Lyndhurst and Skye (Lyndhurst South) Great War Soldiers

This is a list of soldiers with a connection to the towns of Lyndhurst and Skye.  I have linked these towns together as Skye changed its name to Lyndhurst South in 1903 (although some sources list the date as 1894) after a murder brought unwelcome attention to the area. It changed back to Skye in 1964. Parts of Lyndhurst have been re-named Lynbrook, but it traditionally covered the area roughly south of Abbotts Road, west of Dandenong Frankston Road, east of the South Gippsland Highway and north of Thompsons Road. Skye or Lyndhurst South roughly covered the area south of Thompsons Road, west of  McCormicks Road, north of Ballarto Road and  east of Dandenong Hastings Road, so it included both Hall Road and Wedge Road.  All this area used to be in the Shire of Cranbourne. If you know of any other soldiers that I have missed, then please let me know.

You can read more about Skye in the book 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950 by Dot Morrison, published by the Mornington Peninsula Family History Society http://www.mpfhs.org/

What follows is a list of soldiers, their connection to Lyndhurst or Syke, their fate (i.e. when they Returned to Australia after active service or when they were Killed in Action) and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives website (www.naa.gov.au)

Anderson, John William (SN 10579)   John was born in Lyndhurst and enlisted on December 29, 1915 aged 23. He was a share farmer. He Returned to Australia on May 12, 1919.

Baker, Alexander George (SN 1782)  Alexander enlisted on June 5, 1915 aged 22. He was a farmer from Lyndhurst South. Alexander was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. He Returned to Australia on April 8, 1919. Alexander is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

Bassett, Thomas James (SN 2616). Thomas enlisted on July 10, 1916 at the age of 24. He was a farmer, whose address was Frankston Road, Dandenong, but he clearly had a connection to Lyndhurst as he was entertained with a 'social evening' at the Lyndhurst School, prior to his departure (see article below). His next of kin was his father, John, of the same address. Thomas Returned to Australia March 12, 1920.

Dandenong Advertiser, September 7, 1916

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88659855

Cairns, Godfrey Brown (SN 16080) Godfrey was born in Rosebud and he was living at Lyndhurst when he enlisted on January 27, 1916. His occupation was driver and he was 28. He Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919.

Cozens, John Edwin  (SN 2602)  John was born at Lyndhurst and was living at Mornington Junction (the original name for Baxter) when he enlisted on August 2, 1915, at the age of 23 and eleven months. John Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919.

Fisher, Culbert Cecil (16926)  The unusually named Culbert enlisted on March 9, 1916 aged 18. He was a State School teacher, born in Lyndhurst and living there at the time of his enlistment. He Returned to Australia on September 25, 1919.

Culbert's wedding to Myrtle Poole was written up in Table Talk on May 28, 1925. By this time his parent's had moved to  Woodend, but it seems they were sentimental enough to call their property after their original location. The account of the wedding is very comprehensive - you can read it all here 

Hope, George  (SN 1394)   George was born in Lyndhurst and enlisted at the age of  26 on August 2, 1915. His next of kin was his brother, John. George embarked to return  to Australia on March 16, 1918, however never made it home as on April 20 he went over the side of the boat and his body was never found. The inquiry said that he was in great pain from rheumatism and trench fever which caused headaches and rashes amongst other things and he had also suffered a gun shot wound to his right thigh, however the verdict was that he had fallen overboard accidentally. There is correspondence in his file saying that his real name was Robert George Chrozier. In his will he leaves everything to his cousin John Chrozier (the name is also spelt as Crozier in the file)

Howse, Frederick Thomas   (SN 15911)    Frederick enlisted on October 9, 1916 when he was a 21 year old postal assistant. Thomas was born at Lyndhurst  and living in Dandenong when he enlisted. He Returned to Australia on January 2, 1919.

Kerr, Alfred William Charles  (SN 2080)  Alfred was born at Lyndhurst and enlisted at the age of 21 on November 10, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Gilbert, who lived in Hastings and he was a driver. Alfred Returned to Australia on March 31, 1919. Alfred is the brother of Frederick. (see below)
Kerr, Frederick John Lee   (SN 3420) Frederick enlisted on June 6, 1917 when he was 18 years old. He was born in Lyndhurst and was living at Hastings at the time of enlistment. Frederick was Killed in Action in France on August 25, 1918   Alfred (above) and Frederick were brothers and their parents were Gilbert and Clara (nee Kernot) Kerr.  Clara's family, the Kernots, were early settlers in Tooradin, you can read about them, here.

