Major Love was born in Fitzroy, Victoria on 1st August 1872 to parents William Love (1849-1912) and Ada Florence Collier (1843-1907). They had 10 children and Alan was the third child. He had two brothers who also enlisted in the AIF: William Alan SN 802 11 Battalion and Edwin Alexander 10th Light Horse. He married twice. His second wife, Edith Louise, lived at 231 Walcott Street, Mt Lawley. He worked as an accountant.

He enlisted twice into 10th Light Horse in 28th October 1914 and 7th March 1916. He served in the infamous campaign that aimed to secure the Dardanelles Strait. The regiment saw heavy fighting and suffered significant casualties, none more so than at the Battle of the Nek. Major Love documents this Battle in his war diary and played a significant role as 2nd in Charge of the 10th Light Horse in reasoning with command to call off the action. A knee injury saw him return to Australia in November 1915 for six months leave. Major Love re-enlisted in March 1916 and returned to 10th Light Horse to see action in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns, including the key Battles of Gaza and Beersheba. Major Love was discharged in February 1916 to take up a civilian position in Haifa, Palestine, as part of the British mandate for Palestine that required experienced military personnel for administrative and logistical support. He had served with courage and had demonstrated tactical acumen and his leadership was instrumental in several successful operations.

Major Love returned to Australia and resided at various addresses including Kings Road, Subiaco.

Major Love died 21st July 1958 and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Picture courtesy of VWMA

John was born in Perth on the 8th January 1998 and was the eldest child of parents Robert Rickatson Burton (1870-1944) and Mary Quinn (-1944). He had a brother and two sisters. Following his education at CBC Perth, he worked as a clerk in the Agriculture Department.

He enlisted on 1st September 1915 into 11 Battalion. In March 1916, the AIF sailed for France and the Western front. The battalion’s first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July 1916. John was killed in action on 25th July 1916. His friend, Frank Bourke, recounted the possible details in a letter to Frank’s mother as John had been listed as missing in action. He was with a group of cobbers that were shelled. Only one survived.

Many letters were sent by his father Robert to obtain a death certificate.

A death certificate was finally issued and probate was granted to John’s father Robert who inherited £300.

John’s parents were granted a pension in 1918, under the War Pensions Act 1914-1916. They were living at 54 Queens Crescent at the time. His parents received a memorial plaque and scroll in 1922.

John has no known grave and his death is honoured at the Villers-Bretonneux memorial.

Major General Robert Edward Jackson CMG DSO, was born on the 1st January 1886 in Crows Nest, was the second of six children of parents Samuel Bowman Jackson (1855-1941) and Sarah Haire Woodland (-1919). Robert was educated at Brisbane Grammar School. The family moved to WA in 1904, and Robert worked as a railway engineer. He married Edith Marguerite Vautin in 1914.

He and his brothers, Lieutenant David Alexander Jackson and Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Henry Jackson MC, were among the first officers to volunteer for service abroad at the commencement of World War I. He enlisted in 10th Light Horse along with brother David. They arrived in Gallipoli on 20th May 1915. Robert was wounded on 29th May 1915 with a gunshot wound to the leg and he was transported to England for convalescence. He was passed as fit in November 1915 and was seconded from 10th Light Horse to staff officer attached to the 3 Brigade, 1st Australian Division, France. He rose through the ranks and served with conspicuous ability. His service was marked by thorough organisation, displaying untiring energy in the Administration of the Division and in providing for the welfare of troops of all ranks. He was mentioned in four despatches, Knight of the Legion of Honour (France).

Robert remained in the army and served with distinction in World War II taking command of Northern Command (1940-1941) and 5th Military District (1941-1942), responsible for the defense and military administration of Western Australia.

Robert and Edith had three children who all had exemplary careers in the Australian Army; Brigadier Donald Robert Jackson DSO (1915-1986), Colonel Dawn Valerie Vautin Jackson OBE (1917-1995) and Brigadier Oliver David Jackson DSO OBE (1919-2004).

Robert is honoured on the 5th Military District Headquarters Staff Honor Board. Robert died at Heidelberg, Victoria, on 24th November 1948.

Picture courtesy of the VWMA.

It is worth noting Robert’s non-military siblings. Older brother Stuart, after a career at the Brisbane Grammar School, lost his life while attempting to save a drowning woman at Caloundra in 1912. Younger brother Albert entered theological college at Harvard University and held a Church appointment in Connecticut. Younger sister Frances studied art in Paris and London and was Art Mistress at the Perth Girl’s School. She lived in Hill View Road and looked after her father until his passing in 1941. Frances died in 1970 and is buried with her parents in Karrakatta Cemetery.

