Gunner Ivan Clark was the first born of four children to parents Charles Staley Clark (1875-1966) and Annie Kathleen Braund (1877-1909). He was born in Bunbury on 28th October, 1898. Ivan was a farmer at the time of his enlistment 30th August, 1916. His father had given permission for Ivan to serve only in artillery. Ivan embarked on HMAT Port Sydney in November 1917, disembarking in Suez in December.

Ivan did not join his unit in France until April , 1918, when he transferred from the 4th Divisional Ammunition Column to 11th Field Artillery Brigade. This Brigade was raised to support the 4th Division and took part in Battles at Bullecourt, Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Villers Bretonneux, Hamel, Amiens, Albert and the Hindenburg Line. Ivan suffered with influenza in November, 1918 and a middle ear infection in March, 1919. He was granted leave in June 1919 to embark on motor mechanic training in Westminster, London. Ivan returned to Australia on HMAT Port Sydney in September, 1919.

Following the war, Ivan worked as a Commonwealth Public Servant in Rabaul, New Britain, from 1930-1942. He was working as a medical assistant in the Rabaul Hospital. He went on patrols into Papua New Guinea and witnessed the 1937 eruption of Mt Vulcan. Ivan married Mary Clare Kirk in Sydney in 1929. Mary returned to Sydney to give birth to their daughter Noreen Mary Clark on 13th August, 1940.

Ivan was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and was on board the prisoner ship, Montevideo Maru, when it was torpedoed by the American submarine Sturgeon(SS-187) off Cape Bojeador, Philippines, on 1st July, 1942. He was on board with many other World War 1 diggers who had reenlisted in World War 2. None of the POWs survived and this was the greatest loss of Australian lives on any single day of World War 2. Ivan’s widow, Mary, who was working as a director at the Nepean Hospital, was informed of his death in 1945.

Ivan had two younger brothers serve in WW2; Private Kenneth Malcolm Clark WX2821, 2/16th Battalion, Middle East and New Guinea, and Corporal Alan Kelvin Clark 46640 RAAF.

Ivan has a memorial with the Australian Prisoners of War Memorial, Kings Park. Image is the Montevideo Maru wreck found in 2023 in the South China Sea.

Acting Sergeant Charles Frederick Gregory was the eldest of two children of parents Frederick Gregory (1851-1885) and Mary Ann Harwood (1857-). He was born in April 1880 in Cambridge, England. Charles enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1898. He left England and was working as a labourer with the Marradong Construction Company in 1912/13. Charles spent three years with The Goldfields Battalion of Infantry, a volunteer defence corps formed in 1900. His SN113 enlistment was with A Company, 1st Infantry Battalion Naval and Military Forces Special Tropical Corps and he embarked from Sydney on HMAT Berrima in August, 1914. The Battalion was tasked to take the German territories of New Guinea. This was Australia’s first action of World War 1. He was trained as a signaller and promoted to Acting Sergeant. Charles’ next of kin was Mr Louis Brigatti, businessman and North Ward Councillor, from Forrest Street, Mt Lawley.

Australia’s first action of the war was successful. Charles enlisted in 2nd Battalion and on 14th July, 1915, embarked from Sydney on HMAT Orsova. He joined his unit on the Gallipoli Peninsular. September/October saw the Australians in a stalemate and involved in mainly defensive actions. The troops were withdrawn in December. Charles’ unit arrived in Marseilles in March 1916, to fight on the European Battlefields. The Battalion was reviewed by Prime Minister Hughes at Fleurbaix in June. Its first major action was in July at Pozieres. Charles sustained a severe gun shot wound to the arm on 23rd July, 1916, and was evacuated to England for treatment. He returned to France and rejoined his unit from a training camp in September, 1917. The Battalion was fighting at Menin Road as part of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Charles became ill with trench fever, requiring hospitalisation in October. He rejoined his unit at Messine in December and then moved to Meteren in January, 1918, with Charles suffering deafness in February. He was evacuated to the Royal Victoria Hospital, England.

Charles married Louise Maude Gladys Carter (1896-1981) in Chickerell Dorset on 7th August, 1918. The couple returned to Australia in May, 1919. Their first child, Corporal Winifred Dorothea Gregory, later Ewing, WX34295, 2/8 General Hospital WW2, was born in Perth, 1921. The couple were farming in Harvey. They returned to England in 1921 and their 2nd child, Corporal Charles Frederick Gregory WX29798, 2/16th Battalion WW2, was born in Dorset, 1922. They returned to Australia and were living in North Perth when last child Eileen Joan Gregory was born on 1926. Charles died on 7th September, 1948, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image courtesy of VWMA.

