People of East Melbourne

This is a list of biographies of residents of East Melbourne.

This project started to commemorate the soldiers and nurses who went to Europe to serve in World War 1. But it has grown from there to cover biographies of any and all residents of note.

Along with many of their fellow Australians people from East Melbourne flocked to enlist. Many were heroes. Many lost their lives or suffered horrific physical or mental injuries. At home family and friends worked, endured and suffered consequences that were sometimes terrible and persisted long after the war.

Major-General Michael O'Brien gave us a starting point with a list of East Melbourne people who served in WW1. He spoke to the Society in April 2013 to give us some context to the period and to help the EMHS prepare for its own commemorations of this most devastating period in our history.

Everyone can participate by gathering or documenting information:

  • Photos, memorabilia and family records
  • Stories in books, newspapers and on-line
  • Memorial plaques in churches and public places
  • War memorial, church, national and state archives

You can refine the list by applying the various filter criteria and go to a particular detailed biography by click on the title.

HINES, William George

Biographical notes: 

Next of Kin: Rita Vivian Hines (Wife)

  • 2705 reads

HOBLER, Minnie

Date of birth: 
1875
Biographical notes: 

Minnie Hobler was born in 1875 in Rockhampton, Queensland. She was the ninth of the eleven children of Francis Helvetius Hobler (1825-1889) and his wife Jessie Ann (nee Learmonth) (1838-1910).

Minnie Hobler (left), Egypt 1915 (Egypt album)
Minnie Hobler (head of the table), mess in Egypt 1915 (Egypt album)
Minnie Hobler sightseeing (Egypt album)
Minnie Hobler with patients
Minnie Hobler's AANS trunk (recovered in Queensland in 2015)
Detail from Minnie Hobler's AANS trunk (recovered in Queensland in 2015)
  • 6200 reads

HOCKING, Leighton Rowe

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

Leighton Rowe Hocking appears to have been the only child of his parents, Edward Rowe Hocking, a tailor, and his wife, Ada Graves, nee Little. Leighton was born on 11 May, 1895 and was 21 years and 4 months old when he enlisted at Ballarat on 13 October, 1916.

  • 2832 reads

HODGETTS, William Booth

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

William Booth Hodgetts was born on 27 may, 1895, to Booth Hodgetts and his wife, Helen Margurita, nee Strong. His mother died in 1898 and this may have been what prompted his father to emigrate to Australia. He must have married again, because William had two half sisters, Lilian Helen Hodgetts, born 1901, and Joan Patricia Hodgetts, born 1916.

  • 2975 reads

HODGSON, James Percy

Date of birth: 
1897
Biographical notes: 

James Percy Hodgson was born in Clifton Hill in 1897 to Joseph Hodgson (an engineer) and Alice Hodgson (nee Lyman). There were 3 brothers, one (Joseph Lyman) who also enlisted for WWI, and 2 sisters. James was working as a junior carpet salesman when he enlisted, aged 18 years on 15 September 1915. He was senior cadet at school for 4 years.

  • 3974 reads

HODGSON, Joseph Lyman

Biographical notes: 

Joseph Lyman Hodgson was born in Fitzroy in 1893 to Joseph Hodgson (an engineer) and Alice Hodgson (nee Lyman). There were 3 brothers, one (James Percy) who also enlisted for WWI, and 2 sisters. Joseph was working as a telegraphist assistant when he enlisted on 6 May, 1915, aged 24 years. A cadet at school for 8 years, he reached the rank of Col.

  • 4111 reads

HOLDEN, Edwin

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Edwin Holden was born in Darwen, Lancashire, England, but in 1915 was living at 116 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. He was at that time, 27 years old, single and working as a Meat Inspector, the trade to which he would return after the war.

  • 2574 reads

HOLMES, Francis Samuel

Date of birth: 
1896
Biographical notes: 

Francis Samuel Holmes was the fourth of eight children born to Samuel Lambert Holmes, a bootmaker, and Frances Spencer. He was born at Steglitz or Stiglitz, outside Geeelong. When he enlisted on 3 August, 1915, he was nineteen years old and living with his father at 60 Jolimont Rd., Jolimont. The house number may be wrong, as his father, post-war, corrected the entry to 50 Jolimont Rd..

  • 2651 reads

HOLMES, Leonard Spencer

Date of birth: 
1893
Biographical notes: 

Leonard Spencer Holmes was one of the eight children of Samuel Lambert Holmes and his wife, Frances nee Spencer. He was born in Ballarat, but enlisted at Geelong on 20 October 1916, following the lead of his elder brother Francis Samuel Holmes. Both young men were bootmakers, following on from their father's trade, single, and, by religion, Methodist.

