Private Albert Harris, Australian Army Ordnance Corps

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share this post on our blog.

__________________________________________________________________

27 October 2021

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, will my Honour and Dignity be restored?

80 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 27th October 1941, Private Albert Harris,
Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion (Reg No’s - 428 & 4312A), apprentice fitter (engineer) and Warrant Officer, from 15 Northumberland Street, Mayville, New South Wales and "Birkenhead", Coal Point, N.S.W., father of two (Joan and Rosalind), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 45. ANGLICAN 2-115. 9.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134073343 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134071465 - obituary.

Born at Islington, New South Wales on the 26th June 1896 to Albert Edward and Annie Elizabeth Harris nee Matters; husband of Dorothy H L Harris nee Chettoe (married 1929, Carey Bay, N.S.W. or Waverley, N.S.W., died 1984, unmarked grave, sleeping side by side, ANGLICAN 2-115. 11., 43 years a widow), Albert enlisted July 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Recalled by the Railway Commissioners.

Reenlisted April 1917 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133750230 - send-off from the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747281 - report that Albert has arrived safely in England.

Admitted to hospital 16.3.1918 (trench nephritis and bronchitis).

Albert returned home October 1919, being discharged on the 13th December 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068911 - report that Albert is returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068478 - report that Albert due to arrive home soon.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140074574 - welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162596390 - welcomed home at the Smedmore Literary Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162595160 - report that Albert had returned home (with photo).

Mr. Harris’s name has been inscribed on the Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Islington St. Mark's Anglican Church Roll of Honour, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1), Honeysuckle Point Railway Workshops Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 25th May 1915, 10 names originally inscribed, 44 names now inscribed, 5 Fallen), Newcastle Amalgamated Society of Engineers Roll of Honour, Newcastle Loyal Union Lodge Manchester Unity I.O.O.F. Roll of Honour and the Newcastle 39th Fortress Company, Australian Engineers' Roll of Honour. Name probably inscribed on the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute Roll of Honour. Name not listed on the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.

I located Albert resting in an unmarked grave, now long forgotten, so December 2018 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.

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

I submitted an application to DVA October 2020 asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip, but unfortunately STILL waiting for a decision.

Lest We Forget.

Gary's Obsession

Gary Mitchell at Sandgate

Local Hunter historian, Gary Mitchell, has an interest in Australian diggers who are not resting  peacefully. His mission is to ensure World War One soldiers, buried in unmarked graves, get the recognition they deserve.

Gary's interest in military history began back in 1995 and in the intervening years he has become quite obsessed as he researches the lives of service men and women who served their country and are buried in unmarked graves.

Using his research skills Gary identifies those who are  in unmarked graves at Sandgate Cemetery and goes hunting for them in online databases, archives and cemetery records. Gary uses social media to find and connect with family members as he builds these personal histories.  Gary then sources and arranges placement of grave markers or headstones for those he has  researched then posts the commemorative histories in the Lost Newcastle and other relevant Facebook groups where they reach and are appreciated by a large local audience. By telling the stories of these men and women Gary believes that he is giving them an opportunity to rest peacefully.

Gary is interested in sharing these stories widely through social media so, as number of the men and women that Gary commemorates are from the Lake Macquarie area, I approached Gary for permission to publish his Lake Macquarie stories on our blog. 

Gary has generously agreed that we can share his stories on our blog "All my information and photos that I post are freely available for all to copy and use." We thank Gary for his generosity and commitment and look forward to publishing and preserving his stories relating to Lake Macquarie.

Shortly after Gary posts a new history on social media we will copy and format its content and post it here on this blog. 

Halloween Celebrations

Articles found at Trove indicate that, in yesteryear, Halloween was celebrated in several places areound our Lake. No evidence of Trick or Treating was unearthed!!!

