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.
DOCTER, Alfred William
Alfred William Docter and his brother, Thomas Cancel Doctor, were the sons of Thomas Docter, a dairyman, and his wife Alice, of 187 Edward St., Brunswick. Alfred was a driver by trade, while Thomas was a currier. Both died as a resut of war, but in very different circumstances.
- 3759 reads
DONALDSON, Alexander
The son of John Donaldson and Elizabeth, nee Lever, Alexander Donaldson was born on 6 September, 1873, at Diamond Creek Victoria. He had one sibling, his sister Annetta, b. 1971. By 1917, when he enlisted, he was a factory manager, married to Gertrude, and living at 112 Grey Street, East Melbourne. They appear to have had no children.
- 3459 reads
DONNAN, James
James Donnan enlisted on 15 July, 1915. It is a significant date, because it follows on from the assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula. James Donnan would have read the news and seen the casualty lists and therefore had full knowledge of his possible fate.
- 4223 reads
DOUGHARTY, Douglas Hamilton
Douglas was born in East Melbourne on 5th May, 1889, the youngest son and child of George Hamilton Dougharty and Catherine (Kate) Grey Dougharty (nee Innes). Douglas had 2 older brothers and 5 sisters, some of whom were also involved directly with WWI.(see later notes) His father George, was of Scottish origin, a cousin of the tenth Duke of Hamilton and last Earl of Coventry.
- 4224 reads
DOUGLAS, Alexander
Alexander Douglas was born in 1883 at Junee NSW, the son of Samuel and Ruth Douglas. In 1912, at the age of 29, he married Margaret Emma Connolly (1884-1949) in Newcastle, NSW. They had two daughters, Yvonne Marguerite, known as Bonnie, on 25 September, 1915, at Essendon, Victoria, followed two years later in 1917 by Marie Alexandra.
- 3455 reads
DOUGLAS, Arthur
Arthur Douglas was 41 years old when he enlisted. He was a married man and named as his next of kin his wife, Maria Ethel, known as Maud. He was born in Glasgow in 1876, but in 1917 when he enlisted, was at 40 Albert St., East Melbourne and then at 453 George St., Fitzroy. He was 5' 9" in height, with blue eyes and brown hair and a tattoo on his left arm.
- 3745 reads
DOW, Wilson
Born East Melbourne on the 10 May 1895. Was living in Williamstown with his father in 1915 and was an apprectice Engineer with W Jackson, Nelson Place Williamstown.
Enlisted in the AIF on the 12 July 1915 Allocated to the 5th Battalion. Wilson was 20 years old, a small man of 5'6'' weighing 9 stone.
- 3817 reads
DOWER, Leslie Hubert
No connection with East Melbourne. Mother lived as boarder in East Melbourne in 1916.
- 3342 reads
DOWKER, Robert
No connection with East Melbourne. Widower with small daughter in foster care in Jolimont
- 3645 reads
DOWNIE, William
William Downie was born in Kensington Victoria, but at the time of his enlistment was at 57 Angus St., Jolimont, Victoria. He was a married man, 27 years old, with fair hair and blue eyes, Presbyterian by religion, and working as a salesman. He enlisted early and was placed in D Section of the 4th Field Ambulance.
- 2985 reads
DOWNING, Robert Clifford
Robert Downing was 27 years old and working as a Commercial Traveller when he enlisted 3 April, 1917. he was at the time living with his widowed mother, Mary Ellen Downing, at 128 Albert Street, East Melbourne. She would later move to 49 Victoria Street, and in 1919, they were living at Glensborough, 48 Wellington Parade.
- 3859 reads
DOWNING, William Hooper
Robert Hooper Downing was one of two children born to Robert James Downing and his wife, Mary Ellen, nee Scown. BY 1914, Mary Ellen was a widow, living with her two sons at 10 Grey Street, East Melbourne. Her elder son, , Robert Clifford Downing, born 1889, enlisted for the war on 29 October, 1917. By then Robert Downing had been serving in France for over a year.
- 3714 reads
DRUMMOND, Walter
Walter Drummond was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland around 1884 to James and Janet Drummond nee Strang. He married Martha Jane Mason of Richmond in 1916. Water was working as a motor mechanic, aged 32 years, when he enlisted on 18 April 1916 having been transferred to the Australian Army Service Corps prior to embarkation on the HMAT Persic A34 from Melbourne on 3 June, 1916.
- 3680 reads
DU BOIS, Edmond
Edmond Du Bois was the son of Rene Du Bois of 99 Hotham St., East Melbourne. He was just over 22 when he enlisted, a signwriter by trade and with some military experience through having served two and a half years in the Cadets.
- 3603 reads
DUFFY, Charles Allan Gavan
Charles Allan Gavan Duffy was the son of Charles Gavan Duffy, clerk of the Senate in the Australian Federal Parliament, then held in Melbourne, and his wife Ella.
- 4023 reads
DUGGAN, Henry James
Henry James Duggan was a tram conductor by trade, married to Sarah and living in Commercial Rd, South Yarra, when he enlisted on 1 December, 1915. He was then a month off 26 years old. He was sent to Castlemaine for training and then to Broadmeadows, where he was made an Acting Corporal with the 15th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion, with his enlistment number 4791.
- 3827 reads
DUNCAN, Norman Sinclair
Norman Sinclair Duncan was twenty years and six months when he joned u, with his father's permission, to serve in the AIF. He was an early recruit, signing up almost immediately war was declared, on 19 August, 1914, and receiving the number 655. he was single, of no trade or calling, but had has three years training with the Cadets prior to enlisting.
- 3616 reads
DUNKLING, George Joseph
George Dunkling was a watchmaker, aged 38, when he enlisted on 13 April, 1918. He was married (1908) to Elizabeth, nee Bruce, in Sydney and they had one child, Nancy - later Mrs. L. Brennan.
- 6112 reads
DUNLOP, Archibald John
Archibald was born in June 1888 at Goorambat in Victoria.
He enlisted at Melbourne on the 17 December 1915 and was allocated to the 4th Light Horse Regiment 26th Reinforcements. He was 27 years old. 5'11'' working as a labourer and married to Mary Dunlop.
- 3417 reads
DUNNING, Charles Hamilton
Charles Dunning was born at Liverpool England in November 1891.
He enlisted in the AIF on the 20 August 1914 at Albert Park Melbourne Vic. He lists himself as a Law Clerk, 23 years old and single. He is a small man 5'' 3' tall and weighing just 9 stone. He was living at 104 Powlett street in East Melbourne Victoria on enlistment.
- 3404 reads