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.
KEMPSON, Albert Victor
Albert Victor Kempson was 21 and 4 months old when he enlisted on 19 July 1915. He was the son of George Kempson and his wife, Amelia, nee Knowles. One of seven children, he had two brothers, Thomas Henry Kempson, b.1889, who would also go to war, and Reginald Knowles Kempson, b.1897, and a sister, Constance Amelia, b. 1886.
- 1776 reads
KEMPSON, Thomas Henry
Thomas Kempson was one of a family of seven children of whom three died at birth, William in 1891, Gerald in 1892, and Norman in 1894. There were four living children, Thomas b. 1889, his brothers Albert b.1894, and Reginald b.1897, and sister Constance Amelia b.1886. Thomas was a Commercial Traveller by occupation, 5' 11" tall, and Church of England by religion.
- 1845 reads
KENDALL, Eleanor Jane
Eleanor Jane Kendall (1880–1957) was the only daughter among the seven children born to William Tyson Kendall (1851–1936) and his first wife, Elizabeth (nee Park) (c1853–1904).
- 4884 reads
KENT, John Morris
John Morris Kent was born in Brighton, England in December, 1890. He was the son of George Kent and Elizabeth Kate, nee Ellison, known as Kate, at the time he enlisted was living with his father at 96 Hotham St. East Melbourne. He was then one month off twenty-five years of age, single and working as a gardener. By religion, he belonged to the Church of England.
- 1820 reads
KERR, Alic Oscar
Alic Oscar Kerr was the son of Thomas Kerr (1862-1895) and his wife Hannah Ethlean, nee Millard(1870-1898). He also had a half brotherr, whom he named as next-of-kin, Kenneth Kerr (1897-1968). ALic was 23 and ten months old when he enlisted on 10 February, 1915. He was a clerk by occupation, but had also had twelve months serving with the Victorian Rifles.
- 1844 reads
KERR, Donald Wallace
Son of John and Ada (Ratcliff) Kerr. Born 1893 at Mornington. He was the fifth son in a family of eight sons and three daughters. The family moved to 12 Simpson Street, East Melbourne about 1900 which was to become their home for many years. Donald enlisted in Melbourne on 17 August 1914, just a few days after war was declared. He gave his next of k
- 3125 reads
KERR, George Ernest
In late 1914, two brothers enlisted for the war. The elder, George Ernest Kerr signed up on 29 September, 1914, and his younger brother, Hedley Vernon George Kitchin, on 19 October, 1914. They were the sons of John Henry Kitchin Kerr and his wife, Charlotte Gladstone Clarke. The parents also had a daughter, Claire Zoe Kitchin, and had divorced in about 1900.
- 1875 reads
KERR, George York
Son of John and Ada (Ratcliff) Kerr. He was the sixth son and ninth child in a family eight sons and three daughters. The family moved to 12 Simpson Street, East Melbourne about 1900 which was to become their home for many years. George enlisted in Melbourne on 26 February 1917. He gave his father, John, of 12 Simpson Street, East Melbourne, as his next of
- 2408 reads
KERR, Malcolm Edgar
Son of John and Ada (nee Ratcliff) Kerr. Born c. 1891 at Mornington. He was the fourth son in a family of eight sons and three daughters.
- 2520 reads
KERRIGAN, Robert Augustus
Robert Augustus Kerrigan was born in East Melbourne, Victoria, in May, 1874. His father, John Kerrigan (1834-1907) was then 40 years old, his mother, Mary, nee Kilgar/Kilgour (1842-1878) was then thirty two years old. Robert was one of nine children: William b.1861, Helena b.1866, Matthew b.1868, Mary-Anne b.1870, Patrick b.1972, Robert b.1874; Catherine b.
- 1733 reads
KIBBLEWHITE, Gilbert Francis
When Gilbert Kibblewhite arrived in Australia, he was removing himself from a disgrace and a marriage failed through violence.
