Clyde 3978 Victoria

Clyde's Honor Roll - Scholars
Clyde North State School 118 and District
In November 2018, This Roll of Honor was relocated to the Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove, Clyde. Previously it was displayed in the Clyde North Primary School.

Former Scholars
These were the people who had been students at the Clyde North school at some time in their llves. Six of these former pupils died during overseas combat.

On this list are four sets of brothers, a father and his son, an uncle and his three nephews. Each man was awarded medals for their military service, the details of which can be found on their military records at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

	Frederick Arthur BRODIE		Reginald Isaac MULLIN
	Charles BRUMBY		Vernon Isaac MULLIN
	Ernest BULLOCK		Thomas William OWEN
	Thomas BULLOCK		Alexander Twigg PATTERSON
	Herbert Thomas CADD		Frederick Victor PETERSON
	Percy John CADD		James RIDGWAY
	George Charles CHURCHILL		Percival Albert Charles RIDGWAY
	George CRONIN		Thomas John RIDGWAY
	Leslie ESCOTT		George Raymond SHARP
	C. (Frank Valentine) GRACIE		Henry James Duff SHARP
	Percival Embling HARDY		Richard William TALBOT
	Ernest Alfred MANKS		Alexander Hector WILKIE
	William MANKS		Thomas Henry WILLIAMS

