# Part 2: Life at Kooringal, Wagga Wagga

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2024/03/07/part-2-life-at-kooringal-wagga-wagga/
- Published: 2024-03-07T01:07:36+11:00
- Author: John Macvean

## **_My 2x Great Grandparent’s Home in Wagga Wagga_**

Hello, welcome back to the world of Jessie and Alexander and their life at Kooringal.
Also thank you so much for the wonderful response to part one of their story, it
is most appreciated.

To pick up where we left off, I mentioned that I had some information to correct
on the actual property of Kooringal. It came about thanks to the discovery of an
online mapping software called IntraMaps that most local councils use. (Thanks Alex!)

You might recall I shared this slide below in Part One, showing what I thought might
be the original homestead that Jessie and Alexander lived in.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/kooringal-aerial-
2023.jpg?resize=1100%2C615&ssl=1)

_Figure 78a: Courtesy of Google Maps_

Thanks to another phenomenal discovery, that IntraMaps has historic images loaded
when available and a fade-in/out function, I can now confirm that this wasn’t the
original homestead. Check out these images below that fade from a 2022 image of 
the site to a historic one from 1944.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-fade-
1.jpg?resize=1100%2C576&ssl=1)

_Figure 78b: Courtesy of IntraMaps _

The images match perfectly and look what happens to the house.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-fade-
2.jpg?resize=1100%2C531&ssl=1)

_Figure 78c: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

It disappears and actually shows the boundary marked out with a row of trees

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-fade-
3.jpg?resize=1100%2C540&ssl=1)

_Figure 78d: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

So I think we can safely assume that it wasn’t the house they lived in, but look
what appears if we pan the view up a little from this spot.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-1944.
jpg?resize=1100%2C710&ssl=1)

_Figure 78e: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

A homestead, complete with outbuildings and what looks like an orchard out the back
of the building. I think that this is actually the Kooringal Homestead that Jessie,
Alexander, and the family lived in. And look what is still standing today.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-2022-
full.jpg?resize=1100%2C724&ssl=1)

_Figure 78f: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

That grand driveway at the top left of the image is well-established. Unfortunately,
most of the orchard is gone but you can still see the remains of it on the corners.
The building directly in line with the homestead, toward Vincent Road at the bottom
of the photo, is still there and the shed after that has obviously been replaced
with that more significant building but it is still in the same position.

The building to the right of that looks the same, it has the same large tree overhanging
on the right top corner and there are the silos I mentioned in part one. If you 
check the 1944 image you will see they are not there as I suggested they probably
wouldn’t have been.

Here is a great aerial close-up of what the homestead looks like today.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-2022-
zoom.jpg?resize=807%2C797&ssl=1)

_Figure 78g: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

And then below, the aerial view from 1944. We are so lucky to have this as there
are no other earlier historic images for the site. It is twenty-six years after 
Jessie’s time and nineteen after Alexander was there but I’m pretty sure they would
recognise this image below as their home.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kooringal-1944-
zoom.jpg?resize=935%2C799&ssl=1)

_Figure 78h: Courtesy of IntraMaps_

I wonder if that section there at the bottom right-hand corner of the house with
the large tree might be where the car was parked for the photo of Jessie and Alexander
in their beautiful 35hp Renault.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/car-leaving-kooringal-
2a.jpg?resize=1100%2C776&ssl=1)

_Car Leaving Kooringal, Wagga Wagga, circa 1915-1918_ 
_Figure 78h1: Courtesy of
Tony Edwards (Cousin)_

At the risk of sounding too stalker-ish, I will share, we did do another drive-by
on our last visit to Wagga Wagga back in August. We took this photo looking down
the grand driveway and then zooming in on the house

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/img_0177.jpg?resize
=1100%2C617&ssl=1)

_Figure 78h2: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/img_0175.jpg?resize
=966%2C542&ssl=1)

_Figure 78h3: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

Oh it does sound stalker-like doesn’t it? But it is just that enthusiasm for connecting
with the past. I did have the thought, that I might mail a note with a link to the
posts to the owners in case they might be interested in the history. Wouldn’t it
be amazing if they had a historic photo of the homestead they were willing to share?

Anyhow, back to the  life that was happening around Kooringal at the time. We next
pick up an article describing a fundraising day organised by the Red Cross League
to raise funds for the Red Cross causes of the Allies in France.

I can’t find a mention of Jessie in the article but I’m sure if she was back in 
time from her visit to Melbourne in February, she would have been involved. (I shared
in Part One that she was there seeing William off to war.) Take a look at who is
donating a large sum of money towards the takings for the day.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/french-red-cross-
work-pg1.jpg?resize=518%2C473&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/french-red-cross-
work-pg2.jpg?resize=461%2C448&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/french-red-cross-
work-pg6.jpg?resize=457%2C450&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/french-red-cross-
work-pg7.jpg?resize=459%2C448&ssl=1)

_Article 7: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Talking of the Red Cross League, this next piece of information was pretty exciting
to stumble upon. It is from the Charles Sturt University Archives site and it is
a copy of an article on the League from 2011.

It has photos of the women Jessie worked with. I know they are the women who worked
with her, as I recognise some of the names provided. They match with the names of
the committee members that were listed with Jessie in different Trove articles. 
In actual fact, you will see for yourself in _Article 8 _below that a few of the_
_lady’s names listed as appearing in the photo also appear in _Article 8_. (If you
need to rotate the image, click the double arrow heads icon on the right and it 
will open up the rotate options.)

[red-cross-calling-for-Wagga-women-by-wayne-Doubleday](https://johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-calling-for-wagga-women-by-wayne-doubleday.pdf)
[Download](https://johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-calling-for-wagga-women-by-wayne-doubleday.pdf)

_Figure 78i: Courtesy of Charles Sturt University Archives_

The photos are amazing, I have poured over them to see if I can match a face with
Jessie’s face but nothing is standing out for me. Maybe the lady on the left.

_Article 8_ below, is a wrap-up of the year’s fundraising efforts at the Annual 
General Meeting and it shows that Jessie was elected as one of the vice presidents
for the coming year’s work.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-agm-
1916-pg1.jpg?resize=357%2C513&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-agm-
1916-pg2.jpg?resize=306%2C179&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-agm-
1916-pg3.jpg?resize=301%2C217&ssl=1)

_Article 8: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

This next article would have been very distressing for the family, notification 
of Jack’s 2nd wounding. That is Jessie and Alexander’s nephew, Maffra William Macvean.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/m-w-macvean-2nd-
wounding-aug-1916.jpg?resize=898%2C240&ssl=1)

_Figure 78j: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

This article above was printed twenty-six days after the day Jack was wounded, not
that Jessie and Alexander or the rest of the family would have known that unless
they received a cable from Jack’s parents in London.