- 1947 reads
KIERNAN, James
Little is known about the personal life of James Kiernan, other than that he was born in Wollongong, NSW, to Mrs. Catherine Tiernan and her husband, Patrick, who had been dead for six years before James enlisted for World War 1. James was a metal worker, 20 years and 8 months old, 5' 3" tall and married Elsie Toy Kiernan in 1916.
- 1669 reads
KIMBERLEY, Arthur Frederick
Arthur Frederick Kimberley was one of five children born to Frederick Theodore Kimberley and his wife Jessie, nee Bonney. He was born 20 June, 1885, at Devonport, Tasmania, and at the time of his enlistment in 1917 was a married man, working as a saddler and harness maker in Clifton Hill, Victoria.
- 1830 reads
KING, Agnes Wotherspoon
Agnes Wotherspoon King (1884-1942) was the second daughter and fourth child of Robert King (1843–1919) and his wife Frances (or ‘Fanny’, nee Craig) (1854–1926).
- 4482 reads
KING, Charles Trethowan
Killed in action 27 June 1915
- 1915 reads
KING, Gordon Alexander
Gordon Alexander King's story is a sad one. He was born in Warrnambool in 1896, the second son of Thomas King and his wife, Elizabeth Smith. He had an elder brother, John Peter King, who enlisted and was to die from Malaria in Cairo, Egypt, in 1918.
- 1705 reads
KING, Walter John Charles
Walter King spent only a small time before he enlisted at East Melbourne. He was born at Rushworth, Victoria, in 1895 and was the youngest of four children, the other three being girls. By the time he enlisted on 26 February, 1916, both parents were dead, and his eldest sister, Mrs. B Dower, was nominated as his next of kin.
- 2041 reads
KNIGHT, John
John Knight was the son of Ernest Knight and his wife, Madge (Margaret), nee Hughes. He enlisted in his home town, Perth, and his only connection with East Melbourne seems to have been his father, who lived in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. John Knight was 21 years and 11 months old, single, a labourer by occupation and Church of England by religion.
- 1832 reads
KNIGHT, Victor Ernest
Victor Ernest Knight was a printer by trade and was just under twenty years old when he enlisted. He had as his next of kin his mother, Margaret, living at 13 Edmund St., Northcote, but gave as his own address as the Salvation Army Federal Training College in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.
- 1886 reads
KNOWLES, John Valentine
Born in East Melbourne, John Valentine Knowles died of wounds 27 March 18, aged 25. He was buried at Outtersteine Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord pas de Calais, France. His Red Cross file tells the story, with Acting Corporal Smith 3458 recalling: At Dranoutse on 25th, he was wounded in the stomach by a shell. he was taken to C.C.S.2 as I was. He was next to me there.
- 2394 reads
LAMANDE, Henri Joseph
Henri Joseph Lamande was born in 1884 in Majorca, Victoria. He was the son of Ambroise Lamande and Kate, née Harrington.
- 2968 reads
LAMANDE, Leopold George
Leopold George Lamande was born in 1883 in Maryborough, Victoria. He was the son of Ambroise Lamande and Kate, née Harrington.
- 2904 reads
LANGFORD, Clarence Augustus
Clarence Langford was the son of James Langford and his wife Blanche, nee Pope. He was 23 when he signed up to join the Australian Imperial Force. He was 5' 8" tall, a little above average for the time, a salesman by occupation and a member of the Church of England.
- 1652 reads
LANGLEY, James
James Langley was forty when he volunteered for army service. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, an accountant, married, living with his wife Evelyn Ellen at 18 Jolimont Rd., East Melbourne. He enlisted at South Yarra on 18 June, 1917.
- 1781 reads
LAPPAN, Matthew
Matthew Lappin was born in Burnie Tasmania in May 1887. He enlisted on 20 July 1915, at the age of 28 years and 2 months. At the time, he gave as his address C% Mrs Emma Connors, 105 Victoria St., East Melbourne, perhaps a boarding house. He was, by occupation, a labourer, 5' 6" tall, an average height for the time, and by faith, a Roman Catholic.