Lieutenant David Alexander Jackson, born 30th April 1892 in Bundaberg, was the fifth of six children of parents Samuel Bowman Jackson (1855-1941) and Sarah Haire Woodland (-1919). In 1904, the family moved from Queensland to Western Australia and in 1910, the family were living in Newcastle Street, North Perth. David was educated at Perth Boys School and was a keen soccer player. He captained the Ex-Student’s team, later known as Austral. He graduated from Adelaide University as an architectural draftsman.

He along with brothers, Major General Robert Edward Jackson CMG DSO and Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Henry Jackson MC, were among the first officers to volunteer for service abroad at the commencement of World War I. David enlisted in 10th Light Horse and embarked for the Gallipoli Peninsular from Alexandria 16th May 1915.

David was killed in action on 7th August 1915 at The Nek. Lieutenant Hector Roy McLarty noted in a letter home that he had bad news of the 10th Light Horse, that they had charged an almost unattainable trench and suffered badly. Lieutenant Colonel Brazier, Commanding Officer of 10th Light Horse, noted at a Board of Enquiry held at Russell Top, Gallipoli Peninsular, on the 9th August 1915, no single individual of 10th Light Horse had reached the Turkish trenches and subsequent to the assault the enemy were seen deliberately firing on the wounded. The Board President was Major Alan Joseph Love, 2nd in charge of 10th Light Horse, from 18 Clotilde Street. A report of the events of David’s death came via The West Australian on 24th June 1916. Trooper Murray from 10th Light Horse observed “Dave” climbing a parapet to assist a fallen comrade lying on the enemy side of the trench. He never returned. David’s mother received a pension of £2 per fortnight.

He has no known grave. David is honoured on memorials at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, King’s Park 10th Light Horse, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing and the Mt Lawley-Inglewood Memorial.

Picture courtesy on VWMA.

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Henry Jackson, MC, MM, born 22nd August 1890 in Bundaberg, was the forth of six children of parents Samuel Bowman Jackson (1855-1941) and Sarah Haire Woodland (-1919). He completed his education at Perth Boy’s School after the family moved to Western Australia in 1904. Samuel qualified as a teacher through the Adelaide Teachers College and was a keen soccer player with Training College. He taught at Perth Boy’s Central School until he enlisted.

He and brothers Major General Robert Edward Jackson CMG DSO and Lieutenant David Alexander Jackson were among the first officers to volunteer for service abroad at the commencement of World War I. He enlisted and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 11 Battalion and arrived in Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. Samuel was wounded while leading an attacking party to take Leane’s trench in August 1915. His action was recognised with a Mention in Despatches. Samuel was invalided to Australia and on 3rd May 1916 he married teacher Alice Mabel Archibald. He embarked for the Western Front shortly after his marriage and served with 44 Battalion with distinction and later as a staff officer in 3rd Division Headquarters. Samuel was awarded an MC and Knight of the Legion of Honour (France). Mentioned in Despatches (3), Knight of the Legion of Honour (France).

Samuel worked as an accountant in Sydney after World War I. He was attested for full time in World War II from 1939-1946, serving in the Intelligence Corps and later as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General. Post World War II, Samuel served in occupied Japan and was Australia’s representative on the UN’s Temporary Commission on Korea.

Samuel died on 7th January 1968 in Hornsby. His wife, Alice, died in 1974. She had a distinguished career post teaching in journalism, serving as editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly 1939-1950 and later editor of Woman’s Day. During World War II, Alice was a war correspondent and along with Mrs. Gretel Packer, established The Australian Women’s Weekly Club for Servicewomen.

Samuel and Alice had two children; WAAF Officer and journalist Hazel Alice Archibald Jackson (1920-1987) and Captain Murray Archibald Jackson (1922-2011) who served as a Regimental Medical Officer in Japan post World War II and later practiced as a consultant psychiatrist.

Samuel is located at the right of the image which was taken at Blackboy Hill.

