was found buried in a local garden.

The Ryde District Historical Society was absolutely delighted to be involved in the returning of a second Dead Man’s Penny to the descendants of the family it was originally issued to.

Recently, we were contacted by a local Denistone resident who had found the ‘penny’ about ½ metre below the ground when digging in his garden. He in turn contacted us at the Ryde District Historical Society hoping that the family could be traced and the ‘penny’  a memorial plaque or commemorative medallion, as they were officially known, be returned to them.

Frank Uther's Memorial Plaque, showing scratches incurred when dug up in a Denistone backyard.

The name on the penny was Frank Uther. Unfortunately for us, Frank was not on our list of Ryde service people, but with only one man named Frank Uther serving in World War One AIF, the Society members and especially Kim, with her extensive experience and resources was not only able to identify him, but make contact with his family. This was made possible by using the public family trees on Ancestry.com. All those people who had included Frank Uther in their trees were contacted and his closest family was found.

The ‘penny’ was returned to Frank Uther’s second cousin, Erica, the only one still surviving of 77 cousins.

Kim, Erica holding Frank's penny and Ben from Ancestry.com

The practice of burying a Dead Man’s Penny, as they were commonly known, is not unheard of but how it ended up in the back yard of a Denistone home is still a bit of a puzzle.

The story of the penny's return was featured on Sydney’s Channel 9, 6pm news on Friday 17 October 2014, and will also be used by Ancestry.com.

Last year the Society and Ryde Library Services were able to reunite the penny for Oscar Henry Nelson, found in a Northern NSW garage sale, with descendants of his family – (see earlier blog stories for details).

 

Young father of two from Gladesville, NSW, ALBERT BESANVALLE is another Ryde boy lost in the trenches at Lone Pine.

The Northern District Times continues to publish our stories  in a series which commenced earlier this month. They are a brief outline of some of our 'Ryde Goes to War project' research on World War One service from the Ryde District.

Week 3 : 15 Oct 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 22  is the story of ALBERT BESANVALLE, Service No: 1716.

Albert joined the 4th Battalion, he went missing during the battle for Lone Pine. His widow and two sons received wonderful support from the community with the Gladesville Voluntary Workers Association building them a house.

A postcard from Lone Pine, then ‘missing’
 [if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

WALTER HENRY SCOTT, Service No: 564 our 2nd week story in the Northern District TImes

The Northern District Times continues our stories which commenced earlier this month. They are a brief outline of some of our research of World War One service from the Ryde District.

Week 2 : 8 Oct 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 26  is the story of WALTER HENRY SCOTT, Service No: 564.

Walter was an Eastwood boy who enlisted five days after war was declared He joined the 2nd Infantry Battalion and he spent his 21st Birthday at Gallipoli. He died from wounds during the battle for Lone Pine.

Sgt survived Gallipoli but fell at Lone Pine
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

 

Ryde goes to War stories start in our local newspaper!

On  Wednesday 1st October 2014, The Northern District Times began a special weekly column  featuring some of our research, in preparation for our Society's publication next year.

The Ryde goes to War project is researching  the stories of those who lived in or had a connection to the Ryde District of NSW, up to or during World War One [see earlier posts for details].

We are continuing sorting up to 2000 names from across all our district war memorials and similar sources and to sort out any duplications etc, so that we can honour them with their full names and service numbers. With the help of Society members, descendants and family & friends, we are also putting together the details of their service and their connections to the Ryde district.

We are planning to publish some of this research in book a format in 2015 (to date --the exact names of all to be  included and format of publication, are  still being confirmed).

The Northern District Times stories that commenced this month are a brief outline of some of our completed work.

Week 1 : 1 Oct 2014 - The Northern District Times page 17  is the story of  Reginald James Fitzroy, Service No: 1880, Aged 20 when he enlisted; he served in the 19th, 18th and finally 17th Battalions. He was awarded a Military Cross.

Beaurevoir bravery earned Military Cross

[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]