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BRODIE, Frederick Arthur (SN 94) Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde. Initially Fred Brodie's parents resided at Block 40 (156 acres/63 hectares) owned by John Rutter, Nth East Corner of Pattersons and Cranbourne Berwick Road. Following the death of her husband Alec +1893, Jane Brodie, his mother, moved to a smaller property, Lot 42 (3.5 acres) Young Fred was about 3 years old at the time. Possibly he was at Clyde North School between 1895 -1904. By 1912 he was living at Yannathan, working as a motor mechanic and from there he enlisted for overseas service. He stood at 5ft 6 ¼ in (168.2 cm) when he volunteered for the Army in January 1918. During WW1 he departed Australia on 16 January 1918 at 27 years of age and served with the Australian Remount Unit India where his rank was driver. He was discharged on 15 May the same year. He married Anastasia Crimmins, while he was still in the army in 1918. Fred Brodie was involved in shipping horses to India for the British Army after WW1. According to the electoral rolls, Frederick Arthur Brodie, worked as driver and sometimes as a labourer. He died in 1972 in Werribee. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. Return to top
BRUMBY, Charles (SN 707) Middle East and Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde . His father, Frank, was once Cranbourne Council Shire President when they lived at St Germains, 95 McCormacks Road. Charles, 5ft 8in (172.2cm) taller than the average man, enlisted at 19 in Oct 1914. As a member of the 4th Light Horse Regiment he experienced battle in Egypt, Gallipoli, Western front and returned to Australia in March 1919. He married Sylvia in 1922, worked in the public service living in Melbourne suburbs. He died in 1959, aged 63. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978 .Return to top
Brothers Ernest Bullock and Thomas Bullock lived at Lot 50 on 160 acres, the south west corner of Pattersons and Tuckers Roads. The Clyde Creek cuts across this property. In 1908, their father John Bullock died, resulting in their mother Mary Bullock (nee Loader) making the decision to leave Clyde. Both Ernie and Tom had been pupils at the Clyde North School No 118. Return to top
	BULLOCK, Ernest (SN 6291) Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Killed in Action Ernest, a farmer, was nearly 21 when he enlisted on July 7, 1916. He was born in Murrumbena and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs Mary Bullock of Oakleigh. I assume that Ernest was living with his brother Thomas (see below) when he enlisted and that is why he is remembered by the Garfield community.Both Ernest and Thomas are listed on the Garfield Honour Roll as well as the Clyde North State School Roll, where they once attended In 1907, his father John Bullock lived at Lot 50 on 160 acres, the south west corner of Pattersons and Tuckers Roads when Ernest was about 12 years old. The Clyde Creek cuts across this property. In the following year when Ernest was 13 years old, his father died, and he left school to work as a farmer.
Brothers Ernest and Thomas Bullock, enlisted into the 23rd Battalion, were able to travel together to Europe by the boat Hororata that embarked from Melbourne on 23 November 1916. Following further training in England, Ernie Bullock proceeded to France where here rejoined his Battalion on 14 May 1917. After being wounded in action (gassed) on 23 July 1918, he received medical treatment in France and returned to his battalion on 2 September 1918. Private Bullock was killed in action in France on 4 October 1918 while working as a stretcher bearer.” He was going along the trench to get a wounded man to carry from the line. An H. E. shell landed alongside him killing him instantly” (A witness in a Red Cross Enquiry). He is buried in the Bellicourt British Cemetery, France. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll, Garfield at the Community Center, 3. Bill Parish’s Garfield Honor Roll 4. Tynong Avenue of Honor 5. Honor Roll-Yannathan, 135 McDonalds Track Lang Lang, 6. Honor Roll, Berwick Cranbourne Shire- Pakenham History Museum 7. The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (6291) Private Ernest Bullock, 23rd Battalion, AIF, First World War The Last Post Ceremony is streamed live from the Memorial in Canberra at 4.55pm each day So far (May 2020) in my research, Ernest Bullock is the only Clyde man who has been honoured in a Last Post Ceremony from the National War Memorial. Return to top
BULLOCK, Thomas (SN 6292) Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Born in Pimpino, Victoria 1889 to John and Mary Bullock (nee Loader) Thomas was nearly 26, a labourer from Garfield and enlisted on July 7, 1916 on the same day as his brother, Ernest Bullock. His next of kin was his wife, Rose. Assuming he began school at 5 years of age and finished his primary school education eight years later it is possible that he was 12 years old at the Clyde North State School in 1902 at the time of the first known photograph of that school. The Bullock family, his mother Mary, and brother Ernest had left Clyde in 1908 before Thomas enlisted for WW1 service. Brothers Ernest and Thomas Bullock, were able to travel together to Europe by the boat Hororata that embarked from Melbourne on 23 November 1916. Thomas returned to Australia on July 22, 1919, two years eight months later. He died in Black Rock, Victoria in 1967 about the age of 76. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll, Garfield at the Community Center, 3. Bill Parish’s Garfield Honor Roll Return to top
Brothers Herbert Thomas Cadd and Percy John Cadd, were the great grandsons of the early pastoral pioneer, Thomas Cadd who first bought Clyde land in 1862. For about 15 years the William and Jane Cadd (nee Hall) lived on the south west corner of Cranbourne Road and Clyde Five Ways Road (Block 36) now the site of the Pasadena Estate. William Cadd, their father, later lived in Clyde on land behind the Clyde Store on Valletta Street .William Cadd owned lots 34, 37.38,39, of Crown Portion 38. Return to top
	CADD, Herbert Thomas (SN 3417) Middle East Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Son of William Cadd and Jane Hall, he was born in Clyde 1890. It’s estimated that Herbert started school in Clyde North in 1895 and he possibly appears in the 1902 Clyde North School photo as a 12 year old boy. Married to Annie, Bert was nearly 27 when he enlisted for overseas military service from Western Australia. His photo suggests that he left behind two little girls. He served in the Middle East belonged to a Machine Gun Squadron with the 10th Light Horse Regiment. Bert was away from his family for 2 years one month. Herbert died in Dandenong, aged 59 years, March 9th 1949 Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Plaque in Victorian Garden of Remembrance
