World War I Honour Board
(Old Laverton Primary School)

“Deeds that should not go unnoticed, Names that must not be forgotten”

Introduction

World War 1 honour boards were erected in many local schools, halls, churches, workplaces, and public places as an instrument of acknowledging the commitment made by the local men and women to the great European War effort.

The criteria used for the inclusion of names, on an honour board, were determined by those creating the board and varied from town to town.  In many communities, honour rolls were the first type of memorial to hour those who had enlisted to serve in World War I. Most honour boards were manufactured and installed during the early part of the 1920s from a mix of materials, such as wood, stone and/or metal and some included photographs.

Wooden honour boards tended to be most common, and many are still on display in local communities. The type of wood used related to the budget of the community at that time

Laverton was a small farming community, when war was declared in 1914 and the local men were eager to enlist. For its population, as noted in the Werribee Shire Banner (20 December 1917), ‘the whole Shire had responded splendidly to the call of the mother country’ and a greater percentage of men claimed Laverton as their home or enlistment than any other place the same size. According to the honour roll, that appeared within the Werribee Shire Banner, there were 26 men from Laverton who enlisted to serve. Within Laverton, the primary school became a central locality for the local war effort. It served as a recruitment centre, operations for local Red Cross fundraisers and work efforts and a venue for welcoming home returning service personnel both during and at the conclusion of the war.

Given its pivotal role, that the primary school played during these war years, it was only fitting that the school committee instigated the purchase and design of the town’s honour board during 1922 which was installed and unveiled, within the school building on the 24 October of that year.

The board was constructed of walnut timber and was divided into three sections with two peace doves and olive branches adorning the top of the board. The left-hand side listed the names of past attendees of the school and the right-hand side listed the names of residents of the Laverton/Altona area. In the centre of the board is a cabinet which stored a book that contained a full record or history of the war that had been provided by the Education Department (Werribee Shire Banner, 5 October and 21 December 1922). It is not certain what has happened to this publication, but it is no longer within the cabinet.

The honour board was unveiled, with much ceremony and celebration, on 24 October 1922 at a function at the school. Given that the board was to be displayed within the school building and that the board had been paid for by the school committee, it was unveiled by the then Director of Education Frank Tate CMG. Also attending the event was the local member for the electorate of Bulla, the Honourable Andrew Robert Robertson MLA, Bernard Maher the local councillor for the East Riding of Werribee Shire, the school committee chairperson William Henry Lohse and many residents from the local community including those veterans who had returned to live in the area.

The honour board was designed and made by F K Cox & Company who were a leading Melbourne furniture maker and manufacturer of house fittings. The company had been in operations, across Melbourne, since the 1890’s and by 1907 were employing as many as 150 trades people. The company operated out of Kensington but also operated premises within Prahran and in Lonsdale Street Melbourne.

In the early 1920’s they were being contracted to design, manufacture and install several World War 1 honour boards across Melbourne and rural Victoria. We are aware that this company also manufactured honour boards for the Lara, Lorne, Elmhurst and Torrumbarry communities all of varying designs.

As mentioned earlier, the Laverton honour board contains two listings of names. Those of past attendees of the school and the second listing those who were or had resided in the area. In total the honour board contained 26 names and reflected names that had been recorded within the honour roll published, throughout the war, within the Werribee Shire Banner. This was the criteria for the two lists, and it must be remembered that these were times where communication was completed by either word of mouth or by post.

During our research, of those listed on the board, we discovered one typo being that of D Harwick who was in fact David Warwick. This error may have either happened during the manufacture period or in the recording of the names from the Werribee Shire Banner. Additional our research revealed that there were a further four enlistees who were born in the Laverton area. These were Gilbert Eaton, Arthur White, Henry White and Arthur McPherson. Arthur was the brother of Alexander McPherson who had been included on the honour board. This was not seen as an error by the school committee or the listing in the Werribee Shire Banner publication. People only recorded what they were advised and what was known. They certainly didn’t have the communication systems that we have today.

We also identified three enlistees whose families had moved into the Altona area during the war period and who had returned to live in Altona when their war service was completed. These included George Duke, Charles Thomas and Frederick Thomas. Again, we don’t see this as an omission but simply that because their families arrived after the start of the war those in Laverton may not have been aware of their arrival and the newcomers didn’t see the need to report the names of their sons to the Werribee Shire Banner. You can only record and note what you know at the time, but our research has made note of their contribution to the war effort.

The honour board remained within the school building until the building was closed, as a school in 1951, and the honour board was transferred across to the new primary school in Epsom Street. It remained there until the original school building had been purchased back by the Werribee council, in the late 1980’s, and was renovated by the local Rotary club.

At the completion of this work, the honour board was restored to its original position where it has remained ever since. In October of 2022 it will celebrate 100 years since its original installation and unveiling. It remains as a reminder of the sacrifices made by these men and stands as a perpetual dedication of the town’s gratitude for their service to King and country.

