WAR: 1919
January 1st, 1919 –
Gnr David Stormont (Silvan), 2nd Field Artillery Battery: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from a sceptic finger.
Pte Frank Turner (Mt Dandenong), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Marathon.
January 2nd, 1919 –
Cpl Henry Lord DCM (Wandin), 1st Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Saxon.
January 3rd, 1919 –
Pte Henry Tudor (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Anchises. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of having his leg amputated in 1917.
January 5th, 1919 –
Pte George Rouget (Wandin), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received the year before.
January 7th, 1919 –
Dvr Adolphus Geiger (Lilydale), 4th Australian Division Supply Train: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Hacking.
January 13th, 1919 –
George Paton (Montrose): Enlists in the Royal Australian Navy for a period of seven years, he is 18 years old.
January 15th, 1919 –
Pte Felix Hargrave x (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Somerset to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing rheumatism.
Pte Robert Davies (Kilsyth), 24th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Somerset.
Sgt Edgar Wilson (Lilydale), 57th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of Exeter.
January 16th, 1919 –
Pte Robert Marshall (Mooroolbark), 15th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from influenza.
January 20th, 1919 –
L/Cpl Frederick Bunt (Wandin), 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from epididymitis.
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Tripoli. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘It was nice for the Anzacs to get home for Christmas and what a gay time they must have had. Sorry to say it does not appear as if we will leave here in a hurry but all good things come to those who wait. If we could start a war in Aussie we would soon get home but that is out of the question. War ruins the whole country.
The weather has been rather wet so far this year but the winter will soon be over. We left here on Tuesday and arrived there on that evening. After looking after my horse and having a good meal we retired. Had a good night’s rest much to my surprise as this was the first time I have slept between the sheets and on a good bed since I left Aussie. On Wednesday had my breakfast at nine and left to visit the famous Cedars of Lebanon. After a long climb we reached the snow clad area and had some snow fight. I had my ear filled with snow. We visited the cedars and arrived home in time for dinner.
The afternoon we were fairly quiet after the climb in the morning but we had a good look at the town. We visited the Blow Hole. This hole is like a huge well and 900 feet deep in the side of a gorge with a small stream of water rushing over the side. It was well worth the climb to see. We had a good ride home arriving just in nice time for tea and we were glad to be home. But I did not fancy the daily routine after being away and I wish I could forget all about the routine for a while’.
January 22nd, 1919 –
Pte James Clarke x (Mt Dandenong), 38th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Leistershire.
January 24th, 1919 –
Pte Alvoria Williams (Lilydale), 44th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Delta.
January 25th, 1919 –
Pte James Smith (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Marries an English girl in London, England. She later comes to Australia as a war bride.
January 29th, 1919 –
Dvr Frederick Crooks x (Wandin), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Burmah.
January 30th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Saxon:
Pte Alex Martin (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Pte Henry Ferguson x (Coldstream), 59th Battalion
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orontes:
Pte Harry Dawson (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Bombardier Bertie Blashki (Lilydale), 10th Field Artillery Brigade
February 1st, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Argyllshire:
Pte William Buckley (Kilsyth), 6th Battalion
Pte Gordon Howell (Wandin), 24th Battalion
Pte Victor Fisherx (Lilydale), 6th Battalion: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of the issues with his feet.
Pte Walter Staff (Wandin), 4th Division Sanitary Section: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of having haemorrhoids.
February 2nd, 1919 –
Pte Ernest Clowx (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Tahalia.
February 3rd, 1919 –
Pte John Rouget x (Wandin): While still in Australia is discharged from the AIF upon demobilisation.
February 4th, 1919 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Tripoli. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘We are having a very quiet time and the last week was rather wet but the winter is just about over. We will arrive home in time for another winter with luck but the weather will not affect us very much. A few of the boys will be leaving here tomorrow but I do not know when the regiment is leaving this fair country. It’s time we made a start. I would sooner lose a limb than suffer from Shell Shock. It is an awful complaint and may affect a man for years but better still I hope to reach Aussy as well as I left. It is hard to say whether your cousin was fortunate or otherwise. His mother would be pleased but I would have been very disappointed if I had been stopped on the journey. We are all anxious to get back’.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Mamari:
Spr Robert Fairnie (Lilydale), Australian Army Pay Corps
Pte Thomas Butcher (Yering), 5th Battalion: He is to discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received the year before.
February 5th, 1919 –
Pte William Guillerme (Lilydale), Australian Veterinary Hospital: Marries a French girl in Champagne Les Wardrecques, France. She would later return to Australia with him as a war bride.
February 8th, 1919 –
Dvr Leslie Coppin (Kilsyth), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Dies at his home in Kilsyth as a result of the effects of tuberculosis. He was 27 years old and is buried at the Burwood Cemetery, Vic.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Somali:
Pte Clarence Cutting (Lilydale), 57th Battalion
Pte William Johnson (Mt Evelyn), 14th Field Ambulance
Gnr Finlay McCay (Silvan), 12th Field Artillery Brigade
Dvr Arthur Street (Gruyere), 4th Field Artillery Brigade: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of a developing deafness.
Trp George Gilbert (Yering), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Somali. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of his physical condition following his time as a prisoner of war in Turkey.
February 11th, 1919 –
Sapper Henry Woodruff (Seville), 2nd Field Company Engineers: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Takada.