- 1625 reads
LARKING, Rupert
Rupert Larking was a 29 year old Commercial Traveller from Albury when he enlisted on 27 November, 1915. Born in 1888, he was actually two years younger than his stated age and the eldest of four children of John G.
- 2065 reads
LARKINS, Brian Lockwood
Brian Lockwood Larkins was one of twins born on 27 March 1899 to Margaret and William Larkins. He was the twin of Frank Lockwood Larkins and had two other brothers, William, born 1902, and Noel, born 1907, He also had two sisters, Beryl and Alice (died 1909).
- 2113 reads
LATTIMORE, Victory Reginald
Victor Reginald Lattimore was born on 24 May 1897 in Jolimont, the exact address, however, is not known. He was the son of Arthur Lattimore (1868-1915) and Louisa Augusta, nee Pay (1866-1948). Arthur has been variously described as a traveller, dairy salesman and grocer.
- 2475 reads
LAVELL, George Charles
George Charles Lavall was, by occupation, a horsebreaker. Born in Bairnsdale, Victoria, he was 33 years and 6 months old when he enlisted, a married man, 5' 9 1/2 " tall, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was also identified by numerous scars on his arms, knees and abdomen, probably as a result of his occupation.
- 1831 reads
LAWRENCE, Percival Joseph
Percival Joseph Lawrence was born in Didmanton, Gloucester, England on 13 April 1892. He was the son of Joseph Lawrence. He arrived in Melbourne in November 1913 and settled in Bendigo.
- 2349 reads
LEAKE, Lancelot Luke
Lancelot Luke Leake was born in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1890. At 25 years old, he enlisted, giving as his next of kin his wife, Jean Winifred Leake. He was well educated and and had a position as a Judge's Associate. His address in East Melbourne - 'Belmont', Clarendon St.
- 2064 reads
LEARY, Joseph
Joseph Leary was aged 18 at enlistment, and working as a mechanic. His enlistment form is marked 'not to leave Australia until 19 years of age'. His next of kin and adoptive father was Thomas Henry Haig/Haigh, police constable, of 32 Jolimont Street, Jolimont.
- 2113 reads
LEE-ARCHER, Estelle Frances
Estelle Frances Lee-Archer (1879-1960) was born in Detention, Tasmania, the eleventh of fourteen children born to John Lee-Archer and his wife Mary Anne (nee Lyons).
- 6467 reads
LEE, Harold
Harold Lee was twenty-one years and five months when he enlisted at Melbourne on 7 July, 1915. He was a confectioner by trade and lived with his mother, Matilda Elizabeth Lee, a widowed dressmaker living at 9 Albert St., East Melbourne.
- 2027 reads
LEE, Roy Martin Corrington
Roy Martin Corrington Lee joined the AIF on 17 June, 1915. He was one of 11 children, six boys and five girls, born to Henry Lee (1867-1937) and his wife Eliza Catherine, nee Walsh (1865-1961). Roy Lee was then 25 years old, married, and working as a Motor or Coach Painter. He had been born in Ballarat, and gave as his next of kin his father, Henry Lee, of Warrnambool.
- 1939 reads
LEIGH, Allen Frederick
Alan Frederick Leigh was the son of William James Thomas Leigh, a baker by trade, and his wife, Elizabeth, nee Mclean. In 1916, when Alan enlisted at the age of eighteen, the family were living at 476 Albert St., East Melbourne, where Elizabeth ran a boarding house.
- 2065 reads
LEIHY, John Henry
John Henry Leihy was born in 1896 in East Melbourne, but the exact address in not known. He was the third son of Andrew Richard Leihy and Marion, née Eivers. Andrew was a French polisher and in 1916 was president of the Furniture Trade Union. He was also a member of the Total Abstinence Society and in 1920 was vice-president.
- 2802 reads
LEIHY, William
William Leihy was born in Fitzroy in 1888. He was the eldest of the five sons of Andrew Richard Leihy and his wife Marion, née Eivers. Andrew was a French polisher and in 1916 was president of the Furniture Trade Union. He was also a member of the Total Abstinence Society and in 1920 was vice-president. The family moved to 1209 Hoddle Street, East Melbourne in 1901.
