Our Projects

Completed Projects

  • Corporal Frederick Broughton

    Corporal Broughton was born on the 29 Dec 1896 in Melbourne. He enlisted in the AIF on the 12th February 1915 at Wodonga having lied about his age, and was originally posted as Batman to 4 Brigade HQ. He gave his occupation as a farm hand and his religion as Church of England.

    Frederick served on the Western Front with the 23rd Battalion 6th Light Trench Mortar Battery; spending most of his time close to the front line; enduring relentless barrages of enemy artillery fire.

  • Gunner Robert Henry (Snowy) Cannan

    Gunner Robert Henry Cannan was born 5th April 1882 at Serpentine, Victoria, to parents Robert Cannan and Jane Isles. He enlisted in the Victorian Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery (VR RAA) at Queenscliff on the 10th June 1901 for a term of five years. He then re - engaged during the years 1906-1912 with the RAA Queenscliff, and a further 15 years with the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery for a total service of 24 years and 292 days. Robert was married in 1908 to Elizabeth May Clarke. They had one child, a son, Robert Nelson Cannan born 1909.

    Gunner Cannan received the Long Service and Good Conduct medal for his military service at Fort Queenscliff on the 18th October 1919. He was Involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident at Drysdale on the 25th March 1926 and died from his injuries aged 43. He is buried at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery in the Military Section QCF-SECT- 1B-807-071.

    (Researcher Siranne Hose Gordon)

  • Gunner Charles Henry Clampett

    Gunner Charles Henry Clampett was born on the 3rd April 1874, possibly in Armidale NSW. He enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery (VPA) at Queenscliff on the 3rd February 1896. At the time, he gave his occupation as farmer, previously working in Ulverstone, Tasmania. His next of kin was listed as his mother Mrs Catherine Clampett, address unknown. He did not marry and had no children.

    Charles died at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne on 19th May 1898 aged 25 years. His body was conveyed to Queenscliff on the launch Mars, and was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-071

    (Researcher Phil Maxsted)

  • Sapper Thomas Harry Clements

    Sapper Thomas Harry Clements was born in Kent UK in 1885 the son of Nathaniel Michael Clements & Rachel Hughes. He enlisted in the 2nd Field Company Engineers on the 9th November 1914 and served in Egypt and possibly Gallipoli. At the time of his enlistment, he was living in Chapman Street, Seddon, (Footscray) with his wife Amelia and was employed as a bricklayer. His religion was given as Church of England.

    After serving in WW1, Harry returned to Australia on the “Ballarat” on the 5th of July 1915. He was discharged on 24 Jan 1916 when he became a member of the State Parliamentary Recruiting Committee. Travelling and speaking throughout Victoria, Harry was reported in various newspapers over that period as being one of the ANZACs. He later served as a Recruiting Sergeant and died on the 3rd May 1960 aged 75. He is buried at the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-1C-807-036.

     (Researcher Karen Sherwell)

  • Gunner William Addison Crymble

    Gunner William Addison Crymble, known as Addison, was born in 1860 in the East Indies (modern day Borneo). His father was a Lieutenant in the 64th Regiment of Foot in Sarawak. His father died in 1862 and his mother took young Addison back to the UK. At some stage he emigrated to Victoria. Addison enlisted as a Gunner in the Victorian Permanent Artillery at Queenscliff on the 1st July 1887.

    After overstaying his leave in Melbourne, Gunner Crymble was listed as a deserter from the VPA on the 23rd January 1890 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He surrendered to the military authorities on the 25th March 1890 and was returned to Fort Queenscliff.

    He died later that year on the 10th November 1890 and was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-120A

    (Researcher John Larsen)

  • Sergeant Anthony Richard Oscar Ford

    Description Sergeant Anthony Richard Oscar Ford was born in Middlesex UK 15th Oct 1868 and enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery at Queenscliff on the 17th October 1889. He re-enlisted a number of times and served for over forty years. Prior to his first enlistment, he had been a seaman and cabinet maker. His later enlistments had his occupation as (army) cook at Swan Island. His first next of kin was his mother, Mrs Ellen Ford, but by his 1894 re-enlistment, he listed his first wife Mrs Mary Jane Ford. They had four children before Mary died in 1909. Anthony remarried in 1910 to Catherine “Kate” D’Allain before he discharged in May that year. He received both a Good Conduct and Long Service Medal. Re-enlisting in 1911 with RAGA he served at Fort Queenscliff until 1921, receiving a Meritorious Medal as Lance Sergeant of the Officers Mess. Tragically his second wife Kate passed away in Jan1915 and Anthony was to marry his third wife Hilda Greenwood later that year. He died in Geelong on the 24th May 1930 aged 61 and is buried at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-4A-807-194.