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	CADD, Percy John (SN 3365) Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Percy was born on 15 Oct 1898 at Ryanston near San Remo, Victoria and later the Cadd family moved back to Clyde. It’s estimated that Percy started school in Clyde North in 1902 and possibly appears in the 1902 Clyde North School photo. The William Cadd family had moved to Yannathan before Percy’s enlistment in 1917. Percy was 19 years old and stood at 5ft 3 in (160 cm) which was shorter than the average height for the Clyde North Honor Roll soldiers. Percy served on the Western Front which refers to France and Belgium. While serving in France, he was wounded in action on 4 July 1918 at Morlancourt and evacuated to England for medical treatment before returning to Australia on 4 February 1919
Percy returned to Australia in December 1919 after 2 years 5 months of war involvement. He went on to serve again in the Second World War in the 5th Army Troop Company. He died in July 1969 aged 71. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll, Yannathan Hall, Yannathan. Return to top
	CHURCHILL, Charles George (SN 3780) Western Front Killed in Action He was the only adult son of Martha Ridgway and George Churchill Snr and grandson of early settlers Sophie (Cadd) and Anthony Ridgway. Charles George Churchill (jnr) lived with his parents on a 2 acre block which was a part of Crown Allottment No 41. This was on the corner of Hardys and Cranbourne Berwick Road. He was better known as George. On 16 July 1915 he enlisted and became the first native born Clyde man to pass all the tests in the training camp. Before signing up he had the reputation of being brilliant cricket player, a’ bonny manly lad’, with a sunny disposition, and one who loved clean sport on the football and cricket ground. It was said of him that he should make a sturdy active soldier and that ‘may he win a V.C.’ (Victoria Cross).
This man who stood at 5ft 4 in tall (162.5 cm) commanded such respect that was promoted to Corporal on the 25th October 1917. Tragically he was killed in action on the 1st September 1918 at Mont St Quentin, France, a little more than two months before the end of the War, November 11th, 1918, Armistice Day. The Clyde cricketers were deeply shocked and grieved to hear of his death as he was the most promising of their playersOn Sunday evening, 22 September, the Clyde North Church of England, was not large enough to hold the large gathering which met to do honor to the memory of the late Cpl. George Churchill, who made the supreme sacrifice in France. At the Clyde North School Empire Day celebration, May 1919, his photo was unveiled at the by his former school teacher, Mr Twyford who referred to the many fine qualities of George Churchill. He impressed upon the children how proud they should be to have such a splendid memorial in the school of a scholar and soldier like George . His family grieved deeply over his death. Place of Burial: Peronne Communal Cemetry Extension (Plot I, Row B, Grave No. 29), France Memorial and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District; now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978 2. Berwick Cranbourne Shire- Pakenham History Museum 3. War Memorial, Canberra, Roll of Honor, Panel No 98 Awarded Post Humously Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918. Return to top
CRONIN//Wilson, George Thomas: (SN 2469) Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Born in December 1898, 17 years and 7 months later, George used a false name and false identity, to enlist in May 1915, underage and without parental consent. George Wilson embarked on the Demosthenes in July 1915. Following a letter to military authorities from his father, George was returned to Australia from Egypt and discharged on 19 September 1915. By sworn declaration, 17 September 1917, he assumed his true name of George Gregory CRONIN. It is uncertain as to when George was a pupil in Clyde North. Memorial and Awards Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District; now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Return to top
	ESCOTT, Leslie (SN 35092), Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Leslie Escott born 28 June 1894, one of seven boys, came to Clyde in 1909. For about 18 months he was a student at School No 118. The Escott boys can be seen in the 1910 school photo. The Escott family were involved in the local community in sport and had “done great work for the residents of Clyde”.(Comment made at public farewell to the family in 1914) Prior to the war Leslie was working as a farmer in Sydenham at 20 years and 7 months of age, when he enlisted in May 1917. During the war, in France, he suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
Following his return to Australia Leslie it seems that he applied for land under the Soldier’s Settlement scheme in the Dookie, near Benalla. A brief story of the Escott family in Clyde can be read on this history website. Memorials and Awards 1.Honor Roll Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll, Keilor Old Shire Hall Honour Roll Corner Kennedy St and Old Calder Hwy KEILOR BRIMBANK CITY 3. Honor Roll, Sydenham State School Honor Roll 4. Melton Cenotaph Return to top
GRACIE, Frank Valentine; (SN 1041) Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Killed in Action What is the link between a brewer who enlisted in Brisbane and Clyde North School? Born, 1886 to Gertrude Herring (nee Ryan) and Charles Higgins Herring, Frank and his baby sister Eva lived in Middle Brighton, Melbourne. Mr Herring, a stock broker, at 53 years of age suddenly died in December 1888 leaving Gertrude with two infant children. In 1894, 6 years later Gertrude Herring married Mr John Hugh Gracie, (1855-1927), the son of the Cascade brewer in Tasmania. The family moved to Victoria when young Frank was 8 and he took on the name of Frank Gracie. It could only be between 1894 and 1897, when Frank was 8-11 years that he attended Clyde North School. Guess work suggests that young Frank stayed temporarily with Clyde relatives while things were difficult in the lives and business of his parents. By 1897 the Gracies had moved to Western Australia where Frank eventually learned the brewing trade from his step father, John Gracie. The time at Clyde North school must have been sufficiently long enough for him to be remembered in 1917-18 when the Honor Board was planned. Frank stood at 165 cm at 29 years of age when he enlisted for WW1, the day after the fateful first Anzac Day in Gallipoli. After about year overseas Frank was killed in action on August 4, 1916. There is no known grave for him but he is remembered at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France His memorial scroll and memorial plaque were awarded to his sister Eva Agnes Gracie. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France 3. Australian War Memorial, Honor Roll, Panel Number 104 Return to top
