The New South Wales Parliament also hears of the 'Ryde goes to war' book launch and project

In his opening address of a Private Members Statement to the Legislative Assembly of the New South Wales Parliament, on 4 June 2015, the Member for Ryde, Mr Victor Dominello's  quoted :

 "Even though I didn't know any of the 2,000 men and women of Ryde that served in World War I, I feel a certain attachment as they lived in my street, or around the corner or up the hill".

Those are the words come from the Foreword written by Bernard Cox, Ryde District RSL Sub-Branch President, as published in the Ryde District Historical Society's publication Ryde Goes to War.

 Mr Dominello goes on to say :... It is a quote that powerfully vocalises the sacrifices of our diggers.

The quote from our Ryde goes to War book was mentioned as part of his RYDE ELECTORATE ANZAC EVENTS speech.

The Australian Parliament is told of our "Ryde goes to war" Project and Book Launch!

The Ryde District Historical Society was thrilled to learn that our local Member for Bennelong, Mr John Alexander, OAM had issued a Media Release of his speech to the Australian Parliament on 29 May 2015.


For a link to his speech :  Ryde District Historical Society and ‘Ryde Goes to War’

Book Launch reported in local paper The Weekly Times

This week's local newspaper, THE WEEKLY TIMES  included wonderful coverage of our recent book launch

Report of book launch  as reported in The Weekly Times, 19 May 2015, p.8.

RYDE GOES TO WAR book launched

The Ryde District Historical Society is pleased to announce that their latest publication, Ryde Goes to War 1914-1918, was launched by the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Member for Ryde, at Willandra on Saturday 16 May.

Copies of the book are now available for purchase at $30 (AUD) plus postage $15 (for up to 2 copies within Australia; please enquire by email to rdhs1@bigpond.com for postage to any other locations).

An order form is on the left column of the blog. The contents list is also available to preview, in the left hand column.

The Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Member for Ryde, 

at Willandra on Saturday 16 May.

Mr John Alexander, OAM,  MP Federal Member for Bennelong , also addressed the gathering

Descendants, families and friends joined Society members for the occasion.

Nellie Hill, a Ryde nurse who was awarded Royal Red Cross 1st Class

Week 23 : 18 March 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 23 - told the story of  Sister Nellie Hill.

Nellie Frances Hill was born in Hay, NSW in 1883. The sixth of the nine children of Henry & Catherine Hill. The family moved to Denistone House, Eastwood (now part of Ryde Hospital) in the early 1900s, where her father Henry died in 1912. By the time Nellie enlisted in 1914 her mother had moved to Epping.

Nellie embarked as a Staff Nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service on board Transport A55 Kyarra on 8 November 1914. Two other local nurses Gwladys Llewellyn and Emily Broughton
Gwynne  were on the same voyage.

Nellie was promoted to Sister in December 1915. She undertook extensive service in the field as a theater sister in casualty clearing stations and hospitals on the Western Front.

She was awarded Royal Red Cross 1st Class for valuable service in France and Flanders

Her younger brother Richard William Hill (SERN 27347) enlisted in 1916 and served on the Western Front.

Sister evacuated for safety and a wedding
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Link to : Australian Nurses in World War I database:

Sailor Tom Gascoigne had joined the Navy in 1912.

Ton Gascoigne was the son of the pioneering family who had a large family estate at Putney on the Parramatta River. Joining the Navy in 1912 as Ordinary Seaman, he served on the HMAS Cerberus until he was assigned to the HMAS Sydney  in June 1913. He was part of the Australian mission to destroy the radio station Rabaul at the beginning of the war. Promoted to a Able Seaman in October 1914, he was serving as a gunner in the victorious battle with the German light cruiser Emden when he lost a eye. It also ended his navel career but not his sense of humour which show through in this letter to family from Colombo Hospital.

A brief outline of his story was published in the weekly Ryde Remembers column.
Week 22 :  11 March 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 16 - the story of Thomas Gascoigne

Sailor Tom lost an eye in victory over Emden
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Gladesville carpenter, Wallace Park was "a good and noble son".

Week 21 :  4 March 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 21 - the story of  Private WALLACE PARK, Service No. 2253.

Wallace was the son of well-known stonemason and builder James Park, He attended both Gladesville and North Ryde Public Schools before training as a carpenter under J.J. Dakin.

 In June 1915 he enlisted and arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 6 August with the 6th Reinforcements of the 2nd Battalion. Two days later his status was listed as wounded in action during the Battle for Lone Pine. A Red Cross enquiry later updated his status to Killed in Action on August 8 1915.

His family's great sadness was turned into many memorials, the most well known being the Wallace Park Memorial Classroom at the Presbyterian Church of St Andrew in Gladesville, which was donated an built by his father and opened by his mother in May 1917.