    (Researcher Karen Sherwell)

  • Gunner George Harding

    Gunner George Harding was born in 1828 in Buckinghamshire, and with along with his wife Sarah, emigrated to Australia, arriving in Geelong in November 1857. His occupation was listed as carpenter.

    He was a member of the Victorian Volunteer Artillery, 2nd Geelong Corps, Queenscliff Detachment from 1863 to 1865 and again from 1871to 1872. At the time he was living in Queenscliff. The Volunteers served on a part time basis without pay and were tasked with manning the battery on Shortland’s Bluff – the site of the current Fort Queenscliff.

    He died on the 15th September 1890 at the age of 62, and was buried in the military section of the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-122

    (Researcher Robyn Machin)

  • Gunner John Lanigan

    Gunner John Lanigan was born on the 13th August 1865 in Tipperary, Ireland. It is not known when he came to Australia. His father was Patrick Lanigan of the same location.

    He enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery on the 17th December 1888. At the time his occupation was given as a labourer and his religion as Roman Catholic.

    John Lanigan served at Fort Queenscliff for a period of five years from 1888 until 1893. He was to die on 19th May 1893 at the military hospital on site and was interred at the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. So little was known about him following his death, the only details being his father Patrick’s name. Nothing about his next of kin, marriage or family, or the length of time he lived in Australia. Following his death the Victorian Government Gazette published his final Estate valued at £13 s14 d1. He was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-138

    (Research by Siranne Hose Gordon)

  • Private Ernest McAfee

    Private Ernest McAfee was born at Fountain Place, Ballymena, Ireland on 12 Sept 1880, to parents Charles John McAfee and Margaret Jane Courtenay. The family arrived in Melbourne aboard the RMS Garonne of the Orient Line on 16 Oct 1886 along with Ernest’s younger sister Ruth. He was six years of age, and she was two. Ernest’s mother tragically died in 1899 at the age of 44. Ernest’s father remarried in 1913, but was found drowned in the Yarra River, Melbourne, one week later.

  • Warrant Officer Thomas McDonall

    Warrant Officer Thomas McDonall was born in Richmond, Victoria, in 1865 the only son of Alex McDonall, of Sydney and the late Anita McDonall of St Kilda. He enlisted in 1890 in the Victorian (Colonial) Engineers, later the Royal Australian Engineers, at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. He was later posted to the RAE at Swan Island completing 23 years’ service. It is not known what his previous occupation was, nor his religion. Married to Edith they had four children, Charles, William, Florrie and Leonard.

    He is noted as a Stage manager and actor of the VPE dramatic club 1892,1893,1894. He attended the Commonwealth Celebration in Sydney 1901. He was promoted L/Cpl in 1901. Cpl 1902. Sergeant in 1907 and Company Sergeant Major in 1909. In 1910 he was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He served as the Swan Island SM storekeeper 1906 (Victorian Specialist Role) and Engineer Storekeeper 1912.

    He died on the 20th December 1913 aged 48 at the military hospital in Queenscliff while still serving. He was afforded a Military Funeral and was buried in the Queenscliff Cemetery QCF-SECT-1B-807-87

    (Researcher Evan Donohue)

  • Gunner Michael McNamara

    Gunner Michael McNamara was born in Limerick, Ireland, on the 27th August 1857. He emigrated to Victoria in late 1890 and almost immediately enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery on the 6th January 1891. He listed his brother Patrick, also of Limerick, as his next of kin and his religion as Roman Catholic. He served in the VPA until his death on the 24th April 1902 aged 44yrs. His death certificate states that he had been unwell for two months. He made his will out on the day before his death, and gave what little money that he had to the Queenscliff Catholic Church. He appears to have died a single man, with no living relatives in Victoria. He was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-103

    (Researcher Karen Sherwell)

  • Dr Thomas Dawson Moore

    Dr Thomas Moore was the Corps Surgeon for the Victorian Permanent Artillery at Fort Queenscliff during the late 1880s. He was born in Ireland in May 1856 and after medical training at Trinity College in Dublin, he emigrated to Australia. He was registered to practice medicine in Victoria in July 1886. The following May, he was appointed the Health Officer for the Borough of Queenscliff. He died suddenly on the 30th December 1888 at the age of 32. He was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-170.

    (Researcher Siranne Hose Gordon)

  • Lieutenant Albert Henry Otter

    Albert Henry Otter was born around 1840, in Green Ponds near Hobart, Tasmania. He was the second son of the Rev. George Otter and Mary Anne Wedge, both from England. In August 1850, Rev. Otter, Mary and their young family sailed to Geelong on the “Flying Fish”. There are various reports of the Otter family living in Geelong around this time.

