Monday 20 January 2020

Christmas Eve 1915 at Homebush Lower

On 1 January 1916 the Avoca Free Press reported that a Christmas Eve farewell had been held at Lower Homebush for Private George Templeton, on leave before sailing for the front.

The occasion was also a welcome home for Private Fred James, who had recently returned wounded.

Private Wes Rowland was also present. He was due to sail shortly.

Two of these three men, George and Wes, were killed. Only Fred survived the War, invalided out.
HOMEBUSH LOWER. (1916, January 1). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151688697

George Hugh Templeton was born in 1893 at Homebush Victoria to George Templeton, a miner, and his wife Annie. The younger George enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 August 1915, a labourer, unmarried, aged 22 1/2.


Two years later, on 26 September 1917 at the age of 25, he died in Belgium at the 17th Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action at the Battle of Polygon Wood near Ypres. He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.



Photograph of George Templeton retrieved from http://www.lijssenthoek.be/en/address/6797/-george-hugh-templeton.html 

I am afraid I know very little about Fred James. He was called Texas, apparently. I don't know what that implies, if anything.


Wesley Richards 'Wes' Rowland was born in 1892 at Homebush Lower. He enlisted as Wesley Richard Rowlands at Bendigo on 9 August 1915, 23 years old, unmarried, a labourer.


Wes Rowland was killed in action between 19 and 20 July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles, one of the 544 casualties of the 31st Australian Infantry Battalion.

Avoca newspapers and his family wrongly reported that he had been killed at Pozieres, eighty kilometres away, on 21 July 1916. A court of enquiry in August 1917 found that he had been killed in action at Fromelles


Wes Rowland's service personnel dossier states he is buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, a few kilometres from the village of Fromelles. He is memorialised at V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.

On the Avoca Soldiers Memorial and on the Honor Board of the Avoca Methodist Church Wes and his brother, Henry Herbert killed 1915, are listed among the fallen.

Family of John and Jane Rowland nee Lardner with seven of their nine children about 1910. The photo possibly includes the two sons who died in World War 1: Henry Herbert Rowlands (1888 - 1915) and Wesley Richard Rowlands (1892 - 1916) . But which of the three sons in the back row is photographed is not clear: it could be any of Henry, Wes, Albert born 1885, or Leopold born 1890. Photo thanks to Neville Rowland and the Avoca and District Historical Society.




 References




  • HOMEBUSH LOWER. (1916, January 1). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151688697
  • National Archives of Australia: B2455  TEMPLETON George Hugh : Service Number - 4597 : Place of Birth - Homebush VIC : Place of Enlistment - Melbourne VIC : Next of Kin - (Father) TEMPLETON George
  • Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour for George Hugh Templeton including link to Roll of Honour Circular completed by his mother
  • HOMEBUSH LOWER. (1915, October 30). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151685532
  • National Archives of Australia: B2455 ROWLANDS Wesley Richard : Service Number - 1877 3941 : Place of Birth - Maryborough VIC : Place of Enlistment - Broadmeadows VIC : Next of Kin - (Father) ROWLANDS John
  • TO THE MEMORY OF AUSTRALIAN HEROES. (1917, November 9). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152147905
  • Australian Heroes Honored. (1918, April 17). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151681674 ; UNVEILING OF HONOR BOARD. (1918, April 19). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152145390
  • Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour for Wesley Richard Rowlands including link to Roll of Honour Circular completed by his mother