Corporal William Ernest Bookless

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

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Served and suffered during The Great War, died tragically, resting at West Wallsend Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

82 years ago today, on the Wednesday afternoon of the 31st July 1940, Corporal William Ernest Bookless, 45th Battalion (Reg No-4555), miner from Eare Street, West Wallsend, New South Wales and Brown Street, West Wallsend, N.S.W., father of one (Billie or Billy), was laid to rest at West Wallsend Cemetery, age 46. GENERAL-OLD SECTION 3. Row S. Plot 33.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139379836 - funeral notice does not state service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139369119 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139367364 - report of funeral mentions service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139380353 - death notice states service.

Born at Homerton, Northern London, England on the 15th April 1894 to Henry John and Eleanor Bookless of 18 Heigham Road, Eastham, London, England; husband of Hannah Elvira Ancil Bookless nee Snedden (married 30.7.1921, West Wallsend, N.S.W., as BROOKLESS, remarried 1944 to George Cockerell Wright, died 1974), William enlisted August 1915 with the 1st Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Admitted to hospital 4.12.1916 (trench feet), 19.7.1918 (otitis media - middle ear infection), 23.9.1918 (abrasion left knee, abscess, severe).

Wounded in action - 12.10.1917 (GSW right knee, Battle of Passchendaele).

William was invalided home February 1919, being discharged medically unfit on the 17th April 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139647859 - reported returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159367565 - welcome home and presentation of a gold medal at the Hartland's Hall, Holmesville, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162564131 - William mentioned as being a returned member of the West Wallsend Rifle Club.

Mr. Bookless’s name has been inscribed on the Holmesville Community WW1 Honour Roll (unveiled on the 5th September 1916, unknown number of names originally inscribed, 70 names now inscribed, 14 Fallen, located at 22 George Street, Holmesville, N.S.W. - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133838999) and the West Wallsend and District Soldier's Memorial.

The tragic circumstances of William’s death were reported.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139379851 - Miner's Sudden Death.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167456007 - inquiry into death of miner (natural causes, heart failure).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139380387 - Coroner's Report.

I have placed poppies at William’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Many thanks to Smith Dick for the notification and database of those resting at West Wallsend General Cemetery.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

Private Edward Hartland

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

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17 5 2022

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at West Wallsend Cemetery.

Private Edward Hartland, 56th Battalion (Reg No-3262), wheeler from Saint Helen Street, Holmesville, New South Wales, died at West Wallsend, N.S.W. on the 1st February 1955, age-60, possibly buried on the 3rd February 1955. GENERAL-OLD SECTION 3. Row T. Plot 45.

Born at West Wallsend, New South Wales on the 10th April 1894 to Mr.? Anderson and Hannah Maria Hartland of Saint Helen Street, Holmesville, New South Wales; husband of Vera Hartland nee Featherstone (married 1918, West Wallsend, N.S.W., died?), Edward enlisted December 1915 (as ANDERSON) with the 35th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.

Discharged medically unfit for active service on the 5.4.1916.

Reenlisted-9.10.1916, Newcastle, N.S.W.

Wounded in action - 15.5.1917 (gassed).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122215666 - reported wounded (gas poisoning).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134868616 - reported wounded (gas poisoning).

Embarked for England 29.5.1917.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134868264 - report that Edward admitted to hospital.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134862554 - report that Edward discharged from hospital.

Edward was invalided home October 1917, being discharged medically unfit (bronchitis) on the 22nd November 1917.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138741721 - report that Edward being invalided home.

Mr. Hartland’s name has been inscribed on the Holmesville WW1 Roll of Honour (photos) and the West Wallsend Soldiers' Memorial. Name inscribed on the West Wallsend Superior Public School Honour Roll as ANDERSON, E.

I have placed poppies on Edward’s Commonwealth War Graves Plaque in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Service record states Died after Discharge, 1.2.1955.

Older brother Albert William Wooderson (Lieutenant, D.C.M., M.I.D., 35th Battalion, Reg No-459, born 1893? Holmesville, N.S.W., died 7.12.1944, Lidcombe, N.S.W. - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17930859, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134262064) also served 1st A.I.F.

Many thanks to Smith Dick for the notification and database of those resting at West Wallsend General Cemetery.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

Private Albert Leslie Hunt

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

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22 April 2022

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at West Wallsend Cemetery, Honour and Dignity must be restored.

Private Albert Leslie Hunt, 34th Battalion (Reg No-794), shunter from William Street, Holmesville, New South Wales, was laid to rest at West Wallsend Cemetery on the Friday afternoon of the 31st May 1918, age 22. GENERAL-OLD SECTION 1. Row R. Plot 24. (died at Newcastle Hospital, N.S.W. on the 30th May 1918, not the 29th).

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140983211 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140979672 - report of funeral.

Born at Lambton, New South Wales on the 13th August 1895 to James Charles and Jane Hunt of William Street, Holmesville, New South Wales, Albert enlisted January 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137099795 - report of send off and presentation of gold medal at the Holmesville Hall.

Albert was invalided home on the 15th April 1918, being discharged medically unfit (chronic otitis media - persistent inflammation of the middle ear or mastoid cavity) on the 22nd May 1918.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138156375 - report that Albert is returning home.

Mr. Hunt’s name has been inscribed on the Holmesville Community WW1 Honour Roll (photos, unveiled on the 5th September 1916, unsure the number of names originally inscribed, 70 names now inscribed, 13 Fallen, proudly displayed at the Holmesville Community Hall, 22 George Street, Holmesville, N.S.W. with the Holmesville Community WW2 Honour Roll) and the West Wallsend and District Soldier's Memorial. A member of the Pride of West Wallsend No. 5619 G.U.O.O.F. (unsure if a Roll of Honour was unveiled).

Holmesville Community WW1 Honour Roll

I have placed poppies at Albert’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque to be placed at the gravesite, and that his name be added to the Australian Roll of Honour, as his death occurred during the war years.

Albert has not been recognised for his service and sacrifice with a Plaque at the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Hawthorne Avenue, Rookwood, N.S.W.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks to Smith Dick for the notification and database of those who served during The Great War and are resting at West Wallsend General Cemetery.

Lest We Forget.

Trove Tuesday - Hartland's Hall

A dive into the newspapers category on Trove provides an insight into the activities of community members in Holmesville. Many of these activities took place in Hartland's Hall.

Educational Tournament

1907 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 15 June, p. 3. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133870387

Patriotic Committee - Welcome Home

1918 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 20 April, p. 3. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138148432

 Pensioners' Meeting

1936 'HOLMESVILLE', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 29 May, p. 4. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139242245

Church Fundraiser

1927 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 31 August, p. 7. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135599042

New Year's Eve

1907 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 5 January, p. 2. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136603999

Sunday School

1928 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 16 May, p. 8. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137668968 (Follow link to read remainder of long article)

Choir

1926 'HOLMESVILLE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 18 June, p. 4. , viewed 10 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138164926

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