Private Edward Francis Heagney, was born in Northcote, Victoria, in 1887 to parents William Patrick Heagney (1863-) and Mary Ann Griffin (1860-). He had a brother, James Heagney, who worked on Kal Kal Station in Victoria. Edward was working as a clerk in WA prior to his enlistment on 2nd August 1915, in 11 Battalion. He was living in Clotilde Street with The Honourable Philip Collier (1873-1948) and Philip’s wife and Edward’s Aunt, Ellen Heagney. Philip Collier was the MLA member for Boulder, serving the longest term as an Australian Labor Party parliamentary leader at 19 years and was premier of Western Australia for nine years.

Edward embarked for Egypt on 2nd November, 1915, on HMAT Ulysses. He became ill in Egypt and required hospital admission on 27th December 1915. Edward spent considerable time in hospital, at times being discharged to 3rd Training Battalion, to only be readmitted to hospital throughout 1916-1918. His last admission was for treatment of influenza on 24th June 1918. Edward was discharged back to Australia with a classification of B3 deformed feet.

Following the war, he lived in Nathalia, Victoria. Edward died in 1929 and is buried at Echuca, Victoria.

Private Noel George Sainsbury, was born in 1896 in Fitzroy, Victoria, and was the eldest son of five children of parents William Edward Sainsbury (1870-1955) and Georgina Charlotte Cooper Hogg (-1968). The family had moved to Western Australia where Noel’s father set up a Ford Motor Car Agency, Chaff Auctioneer and Insurance Agency business; W E Sainsbury and Co.

Noel attended Northam State School and performed very well in the 1910 University of Adelaide Primary exams and was awarded a scholarship. He enrolled in the commerce stream at Perth Modern School on 1st February 1911. Noel started work as a junior clerk in the Treasury Department on 1st July 1914, with an annual salary of £84.

Noel enlisted on 30th June 1915 in 28 Battalion, machine gun section, operating a Lewis light machine gun. He had been given his father’s permission to enlist as he was under 21 years. He disembarked in Marseilles 21st March 1916 and joined the Battalion.

The Battalion’s 1st major action in Frances was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July 1916. The Windmill at Pozieres was the centre of the struggle for this part of the Somme Valley. Historian, Charles Bean, quoted that Australian troops fell more thickly on this ridge than on any other battlefield of World War I. Noel was reported as missing on 8th August 1916 and a Board on Enquiry found Noel had been killed in action on 29th July 1916. An account of his death came via a letter from a German prisoner of war. During the battle, Noel was wounded in the leg, captured, taken into the German lines. He was sitting on a fire step in the German front line when a German officer approached him and asked,” You the machine gunner?”. Noel answered, “Yes, Sir”. The officer drew a pistol and shot Noel through the head.

Noel has no known grave however, he is honoured at the Australian War Memorial, Mt Lawley-Inglewood War Memorial, Northam Fallen, Northam Memorial Hospital, Perth Modern School, Trinity Church and Villers Bretenuex.

Image courtesy VWMA.

Driver Harold Edward Hayman, born in Fremantle 1891, was the sixth of nine children of parents George Hayman (1861-1929) and Emily Marie Mason (1862-1939). He was working as a fitter prior to his enlistment.

Harold enlisted on 20th September 1915 to the 16th Battery, 6th Field Artillery Brigade. This unit was raised to support the 2nd Infantry Division. Field artillery was designed to be lightweight and easy to transport on the battlefield. Drivers drove the gun carriages and wagons loaded with stores and ammunition that the battery took with them. They were responsible for looking after the horses from the gun teams.

Harold sustained a gunshot wound to the right foot in May 1917. The 2nd Division was in involved in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt at this time. The Division sustained 3,893 casualties in the fighting around Bullecourt. Harold was evacuated to England and returned to Australia with diagnoses of pulmonary weakness and wasting. He was discharged from the AIF on 3rd December 1917.

Harold married Flora Keziah McKinnon (1898-1984) in 1924.

Harold died on 19th October 1974 and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Driver Victor Lanyon was born at Wallaroo, South Australia on 28th June 1878, the youngest of six children of parents William Lanyon (1824-1890) and Ellen Curnow (1837-1900). Victor was an engine driver in the South Australian railways. He married Mary Margaret Isobel Baker in Wallaroo, South Australia on 30th March 1904. The family had lived in Holland Street, Fremantle and in Southern Cross prior to moving to Mt Lawley. He was a 38-year-old married engine driver and father of three children when he enlisted on 15th January 1917. He embarked for France on 29th January 1917, on the Miltiades.