If they didn’t receive that cable, they probably could have had a pretty good guess
as to where Jack was when it happened. This is what they were reading in the Advertiser
at the time.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/heroic-struggle-
1916.jpg?resize=647%2C685&ssl=1)

_Figure 78k: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

This article is just three days after the incident. Jack was shot on the first day
of the offensive to take back Pozieres, Sunday the 23rd of July. His casualty form
is devoid of any real details or description of the horror that he must have gone
through.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/jack-casualty-
form-1916.jpg?resize=1056%2C231&ssl=1)

_Casualty Form, Maffra William Macvean_
_Figure 78l: Courtesy of The National Archives
of Australia_

Lucky for us his record also contained a copy of the Proceedings of a Medical Board
review on his injuries which fills in some of the blanks.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/m-w-macvean-medical-
board-proceedings-1916-b.jpg?resize=1100%2C878&ssl=1)

_Figure 78l1: Courtesy of The National Archives of Australia_

His left arm was shot entirely through, bullets pulverising bone and disintegrating
his flesh. I can only imagine it must have been beyond agony. I’m sure Jack would
have been left with some permanent loss of function for the rest of his life.

Interestingly, I found this article from Charles Bean, the official government historian
printed in the Advertiser on the 29th of July, describing his visit to the Pozieres
battlefield on that very Sunday Jack was shot. It is a trimmed-down version but 
it gives you the general idea.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/storms-of-shell-
pg1.jpg?resize=723%2C697&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/storms-of-shell-
pg2.jpg?resize=703%2C652&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/storms-of-shell-
pg3.jpg?resize=712%2C438&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/storms-of-shell-
pg4.jpg?resize=706%2C657&ssl=1)

_Figure 78m: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I wonder if Jack ever got to read this and if he did, whether he scoffed and choked
on the barely concealed propaganda.

In piecing together this part of Jack’s story and working out the significance of
the 23rd of July from the Australian War Memorial site, I’ve had the honour of reading
dozens of letters from men involved in the battle that have been shared online. 
All of them describe a living hell where mates going over the top of the trench 
with them are shot right in front of their faces. Where exploding shells are burying
and reburying the dead over and over again until those still standing are covered
with dirt, mud, and human remains. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84338](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84338)

I wonder if any of these men who penned these letters were the men Bean observed
whose morale was so high on that Sunday afternoon?

I discovered a couple of photos at the State Library of New South Wales of what 
Pozieres looked like on that Sunday.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/on-the-way-to-
the-line-france-sergeant-john-lord-world-war-i-19161.jpg?resize=567%2C500&ssl=1)

_On the Way to the Line’, France, 
Sergeant John Lord, World War I, 1916 

Figure
78m1: Courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pozieres-france-
sergeant-john-lord-world-war-i-1916-1917.jpg?resize=565%2C500&ssl=1)

_Pozieres’, France, 
Sergeant John Lord, World War I, 1916-1917 

Figure 78m2: Courtesy
of the State Library of New Sout Wales

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pozieres-somme-
france-sergeant-john-lord-world-war-i-19171.jpg?resize=877%2C500&ssl=1)

_Pozieres, Somme, France, 
Sergeant John Lord, World War I, 1916-1917 Figure 78m3:
Courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales

Next, we have an example of what can only be described as the complete antithesis
of the bloody battle described above, a mention of Jessie’s ensemble that she wore
to the Wagga Wagga Show.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-show-aug-
1916-pg1.jpg?resize=463%2C463&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-show-aug-
1916-pg2.jpg?resize=458%2C338&ssl=1)

_Article 8a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

The Lost Wagga Wagga Facebook page just happened to have a photo of this slice of
normality that was continuing in the face of the bloodshed occurring on the other
side of the globe, it is dated at the very time Jessie was attending and could very
well be the day she was there.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-show-early-
1900s.jpg?resize=954%2C676&ssl=1)

_Wagga Wagga Show Circa 1910s-1920s _
_Figure 78n: Courtesy of Lost Wagga Wagga 
Facebook Page_[https://www.facebook.com/lostwaggawagga/](https://www.facebook.com/lostwaggawagga/)

This next find, well I have no proof that Jessie and Alexander attended the event
described, but I’m assuming they would have, considering the event was auspiced 
by the Red Cross and the fact that Jessie was on the Red Cross League Committee.
Also, the topic of the event is where Jack, their nephew fought and it is where 
he received his first wounds of the war. So the probability they were in attendance
is high.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-lecture-
on-gallipoli-1916.jpg?resize=599%2C484&ssl=1)

_Figure 79: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Lieutenant David Doull was 32 years of age at this time. The reason he was delivering
a lecture in Wagga Wagga on Gallipoli, just nine months after the allies had withdrawn
and not in France fighting? His casualty record explains.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/david-doull-casualty-
report.jpg?resize=903%2C504&ssl=1)

_Lieutenant David Doull, Casualty Record_, _1915 _
_Figure 79a: Courtesy of the 
National Archives of Australia_

I mean the horror of being buried alive with all those severe injuries, surviving
this somehow, being left with significant disabilities and then going on tour to
lecture about it not even 12 months later.That is just mind blowing to me.

As I suspected, the effects took a toll on David. I found this notice printed just
a week after Jessie and Alexander attend David’s lecture.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/david-doull-lecture-
cancelled-1916.jpg?resize=788%2C303&ssl=1)

_Figure 79b: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I’m sure if Jessie and Alexander were aware of this article, not only would they
have been concerned for David but I could imagine them thinking about what scars
had Gallipoli left on Jack.

I did manage to find one photo of David, pictured below. He did recover from this
episode and continued on with his lecture tour. He also had the lecture published.
Incredibly, it is available for us to view today. Click the link below to find a
copy in the National Library of Australia.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/david-doull.jpg?
resize=105%2C124&ssl=1)

_Lieut. David Doull Figure 79c: Courtesy of Ancestry Member Ian2309 on the Brown
Family Tree_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/a-story-of-gallipoli.
jpg?resize=392%2C602&ssl=1)

_Figure 79d: Courtesy of the National Library of Australia_ [https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37569396/view?searchTerm=David+Doull&partId=nla.obj-37569400#page/n0/mode/1up/search/David+Doull](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-37569396/view?searchTerm=David+Doull&partId=nla.obj-37569400#page/n0/mode/1up/search/David+Doull)

Again the Lost Wagga Wagga site comes through for us. It just happened to have a
photo of the Oddfellows Hall where David delivered his lecture.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/oddfellows-hall-
wagga-wagga-1891.jpg?resize=672%2C506&ssl=1)

_Oddfellows Hall, Wagga Wagga, 1891_ 
_Figure 80: Courtesy of Lost Wagga Wagga Facebook
Group_

It is the three story building in the middle. You’ll note that it is dated from 
25 years before the 19th of September 1916, but it was the closest I could get to
what it probably looked like at the time Jessie and Alexander listened to David’s
lecture, minus the water of course.