February 14th, 1919 –
Pte George Pendlebury (Seville): Is discharged at Broadmeadows from home service as a result the AIF being demobilised.
February 15th, 1919 –
Spr William King (Lilydale), Tunnelling Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Karmala.
February 17th, 1919 –
Cpl Harry Black (Coldstream), 23rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Berrima.
February 19th, 1919 –
Pte Irwin Campbell (Mt Dandenong), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orga.
February 22nd, 1919 –
Trp Wallace Coutts (Wandin), 2nd Signal Squadron: Is admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from haemorrhoids. He would later be sent home to Australia incapacitated as a result.
February 24th, 1919 –
WOI Leonard Walters (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe along with his English war bride on the HT Osterley.
February 25th, 1919 –
Sr Isabel McAlpine (Wandin), Australian Army Nursing Service: After eight months’ service at Salonika, Greece, serving with the 50th General Hospital and the 42nd General Hospital, she leaves for London on the ship HT Dongala.
February 26th, 1919 –
Spr Joseph Gibson (Kilsyth), 3rd Division Signal Company: Dies in hospital of influenza. He is 30 years old and is buried in the Charleroi Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Pte Thomas Leach (Lilydale), 22nd Cycling Battalion: Marries an English girl at Leicester, she would later come out to Australia as a war bride.
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Rafa. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘On the 20th we left our happy home at Tripoli and sailed away on the good ship Ellenga. We had a splendid trip to Port Said where we entrained for Kantara and arrived at Rafa the following day. With regard to the trip to England, we were informed that if we have a good excuse we would stand a chance of a trip to England but also that we would be leaving for Aussy about the same time. It’s a long time since I left home and mother is sure to be anxious until I return so I did not apply. Some of the late reinforcements applied but only a few of the old hands. (We want to go home.)
Moascar should be a good camp but I would sooner visit new scenes. All these places bring back old memories and there is nothing fresh to see. Perhaps I am hard to please. We have no idea when we are leaving but the general outlook is very promising and we should be home for another winter’.
February 27th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Palliser MM (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of York to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of injuries he occurred during his service.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orsova:
Pte Charles Asling (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion
Pte Oliver Hargrave (Lilydale), 46th Battalion
Cpl Patrick Pender (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Mamari.
March 2nd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the SS City of Exeter:
Pte Alex Duncan (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Pte Thomas Strachan (Lilydale), 60th Battalion
March 5th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Margha:
Dvr Joseph Poyner (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Sgt David Ogilvy (Seville), 60th Battalion
March 6th, 1919 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Moascar, Egypt. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘We have no idea how long we will stay here but we are all hoping to return home shortly. I have not been on leave to Ismailia since we arrived but intend visiting the city in a few days’ time. We did not visit Beirut or Haifa but I will not apply for leave to visit these places.
At the present time we have a parade before breakfast and have the remainder of the day to ourselves unless we happen to be on duty. Quite a number of the boys left here a few days ago on the Port Sydney so I expect the regiments will leave next. It must seem a long time since the armistice was signed and those at home will be anxious for our return but all things come to those who wait’.
March 7th, 1919 –
Pte William Hayes (Mt Evelyn), 5th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kanowna.
March 8th, 1919 –
Sr Matilda McNeill (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kasmir.
March 10th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe & the Middle East on the HT Delta:
Pte Walter Horne (Wandin), 8th Light Horse Regiment
Pte Leslie Farndon MM (Mt Dandenong), 23rd Battalion
Pte Arthur James x (Mooroolbark), 29th Battalion
Pte George Vale (Lilydale), 8th Field Ambulance
March 13th, 1919 –
Pte Robert Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 12th Army Field Artillery Brigade: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from influenza.
March 14th, 1919 –
Gnr Thomas Ogilvy (Seville), 13th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kashmir.
March 16th, 1919 –
Sgt John Hogg DCM (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Czaritza. He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action the year before.
March 20th, 1919 –
Pte William Jenner (Wandin), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from influenza.
March 23rd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ceramic:
Pte Clarence Jack (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte Allan Dodd (Olinda), 8th Battalion
Pte Sidney Ingram (Silvan), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
March 25th, 1919 –
Sub Lieutenant Frank Larkins (Mt Evelyn): While in England he is transferred to the Submarine J2, one of six J Class submarines gifted to the Royal Australian Navy by the Royal Navy, and would be part of the crew to sail them back to Australia.
Pte Thomas Rose (Seville), 4th Light Horse Regiment: Is admitted to hospital at Kantara, Egypt, suffering from measles.
Pte Robert Mitchell (Seville), 1st Australian Divisional Headquarters: Arrives back in Australian from Europe on board the HT Port Denison.
March 28th, 1919 –
Sgt George Hastie (Seville), 58th Battalion: Is transferred to work with the war graves department.
Pte Norman Mounsey MM (Seville), 3rd Field Ambulance: Arrives back in Australian from Europe.
March 29th, 1919 –
The following poem is written by an anonymous soldier from Olinda who went under the pen name ‘Aussie’ and sent it to The Lilydale Express to be published –
THE VERY BEST LAND IN THE WORLD
I have done my duty in death’s narrows trait,
And proud am I that I have shown my worth,
How little it may be, and now I wait,
To go home to the finest spot on earth.
