Andrews brothers memorial - Ma Ma Creek Cemetery

The Andrews brothers monument at Ma Ma Cemetery with St Stephen's Anglican Church in the background.  Photograph by Simon Hamlet, September 2017.

Plaque on the East facing side of the monument.  Photograph by Simon Hamlet, September 2017.

I have stopped several times at the Ma Ma Creek Cemetery to view this particular monument, a mother’s tribute to three sons taken by war.  There is little evidence of these men, either in Trove (The National Library of Australia's online newspaper archive) or via the Australian War Memorial’s (AWM) website.  What little I could gather I have collated into this post, and at the end I offer a small reflection.

The longest entry about these men that I have found anywhere is contained in a description of the township of Ma Ma Creek, published in The Queenslander in 1924.

The township has a store, School of Arts, an ornate Church of England (St. Stephen's), around which is the little "God's Acre," where many of the pioneers are sleeping. A monument, the figure of a soldier, has been erected by Mrs. David Andrews to the memory of her three sons, who made the supreme sacrifice in France in the Great War—James Martin Andrews, aged 26 years, George Henry Andrews, aged 28 years, and Bertie Reginald Andrews, aged 30 years. An organ has been donated to the church by the same lady in memory of her sons. The church is built of concrete bricks. And with its red tiled roof makes a pleasing picture against the background of the bush. [1]

The following two newspaper entries under a column named Our Ma Ma Creek Letter appeared in the Queensland Times.

LOCAL SOLDIERS.
News has reached here this week to the effect that Pte. James Andrews, fourth son of Mrs. David Andrews, has been missing in France since August 5. Pte. Bert Andrews, the sixth son, was recently reported as wounded, but is progressing. Pte. Geo. Andrews, third son, is also serving with the A.I. Forces. [2]

MILITARY MATTERS.

Mrs. D. Andrews has been notified that her son Pte. Geo. Andrews, has been wounded in France. A younger son, Pte. Bert Andrews, was wounded nearly a year ago and, as latest news, was still in a convalescent camp in England. A third son, Pte. James Andrews, has been reported "missing" since August 1916.

July 18. (1917) [3]

James Martin Andrews

State Library of Queensland

Source: Digitised from 'Queenslanders who fought in the Great War', created by Owen Wildman. Brisbane : Besley and Pike, [1919?]

From the AWM records:

• Service Number 4357
• Enlisted: 29 October 1915
• Unit: 25th Infantry Battalion
• Embarked: 31 March 1916 on HMAT Star of Victoria A16 from Sydney
• Killed: 5 August 1916, France

From Trove

THE LATE PTE. J. M. ANDREWS.

Mrs D. Andrews, Ma Ma Creek, has received word from the military authorities, advising that her son, Pte. Jame Martin Andrews, 11-25th Battalion (previously reported as missing), is now reported to have been killed in action on the 5th of August, 1916. Also conveying to Mrs. Andrews the deep sympathy of the King, Queen, and the Commonwealth Government, in the loss she and the army have sustained. [4].

ROLL OF HONOUR.

ANDREWS.—Killed in action, in France, on 5/8/1916, Private James Martin Andrews, aged 27 years, 11/25 Battalion, fourth son of the late David Andrews and of Mrs. Andrews, Ma Ma Creek. "He gave his life for his King and Country." [5]

CASUALITIES

James Martin Andrews, Grantham, 5/8/16 (prev. rep. missing).[6]

George Henry Andrews

From the AWM

• Service Number: 2127
• Enlisted: 27 March 1916
• Unit: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion
• Embarked: 16 August 1916 on HMAT Boorara A42 out of Brisbane.
• Killed: 9 June 1917, Belgium.

From Trove prior to the war

Mr. David Andrews, who has been a patient at the private hospital, Laidley, has returned home, and is now convalescent. Mr. Andrew's son (George) is still a patient in Dr. Hawkes's Hospital, Brisbane, where a successful, though critical, operation was performed on him last week, two goitre tumours being removed from his throat. The lad is doing as well as could be expected, and it is hoped that he will have a speedy recovery. [7]

From Trove during the war

Listed as wounded [8]

ROLL OF HONOUR.

