Brigadier General Justice Edmund Drake-Brockman, CB, CMG, DSO, VD was the third of seven children of parents Frederick Slade Drake-Brockman (1857-1917), surveyor and explorer, and Grace Ellen Vernon Bussell (1860-1935), a Royal Humane Society Silver Medalist. He was born in Busselton on 21st February 1884. Edmund was educated at Guildford Grammar School and chose law as his profession, working as an articled clerk with James and Derbyshire Solicitors.

Edmund joined the Citizen’s Military Force as a 19-year-old and undertook officer training in Quetta. On returning to Australia, he married Constance Andrews (1889-1935) in Melbourne on 9th April 1912. Following the outbreak of World War I, Edmund enlisted as a Major in the 11th Battalion, leading his men at the landing at Gallipoli, 25th April 1915. He was badly wounded in the upper left chest and right thigh on 16th July 1915, requiring intensive care in Malta. He was invalided back to Western Australia in October 1915.

By April 1916, Edmund was fully recovered, promoted and had taken command of 16th Battalion. He commanded the Battalion on the Western Front, in operations at Pozieres, Mouquet Farm and Bullecourt. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties. From October 1917 to February 1918, he commanded the 4th Training Group. In February1918, Edmund returned to command the 16th Battalion during operations in Hebuterne, Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and the August offensive. He later took command of 4th Brigade and promoted to temporary Brigadier General. By the end of the war, Edmund had taken part in nearly all the major actions of the AIF with great distinction. Following World War I, Edmund remained on the active list and was promoted to Major General in 1937, and during World War II he commanded the 3rd (Militia) Division until 1942.

Edmund had a distinguished civilian career. He was the first Western Australian to be elected to the senate in 1919, and in 1923 he was the government whip. He spoke frequently on defense issues and warned of Japanese aggression in the Pacific. He opposed tariffs arguing they disadvantaged Western Australian primary producers. He served on several committees including one that recommended the commissioning of an overseas radio communication service. In 1925, he represented Australia at the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva. By 1927, Edmund had left politics and was appointed to the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, and by 1940 he was regarded as the most experienced judge on the court. He was a skilled negotiator and arbitrator and some of his important decisions included the increase in the minimum wage and reduction in standard work week from 44 hours to 40. He raised the minimum wage for female employees. His judgements were welcomed by the Trade Union movement. Edmund was appointed by the Chifley Government as Chief Judge, a position he held until his death in office in 1949 which was announced by Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

Edmund and Constance had three children; Constance Mary Drake-Brockman (1913-1970), Althea Drake-Brockman (1920-2019) and Lieutenant Ralph Drake-Brockman (1922-2002) WWII.

Edmund had two brothers who also served in the military: Brigadier Geoffrey Drake-Brockman (1882-1966) WWI, WWII, Captain Justice Karl Edgar Drake-Brockman (1891-1969) WWI, WWII.

Photo courtesy of VWMA

Private Michael Mackey was born on 1st March 1875, to parents Wilma and Peter Mackey, a policeman from Lavan, County Wicklow, Ireland. At the time of his enlistment, two of his siblings were living in Australia, brother Denis in Western Australia and sister Ellen in East Melbourne. Michael enlisted 10th September 1914 and as he was working as a hospital attendant at the time, his unit was No.2 Stationary Hospital.

At age 39 years, he embarked at Fremantle on 4th December 1914 on board HMAT Kyarra A55, for Egypt. The No.2 Stationary hospital was originally located at Mena Camp, Egypt, then moved the day before the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli to West Madras on the Island of Lemnos. During the Gallipoli campaign, Michael had 2 bouts of illness requiring hospitalisation. Following the Gallipoli campaign, the No.2 Stationary Hospital evacuated from Lemnos and arrived in Alexandria on 23rd January 1916, then moved to Tel-el-Kebir in the Suez Canal zone. Michael required hospital admission for management of illness twice in 1916 and a twice again in 1917. The last admission in 1917 was for diarrhea.

On 21st October 1917, he was struck off strength and given furlough to travel to England rather than Australia. The authorities may have known he would not survive a long journey. Michael embarked on 14th October 1917, on HT Nile from Alexandria. He was too ill to complete the journey and while the ship called in at Marseilles, he was transferred to No.2 Military Hospital Rest Camp, St German au Mont D’Or, near Lyon. He died on 9th November 1917, from myocarditis and pericarditis. Streptococcal infection was common in camp and diphtheritic myocarditis had a particularly poor prognosis.

Michael was buried in the local cemetery at St. Germain au Mont D’Or by the local French curate of the Roman Catholic Church of the village.

Image courtesy of VWMA