The building stood there for another 52 years before being demolished in 1968. It
has a fascinating history and if you are interested, hit the link below the photo
for more details. (The name in the link gives you a good hint as to who has performed
there.)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/oddfellows-hall-
wagga-wagga-circa1960s.jpg?resize=1064%2C1238&ssl=1)

_Oddfellows Hall Wagga Wagga, circa 1960s_ 
_Figure 80a: Courtesy of Region Riverina_
[https://regionriverina.com.au/riverina-rewind-the-oddfellows-dame-nellie-melba-and-the-oxford-theatre/33776/](https://regionriverina.com.au/riverina-rewind-the-oddfellows-dame-nellie-melba-and-the-oxford-theatre/33776/)

We next find Jessie attending a community event at the Presbyterian Hall which looks
like it was purely for the enjoyment of the Girls Guild. A chance to just get together
and have some fun and not think about the war for a while.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-girls-guild-
pg1.jpg?resize=649%2C449&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-girls-guild-
pg2.jpg?resize=631%2C366&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-girls-guild-
pg3.jpg?resize=637%2C391&ssl=1)

_Article 9: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Next, I have collated a number of articles describing different fundraising events
that Jessie was involved with. When you look at the number of events that she and
Alexander were involved in, they just seemed to roll from one to the next. It must
have been exhausting with all the other duties of running a station, the stock and
not to mention the homestead itself.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/st-andres-fair-
1916-pg1-b.jpg?resize=480%2C235&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/st-andres-fair-
1916-pg2-b.jpg?resize=450%2C140&ssl=1)

_Figure 81: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Unfortunately, I cannot uncover an historic photo of the hall at this time but you
might remember that this is the hall that Jessie and Alexander donated to for the
cost of its construction and it is also the hall that Jessie got to lay the foundation
stone for.

We also got the chance to see the interior on our 2018 trip. So, somewhere here 
below, Jessie had her stall set up. Perhaps right where her 4x Great Grandson, Xander,
was sitting in this next photo.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2018-10-02-08.55.261.
jpg?resize=1100%2C619&ssl=1)

_Figure 81a: Courtesy of the Macvean Family Archives_

Now we have a joint event by the Red Cross and the Y.M.C.A, a fete in Wagga Wagga’s
Newtown Park.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-and-
ymca-fete-nov-1916-pg1.jpg?resize=526%2C480&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-and-
ymca-fete-nov-1916-pg4.jpg?resize=451%2C447&ssl=1)

_Figure 82: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Here is a wonderful photo of a section of the park from the early 1900s. Not sure
if this is where the fete was held but it gives us a good idea of what it probably
looked like.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/74698848_2492104287669259_971823800549113856_n567146987023302035.
jpg?resize=1100%2C694&ssl=1)

I was so lucky when searching for images of the park that I found some high quality
scans of the photos from the Doubleday article (_Figure__ 78i_) mentioned above,
shared on the Charles Sturt University site.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-red-cross-
league-rw1647-24.jpg?resize=800%2C486&ssl=1)

_Wagga Wagga Red Cross League Ladies Committee_
_Figure 83: Courtesy of Charles 
Sturt University Archives_

Oh, I wonder if that is Jessie on the very left above, and then maybe third from
the right in this photo below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-wagga-red-
cross-league-ladies-committee.jpg?resize=806%2C443&ssl=1)

_Wagga Wagga Red Cross League Ladies Committee_
_Figure 84: Courtesy of Charles 
Sturt University Archives_

I’m hoping the university might have some names that go with the photo in their 
records. I’ll email and ask.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/red-cross-league-
1916.jpg?resize=469%2C471&ssl=1)

_Figure 85: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Again, the luck kicked in. I found this photo of the Town Hall mentioned above from
the 1930s.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/wagga_wagga_borough_town_hall5357471517770527177.
jpg?resize=1000%2C662&ssl=1)

_Wagga Wagga Borough Town Hall circa 1930s _
_Figure 85a: Courtesy of Wikimedia 
Commons_

I swear I can almost see Jessie and the ladies of the Red Cross emerging from the
building.

This next article was an extraordinary find, an actual letter from Jack to his aunt
and uncle, Jessie and Alexander describing what happened to him at Pozieres. We 
are beyond lucky that they felt that it was important enough to be shared with the
paper.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/capt-jack-macvean-
letter-1916.jpg?resize=612%2C756&ssl=1)

_Figure 87: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Unfortunately, I cannot find one single photo of Jack. His full name was Maffra 
William Bushby Macvean. I did however stumble upon this most extraordinary find 
on an online auction site called WorthPoint.

## Rare and Original Named Officers Jacket to Captain M.W.MacVean, 1st AIF

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/capt-m-w-macvean-
jacket-1.jpg?resize=345%2C400&ssl=1)

_Figure 87a_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/capt-m-w-macvean-
jacket-2.jpg?resize=336%2C381&ssl=1)

_Figure 87_b

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/capt-m-w-macvean-
jacket-3.jpg?resize=400%2C299&ssl=1)

_Figure 87_c

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/capt-m-w-macvean-
jacket-4.jpg?resize=308%2C400&ssl=1)

_Figure 87_d 
_Figures 87a-d: Courtesy of WorthPoint _[https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-named-officers-jacket-218517855](https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-named-officers-jacket-218517855)

I say incredible a lot I know, but these are considering we have no photo of Jack.
To know that not only did this jacket belong to him and that he wore it but that
it somehow survived for well over a century now, wow what a story it must have. 
I did make contact with WorthPoint and they confirmed that the jacket was sold on
EBay in the UK in 2011 but there were no further details. So unfortunately it is
lost to us. They did however very kindly give me permission to share the photos 
here.

If you click the link above it will take you to the jacket’s listing and a short
summary from the person who was selling it. In that summary they describe that they
found Jack’s name inside the jacket and this is how they were able to confirm that
it belonged to him.