ANDREWS.—Killed in action in France on the 9/6/17, Private George Henry Andrews, aged 28 years and 9 months, 4/47 Battalion, third beloved son of the late D. Andrews and Mrs. Andrews, of Ma Ma Creek. His country called, he answered, In God's name he rests. [9]

Mrs. D. ANDREWS and FAMILY desire to express their sincere THANKS to all kind and sympathetic Friends who sent cards and letters of condolence in their sad bereavement in the loss of their dear son and brother, George Henry Andrews, who was killed in action in France, on June 9, 1917. [10]

Bertie Reginald Andrews

From the AWM

• Service Number: 4358
• Enlisted: 29 October 1915
• Unit: 25th Infantry Battalion
• Embarked: 31 March 1916 on HMAT Star of Victoria A16 from Sydney
• Killed: 10 June 1918, France

Note that enlistment date, unit assigned and the embarking date are the same as for James Martin Andrews.  Bertie spent the first part of his war career with his elder brother.

From Trove

KILLED IN ACTION. ,

...

Bertie Reginald Andrews, Grantham, 10/6/18 (prev. rep. wounded). [11]

ANDREWS.—Killed in action, in France, on the 10th June, 1918, Pte. Bertie Reginald Andrews, 25th Battalion, aged 29 years and 10 months, dearly beloved seventh son of the late D. Andrews and Mrs. Andrews, of Ma Ma Creek, Deeply Mourned. [12]

From Mrs. D. Andrews, Ma Ma Creek, thanking the council for expressions of sympathy in the loss of her son, Pte. Bertie Reginald Andrews.—Received. [13]

A reflection

The reason I return to this monument is that it shows how deeply a family can be affected by war; the Andrews family is not unique in this respect.  But the sandstone monument is a strong and clear statement of that loss.  To then seek the story of these men and find so little is a further indicator of the cost of war.  The Andrews boys were names in lists.  Lists with hundreds of other names.  People (on only one side of the war) who were wounded, missing or killed by the events of war.  Even the lists of names were just one list in a sea of other lists (James list 220, George list 321, Bertie list 441).  I encourage my readers to look at the Trove lists referenced in this post because to see the lists is to glimpse the scale of loss that war brings.  I suggest the following references from the list below [6], [8], [11].

I further note that of the few references I found on Trove, two exist because Mrs Andrews chose to say thank you to those who have expressed their sympathy [10, 13]. This courtesy from a grief stricken mother is in fact a memorial in itself -- if we treat mentions in the public record as a memorial.

Mrs Andrews died in 1939, she was survived by 5 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom would appear to be the children of her marriage to Mr David Andrews who died in March 1907, leaving 11 Children [14, 15].

References

[1] MA MA CREEK. (1924, December 20). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25544467

[2] Our Ma Ma Creek Letter. (1916, September 22). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 7 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113187129

[3] Our Ma Ma Creek Letter. (1917, July 19). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 7 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121958337

[4] THE LATE PTE. J. M. ANDREWS. (1917, August 15). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 4 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121953548

[5] Family Notices (1917, August 15). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 4 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121953526

[6] CASUALTIES. (1917, August 18). Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180914057

[7] Ma Ma Creek Letter. (1906, October 30). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908), p. 12. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124384686

[8] Roll of Honour. (1917, July 12). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 14. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177895246

[9] Family Notices (1917, December 13). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 4 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121970322

[10] Family Notices (1918, January 19). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 6 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119934909

[11] ROLL OF HONOUR. (1918, July 13). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), p. 14. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22362866

[12] Family Notices (1918, June 29). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 6 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122012594

[13] LOCAL GOVERNMENT. (1918, August 16). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 3 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122008992

[14] OBITUARY. (1939, January 19). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 2 (DAILY.). Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118448056

[15] Our Ma Ma Creek Letter. (1907, March 14). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908), p. 5. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124000109

The extraordinary will of William Mitchner - 1918

The William Mitchner shelter, at the Warwick Cemetery. The granite hewn cross of Winifred Mary Daveney in the foreground. Photograph Simon Hamlet July 2017.

