ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THOSE ON THE ROLL OF HONOUR ARE BEING PREPARED SO AS TO ROUND OUT THE BASIC INFORMATION ASSEMBLED HERE.
AT THE END OF THIS PAGE IS A TABLE OUTLINING MY CLOSE AND DISTANT FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH NO LESS THAN ELEVEN OF THE THIRTEEN PERSONS LISTED.
World War 1 Darbys Falls Roll of Honour. The plaque is cared for and displayed in the Cowra RSL Headquarters.
Carlin, Phillip
ANZAC 6090 Driver. Born 1880 Enlisted 15..2.1915 (35 yrs)
Embarked HMAT Medic 2.6.1915 2 Div 5 Brig 15 Army Serv Corps
Returned to Aust xxxx 7.6.1918
Address Prospect NSW. NOK Wife Mrs M S Carlin, Hovell’s Creek via Cowra NSW.
Note: Catherine Carlin was a signatory on 10.10.1885 to a petition asking for a fence around Darbys Falls Public School so children could tether their horses. Phillip at 5 yrs would have been a student. DSCO2482 Labourer. Married. RC
O’Sullivan, Daniel Harold
6158 Driver Born 1889 Enlisted 19.2.1915 (25 yrs)
Embarked ‘Medic’ 17.5.19152 Div. 5 Brig 15 Army Service Corps.
Egypt until 20.3.1916 then France, disembarked Marseilles 23.3.1916.
Returned on ‘Kashmir’ 21.4.19
Sisters Mrs E Dunlop Inverell and Mrs Felicia Beahan, Dunedoo, Mudgee NSW and Miss M O’Sullivan, Melton St Ashfield, NSW Single. Farmer. RC
Shown as enlisted in Liverpool but his sister in 1956 wrote that he enlisted Cowra.
Bewley, Albert Henry
1673 Lance Corporal Born 1879 Enlisted 7.8.1915 (36 yrs) Single, Labourer, RC.
Embarked ‘Berrima’ 1712.1915 4 Div. 12 Brig 45 Batt. Arr Egypt and left Egypt on the ‘Kinfanus Castle’ arriving Marseilles 8.6.1916. Embarkation in 30 Batt but he transferred to 45 Battalion in France on 6.8.1916. Promoted L Cpl 3.3.1917 He was wounded in August 1918, evacuated to England, but returned to his Unit a month later in September 1916.
KIA France 7.6. 1917 No grave. CommemoratedYpres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
However Army advised his brother on 8.5.1919 that “he was buried in an isolated grave 800 yds east of Messines” and that in due course will be removed to a ‘recognised military cemetery.’ Both parents deceased. Brother of William Bewley, Resident. Maryamma, Mt McDonald, NSW.
(Brother of William Bewley. Maryamma, NSW and later Luddenham, via Penrith NSW ) Uncle of Pte SGB Bewley. Sister Mrs E I Holmes, Holmesworth, Narrawa PO, NSW
Lane, Albert Francis, MM
5043 Military Medal. Private Born xx.9.1885 Enlisted 2.11.1915 (30 yrs). Single. Storekeeper. RC..Born Bennett Springs, NSW.
Embarked ‘Kyarra’ 5.6.1916 3 Div. 9 Brig. 33 Batt
Won Military Medal at Le Touquet 9 May 1917
Murray and Patrick Cooke, related to Albert through their great great grandmother Margaret (Markham) (Murray) Harris (1877 – 1957), visit Albert Lane’s grave at Villers Brettoneux, France, on ANZAC DAY 2014.
Killed in action France 23.5.18
Buried Villers Bretonneux Cemetery 11.E.7
9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Australian Division, 2nd ANZAC Corps. Recommendation for Military Medal. Dated 9 May, 1917 by Brigadier General Alex Jobson (?) Commanding Ninth Infantry Brigade, A I F. Endorsed by Major General, G O C Third Australian Division on 13 May 1917
At LE TOUQUET on the night of 8/9 May, 1917, Pte A.F.LANE was one of the bombing squad on the left of “D” Gap. At 1 a.m. an enemy silent raid entered “D” Gapand was moving towards our Support Line when they were fired upon by rifle and a Lewis Gun, and commenced to withdraw. As soon as the enemy began to move back, and without waiting for orders from his Officer, Pte LANE dashed out of his bombing bay along the gap in order to cut off the party. He was stopped by the wire in the Gap after going about fifteen yards, but proceeded to bomb from there, and had thrown more than a dozen bombs, when joined by the remainder of the squad . There is no doubt that he inflicted casualties on the enemy, and the prisoner taken had his arm shattered by a bomb He later accompanied his Officer, 2nd Lieut McLean, on his two patrols into NO MAN’S LAND. This patrolling was particularly difficult as the moon was full, and the trenches at this place were hardly 75 yards apart, and was under fire of an enemy machine gun. Pte LANE set a splendid example of dash and initiative to his bombing squad and throughout conducted himself in a most courageous manner.