Private Ernest (Ern) Thomas was the third child of parents James Henry Thomas (1866-1934) and Mary Ann Walton (1866-1954). He was born in Broken Hill in 1894 and had a twin brother Percy, who died in 1894. He was a labourer at the time of his enlistment in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. Ern embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas from Melbourne and disembarked in Devonport in December, 1917 and was sent to the Pioneer Training Battalion. Ern was transferred to the 32nd Battalion and departed for France and the Western Front in April, 1918. He was transferred to the 48th Battalion.

On 15th May, 1918, while the Battalion was involved in defensive action around Dernancourt, Ern sustained a self inflicted gun shot wound to the left foot. An inquiry revealed Ern had been in a trench cleaning his rifle with the muzzle placed on his foot and while not checking whether the safety was on, the trigger was released. He forfeited 14 days pay. Ern rejoined his unit in July, 1918. The Battalion participated in the final Allied offensive around Amiens in August. Ern sustained another gun shot wound to the left foot on 21st September, 1918. He was transferred to Reading Hospital and later to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital. The Battalion was withdrawn from service in November, 1918. Ern returned to Australian on SS Ceramic and was discharged in Perth on April, 1919.

Ern married Catherine Martin (1904-1976) in Queens Church, Boulder, on 7th August, 1920. They had five children with eldest child James Richard Thomas, 17075, RAAF, 75 Squadron, serving in World War 2. Ern died on 29th May, 1970, and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image courtesy VWMA.

Corporal Walter John Wright was the eldest of six children of parents Geoffrey Charles Wright (1865-1901) and Selina Black (1861-1951). He was born in Williamstown, Victoria, on 1st May, 1886, and was educated at Highgate School, Perth. Walter was a 28 year old clerk at the time of his enlistment 4th January, 1916, with the 44th Battalion signallers.

They embarked on HMAT Suevic on 6th June, 1916, and Walter arrived in France in November, 1916. He took ill with tonsillitis in December and did not rejoin his unit until January, 1917. During the winter of 1916-17, the Battalion alternated between manning the front line positions and providing men for working details when in the rear. Their first real experience with battle came at Messines in June. Walter was wounded and evacuated on 9th. June, 1917. He was promoted to Corporal in September. Walter spent 90 days sick in the 39th British General Hospital/7th Convalescent Depot, Boulogne. Walter rejoined the Battalion in April, 1918, after taking leave. The 44th had been moved south to the Somme Valley and in July took part in the Battle of Hamel. Walter was reported to have been gassed in this operation on 4th July. He left for 9th Training Battalion, England, in October. Walter returned to Australia on the SS Ceramic in April 1919.

Walter married Myra Beatrice Doolan (1899-1989) in Perth on the 6th December, 1919. They had three children with first born Aircraftman Wallace Geoffrey Wright 45148 RAAF, serving in World War 2. Walter’s brother, Private Stanley Wright, SN 20691, served in the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in World War 1.

Walter was living in North Beach in 1941 and was working as a telegraphist in Northam in 1943 and by 1963, was living in Pearce. He died at Shoalwater on 13th October, 1986, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery

Image courtesy of VWMA.

Stanley was the 4th child of parents Geoffrey Charles Wright (1865-1901) and Selina Black (1861-1951). He was born in Williamstown, Victoria on the 26th February 1894.

Private Wright was nearly 24 and working as a clerk when he enlisted in January 1918 in the Australian Army Medical Corps .

He left Albany on the HMAT Marathon in July 1918 and landed in London 3 months later. In November the same year he left for France to be in the field with the Reinforcements for the Army Medical Corps 3rd Casualty Clearing Station.

In February 1919 he was transferred to the 2nd Army General hospital in Germany.

He returned to Australia on the SS Pakeha in October 1919.

He married Lillian Jane Finlay (1900-1956) in 1924 and they had one child Gordon Meryvn Wright ( 1925-1984).

They lived in Elizabeth St, North Perth until after WW2 and he worked as a wood machinist.

Stanley enisted for WW2 W243277 as did Gordon his son.