The landscape of the Warwick Cemetery is dominated by a brick shelter, built from the bequest of a Mr William Mitchner.  The cemetery signage offers little information on the man. A lack of information is just the taunt a 'Trover' like myself needs to go looking. This post seeks to provide some information about William Mitchner and his bequest, with details mostly derived from the National Library of Australia's newspaper archive, Trove.  A later post will provide some information on the drama that arose as a consequence of the will.

Prior to his death Mitchner leaves little evidence of himself in the public record, however the extraordinary nature of his bequest appears in the newspapers for several decades after that event.  Of the 125 results in Trove for “William Mitchner” only six refer to him as a living person. These early articles provide us with the following scraps of information: - He was the mortgagee of the Plough Inn, Palmerin Street, Warwick when it was destroyed by fire in 1881[1]. He was the mortgager of the Royal Hotel at Clifton for some time [2]. He challenged the evaluation of his land for rates purposes [3, 4].

Later articles reflecting on the impact of his bequest provide the following details of his life. Mitchner was born in Lewin, Prussia (now Poland), in 1841 [5]. He came to Queensland in 1864 [5] though he did not make it to Allora until 1872, where he worked as fireman / engineer at the Allora flour mill, before taking over a shop [6]. He became a naturalised British subject in 1866 [5], and Queensland was still a colony of Britain at this time. “He never married, but devoted his life to patient toil and religious observance” [5].

A bust of William Mitchner at the Warwick General Cemetery.  Photograph Simon Hamlet July 2017.

In 1918 there is a flurry of amazement in the papers at the nature and generosity of his bequest, with some newspaper articles listing the will in full.  Totalling over £35,000 the estate’s worth was roughly equivalent to $3,000,000 in today’s money [7]. The will specified a number of beneficiaries, summarised below based on the report in the Darling Downs Gazette of 15 June 1918 [8].

1. General Hospital, Toowoomba - 50 shares and £100.
2. Warwick General Hospital - 40 shares of Warwick Farmers Milling Co.
3. £1,500 General Cemetery Warwick. For erection and maintenance of a shelter, vault, bust and belfry. With a request that a bell be tolled on the approach of all funerals.
4. £800 for the same purpose.
5. Request that he be buried where he dies if in either Allora or Warwick, but if he dies elsewhere that he be buried in Warwick.
6. £200 to be invested for 50 years and the proceeds to benefit both the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in Warwick, with the principal being divided after 50 years.
7. £100 to be invested for 50 years and the proceeds to benefit both the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in Allora, with the principal being divided after 50 years.
8. £750 for the land, building and furnishing of a stone church at Hendon, complete with bell and organ.
9. The balance of the estate to be placed in the trust of the German Consul of Brisbane, when appointed, and the following disbursements made:
1. £600 to the Tautz family,
2. £1,000 to be invested in trust for an Elizabeth Conrad, then at her death £500 to be invested as she sees fit and £500 for the erection of a steeple and bell in the church at Lewin (Germany), together with busts of both himself and Elizabeth.
3. £7,000 for the construction of a school in Lewin with provision for the purchase of 15 acres of land for the purpose.  For more detailed instruction see the Trove article.
4. £2,500 to be invested and the income be entrusted to the Roman Catholic priest at Lewin for the provision of children during the winter months.
5. £2,000 to be invested and the income be entrusted to the Roman Catholic priest at Lewin for the provision of comforts and clothing for the students of the school.
6. £1,000 to be invested and the income be entrusted to Mayor and councillors of Lewin for the provision of soup kitchen in the months of December, January and February for the poor and needy.
7. £300 to be invested and the income be entrusted to the Roman Catholic parish priest at Lewin for the running of the church, with the principal being available for permanent improvements after 50 years.
8. As in (g) for the Roman Catholic parish priest at Reinerz.
9. As in (h) for the Roman Catholic parish priest at Dresden, Saxony.
10. £50 provision for a new tombstone of a relative in Lewin.
11. A series of town improvements which would come up for public sale after 50 years with equal one third distribution between the educational institution he founded, his living relatives in Lewin and “all Christian Lodges and Societies in  Lewin”.  Improvements are:
1. £1,450 on a farm near the school, including farmhouse and machinery.
2. £6,850 on a flour mill near the school and railway, fully equiped.
3. £2,750 for the building and fitting of a hotel in Lewin.

