Pte Arthur Roger (Silvan), 39th Battalion: Is killed in action at Passchendaele. He is 31 years old and has no known grave but is remembered on the memorial at Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. Pte Harry McCormack (Wandin), 6th Battalion: Is killed in action at Passchendaele. He is 21 years old and has no known grave but is remembered on the memorial at Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. Lt Leslie Bolitho (Lilydale),

Lt Thomas Eales (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, shell fracture to his arm, and is evacuated to hospital in England.

Pte Lindsay Yeaman (Montrose), 20th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Pte Edmund Rossiter (Silvan), 6th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Wesley Noden (Lilydale), 2nd Depot Battalion: Goes missing from Broadmeadows Army Camp. A later court of enquiry declares him to be a deserter.

Dvr Cecil Watson (Olinda), 10th Field Ambulance: Is wounded in action, bullet wound to the scalp, and evacuated to hospital in England.

Sr Alicia Kelly (Mt Dandenong), Australian Army Nursing Service: At the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, France. From her diary: ‘The noise was so terrific, and the concussion so great that I was thrown to the ground and had no idea where the damage was. I shall never forget the awful climb on hands and feet out of that hole that was about five feet deep with greasy clay and blood

Pte Harry Moore (Lilydale), 45th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to face, arm and right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Albert Parkes (Coldstream), 59th Battalion: Is reported to be a prisoner of war in a camp in Limberg, Germany.

Pte William Wood (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Dies in the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton of acute appendicitis with abscess. He is 24 years old and is buried in the Brighton Borough Cemetery, England. Pte Henry Tudor (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion: Due to infection in his wounded left leg while in hospital in England, doctors are forced to amputate his leg.

Cpl Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary – ‘Big raid by Fritz tonight, just as it got dark about 7pm, don’t know how many bombs he dropped, he missed us but the ‘long ranges’, 100 yards away, whew’. Pte Barney Gilson (Lilydale), 14th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Pakeha to be discharged as medically unfit as a

Cpl Leslie Jerrams (Lilydale), 1st Australian Wireless Squadron: Arrives in Australia from India on the HT Gracchus to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of contracting malaria in Mesopotamia in October 1916. Walter Gladstone Clegg (Wandin): Leaves his job as a painter in Subiaco, WA, where he is living, and enlists in the AIF, he is 30 years old and married.

Pte George Allen (Lilydale) & Pte Thomas Goodall (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Both were killed in action. According to one eye witness, during the advance on Passchendaele. George Allen was at the Company Headquarters, just behind a pillbox on Passchendaele Ridge, and was standing with Thomas in a trench just outside having a smoke. Suddenly a high explosive shell landed in the trench killing both of them and another two soldiers

Pte Jack Lester (Yering), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the back, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte John Rose (Lilydale), 8th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to the chest, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Henry Lord (Wandin), 8th Battalion: Is later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this date. His recommendation states – ‘On one occasion,

Spr Harry Linacre (Seville), 14th Field Company Engineers: Is severely wounded in action with multiple shrapnel wounds and is evacuated from the field by the 15th Field Ambulance but dies soon after. He is 26 years old and is buried at the Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium. His personal possessions would later be sent to his fiancée Elsie Mitchell of Seville.

Trp Alexander Mathews (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Is evacuated from the field suffering from haemorrhoids and sent to hospital in Kantara, Egypt.

Spr Joseph Gibson (Kilsyth), 3rd Division Signal Company: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Pte Joseph Goodall (Lilydale), 10th Battalion: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Aeneas. Pte Albert Anderson (Olinda), 6th Machine Gun Company: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Aeneas.

THE CHARGE AT BEERSHEBA, PALESTINE Locals in the charge – Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment Trp Walter Morrison (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment Trp Vincent Black (Coldstream), 4th Light Horse Regiment: Is wounded during the charge, gunshot wound to abdomen, chest and arm as well as a fractured wrist. He is eventually evacuated to hospital in Egypt.

Capt Leonard Cox (Olinda), Australian Army Medical Corps: Is attached to the 8th Field Ambulance to serve with them as a Regimental Medical Officer for the next three months. Pte Norman Stewart x (Wandin), No 3 Company, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps: Arrives back in New Zealand on board the HT Tainui to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of a wound he’d received the year before. Alvin

Pte Fred Town (Lilydale), 2nd Division Ammunition Column: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from diphtheria. Peter Witt (Olinda): Even though his parents were both born in Germany, he doesn’t hesitate to leave his job as a blacksmith and enlist in the Australian Light Horse, he is 24 years old.