Parks named after a Digger named Park
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Private Charles Norman Kenny of Ryde died on the Western Front in May 1917

Week 20 :  25 February 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 20 - the story of  Private Charles Norman Kenny, Service No. 4729.

Charles, a 24 year old clerk was the son of Charles and Ellen Kenny of Goodwin Street, Ryde. He enlisted in January 1916 and joined the 12th reinforcements of the 19th Battalion, He saw major battles in Ypres, Belgium, the Somme and the Second Battle of Bullecourt in France, before he received a fatal penetrating gun shot wound to the chest on the 3 May 1917.

 He was buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, France. His death was reported locally in the Cumberland Argus newspaper on May 26 1917.

Private Kenny's year of living dangerously
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Sydney University Professor James Pollock of Ryde, served to share his Physics expertise.

Week 19 :  18 February 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 19 - told the story of  Irish born, Sydney University Professor James Pollock, who had joined the AIF as a Captain in January 1916.
His expertise in physics saw him involved in many engineering schemes involving tunnelling and exploding mines both in the classroom and at the front line. He was later promoted to Major.

At the time Pollock was owner of the historic house The Hermitage, which had been built by John Blaxland (son of Blue Mountains explorer, Gregory Blaxland) in the 1840s.

Boffin played part in digging under Hill 60
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Poppies and ANZAC events in Ryde April 2015

Knitted poppies have been popping up across the country this year and Ryde is no exception with the City of Ryde's Ryde Remembers 2000 poppy project. More information on Council website here

Details of  Commemorate services to be held across the district can be found here 
including the City of Ryde Anzac Service, Friday 24 April 2015, 9.30-10.15am service,
Location: Ryde Cenotaph, Ryde Park, Blaxland Road, Ryde.
For more information, contact the City of Ryde Events Team  on link above.

We have also been asked to share the details of the Ryde Hospital ANZAC service.
The service will be held at 10am on April 24. It will be conducted at the Flag Pole next to Denistone House, Ryde Hospital, Denistone Road, Eastwood. Following the service will be a short presentation about the history of medical and nursing care at Ryde Hospital.
Denistone House will be open as a museum on April 24 and 27 from 10am - 2pm, the public are welcome to attend during these hours and enjoy a cup of tea and ANZAC biscuit.

Last Sunday was the final Poppy making day at Ryde Library and it was wonderful to see so much interest form all ages across the district and to know that more than the original anticipated 2000 poppies have been completed. In the past week the poppies have made a home on the large letters R Y D E at different library branches. Next week they should come back to the main Library at Ryde and also be at the City of Ryde Anzac Service on Friday 24 April 2015.

Ryde's 2000 Poppies letter Y on display at Ryde Library, Sunday 12 April 2015.

Emmeline and Elizabeth Murrell, the Ryde sisters who both joined the Australian Army Nursing Service

Week 18 :  11 February 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 17 - tells of Emmeline and Elizabeth Murrell, who both joined the Australian Army Nursing Service and continues from the previous week's article on their brother Henry George Murrell.

The large Murrell family lived in a house named Wonga on Victoria Road, Gladesville. Emmeline was 31 when she joined as a Staff Nurse in 1916. Elizabeth had nursed at Ryde's Home for the Incurables [later to become the Royal Rehab Centre, Sydney] and had been appointed Matron of Denistone House at Eastwood in May 1916 before she also enlisted in June 1917.

By the end of the war both had served until they were suffering from debilitating illnesses. For a glimpse of their story read :
Nursing sisters served until they also fell ill
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

* as the newspaper link doesn't appear to open the complete article  it will be added here;

April 2015 Update

My apologies for the lack of Blogging in the last 5-6 weeks [I was away] and missed updating the link to the weekly Norther District Times stories, so they will be posted to catch you up over the next few days.

As for the Project it self we haven't stopped in in fact we have been very busy finalizing the format and checking our Ryde Goes to War 1914-1918 book which is now at the printers and will be launched in May 2015. More details to follow very soon...

Military Medal awarded to Ryde's Henry George Murrell - the 17th weekly story

From  October 2014, The Northern District Times began publishing short weekly stories from our project's research into World War One service with connections to the Ryde District. This week hear of  Henry George Murrell, a Gladesville Veterinary Surgeon  at the time of his enlistment in the AIF in 1916,

Private Murrell embarked with Reinforcements to serve with the 17th Battalion in arriving in France in May 1917. A year later his compassion and daring almost got him killed. For his actions he was awarded the Military Medal.