We can perhaps read between the lines that for William Mitchner his early life in Lewin was hard, especially in the winter months.  His provision of education, support and employment for the townspeople shows a very practical understanding of the struggles of the people.

We may also be curious about his provision for a married woman, Elizabeth Conrad, for whom no blood linkage is demonstrated.  One commentator says “Perhaps she was the reason why William Mitchner did not call to himself a mate to help him in his solitary life in Queensland” [5].

Mitchner’s estate is blog worthy on its own merit, but events that transpire because of it are also intriguing.  This will be the content of my next post.

References

[1] The Recent Fire in Palmerin-street. (1881, September 3). Warwick Argus (Qld. : 1879 - 1901), p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75661440

[2] Supreme Court. (1904, May 13). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174308936

[3] Warwick municipal Assessment. (1883, May 12). Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919), p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82088074

[4] ALLORA. (1886, May 22). Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919), p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84382310

[5] Thirteen Australian Judges Sat On A German Farmer's Nest Egg! (1927, July 24). Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203939012

[6] Queensland Government (2016) Warwick General Cemetery https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602152  

[7] Relative worth calculator  http://www.thomblake.com.au/secondary/hisdata/query.php accessed July 19, 2017

[8] LATE WILLIAM MITCHNER. (1918, June 15). Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1881 - 1922), p. 5. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183238474

The Ghost Gate Owl

Along the somewhat degraded and aptly named “Ghost Gate Road” that connects Glengallan and Goomburra, there is a lovely piece of sculpture produced by the artist David Blomfield. Funded by the Allora Action Association the sculpture was installed in 2005. It is located in a logical place (as you will see), and yet it is sufficiently off the beaten track it seems appropriate to bring it to the attention of my readers.

Photograph by Simon Hamlet (June 2017), converted to black and white to give a 'moonlight' effect.  Heart shape of the owl's face suggests that the sculpture was modelled on a barn owl.

The ghost gate story is discussed by ‘Beachcombers’ in the Sunday Mail magazine of 1941 [1], and by John Christopher in the children’s section of The Telegraph (Brisbane) of 1939 [2]. Both writers were running article series on the ghosts of Queensland at the time.  The extracts below are from the article in the Sunday Mail.

Article header from the Telegraph (1939)

Article header from the Sunday Mail (1941)

One evening many years ago a little rouseabout named Daniel Hartigan left Goomburra to ride the 12 odd miles to Glengallan. A certain amount of disquiet always descended upon the other hands when Daniel went off to Glengallan. He would return roaring drunk and challenge any or all of the men to fight him. So after a yarn in the kitchen all hands turned in and barricaded the doors and windows, leaving it for Daniel to fight himself or talk himself to sleep in a shed whensoever he should happen along.

Shortly after midnight the drumming of hooves in the home paddock announced that someone was coming as if the devil rode behind him. Peering from the hut the men saw that it was Daniel Hartigan. Johnny Boake, the only man game to face Hartigan when the latter was drunk, went out to see him, for he was clearly distressed.

He explained to Boake that he had seen something at the boundary gate that had left him a shivering wreck. Thinking that Hartigan's mind had at length failed under the strain of too much bluestone rum, Johnny Boake got him to bed.

Next morning Hartigan was brooding and silent. A day or two later he explained to Boake that after drinking a prodigious quantity of colonial rum he set off for home. His mount carried him, to the accompaniment of many warlike songs, to the boundary gate which stood between Goomburra and Glengallan.