Ward, Jack (John Thomas)
1727 L/Corporal Driver Born 26.1.1890 Enlisted 17.1.1916 (24 yrs (sic)
Embarked ‘Karroo’ 5.5.1916 4 LH Brig 12 LH reg Returned to Aust from Egypt on ‘Dorset’ 29.4.1919Mother Mrs Bridget Ward, Darbys Falls, NSW. Parents John Thomas Ward (1848 – ) and Bridget Mary Markham (1859-1946).
Therefore nephew of Margaret (Markham/Murray) Harris and cousin of Neville Murray. Jack m. Edith Smart in 1921 and died 1950.
Single. Teamster. RC. Born Waverley, NSW. Arr Egypt .
Newham,William Henry
3604 Private Born xx.xx.1880 Enlisted 5.6.17 (37 yrs)
Embarked ‘Commonwealth’ 2.11.1917 1 LH Brig, 1 LH Reg.
Returned to Aust 18.2.1919
Address Parkes. Father John Newham, Spring Creek, Cowra, NSW
Machine Expert, Single, RC.
(Also Boer War veteran)
Lane, Alfred William James
2200 Pte Born 1888 Enlisted 21.3.1916 (27yrs) Single. Storekeeper. C of E.
AWJ Lane. Villers Bretonneux Memorial, France.
Embarked ‘Port Sydney’ 4.9.19165 Div. 14 Brig 56 Batt
Killed in Action France 2.4.1917
No grave. Commemorated Villers Bretonneux Memorial.
Bewley, Sidney George Birch
1687 Private Born 1894 Enlisted 10. 8.1915 (21 yrs)
Single.. Labourer C of E. Born Jerrawa near Crookwell NSW.Arr
Embarked ‘Berrima’ 17.12.1915 5 Div. 8 Brig. 30 Batt
Egypt. Left Egypt on HMAT Hororata arr. Marseilles 23.6.16 Son of William Edwin and Mary Jane Bewley of Maryamma, NSW later Luddenhan, via Penrith NSW. Born Maryamma, NSW.
KIA France 23.3. 1917 No grave. Commemorated Villers Bretonneux Memorial
Newham, Richard Herbert
2230 Private Born 1896 Enlisted 21.3.1916 (20 yrs)
Embarked ‘Port Sydney’ 4.9.19165 Div. 14 Brig 56 Batt Returned to Aust 23.6.1919
Address Darbys Falls via Cowra. Father Frank Newham, Pinemount, Darbys Falls via Cowra.
Labourer. Single. C of E.
Newham,Victor Charles Patrick
2231 Private Born xx.2.1894 Enlisted 21.3.1916 (22yrs)
Embarked ‘Port Sydney’ 4.9.1916 5 Div. 14 Brig 56 Batt
Returned to Aust 23.6.1919
Address Darbys Falls via Cowra. Father George H Newham, Darbys Falls via Cowra.
Farmer. Single. RC.
Ward, Eric Stanislaus
2503 Private Born 7.5.1898 Enlisted 21.3.1916 (18 yrs) Single. Labourer. RC.
Embarked ‘Aeneas’ 30.9.1916 5 Div 14 Brig 56 Batt. Arr Nov 1916 Plymouth, England then France 3.7. 1917. Seconded to 1 Tunnelling Co on occasions during 1917.
Wounded (gassed) June 1918 invalided to UK.
Returned to Aust ‘City of Exeter’ 15.1.1919
Born Church St, Ashfield, NSW Father John Thomas Ward, Darbys Falls, via Cowra NSW. Parents John Thomas Ward (1848 – ) and Bridget Mary Markham (1859-1946). Therefore nephew of Margaret (Markham/Murray) Harris and cousin of Neville Murray.
Eric m. Thellie Waters and died 1975
Jensen, Jens Peter
2723 Sapper Born xx.1.1881 Enlisted 2.9.1915 (34 yrs)
Embarked HMAT Suffolk 22.12.1915 7 Field Coy, Engnrs
Returned to Aust 4.5.191
7Address. C/- G Fuller, Coledale. Father Kresten Ehrup Jensen Denmark Single. Carpenter. Presbyt.