His citation for the Military Medal reads:
'On morning 14th May, 1918 during German attack on our lines near MORLANCOURT, south of Albert was a stretcher bearer. Regardless of danger, he carried wounded to safety under heavy barrage and Machine Gun fire. This man volunteered to go to a post of Germans who had dug themselves in, in an isolated position, with an enemy prisoner who was wounded and said he could persuade his comrades to surrender. When Private MURRELL and his prisoner got near the trench they tried to capture him, but crying out to one Lewis Gunner who was handy, he bolted under covering fire of Lewis Gun. MURRELL's work and energy throughout the whole proceedings was a fine exhibition of bravery and resolution, regardless of self.'

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15

Date: 4 February 1919

Henry George Murrell was the youngest of 11 children born to Charles and Mary Anne Murrell..

The family lived on Victoria Road, Gladesville, Two of his sisters also served with the Australian

Army Nursing Service, Emmeline Anne MURRELL and Elizabeth Ellen MURRELL and a brother-in-law, Private John McFarlane, SERN 4584 was killed in action at Pozieres in January 1918.

Week 17 :  6 February 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 19 - the story of  Private HENRY GEORGE MURRELL, Service No. 6341.

Heroic attempt to return wounded enemy soldier

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

Arthur Dean one of three brothers who served in WWI from North Ryde's Dean family - 16th weekly story.

From  October 2014, The Northern District Times began publishing short weekly stories from our project's research into World War One service with connections to the Ryde District.

Our 16th story tells of the Dean family of Coxs Road North Ryde and the youngest, ARTHUR STUART DEAN who was aged 22 when killed on 7 August 1915 at Pope's Hill, above Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.   He had been a member of the Parramatta Lancers and was one of the first to enlist in August 1914, joining the B Squadron of the 1st Light Horse Regiment.

Arthur was the youngest of nine children born to Arthur and Lillian Dean. Two brothers also served in the AIF. LESLIE THOMAS DEAN, SERN 3772, enlisted in November 1916 and served with the 35th Reinforcements of the 1st Light Horse Regiment. While HARRY POWELL DEAN, SERN 50620, was working as a wool classer in Queensland when he joined the November 1917 Queensland Reinforcements.

Week 16 :  28 January 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 21 - the story of Trooper ARTHUR DEAN, Service No. 296.

Tragedy followed an upbeat letter to home
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Ryde Nurse Marion Hall -- the 15th weekly story

In October 2014, The Northern District Times began publishing short weekly stories from the project's research of World War One service from the Ryde District.

Our 15th story tells of nurse, Marion Hall. Born in Ryde and aged 25 when she enlisted in July 1915, Marion spent the war years caring for the sick, injured and infectious soldiers. In Septemebr 1917 She was promoted to Sister, and returned home as Matron of the British India Hospital Ship, Varsova.

Week 15 :  21 January 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 29 - the story of MARION HALL

Nurse dedicated years to caring for soldiers
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Lieutenant William O'Toole recommended for Millitary Cross - Week 14

As the the 2015 Centenary of the Anzac landing draws closer The Northern District Times continues to publish our stories of World War One service from the Ryde District.

This story tells of William Charles O'Toole who was awarded a Military Cross in December 1918. O'Toole had enlisted in January 1916 and joined the 6th Reinforcements of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. He had eight years experience as a member of the Lands Department Rifle Club and was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. Early in in 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Week 14 :  14 January 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 19 - the story of Lieutenant WILLIAM CHARLES O'TOOLE,

Medal for clearing vital road despite heavy fire
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Ryde's Australian Chinese lad who died during WWI - the 13th weekly tale

As the the 2015 Centenary of the Anzac landing draws closer The Northern District Times continues to publish our stories of World War One service from the Ryde District.

This story tells of the loss of Arthur Ernest Tipp. He was the only son of Australian Chinese parents,William and Alice Tipp. Arthur was born and lived in Ryde, NSW, but both his parents were born in Victoria and both descend from Chinese families who arrived at the time of the Victorian gold rushes. One grandfather was prominent Melbourne merchant, Lowe Meng Kong.

Arthur had embarked for the Western Front with the 13th Reinforcements of the 20th Battalion. in 1916. He was killed in action during October 1917 near Ypres, at Poelcapelle, Belgium.

For may years after his death his grieving parents annually placed 'In Memorium'  notices in the Sydney Morning Herald for their son and others from his battalion, and also for his best comrade Frank (Paddy) Hicks, who was also killed in May 1917.

Week 13 :  7 January 2015 - The Northern District Times, page 17 - the story of ARTHUR TIPP, Service No: 5099.

Chinese Australian dies for his country
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

A Royal visit to Ryde's Private Smith while in English war hospital - our 12th weekly story.

In December 2014 The Northern District Times continued to publish our stories. They are a brief outline of some of our research of World War One service from the Ryde District.