Talking of not having a photo of Jack, amazingly there was a photo on the Victorian
Collections website that shows Jack with his mother, Lottie and his sisters, Olive
and Gertrude when they were children. They are pictured in the gardens of Lottie’s
parents’ home, Brocklesby in 1894. How random.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/54525646_2380818798619552_41871580334129152_n.
jpg?resize=1100%2C808&ssl=1)

_Lottie Macvean with Olive, Gertrude and Maffra at Brocklesby, 1894 _
_Figure 88:
Courtesy of Victorian Collections _[https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/618c5c110a060348092bb988](https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/618c5c110a060348092bb988)

Lottie’s parents, Charlotte and William Bushby Jones, Jack’s grandparents built 
the home in 1866. William died in 1889 and Charlotte sells the house in 1902. In
1907 the home becomes the first Lauriston Girls High School. [https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/618c5c110a060348092bb988](https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/618c5c110a060348092bb988)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lauriston-tennis-
team-1918-1.jpg?resize=605%2C867&ssl=1)

_Lauriston Tennis Team, 1918_
_Figure 88a: Courtesy of Victorian Collections _ [https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/6195c9198d6fbd57e7000103](https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/6195c9198d6fbd57e7000103)

The school still operates to this day. I can’t tell from this next image if Brocklesby
still stands but the school has taken over the whole site where it use to stand.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lauriston-girls-
school-2023.jpg?resize=1100%2C412&ssl=1)

_Lauriston Girls High School, Armadale, Victoria, Original site of Brocklesby _

_Figure 88b: Courtesy of Google Maps_

Now we have another example of Jessie’s war efforts.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/st-andres-fair-
1916-pg1-b.jpg?resize=480%2C235&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/st-andres-fair-
1916-pg2-b.jpg?resize=450%2C140&ssl=1)

_Article 11: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Having just learnt what Jack went through at Pozieres, this next notice must have
been harrowing for Jessie, Alexander, and the family to read. It would have been
their biggest fear realised, William wounded.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/w-h-macvean-wounded-
nov-1916-b.jpg?resize=426%2C184&ssl=1)

_Figure 89: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Luckily for us, the Australian Town and Country Journal carried a few more details
in their short piece on William’s wounding.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/w-h-macvean-severely-
wounded-nov-1916-a.jpg?resize=905%2C310&ssl=1)

_Figure 89a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I must say it is heartening to hear that Jessie and Alexander at least had a wire
informing them of the wounding and didn’t have to read it in the newspaper. William’s
casualty record notes that he received the wound in the field on the 27th of October.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/w-h-macvean-severely-
wounded-nov-1916-b.jpg?resize=1002%2C352&ssl=1)

_Casualty Form William Hill Macvean_
_Figure 89b: Courtesy of The National Archives
of Australia_

As you can see, he received a severe shrapnel wound through the right thigh. William
was shipped back to England on board the Hospital Ship Dieppe.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/h-s-dieppe.jpg?
resize=1100%2C545&ssl=1)

_H S Dieppe, circa 1914-1919_ 
_Figure 89c: Courtesy of Tim Webb, Flickr User_[https://www.flickr.com/photos/42117802@N06/4406533099](https://www.flickr.com/photos/42117802@N06/4406533099)__

In the midst of all this family turmoil from the war, we have another example of
the minutiae of home life. It just seems so surreal when compared to what we have
just read William and Jack have lived through.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lady-help-1916.
jpg?resize=797%2C304&ssl=1)

_Figure 90: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Next, more information on that wartime turmoil. This time, a letter from William
to his parents. And again, so lucky for us, it was discussed in print in the Wagga
Daily Advertiser in early February 1917.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cable-from-willie-
feb-1917-pg1.jpg?resize=619%2C469&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cable-from-willie-
feb-1917-pg2.jpg?resize=616%2C499&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cable-from-willie-
feb-1917-pg3.jpg?resize=602%2C396&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cable-from-willie-
feb-1917-pg4.jpg?resize=613%2C355&ssl=1)

_Figure 91: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I mean it is just incredible to me to be able to hear William’s own voice in this
article, what a gift.

I went searching for some information on St Anselmas and Sir James Sargent, and 
it took about an hour of digging to confirm that these details were incorrect. It
was actually St Anselm’s in Walmer, Kent and it was Sir Charles Sargant and his 
wife, Lady Amelia (Millie) Sargant whose residence William was admitted to.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sir-charles-sargant.
jpg?resize=578%2C798&ssl=1)

_Sir Charles Sargant _
_Figure 91a: Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery of
the United Kingdom_[https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw164850/Sir-Charles-Henry-Sargant?LinkID=mp79117&role=sit&rNo=1](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw164850/Sir-Charles-Henry-Sargant?LinkID=mp79117&role=sit&rNo=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/lady-millie-sargant-
1918.jpg?resize=369%2C596&ssl=1)

_Lady Millie Sargant 1918 _
_Figure 91b: Courtesy of Walmer Web UK_[http://www.walmerweb.co.uk/images/generals-meadow-005.jpg](http://www.walmerweb.co.uk/images/generals-meadow-005.jpg)

And of course, I went looking for St. Anselm’s, and I can’t believe it, I found 
it. The hospital building still stands today. This is where William was recovering
from his wounding.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/st-anselms-walmer-
kent-2023.jpg?resize=1100%2C509&ssl=1)

_St Anselm’s, Walmer Kent_ 
_Figure 91c: Courtesy of Google Maps_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/st-anselms-walmer-
kent.jpg?resize=1100%2C688&ssl=1)

_St Anselm’s, Walmer Kent _
_Figure 91d: Courtesy of Google Maps_

It is also very interesting to learn from William’s letter that he and his Cousin
Jack were fighting in the same area, Pozières, but obviously at different times.
I wonder if their paths crossed and they were able to catch up face to face. William,
being wounded in October, places him just three months on the other side of the 
battle where Jack was wounded, the first day of the Battle of Pozières, the 23rd
of July 1916.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/m-w-macvean-1st-
wounding-1916.jpg?resize=745%2C146&ssl=1)

_Casualty Form Maffra William Macvean
Figure 91e: Courtesy of The National Archives
of Australia

This was Jack’s second wounding and ends his active service.

He was shot in the thigh at Gallipoli, survived that wounding then was sent to France,
fought at Pozières, and sustained this terrible injury to his arm. What an experience
and it wasn’t even the end of 1916 as yet. He was awarded the Military Cross on 
the 1st of January 1917.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/m-w-macvean-military-
cross-1917.jpg?resize=547%2C359&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/m-w-macvean-military-
cross-1917-c.jpg?resize=388%2C237&ssl=1)

_Article 12: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I was curious to know what the Military Cross looked like. A few are put up for 
auction at any one time on Google so I was able to find us an example to look at.
I did put Jack’s name in the search but nothing came up specifically for him concerning
his cross.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/gv-military-cross-
front-1917.jpg?resize=844%2C1500&ssl=1)

_George V, Military Cross, Front, 1917_ 
_Figure 91f: Courtesy of Easy Live Auction_
[https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/ffd44a0cbe4189a20eed77d0ebee7b29/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/antiques-and-collectables-lot-64/](https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/ffd44a0cbe4189a20eed77d0ebee7b29/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/antiques-and-collectables-lot-64/)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/gv-military-cross-
back-1917.jpg?resize=832%2C1500&ssl=1)

_George V, Military Cross, Back 1917 Figure 91g: Courtesy of Easy Live Auction _

[https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/ffd44a0cbe4189a20eed77d0ebee7b29/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/antiques-and-collectables-lot-64/](https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/ffd44a0cbe4189a20eed77d0ebee7b29/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/antiques-and-collectables-lot-64/)

I wonder if Jack’s cross has survived the hundred and six years since it was awarded
to him and if it has, whose set of drawers is it sitting in and will it ever come
to light again?

