Do you know anything about the war years
in Towamba?
MAX. Yes. There used to be a V.D.C., a Volunteer
Defence Corps used to be here.
Stationed here?
MAX. Yes. They were the farming community around
here. There was........ they used to call
him Captain.......Pax Sawtell (spelling)
and what was the other one's name....he used
to come down from the Monaro and train us.
I can't remember his name but the two of
them used to come down and train us here
and I was the baby. I was the youngest in
the V.D.C.. I was only twelve or thirteen
and our job was to....they always reckoned
the Japanese would land at Twofold Bay and
we was to move all the stock up to the Monaro,
burn everything behind us, then as luck had
it, it didn't happen. But then 1945 the war
ended, in '46 they had a welcome home for
the returned soldiers. They had a sports
day over here in Boller's paddock, which
was Darcy Parker's paddock and the first
wood chop that I ever chopped in was at that
particular time. Then they had a big dinner
in the hall that night for a welcome home
party for the soldiers. That was 1946. I
had two uncles on the Sawers side, no three
uncles in the war, yes. One uncle, he died
a prisoner of war on the Burma railway and
the other two didn't get out of Australia.
Then Laurie Beasley had a bad knee and they
kept him around the mess house nearly all
the time. He hated that. Gordon Beasley who
ended up here where Terry Knight lives, that
was Jack's brother, he went to New Guinea
and then there was Alf Tasker and Rufie Lucas,
he was Alf's brother-in-law. He lived out
at the back of 'Elmgrove' at 'Daisy Hill',
then there were three Clements'....... Gordon,
Verner, and Ronnie, then there was Les Mitchell,
he died a prisoner of war. Mary Mitchell,
(Lower Towamba) well her husband's brother
died a prisoner of war. Pud, as we used to
call him, Gordon was his right name but he
always had Pud, he died a prisoner of war
on the Burma railway.
Why did they go?
MAX. Well, the thing about it was for a lot of
them, work was a big problem for them at
that particular stage. That's right, Athol
Greer, he was another feller that went. Well,
when he joined up and Gordon Beasley, they
were ring barking timber at Craig & Mostyn's
lease down there.
Where's that?
MAX. Out the back of 'Log Farm'. It's State forest
now but Craig & Mostyn was the wattle
bark company and they had this lease taken
up from the Forestry. They were ring barking
all the green timber to let the wattle grow.
Athol used to suffer from dog wood itch,
so he said, 'That's it, I'm going to join
the Army!' Him and Gordon Beasley and Normie
Carragher all left the job out there and
joined up.
*** Excerpt from Max Sawers' interview in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.
The first and second world wars had a noticeable
effect on the Towamba district in that the
young men who went away to fight were the
labour force of the valley. They were the
farm labourers, the milkers, the future survival
of the valley way of life.
The wars gave these isolated young people
a glimpse of the outside world and for those
who returned, life was never the same. Many
left again to make a life for themselves
outside the valley.
Arthur Beasley, put his age up to go to the
first world war and down when he enlisted
for the second; fighting in the desert and
in Europe. He returned from the second war
and lived the rest of his life in Towamba.
The loss of the young population - those
who died overseas and those who returned
and later left the district - changed the
way of life in the valley that had remained
virtually unchanged since pioneering days.
LINKS :
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Wyndham
It is stated that Messrs. E. Robertson (of
Honeysuckle) and J. Grant (of Wattle Hill)
are enlisting in the next Bushmen's Contingent
for South Africa.
May 25, 1900
Wyndham
The little village of Wyndham for the past
few week has been very quiet but on Monday
the 21 st inst., quite a change took place.
The "Union Jack" was hoisted all
over the village, and crowds were to be seen
coming into the town. A four mile march was
made by the whole of the miners from Jingera,
with their "general" in the lead,
carrying a flag with the words "Hurrah
for Mafeking". The local band was also
in evidence, and played "Sons of the
Sea" from the balcony of the old Royal
Hotel.... The school children then marched,
headed by the band, singing the National
Anthem.... the children being afterwards
treated to a shower of lollies. An address
was given on the South African War and the
success of the British troops, concluding
with three hearty cheers for gallant Colonel
Baden-Powell....
August 24, 1900
Ball at Burragate
* The recent ball at Lyndhurst, Burragate,
in aid of the Indian Famine Fund, passed
off most successfully.....
June 26, 1915
'The Bega Budget'
Five volunteers have been passed at Towamba
by the medical examiner, and two (Messrs.