Yes! I wan’t to be back in Australia
Now the red flag of war is unfurl’d,
Stow rifle and kit, having done my bit
For the best Land in the world!
I know the land of my father,
And mother and all their forbears,
I’ve a soft spot for France but I’d rather
Be back where the Eucalypt bares
Its leaves to the glorious sunlight,
Where the magpie warbles its strain,
In coming I feel that I’ve done right
Now I long to move southward again.
Yes! I want to be back in Australia,
Where the cross of the south is impearl’d
In skies that are clear the whole of the year,
In the very best Land in the world!
I give thanks to the Father Almighty
Who rewardeth the spirit that waits;
I am proud of the men of Old Blighty,
But I’m prouder still of my mates;
Yes! I want to be back in Australia
With them and the friends who arecurl’d,
Round my heart like the vine
round that thee; hold of mine.
In the very best Home in the world!
March 31st, 1919 –
Pte Francis Webster MM (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australian from Europe on board the HT Lancashire.
April 1st, 1919 –
Stoker Charles Ebeling (Wandin), HMAS Torrens: After returning to Australia on HMAS Swan he is transferred to HMAS Torrens. The rest of his time in the Australian Navy was then spent serving in Australian waters on HMAS Torrens and HMAS Huon.
April 3rd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ascanius:
Pte Edmund Rossiter (Silvan), 6th Battalion
Pte David Mitchell (Lilydale), 14th Battalion
Pte John O’Halloran (Mt Dandenong), 37th Battalion
April 8th, 1919 –
L/Cpl Reg Charteris (Wandin), 23rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Trayos Monte.
Cpl Walter Henry Clegg (Wandin), 11th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port of Darwin.
April 13th, 1919 –
Pte William Bedford (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Balmoral Castle.
EGYPTIAN REBELLION
April 16th, 1919 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘As we expected to be going home I neglected my correspondence but sorry to say we do not expect to leave here for some time owing to the hostile attitude of the inhabitants of this land. We have been equipped with horses, swords etc and have been through many villages searching for arms and the search has not been very successful. The natives would not be harmless if they were armed but as it happens we are fairly safe. They might be able to get a man if he was alone but we will not be caught that way.
The weather has been beautiful this last few weeks and the nights are lovely. Just the sort of a night for a successful air raid. We are disappointed that we did not leave this land last month and it is very probable that we shall remain here another month or two. Sorry to hear that the Spanish influenza is so serious in Victoria and I hope the disease has not reached your district. We are all having a fairly good time in this camp. Quite a number of the boys have sore arms as the Doctor had a splendid win. We were all vaccinated and most of the arms took. This is unusual as I have been done every year and only a few take’.
April 17th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Port Sydney:
Trp Walter Boys (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment
Air Mechanic Eric Beggs (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Air Mechanic Percy Clements (Lilydale), No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
WOII Kavan Lawlor DCM (Coldstream), 3rd Light Horse Regiment: He is to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he received in action the year before.
April 22nd, 1919 –
Pte Ernest Williams (Lilydale), 6th Field Ambulance: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Derbyshire.
April 23rd, 1919 –
Pte George Williams (Lilydale), Canadian Army Medical Corps: Arrives in Quebec, Canada from Europe to be discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.
April 24th, 1919 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘Winter is beautiful in Egypt but rather cold in Syria. I prefer the cold weather. By the time you receive this letter it will be summer over here and I hope it is not as hot as in 1916. One advantage we have here; we always have cold nights even in the middle of summer.
It must be hard on some families to see the boys coming home and to know that their son or brother will not return. Quite a large number of the local boys are home again but they were in France. We were all ready to go aboard the transport last month but owing to local conditions demobilization was delayed. English leave is being granted again so it is possible that we shall leave shortly though it is not probable. We are getting our hand in for the benefit of those at home. We are cooking in sections of four and we take our turn at the fire. Some strange dishes are manufactured and without any ill effects’.
April 25th, 1919 –
Trp Wallace Coutts (Wandin), 2nd Signal Squadron: Arrives back in Australia from Middle East on the HMAT Euripides to be discharged as medically unfit.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the SS Nevada:
Pte John Wilken (Kilsyth), 14th Battalion
Lt George Ingram VC, MM (Seville), 24th Battalion
Pte Reuben Parry (Wandin), 29th Battalion
April 26th, 1919 –
Pte Allan Hooke (Kilsyth), 3rd Field Bakery: Is admitted to hospital in England suffering from influenza.
April 29th, 1919 –
Sgt Bruce Timms (Yering), 14th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the SS Ventura.
Pte Robert Marshall (Mooroolbark), 15th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from Egypt on the HT Warwickshire.
April 30th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kashmir:
Pte Levi Trayford (Lilydale), 24th Battalion
Pte James Tanner x (Yering), 58th Battalion
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Plassy:
Pte Percy Gartside x (Kilsyth), 57th Battalion
Lt Clive Rowan (Olinda), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
May 5th, 1919 –
Cpl Philip Kidgell (Lilydale), 15th Machine Gun Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Mahia.
May 6th, 1919 –
Cpl Vivian Grenness (Kilsyth), 14th Field Ambulance: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HS Kursk.
