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10 ESSENTIAL EXPERT TIPS: HOW TO DECODE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
unique resources to unlock your ancestors’ past
Must-read The 19th-century portraits that sparked an international search for descendants
Who Do You Think You Are?
Richard Roxburgh, Paul McDermott and Lisa McCune discover their ancestry
Exclusive
9 771838 504008
Printed on responsibly sourced paper
JUL–AUG 2014 $9.95 NZ$10.95
ISSN 1838-5044
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What really killed
CHARLES DARWIN? How his family history helped solve the mystery
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Contents ISSUE 23, JULY-AUGUST 2014
On the cover
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What’s new online? 78 resources that will help your family research, including recent newspaper releases
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The origin of Darwin’s mystery illness What killed Charles Darwin? A Melbourne pathologist has unlocked the vital clues
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10 tips for decoding family portraits Learn how to discover more about your photograph collection with our resident expert, Jayne Shrimpton
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Who Do You Think You Are? Back for its sixth season, the hit genealogy show features eight celebrities ready to discover their ancestors. We chat with stars Paul McDermott and Lisa McCune about their experiences
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Snapshots of strangers Rescued from a rubbish tip by a good Samaritan, a collection of beautiful 19th-century photographs in mint condition now need a home. We lead the search to find the descendants of those in the portraits
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Inside History | Jul-Aug 2014 |
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Contents your family 28
Records from the front A new website by the National Archives of Australia is proving to be a treasure trove of details on World War One diggers
your history
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We remember them In our final feature on the Myall Creek massacre, Mark Tedeschi re-examines the two murder trials that divided the colony
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Somewhere in Palestine How waiting for news from home provided one more challenge for our diggers
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Through their eyes A new documentary drama from the ABC looks at how the Great War changed Australia
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Ask our experts Shauna Hicks helps an Inside History reader discover more about a family fatality in regional New South Wales in the 1850s
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History now Great events you won’t want to miss
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History apps The latest apps built for historians
regulars 6
Editor’s letter
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On the book shelf What we’re reading right now
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Postie’s here! Your thoughts, your say
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One picture…1,000 memories The story behind one reader’s precious family photograph
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Bob’s your uncle Network with other researchers
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A cup of tea with… Clare Wright The award-winning author of The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka discusses the role of women in the epic battle
travel
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Golden daze Melissa Rimac takes a winter road trip from Bathurst to Central Tilba looking for gold
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special offer 70
Win 1 of 3 book packs worth $822 each! Subscribe or renew to enter the draw
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our family
PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia EDITOR Cassie Mercer cass@insidehistory.com.au ART DIRECTOR Lucy Glover lucy@insidehistory.com.au EDITORIAL ASSISTANT AND FEATURES WRITER Sarah Trevor sarah@insidehistory.com.au EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Paula Grunseit Barbara Hall Shauna Hicks Graeme O’Neill Melissa Rimac Jayne Shrimpton Mark Tedeschi INTERN Claire Paterson PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS See page 71 or subscribe online at www.insidehistory.com.au DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS For iPad, find us on Apple Newsstand For Android and PC, find us at zinio.com
COVER IMAGE
This famous watercolour portrait depicts a young Charles Darwin sometime after he returned from the life-changing voyage aboard the Beagle. Painted by George Richmond, c.1835–1840. To read our exclusive story on the mystery illness that plagued Charles Darwin throughout his life, turn to page 30.
WARNING Readers should be aware that this magazine contains content that may be distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware that this magazine contains names and images of people who have passed away.
Inside History (ISSN 1838–5044) is published six times a year by Inside History (ABN 13 353 848 961) PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia. Views expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright 2014 by Cassie Mercer and Inside History. All rights reserved.
