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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.

BORWICK, Henry Barton

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

Henry Barton Borwick was the younger brother of Thomas Faulkner Borwick. Both were students at Melbourne University when they enlisted and both lived at home with their mother, Hannah Borwick, at 24 Lansdown (sic) St. East Melbourne. Thomas is recorded as having been educated at Sctoch College, East Melbourne; presumably Henry went to the same school.

  • 4057 reads

BORWICK, Thomas Faulkner

Date of birth: 
1890
Biographical notes: 

Thomas Faulkner Borwick was the elder brother of Henry Barton Borwick. Both were students studying at Melbourne University and living with their parents, Henry and Hannah Borwick, at 24 Lansdown (sic) St., East Melbourne.

Thomas Faulkner Borwick
6th Bat. Company lunching in the Wilderness of Sin, Sinai Peninsular, Egypt
Three surviving officers of 6th Bat. Xmas Day 2015. Thomas Borwick centre.
Major Borwick on Lemnos
Engagement of Elsa De Ambrosis and Maj Thomas Borwick, Oct 9, 1916
Picnic at Bagnolo, Italy Oct 15, 1916
Thomas Borwick family album - record 1916-1917
Thomas Borwick family album - record 1917-1918
Wedding invitation - Thomas Borwick and Elsa De Ambrosis, 15 Oct 1918
Thomas Faulkner Borwick - AWM photo
Thomas Faulkner Borwick - Medals
Borwick family coat of arms
  • 6660 reads

BOWEN, Idris

Biographical notes: 

Idris Bowen, like his older brother, Enos, was a hairdresser, living in East Melbourne with his mother, Mary Elizabeth Bowen and his sister, Agnes. He enlisted at Broadmeadows on 26 February, 1916 and was assigned to the Fifth Battalion, 17 Reinforcements, with the rank of private. He was 5' 4", with brown eyes and hair already going grey.

  • 3160 reads

BOWEN, John James Enos

Biographical notes: 

John James Enis Bowen was born at Eaglehawk, Victoria, but enlisted at Port Hedland, Western Australia, where he was working as a hairdresser. He was then 37 years old, 5' 4", with dark hair 'fading to white' and was an early volunteer, joining the AIF on 13 September, 1915.

  • 3283 reads

BRADLEY, Duncan

Date of birth: 
1888
Biographical notes: 

Duncan was born at Wangaratta on the 15 November 1888. His full name is Raphael Duncan Bradley.

When he enlisted on the 10 March 1915 he was 26 years old, single and worked as a labourer. He was listed from 5'8 tall to 6'0'' and weighted in at 12 stone 6 pounds.

Rue Petillon Cemetery, France
Rue Petillon Cemetery
  • 3696 reads

BRAGG, Arthur Robert

Date of birth: 
1876
Biographical notes: 

From Susan Lawrence:

Arthur Robert BRAGG was the publican of the Central Hotel, Beaconsfield,Victoria.  He was married to my great-grandmother's sister, Emily (maiden name Culverwell).

Arthur Robert Bragg - 1915
Letter from Emily - 7 April 1918
Reply from Victoria Barracks - 26 April 1918
Emily Bragg, in centre, with her family
Memorial Scroll sent to Emily Bragg
Arthur Bragg's Medals
  • 6258 reads

BRAIN, Thomas William

Date of birth: 
1880
Biographical notes: 

Thomas William Brain originally trained as a bootmaker, but in 1914, with his wife Effie and mother, Maria Constance Brain, nee Murnane, was working as a hotel keeper in the Western District. On his enlistment he gave his address as 95 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, btu he may well have just come down in order to enlist.

  • 3400 reads

BRAYSHAW, Albert

Date of birth: 
1896
Biographical notes: 

Albert enlisted in the AIF on the 17 June 1916. He was married to Ivy Violet. A small man 5'3'' tall and occupation  listed as Plasterer.

He embarked on the 28 July 1916  ex Melbourne on A 32 HMT  Themistocles arriving at Plymouth in October 1916.

  • 2737 reads

BRIDE, Benjamin William

Date of birth: 
1875
Biographical notes: 

In 1915, when he enlisted on 27 July, 1915,  William Bride, as he signed himself, was forty years old, born in 1874. Both his parents appear to have been dead and he lived with his sisters, Edith, Frances, Eleanor and Mary at 175 George St., East melbourne.

  • 3358 reads

BRIESE, Arthur Oswald

Date of birth: 
1897
Biographical notes: 

Arthur Oswald Briese's story is an interesting one: he was the grandson of Johann Ludwig Briese, born in Posen, Prussia, who migrated to South Australia in 1855 as part of a group of German farmers funded  by the South Australia Corporation. Johann, a blacksmith by trade, first worked in the Barossa Valley, before moving to take up land outside Albury, at Jindera, in 1866.

Arthur Oswald Bries as a child
Theodor Ernest (Edward) Briese & Pauline Anna Schmidt wedding photograph
  • 4121 reads

BROBERG, Carl Albert

Date of birth: 
1896
Biographical notes: 

Carl Albert Broberg was born in Richmond, Victoria on 2nd November to Carl Niels Johann Broberg and Eda Margaret Broberg (nee Frees). Carl Senior was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, attending the Grammar School in Copenhagen before qualifying  as a Manufacturing Chemist. He came to Melbourne in July 1890 to join Rocke, Tompsitt & Co, where he remained for 12 years.