May 7th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kildonian Castle:
L/Cpl Richard Grossman (Mt Dandenong), 59th Battalion
Dvr William Lysaght (Lilydale), 9th Light Horse Regiment
May 8th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Karoa:
Pte Archibald McLarty (Olinda), 6th Battalion
Cpl Alfred Sutherland x (Wandin), 22nd Battalion
Lt Leslie Bolitho (Lilydale), 29th Battalion
Pte Alfred Rothque (Lilydale), 58th Battalion
May 10th, 1919 –
Dvr Alfred Ackerman (Lilydale): Is discharged from home service with the army after the AIF is demobilised.
May 11th, 1919 –
Pte Wilson Evansx (Lilydale), 22nd Machine Gun Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Armagh.
May 12th, 1919 –
Cpl Perrin Wallace (Seville), 2nd Machine Gun Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Khyber.
May 14th, 1919 –
Pte Frank Morton (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of Poona.
May 15th, 1919 –
Pte Andrew Noden (Lilydale), 5th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Dunluce Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action the year before.
Pte Cliff Wardell (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Dunluce Castle to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of having his left leg amputated.
May 16th, 1919 –
Shoeing Smith Henry Bamber (Coldstream), 13th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Czer. He would later become a horse trainer and in 1939 one of his horses, Rivette, would become the first horse to win both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup in the same year.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Shropshire:
Pte William Town (Lilydale), 24th Battalion
Pte Frederick Miller (Coldstream), Army Medical Corps
May 17th, 1919 –
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Egypt. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘We have been waiting to go home for some considerable period. We were ready to leave in the beginning of March but owing to the Egyptian riots our trip was cancelled and we started on the long trail again. Searching villages for arms was not a pleasant occupation still we had a fairly good time and it gave some of the lads who came over recently a chance to visit Cairo and Alexandria of course we have the band to render selections during the intervals. We have two brass bands in this area. One with our regiment and the other with the Second Brigade.
I hope to be home in time for Peace Celebrations. We may leave here early in June but I do not expect to leave before this date. What a change for us as June over here is very hot but July at home is anything but hot especially near my home’.
May 18th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the SS Armagh:
Pte William Parker x (Silvan), 38th Battalion
Pte Fred Whiteside (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: He is admitted to hospital as a result of injuring himself on board, he fell from his hammock causing a contusion to his back, and would spend the next seven months in hospital.
May 20th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 31st Battalion: Is demobilised from the AIF and volunteers to join the Russian Relief Force (201st Battalion- British Army).
May 21st, 1919 –
Gnr Thomas Hunter (Wandin), 5th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Cluny Castle.
Gnr William Jenner x (Wandin), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suffolk.
Pte Nolan Footitx (serving under the name John Willis), (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Prinz Hubertus. Upon landing he is court martialled for having deserted from the Royal Australian Navy in 1915. At a subsequent enquiry he is given a free pardon as a result of him having served on active service for three years with the AIF.
Ordinary Seaman Thomas Preece (Wandin), HMAS Melbourne: After service in European waters the HMAS Melbourne arrives back at Sydney Harbour and would lay inactive until 1920. Thomas would go on to serve on HMAS Sydney and HMAS Platypus until his period with the Navy finished in 1926.
May 22nd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Trasos Montes:
Pte Thomas Harvey x (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion
Pte George Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 59th Battalion
Pte Alfred Fairbank (Montrose), 59th Battalion
Lt Leslie McGregor (Lilydale), AMC Dental
Dvr George Davies (Kilsyth), 1st Divisional Train: Sadly, two of his brothers, Isaac and Frederick, had been killed in the war.
May 25th, 1919 –
Pte William Hodges (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Benalla with his English war bride.
May 26th, 1919 –
Pte Walter Gladstone Clegg (Wandin), 51st Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Kildonian Castle.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Macquarie:
Pte Alfred Leonard DCM (Olinda), 24th Battalion:
Pte George Joy (Mt Evelyn), 24th Battalion
May 27th, 1919 –
Pte Archibald Conner (Lilydale), 39th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Rio Padro.
May 28th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Warwickshire:
Pte William English x (Mt Evelyn), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Ernest Commerford (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Battalion
Pte Leslie Gamble x (Lilydale), 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
May 30th, 1919 –
Dvr Harry Dinsdale (Olinda), 5th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Castalia.
May 31st, 1919 –
Pte Albert Parkes (Coldstream), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Medic.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Wyreema:
Pte Francis Lyall (Mt Evelyn), 57th Battalion
Dvr Percy Barratt (Olinda), 58th Battalion
June 3rd, 1919 –
L/Cpl Joseph Keeley MM Jnr (Mooroolbark), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Themistocles.
June 6th, 1919 –
Pte Ernest Le Page (Seville), 58th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Frankfurt.
June 8th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT China:
Gnr Ove Ovesen (Seville), 11th Field Artillery Brigade
Gnr Alfred Pomeroy (Wandin), 11th Field Artillery Brigade
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Sardinia:
Trp Arthur Rouget (Wandin), 13th Light Horse Regiment
Pte Leslie Session (Silvan), 1st Anzac Cycle Corps
Dvr Norman Reid (Lilydale), Australian Corps Motor Transport Company
June 10th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Runic:
Trp Rae Lucke (Montrose), 13th Light Horse Regiment
Pte Lindsay Yeaman (Montrose), 20th Battalion: He is to be discharged as medically unfit due to the effects of gas poisoning.
