Monday 6 April 2015

Members of the Coburg Presbyterian Church congregation go to war


Presbyterian Church, Coburg, built in 1899 and at that time located on the west side of Sydney Road near the corner of Munro Street. Image found in Coburg Historical Society collection. Source unknown.



Members of the Australian Expeditionary Force from Coburg Presbyterian Church. Left to right: George Waite (3431 Private George Harold Waite, 5th Infantry Battalion); Jack Aitken (7471 Corporal John Eadie Aitken, 1st Divisional Train Supply); T. Williams; Arch Murray (2nd Lieut Archibald James Murray, 29th Btn.); Mel Robertson (3484 Private Melrose Noel Robertson, 14th Infantry Battalion); Jim Buchanan (6133 Private James Reid Buchanan, 2nd Field Ambulance). Image courtesy Coburg Uniting Church Archive.



3431 Private George Harold Waite, 5th Infantry Battalion, was a 20 year old civil servant when he enlisted on 3 July 1915. He lived with his widowed mother Isabella in White Street, Coburg. Although he embarked with the 5th Battalion, he transferred to the Army Pay Corps and worked at Admin. HQ in London. He returned to Australia in November 1919.

7471 Corporal John (Jack) Eadie Aitken, 1st Divisional Train Supply, was a motor body builder aged 21 when he enlisted on 30 July 1915. He lived with his widowed mother Nannie at ‘Oamaru’, 40 Walsh Street, Coburg at the time of his enlistment. In May 1918, he was invalided to England with a sprained ankle but was otherwise injury and illness free. He returned to Australia in July 1919, became a career soldier and lived in Coburg until his death in 1976 aged 82. As an old boy of Coburg State School, he will be featured in Coburg Historical Society’s ANZAC Centenary Project.

Apart from the fact that T.R. Williams is listed on the Coburg Independent Order of Rechabites Honour Board and is featured in this photograph, I have yet to identify him.

2nd Lieutenant Archibald (Arch) James Murray, 29th Infantry Battalion, was a Coburg Lacrosse Club member and had been in the Victorian Scottish Regiment (52nd Infantry) for 6 years prior to enlistment.

3484 Private Melrose (Mel) Noel Robertson, 14th Infantry Battalion, was another member of the Coburg Lacrosse Club and had served in the Victorian Scottish Regiment for three and a half years before enlisting.

6133 Private James (Jim) Reid Buchanan, 2nd Field Ambulance, was a 24 year old tailor living with his mother Margaret in Reynard Street, Coburg when he enlisted on 11 June 1915. He, too, was a member of the Coburg Lacrosse Club. He also played for the Olmurita Tennis Club and was a member of the local branch of the Australian Natives Association. 


4 comments:

  1. I've searched for T R Williams too but with no luck.

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  2. Glad to know I'm not alone.Maybe someone else out there can help solve the mystery!

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  3. I revisited this story and the mystery of T R Williams. I had another look around for him with no luck again. It seems the photo was taken post war, possibly in 1920. Murray was promoted to Captain in 1917 although his e palettes lack the 3 pips. It is interesting that no medals are being worn considering Murray was awarded the MC and no unit patches on display..

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  4. Thanks for this, Colin. You've picked up on details I'd missed. Perhaps they were asked to pose for the photo after the war, as you suggest, but no longer had the pips or unit patches in places? Seems odd, though. Hopefully someone else can fill in some gaps for us!

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