A Century After the Guns Fell Silent: Remembering the Pakenham District's WWI Diggers 1914-1918

On Sunday, November 11, 2018 Patrick Ferry launched his book on the men and women from the Pakenham area who served in the Great War. The book is called A Century After the Guns Fell Silent: Remembering the Pakenham District's WWI Diggers 1914-1918. A limited edition of 250 copies of the book was produced courtesy of a Centenary of the Armistice Grant from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. However, you can also access the information and download  a free copy of the book on this new website  https://www.pakenhamww1.com/

The  book covers all the people listed on the Pakenham & District War Memorial, Pakenham Upper Roll of Honour, Pakenham Upper State School Honour book, St Patricks School Roll of Honour, Pakenham State School Roll of Honour and the Pakenham South War Memorial.

Patrick spent many hours talking to family members of the soldiers - sometimes it was easy to track down relatives as their family still lived in the area, at other times a fair bit of detective work went into finding family members, some of whom had no idea that their Digger was listed on a memorial in the Pakenham area. This has all resulted in a book with family photos and personal insights in the soldiers and their life after they returned home. The book was also produced with the assistance of members of the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society.The book and website is a great contribution to the history of our area and a tribute to the sacrifice that so many local families made to support Australia during the Great War.

Screen shot of the website showing two of the Ellett brothers of Pakenham South

Ellett Brothers of Pakenham South

In this post, in our series of Brothers who enlisted, we are looking at the Ellett Brothers of Pakenham South. Alfred, John and Robert who all enlisted in the Great War were the sons of John and Jane (nee Margaret Jane Webster) Ellett of 'Wattle Vale' Pakenham South. John and Jane had moved to McDonalds Drain Road in 1901 and they had fifteen children, of whom all except one survived to adulthood - Rosanna Jane (b. 1887), Robert Henry (1888), Jane (1889), William Edward (1890), John (1891-1892), Dora Mary (1892), John Alfred (1894), Maggie May (1895), Alfred (1897), Alice (1899), Edward (1900), Walter (1902), Harry (1904), Maude (1906) and Minnie (1907).

The family had been market gardeners in Springvale, before they came to Pakenham South and all the children were born there (although the births were registered in Oakleigh). According to the book Look to the Rising Sun: a history of Cardinia and District* the Ellett family  operated the Post Office and store and were involved in many community groups and activities.

Ellett, Alfred (Service Number 439) Alfred enlisted on January 21, 1916 at the age of 18. His occupation was farmer.  Alf  Returned to Australia January 8, 1919.

A report on Alf's enlistment to fight against the brutal rapaciousness of the unspeakable Hun. Alf was the third son the Ellett's had given to our Empire's cause.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal June 1, 1916

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66189972

Ellett, John Alfred (SN 2773) Called John (or Jack as he was called in a newspaper report) enlisted on December 14, 1914 at the age of 20. He was also a farmer. Jack had been wounded whilst serving - gun shot wound to the right thigh - and had also suffered from Enteric Fever (typhoid).   Jack Returned to Australia December 3, 1918

Ellett, Robert Henry.  Robert, or Bert as he was called, enlisted twice firstly on October 20, 1914 (SN 2772) at the age of 26 and secondly on April 18, 1916 (SN 2407) The first time he enlisted he was sent overseas but Returned to Australia December 4, 1915 and was discharged on medical grounds in March 1916 - amongst the conditions mentioned were deafness, rheumatism and asthma. Bert then re-enlisted on April 18, 1916 and was wounded in action - gun shot wound to the right arm - and was  discharged again on medical grounds on December 12, 1917. Bert was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file here, on the Battle to Farm website.

The Ellett's were clearly a patriotic family - in spite of the fact that both Bert and Jack had served overseas, been badly wounded, they still wanted to have another go at the Hun.

Dandenong Advertiser  May 17, 1917

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88662100

This is part of  a letter Bert wrote home, which was published in the 

South Bourke & Mornington Journal of November 11, 1915. It was an account of  trip on Lord Brassy's yachh, which he had made available for wounded soldiers.

You can read it in full here http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188785

*Look to the Rising Sun: a history of Cardinia and District including Rythdale and Pakenham South by Eileen Williams and Jewel Beard (Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984)