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Memories of Murrabit

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25.01.2022 G (Geoffrey James) Lake (Capel’s Crossing) (1917-1942) Born 27 October 1917. Attended Capel’s Crossing North School. Service number VX33950. Enlisted on 24 June 1940 at Royal Park. Next of Kin Amy Lake, Title Gunner, 7 Anti Tank Regiment. Served in Rabaul. They were defeated by Japanese forces and taken prisoner. In June 1942 the Japanese naval authorities made two attempts to transfer these prisoners to Japan. The first group, of about 60 Australian officers and 18 women, i...ncluding Army nurses, arrived safely. The second, historically thought to include 845 POWs and 208 civilian internees, left on 22 June 1942 for Hainan on the Montevideo Maru, a freighter requisitioned by the Japanese navy. It was not marked as a POW carrier. On 1 July 1942 it was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon off the Philippine island of Luzon, resulting in the deaths of all prisoners and internees on board. The loss of life on the Montevideo Maru is described as the worst maritime disaster, in peace or war, in Australian history. It was not however until 1995 that Japan released the names of the Australian soldiers onboard the sunken ship providing closure to the families at home. There were no survivors. Geoffrey was on this ship, along with two other men from Murrabit and District: Donald George Heffer (Murrabit) and Moore Ettershank (Benjeroop). Lest We Forget.. See more

24.01.2022 DG (Donald George) Heffer (Murrabit) (1904-1942) Don was aged 36 and the husband of Violet and father of 3 very young children (Lindsay, Kath and Dorothy (Dos Monk)) when he enlisted; such was his own commitment to the War effort and that of his family. He served in Rabaul at the northern tip of the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain, in the former Australian territory of New Guinea as part of the 2/22 Infantry Battalion and 1st Independent Company, the main components of 'Lark... Force'.They were defeated by Japanese forces and taken prisoner. In June 1942 the Japanese naval authorities made two attempts to transfer these prisoners to Japan. The first group, of about 60 Australian officers and 18 women, including Army nurses, arrived safely. The second, historically thought to include 845 POWs and 208 civilian internees, left on 22 June 1942 for Hainan on the Montevideo Maru, a freighter requisitioned by the Japanese navy. It was not marked as a POW carrier. On 1 July 1942 it was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon off the Philippine island of Luzon, resulting in the deaths of all prisoners and internees on board. The loss of life on the Montevideo Maru is described as the worst maritime disaster, in peace or war, in Australian history. It was not however until 1995 that the Japanese released the names of the Australian soldiers onboard the sunken ship providing closure to the families at home. There were no survivors. Also on the Montevideo Maru were Moore Ettershank (Benjeroop) and Geoffrey Lake (Capels Crossing). Lest we Forget.. See more

22.01.2022 Claude Robert (Bobby) Nethercote (1916-1941) Bobby was the son of Charles Claude Langdale Nethercote (1892-1979), an original ANZAC, and Myrtle Vistarini He was one of the very first to enlist and the first Australian officer to be killed in the first Australian action of WW2. Bobby was born in Kew and educated at Benjeroop State School and Malvern Grammar School. His parents resided at Benjeroop. Before the war he was attached to the 37th Battery, 10th Brigade, 4th Division,... AMF and received a commission in the AIF shortly after war broke out. He left Australia with one of the first convoys to the Middle East. His last letter home was dated 9 December. He was an agent for the National Insurance Company of New Zealand Ltd and was an active member of Mercantile Rowing Club. He was engaged to Miss Nana Shelly, daughter of Mr and Mrs BG Shelley or Mordialloc. Bobby enlisted at the Hawthorn depot in Melbourne. The army numbers of other men indicate that they probably enlisted on the first day of recruiting as Bobby’s number was VX94. Bobby was a Lieutenant and was killed at the capture of Bardia, Egypt on 3 January 1941. Bardia is on the Mediterranean at the border of Egypt and Libya, not far from Tobruk. He was aged 24. Bobby was Forward Observation Officer and was reading his maps in a cave able a wadi, near enemy lines. The cave was out of enemy view and facing away from enemy lines. In the first hour of battle an enemy shell hit a truck in the wadi and a small piece of metal flew into the cave and struck Bobby. Lest we Forget.. See more

18.01.2022 Jack (John) Egan Manners (Myall) (1916-1944) Jack was born on 1 June 1916. He enlisted at Royal Park Victoria on 13 July 1940. His Service No. was VX37281. Jack left Australia to fight in WW2 on 14 August 1941. He disembarked in Singapore on 23 August 1941. Jack became a Prisoner of War to the Japanese (Thai camp) and died on 12 September 1944 when the ship Rakuyo Maru was sunk. His Next of Kin were Mr William Manners (Myall) and his wife Mrs Dorothy May Manners (Koondrook).They married on 26 March 1941. Lest we Forget..