He died on 21 September 1962 (aged 66–67) in North Beach and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery and his ashes placed in the Crematorium Rose Gardens Garden .

Image courtesy of VWMA.

Private John Rowlings was born in Richmond, Victoria, on 5th November, 1883. John married Margaret ‘Maggie’ Ryan in 1904, and the couple lived in ‘Balmain’, 46 Forrest Street. John was a tallyman at the time of his enlistment 12th February, 1916. John embarked on HMAT Suevic on 6th June, 1916. He was taken on strength by 11th Training Battalion in August. John joined his unit, 28th Battalion, in France, in September, 1916. The Battalion was fighting around Ypres and later in 1916, moved to the Somme.

John became ill with Trench Foot in December, 1916 and was treated in 12th General Hospital followed by 2nd Convalescent Depot. He rejoined the Battalion in January, 1917, and fell ill again in February with Trench Feet. He was evacuated to England for treatment at 3rd Australian General Hospital. He was granted furlough in May, 1917 and spent June in numbers 2 and 6 Australian Command Depots. John was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade in July and rejoined 28th Battalion in January, 1918. Again, the Battalion was based in the Somme and in March/April defended the line around Villers-Brettonneux. In May, the Battalion provided support to 6th Brigade’s attack on Ville-sur-Ancre. June and July saw them involved in minor action at Morlancourt. John was hospitalised with a fever in July and rejoined his unit in August. From August until October, 1918, the Battalion was involved in actions as part of the Allies Hundred Days Offensive, which included capturing the Amiens-Peronne railway bridge, involvement in the Battle of Mont St Quentin-Peronne and an attack on the Beaureviour Line.

In October 1918, the entire Australian Corps was withdrawn with demobilisation commencing in November. John was granted leave in England in January, 1919 and was admitted to the number 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital with arthritis of the right knee. John returned to Australia on HMT Czar in March, 1919. John and Maggie were still living in Forrest Street. He was working as a labourer at the time of his enlistment in World War 2, W243035, working at the 5th Australian Base Workshop.

Wife Maggie died in November 1959 at Mt Lawley and John also died at Mt Lawley on 13th June, 1960, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia, as a 56 year old enlisting World War 2.

Private Cecil ‘Skeeter’ William Armitage was a very colourful character. He was the youngest of four children of parents Benjamin Henry Armitage (1865-1933) and Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Camm (1867-1936). He was born in Perth on 12th October, 1893. Cecil was a 21 year old labourer at his first attempt at enlistment on 13th July, 1915. He was discharged for disciplinary reasons (Away WithOut Leave, fighting and creating a disturbance) on 20th October, 1915. Cecil attempted to enlist again in Kalgoorlie on 6th June, 1916, but was found to be unwell .

He successfully enlisted in 51st Battalion on 8th January, 1917, with his next of kin, his father now living in Forrest Street. Cecil embarked on SS Miltiades (image attached) and arrived in Devonport in March 1917, and was training with 13th Training Battalion.

Cecil left for France with the 9th Reinforcements on 29th July, 1917. In August he was AWOL, found in town without a leave pass and drunk. Cecil was courtmartialed in the field, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 18 months and 22 days incarceration. He was transferred to the number 10 Military Prison. Cecil had his unexpired portion of his sentence suspended and he rejoined his Battalion from prison on 20th August, 1918.

Six days later he was hospitalised with synovitis of the right knee. He was invalided to the Graylingwell War Hospital for treatment.

He married Mabel Edith Masters (1887-1928) in 1918.

In October 1918, he was charged with assault and robbery and was tried at the Old Bailey, sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, served at Wormwood Scrubbs Prison. With good conduct remission, he was discharged on 23rd March, 1920. Cecil returned to Australia on the SS Bahia Costello. During this journey home he was tried in a Cape Town court for resisting arrest.

Back in Australia, Skeeter was a successful boxer. However he was still in trouble and found himself in court again in 1926 following a bar brawl. He was fined £5 accompanied by some colourful words from the bench. Cecil was also a witness in a murder trial in 1947. He was working as a railway fettler around this time.

