Sergeant Augustine Cotter

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog.
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Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

107 years ago today, on the 28th June 1915, Sergeant Augustine Cotter, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment (Reg No-701), blacksmith (Walsh Island Government Dockyards, Newcastle, N.S.W.), of Railway Station, Fassifern, New South Wales, was Killed in Action on the Gallipoli Peninsula, age 22.

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1727540/ - Roll of Honour.

Born at Newcastle, New South Wales on the 10th January 1893 (as Augustin) to William James (died 25.5.1936 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139227885) and Rose Kate (Katie, died 28.7.1946 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133164797) Cotter, Gus enlisted November 1914 at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Resting at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. Plot III Row D Grave 37.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137200739 - Roll of Honour, 1915.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133890559 - Roll of Honour, 1916.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134864467 - Roll of Honour, 1917.

Mr. Cotter’s name has been inscribed on the Toronto Soldiers' Memorial, Toronto Red Cross Honour Roll, Gardner Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 16th September 1916, 15 names originally inscribed. 73 names now inscribed of the Fallen) and the St. Mary's-Marist Bros' School (Newcastle) Honour Roll. Name possibly inscribed on the Newcastle Technical College Roll of Honour (unveiled on the 13th June 1917, over 100 names inscribed, whereabouts unknown). Fassifern did not unveil a War Memorial or a Roll of Honour.

There is no headstone at the clearly marked curbed gravesite of the Cotter family, therefore no memorial inscription to tell us of their son’s supreme sacrifice during The Great War, so December 2017 I placed a Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance of Gus’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 2-32. 61.

Older brother William Robert (7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-702, born 1885, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 21.12.1962, resting at Murwillumbah Catholic Cemetery, photo 6) enlisted same day.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137207032 - brother William reported wounded.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133759102 - brother William welcomed home at the Toronto School of Arts Hall.

Older brother John Sylvester (7th Australian Light Horse Regiment & Army Postal Corps, Reg No-1623, born 1887, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 1966, Balmain, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

Private Leo (Mick) Aloysius McGuinness

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog.

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Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

104 years ago today, on the 27th June 1918, Private Leo (Mick) Aloysius McGuinness, 2nd Battalion (Reg No-727C), miner from Toronto, New South Wales, was Killed in Action, age 35?

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1650630 - Roll of Honour.

No Roll of Honour circular submitted.

Born at Quirindi, New South Wales about 1883 to Daniel (died 12.9.1915 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137969011, of Gulliver Street, Hamilton Park, N.S.W.) and Teresa Bridget (Theresa, died 4.6.1919 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139446629, of "Rosallen", Toronto, N.S.W.) McGuinness, Leo enlisted November 1916 with the 1st Australian Machine Gun Company at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140987006 - reported KIA.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140973653 - report that Leo had been KIA.

Leo is resting at La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France. Plot I Row F Grave 15.

Mr. McGuinness’s name has been inscribed on the Toronto Public School Roll of Honour, Toronto Soldiers' Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 30th September 1922, 115 names inscribed, 21 Fallen), Toronto Red Cross Honour Roll, Catherine Hill Bay Roll of Honour and the Catherine Hill Bay Honour Roll of Soldiers.

There is no headstone at parent’s curbed gravesite, therefore no memorial inscription to tell us of their son’s supreme sacrifice during The Great War, so July 2020 I placed a Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance of Leo’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 1-08. 24.

Younger brother Charles Alphonsus (served as McGUINESS, Reg No-955, 36th Battalion, born 1888, died 1963, Sydney, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134860409 - Charles reported wounded.

Older brother Denis L (served as McGUINESS, Reg No-2610, 33rd Battalion, born 1879, died 1957, Newcastle, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.

Older brother Daniel James (born 1873, died 1944, Toronto, N.S.W.) enlisted but did not serve.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest we forget

Meeting Reminder

 We meet today at The Marmong Point Community Hall

Corporal George Henry Ruddy

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog
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One of the saddest aspects of my research is locating families who lost a son or sons during The Great War that are buried at Sandgate Cemetery who have a headstone, but there is no memorial inscription to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of their son for God, King and Country.

126 gravesites located so far, many more to locate, this is a typical example.

Corporal George Henry Ruddy, 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion (Reg No-2177), miner from 53 Morgan Street, Merewether, New South Wales, father of one (George Alan), was killed in action on the 29th September 1917 at the Battle of Polygon Wood, age 24.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138745505 - reported George KIA.
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1663778/ - Roll of Honour.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159090805 - photo of George.

Born at Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales on the 3rd August 1893 to George (died 1931 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137707309) and Ellen Mary (died 1942 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132826602) Ruddy of Alice Street, Merewether, N.S.W.; husband of Mildred Ruddy nee Jones (married 1915, died?), George enlisted February 1916 with the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133888997 - farewell concert.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133747815 - report that George and Joseph and Jack Jones have met up in England.
Wounded in action - 20.7.1916 (multiple GSW, slight, Battle of Fromelles - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133888029, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133878292), George’s name has been inscribed on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 31), Belgium.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138738369 - Memorial Service for George held at the Morgan Street Presbyterian Church.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138742186 - George's wife Mildred Ruddy receives letter from the front.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137488548 - George's wife Mildred Ruddy presented with certificate.
Mr Ruddy’s name has also been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates, Merewether Public School Roll of Honor, Merewether Advance Football Club Roll of Honor - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747464, Merewether School of Arts Roll of Honour - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138736228, Merewether U.A.O. Druids (Rock of Hope branch) Roll of Honour - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133885247 and the Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour. Name would be inscribed on the South Newcastle Rugby League Football Club Roll of Honour. Name not inscribed on the Merewether St. David's Presbyterian Church Roll of Service/Roll of Honour.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138741783 - Roll of Honour, 1917.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747109 - Roll of Honour, 1917.

There is no memorial inscription on the headstone of George’s parents, and I am unable to place a memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice of their son. PRESBYTERIAN-13SW. 92.

Obituary for father George - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137710336 NMH, 17.4.1931.
Younger brother Joseph Alexander (8th Battalion, Reg No-6852, born 1895, died 1961) also served 1st A.I.F.
Brother-in-law Edward (Jack) Stamford Jones (57th Battalion, Reg No-66227, DOD 3.2.1919) memorialised at the cemetery, METHODIST 3 (UNITING) G. 9., no memorial inscription.

Lest We Forget.