Remembering Some of Avoca's Fallen

 

The following thirty men from the Avoca district who served in WW1 are listed on the Avoca Soldiers’ Memorial as fallen: 

• Auld, Andrew 2121 RTA 18.1.19 Discharged 24.4.19 
• Beavis, James Sutherland (Jas Jun.) Lieut died of wounds, France 13/7/1918 
• Beer, Charles 3029 killed in action, France, 27/3/1918 
• Brown, James Neil 4741 died of wounds, France 7/9/1917 
• Brown, John Alexander 1799 died, Belgium 8/6/1917 killed in action 
• Burns, William 3039 died, Belgium 26/9/1917 killed in action 26.9.17 
• Dobley (Doblie), Leslie 1809 / 2301 died Belgium 4/10/1917 killed in action 
• Driver, William Henry died Melbourne 14/8/1915 
• Evans, Gilbert George Henry 148 died of wounds30/7/1916 
• Fish, Walter 2227 killed in action Gallipoli 13/7/1915 
• Harrowfield, Norman Andrew 1740 died France 26 - 28/7/1916 killed in action 
• Henderson, John Hamilton died Cerebro Meningitis 8/10/1915 buried Avoca 
• Henry, Clifford Albert 22076 died of wounds16.12.17 
• Howell, Tom Pym 2126 killed in action France 16/4/1918 
• Kiehl, Anton 2020 killed in action Gallipoli 19/5/1915 
• Lambert, Shadrach 1537 Discharged Jan 1917 
• Lansdell, Francis Henry (Harry) 7516 killed in action France 15/4/1918 
• Livingstone, John (Jack) 2406A died of sickness France 21/10/1918 
• McArdle, John Eric Farquhar 2544 killed in action 26.9.17 
• McDowell, William Robert 3831 killed in action 26.9.17 
• Oppy, William Edward 1964 died 13/10/1917 killed in action 
• Rowland, Henry Herbert 1131 killed in action 8/5/1915 Gallipoli, Lone Pine 
• Rowland, Wesley Richard 1877 killed in action 21/7/1916 Pozieres
• Smith, Stanley William 3484 died of wounds9/8/1918 
• Summers, David L. (Dave) 635 killed in action 19/7/1916 
• Templeton, George Hugh 4597 died of wounds 26/9/1917 
• Turpin, Henry 6357 died of wounds 17/4/1917 
• Willmott, Charles Jonathon 401 killed in action 25/4/1915 
• Wrigley, Fred Rankin 3168 killed in action 24.4.18 
• Yates, Leslie Reginald (Les) 2198 or 1861 killed in action 26.7.1916

Though from the designated Memorial catchment area, the following seventeen men, killed in action or died of wounds or illness during or immediately after the war, are not listed on the Avoca Soldiers’ Memorial: 

• Barnes, George Herbert 
• Barnes, Henry William 
• Chapman, Jas Mayman 
• Cox, Graham Rodgers 
• Cox, Lyle Hampden 
• Croft, Charles William 
• Currie, Hubert Roulstone Clifford (Cliff R.) 
• Davenport, Harold A. 
• George, Herbert L. 
• Hartigan, Clarence Victor 
• Knuckey, Frederick William Laurence 
• Mitchell, William Dawson 
• Petherick, Ordmonde Leslie(Orme) 
• Sells, William John 
• Stewart, Alfred Eyvel 
• Tootell, Edward 
• Young, John Percival 

Each of these men has his story. Here is one: 

Henry William Barnes, AIF number 2790, was born in Avoca. 

In June 1915, 38 years old, married, and working as a mill hand, Barnes enlisted in Perth, Western Australia. 

His battalion, the 51st, arrived in France on 12 June 1916 and immediately moved into the trenches on the Western Front. Barnes was promoted to corporal on 5 August. 

In August and September the battalion fought in its first major engagement, at Mouquet Farm, suffering casualties equivalent to a third of its strength. 

On 14 August 1916, less than a fortnight after his promotion, Harry Barnes was killed in action. 

His wife completed the Roll of Honour circular, stating that he had been born in Avoca and had gone to school in Percydale. The circular asked if Henry Barnes was associated with any other member of the AIF. She said that Henry's brother [George Barnes] was also killed, on 28 August 1917.

CORP. H. W. BARNES. (1916, November 5). Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), p. 3 (First Section). Retrieved November 10, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58019438 

Henry Barnes is listed on both the Percydale State School Honor Board and the Moonambel School Roll of Honor. 

His name is not listed on the Avoca Soldiers’ Memorial.

Sources

National Archives of Australia

NAA: B2455, BARNES H W - Barnes Henry William : SERN 2790 : POB Avoca VIC : POE Perth WA : NOK W Barnes Frances; digitised record at Barcode 3050618

Australian War Memorial

• 51st Australian Infantry Battalion

• Roll of Honour circular Henry William Barnes

Barry Wilson

No title. (1914, October 14). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623934

Barwise Carr Wilson (1874 - 1943), a 40 year old widower with three children and one step child, enlisted at Avoca in October 1914.

Wilson was a coach painter by occupation and had only recently set up business in Avoca.

No title. (1914, June 17). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623918

On enlistment Barry Wilson arranged for his children be boarded with a Mrs Daly of Percydale.

National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office; B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920; Wilson Barwise Carr : SERN 606 : POB Talbot VIC : POE Avoca VIC : NOK N/A. Page 5.

Wilson sailed from Australia on HMAT A10 Karroo on 11 February 1915. He fought at Gallipoli,  most notably at the Battle of Hill 60 where his regiment, the 9th Light Horse, suffered many casualties.

Members of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment standing to in the trenches at Gallipoli. Australian War Memorial image id H02778 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H02778/

A group of 9th Australian Light Horsemen at the foot of Walker's Ridge. (Gallipoli). Australian War Memorial image id C04613 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C04613/

Rhododendron Ridge, Gallipoli. 1915. Members of the 9th Light Horse regiment sniping over the top of the trenches. Australian War Memorial image id P01531.005 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P01531.005/

Although he was not wounded in the Battle of Hill 60, Wilson became ill soon afterwards and after several admissions to hospital was eventually repatriated to Australia on 12 November 1917 and was discharged as medically unfit in January 1918.

NAA:B2455, Wilson B C. Page 18.

NAA:B2455, Wilson B C. Page 19.

In 1916 Wilson wrote to Mrs Daly. His letter probably refers to the Battle of Romani fought 4 to 5 August 1916.

For the Empire. (1916, September 27). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151684914

Masaid, Sinai. c. 1916. The Headquarters of the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade and the camp site of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment at a post near El Arish. Australian War Memorial image id H13715 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H13715/

Wilson had been born in Talbot,  25 kilometers east of Avoca.  He was a member of the Australian Natives' Association, a mutual society for men born in the Australian colonies. He received a parcel of tobacco and cigarettes from the Avoca ANA Lodge.

No title. (1917, October 10). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151686116

Trooper Wilson was welcomed home to Avoca in December 1917.

WELCOME HOME TO TROOPER B. C. WILSON. (1917, December 28). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1915 -1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152147949