Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt visits Dandenong

On September 5, 1943, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt,  and her entourage, visited American troops who were convalescing at a make-shift hospital at the Armytage Scout Hall (1) in Dandenong. This was the 21st Australian Camp Hospital, based in the Scout Hall and John Hemmings Memorial Park (2) on the Princes Highway, opposite the High School. The Age reported that Mrs Roosevelt, on the way back to the city, called at the Armytage Hall in Dandenong-road, and patiently chatted to every man in the large ward of about 120 beds. With a smile and an exchange of information, Mrs. Roosevelt also obliged with many autographs, and congratulated the Australian M.O.'s and nursing sisters who staff the hospital (3). 

Mrs Roosevelt, photographed a few days after her visit to Dandenong, 

inspecting a guard of honour of W.R.A.N.s.

Photographer:  Leader Newspapers, September 8, 1943. State Library of Victoria Image H20103

The Dandenong Journal of September 8, 1943 also reported on this 'red-letter' day - 

America's charming “First Lady of the Land,” Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, paid a surprise visit to Dandenong last Sunday, and although her call was a closely guarded secret, news of her intention to call on some US. soldiers convalescing in this area leaked out at the last minute and the President’s wife was warmly greeted by a crowd of about 500 local residents who quickly gathered when they saw preparations being made to receive her.

Mrs Roosevelt arrived about 5.30 in the afternoon and was greeted by Major G. Boileau, who introduced her to Lieut. Smith (US.), and Major Tait (staff officer of Medical Services). With the official party, which included Major General Rupertus (USMC.), Lieut General Eichelberger (USA.), and Rear Admiral Kerry Jones (USA.), she quickly entered the wards, prettily decorated with spring blossoms for the occasion, and accompanied by Major Boileau and Sister Lorenz, and members of the staff, she made a round of the patients, chatting freely with them and giving each a hand-shake. With some she conversed for quite a while, staying here altogether for 45 minutes. The men were obviously delighted to see her and those who could, left their beds and crowded out to the front of the building to farewell her.

In a brief speech she told the men that the President sent them his greetings and had asked her to tell them all that he thought they had done, and were doing, the grandest job. Mrs Roosevelt had a gracious smile for members of the staff and the local VAD.’s who assist with the work, and as she left the building local residents gave her three cheers. Acknowledging the greeting with a warm smile she walked over to the crowd of women and children and exchanged a few words with them before getting into her car.

It was remarkable how the news of the visit spread. At the time it was originally believed that Mrs. Roosevelt would arrive there was only a handful of people present, but as soon as the police and provosts put in an appearance and mounted guard, the news that there was “something doing” spread like wild-fire and people began to appear from all directions. Cars returning from the bush and seaside even stopped to see what was “in the air,” and stayed to join in the welcome to one whom the whole world has taken to its heart. Mrs. Roosevelt wore the uniform of the American Red Cross and seemed full of life, and energy, despite her tiring itinerary. We can quite believe that the prayer of the reporters who have to cover her doings is “Please God, make Mrs. Roosevelt tired.” From the little Dandenong saw of her it was apparent that she is just as charming and natural as all reports have credited her with being. Sunday was indeed a “red-letter day” in Dandenong’s history (4). 

Mrs Roosevelt was in Australia as part of a five week tour of the South Pacific on behalf of the Red Cross. She also visited Bora Bora, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, Christmas Island, Guadalcanal (one of the Solomon Islands) and New Zealand (5).  On the day she visited Dandenong, Mrs Roosevelt had visited the Children's Hospital at Frankston (6) where one of the patients, Brian Dean, played the Star-Spangled Banner on his mouth organ, for Mrs Roosevelt (7). 

Is this the only visit of the wife of a United States President to visit Dandenong?

