Guest blogger: Peter Crossman. One of the 2017 QANZAC100 Fellows of the State Library is Peter Crossman, whose project will focus on the many memorial rolls of the Great War in the State. The scope of this project is only for Queensland in the Great War – 1914-1919 – and is restricted to memorial rolls … Read more
Archibald Wilfred Sinnamon, 31st Infantry Battalion, killed in action Polygon Wood, September 1917. Archie Sinnamon was born in Rocklea, just south of Brisbane in 1895. His parents John and Ann were graziers on their property ‘Charmana’, located at Jackson, a small town between Miles and Roma, in south-west Queensland. Archie volunteered to serve with the … Read more
State Library recently commissioned a digital story – 30945 E.T. Shorley: First World War lyricist and poet digital story 2017 – to explore the homefront contribution of central Queensland lyricist and poet E.T. (Ezra Thomas) Shorley, and the play The Optimist, by Rockhampton music teacher and playwright Janet Stevenson, who received a Regional Arts Development Fund grant in 1915 to research … Read more
Lieutenant James Danaher, 31st Infantry Battalion, 9 Sept 1889 – 29 Sept 1917 Jim Danaher born in Harrisville and raised in Ipswich, Queensland wrote home to sisters Kit and Ruby whilst serving with the 31st Infantry Battalion during the First World War. These letters have recently been donated by his family, and it is timely … Read more
Indigenous Australian, George FOSTER, 49th Infantry Battalion. George FOSTER was born in Bollon, Qld in July 1884 and was working as a station hand when he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in May 1917. He nominated his brother Herbert as his next of kin. Initially selected to serve with the Light Horse, men … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Thomas Henry FORD, 31st Infantry Battalion. Thomas Henry FORD #4655 was born in Katanning, Western Australia to Thomas Henry Ford and Mary (Alma Eigel) Yeelcan in 1894. He was working as a labourer in Millmerran, where he resided with this wife Elizabeth(nee Hagan), and son also Thomas Henry, ten months old when he … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Private Curtis FORD, 15th Infantry Battalion. Curtis Ford was born at Southport, QLD in 1888 to Arthur Ford and Julia Sandy. Records show that after the death of his mother in 1896, Curtis and several of his siblings attended the Deebing Creek Aboriginal School. Curtis Ford was working as a stockman when he … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Private Henry Claude HAMILTON, 52nd Infantry Battalion. Henry HAMILTON was born in Inverell, NSW in 1872 and was working as a cook in Murgon, Qld when he enlisted age 44 with the first AIF in September 1916. He trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera before embarking for overseas on board the troopship HMAT … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Private Charles William FOLEY, 13th Machine Gun Company & 49th Infantry Battalion. Charley FOLEY was well known around the islands of Moreton Bay. Born in 1881 on North Stradbroke Island to Charles Foley and Amy, he became a skilled fisherman and strong swimmer. In 1910 he saved the life of a fellow crewman … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Driver Joseph FLETCHER, 15th Infantry Battalion. Joe FLETCHER was one of 10 children born to Edward Fletcher and an Aboriginal woman in 1891. The family were farming cane at Tatura when Jo Fletcher volunteered to serve in the first AIF in September 1914, just weeks after Australians were called to fight for King … Read more
