090 – Hobart War Memorial

Hobart War Memorial

Among the negatives are a group of images of the war memorial used on Anzac Day prior to the building of the existing cenotaph on the site of what was once the Queen’s Battery. This image is dated ANZAC Day 1920. Between 1916 and 1925 the wooden structure designed around a broken column on a plinth was brought out each year for the ANZAC Day Service and placed on a site on the Domain. Its symbolism would not have been lost on those attending, usually thought to represent a life cut short. It was often used on graves in the late 19th century. Continue reading “090 – Hobart War Memorial”

089 – Grave Marker for Private Edwin (Ted) Allen Oxley

Private Edwin (Ted) Allen Oxley Died of wounds
2 October 1917

The Australian Graves Detachment which later became the Australian Graves Ser-vices used soldiers waiting to be returned to Australia for discharge to assist in find-ing and recovering the remains of our casualties. There were three units—one at Amiens, another at Villers-Bretonneux and the third at Poperinghe in Belgium. Continue reading “089 – Grave Marker for Private Edwin (Ted) Allen Oxley”

088 – Tree 402

Private George Arthur Wood 40th Battalion, killed in action on 26 April 1918

Tree No. 402 on the Soldiers Memorial Avenue was planted in memory of George Wood on 3 August 1918. He was a 26 year old married baker from New Town. When George Wood died, he left behind a wife and children to mourn their loss as well as his parents. Did they all come together to plant this tree in his memory? Continue reading “088 – Tree 402”

087 – Soldiers Memorial Avenue

Soldiers Memorial Avenue

This image taken looking down the Soldiers Memorial Avenue was not taken by J. J. Barnett, but by William Fellowes who operated at D.I.C. Photo. It is quite likely that someone wanted a copy of the image and took it to Barnett to be cop-ied for them. Joe Barnett made his own glass plate negative which appears among the collection.

It was proposed that a living memorial in the form of an avenue of tree be planted. Continue reading “087 – Soldiers Memorial Avenue”

086 – Thomas Gillard Ford and Vivian Thomas Ford

Thomas Gillard Ford
Vivian Thomas Ford
Machine Gun Details

So far it is been brothers who have been in camp together. Thomas Gillard Ford, a reservist was visiting his son Vivian who was at the Claremont Camp. Thomas had joined the British Navy at the age of 11 and had served on a number of different ships including the Vanguard when it collided with the Iron Duke and sank. He arrived in Hobart in January 1881 and worked for the Prison Department rising to the rank of deputy gaoler before resigning. In 1893 he joined The Mercury’ . He later worked for  the Customs Department. Continue reading “086 – Thomas Gillard Ford and Vivian Thomas Ford”

085 – Sergeant Neville Henry (Ned) Bowden

Sergeant Neville Henry (Ned) Bowden 12th Battalion & Permanent Guard Corp

On New Years Eve 1914, after the initial rush was over, Ned Bowden, a 24 year old married printer from Queen Street, North Hobart volunteered for enlistment. He stated that he had seven and a half years experience with the 93rd Infantry and was in fact still serving. He was allotted to and embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements for the 12th Battalion on HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 2 February 1915. Continue reading “085 – Sergeant Neville Henry (Ned) Bowden”

082 – Reginald Charles Atkinson and Roy Benjamin Masters

Reginald Charles Atkinson and Roy Benjamin Masters

Reginald Charles Atkinson and Roy Benjamin Masters

Reginald and Roy are unlikely to have known each other prior to meeting at the Claremont Army Camp. Reginald was a farmer from Yolla, while Roy worked as a carter and was living at Exton. Both were of a similar age and may have simply been allotted to the same tent where they became friends. Continue reading “082 – Reginald Charles Atkinson and Roy Benjamin Masters”

081 – Clarence Robert Wilson, John Malcolm Hay, James Harold Wilson and John Malcolm Hay

Clarence Robert Wilson
John Malcolm Hay
James Harold Wilson
John Malcolm Hay

The trio of Clarence Robert Wilson, John Malcolm Hay and James Harold Wilson were not going to miss out on having their photo taken either. By early September much better news about the war was reaching Australia particularly after the battle for Amiens on 8 August. Continue reading “081 – Clarence Robert Wilson, John Malcolm Hay, James Harold Wilson and John Malcolm Hay”