Cecil’s first wife Mabel Elizabeth died in 1928 at the Wooroloo Sanatorium. Cecil and Mabel had two children; Cynthia and Private Mervyn George Armitage WX41542 World War 2. Cecil married Rhoda Kathleen Cunningham (1900-1964) in 1947. They lived in Fitzgerald Street, North Perth. Cecil died at Victoria Park on 28th May, 1956, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Cecil’s younger brother, Trooper George Charles Armitage SN 2633, served with 1st ANZAC Battalion Camel Corps and was killed in action in the second Battle of Gaza in 1917.

Sergeant James Luke Peacock was the 8th born of ten children of parents John Peacock (1855-1899) and Mary Morton (1845-1911). James was born in January, 1885, in Catterick, Yorkshire. In 1901, James was working as a domestic groom in Yorkshire. He married Dora May Lonsdale in Richmond, Yorkshire, in 1907. Dora and James’ first child, James Milburn Peacock, was born on 25th July, 1909. James was working as a groom for a veterinarian surgeon in Leeds in 1911. The family migrated to Australia along with Dora’s mother Sarah and siblings William and Ann, arriving in Fremantle in November, 1912. Dora and James’ daughter, Dorothy Isabel, was born in 1913. The family were living in Forrest Street.

James was working as a groom and living in Subiaco at the time of his enlistment in the 10th Reinforcements, 11th Battalion, 25th June, 1915. He embarked on HMAT Themistocles in October, 1915 and was taken on strength by B company in January 1916. The Battalion moved to France in April. James was transferred to the 3rd Australian Light Trench Battery in May, and in June was taken on strength by the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion. The pioneer Battalions worked as light military combat engineers, located at the very forward edge of the battle area. They constructed command posts, defensive positions, dugouts and barbed wire defences. James was detached to the 2nd Army School in August, 1917. He rejoined the Pioneers in September and served out the war. James returned to England in January, 1919, and was discharged in Western Australia in June, 1919.

James and family settled in Mornington Mills. On 2nd October 1919, Dora died from pneumonia, leaving James, who had only just returned from the war with their two young children. James continued to work at Mornington Mills as a horse driver. He married Edith Josephine in 1931 and the family lived in Harvey, with James working as a farm hand. The family moved to Bunbury where James worked as a steward and enjoyed some social times.

James at age 52, enlisted in World War 2 , W30628. James and Edith were living on Coolbellup in 1972, and where James died on the 19th December, 1972. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.

Son Sergeant James Milburn Peacock, WX31758, served in New Guinea in World War 2.

Image is from the Stokes Mortar training pamphlet.

Sergeant Robert Charles Minn was the eldest child of parents Jonathan Charles Minn (1857-1896) and Mary Ann Hughes (1874-1920). He was born in Perth in 1893. Jonathan and Mary lost 2nd son Peter in 1894. Their 3rd son, Peter, was born in 1896, the same year Mary’s husband died in Southern Cross. Mary married Albert Patrick Hoey and they had a daughter, Helen Hilda May Hoey, in 1899. Albert died in Perth in 1901.

The family were living at Forrest Street, and Robert was working as a plumber, when he enlisted in the 12th Reinforcements, 16th Battalion, 10th August, 1915. Robert embarked on HMAT Ajana on 22nd December, 1915. He was reassigned and taken on strength by the 4th Pioneer Battalion, at Tel-el-Kebir, on March 1916 and left for Marseilles in March 1916. The pioneer battalions were trained as infantrymen with some engineering duties, with a large number of personnel possessing trade qualifications. The 4th Pioneer Battalion was assigned to 4th Division, taking part in major battles; Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Bullecort, and Messines. Robert’s maternal uncle, Private Charles Hughes, SN 2142, was killed in action on 5th May, 1917, in the 2nd Battle of Bullecort.

In March 1917 Robert was charged with neglect of duty while in charge of prisoners by allowing them to obtain intoxicating liquor – rum. He was reprimanded. Robert was detached to the Anzac Corps School in July 1917 and was granted leave in August. Robert returned to his unit and was slightly wounded by a shell in October, remaining on duty in Belgium. He suffered a whitlow infection in January 1918. Robert was seriously wounded in June, 1918 during the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele, sustaining shrapnel wounds to both thighs and perineum.

Robert died on 3rd June, 1918, and is buried at the Vignacourt British Cemetery. Image courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Robert has memorials at the Australian War Memorial and along the Kings Park Honours Avenue.