Dvr Reginald Summers (Seville), 6th Field Artillery Brigade: He would return to Seville and take over his brother Walter’s property, ‘Mt Marion’, after his brother was killed in action during the war.
June 11th, 1919 –
Pte Martin Hatfield x (Lilydale), Army Veterinary Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Seang Bee.
June 12th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Karagola:
Pte John Hannah (Mt Evelyn), 37th Battalion
Pte Richard Greenlees (Olinda), 39th Battalion
June 15th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Essex:
Pte Thomas Rose (Seville), 4th Light Horse Regiment
Tpr George Cassidy (Seville), 4th Light Horse Regiment
June 16th, 1919 –
Pte Ebenezer Gray (Seville), 24th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ormonde.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kaiser-I-Hind:
Pte Clement Morey (Lilydale), Australian Flying Corps
Pte George Reid (Lilydale), Australian Flying Corps
June 20th, 1919 –
Sub Lieutenant Frank Larkins (Mt Evelyn), Submarine J2: As the submarine travelled through the Karimala Strait, between Sumatra and Borneo, crew members discovered the empty blankets on the bunk of Sub Lieutenant Larkins. He was soon reported missing, believed to have fallen overboard while sleeping on top, something that was common for the crew to do due to the oppressive heat of the tropics. All the submarines and ships in the convoy immediately conducted a search and spent the next twelve hours looking for him until late in the afternoon without success. The following day the J2’s Captain held a burial service with all the crew mustered, one of them later wrote ‘they were a band of downcast men who stood there bareheaded’. He is 20 years old and as he has no known grave he is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in England.
He was the last local volunteer to become a casualty in World War One and out of all of the shire’s volunteers, he had served the longest, enlisting in the Royal Australian Navy in 1912 at the age of 14 years old, that is some six and a half years’ service all up.
June 21st, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Leicestershire:
Lt Wyatt Blair (Mooroolbark), Australian Flying Corps
Pte Robert Thomson (Mt Evelyn), 12th Army Field Artillery Brigade
Pte John Cathcart (Lilydale), Australian Army Service Corps
Pte Howard Vernon (Lilydale), 5th Battalion: He is discharged from the AIF for misconduct.
June 22nd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Devanha:
Gnr Victor Boulter (Olinda), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Sgt Ern Morey (Lilydale), 2nd Divisional Train
June 27th, 1919 –
Dvr Ernest Gilbert (Yering), 8th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Borda.
June 28th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orontes:
Pte Robert Jeeves x (Montrose), 58th Battalion
Tpr Thomas Smith (Lilydale), 13th Field Artillery Brigade
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Zealandia:
Dvr Stanley Scott (Mt Evelyn), SMTO Australian Corps
Dvr Henry Early x (Lilydale), 8th Field Artillery Brigade
Trp George Lysaght (Lilydale), 13th Light Horse Regiment
June 29th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Soudan:
Pte Paul Clegg (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte George Shellx (Lilydale), 8th Battalion
July 1st, 1919 –
Stoker George Cummings (Kilsyth): Is transferred to the crew of HMAS Suva who spends the next month escorting the Admiral of the Fleet, Lord John Jellicoe, on a tour of Australia’s northern ports as well as New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Pte Charles Clegg (Wandin), Aust Electric & Mechanical Mining and Boring Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Karmala.
July 2nd, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Napier:
Pte Geoffrey Searle (Wandin), 14th Battalion
Sgt William Stewart (Lilydale), 1st Divisional Ammunition Column
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Nestor:
Cpl Reginald Lyons MM (Olinda), 1st Divisional Signal Company
Gnr David England (Silvan), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
L/Cpl Frank Austin (Lilydale), 2nd Signal Company
Pte Benjamin Sessions (Silvan), 1st Anzac Cycle Corps
July 4th, 1919 –
Cpl Frank Duffy (Lilydale), 51st Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Konig Luise.
July 5th, 1919 –
Pte Arthur Padgett (Lilydale), 39th Battalion: Is discharged from the AIF in England as being medically unfit as a result of having contracted bronchitis. Having originally come from England he stays here for a number of years and returns to Australia in 1924.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ypiringa:
Gnr Richard Sharp (Yering), 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Henry Maidment (Lilydale), 13th Light Horse Regiment
DvrStan Smith (Lilydale), 2nd Divisional Train
Pte Fred Town (Lilydale), 2nd Division Ammunition Column
July 6th, 1919 –
Pte Ralph Garth (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of Poona.
July 9th, 1919 –
Ordinary Seaman George Paton (Montrose): After finishing his training at HMAS Cerberus he is assigned to HMAS Australia, which is operating in Australian waters.
RUSSIAN WAR OF INTERVENTION
July 11th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Arrives in Arkhangel, Russia as part of the Russian Relief Force.
July 12th, 1919 –
Lt Frank Maher MM (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Aeneas. In the 1920’s he went on to play football for Essendon, some as captain and coach, and coached both Fitzroy and Carlton at different times.
July 15th, 1919 –
Sgt William Bethune (Seville), 10th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Somali.