    Rev. George Otter was back in the UK by Aug 1854 with his family; Albert started his Royal Naval career in 1855 and served in the Royal Navy until 1866 when he was court-martialed. Ten years later, in 1876, Albert started again with the Royal Navy and became a Master. Another ten years passed and Albert was back in Victoria, possibly arriving via the Royal Navy. He was placed on the unattached list of the Victorian Naval Forces as a Lieutenant in May 1885 and again in December 1886. There is a record of ‘Albert H. Otter’ in Carlton at this time as the Secretary of the “Lying in Hospital”.

    Albert never married; he died in Queenscliff at the home of his brother Alfred Emanuel Otter on 25 Sept 1887 aged 47. At the time his brother Alfred was a Captain with the Victorian Permanent Artillery, stationed at Fort Queenscliff (and later went on to Command the 5th Mounted Rifles in South Africa during the Boer War). It was Alfred who purchased the plot where his brother Albert was buried. The plot was to become one of the first graves within the Artillery Section for Fort Queenscliff at the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-1B-807-167.

    (Researcher Karen Sherwel)

  • Sapper Joseph James Page

    Sapper Joseph Page was born in Manchester, England, on 12 May 1872. It is not known when he first came to Australia with his family, but in later years he is recorded as a sailor who made the UK-Australian trip a number of times. His duties includeed sail trimmer and fireman.

    He enlisted at Queenscliff VIC in 1906 and gave his occupation as Sapper RAE which suggests previous service and possibly a re-enlistment. His religion was Church of England. In 1908 Joseph married his first wife, Maggie Arkins, who died in 1917. He was remarried the following year to Jane Howell. They were living in Mercer Street, Queenscliff.

    Joseph served with the 2nd Submarine Mining Company Royal Australian Engineers at Port Phillip Fixed Defences at Queenscliff and Swan Island. He was still serving in the RAE when he died at his residence in Queenscliff on the 10th May 1922. His wife, Jane Page, died four years later in 1926 at Heidelberg at the age of 39. He was the beloved son of Joseph John and Hannah Page and he is buried together with his second wife Jane Page nee Howell at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1A-807-126.

    (Researcher Robyn Machin)

  • Sergeant Percy Edward Aitken Pitts

    Sergeant Pitts was born on the 28th January 1881 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand to parents Thomas Pitts and Margaret Aitken. He was one of four children, who resided in New Zealand with his family before moving to Sydney NSW in 1885. His father Thomas unfortunately died of consumption aged only 31 years in 1887. After living in NSW with her children for some years, Percy’s mother Margaret returned to New Zealand in the later part of the1890’s where she was employed as a mantle maker for many years.

    In 1899 aged 18, Percy travelled from his home in New Zealand to Scotland where he enlisted with the Royal Engineers in Edinburgh in 1900. He remained in continual permanent service with postings in the UK and Singapore before migrating to Australia to complete the remainder of his military career. Firstly, in N.S.W from the period 1910 through to 1912, before transferring to the 3rd Military District and Queenscliff, where he enlisted as Corporal in the RAE. During his 12-year enlistment period at Fort Queenscliff Sergeant Pitts was the Engineer of the S.S. Miner and President of the Local Queenscliff A.N.A branch.

    Percy married Sylvia May Whiting on 27th May 1914 in Fitzroy, Victoria. She lived on Swan Island at the time and was the daughter of Alfred Whiting & Margaret Jane Gray. They had four children, George, Sylvia, Ernest and Ivy. On the 4th August 1924, following emergency surgery at Geelong Hospital, Sergeant Pitts unfortunately passed away aged 43 years and was interred in the Military Section, Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-1B-807-072.

     (Researcher Siranne Hose Gordon)

  • Sergeant Nicholas Rodakis

    Nicholas Rodakis was born in Athens on the 26th of January 1879. From a young age he worked in Europe as a Seaman on various ships. He had British Citizenship when he landed in Sydney, Australia, on the 3rd of July 1902.

    Nicholas decided to enlist in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) in February 1916, at the age of 36, even though this was quite an advanced age for enlistment. In June 1916, he landed in England before being sent to France to fight with the Australian Imperial Forces together with his brother in-law. Both had enlisted together in Warrnambool.

  • Corporal Arthur Russell Shea

    Corporal Arthur Russell Shea was born on 7th Aug 1878. His parents were William and Margaret Shea. Margaret’s maiden name was Lee.