	HARDY, Percival Embling (SN 64208) Middle East Clyde born Perce Hardy wasjust a month before his 22nd birthday when he enlisted on 18 December 1917. Embling Hardy, his grandfather, after whom Hardys Road is named, was an early Clyde Settler. Perce Hardy, a dairy farmer, who lived on Block 42 (now 65 Hardys Road) most likely attended Clyde North School between the years of 1901 -1910. Quite possibly he is in the either of both of the school photos of 1902 and 1910. He embarked for Egypt on board “Port Darwin: along with another Clyde chap George Deanshaw. In Egypt he underwent additional training and was allotted to the 15th Light Horse Regiment, and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia 25 August 1919.
Life for Perce Hary after WW1 meant a lot of community activity eg Returned soldiers activities, sport, milk producers. You can view Perce Hardy's collection of notes about his family and Clyde’s history on this website. Twenty one years after the end of WW1, Percival Hardy volunteered again for overseas military service. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll,Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Awarded Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918. Return to top
Next on the list is a father, William Manks and his son, Ernest Alfred Manks. Eldest son of pastoral pioneer, William Eli Manks, he was born in Clyde, 8 February 1867 which obviously makes Ernest the grandson of the "grand old man" from Birmingham, England. As a young man, William Manks Jnr, left Clyde for Sydney. There he married and had a family. During the early part of the 1900's he returned temporarily to Clyde with his wife and children.. This explains why both father and son had once been pupils of the Clyde North Primary School, No 118. They both benefited from the teaching of Thomas Twyford. At the time of enlisting the both lived in New South Wales Return to top.
	MANKS, William Australia , Depot Former Clyde North student who enlisted from New South Wales Eldest son of pastoral pioneer, William Eli Manks, he was born in Clyde, 8 February 1867. After attending Clyde School No 118, William Jnr, worked on his own farm until 1888, when he sold up and moved to New South Wales. He married Sarah Butfield in 1891 and returned to Clyde with his family of 7 children in 1905. This is when Ernest Alfred became a Clyde scholar. At this time William and Sarah lived on the eastern side of the Clyde Berwick Road south of Hardy’s Road. Returning to New South Wales he enlisted at 49 years of age making him the most senior of all Clyde men whose names are written on the Honor Board. William Manks worked in the Army Depot for four months until his services were no longer required Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll,Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978
	MANKS, Ernest Alfred (SN 2178) France Former Clyde North student who enlisted from New South Wales Ernie Manks, was 19 yrs 2 months old. a fitter and turner engineer,, when he enlisted for overseas military service. He was born in Granville, NSW in 1896 so how is he linked with Clyde? His father, William Manks, born in Clyde, and living in NSW returned to Victoria in 1905 and stayed for 4-5 years. Young Ernest went to Clyde North School from the ages of 9 to 13. His sister’s letter to a childrens’ newspaper column would suggest that she and her siblings were a part of the St Pauls Church of England family in Clyde North. He was a grandson of William Eli Manks, early pastoral pioneer of Clyde. Ernie Manks, at 19 yrs 5 months, embarked for France, in November 1915, in a war that required almost four years of his life. Unlike many other soldiers, his military report does not reveal any experiences of illness, injury or signs of disease.
Following the war, Ernest Manks returned to civilian life until enlisted again for military service in the Army in WW2.. Tragically he died on the Burma Railway, 25th July 1943, aged 47. Memorials and Awards 1.Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. Return to top
Brothers Reginald Isaac MULLIN and Vernon Isaac MULLIN had spent time as children on their land on the eastern corner of Ballarto and Tuckers Road.(1755 Ballarto Road). Their father, Isaac Mullin, was a well-known entity at the time before moving to Clyde having been among the first land owners in Cranbourne, managed a store as well as the Cranbourne Hotel. Prior to the birth of the youngest child, Vernon in 1893, the Mullin family had moved to Malvern while renting out their Clyde property to farmers. Isaac, their father, died in 1894 just as a severe financial depression hit Victoria. Unable to sell their farming properties, Mrs Susan Mullin with her children sold up their suburban land and returned to Clyde. Their return 'home' swelled the numbers for the Methodist congregation who were able to build a church and commence worship servies in 1910. Before the outbreak of WW1 Susan Mullin had moved again, Reginald was married, and Vernon took on employment with Mr John Sykes who lived further north along Tuckers Road. Return to top
MULLIN, Reginald Isaac (SN 55656) Western Front Former Clyde North student who did not enlist from Clyde Cranbourne born Reginald Mullin, was possibly at the Clyde North School from 1890-1892 when he was between ages of 5-8. Sometime before 1893, Isaac and Susan Mullin, his parents moved to Malvern. Reg spent the rest of his youth in suburban Melbourne. Reg had married a Clyde girl from nextdoor, Eva Francis Thomas and was employed as a confectioner. Living in Box Hill, when he enlisted at 32 years and 8 months of age,three years after his young brother Vernon had signed up for military service. In 1919 Reg returned from service with the 7th General (Victorian) Reinforcements after fighting in the trenches along the Western Front Reginald Mullin died in Blackburn, 1973 aged 87. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll,Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll in Box Hill . Return to top