  • 4111 reads

BROOKS, Chassie Winton

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

Chassie Winton Brooks was born in 1884 at Williamstown, Victoria. He was the brother of Constance Jessie Brooks. (see separate biography on Master List) His father was Yates Brooks and his mother was Emma Brooks, nee Mullen. He was living with his mother at 144 Clarendon Street East Melbourne in 1909.

Chassis Winton Brooks 1917
Edith Mary Rawlinson, wife of Chassie Brooks 1915
SS Leicestershire, returned to Melbourne ex UK, 9 December, 1918
  • 4470 reads

BROOKS, Constance Jessie

Date of birth: 
1888
Biographical notes: 

Constance Jessie Brooks (1888–1966), who served with the Australian Army Nursing Service in India from 1917 to 1919, was the daughter of Yates and Emma Brooks (nee Mullen).

Constance Brooks, Bombay 1918 (private collection)
Rawalpindi where Brooks was stationed in 1917 (AWM P00562.079)
Brooks in AANS uniform for India (private collection)
Constance Brooks (right), Sisters Club, Bombay 1917
Brooks (top right) on leave in Egypt c1918 (private collection)
Constance (front right), John Clerici (front left) Basrah (private collection)
Constance Clerici and Chassie Brooks (left) (private collection)
  • 6844 reads

BROWNLEE, Robert

Date of birth: 
1886
Biographical notes: 

Robert Brownlee was born in Glasgow in 1886. He was an apprentice at Harvey Engineering in Glasgow for five years, listed as an Engineer. He left the UK on SS Dorset from Liverpool on 3 August 1912 and arrived in Melbourne on the 21 September 1912, where he is listed as living at 90 Powlett Street East Melbourne

Citation for MSM
Citation and details of award MSM
Enquiry about award of Rumanian Medal
Notification of Rumanian Award
Pump built at Harvey Engineering in 1907 when Robert Brownlee was working there
SS Miltiades brought Robert Brownlee back to Autralai
Medaille Barbatie si Credinta 1st Class (gold)
SS Aquetanius took Robert Brownlee to Egypt, 8 May 1915.
Robert Brownlee (top left) standing, Westport Coal Mine 1930
Report of Robert Brownlee killed in Mine Disaster 1939
  • 4533 reads

BRUNT, Archibald Andrew

Date of birth: 
1893
Biographical notes: 

Archie was born Parhran in 1894, son of William Brunt and Sarah Buckland nee Brunt

Enlisted on the 11 Jan 1915 in Melbourne, aged 21 and listed as a farmer

Spent several month 11 Jan 1915 to29 March 1915 at the 13th Light Horse Training depot at Broadmedows

Embarked on A34 ss Persic ex Melbourne on the 28 May 1915 for Eygpt

  • 3241 reads

BRUNTON, Arthur Alexander

Date of birth: 
1878
Biographical notes: 

Arthur Alexander Brunton was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in December 1878. He was from a family of 5 brothers and 5 sisters. His father, Thomas Brunton, was in the British Army and possibly fought at the relief of Lucknow in the Indian Mutiny in 1858. He is listed as a private in the 78th  Foot Regiment in 1861.

  • 3631 reads

BUDDON, Frederick Phillip

Date of birth: 
1878
Biographical notes: 

Frederick Buddon was 36 years old, 5' 9", 11 stone, 8 lbs., with fair hair and blue eyes when he enlisted on 27/1/1915. He listed his occupation as Commercial Traveller and gave his next of kin as his sister, Sister Laura Buddon, 150 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. He had had extensive military experience, having served ninetten years in the Citizens' Military Force, Y Company Rangers.

  • 2973 reads

BURFORD, Lionel

Date of birth: 
1894
Biographical notes: 
Lionel de Vere Burford was born in Moonee Ponds on 25 June 1894,the second of two sons. His parents, Aubrey John Burford and Annie (nee Edwards) had married in 1892.  Annie had been married previously and had a small daughter.  Her husband died soon after and Annie took on life as a boarding house manager. 
Harold and Lionel Burford. Courtesy Andrew Fock
Lionel's name scratched into the cave walls at Naours.  Courtesy Gilles Prilaux
  • 3750 reads

BURKE, Patrick Thomas

Date of birth: 
1890
Biographical notes: 

Patrick Thomas Burke was born in Launceston, Tasmania, the son of Patrick Burke and his wife Ellen, nee Vaughan. At the time he enlisted he was working as a salesman at Dimmeys Model Stores, 150-162 Swan St., Richmond. he must have been well-liked, because, hearing that he had been wounded, the store manager wrote to the authorities asking for news of him. 

  • 4077 reads

BURLEY, Rexford

Date of birth: 
1900
Biographical notes: 

Rexford Burley or Burleigh was born in Stanley, Tasmania. He was the son of Louisa Agnes Burley. b.1881,but no father is listed on the certificate of birth. On his death certificate, his grandparents are listed as his parents, William Matthew Burley, while the mother was recorded as Harriet Blizzard.

Rexford Burley
Harriet Burley at 94 Vale Street
Lila Burley
Rexford Burley 1919 at 94 Vale Street
  • 3862 reads
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