His enlistment paper states that he was born in Darbys Falls NSW and was apprenticed to his father in Denmark for five years.Note. See Page 53 and Page 57 in book ‘Before Endeavours Fade’ by Rose Coombs re 7.6.1917. See mp in Les carlyon “ The Great War’
Markham Ernest Augustine
2636 was a Sergeant in the 1st Machine Gun Company of the 1st Division. . Born in 1890 and resident of Grenfell, he enlisted as a single man, a ‘wheelright’, (having completed a three year apprenticeship), on the 14 June 1915 at the age of 25 years.
He embarked on the ‘Runic’ on 9 August 1915, joining his battalion at Gallipoli on 4 November 1915 from the ‘BORDA” and returned to Alexandria, Egypt from Gallipoli on the ‘SIMLA” on 29 December 1915. From there he travelled to Marseilles, France on the ‘GRAMPIAN’ arriving on 28 March 1916. He was wounded in action at Guedecourt, France, on 30 December 1916, the Unit diary reading: “The enemy shelling more active and accurate than usual. Casualties. 3 O.R. killed. 3 O.R.wounded” An ANZAC, having survived Gallipoli, he died in hospital on 4 January 1917 and is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France (0.IV.1).
MEDALS: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father wrote to the Department of the Army on 11.12.1920: “Following is the inscription I desire to have placed on my son’s headstone –
‘In a hallowed grave he sleeps unknown. Inserted by his father and family’. “
The Commonwealth War Graves records read:
Ernest Augustine Markham, Sergeant, 2636, 1st Company, Australian Machine Gun Corps. Died Thursday 4 January, 1917 age 26. Son of Edmund and Rebecca Emily Markham of Darby’s Falls, NSW. Native of Grenfell, NSW. Died in Hospital. Grave reference 0.IV.I.4 at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France.
At the time of his enlistment, he was resident at Grenfell, NSW. His widowed father Edmund Markham (1859-1935) – his mother was Rebecca Emily (Bolton) Markham (Ca 1858-1904) – had by then returned to live among his siblings at Darbys Falls, outside Cowra, NSW , receiving notice there of his son’s death. Ernest was one of nine, possibly ten children, five of whom died young. His great grandfather also Edmund (1802-1866) was one of the first settlers on Milburn Creek (where his grandfather James (1836-1913) was born, near what is now Wyangala Dam. His father’s youngest sister was Margaret Markham (1877-1857), my grandmother, hence my father and Ernest Markham were first cousins.
Some further material regarding Ern Markham, published in ‘People of the Weddin Shire’ published in 2001 by the Weddin Shire Council is included here:
”Ern Markham, a member of the Grenfell Rifle Club, wrote to his father: “Well Dad old chap, I have made my mind up to go to the war. I am going with the Sharpshooters, a couple of mates – you know it is up to every young Australian to go and do his best.”
He was born in Cowra in 1890 and his parents were Edmund and Rebecca Markham. Edmund was a painter by trade and lived in Cowra and Darby’s Falls at various times. Life had not been easy for the family and of the ten children born to them, five had died as babies or young children. Ernest’s mother, Rebecca, died in 1904 when Ernest was aged 14. Ernest was a wheelwright by trade and was living in Grenfell in 1915.
He sailed from Australia on 9th August 1915 as part of the 8th Reinforcements to the 4th Battalion, and they continued their training on arrival in Egypt. On 20th October 1915, Ern wrote from Zeitoun Camp, Egypt:
“Well, our holiday in Egypt is to a bubble at last. We are marching away to train in the morning at 6.30. The four of us, Fred, George, Charlie and self are going together, there are 1,100 of us going. They have been going for the past week so it looks as if there is something doing at the Dardoes (Dardanelles), although we don’t know where we are going – to see the chaps here you would think they were going home to Australia. They were singing and cheering when the orders were read out… They say the shells give you a nasty feeling when they burst alongside… we will soon know what they are like. I think we are going to the ‘Trail of the Lonesome Pine’ where the big fight was. Hope they don’t go silly and give us as rough a time as they did the boys before… by jove there are a lot of wounded here.”
Ern landed on Gallipoli on 4th November serving there until the end of that campaign, and was there when snow fell in the trenches. He left on the last night of the evacuation.
Ern’s next letter was written from ‘Somewhere in France’ and describes their arrival there and some of the lovely countryside they had passed through. He remarked: “It’s no wonder John Norton called us six bob a day tourists.” (John Norton was the editor of a Sydney newspaper.)