16.01.2022 This article relates to Erven Charles SALAU (Benjeroop). Erven lived at Murrabit West in what is now known as Salau Road. Until now we weren't able to locate any information on Erven. That's because he choose not to enlist under his correct name. Instead he enlisted under the name of Charles ERVEN. Thanks to Tricia Salau for sharing this with us this week. Erven enlisted on 3 February 1916 and was initially assigned to 10th Battalion with service number 4423. He was killed in... action on 4 October 1917. He is buried at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood and his personal effects were sent to his sister Vida in late 1918, consisting of a wallet, two notebooks, letters, cards and a photo. Erven's name appears on the memorial gates at the Benjeroop Hall and his name is read out as part of the ANZAC and Remembrance Day Services held at the Murrabit Cenotaph each year with school children laying a poppy in remembrance of Erven to thank him for the freedom we enjoy today. Hoping family members can add additional information and photographs to Erven's story. Lest we Forget.. See more

16.01.2022 PLEASE NOTE: Due to the heat, and the Myall Hall not having air-conditioning, the planned event tomorrow Thursday, 21 November 2019 has been postponed until 2020. We will be sure to advise of a new date once determined. Gannawarra Shire Council

13.01.2022 K (Kenneth William) Binder (Benjeroop) Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Flight Sergeant. Killed in action with five mates, when their Lancaster PB816 was shot down when flying three miles high over Germany on 16 March 1945, three weeks prior to his 20th birthday. Flight Sergeant Ken Binder was the Rear Gunner. Service No. 431194. Unit: No. 460 Squadron. RAAF 431194. Aged 19, Son of William Henry and Elsie Stanbury Binder of Benjeroop. Lancaster PB816 took off from RAF Binbrook at 1727 hours on the night of 16 March 1945 to bomb Nurnberg, Germany. The remains of the five crew members were located in the wreck and are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Lest we Forget..

12.01.2022 The Murrabit & District Heritage Group is working on a book to record the stories of the men who enlisted from Murrabit, Myall and Benjeroop and are recognised at the Murrabit Cenotaph. Their names are read out each year at ANZAC and Remembrance Day Services and yet the stories of these heroes go untold...So for the remainder of ANZAC Day information and photos will be shared on this page in the hope that others will be able to add some extra detail and knowledge so that our community can fully acknowledge the sacrifice of these men in the future...stay tuned throughout the day...

11.01.2022 Just to get our Stay at Home ANZAC Day trip down memory lane started, here's a full list of the men recognised at the Murrabit Cenotaph. Information, photographs and other snippets of the information we have collected will be shared throughout the day. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated - our aim is to be able to print a book for Remembrance Day 2020.. Killed in Action 1914-1918 JG Murray D McKenzie (Duncan) Born Kerang. Enlisted 16/2/16 aged 26. Corpo...Continue reading

07.01.2022 M (Moore) Ettershank (Benjeroop) (1912-1942). Moore was born on 12/12/12 - what a terrific date! He was the third son of Alfred and Margaret Ettershank of Benjeroop and brother to Alexander, Jack, Ronald and Isabelle. Moore went to school at Benjeroop, Murrabit West and Scotch College Melbourne where he boarded. He worked on the family farm "Murray View" after finishing school and married to Margaret Russ. He moved to Melbourne in the late 1930s, where he started a business s...elling radios. Moore enlisted for WW2 at the age of 27. His Service No. was VX26452. He served in Rabaul as part of the 2/22 Infantry Battalion and 1st Independent Company, the main components of 'Lark Force'. They were defeated by Japanese forces and taken prisoner. In June 1942 the Japanese naval authorities made two attempts to transfer these prisoners to Japan. The first group, of about 60 Australian officers and 18 women, including Army nurses, arrived safely. The second, historically thought to include 845 POWs and 208 civilian internees, left on 22 June 1942 for Hainan on the Montevideo Maru, a freighter requisitioned by the Japanese navy. It was not marked as a POW carrier. On 1 July 1942 it was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon off the Philippine island of Luzon, resulting in the deaths of all prisoners and internees on board. The loss of life on the Montevideo Maru is described as the worst maritime disaster, in peace or war, in Australian history. It was not however until 1995 that Japan released the names of the Australian soldiers onboard the sunken ship providing closure to the families at home. There were no survivors. Moore was on this ship, along with two other men from Murrabit and District: Donald George Heffer (Murrabit) and Geoffrey James Lake (Capel's Crossing). Lest We Forget.. See more

05.01.2022 Here's a piece of football history worth sharing..Kerang Imperial Football Team Premiers 1940..names included..

05.01.2022 A post which includes Kenneth William Binder (Benjeroop). RAAF Killed in action with five mates, when their Lancaster was shot down when flying three miles high over Germany 1945, three weeks prior to his 20th birthday. Service No. 431194. Unit: No. 460 Squadron. Thanks for sharing Ray Morton. Lest we forget..

04.01.2022 ANZAC Day - Saturday 25 April 2020 - despite the circumstances preventing us from gathering together as a community - please pause and remember those who served our country during wartime and particularly remember those from Murrabit and District who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Community members are encouraged to lay a wreath/flowers at the cenotaph at anytime of the day ensuring that physical distancing measures are complied with. Please encourage local children to make up bunches of flowers/foliage or write little notes to attach to flowers or the front fence so that they can continue their ongoing connection with the meaning of ANZAC Day. Photographs will be taken at the end of the day and circulated. Lest We Forget...

01.01.2022 GH (George Hampton) Guilmartin (Capel’s Crossing) George enlisted in WW1 on 21 July 1915. He was aged 25. He served in the Ypres campaign as a Driver in 5th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement. He was killed in action on 25 September 1917 in Polygon Wood in Belgium. George has no known grave. He is recognised on a plaque at the Ypres Memorial, Belgium, Panel 29. Lest we Forget..