Staverton
Sept 1915: The Sheffield railway station was packed on Saturday evening by a crowd that raised an enthusiastic welcome as the steam train from Railton arrived bearing Private Lionel Weeks of Staverton. He was the first wounded soldier to be returned to Kentish to recuperate. Lionel had been a member of the Staverton Light Horse and one of the first men in Kentish to enlist. He had been in the trenches at Gallipoli for only two months when he was hit with a Turkish bullet in his hip while boiling the billy. The bullet is now a valuable trophy of his, along with pieces of his rifle that, on another occasion, was shot out of his hands while aiming at the enemy. At Sheffield station, Ed Harrison provided his motor car for the wounded soldier to sit in while Warden GA Morse made a welcome speech and refreshments were served. The train then steamed on to Roland, where his Staverton family and friends were waiting to greet him. After two months’ recuperation, Private Lionel Weeks returned to the war front in Nov 1915, where he was again wounded before finally being discharged in Mar 1919.
Wilmot
Nov 1916: An enthusiastic welcome home social was given to Captain Martyn Clerke, who has returned from Egypt to recuperate from injuries. The Wilmot Rechabite Hall was gaily decorated with bunting and greenery. After the national anthem, a powerful speech by the Hon John Hope MLC welcomed Captain Clerke home. Captain Clerke was one of the first in the state to enlist and spent five months at Gallipoli, from where he was invalided to England suffering from enteric fever. Three months later, he rejoined his regiment in the Sinai Peninsula and was promoted to captain. During the Battle of Romani in Aug 1916, when the Allied Forces, led by General Allenby, stopped the Turks’ second attempt to capture the Suez Canal, Martyn was hit by a machine gun bullet in his left knee, which necessitated his being sent home to Tasmania to recuperate. Hon Hope said he had two sons at the front, one of whom had served under Captain Clerke. During this same Battle of Romani, his son had his horse shot under him, and it was ‘a Wilmot horse, and a good one’. After recovering, Martyn Clerke returned to France where he was promoted to Major in May 1918 and was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order).
West Kentish
May 1918: A good number of residents met at the West Kentish railway siding on Tuesday evening to welcome home Driver Frank Harvey, who has returned from the front wounded, gassed and ill. Frank (22) looked considerably older after his three and a half years of war service. James & Martha Harvey’s three boys are all in khaki. Frank and Percy enlisted three and a half years ago and the youngest, Ted, about two and a half years ago. Without his sons, their father, James Harvey, has been handicapped in his work on the farm, and it is thought by many that there should be no necessity for Driver Harvey, who has six months’ leave of absence, to return to the frontlines.
Barrington
Feb 1919: Sergeant Jack Mason of Barrington arrived in Sheffield by the 11.15am steam train yesterday. There were many persons at the station who welcomed him with cheers. The band led the procession from the railway station to the Caledonian Hotel, playing suitable selections. In the absence of the warden, Mr MA Bruce (Manager, Commercial Bank) extended a cordial welcome home to the returned soldier. Sergeant Mason went away with the 40th Battalion and came back with three stripes added to his rank. He has been wounded twice and is still on crutches because of a bullet through his thigh. On arrival, Jack was besieged by a very large number of friends, who were undoubtedly glad to see him home.
Lower Barrington/Sheffield
Dec 1918: A very enjoyable evening was spent in the Victoria Hall on Tuesday to welcome Private Edmund Rockliff, who was recently invalided home. Mr. Ellwood presented him with a gold medal, which was fastened to his coat by his mother. Private Rockliff suitably responded. A nice supper was handed round and the national anthem sung, after which the young people indulged in various games until a late hour.
