Post-war correspondence with Lord Birdwood : Part 4

As part of a wider project to digitise First World War collections, the Memorial is seeking contact with relatives of the persons listed below in connection with the large correspondence within the Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood collection 3DRL/3376.

If you have any further information about these people, or their descendants, the Memorial would love to talk to you. Please contact Stephanie Hume via PubandDig@awm.gov.au

Other blogs relating to Birdwood correspondence can be found here:

• Australian military Birdwood connections
• Unidentified Birdwood connections 
• Australian Birdwood connections
• Non-Australian ex-military Birdwood connections
• Non-Australian military Birdwood connections
• Non-Australian civilian Birdwood connections
• Post-war correspondence with Lord Birdwood : Part 1
• Post-war correspondence with Lord Birdwood : Part 2
• Post-war correspondence with Lord Birdwood : Part 3

 

Keith Melvyn Little

Keith Melvyn Little (15/58 ) (1894 – 1960) was a journalist from Feilding, New Zealand, who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Whilst working at the headquarters of then Lieutenant General William Birdwood, Little is thought to have coined the acronym ANZAC, for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

After the war’s end, he was editor of the newspaper the Manawatu Daily Times. On 21 July 1920, he married Alison Esma Haybittle (1892 - 1985). They had one daughter, Beth Pearse (née Little), who appears to still live in Feilding, New Zealand.

 

Archibald Robert Longworth

1172 Archibald Robert Longworth (1883 – 1968) was a dairy farmer in Ghinni Ghinni, before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 8 April 1915. He was assigned to the 6th Light Horse Regiment. After service at Gallipoli, he was assigned to the 17th Company Imperial Camel Corps.

Longworth wrote to Birdwood from his family’s property at Ghinni Ghinni, near Taree, on 8 August 1937. He appears to have had a number of correspondences with Birdwood, as in his letter he references Birdwood’s previous replies to his letters. He writes of Birdwood’s visit to Gallipoli, Longworth’s role as one of Sir Henry George Chauvel’s bodyguards in the Royal procession through London on 3 May 1919.

He married Elsie Tregerthen Reid (1883 – 1957) in 1920. They appear to have had son named Cyril; possibly Cyril Archibald Stewart Longworth of Bega, who died in 2013.

 

Cluny Macpherson

Cluny Macpherson CMG, Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, (1879 – 1966) was a doctor and scientist from Newfoundland. During the First World War, he served as a medical officer in the Newfoundland Regiment. He is credited with the invention of the gas mask; using the helmet of a captured German prisoner, a canvas hood with eyepieces and breathing tube, and soaking the canvas in chemicals. He returned to Newfoundland in 1916, and served as the director of the military medical service and later served as the president of the St. John's Clinical Society and the Newfoundland Medical Association. He continued to work in the medical profession in various capacities throughout his life.

In 1902, Macpherson married Eleanora Barbara Thompson, O.B.E., Dame of Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1874 - 1964).They had two children, Emma Allison Macpherson (1903-1971) and Campbell Leonard Macpherson (1907-1973) who was Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1957 to 1963.

Collections relating to Macpherson are held at Mount Allison University, and the Faculty of Medicine Founders' Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

 

John Edward Molloy

174 John Edward Molloy (1883 - 1954) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 19 October 1914, and was assigned to the 10th Light Horse Regiment. Upon enlistment, he worked as a farrier, and had served with the Victorian militia forces. He served at Gallipoli from May 1915, and then was transferred to England in October, due to illness. He was discharged in 1916 due to heart disease, returning to Australia in June.

Molloy married Alberta Louise Jeffery (1888 - 1952) in 1910. They had three children, Muriel Mary Myercough (née Molloy) (1911 – 2003), Daniel Martin Molloy (1914 – 1987), and a third child whose name is unknown. Some time after the end of the First World War, Molloy and his family moved to the United Kingdom.

Molloy wrote to Lord Birdwood on 4 January 1938, congratulating him on his elevation as Baron. He also reminisces on his interactions with Birdwood on Gallipoli, including an occasion when he yelled at Birdwood to duck his head during sniper fire at Shrapnel Gully. The address written on the letter is 11 Schomberg House, Vincent Street, Westminster, S.W.1.

 

Frank Newbolt

Frank Newbolt wrote to Lord Birdwood from 40 Kensington Park Garden, on 22 March [1925]. Addressing him as “Birdie”, Newbolt offers him congratulations, and discusses both the Newbolt and Cliftonian family. He also remarks on speculation that Lord Birdwood would be appointed Governor General of Australia.

It is possible that “Frank Newbolt” is Sir Francis George Newbolt (1863 – 1940), brother of poet Sir Henry John Newbolt (1862 – 1938). Francis and Henry Newbolt attended Clifton College, as did Birdwood. Francis Newbolt was honorary legal advisor to the British government during the First World War, and was knighted for his service in 1919.

Francis Newbolt was married to Alice Clara Bright (1868 – 1934) in 1888, they had four children; Evelyn Newbolt (1890 – 1966), Emmeline Medley (née Newbolt) (1891 – 1977), Alice Rachel Rutter (née Newbolt) (1895 – 1968), and Lady Margaret Michelmore (née Newbolt) (1899 – 1965).

