The capture of Beersheba on 31 October 1917, as part of the third Battle of Gaza, was a complex operation, involving weeks of careful planning by Light Horse commanders. Secret operation orders held by State Library as part of the OM78-70 David Gifford Croll Papers 1914-1919; 1944-1948 provide a great insight into the many facets of the operation, … Read more
This week’s commemoration of the Battle of Beersheba highlights the service of men in the Light Horse Brigade. Since 2014 the State Library of Queensland has been researching Indigenous participants in the First World War and we find that many were selected to serve with Light Horse Regiments. Several served during the Gallipoli campaign, where … Read more
This photograph of a soldiers grave was sent to Catherine Nairn, who resided in South Brisbane, following the reported death of her son Harold in 1918. Harold the eldest son of Thomas and Catherine Nairn was an apprentice mechanical engineer, for the Australian Meat Export Co. when he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in May 1916, … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Harry HARPER, 52nd Infantry Battalion. Private Harry HARPER was born at Albany Downs, Mitchell in 1892 to Harry and Alice (nee Corrigan) and was working as a Stockman at Tomoo Station, south west of Mitchell when he and two mates Tommy Smith and Charlie Parkes decided to volunteer with the first AIF. Recruited … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Jack GROSE, 31st Infantry Battalion. Jack GROSE was born in Gunnedah, NSW in 1881 to Rachel Grose, who died two weeks after giving him life. When he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in January 1916 he named his friend and employer Archie Robinson as his next of kin. Prior to enlisting … Read more
In 2014, the Rockhampton Country Hospital Museum in Central Queensland undertook research aimed to identify and honour the First World War contributions of local nurses who trained at local hospitals, had a Pre-war or Post-war link to the local area, and enlisted to serve their country. Limiting the geographical area to central Queensland allowed the research to focus on Rockhampton Hospital nurse training records, … Read more
Indigenous Australian, Private George GRAHAM, 26th Infantry Battalion. George GRAHAM an oysterman from Nerang Creek, volunteered age 40 to serve with the first AIF in May 1916, mis-stating that he was 28 years old. Born to Andrew Graham and Jenny McGussy in Logan in 1876 he worked the oyster beds off the coast of Southern … Read more
Guest Blogger: Leonie Fanning, Pioneer Valley Museum, Mirani The name Wright appears three times on the Roll of Honor for Pinnacle and District, near Mackay. The three brothers from the Pioneer Valley, west of Mackay, signed up in a space of 10 months between October 1916 and April 1917 – Charles (born 1876) on 25 … Read more
State Library recently commissioned a digital story, to highlight the unique First World War death registers held at Queensland’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (RBDM). These registers are hold almost 10,000 names, but none of the soldiers registered died in Queensland. Between 1921-1924, as a means of providing Queensland families with some kind of closure, … Read more
Ernest GALLAHER, 26th Infantry Battalion. Private Ernest GALLAHER was born at Laidley in 1900, he moved with his mother Catherine and stepfather Henry Glover to Cooran prior to the war. He followed his older brother Charles to camp when he enlisted in June 1916 (underaged) where he was assigned to the 4th Reinforcements of the … Read more
