People of East Melbourne
This is a list of biographies of residents of East Melbourne.
This project started to commemorate the soldiers and nurses who went to Europe to serve in World War 1. But it has grown from there to cover biographies of any and all residents of note.
Along with many of their fellow Australians people from East Melbourne flocked to enlist. Many were heroes. Many lost their lives or suffered horrific physical or mental injuries. At home family and friends worked, endured and suffered consequences that were sometimes terrible and persisted long after the war.
Major-General Michael O'Brien gave us a starting point with a list of East Melbourne people who served in WW1. He spoke to the Society in April 2013 to give us some context to the period and to help the EMHS prepare for its own commemorations of this most devastating period in our history.
Everyone can participate by gathering or documenting information:
- Photos, memorabilia and family records
- Stories in books, newspapers and on-line
- Memorial plaques in churches and public places
- War memorial, church, national and state archives
You can refine the list by applying the various filter criteria and go to a particular detailed biography by click on the title.
BECKETT, John
John Beckett was one month off 28 years old when he enlisted on 21 December, 1915. He was then single and a painter by trade, living at 53 Gipps St., East Melbourne. He had been working for the last five years at W. Smith in Hamilton before moving to Melbourne.
- 4293 reads
BENTLEY, George Valentine
George Bentley was 49 when he enlisted in 1915, having been born in England on 14 February, 1866. He was not to be returned to the retired list ontil 1926. What made him so valuable was that he was already a seasoned soldier, having served for twelve years in the Dragoon Guards, including three years with the South African Field Force in the Boer War.
- 4332 reads
BERGMEIER, Alexander Stanley
Alexander Stanley Bergmeier was born on 8 January, 1889, to Henry and Annie Bergmeier, of Bass, Victoria. He grew up on a farm and, on enlistment, gave his occupation as farmer. He was 26 years and 7 months when he signed on 15 July, 1915, 5' 8", with brown hair and brown eyes, listing his address at embarkation, 69 Grey St., East Melbourne, the home of Mrs Annie Morgan.
- 4755 reads
BERKELEY, William Henry
William Henry Berkeley was aged 18 years and 6 months when he enlisted on 13 July, 1915 and was attached to the 8th Battalion, 1oth Reinforcements. he was by trade a joiner and had served a six year apprenticeship with H. Beauchamp, Lonsdale St., Melbourne.
- 4925 reads
BETT, Gordon Alexander
Born East Melbourne, however no connection with East Melbourne after this event.
- 3546 reads
BETTERIDGE, Richard
Richard Betteridge was born in London in 1882. He moved to Australia in 1911 and described his occupation as Wireless Operator. He was a single man, aged 23 years and eight months old, 5'5" tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a 'dark' complexion.
- 3200 reads
BIDDLE, Frederick Leslie
DSO, MID, died of wounds on 16 Aug 1917 and his death notice published in the Argus on August 27. The dearly loved son of James and Helena I Biddle of 92 Vale Street East Melbourne and brother of Hollis and Isabel.
- 6009 reads
BIDDULPH, Francis Edmond
Francis Edmond Biddulph was the only child of Francis Edmond Biddulph and Charlotte Izola, need Quinlivan. He aged 22 and a book keeper when he enlisted. His mother lived at 115 Grey Street, East Melbourne, which was also his address. Frank had spent 3 years with Victorian Rifles, and another 18 months with the Citizen Forces, so had some previous military experience.
- 4611 reads
BIRBECK, Harry
Harry Birbeck was one of eight children of William Henry Birbeck and Margaret Jane Sutton of Laura, South Australia. Three of their children died in childhood, Frederick born 1882 at 9 months, Horace born 1880 at 3 years and Emily born 1888 at 2 months. Harry was their third child, born 1 July, 1881.
- 5050 reads
BLACK, Emily Conyngham
Emily Conyngham Black was born in Tinamba near Maffra, Victoria in 1884, the second daughter of William Murray Black (1835-1925) of Grenock, Scotland and Mary Anne Bennison (1850-1912) of Port Albert. Tinamba was a grazing settlement, with a population 49 according to the 1891 census (Angus Watson, Lost and Almost Forgotten Towns of Colonial Victoria, 2003).