DISTRIBUTED BY Gordon and Gotch Australia PRINTED BY Ligare Pty Ltd 138 Bonds Road Riverwood NSW 2210
Inside History | Jul-Aug 2014 |
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editor’s letter
We had an overwhelming response to our first instalment in issue 22 on the Myall Creek massacre . Many of you wrote in or posted comments on our Facebook page about how interesting and well-written Mark Tedeschi’s story was, and how important it is that tragic events such as the massacre in 1838 are remembered. This issue Mark looks at the two murder trials of the perpetrators that captured the attention of the colony, and the vitriol that surrounded their execution. Read Mark’s interpretation of the case on page 46. Our cover story on Charles Darwin is ground-breaking as well. Has a Melbourne pathologist achieved what has baffled medical researchers for a century and discovered the true origin of Charles Darwin’s mysterious life-long illness — by examining his family history no less? Read more on page 30. I also love Jayne Shrimpton’s informative guide to decoding your family photographs . Jayne offers her top 10 tips for discovering more about historical images on page 34. And when a collection of beautiful 19th-century cartes de visite were sent to our office last month, looking for a home, we knew we had to help. What Sarah Trevor discovered is a story that spans from Ireland to England, Malta to New Zealand, British India — and then to a rubbish heap in Brisbane! Read more on page 60 about these portraits, the family depicted in them, and how you can help us find their descendants . We also know what we’re doing every Tuesday night from 8 July — watching the latest series of Who Do You Think You Are? on SBS! Eight celebrities discover their ancestry and we can’t wait to go along for the ride. On page 41 I speak with comedian Paul McDermott and actor Lisa McCune on what they discovered about their families. Plus we feature 78 of the latest online records that will help you with your genealogy research — turn to page 26 to see what’s recently been digitised. All this and much more! Happy reading,
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Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID HH84.461/424.
Each time we send an issue to press, I think, “This is our best issue so far.” And issue 23 is no different! My favourite story? I can’t decide between the final instalment of Mark Tedeschi’s re-examination of the Myall Creek massacre, or our exclusive research on Charles Darwin’s mystery illness.
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2,340 PAGES
letters
Postie’s here!
Share your thoughts with the Inside History team.
ON QUALITY, COURAGE AND RISK
I have just this second finished reading an article in issue 22 of Inside History by Mark Tedeschi about the Myall Creek massacre (“Justice evaded, justice denied”). And I just canʼt wait to get my hands on part two. I realise that this type of quality is not readily come-by, but please consider more of this type of articles. I would like to see similar such ʻrisquéʼ topics explored involving Australia and World War One — but it would require quite a degree of risk-taking on the part of the editor to publish them! — David Martin, Bardwell Park, NSW
SWEPT UNDER HISTORY’S CARPET
The article about the Myall Creek massacre (“Justice evaded, justice denied”) is brilliant — it has helped me get a better understanding of the real story that seems to have been swept under history’s carpet. There is another similar event that I would like to know the truth about and that is the Bluff Rock massacre near Tenterfield, New South Wales, in 1844. — Julie Watt, via Facebook
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ENTHRALLED YET SADDENED
I read the article (“Lost boys of Point Puer”, issue 22) and was enthralled with this story! I wonder how many (of the boys) survived to tell their story. How very sad to have treated children this way, but that is how it was I suppose. — Janice Brewer, via Facebook
A SPOT OF TEA
Got my copy of issue 22 two days ago, and read it that night. Great read — especially loved the Ebenezer church article (“Exploring Australia’s oldest church”). I’ve been there a few times and they have the best Devonshire tea. — Leane Lawrence, via Facebook
AN INSIDE HISTORY ANNIVERSARY
After buying your magazine for nearly 12 months, I now have a digital subscription to Inside History for one year. I always look forward to reading it. A wonderful magazine, especially the digital copy. — Ruth Bannerman, via Facebook
LINKING UP AND SPREADING THE WORD
So excited, I have the latest Inside History. I have been spreading the word about this interesting magazine and am loving looking at all the handy links which are helping me with my family history. — Debbie Ross, via Facebook
Want to have your say on “Postieʼs here” ? Write to us at contribute@insidehistory.com.au Each issue our star letter will receive a prize for writing in! This issue, David Martin wins a copy of And the Band Played On by Robert Holden (Hardie Grant Books, $29.95).