Daniel was endeavouring to dismount when the shadowy something pushed past him and simultaneously the gate swung open. In a flash Daniel became cold sober, with every hair on his head tingling and every nerve tense.

However, he had no time for a few seconds to think about apparitions or gates which swung open of their own accord. For his horse had bolted back along the Glengallan track and Daniel was half out of the saddle. Only superb horsemanship got him back into the saddle and permitted him to regain control of his mount.

He turned it and edged his way back along the track towards the gate. With horror he saw that the gate had closed again, and as his horse approached it the animal was shivering with dread.

Calling all his reserves of courage to his aid the frightened bushman dismounted and walked his shrinking horse the last 20 yards. Pushing open the gate he leapt into the saddle and the horse bounded away at full gallop for home. As he went Hartigan saw out of the corner of his eye the shadowy something fluttering in and out among the trees which stood close to the lonely gate.

The cause of temperance received a sinner to its fold. Until he left the station, because he found the ridicule of his mates intolerable, Hartigan drank nothing stronger than tea, we are told!

That was by no means the end of the Ghost at Goomburra Gates. Opinions of the departed rouseabout underwent a sudden change when other night riders reported having seen a something and the gate swinging open as they approached. To add to the hair raising experience, the gate would open on occasions when not a breath of wind stirred the leaves of the ghostly trees nearby. It was all very mystifying, and the nocturnal riders found other ways of returning to Goomburra except by the main gate.

Not a soul on the Downs but believed that Goomburra gate was haunted when the story got about that the Reverend Henry Davidson had seen the gate swing wide open and an indistinct form flitting through the trees. Afterwards the clergy man denied this supernatural experience, but he only complicated matters, for a man who rode with him on the night in question repeated that they had both seen the gate open and the ghost go flitting away!

Curiously, a Warwick Daily News article from 1940 will tell the same story but with the famous Rev. Benjamin Glennie as the frightened clergyman. [3]

Then came the experience of William Robey, a fencer on Goomburra jogging quietly along in the twilight he had almost reached the gate, a shadowy something detached itself from the top rail and approached him. Thoroughly startled, his horse reared franticly and then bolted. Despite his fine horsemanship Robey was thrown heavily when his horse struck a tree.

For some time Robey lay unconscious and when he regained his senses the moon had risen. Struggling to a sitting position he saw a phantom figure leaning on the top rail and watching him.

With his scalp twitching the bushman edged back into the shadows and stared with horror at the gate. As the moon rose higher he saw more clearly. Suddenly the figure rose and floated towards him. He saw that it was disembodied. There was just a ghastly head and arms waving slowly in the moonlight.

He heard the gate creak and open as if gently pushed by an invisible hand. The spectre passed over the trembling man who suddenly [....] laughed and fainted immediately. It is not wise for men with [...] to laugh uproariously.

But it was cause for laughter. The Goomburra Gate was laid for. [...] It was a great white owl [...] perched habitually on the top bar of the gate. The gate was so finely sprung that a latch was unnecessary. It would open at the slightest touch, but would always close again instantly. This was considered a safe barrier between Glengallan and Goomburra, because the presence of boundary riders reduced the chance of stock drifting from one run to the other, even if a strong wind blew the gate open. When a nocturnal horseman approached the owl flew away, and the slight push he gave to the top rail in doing so caused the gate to swing open!

References

[1] The SWINGING GATE (1941, February 23). Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954), p. 5 (Supplement to The Sunday Mail). Retrieved June 30, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98260961

[2] Some Celebrated Queensland Spooks (1939, December 16). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 10 (LATE WEEK). Retrieved June 30, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184754947

[3] Unveiled To-morrow (1940, June 8). Warwick Daily News (Qld. : 1919 -1954), p. 4. Retrieved June 30, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190423381

Death of Hector Vasyli - 1918

On the remaining abutment of the old Victoria Bridge, Brisbane, is a memorial to a young boy, Hector Vasyli.  In this post I will describe the life and the event that inspired a memorial. The memorial and the retention of the bridge portion are clearly intertwined. The Heritage Register makes the following observation:

The Victoria Bridge Abutment has a high social value for the Greek community of Brisbane, containing as it does, the memorial to Hector Vasyli, a young Greek Australian boy who died while demonstrating his loyalty to his adopted homeland. This association is further demonstrated by the role of the Greek community in ensuring that this portion of the bridge was retained to provide a fitting location for the memorial plaque erected in the memory of the Vasyli boy and the continued practice of conducting a memorial service for the boy each Anzac Day. [1]

Hector Vasyli Memorial
Photograph by Simon Hamlet, April 2017

This article from The Telegraph is perhaps the best coverage of the event.