Footnotes

(1) Armytage Scout Hall -  https://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/2007/11/casey-cardinia-and-como-connection.html
(2) 21st Australian Camp Hospital - there appears to be very little information available on it https://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/militarycamps.htm

(3) The Age September 6, 1943, see here.
(4) Dandenong Journal, September 8, 1943, see here.
(5) Report on the visit - https://au.usembassy.gov/eleanor-roosevelts-ground-breaking-trip-to-australia-a-history/

(6) More correctly the Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital in Mt Eliza, which had opened in 1930 as part of the Children's Hospital, which was then based in Carlton. https://archives.rch.org.au/exhibitions/our-places-our-spaces-mt-eliza-1930-1971/
(7) The Age September 6, 1943, see here.

Letters to Iona

The Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915 (see here) published these two letters from local soldiers, Will Clarkin and James Gully.

William Clarkin (SN 1522) was born in 1894, enlisted at Tynong on December 7, 1914 at the age of 21. He died of wounds in France on August 26, 1916. William is listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, see here, and the Iona Honor Board, see here. 

James Gully (SN 1167, SN sometimes indexed as 1147).  James, born in 1882, enlisted on September 28, 1914 at the age of 32.  James Returned to Australia December 3, 1918, for 'Special Leave' and was discharged on medical grounds in March 1919 - having been wounded with a gun shot in the shoulder and later wounded in the left thigh. He died in July 1931 at the Repatriation Hospital in Caulfield. 

LETTERS FROM WILL CLARKIN

Mr. William Clarkin, who some time ago was wounded at the Dardanelles, has sent the following letters to his relatives at Iona : -

No. 17 General Hospital, Alexandria.

I suppose you are wondering why I have not written lately. Well, you you see, two days after I wrote my last letter we were ordered off to the Dardanelles. We had to land under fire, but we got there alright. I was about a fortnight in the trenches when I had the misfortune to get bowled over. I have been in the hospital for about three weeks, but I will soon be out again. We were ordered to take a good position that the Turks held, so about 1 o'clock in the morning our company, along with three more, were ordered out to do it. 

The night was fairly dark, so we could not see the enemy too well. Anyway, it settled into a hand-to-hand go. I don't know exactly what happened, but a Turk must have got home on me with the butt end of his rifle, for I don't remember any more until I was picked up about 5 o'clock in the morning. My head felt as if it had been drawn (dragged) through a six-inch pipe, but I am getting as right as rain again. What makes it worse is that I went as deaf as a post. One of the drums of my car is broken but I can hear alright out of the other one. 

I suppose you get all the news over there. The Turks are a  treacherous lot. They take no prisoners, nor do they respect the Red Cross. But never mind, the war will soon be over, for news has just come that Italy will soon be into it. We get treated like kings over here - chicken for dinner every day and plenty of cigarettes. When we are discharged from hospital we are sent to a rest camp, where we pick our selves together again.

Some of the accommodation at the 17th General Hospital, Alexandria - where

William Clarkin was treated.

Tented accommodation of 17th British General Hospital established for treatment of casualties with serious wounds.

Australian War Memorial Image H00871

'Luna Park Convalescent Home', Heliopolis, 30/5/15.

Since I last wrote I have been shifted again, this time to a convalescent home about four miles out of Cairo. I don't know whether I will be sent to a rest camp or back to the front when I leave here; but I hope they will send me somewhere, for I am sick and tired of bed. Of course, I can walk about as good as ever, but you see, we are not allowed to leave the hospital. I suppose you hear all the war news. I wonder do they publish the casualty list; it must be a pretty big one. The Turks got home on our officers; there are only a few of them left.

The Convalescent Hospital in Heliopolis, where William Clarkin also received treatment.

It was called the 'Luna Park Convalescent Hospital' as it was located in the Palace Hotel at Heliopolis and an amusement park, called Luna Park, had been established in the grounds in 1911. 

Australian War Memorial P00229.007

Convalescent Camp, 4/6/15.

