World War One – Araluen

This table, (a work in progress), provides an overview of the over one hundred and twenty service personnel, who gave Araluen as their place of birth, or whom had next of kin, or other known associations with Araluen, upon their enlistment in WWI. The majority of those listed gave Araluen, or Bells Creek as their place of birth when enlisting.  Any known links to Araluen, for those born in other locations, are referenced below.

• SERN – is the Service or Regimental Number,
• MM – Military Medal recipient,
• HS – Home service or Fit for Home service (National Archives of Australia, Data Series – MT/1486),
• DOE is the date of enlistment,
• RTA is the date of return to Australia, or KIA Killed in Action,
• Aged is the age given on the attestation papers completed at enlistment,
• UNIT- Bn is Battalion, Rf is Reinforcement, LH is Light Horse, Reg is Regiment, Co. is Company, Squad. is Squadron,
• * Next to Surname denotes inscribed on the Araluen Soldiers Memorial, as either fallen, or served in the Great War (WWI), and
• # Next to Surname denotes served in WWI and WWII.

BACK – Araluen – those who answered the call

The above list has been compiled from family records, local research and public sources such as:

• Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au
• National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au 
• University of NSW AIF (Australian Imperial Force) project https://aif.adfa.edu.au
• Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au
• Moruya and District Historical Society. https://blog.mdhs.org.au/heroes-of-the-eurobodalla
• Braidwood Museum, The story of Braidwood’s contribution to the Great War, The Braidwood Boys https://members.tip.net.au/~ppmay/braidwood_boys/index.htm

References

1. Benjamin Simpson enlisted 4 times and was discharged each time as medically unfit. Simpson, Benjamin (enlisted 27/3/16-discharged 3/4/16), AKA Simpson, Sidney (enlisted 14/4/16-discharged 19/4/16), AKA Shannon, Robert (enlisted 16/8/16-discharged 14/10/16) and AKA Shannan, Robert Michael (enlisted 5/6/18-discharged 21/6/18). Thomas James Simpson (1843-1934) and Mary Ann Paton (1854 -1898) had ten children, following their marriage in Araluen, in August 1870.  Benjamin Sidney (1877-1937) was their third son, and William Edward (1871-1949) who also served in WWI, was their oldest child.  Benjamin noted as his next of kin on his enlistment(s) his sisters residing in Araluen, Mrs. A. Herbert (Catherine Mary (1873-1964)) and Mrs. Albert Strudwick (Janet Maud (1879 – 1956)), as well as his brother William ↩︎
2. Reuben John Smith was born on 25 June 1901 in Araluen. He originally enlisted at age 14.5 years in December 1916. His parents advised the AIF he was underage and he was sent home (already had fighting XP and shellshock). He stowed away on the ship Anchises and re-enlisted again shortly after in 1918. Reuben was found again and sent home. He then re-enlisted for a third time 13 June 1919 at 17 years of age, still saying he was 18. ↩︎

• 1
  Axelby, Albert Richard– was born in London, and enlisted at Sydney on 21 September 1914.  In November 1914 prior to his embarkation on 21 December 1914, Albert married Elsie Bridget Wallace, who in March 1895 was born in Araluen.
• 2
  Brook, Leslie Herbert – was born in Buckenboura, NSW, and enlisted at Kiama on 19 July 1916. Leslie died 13 May 1956 and is at rest in the Araluen Catholic Cemetery.
• 3
  Dawson , Richard Joshua– was born in Unalla, NSW, and enlisted at Kensington on 7 September 19, with his next of kin detailed as Mary Weatherall, North Araluen, NSW.
• 4
  Gardiner, Alfred James – was born in Sydney, and enlisted at Goulburn on 27 July 2015, with his address given at Araluen upon enlistment
• 5
  James Marr, a farmer in Redbank, Araluen, married Emily Ada Digby, from Araluen on 1 July 1921, at Braidwood.
• 6
  William Henry May, was born in London. As a returned soldier, he was appointed as postmaster to the Araluen Post office in Redbank, taking his position in August 1919
• 7
  Mundy , George Henry – was born in Goulburn, NSW, and enlisted at Holsworthy on 10 August 1915 with his address given at Araluen upon enlistment.