- 6951 reads
BLACK, Herbert
Herbert Black was an architect and a widower when he enlisted on 19 February, 1917. He was not called up for duty until 2 July, 1917, and then began training, first at Royal Park, Melbourne, then at from 19 February to 29 March 1917 at Seymour and finally at Ascot Vale from 29 March until 12 May 1917.
- 3740 reads
BLAIR, William Allison
William Allison Blair as a Stock and Station Agent, aged 27 when he enlisted on 27 July, 1916. He gave as his next of kin his father, Captain William Allison Blair, living at 'Mernda', 42 Jolimont Terrace, Jolimont, with his wife, Minnie Waters Blair (nee Peck).
- 4493 reads
BLATCHFORD, Herbert Albert
Herbert Albert Blatchford had no real connection with East Melbourne, save that his sister, Clara Blatchford, lived at Clivedon Mansions, on the corner of Wellington Parade and Clarendon St, East Melbourne, now the site of the Hilton Hotel. He was a skilled labourer, living in North Melbourne, who, in the post war period, identfied himself as a fitter. He was single and aged 31.
- 4121 reads
BLUNDELL, Madeline Patricia Petrie
Patricia Blundell was one of five surviving children (four daughters, one son) born to Martin Petrie Blundell and his wife Emily (nee Lineker) between 1871 and 1890. Melbourne-born Martin was employed by the Bank of Australasia on leaving Melbourne Grammar School in 1861. From 1882 until ill-health forced his retirement in 1899 he was manager of the bank’s Melbourne branch.
- 9948 reads
BODEN, Samuel
Samuel Boden was born in Birmingham, England, but had lived in both India and Ceylon before he came to Australia. While in Sri Lanka, he had served for eighteen months with the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps. It seems possible that these experiences shape the early part of his military career.
- 4037 reads
BOLTON, Francis Basil
Francis Bolton was the younger brother of Reginald Bolton, and like him, lived with his mother and younger brother, Tom, at 'Verona', corner of Clarendon and Gipps Sts., East Melbourne.He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School, Canterbury, Victoria and then took out Accountancy qualifications and was registered with the Insttute of Accountants, Victoria, before moving to Western Austra
- 4069 reads
BOLTON, Reginald Henry
Reginald Henry Bolton was a Company Manager, aged 29 and had been married to Doris (nee Fairland) for just over a year , when he enlisted on 3 November, 1916. They lived at 'Verona', on the corner of Gipps and Clarendon Sts., where he had been living with his mother, Mrs. Fraces Edith Bolton and his siblings, Francis Basil and Tom Harold Bolton. HIs father, Mr. F.P.
- 5319 reads
BONE, Kenric Clifton
Kenric and Ronald Bone were the twin sons of Ada and George Bone of 'Cotswold', 40 Berry St., East Melbourne. George Bone was an importer, who built 'Cotswold' in 1891 to house his growing family: Daisy, Iris, Chandos, Ronald and Kenric. Kenric and Ronald were just over 18 when they enlisted in Richmond,Victoria, having celebrated their joint birthday on 21st December, 1917.
- 3605 reads
BONE, Ronald Merton
Ronald Merton Bone was probably an identical twin to Kenric Bone: both 5' 2 1/2" in height, with fair complexions, grey eyes and blond hair. They were ths sons of George and Ada Bone, of 'Cotswold', 40 Berry St., East Melbourne, and brothers to Chandos,Daisy and Iris (deceased). Both registered their employment as "Student Surveyors".
- 3740 reads
BONNICK, John William
John William Bonnick was born in East Melbourne in December, 1895, the son of James William Bonnick and his wife, Georgina Jane (Ross). With the permission of his parents, he enlisted on 16 July, 1915, aged nineteen. He had trained with the Senior Cadets and had two years experience with the 58th Infantry.
- 3720 reads