The menu, on the right, list the names of each of the twenty-six young men listed on the honour board and their stories and also the names and stories of seven others who served and were either born or whose families were  living in the Laverton or Altona Bay area and who, for what ever reasons, were not included on the honour board but their stories still deserve to be included here.

Further information on other Honour Boards within the district following WWI refer to Wyndham History – http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/2665

Surname First Name Second Name Regimental Number Age Enlistment Date
Rayner Ernest Moss 2363 17 12/11/1912
Baldwin Richard Joseph 3146 17 16/06/1913
Newland James Ernest 2 33 17/08/1914
Newland William Andrew 483 34 19/08/1914
Thomas Frederick George 971 21 19/08/1914
Newland Herbert Leslie 1537 24 1/09/1914
Thomas Charles Albert 49 19 1/09/1914
Eaton Gilbert Leslie 151 25 11/02/1915
Cason Robert James 4488 31 17/02/1915
Cameron William Duncan 583 18 19/02/1915
Newland Alfred Lindsay 656 20 19/02/1915
Peacock Ernest William 675 19 19/02/1915
Grant Kenneth 4537 36 19/02/1915
Grant George Norman 9584 21 26/02/1915[1] & 19/02/1918
Warwick David 2680 23 9/06/1915
Hyde Albert Victor 2739 22 2/07/1915
Duke George Thomas 4003 24 12/07/1915
McPherson Alexander Stephen 2705B 18 12/07/1915
McPherson Arthur William 2706 20 12/07/1915
Maher William Joseph 2410 25 15/07/1915
Cameron Alexander Ronald 58 21 15/01/1916
Hyde Edward Ernest 1306 22 15/01/1916
White Henry Stewartson 22028 19 3/01/1916
Rayner James 4765 34 12/02/1916
Mossop John 5715 35 6/03/1916
McDonald Donald 5959 28 27/03/1916
Casey Richard Joseph 531 22 4/07/1916
White Arthur 34118 18 10/10/1916
Wells Arthur 648 22 16/10/1916
Cameron John Alexander 6775A 25 17/7/1915[1] & 11/12/1916
Maher Bernard 3348 19 17/02/1917
Rhoades Harry Huntington 3359 31 18/10/1917
Peacock Alfred Henry 72604 19 21/06/1918

[1] Both George Grant and John Cameron embarked but returned to Australia and then when they were medically fit embarked again.