July 17th, 1919 –
Pte Wilmot Stephens x (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion, Wellington Regiment: Arrives back in New Zealand from Europe on the HT Briton.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Mahia:
Pte Harold Wright (Mooroolbark), 21st Battalion
Gnr Percy Hyne x (Lilydale), 8th Field Artillery Battery
Pte Charles Shell (Lilydale), 2nd Machine Gun Company
Pte Leslie Molloyx (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
July 18th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Rio Pardo:
Pte Robert Shell (Lilydale), 21st Battalion
Pte Stan Goode (Lilydale), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Thomas Kerr (Yering), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
July 19th, 1919 –
Dvr Cecil Watson (Olinda), 10th Field Ambulance: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Beltana.
Pte Ernest Bolitho (Lilydale), 29th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Miltiades.
July 20th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Is in Arkhangel, Russia with the North Russian Relief Force fighting the Bolsheviks. In his diary he writes – ‘We patrolled well behind the Bolshie lines but see no sight of him. We had to cross planking over a ditch. I waited with my camera for the first to tumble in. Baverstock walks right into it and I get a snap of him feeling for his rifle which is at the bottom of the ditch.
Pte Hugh Cowan x (Lilydale), 12th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Plassy.
July 21st, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Durham:
Pte William Verdon (Lilydale), 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Gnr Julius Ozols x (Silvan), 10th Field Artillery Brigade
Spr Frank Hoggx (Wandin), 14th Field Company Engineers
July 22nd, 1919 –
Lt James Wilken MSM (Kilsyth), Australian Flying Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Hungarian.
July 23rd, 1919 –
Gnr Archibald Arnott (Lilydale), 4th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ulysses. He would later go on to serve in World War Two.
July 24th, 1919 –
Sgt William Davies (Kilsyth), 1st Mining Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ormonde.
July 25th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Essex:
Trp John Taylor (Olinda), 14th Light Horse Regiment
Tpr Ernest Cassell (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment
Trp Walter Morrison (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic –‘Arrived home on Friday evening and as I have been kept busy and excited I hope you will forgive me for not writing before. Were you in the gay city during the Peace Celebrations? We were ‘somewhere’ in the Australian Bight.
We had a fairly good trip home but I suppose you have heard all about the trip I hardly knew my brothers when I met them in the city but my sister still carries a hand. When I was playing cricket I had an accident and my sister still carries the evidence of my carelessness. This town has not improved since I left and it is very quiet. The weather is too cold for me but I expect all the boys feel the cold’.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe with their war brides on board on the HT Bremen, what they called a ‘family ship’, as it brought mainly war brides and children to Australia:
Gnr Howard Guttmann (Olinda), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade & English war bride
Pte William Guillerme (Lilydale), Australian Veterinary Hospital & French war bride
July 27th, 1919 –
Gnr Duncan Eales (Lilydale), 3rd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Main.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Darwin:
Pte John Marsh (Wandin), 5th Battalion
Pte Thomas Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion
Pte William Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion
Pte James Graham (Seville), 7th Battalion
July 31st, 1919 –
Trp Albert Briers x (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Madras. In December 1918 he had faced a court of enquiry on a number of charges and was found guilty of neglecting orders. As a result, he was ordered to be sent home to be discharged.
August 1st, 1919 –
Gnr David England (Silvan), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Ormonde.
August 5th, 1919 –
Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin) Naval & Military Expeditionary Force: Arrives back in Australia from Rabaul on the SS Melusia. He has spent the past twelve months undertaking garrison duties on Rabaul.
Pte Norman Bennier (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Lyttleton.
Cpl Charles Perrin (Lilydale), Australian Pay Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Miliades.
August 6th, 1919 –
Sr Isabel McAlpine (Wandin), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Orita. She served with the 3rd Australian Army Hospital on the journey back, looking after wounded and ill servicemen on board.
Dvr Henry Collins (Coldstream), 1st Australian Motor Transport Company: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Konig Frederick August.
August 7th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from the Middle Easton the HT Malta:
Trp Alexander Mathews (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment
Tpr Arthur Campbell (Mt Dandenong), 8th Light Horse Regiment
Tpr Peter Witt (Olinda), 8th Light Horse Regiment
August 8th, 1919 –
Pte William Davies x (Wandin), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: Is discharged from the AIF (demobilised) while still in London, England.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Themistocles:
L/Cpl Harold Wilkin (Wandin), 39th Battalion
Pte Allan Hooke (Kilsyth), 3rd Field Bakery
August 10th, 1919 –
Trp Allen Mounsey (Seville), 9th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from the Middle East on the HMAT Oxfordshire.
August 13th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Konig Luise:
Dvr Herbert Jeeves (Mt Dandenong), 5th Motor Transport Company
Cpl Albert Atkinson (Lilydale), Australian Army Medical Corps
August 16th, 1919 –
Cpl Alex McEwin (Montrose), 4th Divisional Signal Company: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of Exeter.
August 18th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Karmala:
Pte Cyril Crameri (Montrose), 13th Light Horse Regiment
Gnr Isaac Brown (Lilydale), 6th Field Artillery Brigade
August 20th, 1919 –
Pte Frank Rance (Wandin), 5th Battalion: Is admitted to the Lewes Detention Barracks to serve out a sentence of twelve months’ detention. He had been court martialled and sentenced by a Court of Enquiry for being absent without leave between October 1918 until when he was apprehended in April 1919. Originally from England, he had been hiding out with family and friends. The unexpired portion of his sentence was remitted in October 1919 and he was sent back to Australia to be discharged.