Pte Thomas Geddes (Wandin) 1st Remount Unit: After 204 days’ service at camps in Seymour, Ascot Vale and Bendigo, he is discharged as medically unfit by the military authorities.

Gnr Howard Guttmann (Olinda), 2nd Field Artillery Brigade: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in France.

Gnr Clarence Rouget (Wandin), Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney. Gnr William Rothque (Lilydale), Field Artillery Brigade: Leaves Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Port Sydney.

Sister Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: While serving in Salonika, Greece, she is transferred to the 42nd General Hospital to work. Pte Albert Walker (Montrose), Australian Flying Corps: Is transferred to the 16th Squadron Royal Flying Corps in France as an air mechanic. Pte Peter Witt (Olinda), 1st Remount Unit: Leaves Australia on board HT Gracchus to deliver horses to India. He would return in a few months’

Cpl Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: In the field in France. In his diary –‘Relieved by 2/1 East Lancasters 10am, thank goodness I got out safe. The liveliest twenty minutes I’ve had for a long while getting out, marched to Dominion Camp (near Ouderdom), mud up to our necks’. Lt James Wilken (Kilsyth), Australian Flying Corps: Is awarded the Meritorious Service Medal ‘in recognition of valuable services rendered with

Stoker Albert Clegg (Wandin), HMAS Psyche: After time at HMAS Cerberus he is reassigned to HMAS Psyche and for the next four months the ship would be on patrol in the Bay of Bengal and off the coast of Burma until March 1918, when it would escort military transports between Burma and India. Pte Thomas Gaudion (Wandin), 5th Battalion: Arrives in Australia from Europe on the HT Ulysses to be

Pte Albert Ragartz (Seville), 6th Battalion: After being in the trenches for some time, he began to suffer from dizziness and shortness of breath. He was evacuated to a hospital where he was diagnosed with cardiac dilation.

Leslie McGregor (Lilydale): Leaves his dental practise in Lilydale and enlists in the AIF, he is 34 years old.

Pte Leslie Farndon MM (Mt Dandenong), 23rd Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital suffering from pneumonia. Pte Wilmot Stephens (Lilydale), 23rd Battalion, Wellington Regiment: Leaves New Zealand bound for Europe on the HT Tahiti. John McGhee (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a telegraph messenger and enlists in the AIF, he is 18 years old.

Sig Gordon Ewart (Montrose), 58th Battalion: Sustains injuries to his left knee in an accident and is admitted to hospital in France. Trp Walter Boys (Seville), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Is injured in action when a horse rolls on him and damages his back. He is evacuated to hospital in Egypt.

Pte William Russell (Seville), 6th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from trench fever. Pte Richard Robertson (Mt Evelyn), 23rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on the HT Suevic to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action in 1916.

Pte George Reid (Lilydale), Australian Flying Corps: Is attached to 69th Squadron in France as an air mechanic.

The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on board the HMAT Nestor: Pte Allan Dodd (Olinda), 8th Battalion Pte Alex Martin (Lilydale), 14th Battalion Pte William Gilson (Lilydale), 22nd Battalion Pte Walter Wilken (Silvan), 3rd Pioneer Battalion

The following local soldiers leave Australia bound for Europe on board the SS Indarra: Gnr Thomas Hunter (Wandin), Field Artillery Brigade Gnr Noel Cox-Taylor (Silvan), Field Artillery Brigade Lt Leslie McGregor (Lilydale), AMC Dental Pte Frederick Miller (Coldstream), 59th Battalion

Gnr William Lucas (Silvan), 4th Light Horse Regiment: While in England he is discharged as medically unfit and ordered to be sent back to Australia. His medical report states: ‘he is 54 years of age and looks it. Cannot carry on the work which is too heavy for him. Suffers from senility and cardio vascular changes’.