Kerr, Charles Thomas  (SN 2040)   Charles was born in Lyndhurst and was a 22 year old newsagents assistant living in Albany Park in Western Australia when he enlisted on November 1, 1915.  Charles Returned to Australia on January 14, 1919. His next of kin was his father, Moses, of Upper Hawthorn.

Kirkham, Malcolm (SN 913)  Malcolm was 29, and a farmer from Lyndhurst, when he enlisted on June 8, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Margaret. Lieutenant Kirkham was Killed in Action in France on September 2, 1918. Malcolm is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

McFarlane, David James  (SN 77806)  David enlisted on June 14, 1918 didn't see active service and was discharged in December 1918. He was 21 year old butcher at the time of his enlistment and was born in Lyndhurst.

McLellan, Donald (SN 2207) Donald was 19 when he enlisted on May 1, 1916. He was born at Lyndhurst and his next of kin was his father, Alexander of Ferndale, Cranbourne. Alexander Returned to Australia on June 10, 1919. Donald is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

Norquay, Walter James (SN 1914)  Walter, born in Lyndhurst,  was a 27 year old Senior Postal Assistant when he enlisted on May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Dagmar. He was Killed in Action, in Belgium,  on October 13, 1917. Walter was the son of James and Margaret (nee MacPherson) Norquay and the grandson of Alexander and Barbara (nee Cromarty) Norquay, who had arrived in Lyndhurst in the 1850s.

Payne, Charles Lyndhurst (SN 4801) Charles Lyndhurst Payne was born in Lyndhurst, and presumably named after his place of birth. He was 21 when he enlisted on April 1, 1916 and his guardian was listed as Mrs Margaret Greaves of Picnic Park, Lyndhurst.   He Died of Wounds received whilst fighting in France on April 26, 1918. Margaret Greaves (1842-1921) was married to William Greaves and was the daughter of Stephen and Alice Payne, so I presume that Charles was her nephew. (Family information from 100 years in Skye: 1850-1950 by Dot Morrison)

Payne, James (SN 1561) James was born in Lyndhurst and was 28 when he enlisted on October 6, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Christina Cozens, of Yannathan, which is here he was also living at the time of his enlistment. He suffered a number of gun shot wounds and  Returned to Australia on February 15, 1918. When he applied for his medals in April 1918 he was living in Five Mile (Koo-Wee-Rup North)

Reilly, Eric (SN 479) Eric was a 26 year old farmer from Lyndhurst when he enlisted on October 13, 1914. He was single when he enlisted but there is a note in his file dated May 7 1915 saying that he had married; his wife's name was Selina. Eric Returned to Australia on April 23, 1919.

Dandenong Advertiser  October 17, 1918

Reynolds, Henry Simpson (SN 80602) Henry, whose enlistment was announced in the Dandenong Advertiser (see above) was 34 and his next of kin was his wife, Olena, of Lyndhurst South, when he enlisted on October 5, 1918. He did not see active service and was discharged in December 1918.

Smith, Frederick William  (SN 7085)  Frederick was born in Lyndhurst and was living in Dandenong when he enlisted on September 17, 1916. He was 24 and his occupation was listed as grocer.  He Returned to Australia on February 19, 1919.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal  April 17, 1919

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66195941

Strong, Albert Victor (SN 29789)  Albert enlisted on March 23, 1916, at the age of 24.  He Returned to Australia on February 2, 1919. Albert (or Victor as he must have been known as he is listed as Driver V. Strong) was welcomed home at a function in April 1919 - see the account from the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, above.

Strong, Frederick William (SN 29790) Frederick enlisted on March 23, 1916, the same day as his brother, Albert.   He was 27 and  a farmer. Frederick Returned to Australia  May 31, 1919.

Frederick and Albert were the sons  of William Strong of Ercildoune, Cranbourne. Frederick and Albert are  listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.

Taylor, William George (SN 1740) William was 24 when he enlisted on February 17, 1916. He was the son of Richard Thomas Taylor, of Lyndhurst and he was also born in Lyndhurst.   William Returned to Australia in January 8, 1919.    William or George, as he was seemingly known as, was welcomed home at the same  function in April 1919  as Victor Strong. William is listed on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.