Published from October 2014 , the stories are a glimpse at some of the information found by the Ryde goes to War Project. Our 12th  story tells of Ryde newsagent, Henry Edward Smith, who was surprised by a bedside visit from King George and Queen Mary while receiving treatment for his war wounds in a English hospital.

Harry had embarked with the 4th Battalion, 25th Reinforcements, but later served with the 45th Battalion.

Week 12 :  17 December 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 21 - the story of HENRY EDWARD SMITH, Service No: 7535.

Royal best wishes for Ryde's Private Smith

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

Bert Best returned home, his right arm amputated but later died in 1928 - our 11th story

In December 2014 The Northern District Times continued to publish our stories. They are a brief outline of some of our research of World War One service from the Ryde District.

A weekly story has been published from October 2014. This one, the 11th is about Robert Best, who was born to William and Edith Best in Ryde in 1896. The family lived in Riverside Avenue, Ryde and Bert (as he was known) made his living as a carter. He enlisted in in January 1916 and joined the 12th Reinforcements of the 19th Battalion.

The poor conditions on the Western Front caused Bert to be hospitalised in England with severe trench foot, where he recuperated with the 61st Battalion in Wareham, England before returning to the 19th Battalion on the front in Belgium in October 1917.

Best was severely wounded  in France during September 1918 and evacuated to the Bath War Hospital, where his right arm was amputated. He returned to Australia in January 1919 and was said to become an expert in managing with one arm.

Week 11 :  10 December 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 20  is the story of ROBERT ARTHUR BEST, Service No: 4666.

Sickness back home claims young Bert, who gave an arm

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

 

Our 10th weekly story tells of George Rottenbury of Ryde.

George Rottenbury had been born in Ryde in 1892. He lived with parents William & Mary in Potts St, Ryde. George was single when he enlisted at Ryde Town Hall in May 1916. He left for the Front with 16th Reinforcements of the 19th Battalion.

In the following April, he was injured with a severe gunshot wound to his chest. After treatment at 13th General Hospital, Boulogne, he was transferred to Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham. five months later he was well enough to travel home. George later  married and had a son and settled in Gladesville after the war, where he was a member of the Gladesville RSL Sub-Branch and the Permanently Disabled Soldiers Association.

Week 10 : 3 December 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 15

[ current working on getting this link to work ]

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

Week 9 : Brothers - Robert John Frew ( No. 2155) and William Chrales Frew ( No. 50316) from Ryde.

The 9th weekly Ryde Remembers story was published on 26 November 2014 in The Northern District Times. It is the story of  brothers, Robert and William Frew.

Robert and William were from the Helesburgh area on the south coast of NSW where they were coal miners. Their parent had moved to Meadow Crescent in Ryde (now in Meadowbank) sometime before the start of the war. Robert enlisted in May 1915, and by early August he was on the Gallipoli Peninsula as part of the 13th Battalion. Robert was reported wounded in action in the vicinity of Hill 60 on 23 August 1915. This was later changed to missing, and then killed in action.

Robert's mother Margaret Frew, reportedly found it difficult to accept the death of her son and was said to meet every returning ship for years in the hope that her son would be there.

Younger brother, William, received his parent permission to enlist in February 1918 and served with the 12th Light horse in Egypt.

The Week 9 :  26 November 2014 in The Northern District Times, page 26.
Grieving mother scoured each ship for news of missing son
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Our 8th story, Fredrick Gideon England, No.4107.

The 8th weekly Ryde Remembers story was published on 19 November 2014 in The Northern District Times. It is the story of  North Ryde lad, Fredrick Gideon England, who enlisted at age 18 in October 1915.

Fredrick lived with his family in Waterloo Road, North Ryde where they had a poultry farm and orchards. Today it is no longer a rural area on the north-west of Sydney, but part of the busy Macquarie Park suburb.

Fredrick embarked with the 10th reinforcements of the 20th Infantry Battalion,. While fighting on the Somme at Pozieres he was injured with gunshot wound to his back and fractured. vertebrae. He was transported to the 3rd London Hospital in England, in a serious condition but didn't survive. He is buried in the Australian Section of Wandsworth Cemetery, London.

The Week 8 :  19 November 2014 in The Northern District Times, page 29.
Digger's story leads to Pozieres heroism.
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

Welcome to 2015

Welcome back to 2015  - our project is in full swing with our team busy checking and editing stories for our centenary of WWI publication, [due out in the middle of the year] -- more details to follow in the coming months.
In the meantime my apologies for being so quiet on the blog. I visited family interstate before Christmas and didn't get around to updating the weekly stories published in our local paper the Northern District Times - so in the next few days I will be catching up the stories published through December 2014 to bring you up to date.