Younger brother Peter had tried to enlist in January 1916, however he was found to be unfit having a cardiac murmur and an inguinal hernia. Robert’s mother, Mary, married for a 3rd time to Private Matthew Dickson Sutherland, SN 4006, 16th Battalion, on 19th July, 1919, in Bunbury. Matthew had sailed from Fremantle on HMAT Ajana with Mary’s son Robert in December, 1915. Mary died on the 9th of January, 1920.

Private James McCarthy was the youngest of seven children of John McCarthy (1826-1893) and Sarah Bradford (1836-1902) and was born in 1875. John, a widower with two children, came to WA as a prisoner on the Robert Small, arriving in 1853. He was sentenced to ten years but was pardoned in 1857. John married Sarah in York on 26th March, 1859, and was noted as an old resident of the York district, closely identified with agriculture upon his death.

James married Lucy Gale (1868-1920) in the St Joseph’s RC Church, Northam, in 1893. They had three children between 1893 and 1897.

James was a farrier when he enlisted in the 4th Squadron, 1st Remount Unit, on 23rd September, 1915. He embarked on HMAT Orsova in November 1915. James was transferred to the Australian Army Medical Corps in Maadi and departed Alexandria for Marseilles in June 1916, to be attached to the 5th sanitation section with the role of limiting the spread of disease that led to large numbers of non-combat casualties. James worked in the Anzac Headquarters and also worked with the New Zealand Sanitation Section. James became ill with influenza in June, 1917. He was also suffering from gastritis and required transfer to Southwark Military Hospital in England in July for treatment. He was granted furlough in October and was returned to Australia medically unfit due to gastric erosions in February 1918.

James noted on enlistment his next of kin was brother John McCarthy (1862-1939), also associated with Forrest Street, and that he was not married. There are many Trove references to James’ wife Lucy from 1903 to 1914. Lucy was an ‘habitual drunkard’ and was imprisoned at least twice, at times with hard labour. Lucy died in Guildford in 1920 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. James was living at 221 Plain Street, East Perth prior to his death. He died on 6th October, 1949, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. James has a memorial with the York District Great War Honour Board.

Image courtesy of the VWMA.

James’ nephew, Private John McCarthy, 28th Battalion, died of wounds 25th December, 1917.

John McCarthy lived at 90 Forrest Street, Mt Lawley. SN 3208 Private John McCarthy, nephew of James McCarthy SN 953, was the only son of John McCarthy senior (1862-1939) and Maria Martin (1865-) and was born in 1893. John senior was noted to be well known, respected and of a generous disposition. He had been a successful farmer at Greenhills and Pingelly. He was living at 31 Brook Street, East Perth, prior to his passing in 1939. John senior and Maria also had a daughter Mary Ann Margaret (1894-1965).

John junior was a civil servant when he enlisted with the 7th Reinforcements, 28th Battalion, on 27th September, 1915. He embarked on HMAT Medic on 18th January, 1916, arriving in Alexandria in February and leaving for Marseilles in March. The Battalion entered the front line at Armentieres. John sustained a gun shot wound to the right hand in July during the Battalion’s first major action at Pozieres. He was transferred to England for treatment. During his time in England he was charged with AWL (absent without leave) and was fined five days forfeiture of pay. John rejoined his unit in December, 1916, and fell ill with mumps in January, 1917, requiring admission to hospital. John rejoined his unit in March, 1917. 28th Battalion was involved in the Battles of Bullecourt, Menin Road, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. John was wounded in action on 26th December, 1917, and died of his wounds. John is buried in the Underhill Farm Cemetery.

John has memorials at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, York District Great War Honour Board and the York War Memorial (pictured).

John’s sister Mary was the beneficiary of his estate which included the 90 Forrest Street property. Mary was married at the time to Walter Herbert King, SN 5618, 28th Battalion. They had three children. It is noted in a divorce petition that Walter became a heavy drinker prior to the war and had lost position after position. Walter enlisted in 1916 and spent three years with the 28th Battalion. On arrival back in Australia, he spent his entire deferred military pay in seven days on drink. Mary could not live with him and was forced to sell her home and place her children in a convent. Mary secured a maintenance order in the Perth Police Court but Walter could not be found and the order could not be executed. His Honour granted Mary a divorce, calling Walter an utter waster. Mary married a 2nd time to George Henry House (1888-1947) in 1923, and for a 3rd time to Thomas Crowe in 1952.