I can only imagine there must have been a swell of pride and excitement within the
family when they became aware of this honour Jack received, let alone when they 
read who was honouring him at this special event mentioned below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/wounded-anzac-
officers-visit-king-and-queen-1917.jpg?resize=405%2C502&ssl=1)

_Figure 92: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I couldn’t find a photographic record of the actual event that Jack attended, but
I did find one from eleven months earlier in March 1916. I’m sure Jack’s visit to
Buckingham Palace would have looked very much like this.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/king-queens-tea-
party-1916.jpg?resize=920%2C596&ssl=1)

_King & Queens Tea Party 1916 _
_Figure 92a: Courtesy of the Royal Archives_ [https://www.royal.uk/first-world-war-royal-archives](https://www.royal.uk/first-world-war-royal-archives)

I’m assuming it must have been his experience in the battle on the 23rd of July 
that earns Jack his Military Cross. I just haven’t found anything written to back
that up yet.

A little after Jack’s afternoon tea with the King and Queen, Jessie and Alexander
received another letter from William.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/crawling-cowards-
1917.jpg?resize=432%2C513&ssl=1)

_Figure 93: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Now, there is no doubt here as to how William is feeling from the tone of this letter.
He is angry and frustrated. I can only imagine having to fight and then being wounded
in one of the deadliest battles that the Australians faced might be the reason for
him feeling like this but what had me really intrigued was specifically William’s
statement, _“…crawling cowards in Australia who won’t enlist.”_ What did this mean?

Well, a quick Googling of “_Enlistment rates Australia, 1917″_ provided plenty of
answers.

So after the disaster that was Gallipoli, in terms of its failed execution, the 
men killed and numbers wounded, the rates of enlistments tumbled during 1916. Australia
had real problems meeting the commitment of men that the Government had made to 
the British Government. Billy Hughes who was Prime Minister at the time thought 
conscription was the answer. [https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/conscription-referendums](https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/conscription-referendums)

The very next day after William was wounded so badly in Pozieres, on the 28th of
October 1916 the first conscription plebiscite was put to the Australian public.
It was narrowly defeated, with the “No” vote of 51.6% and the “Yes”, of 48.4%. [https://www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au/the-first-conscription-referendum-1916/](https://www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au/the-first-conscription-referendum-1916/)

This meant Australia wouldn’t conscript men to fight overseas.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-crime-of-those-
who-vote-ef80a0noef80a0-artist-george-henry-dancey-published-in-melbourne-punch-
12-october-1916.-courtesy-national-library-of-australia-sm.jpg?resize=748%2C1219&
ssl=1)

_The Crime of Those Who Vote No, by George Henry Dancey _
_12 Oct 1916, Melbourne
Punch __Figure 93a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

With this defeat and the dwindling enlistment rates, I could imagine this Dancey
drawing above is probably how William felt. Abandoned by the country he was helping
to protect.

William is discharged from St Anselm’s in Kent, sometime before the 4th of January
1917 to Perham Downs to convalesce. His record doesn’t have an actual discharge 
date but we know he is at Perham Downs on the 4th as he is charged Absent without
leave on this date.

He is eventually shipped back to France to rejoin the battalion on the 16th of January
1917.

I can only imagine with this referendum defeat fresh in their minds and just a couple
of months after receiving William’s letter, that Jessie and Alexander’s frustration
levels would have gone through the roof on receiving this next piece of distressing
news.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/w-h-macvean-wounded1917.
jpg?resize=770%2C433&ssl=1)

_Figure 94: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

William wounded for a second time. When reviewing his service record William was
actually wounded on the 18th of March 1917 not even two months have passed since
he returned to France from recovering from his first wounding. You’ll note also 
from the date of the article above that it has taken nearly seven weeks for Jessie
and Alexander to be informed of William’s situation.

William received a gunshot wound to his left foot this time. He was shipped out 
on the 18th of April back to England on board the Hospital Ship, the St Patrick.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/st-patrick-in-
war-time-livery-1914-1919.jpg?resize=1036%2C671&ssl=1)

_SS St Patrick, In War Time Livery 1914 – 1919 _
_Figure 94a: Courtesy of Fishguard&
Goodwick Local History Society_ [https://www.hanesabergwaun.org.uk/topics/military/world-war-i/ss-st-patrick](https://www.hanesabergwaun.org.uk/topics/military/world-war-i/ss-st-patrick)

Here to put him in the picture, is a photo of William below. I am so fortunate to
have this, thanks to the very generous share by Cousin Tony Edwards. Tony had it
as part of his family history collection and it shows “Billy” not Willie, in May
1918 just 12 months after this wounding.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/william-billy-
macvean-on-clayton-hill-12-may-19181.jpg?resize=478%2C708&ssl=1)

_William “Billy” Hill Macvean on Clayton Hill 12 May 1918 _
_Figure 95: Courtesy
of Tony (Cousin)_

It is amazing to think this second wounding happens just seven months out from the
severe wounding William received at Poziers.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/w-h-macvean-wounded-
may-1917.jpg?resize=389%2C437&ssl=1)

_Figure 96: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

At the time that William was traveling on the St Patrick back to Britain, Jack his
cousin was two days out from departing Capetown South Africa, on his way back home.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/capetown-sa-1916.
jpg?resize=1100%2C753&ssl=1)

_Capetown South Africa, 1916_
_Figure 96a: Courtesy of Collections WA _[https://collectionswa.net.au/sites/default/files/records/2020-06/12352-AMWA46182.jpg?itok=Q_VZbI2I](https://collectionswa.net.au/sites/default/files/records/2020-06/12352-AMWA46182.jpg?itok=Q_VZbI2I)

This photo above is only months out from when Jack left there on the 18th of April
1917, so this is a real window into his timeline and life. It takes another three
weeks for Jack to make it back to Australia. He disembarks on the 15th of May 1917
in Sydney.