BOY KILLED BY MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT, CLOSE TO VICTORIA BRIDGE.

The hundreds of people who awaited the procession of motor cars conveying the returned soldiers at the gates of the Military Hospital at Kangaroo Point last evening speculated a good deal about the reason for the considerable interval which passed between the arrival of about half the cars and the remainder, and it was not until later in the evening, that it transpired that the delay was due to a tragic accident close to Victoria Bridge, by which a schoolboy, Hector Vasyli, whose parents keep an oyster saloon in Melbourne-street, South Brisbane, lost his life.
The cars with the soldiers reached the top of Queen-street shortly before 6 o'clock, the procession being made up of more than 60 vehicles, and with the object of watching it pass, and of welcoming the men home, four or five lads, of whom deceased was one, stationed themselves on the side of the bridge; One of the cars in the lead had to slow down, and behind it was approaching a car driven by Mr. W. J. Jackson, (produce merchant) who had with him several of the returned men. To avoid the threatened collision with the car ahead, Mr. Jackson swerved his car to the left and the vehicle struck the boy Vasyli (who was 11 years of age), and knocked him down.
That Mr Jackson had perfect control of the car at the time is evident from the fact that he pulled it up within its own length as soon as he realised that an accident had occurred. The boy was picked up and driven by Mr Jackson with all speed to the St Helen's Hospital. As medical assistance was not immediately obtainable there, Mr Jackson took the wisest course he could under the circumstances, and motored the lad to the Mater Misericordiae Public Hospital where it was found that he had already succumbed to the injuries sustained. An examination of the body disclosed that the skull was fractured and that there was a compound fracture of the right arm in addition to minor injures. The tragic occurrence was quite unavoidable, and Mr. Jackson, from first to last, did everything possible to avert the fatal consequences of the mishap. The Ambulance Brigade quickly answered a summons for aid. [2]

Later sources provide other details regarding the incident. Given their chronological distance from the event they should perhaps be disregarded, but I include them here for the reader’s interest. Certainly they provide some reason why the boy would be so close to edge of the road.

A 1941 piece in The Truth says:

A bunch of flowers; was thrown towards him from one of the cars and fell in the roadway. Little Hec. rushed to pick it up; at the same moment, an old lady moved across the road from the other side. One of the cars swerved to avoid the woman, hit the boy, threw him against the iron bridge railings. [3]

A 1941 article in The Telegraph says:

He would spend all his money on cigarettes and sweets for the troops, and toss them into the cars as they passed. Once, however, when a packet of cigarettes fell outside a car, Hector ran to pick it up, and a following car was unable to stop in time, resulting in the accident which caused his death [4].

Hector’s funeral was held on 11th June and consisted of two graveside services, one in English, conducted by Rev. F. M. Nightingale, and a second service in Greek, conducted by Mr Christy Freeleagus.  The cortege proceeded from Melbourne Street, South Brisbane to the Toowong Cemetery, with students of his school acting as pall-bearers.  The Brisbane Courier’s report of the event lists the names on 59 wreaths [5].

A visit to the Toowong Cemetery reveals a once unmarked grave, that now has a brass plaque to mark the site.  One is left to reflect how apt it is that a boy who saved pennies to bless soldiers, now lies in an ‘unmarked’ grave with a view of war veteran graves immediately to the west of him... posthumously deferring his ‘needs’ for the honour of the returning servicemen.