Sgt Charles Stanbury MM (Lilydale), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Dunluce Castle.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Frankfurt:
Pte Robert Bedford (Lilydale), 46th Battalion
Pte Thomas McCarthy (Lilydale), 57th Battalion
Gnr Clarence Rouget (Wandin), 11th Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Frederick Brierty (Lilydale), Army Veterinary Corps
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port of Melbourne:
Pte William Jackson (Kilsyth), 23rd Battalion
Sgt Charles McComas (Montrose), 31st Battalion
Sgt William Marshall x (Wandin), 57th Battalion
Pte Bert Hooper (Mt Dandenong), 15th Machine Gun Company
August 21st, 1919 –
Pte Harold Dozell (Lilydale), 59th Battalion: Is tried by a District Court Martial on a charge of ‘when on active service in France, deserting His Majesty’s Service’. He was absent without leave from June 7th, 1918 until surrendering to the Military Police, in London, August 15th, 1919. He is awarded eighteen months imprisonment with hard labour and marched out to Pentonville Prison.
August 24th, 1919 –
Pte Roy Langley (Montrose), 8th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Prinz Hubertus.
Pte Arthur Geuer (Lilydale), 11th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT City of Exeter.
August 25th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Is in Arkhangel, Russia with the North Russian Relief Force fighting the Bolsheviks. In his diary he writes: ‘Generals Ironside and Rawlinson visit 448 and the surrounding blockhouses. At Obozerskaya before leaving, General interviews Harcourt’s force and tells us we are going to attack Bolos and take his guns at 441 in conjunction with Russkies. Rains most of the afternoon. Turn in about 9.00pm’.
August 26th, 1919 –
Stoker James McClure (Yering), HMAS Yarra: Is demobilised from the Royal Australian Navy when his five years is finished. He later signs on again in 1921 for another five years.
Pte Albert Round x (Kilsyth), Camel Ambulance Corps: Arrives in Australia from Egypt on the HT Dunluce Castle.
August 28th, 1919 –
Sgt Vincent Lawlor (Gruyere), 15th Light Horse Regiment: Arrives back in Australia from the Middle East on the HT Dongala.
Dvr James Currie (Seville), Divisional Supply Column: Marries an English girl in London, England. She would return as his war bride.
August 29th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Is in Arkhangel, Russia with the North Russian Relief Force fighting the Bolsheviks. In his diary he writes: ‘Newbould takes the gun position we were supposed to take and we take his. Score a razor, artillery sword and Bolo respirator out of a machine gun dug out. Go over to headquarters for water and on return take one of the packhorses back for a drink. Bolo shelling all along the railway line. I near run into a big galumph with the pony getting back to camp. Major May got a bullet through each thigh. Sgt Pearse was killed earlier in the day’. (Pearse was later posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on this day).
RSM George Deacon DCM, MSM x (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Soudan.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Persic:
Spr Edward Barratt (Olinda), 5th Field Company Engineers
L/Cpl Leonard Bunt (Wandin), 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery
Pte William Hunter (Wandin), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Sgt Harold Hunter MM (Wandin), Australian Signal Corps
Gnr Noel Cox-Taylor (Silvan), 6th Field Artillery Brigade
August 30th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Is in Arkhangel, Russia with the North Russian Relief Force fighting the Bolsheviks. In his diary he writes: ‘Had a walk around the village which is fairly knocked. One water tower levelled by the Bolos, the other in good repair. Large engine shed knocked about. Then get a scooter ride to 422 where the large iron bridge over the Yemtsa River is blown up. Take some photos of Bolo prisoners working on the wreckage. At Verst 448 on the way back I could hear them shooting Bolos in the woods’.
September 1st, 1919 –
Pte Andrew Blythe (Mt Dandenong), 14th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Friedricsruch.
September 2nd, 1919 –
Lt Clyde Hoffman (Montrose), 59th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe with his war bride and child on the HT Anchises.
September 3rd, 1919 –
Gnr Percy Cox (Seville), 4th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Ulysses.
September 5th, 1919 –
Gnr James Strachan (Lilydale), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Prinz Ludwig.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Chemnitz:
Dvr George Lawson (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Florian Deschamp (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion
Pte Arthur Lowe (Yering), 24th Battalion
Pte Alexander Tonkin x (Wandin), 36th Battalion
Pte Norman Bedford (Lilydale), Australian Army Service Corps
WOII Albert Ostrom (Gruyere), 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters
September 6th, 1919 –
Sgt Gordon Towt (Coldstream), Veterinary Hospital: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orita.
September 9th, 1919 –
Pte Thomas Hogg (Wandin), Australian Army Postal Corps: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Takada.
Sgt Arthur Thomas x (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Indarra.
September 10th, 1919 –
Pte Thomas Parker (Lilydale), 2nd General Reinforcements: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic.
September 14th, 1919 –
Pte Archibald McCully (Wandin), 58th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Lincoln.
Pte Thomas Leach (Lilydale), 22nd Cycling Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Demosthenes.
Sgt Charles White (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Kanowna.
September 15th, 1919 –
Sr Edith Yeaman (Montrose), Australian Army Nursing Service: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Czaritza.
Lt Alvin Closs (Olinda), Army Education Service: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Prinz Ludwig.
September 17th, 1919 –
Lt Harold Bartram (Olinda), AIF Records Section: Is demobilised from the AIF in London and will make his own way back to Australia via America.
