Friday 31 December 2021

The Demon Drink

The Demon Drink 

On 31 December 1924 the Juvenile Rally of the Independent Order of Rechabites was held at Blackalls Park.  The Independent Order of Rechabites was a fraternal organisation and friendly society founded in England in 1836 as part of the wider temperance movement to promote total abstinence from alcoholic beverages.





Thursday 30 December 2021

Sergeant John Alfred Charles Jacobson

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share his Facebook post here on our blog.

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30th December 2021

Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, not forgotten.
63 years ago today, on the 30th December 1958, Sergeant John Alfred Charles Jacobson (M.M.), 5th Australian Machine Gun Battalion (Reg No-376), carpenter from "Landeryon", Dawson Street, Waratah, New South Wales and Dora Creek, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 67. ANGLICAN 1-73. 17.


Born at Waratah, New South Wales on the 28th January 1891 to Peter Ludoy - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138748156, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138740447, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138745852, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155430298 and Elizabeth Landeryou Bray Jacobson; husband of Ila Eileen Jacobson nee Morris (married 1922, Burwood, N.S.W., died 1982, sleeping here), John enlisted May 1916 with the 14th Australian Machine Gun Company at Waratah, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133882464 - send off and presentation of gold medal at the Town Hall Hotel, Waratah.
Admitted to hospital 24.6.1917 (not stated).
Wounded in action - 12.9.1917 (shrapnel abrasion to the head, slight), remained on duty.
Awarded Military Medal 14th May 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139653408 - reported that John had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal?
John returned home September 1919, being discharged on the 17th November 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140070136 - welcome home at the Waratah School of Arts.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140071505 - welcome home at the Waratah Methodist Church.
Mr. Jacobson’s name has been inscribed on the Waratah-St Philip's Anglican Church Roll of Honour (photos, unveiled on the 8th April 1917, 65 names originally inscribed, 96 names now inscribed, 15 Fallen - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133750954. Name not inscribed on the Newcastle Progressive Carpenters & Joiners Roll of Honour (location unknown).
Many thanks to John's Granddaughter Fiona Jacobson for the notification, family history, photos and her eternal love for her Grandfather, and we placed a cross on the 8th March 2015 at John’s unmarked grave to honour his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
John Alfred Charles Jacobson was born and raised in Waratah N.S.W. in 1891 where he worked as a carpenter, enlisting in the 1st A.I.F. in 1916 at the age of 25.
Leaving Australia on board The Commonwealth, he served as a Gunner in the 5th Battalion.
Serving in France he was twice nominated for a Military Medal, receiving one in 1919 for bravery in the field and was honoured the same year in the Australian Honours List.
He returned to Australia a Sergeant in the 1st A.I.F.
After the war had finished, he returned to his family in Waratah, N.S.W.
He opened and ran a grocery and fruit business with his brother in Waratah, married and had a family of his own of nine children.
His descendants are still living in the area and Lake Macquarie.
On the 19th August 1922 at Burrowa, N.S.W., John married Ila Eileen Morris and the couple had at least 2 daughters. Ila died in Newcastle in 1982. Daughter Betty Jacobson, born on the 4th October 1929, married Frank Kelvin Harris and she died at Aberdare in 2007. John, a carpenter, and Ila lived at Dora Creek from about 1936 and Ila was at Cooranbong in 1980. Other Jacobson families who may be related were living at Morisset and Cooranbong. There may have been other children born to the couple, so local descendants are likely.
Lest We Forget.

Tuesday 28 December 2021

Private Pearce (Pierce) Jones

 Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share his Facebook post here on our blog.

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28th December 2021

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?
66 years ago today, on the 28th December 1955, Private Pearce (Pierce) Jones, 46th Battalion (Reg No-2925), miner from Railway Street, Dudley, New South Wales and 98 Dawson Street, Cooks Hill, N.S.W., father of five (Edith, Gwen, Amelia, Esme & Pierce), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 71. ANGLICAN 3-181. 22.