1954 'IN BRIEF', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 13 October, p. 7. , viewed 26 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134092229

1949 'Halloween Party At Teralba', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 November, p. 4. , viewed 26 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134180687

1939 'WEST WALLSEND', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 4 November, p. 15. , viewed 26 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135452062

1952 'Women's News In Brief', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 7 November, p. 5. , viewed 26 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133565081

1940 'HELPING WAR EFFORT', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 1 November, p. 5. , viewed 26 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167528808

Committees at the Lake

The Lake Macquarie Family History Group is one of many volunteer organisations in our local government area. These organisations which provide much needed support to members of our community are organised and managed by committees of interested and committed community members.

In our Trove Tuesday post today we look at some of the people and organisations that have been active in our community in the past. Perhaps some of your ancestors served on local community committees.

1938 'LAKE MACQUARIE', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 11 November, p. 9. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132838608

1943 'Lake Macquarie Forms Repatriation Committee', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 7 October, p. 2. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133410856

The remainder of the next long article can be read by following this link http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134051606

1888 'Lake Macquarie.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 24 March, p. 2. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134051606

1929 'BOOLAROO', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 13 February, p. 7. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, 1929 'BOOLAROO', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 13 February, p. 7. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134711815

1954 'Committee To Tend Trees', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 23 December, p. 5. , viewed 19 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134093888

A Two Year Term

 When I was elected as the President of our Group it was for a one year term, then Covid19 came along. My term subsequently extended to two years as we had to postpone our Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers. That meeting will proceed this afternoon as a face to face meeting with an option for members to join via zoom. 

I have been so proud of the manner in which our members rallied and met the Covid challenges head on, I thank you all for your support and guidance during this challenging time. In the following President's Report to be tabled at today's meeting I outline some of our activities during the term.

Jill Ball - President 

Lake Macquarie Family History Group

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Macquarie Family History Group

President’s Report 

August 2019 - October 2021

---

My current term as President of the Lake Macquarie Family History Group is nearing an end. This time has been personally rewarding for me and, hopefully, has produced some benefits for our Group.

When reflecting on this time I think of the acronym TEAM:  Together everybody achieves more. The strength of an organisation lies not with the person who wears the President's badge but with those individuals in the group who bring a range of experience, skills and opinions to achieve common goals.

I thank you all for your support, advice and words of encouragement during my term. I send a special shout out to the dedicated Officers and Committee Members who have supported and guided me on this journey. I'm so grateful to all of our volunteers who carry out their allocated duties quietly and efficiently. It is gratifying to arrive at the hall for our meetings and see the members swing into action to set up, organise and then pack up for our events. You are a well-oiled machine.

I am absolutely delighted that our group has weathered the Covid-19 storm. Despite the challenges of the past eighteen months we remain a vibrant organisation that has faced challenges with determination and a willingness to embrace new tools that allow us to connect, communicate and collaborate.

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, who donated the funds for our Zoom account, we were able to move our monthly meetings online once the Covid lockdown was announced. We returned to face-to-face/zoom hybrid meetings for a short time until our second lockdown and we continue to stream our guest speakers presentations via Zoom.

We owe a huge thank you to our treasurer, Karen, who each week, hosts a zoom session for our members which provides an opportunity for them to chat and learn. Our recently formed DNA Special Interest Group organised by our member, Jan, and a small group of DNA enthusiasts is proving to be popular with an average of 19 members in attendance each fortnight. On occasion we have organised one on one zoom sessions to assist members solve particular research questions or demonstrate a particular tool.

I am proud of the varied and interesting education programme we have presented over the past two years. Although several members and I have made speaker suggestions we are indebted to Elspeth Bradbury who has managed the programme with grace and no fuss. Elspeth, who also co-edits our Chronicle with Glynda, has been a wonderful mentor to me during my term.

It is pleasing to note that two of our members, who have given many years of service to our Group, are to be recognised by The RoyalAustralian Historical Society. I congratulate our Secretary, Warren Oliver, and Vice-President, Jennifer Myers, on their awards of Certificates of Achievement from that Society.