Victor was an engine driver in the 5th Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company. The Railway Operating Division (ROD) was a division of the Royal Engineers formed in 1915 to operate railways in the many theatres of war. The ROD requisitioned many diverse locomotives from the British railway companies and leased several Belgian locomotives sent to France in 1914. They helped ensure men, munitions and materials were able to reach the Front. They stayed after the war to ensure the railways still ran for civilians.

Victor returned to Australia 21st June 1919 and resumed his engine driving career. Victor and Mary’s 2nd child, John Edward Lanyon (1908-1995), WX9781, served as a Lieutenant in World War II. John lived at 1 Thirlemere Road, Mt Lawley. Victor and Mary’s three children celebrated the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on 30th March 1954.

Victor died on 30th November 1956, was cremated, and requested his ashes be scattered over the gardens of Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image courtesy of VWMA.

Private John Orr born in 1898, the eldest of seven children of parents John Orr Senior (1869-1938) and Mary Therese Hall Jackson (1877-1950). He was educated at Perth Boy’s School, had spent two years as a cadet and was working as a clerk prior to enlisting in 28 Battalion with his parents’ permission on 4th June 1916. He was 18 years old.

John departed from Albany on 23rd July 1917, and was sent to the 6th and 7th Training Battalions in between a bout of pneumonia on 27th December, 1917 in preparation for joining his unit, which he did on 16th May 1918. John received a gunshot would to the thigh on 12th June 1918. 28 Battalion was supporting 6th Brigade’s attack on Ville-sur-Ancre. John recovered and rejoined his unit 20th July 1918. 28 Battalion then took part in the Battle of Peronne/Mont St. Quentin, which was ascribed as “perhaps the greatest military achievement of the war” by General Sir Henry Rawlinson, Commander British 4th Army. The Battalion kept fighting until it was withdrawn on 5th October 1918.

John received a wound to the chest and a penetrating would to the abdomen 1st October 1918 and died of his wounds 4th October 1918, at the 56th Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried at the New British Cemetery, Tincourt, France. His inscription reads, ‘Oh France! For whom he also died, cherish our dear boy’s memory’. John’s memorials include the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and the Mt Lawley-Inglewood War Memorial.

John Orr Senior was the Former Road Board Chairman and was the president of the Committee which arranged for the provision of the Mt Lawley returned soldier’s memorial. He was also prominent in the football community having played for South Melbourne and later became president of the WA Football League. He was prominent in the arts and was secretary of the Arts Society of WA. John Orr Senior died at home at Clotilde Street, aged 69.

Image courtesy of the VWMA.

Gunner George Mettam was the second of seven children of parents Alfred Mettam (1867-1960) and Mary Isabella Halpin (1869-1954). He was born in Wollongong in 1891 and raised in Perth. Prior to World War I, George was active in the Western Australian Rowing Club and was selected at six in the Western Australian men’s eight which competed in the Australian Interstate Regatta in 1913 and 1914. He trained as an accountant and worked in the Agricultural Bank.

George enlisted on 8th May 1916 and joined the 4th Field Artillery Brigade. His younger brother Frank, also enlisted in the AIF. George embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Horatia in November 1916. He suffered a severe hand laceration while in action on the Western Front in July 1917 and required surgery back in England. George rejoined his unit in Belgium in November 1917 and saw artillery action with heavy-duty siege batteries in Steenwerck and Passchendaele.

At war’s end, George rowed in the seven seat of the AIF first eight at the 1919 Peace Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, the crew which won the King’s Cup, which in time became the trophy for the men’s eight event contested annually at the Australian Interstate Regatta. George and crew also raced at the Inter Allied Regatta on the Seine in Paris.

George married Jessie Burn (1899-1962) in November 1924 and they had two children. He worked with Cresco Fertiliser and Co and rose to the position of General Manager. He continued with his long association with the West Australian Rowing Club and the Swan River Rowing Club competing at a master’s level and coaching, described as an inspirational and motivating coach.

George died of a heart attack 5th April 1967 after swimming out to rescue the occupants of an upturned boat during a regatta on the Swan River.

Image taken from The Oarsmen by Scott Patterson.

Sergeant Frank Mettam was the sixth of seven children of parents Alfred Mettam (1867-1960) and Mary Isabella Halpin (1869-1954). He was born in Wollongong in 1895 and was raised in Perth. Frank worked as a Linotype Operator at the West Australian prior to his enlistment on26th July 1915. His brother George also enlisted in the AIF.

