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]

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;

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]

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]

Gilbert Walters, a Bristiol born, railway porter from Meadowbank, NSW, who recieved the Military Medal, features in this week's Northern District Times article.

This week The Northern District Times continues to publish a brief outline of one of the stories of the men and women who served in the Great War from the Ryde District, This series commenced weekly in October 2014 and the stories have been researched for the 'Ryde Goes to War project'  by members of the Ryde District Historical Society and descendant families.

Week 6 : 5 November 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 26  is the story of young immigrant, Gilbert Walters. He had been in Australia for less than two years when he enlisted in the AIF and served gallantly in France with the 35th Battalion.

Wounded but kept on bringing in people
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

The story of Private John Robertson Forrest, who was lost in the battle of Fromelles is in this week's Northern Distict Times.

The remains of Private John Robertson Forrest, of 54th Battalion AIF were identified among the further nine Australians found at Fomelles and reinterred in July 2012. His story was also in earlier part of this blog in August 2012.

The Northern District Times continues to publish our stories in a series which commenced in October 2014. 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 5 : 29 Oct 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 21  is the story of  Jack Forrest's life.  Born in Scotland the 20 year old had settled into life in our Ryde district prior to his enlistment in the AIF.  

Headstone comes as further sign of respect.
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]

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]

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]