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AN ILLUMINATING READ
One of the best issues ever. The Myall Creek massacre article (“Justice evaded, justice denied”) was very illuminating and well-written. — Annette Rees, via Facebook
Image Courtesy State Library of NSW.
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your family
Bob’s your uncle Are you looking to connect with other descendants or historians? Each issue we’ll feature who and what people are researching.
Image Douglas Stewart Fine Books, www.douglasstewart.com.au
SEEKING JOHN (JACK) SMITH
I am trying to trace any descendants of John (Jack) Smith who was the second cousin of my father William Harry Smith. John emigrated to Australia after World War Two, probably during the late 1940s or early 1950s. He was born in 1920 and baptised on 10 October 1920 at St Peterʼs Church, Boxworth, Cambridgeshire, in the United Kingdom. His parents were Edward and Martha Alice (nee Ding) Smith and he had two sisters: Evelyn Mary, who was born in 1914, and Daisy who was born in 1924. I would like to hear from anyone with information. — Kathleen Saville, kathleensaville@btinternet.com
BATTLE OF ARRAS SOLDIERS
In preparation for a special World War One exhibition, the Wellington Quarry Museum in France is seeking photographs of soldiers who took part in the Battle of Arras in 1917. In 2017, during the centenary of the battle, these photographs will be on display in not only the Wellington Quarry Museum but also
throughout the streets and public squares of the city of Arras. The aim is for current inhabitants to encounter the faces of the soldiers who lived in the town for three years. In addition, the Museum would like to learn the stories of these soldiers from archives, letters, or even their descendants. Dawn Service will be held in Arras on 9 April 2017 and descendants are welcome to attend. — Isabelle Pilarowski, Manager of the Wellington Quarry, carrierewellington@gmail.com
AN AVUNCULAR QUEST
Iʼm searching for information regarding or relations of Walter Andrew Bartlett. He was born around 1930 in Sydney, New South Wales, to unmarried older parents, Catherine Bartlett and Walter Leiper. Walter Bartlett was named in the will of Walter Leiper. Iʼd like to make contact with my great, great uncle Walter Bartlett or any of his descendants. — Kathy Thompson, kmthomster@gmail.com
Lots of researchers are linking up and knocking down their research brick walls via “Bob’s your uncle”. To place an ad, email contribute@insidehistory.com.au. Adverts are free!
Inside History | Jul-Aug 2014 |
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Latest news
The new Australian Female Convict Database
from the history and genie world
The Australian Female Convict Database, launched earlier this year, is an ambitious project aiming to collate biographical information about all convict women in the Australian colonies between 1788 and 1868. Fully-referenced and user-contributed, the database is a work in progress. Creators Kim Aubrey and Kristy Jenner of KK Genealogy hope that the genealogical community will become involved in the project. The database, and the information it contains, is not for profit. “We believe that information on our founding women should be freely available to all to increase the knowledge and interest of future generations,” Kim says. In addition to cataloguing biographical information about individual female convicts, the Australian Female Convict Database also contains a research guide section with a range of primary and secondary sources available for download, including scholarly works, cemetery indexes, convict poetry and more. Browse the alphabetical menu of names to see if any convict women you may have researched appear in the database and, if not, share your research by simply filling out the submission form on the site. MORE kkgenealogy.com/afcd
Investigating the legacy of Indigenous diggers The first comprehensive historical study of Indigenous Australians’ long under-recognised defence service is currently underway in a new project called Serving Our Country. Surveying Indigenous Australians’ service in campaigns from the Boer War to 2000, this project aims to document the contributions and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers, nurses, peacekeepers, ancillary staff and their families. Led by Professor Mick Dodson, Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Serving our Country will draw on military records as well as oral and video histories. Throughout 2014 and 2015, Serving our Country researchers will conduct Community Yarn Ups all around Australia to meet with Indigenous service members and their families. The researchers are also hoping to collect letters, diaries, photographs and other memorabilia relating to the thousands of Indigenous people who have completed military service. MORE ourmobserved.com
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Private Miller Mack, 50th Battalion, c.1916. While serving on the Western Front, Mack contracted bronchial pneumonia in 1917. He died of it two years later, in Adelaide. Courtesy Australian War Memorial, ID P10608.10.