I found this remarkable record of the ship Jack was traveling on, the SS Beltana
confirming the details of his voyage back home. You will note on the entry for the
_21..3..17_, below, that the ship left the UK on the 18th March. That is two months
at sea to get back to Australia.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hmat-beltana-troop-
movements-7194876.jpg?resize=640%2C472&ssl=1)

_SS Beltana Voyage Card, Oct 1916- June 1917 _
_Figure 96b: Courtesy of the Australian
War Memorial_[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2627764?image=2](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2627764?image=2)

I found a discharge notice for Jack in his file that also confirmed the voyage dates.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/m-w-macvean-rta.
jpg?resize=1100%2C424&ssl=1)

_Repatriation and Discharge Notice for Capt. M.W. Macvean, 1st Battalion, 1917 _

_Figure 96c: Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia_

I was then lucky enough to find this wonderful photo of the actual ship that Jack
returned to Australia aboard. The Beltana.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hmat_a72_beltana.
jpg?resize=816%2C582&ssl=1)

_HMAT\_A72\_Beltana _
_Figure 96d: Courtesy of Birtwistle Wiki_[https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/images/4/45/HMAT_A72_Beltana.jpg](https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/images/4/45/HMAT_A72_Beltana.jpg)

Jack’s return was also mentioned in the papers. This one is from the Glen Innes 
Examiner.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anzacs-come-home-
pg1.jpg?resize=551%2C473&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/anzacs-come-home-
pg5.jpg?resize=528%2C447&ssl=1)

_Figure 97: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

The Sun newspaper carried the same article but with much more detail and a photo
of the returned men being driven to a buffet being held in their honour.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/home-again-1917.
jpg?resize=919%2C903&ssl=1)

_Figure 97a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Somewhere in this photo, is Jack. Being one of only two Military Cross recipients
I wonder if he is in the first car. There is no way to know but what is incredible,
is to know that he is here somewhere.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/anzacs-come-home-
1917.jpg?resize=497%2C733&ssl=1)

_Figure 97b: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I’m sure Jessie, Alexander and any other members of the family who could have been
there would have been in that compound in the Domain waiting for Jack to welcome
him home. How incredible it must have been for them, to not only have Jack back,
not in one piece of course but at least back and to know he was being honoured this
way for his contribution. I do love the fact that it is also pointed out to us in
the article, Jack’s and Captain Walklate’s marked reticence to talk of their exploits.

The ANZAC Buffet is another of what I would call those lost pieces of history. It
was set up by Miss Annie Evans and three other prominent women of Sydney at the 
time and completely run by Red Cross Volunteers and operated solely on donations.
It provided a place in the Domain in Sydney for returning soldiers from the front
to meet their families. It also provided meals and entertainment seven days a week
from 10am -10pm. [https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/archive/curio/exhibit/1371/index9e72.html?from_collection=2&page=2](https://www2.sl.nsw.gov.au/archive/curio/exhibit/1371/index9e72.html?from_collection=2&page=2)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/anzac-buffet-pavillion-
1919.jpg?resize=640%2C522&ssl=1)

_ANZAC Buffet Pavilion, Sydney, 1919_
_Figure 97b1: Courtesy The Australian War 
Memorial _[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C319002](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C319002)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/the-northern-herald-
cairns.jpg?resize=780%2C718&ssl=1)

_The Northern Herald Cairns_
_Figure 97b2: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of
Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/anzac-buffet-1920.
jpg?resize=506%2C739&ssl=1)

_Figure 97b3: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/anzac-buffet-plaque.
jpg?resize=480%2C270&ssl=1)

_Anzac Buffet Plaque_, _The Domain, Sydney_
_Figure 97b4: Courtesy of State Library
of NSW _[https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/sydneys-anzac-buffet](https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/sydneys-anzac-buffet)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/anzac-buffet-plaque-
2.jpg?resize=799%2C549&ssl=1)

_Anzac Buffet Plaque_,_Clear Text_
_Figure 97b5: Courtesy of SDN Children’s Services_
[https://www.sdn.org.au/media/1890/for-the-little-ones-the-best-sdn-childrens-services-1905-2005.pdf](https://www.sdn.org.au/media/1890/for-the-little-ones-the-best-sdn-childrens-services-1905-2005.pdf)

Returning for a moment to those exploits that Jack wouldn’t discuss above, my Cousin
Anne Macvean pointed me in the right direction to find Jack’s commendation entry.
It appears in the “_Recommendation file for the honours and awards…1st Australian
Division…”_ on the Australian War Memorial site.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/w-m-macvean-recommendation-
for-military-cross-1917.jpg?resize=1100%2C697&ssl=1)

_Figure 97c: Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial_ 
[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1597202](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1597202)

How extraordinary to now discover that Jack received his Military Cross not only
for one event but for three areas of battle he was involved in. Pétillon, Fleurbaix
and also for leading his company in the attack on Pozieres. Now that I’m aware of
these names I plan on doing a bit more digging on what happened in these battles
and will detail what I find out in a future post on Jack.

Back on the home front again, here we have Jessie contributing a large amount to
the Wagga Boys Hut Movement.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/st-andrews-stall-
may-1917.jpg?resize=403%2C255&ssl=1)

_Figure 97b: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Yes, I asked the same thing. What the hell is the Wagga Boys Hut Movement? Well,
it took a little bit of digging on Trove as there were absolutely no links coming
up in Google at all. This next article explains what it is in a nutshell.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/wagga-wagga-express.
jpg?resize=494%2C542&ssl=1)

_Figure 97c: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

St Andrews is, of course, the Presbyterian congregation Jessie and Alexander belong
to and the key to understanding what the Huts were all about is the Y.M.C.A part.

This initiative discussed by the St Andrew’s Women’s Aid Society above culminated
in a fundraising day for the cost of the hut.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/hut-appeal-1917.
jpg?resize=572%2C441&ssl=1)

_Figure 97d: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I came across a few mentions of other Hut’s being erected at the front for different
battalions. The initiative took off in other areas around NSW. The Huts were also
used for other services that troops might have needed.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ymca-hut-1917.
jpg?resize=739%2C496&ssl=1)

_Figure 97e: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Now that I had the key and these few other details to go on, I tried Googling, “
_YMCA Huts_” and found this straight off on the Australian Y.M.C.A site.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tempsnip.jpg?resize
=1100%2C214&ssl=1)

_Figure 97f: Courtesy of YMCA Australia _
[https://ymca.org.au/remembering-our-young-anzac-heroes/](https://ymca.org.au/remembering-our-young-anzac-heroes/)

I mean those efforts and money raised are incredible. I couldn’t uncover a photo
of an Australian-sponsored hut but I did manage to find one of a captured German
Hut that the Australians took over. Also a photo of a mobile Aussie canteen truck,
and a photo that shows what a typical hut looked like at the front.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/a-group-of-unidentified-
australian-soldiers-outside-the-young-mens-christian-association-ymca.jpg?resize
=640%2C473&ssl=1)

_A group of unidentified Australian soldiers outside the Young Men’s Christian Association(
YMCA) Curlu_ 
_Figure 97g: Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial_ [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E03208](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E03208)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/a-mobile-canteen-
at-the-anzac-horse-show-world-war-one.jpg?resize=1024%2C773&ssl=1)

