Topic: GW - August 1914
7 August 1914, War is Declared, The Queanbeyan Age
Due to the time zone differences, the declaration of war by Britain against Germany, while officially recorded as 4 August 1914, in terms of Australia, did not happen until Wednesday, 5 August 1915. For the The Queanbeyan Age, this did not happen until the end of the week, on Friday, 7 August 1914.
Apart from being a major regional agricultural area, the Queanbeyan region supported the primary officer training facility at Duntroon, Canberra, while also hosting minor military training facilities. The Militia formations throughout the region included: Bungendore, 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment, "A" Squadron (part); Bungendore Rifle Club; and, Queanbeyan Rifle Club under the command of Robert Thomson as Captain.
Queanbeyan was a regional centre which boasted of a bi-weekly newpaper published every Tuesday and Friday called The Queanbeyan Age incorporating the Bungendore Mirror and Captain's Flat Miner. But while the main newspaper, it had a competitor in the weekly newspaper called the Queanbeyan Leader. The Queanbeyan Age was priced at 1d [1 penny or in 2008 AUD, $1.70] per edition. The newspaper was circulated around the Queanbeyan region including the locations and towns of Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Majura, Canberra, Tuggeranong, Thawa, Captain's Flat, Hall and Sutton. The area was mainly composed of undulating pastures puctuated by two alpine regions with snow peaked mountains in the winter. The region presents a diverse landscape of agriculture mixed with wilderness. Queanbeyan was the primary city in the region while the national capital, Canberra began to grow. Now with the population in the many hunderes of thousands, Queanbeyan has become another satellite city of Canberra, although it still holds dearly onto its favourite newspaper, The Queanbeyan Age. The following two pages are indicative of the life experienced in the Queanbeyan region when the Great War was declared.
War is Declared
This page explores the way The Queanbeyan Age dealt with the news.
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Mobilisation Notice for the Queanbeyan Rifle Club
Members of the Queanbeyan Rifle Club were ordered to register for duty in their role within the Commonwealth mobilisation scheme. Captain Robert Thomson, Officer Commanding the Queanbeyan Rifle Club required the local members to attend the rear rooms of the Post Office at 7.30 that very night - 7 August 1914 - to register for service. The following night was set aside for men from the outlying areas. The active members from the Queanbeyan Rifle Club were then placed under the immediate mobilisation command of the 28th (Illawarra) Light Horse, the Headquarters being at Albion Park, Sydney. Many members went on to convert from the Militia to the AIF while remaining light horsemen.
Quenabeyan enlistments for the AIF Light Horse
The following list is of the known men who enlisted in the Australian Light Horse during the Great War and saw overseas service. The enlistments are in regimental order, then in alphabetical order. The address of the man is listed followed by the unit in which he enlisted, although not necessarily served. The fate of the man is the last record. Only one man who enlisted in the Light Horse was killed in action. This was 1896 Trooper Walter John Moore who enlisted in the 1st Light Horse Regiment but transferred to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade as a driver. During the attack on the Hindenburg Line on 8 August 1918, Moore was killed in action. He was one of 31 men from Queanbeyan who died as a consequence of service on the Western Front. For those who remained with the Light Horse, their fate was happier as all returned to Australia.
- 4051 Trooper Theodore Erle Capes, Barracks Flat, Queanbeyan, 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, 6th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 711 Trooper John Edward Cregan, Lanyon Station via Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 73 Trooper Richard Roy Hetherington, Commercial Bank, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section, Returned to Australia.
- 1441 Trooper Francis Joseph Humphries, McQuoid Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 3781 Trooper Ernest Roy Johnson, McQuoid Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 35th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1896 Trooper Walter John Moore, Campbell Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 13th Reinforcement, Killed in Action, Villers-Bretonneux, France, 8 August 1918.