More than 2,000 Australian and 500 New Zealand nurses served overseas in World War One. To honour their legacy, nursing historians are organising a unique, not-for-profit commemorative voyage tracing Anzac nurses’ contribution to the Gallipoli campaign. Departing from Athens in September 2015, this eight-day tour of the Aegean will visit major Allied landing sites, the island of Lemnos, the site of the ill-fated Marquette shipwreck, and other historic places of interest before concluding in Istanbul. The keynote speaker is Christine Hallett, Professor of Nursing History at the University of Manchester. Anyone with an interest in Anzac nursing is welcome to join. MORE http://bit.ly/1moV5UV
Commemorative voyage of Anzac Nursing Sisters
New Zealand nurses pictured on their voyage aboard the Rotorua, 16 May 1915. Photographer unknown. Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library, New Zealand, ID PAColl-0321-001.
One-stop shop for Northern Irish civil records In exciting news for family historians with Northern Irish ancestry, the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) now allows you to search, purchase and view essential records online on a ‘one-stop shop’ platform. After registering, simply buy credits to view birth, death, marriage and even World War Two registrations. MORE nidirect.gov.uk/family-history
Volunteer virtually on WA’s projects
Carnamah Historical Society and Museum, along with the State Library of Western Australia, is seeking ‘Virtual Volunteers’ to help transcribe and index a range of records, including the WA Biographical Index files. Pitch in to help make Western Australian records more searchable. MORE virtualvolunteering.com.au Inside History | Jul-Aug 2014 |
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what’s on
Above A ‘casual’ garden party, c.1900. Some men appear to be wearing cricket whites, perhaps in preparation for a game on the lawn. Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID 2013.7/81.
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History now
The best events across Australia & New Zealand COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY SARAH TREVOR
National Family History Month
August can only mean one thing for family historians around Australia: National Family History Month is back! Bigger and better than ever this year, this month-long family history extravaganza kicks off with a bang. Jill Ball of the GeniAus blog (and several much-loved Inside History columns) will hold a Google Hangout on 1 August to discuss plans for National Family History Month. Throughout August, an exciting array of events is lined up in archives, libraries and family history societies across the country. Check the website for events near you. And, as a proud sponsor of National Family History Month, Inside History wishes you happy researching! Visit familyhistorymonth.org.au
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Planning a genealogy, history or heritage event that you’d like to share with Inside History readers? Email us at contribute@insidehistory.com.au Events are subject to change. We recommend contacting the organisers beforehand to confirm details.
NSW Inns of Parramatta
16 July Pull up a seat and raise a glass to Parramatta’s intoxicating history — fascinating stories of the city’s inns and their colourful occupants await you! Following the Parramatta and District Historical Society’s July general meeting, this illustrated social history talk will be presented by guest speaker Judith Dunn, local historian, history tour guide and the author of Colonial Ladies: Lovely, Lively & Lamentably Loose. Held at Burnside Public School Hall in North Parramatta, the talk is free to attend and will be followed by a light supper. Visit parramattahistorical.org.au
Sapphire Coast Family History Expo
9 August Explore your family history and get your family tree growing with the help of local, regional and national experts at the Sapphire Coast Family History Expo in Club Sapphire, Merimbula. Featuring presentations by Australian War Memorial staff and well-known genealogist Ray Thorburn, a range of exhibitors will be on hand including State Records NSW, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), and the Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra (HAGSOC). Local heritage groups and the Bega Valley Genealogy Society will also attend, offering plenty of advice for visitors. Email Linda at lalbertson@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
East Coast Encounter
Until 24 August Few, if any, events in Australian history have proven as momentous as the 1770 encounters between Aboriginal nations along Australia’s eastern coastline and Captain Cook and his ship’s crew. East Coast Encounter is a multi-arts initiative aiming to re-imagine this
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Below The historic Woolpack Inn on George Street, Parramatta, c.1870s. Courtesy State Library of NSW.