 

The Primrose League

The Primrose League was a conservative political organisation founded in 1883 and disbanded in 2004. It was formed by Sir Randolph Churchill, Sir Alfred Slade, Sir John Gorst, and Sir Henry Drummond Wolff. The organisation was formed in honour of, and in memory of, conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, after his death in 1881; the primrose was known as his favourite flower. Their aim was to uphold Conservative party principles and imperialism. The organisation was active until the mid-1990s, and disbanded in 2004.

Lady Janetta Birdwood was enrolled as a Dame of the Primrose League (meaning “a member”) on 1 July 1910.

 

Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCB CMG DSO VD

Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCB CMG DSO VD (1875 – 1954) was an architect and politician from Berrima, New South Wales. In 1903, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Militia Garrison Artillery; transferring to the Australian Field Artillery in 1908. In 1914, he was appointed commanding officer of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, joining the Australian Imperial Force upon its formation. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. In February 1916, he was given command of the 4th Division artillery, and promoted to brigadier general. In July 1917, he was appointed commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade. In May 1918, Rosenthal was promoted to Major General and appointed to command the 2nd Division.

For his service during the First World War, Rosenthal was appointed Companion of the Order of Bath (1915), Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (1917), and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (1919). He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order (1918), Belgian Croix de Guerre (1917), the French Croix de Guerre (1918) and the Légion d'honneur (1919).

Rosenthal was commander of the 2nd Division, Australian Military Forces from 1921 to 1926, and 1932 to 1937. He served as an alderman of Sydney Municipal Council from 1921 to 1924. He was Nationalist member for Bathurst in the Legislative Assembly from 1922 to 1925, and in the Legislative Council from 1936 to 1937. He was president of the federal council of the Australian Institute of Architects from 1925 to 1928. He was also president of the Australia Museum from 1926 to 1930. In 1937, Rosenthal was appointed administrator of Norfolk Island, which he governed throughout the Second World War. He retired from the position in 1945.

On 11 September 1897, Rosenthal married Harriet Ellen (Nellie) Burston (1871 – 1951). They had three sons; Charles Burston Rosenthal (1899 – 1975), Alvord Sydney Rosenthal DSO and Bar, OBE (1899 – 1977), and Christian Clov Rosenthal (1907 – 1990). Their son Command Alvord Sydney Rosenthal, was an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1941, and awarded Bar to Distinguished Service Order in 1942. Alvord Rosenthal was appointed Order of the British Empire in 1951. After the death of his wife in 1951, Charles Rosenthal married Sarah Agnes Rosborough (née McKinstry) on 22 July 1953.

 

Abe Shannon OBE

Abe Shannon OBE (1869 – 1945) was a notable philanthropist and pastoralist in the Eudunda region of South Australia. His father, David Shannon, was one of the original pioneers of South Australia. Shannon built the historic homestead Kingscourt, in the 1890s, off the road between Kapunda and Eudunda, north of the Barossa Valley.

During the South African war (1899 - 1902), Shannon contributed to patriotic funds, and visited South Africa to provide assistance; including hiring hotel rooms for invalided soldiers. He was rejected for active service during the First World War. He travelled to London to offer his services to the War Office, though was also rejected. Shannon volunteered at hospitals throughout France, and was appointed as an honorary captain in the Australian Red Cross. After the war’s end, Shannon continued to support returned service-people, and received a certificate of merit from the Federal executive of the Returned Soldiers’ League in 1929. In 1929, he also gifted a school to his district.

Shannon was awarded the Order of the British Empire, in the 1934 New Year’s honours, for services to the community. Abe Shannon died 24 October 1945, unmarried. He had a brother Robert Shannon, and sister Jane Koeppen-Wendt (née Shannon) who survived him.



Robert William Stanley

1349 Robert William Stanley (1892 – 1943) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 July 1915. Prior to enlistment, he had worked as a farrier, and he was assigned to the 1st Australian Light Horse. After the war, Stanley married Kathleen Deborah Greene in Wagga Wagga, NSW, and they had eight children. The Stanley’s owned a dairy farm, possibly named “Moss Vale” on Narrandera Road, which in 1937 had fifty cows.

Stanley wrote to Lord Birdwood on 3 August 1937, with reminisces of stealing Birdwood’s black pony in France, and racing him. He also mentions being badly gassed during his service, and invites Birdwood to stay with him and his family, if Birdwood is ever in New South Wales. Stanley also mentions that his oldest son would soon be joining the police trainees.

 

Arthur Borlase Stevens CMG DSO

Arthur Borlase Stevens CMG DSO (1880 – 1965) was a New South Wales railways’ officer. In 1909, he married Vera Eleanor McIsaad Proctor; they had no children.