Hector Vasyli's grave at the Toowong Cemetery.
Photograph by Simon Hamlet April 2017

After attending the funeral a returned serviceman, T. C. Owens,  writes to the paper in praise of the young boy.  Owens had a son, Wilbur, who was a playmate to Hector [6].

HECTOR VASYLI

Mr T. C. Owens, a returned soldier, writes as follows from Thompson Estate:
Sir. - I would like to make some reference to the dear little boy Hector Vasyli who was killed on Sunday while welcoming home our brave boys. This lad made it a rule to save his money to buy presents for the returned soldiers, and when they arrived it was his custom to wait for them and to throw the presents to them as they passed. This little silent worker it is sad to say met his end on such a good hearted mission. I have known the boy for some considerable time, and his good heart and honourable principles compel me to write this, because the returned soldiers have lost a good little friend. His ways are a lesson to many older than himself. The respect, shown to this dear boy and his parents to-day at the funeral was something never to be forgotten. I am sure the public of Brisbane and returned soldiers will with me enter in tendering our deepest sympathy to his parents in the sad loss of their dear boy Hector. [7]

Tributes from a writer to The Daily, who goes by the pen name 'Veritas', provide even more cause for admiring the deceased boy.

HECTOR VASYLI

To the Editor.
Sir — Allow me to give a few comments about the life and sudden death of little Hector Vasyli. An interview with his people, which touched my heart, convinced me that this little boy was an example of Christianity and self-denial, of love and obedience to his parents, of patriotism to his country, and its brave soldiers, and he, therefore, has taught a lesson to old and young. He was an example of Christianity and self-denial, because, although young, he devoted his Sunday to the heavenly things instead of spending his time in idleness and earthly amusements, and he did every Sunday his worshipping in the Anzac Church, where he was on altar boy. As you know, he went to welcome the returning heroes. He showed Christianity and patriotism by his deeds. He had friends amongst yellow, black, and brown people, and a little black boy was his most devoted and affectionate friend. At his coffin tears were shed by white and coloured people. Many an old invalid got some food from him at the back of the premises, and many poor souls blessed the little hand of this good-hearted dear boy.
His patriotism to his country and its brave soldiers was a great example in deed. He did his bit for every patriotic fund, collected money, sold badges, and the Anzac Church was the base of his operations. There were his little hands working in the interests of our soldiers, to make their return to home sweet for them. He saved every penny, not to buy sweets for himself, but packets of cigarettes for our returning heroes, and on that fatal Sunday he had four packets of cigarettes and a bundle of wattle, and stood there, waiting for the soldiers to show them his respect and affection. He would have loved to buy a football, but instead of saving his pennies for that purpose he spent them in the soldiers interests.
Hector Vasyli has taught us all a lesson. Let everybody ask himself now: "What have I done for my country?" Little Hector did what he could. He did his bit for the Empire, and we should not forgot this little lad. We should honor his memory. I would like to see a bronze plate on the Victoria Bridge, on the very spot where he fell in doing his noble work, a bronze plate, mentioning his name and the tragic circumstances of his sudden death. Should the board offer objection the Anzac Church would undoubtedly have nothing against placing the plate in that building, or it could be placed in the school which Hector attended. I would like also the school teachers to plant a weeping fig trees in the school yard. And I am sure that Mr. T. C. H. Owens, returned soldier, Cornwall and Barrow streets, Thompson Estate, South Brisbane, whose little son was a playmate of Hector Vasyli, will be only too glad to receive gifts for that purpose.
Yours, etc.
VERITAS [8]

The same Veritas organises for a public planting of a weeping fig tree in Hector’s honour at his school on 10 July [9].  At least 23 years later the tree was still alive and flourishing [10].

Veritas’ letter also set in motion the process of gaining a plaque by which to remember the much loved boy.

