Mixed news from the Great War and a special Australia Day in 1915

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1915, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

Featured Image: The Australia Day 1915 procession down Campbell Steet Moruya. The precession is going past Merlyn, Emmott’s original Beehive Store in Moruya. The house was built as the Erin-Go-Bragh Hotel on Broulee Island.The horses leading the procession are approaching the current MDHS Museum.

NEW SOLDIERS – Mr. Leo Williams has offered himself for the front and has passed the doctor. Mr. Arthur McKenzie has also offered and on Thursday was passed by Dr Quilter. We hear that there are eleven others from Bateman’s Bay and Nelligen who have offered themselves in defence of their homes and loved ones. 24/7/15

MISAPPREHENSION – As some people are laboring under a misapprehension concerning the object of Australia Day we wish to state that the primary object is to have a united effort throughout the state to raise money for our wounded Australian soldiers, and therefore it need not be a solemn occasion and any clean and bright method to raise money is legitimate. 24/7/15

Editor’s Note: Australia Day was held to commemorate the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) battle, then underway. Australia Day was celebrated on 30 July in 1915, and attracted enthusiastic crowds.The celebration raised funds for the Australian Division of the Red Cross, for use on the front, on hospital ships and at hospitals in Malta and Egypt. This followed a successful ‘Belgian Day’ held on 15 May 1915.

THIS PAPER wishes to draw the attention of our Councillors to the shameful way in which our pleasure grounds on the bank of the river, to the east of the bridge, are being destroyed and rendered unsafe to man and beast , through broken bottles and all sorts of old tin and other town rubbish being indiscriminately deposited on it. Our Councillors should act in this matter at once. 24/7/15

OURSELVES – Owing to Australia day falling on Friday the 30^th inst., and in order to allow all hands and the cook attached to the “Examiner” Office an opportunity of attending the procession and sports, etc., to be held on that day in aid of our gallant Australia Soldiers, the next issue of the “Examiner” will be published on the previous day, Thursday 29^th. All advertisements and correspondence for that issue will, therefore, have to reach this office on the preceding day, Wednesday. God save the King! 24/7/15

ROLL OF HONOUR – A cable was received on Wednesday to the effect that Private Canon had been killed in action at the Dardanelles. The hero, who enlisted at Nelligen, leaves a wife and three children at Bateman’s Bay. 24/7/15

MARRIAGE – On Wednesday evening a quiet wedding was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Moruya, Rev. Father O’Connell officiating, when Miss Annie, third daughter of Mr and Mrs C Stubbs of Gundary, was married to Mr John, eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Staunton of Congo. The bride was attired in a rich costume of grey silk Casillas, relieved with floral ninon, and a hat of cerise panne velvet and white water-waved silk with pale grey ostrich feather. The bridesmaid, Miss Lily Stubbs, (sister), wore a pretty frock of blue-faced cloth with cream hat trimmed with roses. Mr. F. Sebbens acted as best man. After refreshments had been partaken of at the residence of the bride’s parents the happy couple left per special motor for Sydney, where the honey-moon will be spent, the bride travelling in a tailored navy costume with hat en suite. The “Examiner” extends its hearty congratulations to Mr and Mrs Staunton. 24/7/15

DEATH – Corporal Bell, a popular member of the Professional Musicians’ Union, who enlisted a few months ago died at the Mater Miseriecordia Hospital, North Sydney, last week. He had obtained sick leave from the Liverpool camp and his end came suddenly. The remains of the deceased was accorded a military funeral, but the heart-broken wife was unable to reach Sydney in time. 24/7/15

FROM THE FRONT – The following letter has been received by Mrs A. Bishop of Eurobodalla from her son, Sergeant Harold Bishop: –

“ Lemnos Island, 23/5/15. My dear Mother, – Well, Mother I wrote to you some days ago, I was in hospital and am still there. I did three weeks of hard fighting , and we had a good deal of rain and lying there in the wet trenches I caught a chill. Lemnos is a beautiful Island. Talk about Bega being pretty, well this can beat it. We get a storm every few days and it is always green. …24/7/15

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1914 are available ($5 ea) from the Society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the Society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au). A New DVD entitled Soldiers of the Eurobodalla, Stories of our Locals is also now available from the Society.