V. Smith and H. Beasley) recently left for
Sydney. On the eve of their departure they
were entertained at a social and each presented
with a wristlet watch.
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Keith Parker. 12th Light Horse. 1915 Photo courtesy L. Parker |
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World War 1 recruiting drive. Outside the
Towamba Wine Saloon. Note Towamba's first bridge in background. 1918 |
March 18, 1916
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
* Mr. W. Beazley, of Towamba, has six sons
on active service, and one brother. A patriotic
family.
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
26 August 1916
Snips and Scraps.
* The report that Private Tom Robinson was
missing was only a rumour.
Private Ted. Cochrane, a partner in the proprietorship
of the Bega 'Standard,' has been wounded
at the front.
Private E. J. Beasley, of Towamba, is officially
reported missing.
May 5, 1917
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
* Pte. T. Laing, of Towamba, was killed
in action on April 9. Pte. Osborne Rixon, of Rocky Hall, has also
been killed in action.
'The Bombala Times'
4 October 1918
War Loan Tank.
VISIT TO BOMBALA MAKES TWO RECORDS.
The War Loan Tank, under the command of '
Admiral ' Hawksley, reached Bombala last
Saturday afternoon according to programme.
This particular Tank is one of a fleet that
is at present combing the Commonwealth for
subscriptions to the Seventh War Loan, and
from the route it is called ' The Southern
Cross.' It left Sydney some days before and
travelled from Goulburn through the Queanbeyan
and Cooma districts, making appeals at the
various towns on the way. The staff consisted
of Mr. Hawksley (of the 'Evening News,')
Sgt. Paddy Geoghan, and Sgt. Wayland (Commonwealth
Bank). The Hon. Austin Chapman joined the
Tank at Cooma. Ald. Smith, in the absence
of the Mayor, cheered the Tank on its arrival
at the Council Chambers, and the Band played
a patriotic selection and the National Anthem.
Ald. Smith, on behalf of the people of Bombala,
extended a hearty welcome to the Tank and
its staff, and trusted their mission to Bombala
would be a success. He hoped that those people
who had money at their disposal would respond
to the appeal. The war could not go on without
money, and the way our boys had been fighting
lately should encourage the people to lend
their money to the Government. When people
got on the 'tank' we were generally glad
to get rid of them, but they were all pleased
to see their old friend Austin Chapman on
this Tank. The Hon. Austin Chapman said it
was a novelty for him to be on the 'tank.'
It was also unusual for him, to be speaking
except on politics. Some of his constituents
might say, "Why are you not in your
place in Parliament? In reply he could say
that he had received a command from Admiral
Hawksley to come round on the Tank, and he
thought his best course was to obey that
command. He had been round before urging
them to send men, now he was going to ask
those who couldn't fight to pay up. This
show was in charge of Mr. Hawksley, a well-known
pressman, who had done his bit in many ways,
and was doing this as a labor of love. Although
most people had done their bit he asked them
to try and do a little bit extra. He was
glad to hear that some of the rich men in
the district were putting in their thousands,
but he was better pleased to know that some
of the poor men were coming forward with
their tenners. A sum of £20,000 had been
subscribed at Cooma and £2,000 at Nimmitabel.
This Tank was symbolic of the great war.
The war had put everyone on the one footing,
and in the trenches the squatter's son, the
miner's son, and the laborer's son were cobbers.
They were all out on the one mission - to
win the war. It was our mission to help with
the money. Thank God, the war news was better,
but it was not over yet. He would ask Mr.
Hawksley to address them. Ald. Smith stated
that the quota for the Municipality was £7,500,
and the amount already subscribed here was
£14,735. Mr. Hawksley said the Chairman had
asked him to hit out, but how could he hit
out when Bombala had already doubled its
quota. £7,500 was an absurdly low quota for
Bombala, and £14,000 had been put up in no
time. The Tank was worth another £14,000
surely. And so the appeal went on. Mr. Hawksley
told them what the Government wanted for
this Seventh War Loan - forty millions sterling
- and they were going to get it. The people
were asked to sacrifice their money at 5¼
per cent. He appealed to their sentiments,
he appealed to their patriotism, and he appealed
for money as a good business investment.
When he had finished Sgt. Geoghan was turned
on, and he soon had the audience in a pleasant
humor with his fund of witty anecdotes. While
this was going on Sgt. Wayland was not idle.
The applications started with one from Mr.