All seven sons of Sam & Eliza Goss of Lower Barrington enlisted for the war front, and apart from Hector Goss (28), rejected on medical grounds, the other six sons fought in long conflicts. In 1915 their sons at the front were Frank Goss (32), Henry Goss (27), Arthur Goss (25), Lambert Goss (24), George Goss (22) and Alfred Goss (20). Although all survived the war, most returned home with serious wounds. First to arrive home injured in May 1917 was Lambert Goss, but after a few months recuperating, he returned to France. In Sept 1917, Lance-Corporal Frank Goss was invalided home, arriving unexpectedly at Sheffield by the midday train, suffering gunshot wounds to his left lung and back. A few weeks later, Frank was the only son home with his mother when she died in Oct 1917. In Jan 1919, Henry Goss arrived home from an English hospital having been severely gassed twice. Alfred and Arthur Goss arrived in Sep 1919, both having been wounded, with Arthur having spent two and a half years in hospital. George Goss was also wounded in France and hospitalised in England. There he met his future wife in Dorchester, married her Easter 1919 and chose to remain in England.
After the war, Henry and Arthur Goss shared a soldier settlement farm together in Barrington, and both married young daughters of Walter Crack of Kentish. Henry (32) m Hazel Crack (16) in 1919 and had 15 children. Arthur (31) m her sister Minnie Crack (16) in 1921 and had 17 children. Eventually, both Henry’s and Arthur’s large families came to live at the eastern end of Main St, Sheffield. Arthur Goss became a war invalid in early life and left Minnie a widow at age 54; her youngest son went blind at age 6 and her physically handicapped second youngest, spend years in St Giles Hospital
Henry & Hazel Goss’s 10th child became a veterinary doctor, and in Feb 2013, aged 76, he wrote: ‘I, Dr. Patrick James Goss, sit and ponder in full humility the man I admired in his time above all others – my father, Henry Herbert Goss, born Nov 1888 to Samuel & Elizabeth Goss. Sadly, and to my horror, this man – my father, my friend, my mentor and a shoulder to cry upon – departed this earth in July 1956 from a massive heart attack and was put to his well-earned rest in the Sheffield Cemetery. May his GOD and my GOD forever cradle him in HIS arms till we meet again. Amen. Oh my loving father, I am following you soon as I am riddled with cancer. Amen to that too.’
Sheffield
June 1919: Five more Kentish lads returned to Sheffield on Monday’s evening train. They were Sergeant-Major H McNab, Bombardier Tom Robson, Privates Bray, Charles and Roy Glover. A large crowd met them at the station. The Sheffield Brass band playing patriotic airs, marched ahead of them up the Main St where Mr MA Bruce, on behalf of the warden, extended to the men a very hearty welcome home. Commenting on the return of brothers Charles & Roy Glover, Mr Bruce was pleased to say all four of Mr Tom Glover’s sons had enlisted, were now all home.
Oct 1919: A social in honour of a dozen men returning from France will be held on Thursday next. Their names: Corporal Torch (& wife), Air Mechanic Singleton, Privates Nunn, Padman, Moles, Bray (& wife), Listner, Milne, Rouse, Wm Hope, J Morris and B Thompson (& wife).
Claude Road
Sept 1917: On Saturday night, a welcome home social was held at Claude Road in honour of the return of Private David Steers. Private Steers left Tasmania in July 1916 and was wounded by a shell splinter during the battle for the Somme in France. He was sent home as his left arm is, at present, practically useless. A warm welcome was extended to the returned soldier.
July 1919: A welcome home social was held at the Claude Road school for Sergeant-Major Fitzmaurice & his wife. He returned after four years serving abroad. His parents have recently taken over the local PO/store. After an entertaining programme, the chairman (Cr Chas Lord) presented the returned soldier with a handsome gold medal, to which S-M Fitzmaurice expressed his appreciation of the honour accorded to his wife and himself.
Aug 1919: A welcome home social was held in the schoolroom on Friday night for three returned soldiers, Sergeant Ern Billing (MM) and Privates Fred Febey and John McCoy. The building was packed to overflowing. As the soldiers were escorted to the platform, they were cheered to the tune ‘Home Sweet Home’, and the national anthem was then played by the Sheffield Brass Band. Cr Chas Lord presided and extended a hearty welcome to the returned heroes and spoke in eulogistic terms for the work they had done for king and country. The chairman, on behalf of the residents, presented each soldier with a gold medal, suitably inscribed. Misses L Whiley, G Billing and G Febey pinned the medals on the breasts of the soldiers. Sergeant Billing returned thanks for himself and his mates.