Frank joined the 6th Field Artillery Brigade and embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Persic on 22nd November 1915. His artillery brigade supported the 2nd Division, AIF. On 27th July 1916, it relieved the 1st Division at Pozieres and captured the Pozieres Heights at great cost. Frank was wounded in action at Mouquet Farm, 25th August 1916, sustaining a serious injury to his leg. Frank was transferred to England’s Middlesex War Hospital, where his condition was listed as dangerous. Frank left England and arrived in Fremantle 25th November 1916 and was discharged from the AIF 7th June 1917. He had been granted a pension in June 1917.

Frank married Jane Comrie Portener (1896-1962) on 21st June 1920. One of their children, Edward Albert Mettam (1923-1965) enlisted in World War II.

Frank worked for The West Australian for 50 years and retired in 1961. His home in Trigg was the first to be built on what would become Mettam Street. Frank initiated development of an ocean pool near the family home at what was then called Lennard’s Pool. A reef bisected this pool and Frank and his family patiently removed the reef piece by piece using muscle, grit and pick axes, creating a safe ocean swimming pool. It was renamed Mettam’s Pool in the 1940s. He was a vibrant member of the community and was president of the Friends and Neighbourhood Club 1969-1975, renowned for organising bus trip adventures.

Frank died on 6th September 1975, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image courtesy of VWMA showing Frank still attending to his beloved Pool.

Private Claude Everrett John Curran was the second of three children of parents Patrick Curran (-1913) and Elizabeth Maude Everrett-Allpress (1872-1951). He was born in Temora, 31st August 1899. His father, Patrick, had been a minor at Day Dawn and died at age 40 at Clotilde Street, prior to Claude’s enlistment.

Claude was a labourer when he enlisted with his mother’s permission on 3rd April 1917, joining 11 Battalion in the 26th reinforcements. He embarked on HMAT Borda, arriving in Plymouth on 25th August 1917 and was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion. Claude jointed his unit in France 1st January 1918.

The Battalion helped stop the German Spring Offensive in March and April 1918 and later that year participated in the great Allied Offensive launched east of Amiens in August 1918. This advance by British and Empire troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front and one the German General Erich Ludendorff described as the “black day of the German Army in this war”. The Battalion continued operations until late September 1918, In February 1919, the 11th and 12th Battalions amalgamated and remained united until their last members returned home. Claude returned to Australia on 18th July 1919.

In 1921, Claude was working for the WA Railways. He married Catherine Smillie Jamieson in 1932 and they had one child, Betty Isabel. Tragically, Betty died at age 17 months on 19th September 1934.

Claude died on 28th April 1935 at Clotilde Street. He was 34. An “In Memorium” inserted by his mother Elizabeth in the West Australian in 1936 reads “In memory of my beloved and only son, Claude. Think what a son should be; he was more than that”. Claude is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Lance Corporal Frank Hartley Standring was the third of four children of parents Arthur Tennant Standring (1860-1937) and Pauline Catherine Fairbank (1863-1940). He was born in Neneaton, UK on 31st December 1894. Frank came to Australia on the Friedrich der Grosse, arriving in Fremantle on 23rd February 1914. He was working as a clerk at the time of his enlistment.

Frank was 21 when he enlisted on 31st March 1916, at Blackboy Hill. He joined the 5th reinforcements of 51 Battalion and embarked from Fremantle on HMAT Uganda arriving at Plymouth on 15th November 1916. He was seconded to the traffic control detachment of the 4th Australian Division, France in August 1917. In September, the 4th Division participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood. In March 1918, the Division was rushed to the Somme region to stem the German Offensive. There it repulsed the advancing Germans in hard fought battles at Hebuterne and Dernancourt. It went on to fight in the Battles of Hamel, Amiens and the Hindenburg Line.

Frank was transferred to Intelligence Corps in November 1918. He returned to Australia 18th July 1919.

Frank married Eva Josephine Price (1897-1943) in Fremantle on 15th November 1921, in the same church Eva’s parents had married 25 years before. Frank’s younger brother Eric was best man. Frank was working at the Metropolitan Water Supply Department as a cashier. The newly married couple honeymooned in Bunbury and settled in Rokeby Road, Subiaco.

Frank’s older brother Arthur Fairbank Tennant Standring served in WWI and WWII.

Frank and Eva’s child, Warrant Officer Glynne Barnett Standring, served in WWII.

Frank died on 18th February 1981 and is memorialised at Karrakatta Cemetery.