_A Mobile Canteen at the ANZAC Horse Show World War One_, _16th Sept 1917, by Henry
Armytage Sanders_
_Figure 97h: Courtesy of The Imperial War Museums _[https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/a-mobile-canteen-at-the-anzac-horse-show-world-war-i-21499985188-e7fd51](https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/a-mobile-canteen-at-the-anzac-horse-show-world-war-i-21499985188-e7fd51)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-young-mens-
christian-association-on-the-western-front-1914-1918.jpg?resize=800%2C638&ssl=1)

_The Exterior of the Swansea & District YMCA hut in the Happy Valley ner Rinxent,
24 May 1917 _
_Figure 97i: Courtesy of Imperial War Museums _[https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/the-young-mens-christian-association-on-the-western-front-1914-1918-q5423-dd089b](https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/the-young-mens-christian-association-on-the-western-front-1914-1918-q5423-dd089b)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/interior-of-the-
mercers-ymca-hut-at-calais-24-may-1917.jpg?resize=800%2C629&ssl=1)

_Interior of the Mercers YMCA hut at Calais, 24 May 1917_ 
_Figure 97j: Courtesy
of the Imperial War Museums _[https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/the-young-mens-christian-association-on-the-western-front-1914-1918-q5423-dd089b](https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/the-young-mens-christian-association-on-the-western-front-1914-1918-q5423-dd089b)

The next find was an Uncle Jeff letter from Ivan Macvean, Jessie and Alexander’s
grandson and he specifically mentions the big news within the family at the time.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rabbits-near-wagga-
1917-pg1.jpg?resize=531%2C418&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rabbits-near-wagga-
1917-pg2.jpg?resize=518%2C315&ssl=1)

_Figure 97k: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Obviously the news about William being wounded again was being shared around the
family.

This next article is really amazing for me. It is one of those personal examples,
showing that life is still continuing, despite the fact that there is a major worry
for Alexander and Jessie, their son’s life being in danger.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/clutha-estate-
purchase-1917.jpg?resize=556%2C684&ssl=1)

_Figure 98: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I found the Coreinbob Railway Station site, on the Historical Land Records Viewer
of the NSW Land Registry Services. It straddles two parishes. I have checked both
maps and Alexander’s name does not appear anywhere, neither so, Bryan Doyle’s, so
I can’t pinpoint exactly where Clutha was. But it would have been somewhere either
side there of the station which I have marked in yellow highlighter below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/coreinbob-train-
station-historic-map-2-1.jpg?resize=1100%2C507&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/coreinbob-train-
station-historic-map-1-1.jpg?resize=1100%2C408&ssl=1)

_County of Wynyard, Parish of Coreinbob & Parish of Borambula _
_Figure 98a: Courtesy
of New South Wales Land Registry Services_[https://hlrv.nswlrs.com.au/](https://hlrv.nswlrs.com.au/)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/coreinbob-property-
purchase-1917.jpg?resize=706%2C452&ssl=1)

_Figure 99: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I’m assuming it must stay in the family for a while as it looks like it makes an
appearance in Alexander’s obituary. Small spoiler, sorry.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/last-page-of-obit.
jpg?resize=832%2C598&ssl=1)

_Figure 99a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

It looks like Uncle Willie, might have taken over the property. I know it doesn’t
have Clutha noted next to William’s name but I reckon we might be close.

We next find Jessie, again donating, this time to the Presbyterian Church Stall.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/presbyterian-church-
stall-france-day-1917.jpg?resize=504%2C613&ssl=1)

_Figure 100: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

Isabel Macvean, Uncle Willie’s niece is next to discuss what news is happening for
the family in another Uncle Jeff letter.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/isable-macvean-
letter-1917.jpg?resize=526%2C514&ssl=1)

_Figure 100a: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

The Lost Wagga Wagga Facebook page had this wonderful window into what the show 
probably looked like for Isabel and the family. Obviously, this is not the year 
the floods hit and kept the crowds away.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/wagga-wagga-show-
1910s.jpg?resize=1100%2C682&ssl=1)

_Wagga Show circa 1910_s
_Figure 101: Courtesy of Lost Wagga Wagga Facebook Page_
[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=841630247972061&set=a.481958857272537&locale=th_TH](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=841630247972061&set=a.481958857272537&locale=th_TH)

Keep Isabel’s mention of the _“Strikers”_ in mind, more on that is coming up. What
is really interesting here in her letter is not only the personal news about the
floods and the show but the fact that she is aware that William is now back in France
with his battalion and fighting. So we can deduce from this that a letter from William
must have reached the family letting them know this news or at least another wire
from the war office stating that he was returning to his battalion.

We last left William departing France aboard, the St Patrick for England, to receive
treatment for the gunshot wound to his foot. He is admitted to the military Hospital
in Canterbury. I can’t be certain but I think this Military Hospital was the General
Kent and Canterbury Hospital on Longport Road which was part of the St Augustine’s
site, pictured below.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/kent-canterbury-
hospital-at-longport-road-st-augustines.jpg?resize=1100%2C700&ssl=1)

_Kent & Canterbury Hospital at Longport Road, St Augustines_ 
_Figure 101a: Courtesy
of EastKent Hospitals Flickr Account _[https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastkenthospitals/albums/72157635153260568/with/9293667236](https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastkenthospitals/albums/72157635153260568/with/9293667236)

The Hospital is the large three-story building, mid-center right of the photo with
a circular drive and garden in front. Below is a close-up of the left wing of that
front view.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/kent-canterbury-
hospital-at-longport-road-st-augustines-front.jpg?resize=1000%2C602&ssl=1)

_Kent & Canterbury Hospital at Longport Road, St Augustine’s Front View_
_Figure
101b: Courtesy of EastKent Hospitals Flickr Account _[https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastkenthospitals/albums/72157635153260568/with/9293667236](https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastkenthospitals/albums/72157635153260568/with/9293667236)

According to William’s service record, he remained here at the Military Hospital
recovering until the 8th of May 1917 when he was discharged on furlough and then
given orders to report to the Training Dept at Perham Downs once again.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/whm-service-record.
jpg?resize=997%2C172&ssl=1)

_William Hill Macvean Service Record WW1 _
_Figure 101c: Courtesy of the National
Archives of Australia_

I discovered a few more details on what exactly Perham Downs was. The Downs were
situated on the edge of the Salisbury Plain. It was a camp set up at the beginning
of the war as Australia’s No.1 Command Depot. There were four Australian Command
Depots in total set up across the country. Unlike their English counterparts, Australian
Troops had no home to return to in the UK after being discharged from hospital, 
so it was basically a holding depot for Australian troops to continue their convalescence
and then once recovered, engage in retraining to harden up in preparation to rejoin
their battalions. [https://anzac-22nd-battalion.com/training-camps-england/](https://anzac-22nd-battalion.com/training-camps-england/)