	MULLIN, Vernon Isaac (SN 2163) Gallipoli and Western Front Former Clyde North student who enlisted from Clyde but did not return to Clyde. Permanently blinded by bomb blast. Born in Northcote 1893 youngest son of Isaac and Susan Mullin Vernon was less than a year old when his father died. The following year a time of financial depression in Australia hit hard on the Mullin family then based in Malvern. .The Mullin family became an integral part of the growing Methodist Church community. Vernon was member of the local Methodist Christian Endeavour group even after his mother moved back to the city
.When did Vernon attend Clyde North school? As the Mullins owned land on the eastern corner of Ballarto and Tuckers Road it may be that at times they had returned temporarily to live there and maybe it was during these times that Vernon could have attended Clyde School. Eventually in 1908 Mrs Susan Mullin and children needed to return from Malvern to their rented out property in Clyde. Vernon stayed on in Clyde working for Mr John Sykes until he enlisted at 20 years of age for overseas military serviceHe travelled to France aboard the “Wandilla” in June 1916, a journey he shared with another former Clyde North scholar, Richard Talbot who later was killed in action in battle. Initially he was wounded in Gallipoli and later transported to England for further medical help and later reassigned to serve in France. Eventually at 22 years of age tragedy seriously damaged Vernon’s life for ever. He was permanently blinded in both eyes when a bomb landed in his trench in France. Captured by the Germans and due to the prisoner exchange negotiations by Dutch people Vernon came to England for rehabilitation. St Dunstone’s Lodge in Regents Park, England provided 23 year old Vernon with skills in using a Braille typewriter and operating a manual telephone exchange. Vernon needed his inner spiritual resources and understanding of God to cope with this shattering experience, and make the very best of his life with his permanent handicap. In 1918 at 24 years of age he returned to Australia, obtained employment in a Melbourne suburban telephone exchange and two years later married Miss Adelaide Kelly, a faithful life time companion. He died in 1972 aged 78. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll: Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. Return to top
OWEN, Thomas William Former Clyde North student who settled in Clyde Enlisted but medically discharged. Tom Owen Jnr born in Devenish north of Benalla, Victoria, (1.9.1896) was one of three sons of Thomas Owen (Snr) and Margaret Burns. At the time of enlistment he lived on Railway Road, Clyde almost opposite the Fire Brigade building. (That house has long been demolished) Thomas William Owen volunteered for military service on 5th July 1915 at the age of 18 years 10 months. He was only the second Clyde man to be 6ft or over but amongst the 4 youngest needing to obtain parental permission to sign up. Unexpectedly he was discharged from Broadmeadows on 30th November 1915 and never left Australia. He was discharged, medically unfit due to heart disease of defect. There was nothing to show that his conduct and character were other than good. Surprisingly, with this heart complaint, Thomas William Owen lived until he was 91 whereas his mother Margaret died at the age of 53 and his father Thomas Owen senior died at 83 At 20 years of age in 1917 he married Ida Mary Stewart the daughter of James Spiers Stewart the bootmaker of Clyde. Mrs Mary Stewart, Ida’s mother, was the daughter of Anthony Ridgway. Their home was in Valetta Street Clyde while Thomas Willliam Owen was employed as a farm labourer. His mother Margaret died in 1918 and was buried in Cranbourne. Having been honourably discharged from the military services, Thomas William Owen was eligible for Soldier Settlement benefits. In 1927 he made application for land under the Soldiers Settlement scheme for the Parish of Myall in the Mallee district and lived at Manangatang from 1926-1936. The Owen family, lived in various places including Orbost, urban Melbourne and back to Orbost where Thomas died in 1987. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. Return to top
PATTERSON, Alexander Twigg Former Clyde North Student and also attended the old Cardinia School who did not enlist from Clyde Former Clyde North Student and also attended the old Cardinia School Grandson of Alexander Patterson, early pioneer and owner of St Germains, off McCormacks Road. Captain Alexander Patterson enlisted on March 27, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth, of Mary Street in Hawthorn. He was nearly 27 years old and was already a member of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, having joined in August 1910. He Returned to Australia July 26, 1919. and lived at Bondoola, near Yeppoon and Rockhampton in Queensland When he was a boy he lived for sometime on his grandfather’s property, St Germains and from there he attended the local schools at different periods of time. Memorials and Awards 1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll, Cardinia Primary School, Ballarto Road, Cardinia Vic 3978 3. Avenue of Honor, Cardinia Return to top
PETERSON, Frederick Victor (SN 684) Middle East and Western Front Son of Officer storekeeper, Fred was overseas for three years and saw action in the Middle East as well as the Western Front. His parents were Oscar and Elizabeth Peterson. Fred was an 18 year old driver when he enlisted on March 23, 1915. Unknown where he lived during his time at Clyde North School. Awards and honors presented to him by the Cranbourne Church of England and the Cranbourne Shire suggests that he was living in the Cranbourne Shire before embarking for overseas. His probably time being at that school is between 1903-1911 and possibly he could have appeared in the Clyde North School photos of 1902 and 1910. Wounded in Action, Pozieres Fred Returned to Australia November 20, 1918. Fred Peterson died in 1959, Newport. Memorials and Awards 1.Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978. 2. Honor Roll,. St John’s Anglican Church, Cranbourne 3.Honor Roll,. Officer Public Hall, Officer 4. Awarded the Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918. 5. Gold Medal Presented on Friday 10 October 1919 from Cranbourne Patriotic Association. Return to top