L/Cpl Frederick Leach MM & Bar (Gruyere), 59th Battalion: Is killed in action while at Messines. He is 25 years old and is buried at Cabin Hill Cemetery, Belgium. Sgt Kavan Lawlor (Coldstream), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Is awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on this day during the Battle of Jersualem. His recommendation states -‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a very severe enemy attack

Lt Charles Stanbury MM (Lilydale), 8th Light Horse Regiment: Is wounded in action, gunshot wound to shoulder, and is evacuated to hospital in Egypt.

Pte Alfred Larking (Lilydale), 2nd Pioneer Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning, and is evacuated to hospital in England. Spr Ernest Rae (Mooroolbark), 1st Divisional Signal Company: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from sciatica. Pte Mort Tait (Lilydale), 31st Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from neurasthenia. His medical report states – ‘he was in a state of extreme

Gnr Alfred Eades (Montrose), 12th Field Artillery Brigade: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in France suffering from tonsillitis.

Pte George Rouget (Wandin), 59th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from bronchitis. Pte Albert Woolrich (Olinda), 14th Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Beltana to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action. Cyril Barnes (Lilydale): Leaves his job as a postal assistant and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

L/Cpl Cyril Gregan (Olinda), 23rd Battalion: Arrives back in Australia from Europe on board the HT Port Lyttleton to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received the year before in action. Francis O’Hara (Olinda): Leaves his studies as a medical student at Melbourne University and enlists in the AIF, he is 19 years old.

Pte George Hamilton (Lilydale), 1st Pioneer Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from rheumatism and myalgia. Cpl Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: On leave in England. In a letter to his mother in Lilydale – ‘I had a glorious time, my mate Frank Green and I were together all the time, we stayed with his Aunts at Surrey and Brockley and oh they did

Ordinary Seaman Samuel Rouget (Wandin), HMAS Fantome: Having been transferred back to HMAS Fantome in October, the ship undertakes patrols around the Pacific while basing itself at Suva Bay, Fiji. It was while he was here on this day that he accidentally drowned. He was 24 years old and as he has no known grave is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon, England. A report that appeared in

Cpl Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: On leave in England. In a letter to his mother in Lilydale –‘We came up to London on Monday night intending to go from Surrey to Scotland but met a couple of pals who were going up the next night so we decided to go up with them, and that was how we got in the Air Raid the next night. It was

Pte Percy Letch (Lilydale), 2nd Section Railway Unit: Leaves Australia bound for Egypt on the HMT Ballarat.

Pte Henry Millward (Olinda), 39th Battalion: Is admitted to hospital in France suffering from scabies. Cpl Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2nd Field Ambulance: On leave in England. In a letter to his mother in Lilydale –‘I say what about conscription, isn’t it awful, we are astounded over here, we never thought the people would let us down, not after the way the people put the National Government into power. By gum

Pte Alexander Blair (Olinda), 22nd Battalion: Marries a Scottish girl in London. She would later follow him to Australia as a war bride. Henry Simpson (Wandin): Born in Wandin, although living in Balaclava at the time, he enlists in the AIF, he is 32 years old. Harold Smith (Silvan): At 49 years old he was too old for the AIF, so he left his job as a teamster in the

The following locals leave Australia bound for Europe on the HMAT Ulysses: Sr Matilda McNeill (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service Pte Clarence Jack (Wandin), 37th Battalion Pte Geoffrey Berry (Seville), 38th Battalion Pte Roy Langley (Montrose), 13th Light Horse Regiment

Sr Edith Yeaman (Montrose), Australian Army Nursing Service: Is removed from active service and sent to hospital suffering from bronchitis.

Pte William Wood (Seville), 3rd Pioneer Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from appendicitis. He would not return to his unit.

Sgt John Hogg (Wandin), 7th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Wilfred Palliser (Lilydale), 7th Battalion: Is wounded in action, gas poisoning and is evacuated from the field to hospital in England. Pte Edward Gray (Seville), 37th Battalion: Is evacuated from the field to hospital in England suffering from dysentery and pleurisy. Dvr Richard Pendlebury (Seville), 2nd Field

Wyatt Blair (Mooroolbark): Leaves his job as clerk and enlists in the Australian Flying Corps, he is 21 years old.

Gnr Theodore Hand (Mt Dandenong), 12th Field Artillery Brigade: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Berrima to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of wounds he’d received in action. Pte Roy Cahill (Gruyere), 11th Field Ambulance: Arrives in Australia from Europe on board the HT Berrima to be discharged as medically unfit as a result of developing severe bronchitis.