R. Stevenson for £5000, the largest amount
received by this Tank in one sum. This was
followed by some smaller amounts, not the
least of which were from men who had sons
fighting at the front. A sort of mist came
over the eyes as one father stepped forward
for a £10 bond, and it was announced that
he had lost one son at the front and one
was still fighting. He was finding the men
and the money too ! The total received by
the Tank was £9,530, and this was the biggest
total it had received on the tour.
The amount was made up as follows : - (in
£s)
R. Stevenson ... 5,000
J. C.Maslin ... .1,000
E. A. Angove ... 1,000
M. A. Baird ... 1,000
W. Beileiter ... 500
L. Goldberg ... 200
F. H. Dawson ... 100
N.F.Smith... 100
W. E. Roberts ... 100
Alex. Oliver ... 100
W. Watson ... 100
Jas. Scott ... 100
S. Rolfe ... 50
Mr. Goldberg's Children 50
Don. Langley ... 20
G.R.Phillips ... 20
Miss G. Beileiter... 20
F. Rapmund ... 20
W. Brotherton ... 10
J. Turnbull ... 10
F. J. Smith ... 10
Hy. Beveridge ... 10
Jas. Paxton ... 10
Messrs. McKay Brothers also promised to take
up £2,000 but this will go in from the Delegate
district. The local Bank managers assisted
the Tank staff in obtaining subscriptions,
filling in forms, &c.
May 2, 1917
'Southern Star'
* The southern end of the district paid a
heavy war toll last week. First there was
news of Private Cornell, of Pambula, being
killed. Then came word in rapid succession
of the deaths of Private Laing, of Towamba
and Private Gordon Ryan, of Burragate.
June 20, 1917
'Southern Star'
* Word has been received that Private W.
J. Macleod, of Mila, who enlisted from Towamba,
has been wounded in France after serving
11 months in the trenches.
The Sydney Morning Herald
16 May 1918
"A TOWN WITHOUT ELIGIBLES."
* A subscriber who signs himself "Wanderer"
issues a challenge to any town to show a
better record than Towamba, on the South
Coast, in regard to the enlistment of eligible
men. He says: "Early in 1915 the police
took the names of all elligibles in the police
patrol district, and since then every eligible
man has offered himself for active service.
Only one man, who was rejected on three or
more occasions, was unable to go into camp.
However, this man has a number of brothers
at the front."
'Twofold Bay Magnet' - Saturday 7 September,
1918
The War Tank "Southern Cross"
Will be at Eden on Tuesday October 1st.
The Hon. Austin Chapman is expected to arrive
at Eden with (not on) the "War Tank"
on Tuesday morning.
'Pambula Voice' - Friday 20 September, 1918
The War Loan Tank will arrive at Pambula
on Wednesday October 2, and as this is a
sample of the great "vehicles of destruction"
used by the allies in France, it will be
a sight worth seeing by young and old. A
large attendance is requested at the public
meeting tomorrow (Saturday) in the School
of Arts to make arrangements to receive the
Tank contingent.
'Cobargo Chronicle' - Saturday 21 September,
1918
The War Loan Tank "Southern Cross"
which is to tour the southern district to
assist in the Loan campaign, is due to arrive
in Cobargo on Friday, October 4, and will
remain overnight. The Central Committee desire
that each centre endeavor to reach its quota
during the Tank's visit. Capable speakers
will accompany the Tank and at least one
of the visitors will be an Australian soldier
who has seen active service. It is hoped
to secure the assistance of the most prominent
local speakers to assist in the appeal, as
they are in the best position to know where
to look for money.
'Pambula Voice' - Friday 11 October, 1918
Wolumla
The Hon. Austin CHAPMAN arrived with the
War Tank on Wednesday, October 2, and although
the weather was very unfavourable he met
with a good response, £590 being given in,
£200 of which was sent along by Mr. John
J. Smith, formerly living at Wolumla, and
now of Ashfield. As between £700 and £800
had previously been promised to the War Loan
through the Shire Council, Mr. Chapman was
satisfied that our centre had contributed
its quota.
'Pambula Voice' - Friday 11 October, 1918
Cobargo subscribed about £2,000 at the Tank
appeal last week.
'Twofold Bay Magnet' - 20 December 1919
The School of Arts, Burragate, was the scene
of a memorable service on Sunday last, when
a marble Honor Roll containing the names
of fallen and returned soldiers was unveiled.