As we have not got to do anything here but keep our tents clean, I can write a bit more often; I was shifted out into the open-air tents to-day. It is far better in the tents. It is terribly hot in Egypt now; the hottest I have ever been in. It is no place to send wounded men. The wounds will not heal up, only on the inside; only a dry scab comes over the outside. An eye and ear specialist attends me; but I am afraid he can do nothing with my ear. My other one is about as right as can be. It affected my eyes, too, but they are as right as rain. The haze that rises from the sand in the hot weather affects everybody's eyes, and my eyes were a bit weak when I left for the Peninsula. 

The first batch of wounded men who were fixed up left for the front again last Wednesday week, I think we will be going back again on Wednesday. But don't worry about me; I will get through alright. You might not believe me, but there is a certain fascination about the firing line, although I am not too anxious to hear the shells all around a fellow, and he has got to sit as he can get. But, cheer up; I think next 'Xmas is going to be a real happy one.

* * *

PRIVATE JAMES GULLY

Mr. Gully, of Iona, received a short letter last Thursday from his son (Private James Gully), who was recently wounded at the Dardanelles.

Writing from the Base Hospital, Private Gully did not (or perhaps could not) state the extent of his injuries. He was eleven days in the firing line before he was wounded, and must have remained where he fell for some time, as afterwards he contracted pneumonia. Mr. Gully is anxiously awaiting another letter from Jim, whose younger brother has enlisted for active service, and is now in camp at Seymour.

William Watson - one of the last Australians at Gallipoli

The Lang Lang Guardian of May 24, 1916 (see here) published this interesting letter from Lance-Corporal William Watson, of Yannathan. William had the distinction of being one of the last group of Australian soldiers to be evacuated from Gallipoli. William Dunbar Watson, born in North Hazlewood, was the son of  Charles and Grace Watson (her maiden name was also Watson), of Yannathan.  William was a 27 year old blacksmith, when he enlisted on March 15, 1915. His Service Number was 730. He survived Gallipoli, but died of pleurisy in France on March 5, 1917. William is listed on the Yannathan Honour Board, see here. His brother, Robert Charles Watson (SN 2018)  also served. Robert enlisted on February 28, 1916 at the age of 21. He was a farmer. He was wounded in action - gunshot wounds to arm and jaw - and Returned to Australia November 5, 1917. Robert was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.

William's death was reported in the Morwell Advertiser

Morwell Advertiser, March 23, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65919663

A Soldier's Letter

The appended letter has been received by Mr. H. McCann*, of Berwick, from Lance-Corporal W. Watson, of Yannathan, who was a prominent member of the Berwick football club. -

“I received two letters from you some time ago and feel rather ashamed of myself for not answering them sooner. We are now back among the sand once again. You have read the account of the evacuation, of course. We got off very well, but it seemed hard to leave after all we lost, but I think it was the best thing to do, as I am sure we could never have done any good there, and we were losing men every day - mostly through sickness, and we would certainly have lost heavily if we had to stay on during the winter. 

We had some terrible weather in November, rain and snow a treat. I, with a good many more, was in the trenches for about a fortnight without a spell, and during that time we had no water, and could not take even our boots off. It seems strange to say we had no water when it rained so much, but it was so. When we got a bit of time we used to gather a dixie of snow and melt it, but that did not seem to quench our thirst, it only made it worse. I was never so thirsty in my life, and never want to be so again. I would have given all I possessed for a drink. I saw fellows drink what looked like pure mud, and indeed I did it myself, and then to top the lot they gave us a terrible bombardment on November 29. 

The snow was still on the ground, and had frozen hard, but all the same a goad many of their big shells failed to explode, and a good job too, as quite enough of them did explode with terrible results, A good many were killed by pieces of shell, but a great many more lost their lives by being buried. They tried to seek shelter by getting into dug outs and tunnels, and places that, during any ordinary bombardment, would have been quite safe, but they evidently got some big guns up to give us a proper doing, and they succeeded. They were using 11.2 shells -  a battery of them. I spent a good part of the day helping to dig some of the poor fellows out dead. 