RIDGWAY, James (SN 4474) Middle East

James “Toby” Ridgway, youngest son of Anthony Ridgway was one of two men who were over 40 when they volunteered for overseas military service. His time at Clyde North School must have been between 1878-1887.
In April 1916 he left for the Middle East and laterto the UK, but eventually was discharged due to lumbago and returned to Australia the following year.

This experience qualified him to apply for Soldier Settlement land. His first block of land near Tooradin was so often flooded that it made farming unsuccessful and finally he secured land on Ballarto Road near to Pound Road;

James “Toby” Ridgway died in Clyde, 1947 aged 76

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll.Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
2. Awarded Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918.

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RIDGWAY, Percy Albert Charles (SN 4677) Middle East

Grandson of Anthony Ridgway, eldest son of George (deceased) and Ethel Ridgway, Percy worked as a grocer’s assistant in the Clyde general store. His mother, Mrs Maurice Forrest, had remarried after the farming accident that took the life of her husband in 1904. Percy was 7 at the time. Young Percy’s years at Clyde North School were probably from 1901-1910 with the possibility of him being seen in both of the school’s photos of 1902 and 1910
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Taller than his cousin, Thomas John Ridgway, Percy better known as "Paddy" stood 5ft 6 in (167.6cm) and 21years of age when he enlisted for overseas with the Light Horse Brigade. Before his departure the Clyde people, as a sign their appreciation gave him a public farewell party with a wrist watch as a gift.
In Gaza, in the Middle East it was there that he first caught malaria, treated with quinine tablets and was still in hospital when the Armistice was declared, returning to Australila in July 1919.
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After the war in 1924 PAC Ridgway lived in Garfield, working as a storekeepers assistant at the Iona Hotel.

Percy “Paddy” Ridgway died in 1978 aged 82.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll. Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
2. Honor Roll. Holy Trinity Church Moe. Great World War 1914-18,
3. Possibly listed on Berwick Cranbourne Shire list
4. Awarded the Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918.

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RIDGWAY, Thomas John (SN 4175) Western Front.

Grandson of Athony Ridgway and eldest son of Tom “Corrie” Ridgway he stood at 5ft 2in , being the shortest of the Clyde military volunteers.
Thomas left Australia aboard the Wiltshire, March 3rd 1916, joined by three other Clyde residents: Harry Bailey (30), Herbert Owen (19), and Athol Croskell (30), their destination France.
Following the war Thomas John Ridgway was an invalid soldier, paralysed down one side, who died in 1955 aged 69 in the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Melbourne.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll. Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978

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Brothers George Raymond SHARP and Henry James Duff SHARP lived at "Wilandra" block 55, the south east corner of Tuckers and Pattersons Roads until about 1906. They were sons of Henry Clark Sharp,a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1898 to 1903.Both boys with their older sister Elinor attended the Clyde North State School until the family moved to Cardinia .George Thomas susequently bought Wilandra and one of their sons, Hedley Howard Thomas also enlisted for overseas service in 1915.