important journey using artistic interpretation and a selection of historic documents and artefacts. Artists representing the key language groups that Cook encountered have produced a rich diversity of works re-envisioning the 1770 voyage. The project was developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast. The resulting exhibition opens at the Australian National Maritime Museum and will travel to various locations along the east coast until 2017. Visit anmm.gov.au
Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy 27 August At this joint State Library of NSW and RAHS event, Justice Michael Pembroke will share the unique story of Arthur Phillip. As the first governor of New South Wales, Phillip is widely known yet few realise that he was in fact a master spy in the employ of the English government. In the 1770s, Phillip had joined the Portuguese Navy and fought against the Spanish. The subsequent accolades he received marked a turning point in his career, leading to his appointment as a spy. Learn more about the intriguing life and times of Arthur Phillip at this free talk by his biographer at the State Library of NSW. Visit sl.nsw.gov.au
ACT The Biggest Estate on Earth
16 July Uncover the truth behind Australia’s long pre-settlement history at this National Trust event. Bill Gammage, award-winning author and professor at the Australian National University, will talk about his book The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia, which shatters the myth that the continent was an untamed wilderness before European arrival. He will share the results of his groundbreaking research into the intricate land management strategies used by Indigenous peoples around the country and their significant implications today. Cost is $10 and the location is the National Archives of Australia’s Menzies Room. RSVP by 10 July. Email info@nationaltrustact.org.au
Canberra: Then & Now
Until 31 August Trace Canberra’s transformation from its early days as a rural area on the Molonglo River floodplains to today’s national capital.
Above “Blossom Time, Canberra”, photographed c.1920-1950s. Courtesy State Library of Victoria. Canberra: Then & Now showcases historic and contemporary photographs from the National Library of Australia’s vast collection, marking a visual record of Canberra since it was selected as the site for the country’s capital city in 1908. Witness the dramatic contrasts — and even some surprising similarities — between the Canberra of yesteryear and today at this exhibition. Visit nla.gov.au
QLD Somewhere in France, Somewhere in Australia 11 July Queensland Museum and the University of Queensland are embarking on a project to recognise the enduring connections fostered between France and Australia during the First World War. They are seeking details and images of any souvenirs and mementos brought back by the men and women who served in France during World War One. (Email somewhereinfrance@qm.qld.gov.au for more information.) On 11 July, Queensland Museum will host a public symposium showcasing the stories uncovered during the course of the project. Following a morning of talks by historians, curators and several international experts who will discuss the material culture of the Great War, participants in the project are welcome to take part in discussions about their treasured artefacts. Visit qm.qld.gov.au
Fortune and Misfortune — Parish Chest, Poor Law and Bankruptcy
2 August Turn your ancestors’ financial misfortunes into a stroke of luck for your research in this 3.5-hour Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) seminar. Firstly, Bev Bonning will examine the Parish Chest and Poor Law Unions, and what they reveal
of Britain’s social fabric. Next, Sue Reid will cover mid 19th-century bankruptcy in England, explaining the difference between bankrupts and insolvent debtors and which sources you should turn to for more information. Then, Chris Schuetz will delve into bankruptcy in Australia in the mid-1800s, tracing the paper trail of personal and corporate insolvency and changing laws and public attitudes. Held at the Queensland Baptists Conference Centre in Gaythorne, the seminar costs $15 for QFHS members and $20 for non members. Morning tea is included. Visit qfhs.org.au
GENUKI — A Goldmine of Information
16 August GENUKI is a fantastic online resource. As a not-for-profit, this virtual reference library of British and Irish genealogical information is run solely by volunteers — a goldmine, indeed! At this special Genealogical Society of Queensland (GSQ) event, Judy Lofthouse will introduce you to GENUKI, outlining how to explore the website and what insights it can provide on British and Irish genealogy. This session will run from 9:30am until 11:45am at the GSQ Resource Centre in East Brisbane, at a cost of $10 for GSQ members and $15 for guests. Visit gsq.org.au
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VIC The Girl Who Loved Ned Kelly
8 August Delve into a little-known aspect of the Ned Kelly story at this special presentation by Paul O’Keefe. As a Kelly Gang descendant, and researcher on Peter FitzSimons’ acclaimed book on Ned, Paul will discuss the bushranger’s mysterious love, Ettie Hart. Donation on entry to the McEvoy Tavern in El Dorado. All proceeds go to the El Dorado Museum. Visit eldoradomuseum.com
Below Detective Rex Byrne examines a wall of mugshots, 1960. Below left Detectives inspecting weapons, 1968. Courtesy Victoria Police Museum.