Our officer and three N.C.O's. all got knocked. They were standing together, and a .75 (a high explosive shell) got the four of them - killed two, and badly wounded the others. The officer had to have his leg taken off, and it is still doubtful if he will recover. I sincerely hope he does, as he was a fine chap. I'll not forget the 29th of November as long as I live. I was very lucky during my four months over there. I did not get a scratch, and did not have a day's sickness, but was not very sorry to get away from it.

Now I'll tell you a little bit about the way we got off. To begin with, we went off in parties called A party, A1 party, B, B1, and B2 parties. C, C1, C2, and C3, each party leaving at different times. A and A1 left a day before us. They consisted of all the chaps who had been attending the doctor, and a good number there were too. Then the rest all moved off at their appointed times, until only C3 party was left. In the section that our company had been holding, only eight were left, and I had the honor of being one of them. I was with in the very last party to leave, and when the time came for us to move off, we wasted no time in getting to the beach (about two miles), where a barge was waiting for us.

During the day some of our blankets were torn up and laid in the trenches and saps, and we also had to wrap bits of blanket round our feet to deaden any sound, as the Turks were only a few yards away. We that were left had to try and carry on just the same as we would on an ordinary night ; no more sniping, and no less, and, when the time came, hop down off the parapets; and off as hard as we could go. If the Turks had attacked us we were gone, as eight of us could not have done much and we had orders that we had to stay there until our time came - 3.30 am., was the time. Anyway, we managed it alright. 

Then we went into a rest camp and put in three weeks there, where we spent Christmas, and had rather a good time. Next time I write I'll give you some of our experiences there. I must draw to a close now, with best wishes."

*  Mr H. McCann was, I believe, Harry McCann, who was Head Teacher at Berwick State School from 1911 until 1917.

Letters from the Front to Yallock School Children

The Lang Lang Guardian of April 30, 1916 (see here) printed these two letters sent to Yallock State  School children from local soldiers, Robert Henry and Will Finck. They are just delightful. War gave these young men some dreadful traumatic experiences, but also gave them an opportunity to travel overseas and see new countries and sights they would never have expected to see if they had stayed home in Yallock and it is these positive experiences they are writing to the school children about. 

At the Front

The following letters have been received by the Yallock school children, who write to each of the boys in turn who have enlisted from that district.

Dear Children—I got quite a surprise the other day to receive quite a host of letters written by many of you. I was very pleased to hear from you, and as I think the task too great to write to all of you. I will make the one letter do. I am sure you will not mind. It is just 9 months since we sailed from Melbourne, and I have had a good many experiences during that time, although I have not been in action yet. We have been in Egypt most of the time, doing the work that was expected of us, and often times it was very trying, because where we were there was nothing but sand as far as the eye could see, and we saw hardly a bit of green grass all the time. But I am in a different country now. We had a lovely trip across the Mediterranean, as the sea was always smooth. We had to wear life belts all day and have them handy at night in case of being torpedoed, but I am glad to say we never sighted 
any submarines.

 After we landed at Marseilles we had a three days' train journey, which we greatly enjoyed. We passed through some beautiful scenery, and many towns and rivers that I used to learn about when I went to school. The French people gave us a great welcome as the train went by, waving and cheering, and when the train stopped they would gather round and try to make us understand how pleased they were. When we arrived at our destination we were taken to what are called billets - old barns and any spare rooms that the people can spare for the accommodation of the soldiers. We can hear the big guns booming in the distance, as we are not far from the firing line. I expect to be up amongst them shortly. At night we can see the flashes from the guns, which looks just like lightning. In fact, the reflection just looks like a city in the distance. There are many other things that I would like to tell you about, but this letter has to be censored, I think that I will close now, hoping that this letter finds you all well, as it leaves Will Finck, Bob Harker, and myself. Best wishes to all. Your sincere friend - R Henry.

