Families and Friends of the First AIF

Bravery and Service – ‘Harry’ Cobby remembered

An invitation from the Military History Society of Australia, Victorian Branch Inc for their upcoming meeting:

An Australian war hero from Victoria, – Air Commodore Arthur ‘Harry’ Cobby – will be remembered by a special commemoration Oration on 24^th June. Cobby saw service with the 48^th Infantry (Brighton Rifles); the 1^st AIF (Australian Flying Corps) in WWI – where he became Australia ’s top fighter ace – and then the RAAF through WWII. Cobby was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), won the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) three times and the George Cross for bravery during WWII, among other decorations.

Photo: Air Commodore Arthur ‘Harry’ Cobby [MHSA]

His life and times will be commemorated in an Oration delivered by Air Marshall Barry Gration, AO, AFC (Rtd) at the Oakleigh Mechanics Institute Hall in Drummond Street , Oakleigh from 7.30 pm on Thursday, 24^th June. Cobby memorabilia will be on display.  The Oration has attracted a number of relatives, some of whom are coming from interstate to attend the Oration, which is expected to focus on aspects of Cobby’s leadership, bravery and service.

For more details of the presentation, see the MHSA Vic. Inc. website at http://mhsavictoria.tripod.com/index.html
or
contact Mr. Andrew Kilsby on 03 9563 0089

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French Governments for affording Australian and British soldiers dignified individual reburials in the new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the Australian and British Governments for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

Families and Friends of the First AIF member, Sandra Greenshields, is researching the military career of her maternal grandfather Sapper Charles John Scott (N^o.4319) who served with the 15^th Field Company Engineers.

Photo: Sapper Charles John Scott MM [Family collection]

Sapper Scott was awarded the Military Medal for his role as company runner during the battle for St Quentin Canal.

The citation reads:
For meritorious service and devotion to duty. Near BELLICOURT from 29/9/18 to 1/10/18, this Sapper acted as a runner between his section Officer in the line and Company Commander. He maintained communication when all other means were stopped and although suffering from the effects of gas, he manfully carried on his duty. It was largely owing to his [????] efforts that communication was so successfully maintained throughout the operations.

Sapper Scott was presented with his medal by General Sir William Birdwood on 24 January 1920 in Ballarat Victoria.

Photo: Service Medals of Sapper Charles Scott MM [Family Collection]

Sandra says “Sadly, our family does not have any photographs of this event. If anyone has copies or recommendations of research resources, I would be enormously grateful.”

Sandra can be contacted by emailing projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au

A quick search on the internet by the web manager has revealed the following photo from Picture Australia showing General Sir William Birdwood visiting H.V. McKay Pty Ltd, Farm Equipment and Field Trials, Sunshine, Victoria.

The caption on the page reads:
 General Sir William Birdwood & Brig General Brand
Visit 28^th January

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French Governments for affording Australian and British soldiers dignified individual reburials in the new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the Australian and British Governments for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

Messages of condolence from overseas and across Australia have been received by the family of 93 year-old Marjorie Whitford of Gippsland, Victoria, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by four generations of loving family, including her 5 great-grandchildren, late Monday afternoon, 24th May 2010. 

Marjorie Whitford and grandson Tim Whitford
with a photo of Henry (Harry) Willis.
Photo: John Woudstra – The Melbourne Age (17 March 2010)

 Marjorie’s funeral service was held at the Church of England in Yarram on Friday. It was very well attended which was to be expected, as this simple Gippsland woman for whom family was all, was incredibly well respected and loved. The Eulogy was delivered by her grandson, Tim Whitford, who said it was the most difficult speech he had ever made.

She was laid to rest alongside her husband, Bill Whitford in the Yarram Lawn Cemetery. Tim describes, “A happy ending to a love story that lasted for the better part of a century.”

 It was Marjorie’s DNA sample that confirmed the identity of Pte Harry Willis, 31^st Battalion, who was killed in the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916, and lay forgotten in one of the mass graves near Pheasant Wood until discovered in 2008. A discovery made possible by years of hard research and agitation against official resistance, by Lambis Englezos, Ward Selby, John Fielding and Tim Whitford.