Dominie & Bairns: Education in Scotland
30 August Gain an understanding of Scotland’s educational history at this in-depth seminar hosted by the Genealogical Society of Victoria (GSV). Spanning five hours, this actionpacked session features presentations by four speakers. Malcolm Horsburgh will provide a historical overview, while Susan McLean will cover Scottish universities. Margaret McLaren will tackle sectarianism in Scottish education and Joy Roy will look at the history of the ‘ragged schools’. Educational, aye? The cost is $32 for GSV and SAG members and $64 for non members. Bookings are essential. Visit gsv.org.au
Trouble is My Business
Until 5 September Founded in 1844, Victoria Police’s detective force has a long and fascinating past, a history that is laid bare at this Victoria Police Museum exhibition. Trouble is My Business: A History of the Victoria Police Detective Force explores early uses of forensic techniques, such as blood pattern analysis in the 1920s, plus the creation of specialist crime squads such as the mysterious Shadow Squad. Several real cases are cracked open so you can examine forensic evidence for yourself. Most importantly, this exhibition helps you delve beyond the one-dimensional stereotypes of detectives to discover the true depth and diversity of their work. Visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au
SA Meet the Ancestors
9 August In a celebration of all things family history, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Adelaide and its Firle Family History Centre present this free, family-friendly event. Marking 100 years since World War One commenced, ‘Meet the Ancestors’ will display memorabilia and stories of people who lived during that era. Interactive presentations from Adelaide’s Museum of Childhood will bring to life the toys, games and experiences of children in previous generations, as well as the South Australian Schools’ Patriotic Fund. Presentations and research opportunities are also in store. Call Caroline McIlwaine on 08 8369 1838
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Irish Open Day at GenealogySA
31 August The Irish Group of GenealogySA is opening its doors for National Family History Month. Drop by the Society’s Library and Research Centre in Unley for the Irish Group’s free open day between 10:30am to 4:30pm. Hear from Cherrie de Leiuen on the latest news from the archaeological dig at St John’s Catholic Church in the town of Kapunda, while Susan Arthure will also provide updates on her research into the Irish community at Baker’s Flat. Both sessions are followed by an audience Q&A. General research help will also be on hand throughout the day. Email David Ballinger at saghs.irish@saghs.org.au
WA
NEW ZEALAND
Harness the Power of the Hive
14 August The National Archives of Australia’s innovative arcHIVE website (transcribe.naa.gov.au) enables records from around Australia to be crowd-transcribed. This makes the Archives’ extensive treasures more accessible and searchable for all of us. Learn more about this exciting project and how to ‘harness the power of the Hive’ at this free session at the National Archives of Australia’s seminar room in East Victoria Park, Perth. Marjorie Bly will explain how to get involved with the arcHIVE website and offer you the opportunity to get help with your research. Bookings essential. Email vesna.liso@naa.gov.au
An Analysis of Burials in East Perth
Facing the Front: New Zealand’s Enduring First World War
12 June to 24 August Facing the Front, at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington, highlights a simple yet easily-overlooked aspect of World War One: the names and faces of those involved. This captivating exhibition showcases images of individuals who participated in and witnessed the war, from those in authority — monarchs, politicians and generals — to ‘ordinary’ people, Victoria Cross recipients, charity workers, conscientious objectors, nurses and scientists who were all touched in some way by the war. Historians, novelists and war memorial architects who helped Above Major Alfred de Bathe. shape the public understanding of Brandon. Courtesy RNZAF the Great War are also featured. Research Collection, Wigram. Visit nzportraitgallery.org.nz
20 August Before the famous Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, there were the East Perth Cemeteries. Discover more about the long history of burials in the East Perth Cemeteries, dating back to the late 1820s, during this detailed presentation at the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. Speakers Cherie Strickland and Lorraine Clarke will discuss their ongoing East Perth Cemeteries research. In conjunction with the Battye Library, of which they are members, they aim to build a comprehensive database of burials at Cemetery Hill. The only cost for this fascinating one-hour talk is a gold coin donation. Visit histwest.org.au