Sharp Family Background.
Their mother, Emily Eva Sharp (nee Duff),daughter of Robert and Margaret Duff, formerly from Cranbourne. Robert Duff, then Cranbourne Inn Keeper died in 1861. Emily's mother later married, Edward Tucker and they ran the Cranbourne Hotel. Robert Duff the boys' grandfather was the brother of Cranbourne's Presbyterian minister, Reverend Alexander Duff. All had their heritage roots in Ireland.
More of the Sharp family can be found in Elinor's Story from Yesterday’s Daughters Edited by Alma Bushel

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SHARP, George Raymond (SN 298) Gallipoli and Western Front

With older siblings, Ellinor and Henry (known as Harry), George attended Clyde North School from the age of 5 until he was 7. After that the family moved to Cardinia about 1906.

In August 1914 at 20 years of age, residing in Homebush, Sydney, George, at 5ft 9 in (175 cm) taller than most men at the time, enlisted for overseas military service.

George Sharp served in Gallipoli and France during which time he suffered many illnesses linked with stressful conditions of war, eg pleurisy, fevers, influenza and was at one stage dangerously ill.
He returned to Australia in September 1917. George Sharp died in 1969 aged 75.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
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SHARP, Henry James Duff (SN 5629) Western Front.
Killed in Action

Henry Sharp, known as Harry by his family, was born at Clyde, 29 May 1890, attended Clyde North State School between 1896-1901.

The Sharp family were living in New South Wales when Henry “Harry” enlisted on January 16, 1916 at the age of 25.. He married a Coonabarabran lass, Mary Lillian Elizabeth Hayes, and was working as a public accountant, Strathfield, NSW, at the time of his enlistment on 16 January 1916. Henry was also serving as Sergeant of the Guard at Holsworthy German Concentration Camp prior to his enlistment.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides on 9 September 1916 for France with the 15th Reinforcement Group. He had not been in France long when he met his death on 28 February, 1917 at Malt Trench, with eight of his New South Wales colleagues
.Henry Sharp of 19 Battalion has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial. He left behind a wife and a young son.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll,Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
2. St Clements World War 1 Honor Roll, Mosman
3. Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
4. Australian War Memorial, Canberra Panel Number 89
5. Heritage Guide to the Geelong College – website

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TALBOT, Richard William (SN 2283) Western Front
Killed in Action

Richard Talbot was the son of William and Catherine Talbot, (nee Fitzpatrick). They lived on Mollisons Hill, Block 48, north west corner of Pound and Hardys roads, now 1450 Pound Road. Originally from Newry, Ireland, his family, on his mother’s side had been long term Clyde residents living on Mollisons Hill. His grandfather, Andrew Henderson lived in Clyde in 1875. Cranbourne Rate books reveal that in 1887 a William Talbot paid rates for Block 48 of 244 acres and that in 1901 the land was recorded as being owned by Mrs Talbot. And while the farm was being managed by a Mr Rogers in 1902 it was still owned by Mrs Talbot.

By the time Richard was 11 he was orphaned following the death of his mother, Catherine, in 1905. His father had died 5 years previously when Richard was 6 years old. It is presumed that he was still a student at Clyde North School when this happened. It is possible that he appears in the 1902 school photo.

Following his mother’s death the farm was auctioned and it seems, that Richard moved to Tasmania as sometime afterwards as he enlisted for military service from the island State..His older sister, Mary was married to John Faull in 1909 and lived in Ryanston, via Dalyston, Gippsland when Richard was 20.

After enlisting in May 1915, it was less than a month before this man left Australia on his one way journey to France. He travelled to the Western Front aboard the Wandilla in June 1916. This journey he shared with Vernon Mullin, another former Clyde North student who was permanently blinded in battle. One year four months after leaving our country, Richard Talbot was killed in battle. His final rank was Sergeant.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
2. Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Panel number 156

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1934 Wedding Day

1910
Clyde North School

WILKIE, Alexander Hector (SN 598) Western Front

Hector Alexander Wilkie came to “Wiltara”,1760 Ballarto Road, Clyde as a 11 year old boy in 1907 and continued on his education at Clyde North School. The Wilkie family actively participated in community life, new school fund raising, Methodist Church, and cricket team. Five years later his family moved to St Kilda which means the young Hector as a 14 year old, could have appeared in the 1910 Clyde North School photo.
Hector stood at 5ft 4in (162.5cm) being shorter than the average height for Clyde men. However he was not short on ability passing an Intermediate Grade Violin exam in 1915. Trained as an electrical engineer, at 20 years 6 months, Hector volunteered for overseas military service. His contribution to the war effort was in instrument repair in France. Two years seven months later he arrived back in Australia.

