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.

Lance Corporal John Archibald Pritchard

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

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12 April 2022

Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, not forgotten.

71 years ago today, on the 12th April 1951, Lance Corporal John Archibald Pritchard, 8th Battalion (Reg No-6838), also known as Spanker, quarryman (Mr. F. Croft Gravel Quarry, Fassifern, N.S.W.), of Fassifern, New South Wales and Adamstown, N.S.W. and Henry Street, Cardiff, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 68. ANGLICAN 1-03. 16.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139510293 - funeral notice states service.

Born at Lambton, New South Wales on the 25th April 1882 to John (died 1951, name not inscribed on headstone) and Elizabeth Pritchard; husband of Annie Francis Pritchard nee McNaughton (married 1916, Adamstown, N.S.W., died 1953, sleeping side by side - ANGLICAN 1-03. 18., name not inscribed on headstone, no death or funeral notice located) of Victoria Street, Adamstown, N.S.W., John enlisted October 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Wounded in action - 4.10.1917 (SW right thigh).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138735930 - reported wounded.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747953 - reported wounded.

Admitted to hospital 23.11.1917 (not stated).

John returned home September 1919, being discharged on the 10th October 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140067841 - welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162566350 - welcome home.

Mr. Pritchard’s name has possibly been inscribed on the Adamstown Citizens' Memorial as PRITCHARD H. W.

John’s name has not been inscribed on the headstone, so July 2021 I placed a cross adorned with poppies at the gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Many thanks to Ross John Pritchard for the notification.

Lest We Forget. 

Sapper William John Hall

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

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14th January 2022

Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

86 years ago today, on the Tuesday afternoon of the 14th January 1936, Sapper William John Hall, 10th Australian Field Company Engineers (Reg No-907), painter (Walsh Island Government Dockyard, Newcastle, N.S.W.) from Awaba Street, Fassifern, New South Wales, father of eight, was laid to rest with a military funeral at Sandgate Cemetery, age 56. METHODIST 2 (PRIMITIVE) 16 NE. 3A.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142411376 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142411331 - obituary states military funeral.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166490827 - late Mr. W. Hall.

Born at East Maitland, New South Wales on the 9th July 1879 to Matthew James and Sophia Hall; husband of Sarah Elizabeth Hall nee Davies (married 1900, Waratah, N.S.W., died 1967, sleeping here), William enlisted March 1917 with the Anzac Cyclist Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133747303 - report of social event.

William suffered no injuries or illness during his service, and returned home July 1919, being discharged on the 4th August 1919.

Mr. Hall’s name has been inscribed on the Waratah Loyal Rose of Australia Lodge-Manchester Unity Roll of Honour (location unknown), Toronto Red Cross Honour Roll (location unknown - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137487420), and the Toronto Soldiers' Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 30th September 1922, 115 names inscribed, 21 Fallen).

Mr Hall’s obituary tells us he was President of the Blackalls Park Trust, the Fassifern Progress Association, Fassifern Parents and Citizens’ Association, a member of the M.U.I.O.O.F., Waratah Branch, a trustee of the Fassifern Park, and secretary to the Toronto Returned Soldiers’ Sub-branch and Toronto Amateur Cycle Club.

Unfortunately, there is no indication on William’s headstone of his service with the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at the gravesite in remembrance of his sacrifice for God, King & Country.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/.../index.php...

Also served in the Boer War.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

Trove Tuesday - Suburbia

From at least 26 October 1935 someone using the pen name Suburbia has been posting articles in the Newcastle Morning Herald. These articles under the heading SUBURBAN ROUND  appear to be posted regularly until July 1939.

On 3 March 1945 a new column Suburbia - This week appeared in the newspaper until 4 December 1948. Was the author of this column the same person as the author of the previous column? Was he a serviceman who was absent between 1939 and 1945?

On 18 December 1948 a similar column appeared with the title Ian Healy's Suburbia, This Week. The column ran until this notice appeared in the column on 30 January 1954:  "PUBLICATION of Suburbia will be suspended while Ian Healy is reporting for the "Newcastle Morning Herald" Her Majesty the Queen's tour of  eastern states". As coverage of the NMH on Trove ceases in 1954 it is not known how long the column continued after that date. Hopefully someone reading this post will be able to add that information in a comment below.

These columns are most useful for those researching family members in our area as they relate many stories of ordinary people going about their daily lives. Following are links to some of these stories on Trove.

At Swansea: She Wanted A Book About Shells - a story about Mr and Mrs Charlton of High Street
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135294371

Nord's Wharf: A Blue And Green Mirage -  a short history that mentions many locals
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140295262

Fassifern Awaits A Wagtail Family  - about a feathered family and their two-legged friends
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140343175

A Pennant And Six Forced Landings - a WW2 story about Harold N Berrick from Coal Point
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133570883

A Long, Long Village -- Warner's Bay -  mentions many early residents
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133180351

Trove Tuesday - Volunteers

 In today's post we remember the work  of volunteer fire fighters in our community.

1928 'HARD FIGHT', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 9 November, p. 7. , viewed 20 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163975291

1933 'VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 14 January, p. 3. , viewed 20 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165328816

1936 'Newcastle', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 6 November, p. 5. , viewed 20 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166544573

1951 'Fire-fighters Praised At Valentine', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 27 November, p. 4. , viewed 20 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140339921

Trove Tuesday - Natives of Scotland

November 30th, St Andrew's Day, is Scotland's National Day. Many early arrivals in  the Lake Macquarie District had roots in Scotland. 

The following eleven persons from our area were recorded in the newspapers on Trove as being a "Native of Scotland. If these images are difficult to read you can access the articles from the links that follow each clipping.

These articles contain many gems of information for descendants and family historians.

Mrs Grace Bower of Toronto

1908 'TORONTO.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 28 November, p. 2. , viewed 01 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135608496