In consequence of the letter by "Veritas," published in "The Daily Mail," regarding the death of Hector Vasyli, a meeting will be held in the Anzac Club, Charlotte-street, tomorrow, at 8 p.m., to form a committee for the purpose of erecting a suitable memorial. A number of prominent citizens and public ladies have been invited. In the afternoon a memorial tree will be planted by his teachers in the yard of the Merivale-street State School, South Brisbane. [11]

At the first meeting a decision was made that should sufficient funds be available, a plaque would also be placed in St Luke’s Church (now the Pancake Manor) and the Greek Church [12]. The Daily Mail of 13 August 1918, details subscriptions to the value of £53 13s [13]. A visit to the Pancake Manor did not reveal any plaque at that location, and from what I can tell the Greek Church in Charlotte Street, to which The Telegraph refers, has been demolished.

The memorial was initially scheduled for an unveiling on 17 October, but faced delays due to indecision on the part of the Victoria Bridge Board [14]. Permission was granted at a meeting of the board on 19 November 1918, with the unveiling taking place on 8 December 1918 [15]. The unveiling ceremony was preceded by a march from the Post Office consisting of returned servicemen, The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Association and members of the Baden Powell Boy Scouts, the Hellenic Association, as well as the Anglican Mission [16]. About 1,000 people attended the service [17].

In 1966 the plaque was removed during the demolition of the old Victoria Bridge, but it was returned to the site in 1970 [18].

The original medallion for the plaque was made by Daphne Mayo [19], whom QAGOMA describes as “one of Queensland's most significant twentieth century artists.” People familiar with Brisbane will have seen her work, perhaps most obviously as the frieze on the Town Hall.  She also produced the Women’s memorial in ANZAC Square [20].

Daphne Mayo's frieze above the entrance to Brisbane Town Hall.
Composite photograph by Simon Hamlet, August 2016.

This medallion was lost or stolen and a replacement created based on a photograph retrieved from Hector's sister who was tracked down as a patient in a Sydney hospital; it was the only photo she had of her brother [21]. I assume it is the image below.

Portrait of Hector Vasyli by unidentified photographer.
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Original medallion as recorded in a publication held in the John Oxley donated by Mr Freeleagus.

Replacement, and current, medallion on the Hector Vasyli Memorial.
Photograph by Simon Hamlet, April 2017

My closing thoughts are that little Hector's selfless life has given him eternal youth. He will always be remembered as an eleven year old boy, nearly a century after his death.  Age shall not weary him.

References

[1]  Queensland Government (2016). Former Victoria Bridge Abutment.  Retrieved April 10, 2017, from https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600303
[2] BOY KILLED BY MOTOR CAR. (1918, June 10). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20230566
[3] HE'S NOT FORGOTTEN (1941, August 24). Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), p. 26. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203200717
[4] Wreath Placed on Memorial to Brave Greek Boy (1941, April 25). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186601800
[5] PERSONAL. (1918, June 12). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 11. Retrieved April 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20230872
[6] SUNDAY'S FATAL ACCIDENT. (1918, June 14). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175205249
[7] Hector Vasyli. (1918, June 13). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20231149
[8] HECTOR VASYL[?]. (1918, June 21). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 7. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215432953
[9] Advertising (1918, July 8). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 7 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177058701
[10] HE'S NOT FORGOTTEN (1941, August 24). Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), p. 26. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203200717
[11] FOR WOMEN. (1918, July 9). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 2. Retrieved April 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215433384
[12] HECTOR VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, July 11). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177062554
[13] SOLDIERS AND POLITICS (1918, August 13). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215428189
[14] HECTOR VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, November 16). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179046927
[15] Victoria Bridge Board. (1918, November 20). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 4. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20258593
[16] Hector Vasyli Memorial. (1918, December 3). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20252353
[17] VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, December 9). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179048639
[18] Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign (2017) 1918. Retrieved April 10, 2017 from https://www.anzacsofgreece.org/en/milestones-1899-2016/1741-1918  
[19] A Queensland Artist (1918, November 21). Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), p. 9. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72189334
[20] McKay, J. ( 2011) A sculpture’s legacy.  Time and Place Vol 26 pp 4-5. Retrieved April 2, 2017 from http://www.qldheritage.org.au/assets/files/time-and-place/time-and-place-26.pdf
[21] COMPACT (1973, November 21). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 41. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47228843