Ellis Richard Wilkinson was a butcher from Golden Square. He’d gotten married mere months after the declaration of World War One. As he reluctantly left his wife and young daughter at home, Ellis had no idea he was bidding them a final farewell.
Like many young farmers from the East Loddon district, James ‘Jim’ White took up the call to arms, serving his country by enlisting in World War One.
The war front became an unlikely home for men from a variety of occupations, even teachers.
Every day, every step was a constant reminder of the atrocity.
Along with all returned servicemen the scars of war were not always physically obvious. Eddie was reminded of his sacrifice every time he took a single step during the next fifty years of his life.
Private Arthur Humbert fought and tragically died in action only weeks before his brother George was set to leave for the battlefront himself.
Private George Humbert was eager to serve his country in just as his younger brother, Arthur had.
Effie Garden was a capable nurse who was entrusted with jobs that women often were not permitted to undertake.
When Kenneth Laird enlisted he was 26 and newly married to Mary Laird. Prior to enlisting, he was a farmer at Calivil who was well-known as a talented footballer for the Calivil Football Club and a long-distance runner. He was the fourth son of Donald and Isabell. His late father, Donald Craig Laird had been an East Loddon Shire councillor.
Charles Alfred Crapper of Tandarra served as a signaller, providing signals and communications between his company and the headquarters. He was part of ‘Jacka’s Mob’