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.

PHELAN, Andrew John

  • 2716 reads

PIRRIE, Ernest Armstrong

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Ernest Armstrong Pirrie arrived in Melbourne in September 1913.  He was 27 when he enlisted on 27 November 1916.  His war service record is not on-line and therefore our knowledge of him is limited.  The index states that he was born in Manchester, England and that he was a butcher in South Melbourne.  He embarked as a private in the 10th Machine Gun Company, 7th Reinforceme

  • 3176 reads

POLSON, Arthur Ernest

Date of birth: 
1893
Biographical notes: 

Arthur Ernest Polson was the the son of Karl Olaf (Charles) Polson and his wife, Selma Maria Francisca Inga Anderson. He waas born in 1893 and enlisted for the First World War on 16 July, 1915. He was then aged 22 years and 3 months and was working as a storekeeper. He was single, but on 22 December 1915 married Edith Alice Pratt at St Peter's Eastern Hill.

  • 2964 reads

POWERLETT, George

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

George Powerlett stated that he was born in East Melbourne on 7 December 1884.  However his grand-daughter, Valerie Weber, has unearthed a slightly different story.  According to the Victorian Police Gazette he was found abandoned in the Cricket Reserve (Yarra Park) on 20 December 1883.  His birth was later registered under the name of his then foster mother as George Powlet

George Powlerlett, courtesy Val Weber
  • 3647 reads

POYNTER, James Cursham

Biographical notes: 

Wife - Sarah Jane Poynter, 583 Victoria Parade East Melbourne

 

  • 2902 reads

PRICTOR, John Colin

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

John Colin Prictor was on of three children born to James Henry Prictor and his wife, Catherine, nee McLeod. He grew up in Hamilton, in the Western District of Victoria, and was a storekeeper by occupation, living at Noradju. When he enlisted on 14 August, 1916, he was a married man, with his wife, Catherine Prictor , nee Stewart, living at Glenthompson.

  • 2685 reads

PRIDAY, Stella Muriel

Date of birth: 
1886
Biographical notes: 

Stella Muriel Priday (nee Hurford) was born on 19 April 1886, in Hawthorn, Victoria, the first of the three children of financier Thomas Walter Hurford (c1851-1892) and his wife Mary Grace (nee Paterson) (d1945). 

Priday's elopement and its outcome (Argus, 29.5.1901)
No 2 Australian Hospital Ship, by Reginald Borstel 1916. AWM ART91910
Kanowna unloading invalids, Port Melbourne, 1916. AWM CO1070
  • 5734 reads

PROWSE, Frederick Philpott

Biographical notes: 
  • Enlisted on he 21st July 1915 at the age of 44 years and 10 months and was a Departmet Superintendant for the St John's Ambulance at Geelong
  • His sister also resided at Geelong, however, there is a reference to an address at 41 Wellington Street East Melbourne
  • Joined the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 16th Reinforcement
  • 2773 reads

PURDEY, Joseph Ernest

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Joseph Ernest Purdey was born on 20 September 1889 in East Melbourne.  He was the son of James Purdey (1852-1924) and Jessie Carrick Maver (1852-1927).  The 1892 Sands & McDougall Post Office directory lists J. Purdy as caretaker of the Friendly Society Gardens, Yarra Park, East Melbourne (now the site of AAMI Stadium).  Mr.

Joseph Ernest Purdey standing on right. Brother George Rising Purdey in middle
Letter enclosing Military Medal awarded to Joseph Ernest Purdey
  • 4535 reads

QUIN, Charles Joseph

Date of birth: 
1885
Biographical notes: 

Joseph Charles Quin was born in Cobden, Victoria c March 1885.  He was the son of John and Sarah Quin.

  • 3116 reads

QUINN, Edward

Date of birth: 
1877
Biographical notes: 

 Edward Quinn had no real connection with East Melbourne, other than that his mother, Bridget, lived in St Joseph's Convent, 360 Albert St,  East Melbourne, now the Mary McKillop Centre. At the time of  his enlistment for the war, he was working as a labourer in Hamilton, Victoria. He was an older recruit, 39 and 9 months old, 5' 5", of stocky build.

  • 2727 reads

RAMSDALE, Cecil Harry

Date of birth: 
1890
Biographical notes: 

Cecil Harry Ramsdale was born on 9 August 1890 at Prahran.  He was the son of John Alfred Ramsdale and Margaret Daisy McGowan.  He was educated at Melbourne Grammar.

  • 3800 reads

RAWLINS, Alfred Leonard

Biographical notes: 

In the First World War, Alfred Leonard Rawlins volunteered to serve overseas with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He enlisted on 19 February,1917, and  embarked at Melbourne, Victoria, aboard HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917. He was placed in the 3rd Pioneering Battalion as a late replacement.

  • 2925 reads

REDPATH, George Veitch

Date of birth: 
1886
Biographical notes: 

George Veitch Redpath was born in 1886 in Bendigo, where his family had been resident for two generations.  He was the son of Thomas Veitch Redpath and his wife Louisa, nee Payne.

  • 3794 reads

REES, Rowland John Patton

brother

Biographical notes: 

brother

REES, Sydney Bagot

brother

Biographical notes: 

brother