The City of the Dead: Waikumete Cemetery 23 July Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden is the largest cemetery in New Zealand and one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. A burial site since 1886, Waikumete has served as Auckland’s main cemetery since 1908. Join John Snashall, Walks Coordinator for the Friends of Waikumete Cemetery, for a one-hour talk illuminating this important cemetery’s fascinating history at Auckland Libraries’ Whare Wānanga. It is free to attend but bookings are essential. Book http://bit.ly/1aAhklK
TAS The Third Basin Gold Rush
20 July Everyone knows about Victoria’s gold rush and many Australians are aware of the historic goldfields of New South Wales and even Queensland — but did you know that there was also a gold rush in Launceston’s Third Basin, just outside the city boundary? Uncover the story of these lesser-known diggings at the Launceston Historical Society’s July meeting where Roger Kellaway, an Honorary Associate at the University of Tasmania, will deliver a presentation on the Third Basin Gold Rush. Learn more at the QVMAG Museum at Inveresk. The meeting is free to attend. Visit launcestonhistory.org.au
Was convict transportation good for the health of convicts and their descendants?
22 July Have you ever wondered about how transportation — being uprooted to a completely new society and environment — affected convicts’ long term health, and whether it had an impact on their children? At this free talk at the Port Arthur Historic Site, Dr Hamish Maxwell-Stuart will discuss the effects of transportation on convict health, child development and family formation using data relating to both convicts and Tasmanians born in the 19th century. Visit portarthur.org.au
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your family
Family historians will find more than just service records on the new World War One website, Discovering Anzacs. We look at what it reveals.
Records
from the front Above Dragging water tanks up to Walker’s Ridge at Gallipoli in June 1915 — from Lord Casey’s album. Courtesy National Archives of Australia, ID M1145, 3B/185.
Above A portrait of Private Francis James Cormack. Courtesy National Archives of Australia. Right Herbert Scanlon’s wartime stories have also been preserved in the National Archives. Courtesy National Archives of Australia.
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W
ITH THE CENTENARY of World War One looming, the National Archives of Australia is launching a new website called Discovering Anzacs, in partnership with Archives New Zealand. “War didn’t affect only soldiers at the front,” says Amy Lay, a curator with the National Archives. “Our records show activity and anguish on the home front which the website also aims to portray. It shines a light on those caught up in the middle, with records of people classed as enemy aliens who may have been living in Australia for years.” The website is a treasure trove for family historians, with World War One service records from both Australia and New Zealand. It also includes records which show artistic and literary works from the era, censorship records, the dossiers of munitions workers and merchant navy seafarers — and much more. Photographs taken by future Governor-General Lord Richard Casey during the war are also featured. He left Australia with the first AIF in 1914 as the aide-de-camp to Sir William Bridges at Gallipoli. “The service records contain extensive information and give an insight into the reality of war,” says Lay. “They show where soldiers served, list details of injuries and stays in hospital, and some even include wills and letters from relatives.” The website also enables people to add their own tributes to diggers from their home town — perhaps a photograph, letter or information on the family.
Below inset David Gallaher, captain of the famous ‘Originals’, the All Blacks team from 1905, was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. Courtesy Archives New Zealand.
As well as winning the Military Cross, Caldwell was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, the Croix de Guerre (Belgium), and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He had several close calls and survived a mid-air collision by standing on the wing and skilfully guiding his crippled plane to descend behind British lines. He jumped clear just before it hit the ground.