In July 1916 the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions marched to the Somme to take part in what was to be the greatest battle in history up to that date. Their objective was to take Pozieres after the British Army had twice failed to do so. Between the 23rd and 27th July the Australians took Pozieres, holding on despite shelling that was said to equal the earlier bombardments at Verdun and on the Somme the previous year. Two of his Grenfell mates, with whom he had signed up, died there. Fred Maynard was killed on 24th and George Jacobs on the 25th July, and the 1st Division, of which the 4th Battalion was a part, lost 5,285 officers and men during that time. An observer who saw the Division after it had been relieved said that the men came out like men who had been in hell. They were silent and appeared dazed, walking like men in a dream, their eyes glazed and staring. By this time the village of Pozieres had ceased to exist.
Ern Markham continued to take part in the heavy fighting in this part of the line, so heavy that by the end of seven weeks the Australian Divisions had 23,000 casualties. In a letter dated 12th August, Ern wrote about the battle to his brother, Tom:
“You will see by the papers we are in a fairly hot corner here just now, but the lads are giving a good account of themselves. We were the first Australians to go into the line up here – we managed to capture a village (Pozieres) – by jove they gave us some hurry up after for a few days – that was when our lads suffered most. I thought I was getting a blighty once, something hit me, but I was only stunned and soon came round. We are out for a rest now, but it will soon be our turn to go in again.”
Ern then wrote to his father on 28th August:
“As you know we have been making things fairly lively, two of the boys that came away with me were killed, hard luck but some have to go, you knew both of them..”
(When war historian Charles Bean was collecting material for the Australian War Memorial after
CWGC Cemetery at Rouen, France. Resting place of Sgt E A Markham, KIA France Jan 1917.
the war, he brought home a bag of earth from Pozieres and said: “This was where more Australians fell than any other place on earth”.) Between April and December in 1916 the Australians suffered 87,186 casualties on that front.
On 30th December 1916 Sgt Ern Markham was wounded in action with the 1st Australian Machine Gun Coy to which he had transferred from the 4th Battalion. His injuries were described as gunshot wounds, with back spinal injury, and he was in the N02 General Hospital, Rouen, France, waiting to be transferred to London for surgery. He died on 4th January 1917 before being transferred, and is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France (0.IV.1).
[NOTE: Ernest Markham’s name is not on the Darbys Falls Roll of Honour, as he enlisted from Grenfell. He is included here, however because of his early connections with Darbys Falls, where his widowed father had returned to live among his Markham relatives prior to the time of Ernest’s enlistment and remained there beyond Ernest’s death in France.]
RELATIONSHIPS
Further to the detail above re the names on the Darbys Falls Roll of Honour, I list here an analysis, tying family relationships of many to my grandmother. It is an interesting element of the story of the early settler families. It is somewhat surprising that among the intermarriages of the early Irish diaspora, no less than eleven of the thirteen are related, by blood or marriage, to my grandmother Margaret (Markham) (Murray) Harris 1877 – 1957.
Markham E A KIA France 4 January 1917, Her nephew through her brother Edmund Markham 1859-1935.
Lane A F MM KIA France 1918, Her nephew through her second marriage to George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1841 of Bennett Springs whose sister Sarah (Harris) Lane 1851-1928 was Albert’s mother.
Lane A W J KIA France 1917, Her nephew through her second marriage to George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs whose sister Sarah (Harris) Lane 1851-1928 was Alfred’s mother.
Ward E S, Her nephew through her sister Bridget (Markham) Ward 1859-1946.
Ward J T, Her nephew through her sister Bridget (Markham) Ward 1859-1946.
Carlin P ANZAC, Her second cousin through her great aunt Catherine (Slattery) Daly 1816-1902.
Bewley A H KIA France 1917, Related to her husband George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs through his Lane family connections.
Bewley S G B KIA France 1917, Related to her husband George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs through his Lane family connections.
Newham R H, Her husband George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs was brother of Richard’s great aunts Mary Agnes (Harris) Lane 1846-1928 and Sarah (Harris) Lane 1851-1928.
Newham V C P, Her husband George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs was second cousin of Victor’s father George Henry Newham 1870-1930.
Newham W H, Her husband George (Sonny) Harris 1863-1941 of Bennett Springs was great nephew of William’s grandfather John Newham 1818-?
Jensen J P, No apparent Markham etc family connection.
O’Sullivan D H, No apparent Markham etc family connection.