Born at Lambton, New South Wales on the 17th June 1884 to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Jones; husband of Hannah Jones nee Jones (married 1905, Wickham, N.S.W., died 1958, sleeping here) of Thomas Street, Dudley, N.S.W., Pearce enlisted September 1916 at Rutherford, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123510069 - farewell from the School of Arts Hall, Dudley.
Admitted to hospital 2.3.1917 (not stated), 13.5.1917 (tuberculous cystitis), 14.10.1917 (trench fever), 12.5.1918 (myalgia), 14.6.1918 (pyrexia).
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137487245 - reported removed from seriously ill list.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138149285 - reported suffering from trench fever.
Wounded in action - 18.9.1918 (GSW leg, right calf, severe, dangerously ill).
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137495908 - Pearce reported in hospital with GSW.
Pearce returned home May 1919, being discharged on the 8th November 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139647698 - report that Pearce is returning home.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139441644 - public welcome home for Pearce.
Mr. Jones’s name has been inscribed on the Dudley Soldiers' Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 25th April 1922, 74 names inscribed, 16 Fallen - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140993498), Dudley Public School Roll of Honor and the Wickham Superior Public School Roll of Honour.
I have placed poppies at the gravesite in remembrance of Pearce’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Younger brother David (35th Battalion, Reg No-469, born 1889, died 1955, Newcastle, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138739007 - brother David reported wounded 2nd occasion.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138152945 - reported that David is returning home.
Older brother William (57th Battalion, Reg No-2185, born 1880, died 1940, Belmont, N.S.W. - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167468950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139367582) also served 1st A.I.F.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140976714 - report that brother William is returning home.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140979898 - public welcome home for William.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
Lest We Forget.



Sunday 26 December 2021

Lance Corporal Edward (Brow) Brougham Cressy

   Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share his Facebook post here on our blog.

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26th December 2021

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, not forgotten.
60 years ago today, on the Tuesday afternoon of the 26th December 1961, Lance Corporal Edward (Brow) Brougham Cressy, 54th Battalion (Reg No-4163), blacksmith’s striker (Sulphide Corporation Works, N.S.W.) from Creek Reserve Road, Boolaroo, New South Wales and Cardiff, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 69. CATHOLIC 2-44. 16.


Born at Tamworth, New South Wales on the 7th April 1892 to Brougham (died 1944) and Ann Elizabeth (died 1935) Cressy nee Stace; husband of Catherine Cressy nee Ambrose (married 24.8.1915, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 1966, sleeping here), Brow enlisted August 1915 with the 1st Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Younger brother Henry (Harry) Alfred (54th Battalion, Reg No-4179A, KIA 19.7.1916, Battle of Fromelles) awaiting memorialisation at the cemetery. METHODIST 4-09. 17.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162590299 - parents receive medal for Harry at the Sulphide Hall.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137965849 - reported that the Cressy brothers in camp.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137963642 - farewell and presentation to the Cressy brothers at Boolaroo.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133878156 - report of parcels sent to the Cressy brothers by the Boolaroo Red Cross Society.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133878987 - report that parents had received a cable that their boys had reached London.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133887970 - report that Harry KIA and Edward had been wounded.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128051849 - report that Harry KIA and Edward had been wounded.
Wounded in action - 20.7.1916 (GSW thigh, mild, Battle of Fromelles), 20.10.1917 (GSW left arm), 1.9.1918 (GSW right leg).
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133890025 - report that Brow in hospital.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133840668 - letter home from Brow about be wounded at Fromelles. Interesting to note that Pozieres is mentioned as the battle concerned, which did not take place until the 23rd July 1916.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138748683 - reported wounded 2nd occasion.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127114210 - reported wounded 2nd occasion.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138738013 - report that Brow in hospital.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137495653 - reported wounded 3rd occasion.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137500005 - report that Brow in hospital.
Brow was invalided home January 1919, being discharged medically unfit on the 22nd March 1919.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139646231 - welcome home and presentation of gold medal at the Sulphide Hall.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138834602 - report that Brow a member of Cardiff Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.
Mr. Cressy’s name has been inscribed on Hamilton Superior Public School Roll of Honor - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140980720, Boolaroo District Roll of Honour, Boolaroo Methodist Church Roll of Honour, Sulphide Corporation Pty Ltd Cockle Creek Works Roll of Honour, Boolaroo Loyal Star Lodge M.U.I.O.O.F. Roll of Honour - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133877490 and the Tamworth Methodist Church Circuit Roll of Honor. Name would also be inscribed on the Boolaroo Public School Roll of Honour (location unknown).
I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label in remembrance of Edward’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Photo 1 - Edward Brougham Cressy enlisted into WWI on 15th August 1915 (day before his brother Henry Alfred Cressy). Submitted by Julianne T Ryan, courtesy of Vaux/Cressy family.
Photo 2 - 1915 Cressy Family picture - Mother Ann Elizabeth Cressy, baby brother, Edward Brougham Cressy, Henry (Harry) Alfred Cressy and Father Brougham Cressy. Submitted by Julianne T Ryan, courtesy of Vaux/Cressy family.
Many thanks to Dorothy Coe, Angela Harragon, Peter Taylor and all the Cressy descendants who gathered with me at Sandgate Cemetery on the 19th July 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.
http://fffaif.org.au/?p=814 - story of the Cressy brothers.
Lest We Forget.