Following WW1 Hector Wilkie worked on the Tasmanian Hydro Electric Scheme. He extended his knowledge by studying building which provided him with further employment as a building inspector. He is remembered by his family has being meticulous and thorough.

In 1934 Hector Wilkie married Jessie Donaldson Cameron, originally from "Heatherleigh" Cranbourne. Jessie Cameron was related to the well known early land owner, Alexander Cameron.

Hector Wilkie died in Frankston in 1973 aged 76.
By strange coincidence the Lighton family who subsequently bought “Wiltara” from the Wilkies also gave a son for WW1 who embarked on the same ship, same day as Hector Wilkie aboard the “Ulysses”, 25 October 1916. Both ended up in the airforce.

Memorials and Awards
1. Honor Roll, Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978
2. Elwood Presbyterian Church Honor Board, Corner Scott & Tennyson Street, Elwood.

WILLIAMS, Thomas Henry (SN 5776) Western Front
The first Clyde man to lose his life in overseas combat.

In July 1916Thomas Henry Williams, 26 years 8 months, had embarked aboard the Ayrshire heading for the Western Front .When he enlisted the February before he was a farm labourer and lived with his mother Sarah Ridgway (nee Hall) and step father, Thomas “Corrie” Ridgway at No 1 Ballarto Road, Clyde.

His father,Tommy Williams Snr, a jockey, was killed in a race track meeting near Dandenong in 1892. At the time Sarah and Tommy Snr. owned the first Clyde store then situated on Ballarto Road. Eighteen months later, widow Sarah Williams married widower Thomas Ridgway, son of early settler, Anthony Ridgway.

Tom Jnr was short in stature standing 5ft 3in (161.2cm) compared to the average height of the Clyde men. However that fact was not spoken of when the news came that he was wounded and missing in mid April 1917. It was sometime after that the Clyde people knew that he had been shot in the chest, suffered serious lung damage, was a German POW and died.. Tom Williams was buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany. The news of his death was sent by telegram to his mother and later announced in the Herald newspaper in August 1917.

A memorial scroll and plaque were sent to Sarah recognising her loss. The Clyde community remembered Tom by listing his name on the Clyde North and District WW1 Honor Roll. The Cranbourne Patriotic Association posthumously awarded him a Certificate of appreciation for fighting over seas.

A year following his death, Mrs Sarah Ridgway presented a photograph of her son Thomas Henry Williams to the newly built Clyde Primary school opened on May 30, 1918
Read more about the Ridgways , death of Tommy the jockey and the Clyde store on the Clyde History website

Memorials and Awards
1.Roll of Honor: Clyde North State School No 118 and District. Now in Clyde Primary School, Oroya Grove Clyde Vic 3978.
2. Roll of Honor Board- Officer, Victoria.
3. Awarded posthumously the Cranbourne Patriotic Association Certificate, Fri Nov 29, 1918.
4. Sarah Ridgway received the a memorial plaque, his British War Medal, the Victory Medal and certificate acknowledging the death of her son in battle.

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Sources

1	The AIF Project	Basic summary of each soldier's WW 1 military record
2	Military Record Search	Individual military records
3	Army - World War 1: 1914-18	Army personnel military records
4	Virtual War Memorial Australia	Basic individual military history with details added in by volunteers
5	Monuments and Memorials	Plaques, memorials to individual military personnel in Australia
6	Victorian War Heritage Inventory	Find a name on a Roll of Honor
7	TROVE digitised newspaper accounts	Newspaper accounts of events, news items, adverisements, family news
8	Victorian. Registry Office, Family History	Family history search
9	Ryerson Index of Newspaper Death notices	Death notices in Australian newspapers
10	Public Records Office, Victoria	Family history section: Wills, Travel- interstate and international
11	Casey Cardinia Commemoriates Our War Year	Local historian, Heather Arnold, explores military history & stories
12	Ancestry.com (subscription account)	Electoral Rolls, Military History, Births Death Marriages, Travel & Immigration
13	Cranbourne RSL Archives
14	Cranbourne Shire Rate Books 1863-1947
15	Schools' Register of Clyde children 1910-1980
16	Cemetery Records - Deceased Search online
17	Relevant Historical Societies	Moe History Group
18	Family History Researchers	Brodie, Ridgway, Manks, Wilkie, Mullin, Patterson, Sharp, Hardy, Escott
19	Last Post Ceremony Canberra	Daily rememberance of a name on the national Roll of Honor

Note: Internet site addresses frequently change.