  • 3076 reads

HONEYBONE, Charles

Date of birth: 
1896
Biographical notes: 

Charles Honeybone enlisted on 16 July,1915, and was accepted into the army on 3 August, 1915.

  • 2589 reads

HONMAN, Andrew Victor

Date of birth: 
1891
Biographical notes: 

Andrew Victor Honman was born in Williamstown on 26 February 1891 to Dr. Andrew Holman and Wilhemina Clara Mahlenbach. His father Andrew was born in St Andrew's, Scotland where he studied medicine, then worked in Egypt in 1880 assisting with the management of an epidemic of cholera.

Major Andrew Victor HONMAN
  • 4166 reads

HOPE, Alfred Thomas

Date of birth: 
1894
Biographical notes: 

Alfred Thomas Hope was the son of Thomas Ebenezar Hope and his wife Elizabeth Agnes, nee Dowker.He was 19 years and 11 months old when he enlisted on 20 August, 1914, a storeman by occupation. He was tall for this time, 5'10", with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England.

  • 2771 reads

HORNE, Alfred Meakin

Date of birth: 
1882
Biographical notes: 

Alfred Meakins Horne was born in April, 1881, at Torcester, Northhamptonshire, England. He was one of six children born to William Charzles Horne and his wifer Eliza, nee Meakins. She may well have been related to the famous Meakins Pottery family. In 1891, Alfred was living at Whittlebury in Northamptonshire and in 1901, was a servant at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

  • 2604 reads

HOUSTON, Peter Calder Bryce

Date of birth: 
1886
Biographical notes: 

Peter Calder Bryce Houston was the son of William Houston (1838-1895) and his wife, Agnes Sarah Bryce (1844-1900). When he enlisted on 4 July, 1914, Peter Houston was a month away from his thirtieth birthday and married to Lavinia Elizabeth Mills.They had met and married in Brisbane and had a son, John William Peter Houston, born on 7 November, 1910.

  • 2737 reads

HOYES, Ormond James

Date of birth: 
1886
Biographical notes: 

Ormond James Hoyes enlisted on 18 August, 1914 and was attached to the 6th Battalion, H company. He was 28 years and 3 months old, a clerk by occupation, married  in 1913 to Mabel, nee Brigham, and living at 6 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.

  • 2835 reads

HUGHES, Wilfrid Selwyn Kent

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

Wilfrid Kent Hughes, known as Billy, was born in East Melbourne on 12 June 1895. Members of his extended family had achieved, or would later achieve, some prominence in various aspects of public life. He attended Trinity Grammar School in Kew till he was aged 13, at which point he won a scholarship to Melbourne Grammar School.

Portrait of Major Wilfrid Kent Hughes MC, of the Australian Light Horse
  • 5299 reads

HUMMERSTON, Reginald Arthur

Date of birth: 
1888
Biographical notes: 

Reginald Arthur Hummerston was born on 7 August 1888 in Waverley, New South Wales, the son of Sophia, nee Wilson and Arthur Hummerston. He was baptised at St. Matthias Anglican Church, Centennial Park, NSW, and became the eldest of four brothers, Albert, Stanley and Cecil.

  • 2971 reads

HUMPHREYS, Alfred Ernest

Date of birth: 
1877
Biographical notes: 

Alf Humphreys was born in Greenoch, Scotland and emigrated with his parents to Australia. The Humphreys had seven children, of whom two boys stayed behind. In 1914 when he enlisted, he was living with his mother and sister, Annie in Simpson Street, East Melbourne and working as a traveller. He was one of the earliest men to enlist, signing up on 18 August, 1914.

  • 3540 reads

HUNT, Matthew Francis

Biographical notes: 

Matthew was the son of Albert and Anne Hunt and was born c.1892.  In about 1905 the family moved to 42 Grey Street, East Melbourne, when its original owner, James Peel Browne died the same year as his son, also James Peel Brown, leaving the son's wife, Catherine as the beneficiary.

  • 2831 reads

HUSSEY, William Richard

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

William Hussey was born on 3 July, 1895 at Strathmerton. He spent 3 years as a cadet whilst at school. On 16 September, 1915 he enlisted with the AIF at Broadmedows, however was discharged 3 days later as medically unfit - bunions. On 1 July, 1917 he renlisted again aged 23 years.

  • 2695 reads