Surname First Name Second Name Regimental Number Embarkment Details
Baldwin Richard Joseph 3146 Already aboard HMAS Melbourne
Rayner Ernest Moss 2363 Already aboard HMAS Sydney
Newland James Ernest 2 HMAT A2 Geelong on 20 October 1914
Newland Herbert Leslie 1537 HMAT A27 Southern on 20 October 1914
Thomas Frederick George 971 HMAT A9 Shropshire on 20 October 1914
Thomas Charles Albert 49 HMAT A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914
Duke George Thomas 4003 HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 February 1915
Newland William Andrew 483 HMAT A16 Star of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Grant Kenneth 4537 HMAT A14 Euripides on 10 May 1915
Cameron William Duncan 583 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Cason Robert James 4488 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Eaton Gilbert Leslie 151 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Newland Alfred Lindsay 656 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Peacock Ernest William 675 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915
Warwick David 2680 HMAT A68 Anchises on 26 August 1915
Hyde Albert Victor 2739 SS Makarini on 15 September 1915
Maher William Joseph 2410 RMS Osterley on 29 September 1915
McPherson Alexander Stephen 2705B HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
McPherson Arthur William 2706 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
Rayner James 4765 HMAT A14 Euripides on 4 April 1916
White Henry Stewartson 22028 HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916
Hyde Edward Ernest 1306 HMAT A11 Ascanius on 27 May 1916
Cameron Alexander Ronald 58 HMAT A11 Ascanius on 27 May 1916
McDonald Donald 5959 HMAT A71 Nestor on 2 Oct 1916
Casey Richard Joseph 531 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916
Wells Arthur 648 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916
White Arthur 34118 HMAT A11 Ascanius on 11 May 1917
Maher Bernard 3348 HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 22 June 1917
Cameron John Alexander 6775A HMAT A20 Hororata 27 September 1915
HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917
Rhoades Harry Huntington 3359 HMAT A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1917
Grant George Norman 9584 HMAT A71 Nestor on 28 February 1918
Mossop John 5715 Did Not Leave Australia
Peacock Alfred Henry 72604 Did Not Leave Australia
Surname First Name Second Name Regimental Number Unit Rank on Enlistment
Newland Herbert Leslie 1537 2nd Field Artillery Brigade Bombardier
Newland James Ernest 2 12th Battalion Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Hyde Albert Victor 2739 14th Battalion Private
Eaton Gilbert Leslie 151 21st Battalion, ‘A’ Company Private
Cameron John Alexander 6775A 22nd Battalion Private
Duke George Thomas 4003 22nd Battalion Private
Cameron William Duncan 583 22nd Battalion, ‘C’ Company Private
Newland Alfred Lindsay 656 22nd Battalion, ‘C’ Company Private
Peacock Ernest William 675 22nd Battalion, ‘C’ Company Private
Cason Robert James 4488 22nd Battalion, ‘D’ Company Private
McDonald Donald 5959 23rd Battalion Private
Rayner James 4765 23rd Battalion Private
Grant Kenneth 4537 23rd Battalion, ‘B’ Company Private
White Henry Stewartson 22028 23rd Howitzer Brigade Gunner
Maher William Joseph 2410 24th Battalion Private
McPherson Alexander Stephen 2705B 24th Battalion Private
McPherson Arthur William 2706 25th Battalion Private
Grant George Norman 9584 2nd Tunnelling Company Sapper
Rhoades Harry Huntington 3359 38th Battalion Private
White Arthur 34118 8th Field Artillery Brigade Driver
Cameron Alexander Ronald 58 39th Battalion, ‘A’ Company Private
Hyde Edward Ernest 1306 39th Battalion, ‘D’ Company Private
Warwick David 2680 7th Battalion Private
Mossop John 5715 7th Battalion Private
Maher Bernard 3348 8th Light Horse Regiment Trooper
Newland William Andrew 483 8th Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section Sergeant
Casey Richard Joseph 531 Aust Flying Corps, No. 2 Squadron Private
Wells Arthur 648 Aust Flying Corps, No. 2 Squadron Private
Peacock Alfred Henry 72604 Recruit Depot Private
Baldwin Richard Joseph 3146 Royal Australian Navy Ordinary Seaman II
Rayner Ernest Moss 2363 Royal Australian Navy Ordinary Seaman II
Thomas Frederick George 971 2nd Field Artillery Brigade Driver
Thomas Charles Albert 49 2nd Field Company, Engineers Sapper
Surname First Name Second Name Regimental Number Fate
Baldwin Richard Joseph 3146 Served seven years in Navy until 1920
Cameron Alexander Ronald 58 Embarked to return to Australia 27 June 1919
Cameron John Alexander 6775A Embarked to return to Australia 14 January 1919
Cameron William Duncan 583 Embarked to return to Australia 2 January 1919
Casey Richard Joseph 531 Embarked to return to Australia 6 May 1919
Cason Robert James 4488 Embarked to return to Australia 9 March 1919
Duke George Thomas 4003 Embarked to return to Australia 3 March 1918
Eaton Gilbert Leslie 151 Embarked to return to Australia 9 March 1919
Grant George Norman 9584 Embarked to return to Australia 6 October 1919
Grant Kenneth 4537 Discharged in London April 1919, returned to home in Scotland
Hyde Albert Victor 2739 Embarked to return to Australia 31 December 1917
Hyde Edward Ernest 1306 Embarked to return to Australia 9 March 1919
Maher Bernard 3348 Embarked to return to Australia 3 July 1919
Maher William Joseph 2410 Embarked to return to Australia 21 July 1917
McDonald Donald 5959 Embarked to return to Australia 27 February 1919
McPherson Alexander Stephen 2705B Embarked to return to Australia 28 March 1919
McPherson Arthur William 2706 Embarked to return to Australia 5 April 1918
Mossop John 5715 Did Not Leave Australia
Newland Alfred Lindsay 656 Killed in Action 8 November 1916, A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers, France
Newland Herbert Leslie 1537 Embarked to return to Australia 23 October 1918
Newland James Ernest 2 Embarked to return to Australia 21 July 1917
Newland William Andrew 483 Embarked to return to Australia 5 July 1915
Peacock Alfred Henry 72604 Did Not Leave Australia
Peacock Ernest William 675 Embarked to return to Australia 4 June 1919
Rayner Ernest Moss 2363 Served seven years in Navy until 1919
Rayner James 4765 Embarked to return to Australia 14 June 1919
Rhoades Harry Huntington 3359 Embarked to return to Australia 20 July 1919
Thomas Frederick George 971 Embarked to return to Australia 15 September 1918
Thomas Charles Albert 49 Embarked to return to Australia 23 October 1918
Warwick David 2680 Embarked to return to Australia 28 March 1919
Wells Arthur 648 Embarked to return to Australia 22 February 1917
White Arthur 34118 Embarked to return to Australia 25 July 1919
White Henry Stewartson 22028 Embarked to return to Australia 8 September 1919

The material contained in this publication is a result of the contribution of the members of the Altona-Laverton Historical Society who contributed knowledge, images, background, research, editing, proof reading and encouragement.

These included Ann Cassar, Graeme Reilly and Jim Hevey. We acknowledge the images provided to the Historical Society by Rob Newland on James Newland, William Newland, Alfred Newland, Herbert Newland, Ernest Peacock and William Cameron, and Glen Hyde on Abert Victor Hyde. We acknowledge a large number of images relating to various Battalions within WWI are courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.

Where mention is made of ‘ancestery.com’, this site was utilised to review electoral roll records, birth, marriage and death records, which were verified with the Births, Deaths and Marriage Victoria records.

Further information on other Honour Boards and the names of service personnel refer to http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/2665