    Before joining the Army, he was employed at the Grenfell Record and the Lachlan Advertiser newspapers in NSW. He initially enlisted in the Royal Australian Artillery in Sydney before being posted to Fort Queenscliff in April 1907.

    He died at Fort Queenscliff on the 27th July 1908 aged 29. His parents having predeceased him, he only had an uncle and aunt left with a younger brother Hubert who was later killed in action in France in 1917.

    Arthur was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-102

    (Researcher Evan Donohue)

  • Bombardier George Betram Stowell

    Bombardier George Stowell was born on the 12th December 1855. It is not known when he arrived in Australia or where he grew up. His brother, A. Stowell of Oxford England, was listed as his next of kin. George’s religion was listed as Roman Catholic. It is not known what his occupation was prior to joining the military.

    On the 4th June 1891, he enlisted in the Victorian Permanent Artillery at Fort Queenscliff. He was promoted Acting Bombardier the following February. During his service in the Victorian Permanent Artillery he qualified a number of times in gunnery and was allowed to wear the crossed guns badge. He is also recorded for his marksmanship in the Mercury and Weekly Courier 1892.

    On the 1st March 1897 aged 41, he died suddenly whilst serving at the Fort. He was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-1B-807-137.

    (Researcher Joe Murphy)

  • Gunner William Joseph Bernard Tootell

    Gunner Tootell was born on the 12th September 1882 in Ballarat East. His parents were William and Allette (nee Phillips). William was the second oldest of six children. He lived with his family in Beverin Street, Sebastapol, Ballarat.

    He enlisted in the Victorian Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, at Queenscliff on the 28th September 1901. At the time, he gave his occupation as a grocer, his religion as Church of England and his father was listed as his next of kin.

    He was a Gunner based at Fort Queenscliff and in 1903 was in the football team that won the Army Challenge Cup. He died at aged 23 in the military hospital at Fort Queenscliff on the 13th December 1905. He was buried in the military section at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery. QCF-SECT-1B-807-102

    (Researchers Alan and Maria Sandbach)

  • Private Vernon Valentine Vaughan

    Private Vaughan was born in South Yarra, Melbourne, on the 12th Oct 1887 and died, aged 77 on the 12th Nov 1964 at Geelong. Vernon was keen to enlist on the 17th Feb 1916 at Royal Park and was posted to the Australian Army Medical Corp (AAMC) at Seymour. Unfortunately he was discharged for being medically unfit on 10th Aug 1916.

    At the time of his first enlistment, he was listed as a Cashier living at “Torrington” Dandenong Road, Murrumbeena. His next of kin was his father Frank Vaughn of the same address. His religion was given as Church of England.

    He subsequently re-enlisted as N95913 on the 17th August 1918 in Sydney and was again posted to the Australian Army Medical Corps. His address at the time was given as the Civic Club, Sydney NSW. Sadly he was to be discharged again as medically unfit on the 19th Nov 1918. His ailments were numerous.

    He married Lois Maude Croxford in 1919 but the marriage did not last and there were no children. Lois was born in 1892 and died in Prospect, South Australia in 1947. Vernon died, aged 77, on the 12th Nov 1964 at Geelong and is buried at the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-1C-807-107.

    (Researchers Crenagh Kelly & Evan Donohue)

  • Sergeant Harold Henry William Warrener

    Sergeant Harold Henry William Warrener was born in Yorkshire UK in 1875. He migrated to Australia with his family in 1884. It is not clear when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, (RAGA) but at the time he was living in Queenscliff. During the course of his time with the RAGA, he undertook a number of courses and promotions, eventually rising to the rank of Sergeant. There were subsequent postings to Thursday Island in 1908-09. By 1910, he was living in Gellibrand Street, Queenscliff with his wife Annie whom he had married in 1905. He remained there until his death in the Fort Queenscliff military hospital in 1933 aged 58. He is buried at Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Cemetery QCF-SECT-4A-807-027.

    (Researcher Robyn Machin)

Ongoing Projects

  • Private William Charles Dunk

    William Charles Dunk was born at Port Albert in South Gippsland on the 18th October 1879 and died on the 8th July 1949.

    Prior to enlisting in the AIF, William also served in the Royal Navy on-board “HMS Katoomba” (formerly HMS Pandora, a Pearl-class cruiser launched on 27 August 1889 and originally built for the Royal Navy). Imperial Navy (Australia) 3yrs - Victorian Navy. Australian Navy 2yrs 1903 – 1906.

    William Dunk enlisted in 1916 and was wounded in 1917 during 22nd Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second). In September 1917, he rejoined the battalion and was wounded again in the line at Westhoek Ridge, Belgium. Private Dunk earned 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.