The Melbourne Age reported on 17 March that Marjorie smiled joyously when told that her DNA sample had confirmed the identity of her uncle, Private Harry Willis.

“I am extremely happy that they have identified Harry … we never, ever forgot him and it was so awfully hard to grow up without him. I am so glad, so glad they found him,” she said before being taken out for fish and chips with her family.

The discovery means that the epitaph Harry Willis’ grief-stricken mother composed in 1918 will be inscribed on his headstone by the time a memorial service to commemorate the 94^th anniversary of the battle in July takes place.

It will read simply: “Loved son of J & J Willis of Alberton, South Gippsland”.

Tim goes on, “she never gave up on her uncle Harry and ensured his memory was passed to me, as had her mother before her. Telling her of his identification and the site of his grave was one of greatest privileges of my life, as was being with her as she passed peacefully and with incredible dignity.”

Close friend, Lambis Englezos, said “I consider it my absolute privilege to have been there when Tim delivered the news to his Nan, Marjorie Whitford, that her uncle, Private Harry Willis had been identified. The shared joy was evident in the wonderful and joyous photo (above) that appeared the next day in the ‘Age’. The beaming Marjorie, Tim and Harry, re-united.

 “In recent times during our ‘presentations’, Tim has referred to the long line of beautiful Gippsland women that have carried the loss and memory of Harry Willis. It was Nan’s DNA that identified Harry. It was certainly a special moment for Nan; Harry had been found. Identified and restored.

 “There was another beautiful moment. Marjorie called Tim over with a term of disparaging affection – Tim beamed. I think that Tim’s Nan would be the only one in the world that could get away with it. Tim gave a smile of acknowledgement and concession. Beautiful and insightful.

“Marjorie Whitford was farewelled with great affection this week in the quiet rural Victorian district that she, Tim, and Harry Willis called ‘home’.

 “Rest in Peace.”

 FFFAIF extends its sympathy to Tim and the Whitford family on the loss of one who obviously meant so much to them and who restored identity to uncle Harry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult of times.

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French Governments for affording Australian and British soldiers dignified individual reburials in the new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the Australian and British Governments for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.

A recently discovered set of Parliamentary Papers dating back to World War I have been deposited with the National Archives of Australia. The papers were found amongst documents relating to World War II.

The ABC News reported on the discovery:
Historians will have access to valuable World War I records for the first time after they were unearthed at Parliament House.
The Federal Parliamentary War Committee records were buried among World War II records in the Parliament’s collections.
They have now been handed over to the National Archives of Australia and include documents detailing how to deal with returned soldiers, recruitment posters and postcards.
The war committee – which included prominent parliamentarians such as Billy Hughes – provided advice to the government and kept the Parliament up to date on how the war was progressing.
Senate President John Hogg says the records from 1915 – 1918 offer a valuable insight into government decisions such as recruiting, land settlements and military hospitals.
“A major interest was the welfare of returned soldiers, including disabled soldiers. This included their employment and the possibility of land settlement,” he said.
“The committee visited military hospitals and convalescent homes as well as military camps.
“There are also records about alien and enemy subjects, medals, pensions and the prohibition of the commercialisation of the word Anzac.”
National Archives Director Ross Gibbs says the items are all undergoing preservation work.
“Over a long period these records would’ve been created when the parliament was created in World War I in Melbourne,” he said.
“They then came up to the old Parliament then up to the new Parliament and, almost 100 years later, they’ve become available.”
Mr Gibbs says the documents will eventually be digitised so they can be viewed online.
“Australians looking for their ancestors, they’ll find out new information about them,” he said.
“It’s not so much about named individuals but just about what was happening in Australia at the time, how involved everyone was, how the Parliament itself set itself up as part of the war effort.”
Photo:  Andrew Dawson, House of Representatives

To find out more about what the contents of these records from the National Archives of Australia and when they will be available by click here.

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French Governments for affording Australian and British soldiers dignified individual reburials in the new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and applauds the Australian and British Governments for their joint decision to DNA test the remains at exhumation and use every reasonable method to attempt identification of each soldier.