In 1910, Stevens joined the New South Wales Light Horse, and in 1911 was appointed as second lieutenant in the NSW Lancers. He transferred to the 14th (Hunter River) Infantry, then 21st Infantry, before enlisting the Australian Imperial Force on 1914. He was appointed to the 2nd Battalion, serving with them at Gallipoli, and the Western Front, and was appointed the battalion’s commanding officer in 1916.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service during Lone Pine; taking charge of the battalion when its commanding officer Robert Scobie was killed. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1917, after his service at Pozières and Mouquet Farm.

Stevens remained involved with Australia’s military forces, and commanded the 36th Militia Battalion from 1921 to 1926. During the Second World War, he was commanding officer of the 9th Recruitment Reception Battalion (1940), and area commander of the training camps at Narellan, and Ingleburn (1941-1942). He was retired from military service in late 1942.

Stevens and his wife Vera, lived in Sydney, New South Wales. Their address in 1940 was 42 Hay Street, Collaroy.

 

Edgar Thomas Towner VC MC

Major Edgar Thomas Towner VC MC (1890 – 1972) was born at Glencoe Station, near Blackall, Queensland. His parents, Greta (née Herley) and Edgar Thomas Towner, were among the first settlers on the Barcoo River.

Edgar Towner worked as a grazier, before he enlisted as a private, in the Australian Imperial Force on 4 January 1915. In 1916, he was commissioned as a lieutenant, serving with the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918, for his actions during the battle at Molancourt in June 1918. In December 1918 Towner was awarded the Victoria Cross, for his gallantry during the attack on Mont St. Quentin on 1 September 1918.

In 1925, Towner entered into a partnership in Kaloola Station, near Longreach. He was later involved with Russleigh Pastoral Company, Isisford, eventually becoming its director.

Towner enlisted in the Citizens Military Force on 8 August 1939, and was second-in-command of the 26th Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Harry Murray VC. He retired from military service in February 1942.

Towner was a keen geographer, and was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was also a member of the Royal Historical Society of New South Wales. Towner never married, and died in Longreach on 18 August 1972. A memorial was erected in his honour in Blackall, Queensland, in 2009.

 

J. F. Vaughton

J. F. Vaughton wrote to Lady Birdwood on 4 March 1916, from Gifford House, Auxiliary Hospital, Roehampton. He wrote that that he had been recently transferred to Gifford House, he had a lovely time at the theatre with Lady Birdwood, and that he had seen his first snow the previous week. He also asks Lady Birdwood to send him some Gold Hake cigarettes. On the letter, there is a note in another’s handwriting, alleging that Vaughton wrote the letter after having his hands amputated.

 

Jack H Webster

Jack H Webster appears to have served with the Royal Corps of Signals, during the First World War. He wrote to Lord Birdwood on 3 October 1947, from 20 Esher Road, East Molesey, Surrey. Webster wrote to congratulate Birdwood on receiving the Freedom of Twickenham. He also writes of memories of standing next to Birdwood at Anzac Gully, witnessing HMS Triumph sink (25 May 1915).

 

Lieutenant Colonel William Waite DSO MC

Lieutenant Colonel William Charles Nightingale Waite DSO MC (1880–1973) was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He was a veteran of the South African War, and the First World War.

Waite served with the 1st South Australian Contingent (embarking 1899) and 6th (Imperial Bushmen) South Australian Contingent (embarking 1901).  He remained in South Africa after his unit’s return to Australia, working as a military intelligence officer. He remained in South Africa until 1908, when he returned to Adelaide.

He joined the Australian Imperial Force on 20 August 1914, and was commissioned as a captain in the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. During 1915, he commanded the 7th Field Artillery Battery and 8th Field Artillery Battery. In 1916, he commanded the 24th Field Artillery Brigade, and from January 1917 commanded the 11th Field Artillery Brigade.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his action at Gallipoli, and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his action at Fromelles, Ypres and the Somme.

After the First World War’s end, he worked as an auctioneer, valuer and agent in Adelaide. He retained his commission in the militia forces, commanding 10th Battalion (Adelaide Rifles) from 1926 to 1930. During the Second World War, he was camp commandant at Wayville and Woodside, and deputy director of recruiting at Keswick Barracks.

On 13 March 1907 he married Florence Alberta Thomas at Germiston, Transvaal. They had three children; one son and two daughters.

 

Marjorie Grace (Madge) Wilson

Marjorie Grace Wilson (1883 – 1975), known as Madge, was born in 1883 to Jessie (née Moyes) and James Wilson, of the Steppes, Tasmania. Her father, James Wilson, was Superintendent of Police for 30 years from 1863, and from 1910 was a volunteer weather observer for the Bureau of Meteorology. After his death in 1922, Madge Wilson continued these observations.

Madge Wilson was a well-known conservationist in the Bothwell area. She turns the Steppes into a sanctuary for wild birds. Madge Wilson was also a well-known artist in the area, often painting images of the Steppes. In February 1920, she sent two postcards with images of her paintings to Lord Birdwood, after his visit to Tasmania.

Collections relating to the Wilson family, and the Steppes, are held by LINC Tasmania and the Bothwell Historical Society.

Madge Wilson died in 1975, aged 92. She was the last surviving member of the Wilson family.