Another death in the Dardanelles – news from 100 years ago

Featured image: An early photograph of Nelligen featuring the Steam Packet Hotel -from the MDHS Collection

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

NELLIGEN HOTEL – The Steam Packet Hotel, at Nelligen, owned and managed by Mr M. White for years , has changed hands, Mrs. Priddle, of Mogo, having purchased it right out for ₤2200. Mrs Priddle will be remembered as the popular hostess of the Mogo Hotel, prior to its closing by Act of Parliament, and if she runs her new purchase – as no doubt she will – on the same up-to-date lines as she did her Mogo business, the residents of Nelligen and the travelling public will have every reason to be truly grateful. 31/7/1915

DEATH – We regret having to report the untimely death of the youngest daughter of Mr Austin, of Nelligen, and grand-daughter of Mr Joseph Corrigan, of Bateman’s Bay, which sad event took place at her father’s residence last Sunday night at the early age of about 12 years from double pneumonia. Deceased had been attended by a Mr. Webber , of Nelligen, but her case becoming worse Dr. Quilter was called in on Saturday. The patient, however, was past medical aid and passed away on the following night. 31/7/1915

OLD AGE AND INVALID PENSIONS – Speaking in Parliament last week Mr. Austin Chapman made another effort on the part of the old age and invalid pensioners, urging that owing to the cost of living many were having difficulty in keeping body and soul together. The increase of 2s and 6d per week had been promised and should be paid. “The poor ye have always with you.” May Chapman live forever! So say all of us!! 31/7/1915

HELPING RECRUITING – We notice with pleasure that employers in many instances are shouldering burdens for the benefit of employees who go to the front, and are keeping their billets open for them should they return, as well as making up to them the difference between the military pay and the wages earned at the time of enlistment. Altho we have not noticed it chronicled in the Sydney press we are reliably informed that Mr Hutchinson, on behalf of the Bodalla Company, made the same liberal offer to the Estate employees. 31/7/1915

LONG WALK – When in Moruya a few days ago, Mr. J. Layden, who keeps the Araluen Hotel, missed the Araluen coach, and rather than lose another day or engage a special conveyance he started off and walked home. A very good performance, “Jim.” 31/7/1915

GRAZIER LEAVES £19,819– The estate of the late Mr. James Tarlinton, grazier, of Wilgoa, Cobargo (N.S.W.), has been sworn at £19,819. He died intestate, and letters of administration have been granted to his widow, and his son, Mr. James Herbert Tarlington. 31/7/1915

BATEMAN’S BAY – (From our Correspondent.) Much sympathy was felt last week when the news became known here that Sergeant Keating received instructions from Sydney to convey the sad intelligence to Mrs Cannon, of this town, that her husband has lost his life in the Dardanelles. Only a few weeks before his death his wife received two most encouraging letters from him when he stated that

“he was going through a most severe time but was in perfect health and was relying in God to pull him through, and if it was not His Will that his life be spared he would have the satisfaction in his last moments that he had given his life to save others.”

By this sacrifice Private F. W. Cannon has left a widow and three little children to mourn the loss, and the particularly sad point is that the children are all dependent on the widowed mother, two girls and a boy, Lawrence the oldest, only six years, Edna 4 years and Florence only 2. The deceased who was only 31 years was born in Berry, N. S. W., and had only been a short time here before he joined the army, but in that time (short as it was), he had gained the esteem of all who knew him. 31/7/1915

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.