To be successful in the 21st century a family history organisation needs to be involved in local and genealogical communities. The Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/lmfhg/, that we set up in 2019 has enabled us to connect with people in our local and the broader genealogy community. Among the 220 followers of our page are people from all Australian States, the US, UK and Canada.

About a third of our members have also joined our Facebook Discussion Group, a private forum where we can connect to ask our questions, share family history news and store documents of interest to members. It saddens me that the majority of members are not taking advantage of this private space for discussion.

Our blog, https://lakemacfhg.blogspot.com/, which shares stories of Lake Macquarie people, mostly sourced from the newspapers on Trove, and news of our events and activities, has received 9250 visitors from Australia and beyond in less than 18 months. Many of these are because we shared our posts to relevant Facebook Groups.

Another initiative being undertaken by our librarian Linda and I is the cataloguing and entering of our library collection on the Librarything platform. We have already added nearly 2000 items to that catalogue which you can view here online: https://www.librarything.com/profile/LMFHG. Unfortunately without regular access to our Library this task is taking longer than expected.

Some links have been established with Lake Macquarie Council. Earlier this year we recommenced our volunteer research service at Speers Point Library which had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, this was cancelled again during the latest lockdown and will recommence next month.

We recently collaborated with the Society of AustralianGenealogists and Lake Macquarie Council to run a six session beginners’ course at Speers Point Library. We managed five of these sessions before our second lockdown, the last session is to be delivered by zoom this week.

I have been appointed to the Cultural Collections Consultative Committee at Lake Macquarie council where I try to advocate for genealogy and local history services in our area. I have recently been invited to join a group to review Council’s current Community Strategic Plan. 

Our membership number has remained constant during my term, I welcome the new members who have joined our Group, it has been a joy to connect with you at our recent meetings. As a reasonably new arrival to the Lake the fellowship of LMFHG members has buoyed me during my time as President.

Under our Treasurer Karen’s stewardship we have maintained a reasonable bank balance. We only managed to hold one Bunning’s Barbeque in October 2019 before Covid struck. We have missed this source of valuable income and hope that we will be able allocated another day in 2022. Our ongoing onlinesecond-hand book sale has generated valuable income.

Serving as your President during COVID-19 times has given this passionate traveller a focus during my stay-at-home months. I thank you for giving me this opportunity and your continuing support. I will be nominating for a further year’s term as President of LMFHG but then I plan to graciously retire and resume my globetrotting.

 Jill Ball

President, Lake Macquarie Family History Group

9 October 2021

Annual General and Monthly Meeting - 16th October 2021

 

To attend our Meeting in person on 16^th October. You will be required to:

• Check in on arrival with the Service NSW QR code system or via our Covid sign in sheet
• Provide proof of full vaccination
• Wear a mask indoors
• Observe safe physical distancing, hand washing and sanitising practices
• NOT attend this event if you feel unwell

The link to join the meeting via zoom has been distributed with the meeting papers.

Trove Tuesday - When Daylight Saving came to Town

As we are entering our first week of Daylight Saving we consulted the Newcastle Morning Herald archives on Trove to see what residents in earlier times felt daylight saving was introduced.

1917 'DAYLIGHT SAVING ACT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 2 January, p. 4. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133758402

One wonders if these anonymous Letters to the Editor were all penned by one hand or if it was a vocal minority who were not in favour of daylight saving.

1917 'DAYLIGHT SAVING.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 23 January, p. 3. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133758635

1917 'DAYLIGHT SAVING.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 6 January, p. 2. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133755475

1917 'DAYLIGHT SAVING.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 4 January, p. 7. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133751443

1917 'DAYLIGHT SAVING.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 12 January, p. 7. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133749827

And the last word goes to The Idle Woman in her regular column.

1917 'AN IDLE WOMAN'S DIARY.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 12 January, p. 7. , viewed 05 Oct 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133749834