John (Jack) McKenzie, of Bostocks Creek in Victoria’s Western District, poses for a photo with mates at Christmas time, 1915. Jack enlisted for active service at his hometown of Cobden. He went on to serve with the 46th Battalion for two years in France, where he was awarded the Military Medal. He survived the war, […]

Kevin Laws shares the story of his father, Albert Laws. My father, Private Albert G Laws, enlisted in Melbourne on 12 July 1915. He spent 1,468 days in the AIF and of these, 1,355 days were overseas. He was originally in the 7th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement but on 24 December 1916, he was transferred to […]

Susan Hazell shares the story of her father Lionel John (Bossy) Driscoll. Lionel John (Bossy) Driscoll was born in Coraki NSW in 1898 to John and Emma Driscoll.  His family were early settlers of the Richmond River District. Lionel  enlisted into the Army in Tenterfield  NSW on 26th January 1916. Although records show that he was 18 years […]

Karen Evans shares the story of her family – three men from the Baker family who served in the Great War. VALENTINE NEWTON BAKER 1872 – born Colac 1897 – married Rebecca Briggs nee Sessions 1909 – Benalla, Samaria West – labourer 1914 – Taminick, Wangaratta – labourer 1915 – ANZAC – France & Belgium 1919 […]

Christopher Coyle shares the story of his grandfather, Ernest John Coyle. My grandfather joined the 9th Battalion in Queensland on the day war was declared. He carried the first flag ashore at Gallipoli and was badly wounded there also. Upon his return to Australia in 1916, he was a founding member of Legacy and in […]

Jan Sproull shares the story of her grandfather, David Scoggins who departed from Port Melbourne in the First Convoy aboard the HMAT Hororata. David enlisted on 19 August 1914 in the 6th Battalion and received the regimental number 6. He left behind a wife and two children, and was not able to say goodbye when […]

Helen Heggie of Hastings, Victoria, shares her WWI story – the story of her great Aunt, Ethel Sarah Davidson, one of the first nurses to leave Australia and serve in the Great War. Ethel was orphaned at the age of five when her Father, Capt. William Davidson, her mother, 2 brothers and a sister drowned […]

Phil Walklate shares the story of his great uncle Harold Vernon Walklate. Harold Vernon Walklate was an accountant prior to enlistment, in partnership in a hardware store in Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield. The story goes that a coin was flipped to see who would sell out to the other and join the war effort. Harold enlisted on 1 […]

Paul Kelly shares the story of his grandfather. Stanley Theodore Cleal was a Gun Captain aboard the ship HMAS Psyche. The ship was originally part of the British Fleet. When the ship was handed over to the Australian Navy, Stanley remained on board. He was also involved in the mutiny which occurred in 1916 aboard […]