The hall was decorated with Union Jacks and
Allied Flags and a large congregation from
all around attended, especially from Wyndham
and Towamba. Among them was a proud father
of five soldier sons. Reserved seats were
provided for Lance Corporals [Harry] Beasley
and G Dickie, Privates J Mitchell, Arthur,
Cliff and Peter Sawers and J Martin, also
the parents and grand-parents of the fallen
heroes... At the conclusion of an excellent
address, and the singing of the National
Anthem, the Rev. Gentleman unveiled the Honor
Roll, which was draped with the Union Jack-sent
by a fallen soldier, Pte E W Beasley to his
only child, before sailing to the Western
Front.... (see Burragate Memorial for full
report)... Private Arthur Sawers Returned
Wounded Private Peter Sawers Returned Wounded.
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Opening of the Towamba War Memorial, 21 November
1925 on its original site opposite St.Pauls Church of England. |
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Magnet July 25, 1936 WYNDHAM Mr. L. Watson has returned from Sydney where he went for treatment for his war wounds which were causing trouble. Laurie was not able to work, but got very little satisfaction from Military Hospital authorities. |
Laurie Watson (sitting) and Peter Sawers. WW1 |
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'Dodge' Unknown Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Peter Sawers (Henry Peter Sawers) Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
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Peter and Arthur Sawers Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Peter Sawers Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
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Dick Farrell. Died Sandakan, Borneo, aged
44. Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Ernest Targett - George Collection |
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Ron Whitby. Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Ron Whitby c 1915 Photo courtesy Dale Hummer (nee Whitby) |
The Three Sawers Brothers signed up together | |
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Cliff Sawers Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Cliff Sawers (second from left) in hospital. Egypt. |
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Arthur Peter Sawers | Robert Sawers |
![]() Private Robert Sawers |
Born: 1887 Lived: At Burragate NSW Service Number: 3031 First World War Enlistment Date: 3rd February 1916 Unit: 31st Battalion 5th Regiment Embarkation Details: Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 14th March 1916. Robert served at France and Belgium and was killed during the defence of Amiens. Died: 2nd July 1918 - Killed in Action Place of Burial: Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension. Parents: James and Mary Whitby Children: James T. Sawers John Sawers Mary A. Sawers Sarah Sawers Caroline Sawers George Edward Sawers Agnes Sawers Henry Charles Sawers *Robert Sawers Alice E. Sawers Lillian Olive Sawers *Arthur Peter Sawers *Clifford Stanley G. Sawers Jeanette E.R. Sawers *Robert brother Arthur Peter Sawers. Service Number 3033 - Unit 31st Battalion in France and Belgium and was wounded in action on two separate occasions. He survived and returned to Australia in 1919. Arthur Peter and Clifford George Sawers are Twins ** Robert brother - John Sawers m. Charlotte Beasley in 1891 in Bombala NSW. Daughter Mary Elisabeth Sawers m. William Weatherhead Love in 1915 in Eden NSW. (She is Ray Edwin Love's grandmother) Description Studio Portrait of 3031 Private (Pte) Robert Sawers, 31st Battalion from Burra Gate, NSW. A 28 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 3 February 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 14th March 1916 aboard HMAT Anchises. He served with the 31st Battalion in France and Belgium and was killed during the defence of Amiens, France on 22 July 1918. Pte. Sawers is buried in the Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Robert's younger brother, 3033 Pte Arthur Peter Sawers enlisted with the 31st Battalion on the same day and fought with Robert. Arthur returned to Australia in April 1919. |
Post card message on the back of the above portrait of Private Robert Sawers | |
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Private Albert Leslie Mitchell, 2/20th Battalion, Australian Infantry. |
Private (Pte) Albert Leslie Mitchell, of
Towamba, NSW, enlisted on 12 June 1941, and died of illness whilst a Prisoner of War in Borneo on 22 June 1945, aged 43. |
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment,
of NX32273 Private Albert Leslie Mitchell,
2/20th Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Mitchell, aged 43, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 22 June, 1945. He was the son of John Thomas Mitchell and Fanny Mitchell, of Lower Towamba, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 14. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database. |
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Group of WW1 soldiers before leaving for
overseas. This image was given to a
Towamba
resident by Arthur Beasley so it is possible that he and other Towamba soldiers are included. Courtesy J. Love |
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Charles Robinson. 1916 Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
Verner Clements WW11 |