Sgt Raymond Johnson (Lilydale), 5th Section Railway Unit: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the Karamal.
September 22nd, 1919 –
Pte Ernest James x (Gruyere), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Argyllshire.
Lt Percy Letch (Lilydale), 2nd Section Railway Unit: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Zealandia.
September 25th, 1919 –
RSM George Hastie (Seville), 58th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Denison after service with the war graves department in Europe.
September 27th, 1919 –
Pte Wilfred Yeaman (Montrose), 201st Battalion (British Army): Leaves Arkhangel, Russia with the North Russian Relief Force to return to England.
Pte Herbert Beswick (Mt Dandenong), 58th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Bakara.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ceramic:
Pte Alexander Blair (Olinda), 22nd Battalion
Pte James Smith (Olinda), 2nd Pioneer Battalion & English war bride
October 8th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Anchises:
Gnr Clifford Jackson (Lilydale), 5th Field Artillery Battery
Pte Arthur Watson (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion
October 10th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Ajana:
Pte Thomas Brown x (Olinda), 6th Machine Gun Company
Dvr William Hayes (Mt Dandenong), 1st Field Artillery Brigade
Pte Arthur Leckie (Lilydale), 59th Battalion
Pte Alwyn McConachy (Montrose), 46th Battalion: On the trip home he was admitted to the sick berth suffering from scabies and gingivitis and is sent straight to hospital.
October 12th, 1919 –
Sgt Walter Bridgland (Olinda), No 2 Squadron, AFC: Is granted leave in England to make his own way back to Australia via America as long as he reports at Melbourne by July 21st, 1920. He fails to do this and ends up being discharged as illegally absent.
October 13th, 1919 –
Dvr Frederick Randolph (Lilydale), 4th Motor Transport Company: Originally from Ireland, he opts to be discharged from the AIF upon demobilisation in London.
October 15th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Main:
Cpl David Davies (Lilydale), 1st Machine Gun Battalion
Pte Dominico Correicllo (Lilydale), 4th Pioneer Battalion
October 20th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Euripides:
Spr Louis Yoxon (Lilydale), 1st Division Signals
Pte Harry Moore MM x (Lilydale), 45th Battalion
Pte Harry Boxall (Silvan), 8th Light Horse Regiment
Pte William Jacob (Mooroolbark), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Capt Joseph Anderson MC (Lilydale), Australian Army Medical Corps
October 23rd, 1919 –
Cpl William Clarke (Lilydale): Is discharged from Home Service as a result of the AIF being demobilised.
October 25th, 1919 –
Pte Victor Ellis (Wandin), 13th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Barambah.
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Plassy:
Pte Walter Wilken x (Silvan), 59th Battalion
Gnr William Houghton x (Mooroolbark), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade
Spr John McGhee (Lilydale), 3rd Division Signal Company
October 27th, 1919 –
Pte Leonard Giddins x (Olinda), 7th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Raranga. He had been previously been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for desertion and had been removed from the Lewes Detention Barracks in England to the ship. He would be discharged from the AIF the following month for misconduct.
November 1st, 1919 –
Pte Louis Cazaly (Montrose), 57th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port Lyttleton.
Lt William Eales (Lilydale), 3rd Division Ammunition Column: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Nestor.
November 3rd, 1919 –
Lt Reginald Farndon MC & Bar (Mt Dandenong), 24th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Orontes. He would go on to serve in World War Two spending most of his time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese on Singapore.
November 6th, 1919 –
Pte Hugh Burns (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HMAT Ascanius.
Capt George Crowther MC (Lilydale), 39th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Osterley.
November 10th, 1919 –
Pte William Walker (Montrose), 24th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Mahana.
November 12th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Port of Sydney:
L/Cpl James Wheeler (Yering), 4th Machine Gun Battalion
Pte Charles Pazzi (Lilydale), 29th Battalion
Capt Leonard Cox (Olinda), Australian Army Medical Corps: He later became a noted neurologist and art collector.
November 24th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Pakeha:
Capt Roland Wild MC (Kilsyth),2nd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Ernest Smith (Yering), 3rd Pioneer Battalion
Pte Victor Campbell (Silvan), 1st Divisional Train
Pte Frank Poyner (Lilydale), 6th Battalion
Pte Alfred Blanksbyx (Wandin), 8th Battalion
Pte Frank Rance (Wandin), 5th Battalion: In August he had been charged with twelve months’ detention for being absent without leave for six months while in England. He had been removed from the Lewes Detention Barracks and sent home on this ship and as soon as he arrived in Australia he was immediately discharged. Because of this he was deemed ineligible for war medals, even though he had been wounded in action twice in 1918.
November 27th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Devon:
Pte Roy Davies x (Wandin), 14th Battalion
Pte William Parkinson x (Coldstream) 14th Battalion: Upon arrival in Australia he is court martialled for being absent without leave from 30/7/19 to 16/9/19 while in England.
December 15th, 1919 –
The following local soldiers arrive back in Australia from Europe on the HT Nestor:
Lt James Harrison (Wandin), 22nd Battalion
Sgt James Whelan (Lilydale), 29th Battalion
Dvr William Parr x (Lilydale), 3rd Supply Column
December 26th, 1919 –
Sgt Frederick Bartholomew (Kilsyth), 4th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Marathon.