- 2555 reads
LENNOX, Andrew
Andrew Lennox was 25 years and 11 months old when he enlisted in the AIF at East Melbourne. He had been born in Scotland and gave his next of kin as his sister Jenny Lennot, living at 11 Olm St., Pennycuik, Scotland.
- 2308 reads
LENZER, Simeon
Simeon Lenzer was born in Fitzroy on 4 May 1893. He was the son of Jacob Lenzer and his wife Bertha, formerly Zipporah Brocho Lescht. Jacob was minister of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, emigrating from Russia in 1889 especially to take up the position, and which position he kept until his death in 1921.
- 2534 reads
LEWIS, Louis
Louis Lewis's only connection to East Melbourne is his mother, cited as next-of-kin on his enlistment form and living at Canally, on the corner of Powlett and George Streets, East Melbourne. At the time of his enlistment, he was just off 24 years old and was working as a railway clerk.
- 1948 reads
LEWIS, Raymond
Raymond Lewis was a waiter, living in Albert St. East Melbourne when he enlisted on 23 July, 1917. He was a Tasmanian by birth, his father John Lewis living at 269 Murray St., Hobart, with his wife Sarah, nee O'Brien. They had at least four other children: William George (1891), John Francis (1894), Victoria Irene (1898) and Lilian Priscilla (1901).
- 1984 reads
LIDDY, Michael
Michael Liddy is somewhat of a man of mystery. He was born in Fallas Green, County Limerick, Ireland, probably in March 1885, as Michael Augustine O'Dwyer, but when he came to Australia or when and why he changed his name, is unknown. In 1916, when he enlisted, he was 31 years old and working as a Law Clerk with Mr. W. Murphy, solicitor, of 60 Queen St., Melbourne.
- 2051 reads
LINDSAY, Ina Isabel
Ina Isabel Lindsay was born in East Melbourne in 1887, but at the time she enlisted in 1916 she was lving with her mother at 'The Hutte' , Irving Avenue, Armadale, Victoria. She enlisted in Melbourne at the end of 1916, when she was 29 years old and embarked on HMAT Orsova A67 as a Staff Nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service.
- 2369 reads
LINDSAY, Robert Henry
Robert Lindsay enlisted for war service on 18 May, 1916. He was 34 years old when he joined the AIF, single and a miner at Cootamundra, NSW. He had grown up in East Melbourne, however, with his parents, Matthew and Frances Lindsay, still iving at 30 Gipps St.
- 3181 reads
LISSON, William Thomas
William Thomas Lisson first tried to enlist on 8 March, 1915. He would have been just over sixteen at the time, but claimed to be eighteen and to be working as a jeweller in Hobart, Tasmania. He was one of nine children born between 1878 and 1895 to Adam Claude Lisson and Caroline Gleeson Lisson, who lived at North Richmond, Tasmania.
- 2572 reads
LITTLEJOHN, Euan Ironside
Euan Ironside Littlejohn was born on 26 October 1892 in Nelson, New Zealand where his father William Still Littlejohn had been assistant master at Nelson College since his arrival from Scotland in 1881.
- 3179 reads
LIVINGSTON, David Frederick
1168 Corporal (Cpl) David Frederick (Fred) Livingston, 29th Battalion was from Larraville, NSW, but gave as his own abdress that of his wife's address, 144 Simpson St., East Melbourne, Victoria. A 38 year old grazier prior to enlisting on 5 November 1914, he embarked with the D Company from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915.
- 2043 reads
LLOYD, Franklin Samuel
Franklin Lloyd was 23 years old, 5 feet eleven inches and weighing twelve stone when he enlisted at Melbourne on 2 July, 1915. He was a gasfitter by trade, and gave as his next of kin his mother, Mrs. Emily Bailey, living at 93 High St., Northcote. He trained at the military camp in Queens Rd., Melbourne, before being sent overseas attached to the 12th battalion.
- 1973 reads