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/perham-down-camp.
jpg?resize=1100%2C683&ssl=1)

_Perham Down Camp_, _Salisbury Plain_, _England _
_Figure 101d: Courtesy of eBay
UK_ [https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390749325606](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390749325606)

I just had the most brilliant piece of luck. I stumbled upon another family history
blog post, titled “_The Kent & Canterbury Hospital”_ and within it, they had this
amazing photo, below, confirming that this hospital was known as the Canterbury 
Military Hospital, as noted on William’s service record. And not only that, it is
dated May 3rd, 1917, exactly the time William was there. Meaning that while Hilda
and her friends were posing for this photo, William was somewhere in the building
with them.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/canterbury-military-
hospital-3rd-may-1917.jpg?resize=500%2C380&ssl=1)

_Canterbury Military Hospital 3rd May 1917_ 
_Figure 101e: Courtesy of T Machado,
Historic Canterbury Blog _[http://www.machadoink.com/Kent%20and%20Canterbury%20Hospital.htm](http://www.machadoink.com/Kent%20and%20Canterbury%20Hospital.htm)

Now if we refer back to _Figure 101c_, William’s service record confirms the details
of Isabel’s letter, that Uncle Willie was back at the front fighting. As we can 
see William sails back to France on the 4th of June and rejoins his battalion, the
29th, on the 6th of June 1917.

Of course, Isabel is referring to William returning to the front after being wounded
for the second time in her letter to Uncle Jeff. What she couldn’t have known is
that just three days before her letter was published, Uncle Willie was actually 
returned to duty after a month-long admission in the 50th Casualty Clearing Station,
this time suffering with scabies.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/whm-service-record-
2.jpg?resize=920%2C418&ssl=1)

_William Hill Macvean Service Record WW1 _
_Figure 101f: Courtesy of the National
Archives of Australia_

Oh, I just did a quick dive on Scabies in WW1, OMG! It is harrowing. Scabies is 
an infestation of the upper layer of the skin by the human itch mite, where it burrows
in and lays its eggs. [https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/gen_info/faqs.html#:~:text=Scabies%20is%20an%20infestation%20of,a%20pimple%2Dlike%20skin%20rash.](https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/gen_info/faqs.html#:~:text=Scabies%20is%20an%20infestation%20of,a%20pimple%2Dlike%20skin%20rash.)

You know I’m itching as I’m typing. Apparently, the mites preferred areas of infestation
are the feet, hands and penis. Yep, your read that right, the penis. Even better
than that, the first step in treatment was to thoroughly rub the skin for 15 minutes
with a soft soap to open up the burrows and expose the mites and their eggs. It 
was found that an average admission in 1917 amongst troops serving in France, was
29-30 days before the patient was considered cured and discharged. [(https://archive.org/stream/medicalservicesd02macp#page/68/search/scabies](https://archive.org/stream/medicalservicesd02macp#page/68/search/scabies))

So William’s admission was in that average. And I mean, to state the bleeding obvious
here, what a miserable time for William. This is only two months since he rejoined
the battalion after suffering the gunshot wound to his foot. His foot also turned
septic apparently, I read this further on in his file. And of course, it is only
10 months since his severe wounding at Pozieres and then you might remember from
part one of this post that William started his overseas service with that severe
VD infection for the first couple of months, that was when he was still recovering
from his mate putting the pick axe through his hand in training. I can understand
why he has multiple AWOL charges in his service record as well now.

Back to Kooringal again. Jessie and Alexander have according to this next article,
been enjoying the company of Mrs James Henry from Melbourne. I have no idea who 
Mrs James Henry was, I cannot dig up one connection with her, Jessie or Alexander
at this stage. Hopefully, they had a good catch-up together, as it was a long visit.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mrs-j-henry-embarking-
on-visit-to-kooringal-1922.jpg?resize=468%2C148&ssl=1)

_Figure 101g: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mrs-henry-visiting-
kooringal-1917.jpg?resize=699%2C195&ssl=1)

_Figure 102: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

The next article relates to Captain Jack, (Oh you have no idea how much I have wanted
to say that, the dad jokes run strong through me) (I’m referencing the Dr Who character
here too, not Pirates of the ……I can’t even type it.) Anyhow back to Captain Jack.
Now that he was back on home soil, a Military Cross recipient and injured to boot,
I can imagine that the War Office would have wanted to capitalise on all of Jack’s
strengths and use him to help boost those dwindling recruitment numbers. This next
article confirms that thought.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/captain-macvean-
recruitment-meeting-1917.jpg?resize=854%2C476&ssl=1)

_Figure 103: Courtesy of Trove, National Library of Australia_

I can’t find any other mention of this meeting or photographic record of the evening
at Manly Corso but this photo below, which happens to be taken at the Wagga Wagga
Show, Jack’s Aunt and Uncle’s hometown, might give us a bit of an idea as to what
it may have looked like.

![](https://i0.wp.com/johnshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wagga-show-1917-
armed-forces-recruitment-stand-during-world-war-1.jpg?resize=1100%2C966&ssl=1)

_Wagga Show, 1917, Armed Forces Recruitment Stand during World War 1_ 
_Figure 104:
Courtesy of Lost Wagga Facebook Page_

I have been working on this post for five months now. I stupidly said when I finished
Part 1 back at the end of September 2023 that Part 2 would be out soon. How wrong
was I?

I have been so incredibly lucky in that I just kept finding information to add to
the story. So because of this, I’m now going to have to split this post into two,
look out for Part 3 very soon. I pretty sure that will be the end of the Kooringal
story as I have rung Trove and Google dry. I think.

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## Comments

### By: Karen Tyler

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2024/03/07/part-2-life-at-kooringal-wagga-wagga/#comment-1028
- Published: 2024-03-09T09:52:19+11:00

WOW, John. Some more amazing information and photos. Thanks for including me in 
your mail outs.

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### By: John Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2024/03/07/part-2-life-at-kooringal-wagga-wagga/#comment-1029
- Published: 2024-03-09T10:32:14+11:00

Hello Ms Kay, thank you so much, and you are so welcome. You are an original subscriber
with the gold tier membership benefits. I’m glad that you are still happy to be 
along for the ride.

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### By: Anne Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2024/03/07/part-2-life-at-kooringal-wagga-wagga/#comment-1030
- Published: 2024-03-14T00:02:18+11:00

What a great lot of information you have put together, John! Hope you had a very
happy birthday, too.

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### By: John Macvean

- Link: https://johnshistory.com/2024/03/07/part-2-life-at-kooringal-wagga-wagga/#comment-1031
- Published: 2024-03-14T11:10:44+11:00

Hi Anne, always good to have your input. Thanks for reading. The birthday was good
thank you. It was very different, as it was the first one without the boys as they
have both moved out but Alex made it awesome. Cheers John

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