Oct 1919: On Tuesday night, another welcome home was held. Three more returned soldiers were on the platform: Privates Whiley, Elliott and Febey. Councillor Lord presided. He voiced the genuine pleasure of all present at being able to again welcome home men who had done so well in the field. A short programme filled in a pleasant hour, and then each returned soldier was presented with a suitably inscribed gold medal. Private Whiley expressed the thanks of the men for the welcome given them. Private Febey’s English bride was also welcomed to the district and presented with a gold brooch. The singing of the national anthem closed the programme, and supper was served.
Railton
Dec 1918: By the Tuesday evening train, Private Chas & Corporal Wm Densley MM returned to Railton from war service in France, where Wm and two mates took out the last gun at Anzac Cove. Long before the train arrived, the station was thronged with people. As the two soldiers alighted from the train, the Drum & Fife Band played ‘Rule, Britannia’ and ‘Home Sweet Home’ amidst intense cheering. One of the returning lads remarked, ‘I didn’t think there were so many people in Railton!’ Later that evening, the welcome social included two other brave lads: Lance-Corporal Jim Mawer and Private J Lockett, recently invalided home. The gathering in the hall was a large one, and a most enjoyable time was had. Mr EF Blyth MHA presided and gave a powerful address on the bravery of our men. Dr Parker, president of the local branch of the RSL, welcomed the returned men. After a full programme of vocal and instrumental items, the chairman, in presenting the handsome gold medals to the returned men, referred to the distinctions they won, particularly Corporal W Densley’s, who had not only gained the coveted distinction of the Military Medal but had also won ‘a bar’ for the medal.
Oct 1919: On Wednesday evening, Carroll’s Hall, Railton, was literally packed to the doors for the welcoming home of the last of the Railton soldiers. The returned men honoured were Captain Aubrey White, Corporals George Anderson, V Goss and Andrew Anderson, and Privates Walter Lawler, Arthur Lamont and Albert Roughley. Also, Captain White’s French wife and Corporal G Anderson’s Scottish wife & baby daughter. On behalf of the residents, each man was presented with a handsome gold medal, and to both Mrs White & Mrs Anderson, a gold brooch.
Beulah
July 1918: A welcome home was given in the local hall to returned soldiers Privates Cliff Sharman, Ray O’Garey, Alex Campbell and Edward Hooper. The Warden Cr Blyth MHA presented each with a handsome gold medal. Private Campbell was given a fountain pen on behalf of the staff and scholars of Beulah Baptist Sunday School. Private Sharman’s medal was pinned on by his mother, Private Campbell’s by his sister Mrs F Sharman, Private O’Garey’s by Miss Kitty Doyle and Private Hooper’s by Miss Sylvia Dawkins.
Sept 1918: The Beulah Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity (many being unable to gain admission) on Wednesday evening for the welcome home of Private J McCarthy MM.
After singing the national anthem, Cr T Doyle welcomed everybody, and the lengthy programme of musical items and recitations began. He then said it gave him great pleasure to welcome home Private McCarthy after three years’ absence on active service and called upon his sister, Miss J McCarthy, to pin a gold medal upon her brother’s tunic. The fact that he had won a Military Medal made the district very proud, and they wished him a speedy recovery from his wounds.
Oct 1918: Fifty Babies Born on Unique Voyage
A world record was recently established by a passenger ship enroute from England to Australia. There were several hundred returning soldiers aboard with a large contingent of their English wives who were coming out to establish new homes in the colonies. During the voyage, no fewer than fifty babies were born aboard the ship. The old soldiers were delighted to welcome the new troops aboard. (NB: After WWII ¼ million American servicemen took 15,000 Australian war brides back to the USA)