- 1705 Trooper Albert Charles Bell, McQuoid Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2154 Trooper Charles Herbert Chalmers, Garryowen, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 3602 Trooper Alfred William Marchant, Bank of NSW, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 32nd Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1183 Trooper Charles Longden Richardson, The Elms, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2228 Trooper Charles Victor Southwell, Cameron Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2229 Trooper James Southwell, Antill Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2828 Trooper James Brown Swan, Campbell Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 19th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2236 Trooper Gervaze Cosmos Thompson, McQuoid Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1958 Trooper Thomas Oswald Woodger, Monaro, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 13th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2817 Trooper James Grady, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 19th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 3605 Trooper William George Lee, Pound Hill, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 32nd Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1326 Trooper Edward Crofton Maxwell, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1325 Trooper Patrick Michael Maxwell, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2824 Trooper James Archibald Muir, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 19th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 2381 Trooper William Martin Pike, Rosecrea, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 642 Trooper John Michael Scannell, 'Canberra' via Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 1st Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 642 Trooper Michael John Scannell, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 7th Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1382 Trooper Herbert Cantle, Mowatt Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1390 Trooper Herbert Claude Dawson, Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1392 Trooper Archibald Samuel Fitzgibbon, Crawford Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1421 Trooper John Calude McGrogan, Antill Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1626 Trooper Edward McInnes, Antil Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1426 Trooper Bertram Herman Billet Naveau, Power House, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1427 Trooper John James O'Rourke, Mowatt Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1428 Trooper Joseph Patrick O'Rourke, Mowatt Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
- 1533A Trooper Ulric Harley Williams, 'Hillview', Queanbeyan, New South Wales, 12th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Reinforcement, Returned to Australia.
The Hospital Ball was the highlight of the social season. Held on Tuesday, 5 August 1914, on the very day Australia received word of the outbreak of war, the ball was a financial and social success.
We know the types of dresses worn by the women who attended. Many women handed in their dress cards with a description of the clothing they wore. Here are a few examples.
- Mrs Forster Rutledge nee Gidleigh wore black charmeuse with black trimmings and ornaments.
- Mrs C Morcom wore a dress of pale blue satin trimmed with gold lace and adorned with gold medallions.
- Mrs GJ Webb's dress was of cream ninon trimmed with beads.
- Mrs Hetherington wore a dress made from black crepe-de-chine.
After doing the dress up at the ball to express an ability to wear something different and better than the other woman, it would appear as though there was a need to compare notes about the dresses worn. Those women who did not appreciate the dress worn by the particular woman on the night had the opportunity to examine the dress in detail in a post ball debriefing. One can only imagine the social fate that awaited those women who did not lodge their dress card.
Queanbeyan Activities, 7 August 1914
While the war announcement was a significant story, the life of Queanbeyan did not halt but just kept going on, as it did for the duration of the war. This page details quite clearly some of the life that occurred within the south Queanbeyan region.
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War! War!
Advertisers were quick to trivialise the ghastly business of war in order to turn a quick profit. It was an Australian wide phenomenon that lasted until the casualty reports began to filter in from Gallipoli. Until then, it was the Great Game and Great Adventure.
Hayes and Russell used the uncertainty of war and the expectation of profiteering to market their products. One of their signature products was their special blend of tea called The Canberra. Originally, Hayes and Russell Ltd, were ironmongers, but like stores of this type, expanded out to become general stores and some even departments stores. Hayes and Russell Ltd was a major feature in Queanbeyan for many years.
Whiz! Bang!
Shoot straight for the Protestant Hall on August 14th and attend the Grand Plain and Fancy Dress Ball in aid of the Federal Sports Club. Catering by Mrs JA Shaw. Music by Misses Meredith Orchestra. Built in 1877, the Protestant Hall went through many transformations of which included a Salvation Army barracks, Masonic hall and a picture theatre. It is now home to St Illia's Macedonian Orthodox Church demonstrating the cosmopolitan flavour of Queanbeyan.
The remorseless beat of Life and Death goes on
Road accidents have always been killers. Regardless of the era, any use of a vehicle for rapid transport has brought with it the potential for injury. The horse drawn sulky was just as likely to produce fatalities as is the motor vehicles of today.
Bywong Creek, 11 am, Sunday, 22 July 1914, Claude Joseph Harriott, a 4 month old child, died as a direct consequence of a sulky accident. On Monday, 16 July 1914, the sulky contained the Harriott family as they travelled upon the main road from Bungendore after a visit to the town. With them was their dog who followed in front and back of the sulky. Near the 12 mile post on the main road, the dog went between the legs of the horse who took fright who gallopped off the road towards a fence. Claude Joseph was in the arms of his mother. The jolting caused the seat bolts to sever forcing the mother to swerve towards the sulky wheel. During this involuntary action, the head of Claude Joseph was struck against the wheel. The child never recovered from his head wound and died six days later.
The history revealed by a newspaper
A newspaper is a historical snapshot of a particular area on the day the newspaper was published. They contain a wealth of information which can be extracted and used according to the individual taste. The above extracts give an example of the depth of information contained within a simple rural newspaper. Every story contains many more stories, each layered upon each other like onion peels. As one peels away one skin, more appear to reveal a vibrant community brimming with history.
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Further Reading:
Complete list of Newspaper References for 5 August 1914
Citation: The Queanbeyan Age - War Declared