Accusations of fraud
Some famous names
While many people will find their own ancestors in Discovering Anzacs, there are also stories of more famous servicemen and women, says David Knight from Archives New Zealand. “One of the New Zealand soldiers who features on the site is David Gallaher, captain of the famous ‘Originals’, the All Blacks team which toured Britain, France and North America in 1905 and 1906,” says Knight. “He had volunteered for service in the Boer War and at the outbreak of World War One was keen to volunteer again. But he hesitated because he had a wife and child. When his brother Douglas was killed in France in June 1916, David felt it was his turn to go and he left New Zealand with the 22nd Reinforcements in February 1917.” Gallaher was wounded at Passchendaele on 4 October 1917 and died a few hours later. Listed as aged 41, he was really almost 44 years old. He had first lowered his age when he volunteered to fight in the Boer War. Another New Zealander who features on the website is Keith Caldwell, the country’s highest-scoring air ace of World War One. “Caldwell became one of the most widely respected fighter or ‘scout’ pilots on the Western Front, especially when in command of No. 74 ‘Tiger’ Squadron,” says Knight. “Under Caldwell’s command, the squadron destroyed more than 200 enemy aircraft in less than eight months — making them one of the most successful at that time.”
With so many young men wanting to enlist when war was first announced, some lied about their age, and perhaps changed their name, to be eligible. Seventeen-year-old Australian Herbert Scanlon, for example, put up his age to 20 years and enlisted under the name Herbert Sanlon. “After the war he became a farmer in New Zealand and wrote a series of stories about life as a digger under his real name,” says Lay. “He later faced accusations of fraud, partly because he had signed up in Australia and partly because he enlisted under a different name. They couldn’t find his service file in the New Zealand records. Several of the books he wrote are held in the National Archives’ copyright collection.” Invention files can also sometimes highlight family members’ activities. Inventor Private Lancelot Eldin de Mole from South Australia is another soldier who features on the website. “He invented many things, including a tank in 1912, which he tried to sell to the Australian army — but they weren’t interested at the time,” says Lay. “In his file there are letters from friends advising him to offer his invention to the Germans but he was never tempted to do so. The National Archives holds both his service file and his tank invention file. He continued designing and engineering in France after the war.”
Bonds of Sacrifice photographs
The Discovering Anzacs website includes 500 ‘Bonds of Sacrifice’ images of servicemen who had their photographs taken in a London studio but never returned to collect them. The digital images were given to the National Archives of Australia by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs after a staff member identified their Australian uniforms in a collection at the Imperial War Museum in London. ✻ To explore the website and the collections it holds, visit discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au
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your family
Every genealogist’s favourite television series is back for 2014! Cassie Mercer chats with series 6 celebrities, comedian and author Paul McDermott and actor Lisa McCune. u
Who Do You Think You Are?
Above Paul McDermott sets out to discover more about his ancestors in the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?
Inside History | Jul-Aug 2014 |
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your family
1,000 memories My elusive grandfather burnt a lot of photos when he was middle-aged, but this is one he saved. A softly spoken elderly man with a glint in his blue eyes, Arthur Gerrard (if that was his real name) told me wild tales of travel on the high seas, of his mother dying in a rodeo, of being born in Ogden, USA, in 1900. Or Western Australia in 1908! I do know he married Henriette (Doris) Brault in 1934 in Botany, and that he loved Spencer Tracy, history and travel books, physical fitness and wrestling — fighting as “Pierre Delmar” in 1932 in Lismore. He once surprised us at dinner with “You know I murdered a man once? Well at least, I think I did”, telling us he knocked his superior officer out, and was advised to jump ship — just in case. Did the name changes begin then? I love this photo for its dramatic pose and mystery. And for the arrows he drew on it, just in case we miss the weights! I love that the many pinholes show that he constantly took this image with him on his many moves. What I’d like to know most of all though is — who was my grandfather, really? — Kathryn Adams, New Lambton, NSW
✻ Do you have a favourite family image you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you. Email a high-quality scan and the history behind the picture to contribute@insidehistory.com.au and we’ll publish it here.
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