Community News

Henry John (Jack) FISCHER was born January 20, 1887, son of John and Evangeline Fischer. He was a warden at Grafton Gaol when he enlisted in 1915, later serving in France where he was involved in some of the heaviest fighting of the war. He was wounded during the Somme Offensive at Pozières in July, 1916 and on May 5, 1917 seriously wounded during fierce fighting at Bullecourt. After receiving extensive medical treatment in England he returned to Australia where he married and for a short time returned to work with the Prison’s Department. Never fully recovering from his war injuries, he died aged 42 on May 30, 1929 survived by his wife Lily and children Richard and Gwen. Image: Contributed
Community News

Remembrance Day 2019 Alumy Creek Soldiers Memorial Open

November 6, 2019
CV News

The Alumy Creek School Museum, 465 Lawrence Road, Grafton, will open to the public from 9am until 3pm on Remembrance Day, Monday November 11.

Visitors will be made most welcome and are invited to inspect the Museum and the Soldiers Memorial free of charge. One minute’s silence will be observed in the museum’s Heritage Room at 11am in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

For the convenience of those wishing to visit, but unable to attend on Remembrance Day, the Museum and Soldiers Memorial will also open between 9am and 3pm on Saturday November 9.

The permanent memorial includes individually framed photographs and profiles of former Alumny Creek School pupils together with men from the Alumy Creek and Great Marlow farming communities who served their country during the World Wars.

From its opening in 1872, the Alumny Creek School provided education for the sons and daughters of the districts early pioneers. The school and adjacent public hall were also the focal point for many local activities, particularly during the war years. One of the more significant events involving the school was the celebration of the signing of the Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. The news was received at the Alumny Creek School by telephone message from The Daily Examiner office a little after 8 o’clock on Monday night, November 11, 1918. According to prior arrangements, the school bell immediately pealed forth the good news. This was quickly followed by the discharge of guns and the rattle of tins by the surrounding residents, and in the course of half an hour a huge gathering had assembled in the school grounds to join in the rejoicings, after which most of those present left for Grafton to await further intelligence.

A few days later, Headmaster of Alumny Creek Public School, Mr. Andrew Wotherspoon, together with a committee of local residents, organised a picnic and sports day on the Alumy Creek Recreation Reserve to further celebrate the cessation of hostilities after such a long and gruelling war. A dance in the Alumy Creek Hall followed that night, the events attracting an attendance of several hundred people, including the mayor of Grafton Ald. Duncan McFarlane and the mayor of South Grafton Dr. Earle Page.

Henry John Edward (Ted) CHAPMAN was born September 4, 1895 the son of Richard and Amelia Chapman. He enlisted March 2, 1917 and served with the 34th Battalion, A.I.F. He was involved in heavy fighting around Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918 and later the same year fought at the battle of Amiens. The A.I.F. victory at Amiens was significant, something later acknowledged with a plaque in that city’s great cathedral. During the Second World War Ted once again volunteered to serve his country, enlisting with the Volunteer Defence Corps at Maclean in 1942. He died aged 69 years on December 1, 1964 survived by his wife Elizabeth, five daughters and one son. Image: Contributed
Arthur Vincent (Vince) SMITH was born at Alumy Creek July 5, 1894, the eldest son of Charles and Elizabeth Smith. He embarked at Sydney on November 17, 1916 on the ship Port Napier for service in France and Belgium and apart from brief hospitalisation in September 1917, served the whole time fighting on the front line. He was with the 7th Battalion when it made an heroic stand at Vieux-Berquin in the late afternoon of April 12, 1918, a remarkable action, without artillery support, which prevented a German attempt to reach the Channel Ports. He died in 1977, predeceased by his wife Gladys in 1953 and survived by son Barton and daughter Nancy. Image: Contributed
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