Robert Harker, mentioned in Robert Henry's letter above, 

photographed in 1915 at Broadmeadows

Photographer: Darge Photographic Company. Australian War Memorial Image DA10833  

To the Boys and Girls of Yallock State School,—I was very pleased to hear from several of you, and as it is too great an undertaking to write to each individually I decided to write a letter to you all. Well, the end of this month (May) will make it about six months of defence for us on the Canal, four months in the trenches. Mr Turk never shows himself much around our way, but a few miles further on he used to get very troublesome, but it takes the Australians to quieten him. Several times we were expecting to be attacked, but the luck never came our way, though we have had a fairly rough time at intervals; never slept with our boots off for at least a month at a time. We had a lot of patrolling and out-post duty to do, and every soldier will agree that that is about the worst work in war time. We had to go out and crawl about among the gullies and low hills about two miles from our front trenches. It put me in mind of trying to creep on rabbits. Anyhow, between the Turks looking for us, and us looking for them, we never saw much of one another. 

The weather here at times was very warm, up to 130 in the shade. We have been to many places in Egypt, some of historical note. Some of you want to know what sort of a place Cairo is. Well, it consists of a mixture. What's good you can call lovely, and what's bad is awful. Ishmaha, on the Suez Canal, is a very pretty place, with fine parks and gardens and beautiful buildings. The Canal is a marvellous structure, and a very nice place on a hot day. Many a swim we have had in it. I may not post this letter in this country, as we may shortly be going on another sea voyage. We Yallock boys have come in contact with each other pretty often. I think L. Coates and J. Casey are arguing the point with the Germans by this time. Harry Casey, Will Lineham, C. Ware. J. de Little and Bert Boxshall I see every night. Bob Henry, Bob Harker and myself are always together.
France, 4th July.
We have arrived here, and are billeted amongst the farmers, so you can guess we feel at home. Some kiddies are tormenting me, so you'll excuse scribble. Have been doing some haymaking and milking to-day, and am booked for killing a pig to-morrow. Things are much cheaper here than in Egypt, a place I never want to set eyes on again. I am sure the Australians will show their grit here, because it seems as if we are in Australia defending our own shores. We want a bit of revenge against the Germans for their brutality to the civilian population. I will close now, with love to all - Will Finck.

[Since the above letters were written, news has been received of the death of Private Harker, and Privates Henry and Finck are reported missing since 20th July].

John Alfred Casey, mentioned in Will Finck's letter, above,

photographed in 1915 at Broadmeadows.

Photographer: Darge Photographic Company. Australian War Memorial Image DA11799

The first letter was written by Robert Henry and he mentions Will Finck and Bob Harker. The second letter was written by Will Finck and he mentions  L. Coates, J. Casey, Harry Casey, Will Lineham, C. Ware, J. de Little, Bert Boxshall and the aforementioned Bob Henry and Bob Harker. 

These are the men referred to in the letters and their Service Numbers (SN). The men are listed on the Yallock Honour Boards, so you can read more about them, here.  Ten men are referred to and four were Killed in Action.

Henry, Robert (SN 344) - Robert was a Prisoner of War, but made it safely home.

Finck, Louis William (SN 399) - survived the War.

Harker, Robert (SN 345) - Killed in Action July 20, 1916.

Coates, Lawrence (SN 2623a) - Killed in Action August 18, 1916.

Casey, John Alfred (SN 2593) - Killed in Action - August 23, 1918.

Casey, George Henry 'Harry' (SN 2603) - survived the War.

Lineham, William James (SN 2711) - survived the War.

Ware, Charles William (SN 3585a) - survived the War.

de Little, John Cyril (SN 220) - Killed in Action October 10, 1916.

Boxshall, Albert Victor 'Bert' (SN 3481) - survived the War.