![]() Malcolm John McLeod |
Malcolm John McLeod was 22 when he enlisted
in September 1915. Unit: 2nd Battalion - 14 Reinforcements - Regimental Number: 4542 He was engaged to my grand nan whom he married when he returned home in 1917. She was 17 when he left. My great grandfather arrived in Marseilles where he spent the first few months of his service in hospital at Etaples with the mumps and was later dispatched for duty with the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company. In October 1916 he rejoined his Unit in Bullecourt, France and in May 1917 was wounded in action - A gunshot wound to the head. We understand that a bullet passed through his head and a fellow soldier held his finger over the wound which kept him alive until help arrived. His friendship with this soldier continued when the war came to an end and they used to meet up regularly in Sydney. He was discharged and returned to Australia in October 1917 but never recovered from the severe injury he received, the plate in his head caused him a great deal of pain and he started having seizures which eventually lead to his death at aged 42. (Information supplied by Yvette Berry) |
![]() Alfred Tasker B. 12 Feb 1920, D. 9 May 1971 Merimbula, buried in Pambula Cemetery Son of Alfred & Lizzie (nee Love) Tasker Married Aileen Jones 21 October 1943 at Towamba Service Number - N267651 1939 - 1948 Place of enlistment - EDEN NSW Lionel Love is Alfred Tasker's Uncle. Lionel Love and Lizzie Tasker are brother and sister |
![]() Lionel Leslie Love B 1917 Eden, NSW D 20 June 1954 Towamba, NSW buried Towamba Cemetery Son of Thomas and Lucy Love Married Moya Marie Bray 1942 Service Number - NX96929 1939 - 1948 Place of enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW (Information supplied by Susan Love) |
![]() ![]() George Thornborough Dickie Service Number: 5994 Rank: Private Roll title: 2 Infantry Battalion - 13 to 23 Reinforcements (December 1915 - November 1916) Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 Date of embarkation: 22 August 1916 Place of embarkation: Sydney Ship embarked on: HMAT Wiltshire A18 (Information supplied by Susan Love) |
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Telegrams informing the Dickie family of George Dickie being wounded. | |
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ANZAC Hospital Harefield, UK | George Dickie on left, outside Ward 20, Harefield, UK |
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Charlie Roberts. Courtesy R. Dickie | Letter home from Charlie Roberts |
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Postcard sent to Charlie Roberts from Connie Dickie | |
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Post card sent to Connie Dickie | Back of Post card |
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Postcard to Connie Dickie from Edward Beasley from Cairo. | |
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Post card sent to Connie Dickie | Back of post card |
Comparing the writing, they are from the
same person "Eddie" which I assumed
was Edward John Beasley as he was in Egypt
and was killed there. Anyway this last one I found mentions that Ted Beasley is missing. So was there another "Eddie" from Towamba that fought in Egypt? Just shows never make assumptions with history just because it all looks right. Rhonda Dickie |
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![]() Unknown. Courtesy R. Dickie |
Edward Marshall Beasley photo courtesy Glynis Anderson |
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![]() Raising money for the Red Cross: Aileen Tasker, Gloria Clements, Jennifer Dickie, Phyl Clements, Rufus Lucas, ?, Ruby Roberts. Front : Doris Page, Lizzie Tasker, Rita Dickie, Jean Logan |
Towamba Hall set up to welcome the boys home |
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(A compilation of some of the above photographs,
some soldiers unknown) Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum |
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Girl and soldier on Pericoe Road. Towamba Store in background (right). Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum No date |
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POSTCARD SENT TO ETHEL FROM BOB. FRANCE SEPT.
14, 1916. Jean McPaul Collection, Eden Killer Whale Museum. |
August 4, 1917
'The Queenslander'
The Roll of Honour.
AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES.
Edward John Beasley, Towamba, N.S.W.
October 30, 1917
The Sydney Morning Herald
NEW SOUTH WALES. ,
KILLED.
Pte. ALBERT EDWARD LONSDALE SMITH, Towamba.
The notice below was given to Mr Pat Farrell
(WW11)
BURRAGATE AREA EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS
Help Yourself in an Emergency
If you are ordered to evacuate proceed to
Burragate School of Arts.
You may carry with you:
(a) The clothes in which you stand, a change,
your overcoat, and one blanket for yourself.
(b) A suitcase not over 20 inches for extras
including children's clothing, toilet requirements
etc., for each family.
(c) 6lbs food for each person.
The persons in your household will travel
as follows:
Mrs. Pat farrell with Mr. Umback's car. Mr.
P. Farrell - await possible second trip.
You will be promptly notified of any alteration
in arrangements.
October 8, 1942
The Sydney Morning Herald
ARMY LOSSES
NEW SOUTH WALES
AUSTRALIA
KILLED IN ACTION.
PARKER, Gnr. T. A., Art.,Towamba.