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.

BECKETT, John

Date of birth: 
1897
Biographical notes: 

John Beckett was one month off 28 years old when he enlisted on 21 December, 1915. He was then single and a painter by trade, living at 53 Gipps St., East Melbourne. He had been working for the last five years at W. Smith in Hamilton before moving to Melbourne.

  • 4586 reads

BENTLEY, George Valentine

Date of birth: 
1866
Biographical notes: 

George Bentley was 49 when he enlisted in 1915, having been born in England on 14 February, 1866. He was not to be returned to the retired list ontil 1926. What made him so valuable was that he was already a seasoned soldier, having served for twelve years in the Dragoon Guards, including three years with the South African Field Force in the Boer War.

  • 4639 reads

BERGMEIER, Alexander Stanley

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Alexander Stanley Bergmeier was born on 8 January, 1889, to Henry and Annie Bergmeier, of Bass, Victoria. He grew up on a farm and, on enlistment, gave his occupation as farmer. He was 26 years and 7 months when he signed on 15 July, 1915, 5' 8", with brown hair and brown eyes, listing his address at embarkation, 69 Grey St., East Melbourne, the home of Mrs Annie Morgan.

  • 5072 reads

BERKELEY, William Henry

Date of birth: 
1897
Biographical notes: 

William Henry Berkeley was aged 18 years and 6 months when he enlisted on 13 July, 1915 and was attached to the 8th Battalion, 1oth Reinforcements. he was by trade a joiner and had served a six year apprenticeship with H. Beauchamp, Lonsdale St., Melbourne.

Letter of Consent from Mother
Letter to Mother asking if the deceased had a nearer blood relation
  • 5262 reads

BETT, Gordon Alexander

Biographical notes: 

Born East Melbourne, however no connection with East Melbourne after this event.

  • 3747 reads

BETTERIDGE, Richard

Date of birth: 
1892
Biographical notes: 

Richard Betteridge was born in London in 1882. He moved to Australia in 1911 and described his occupation as Wireless Operator. He was a single man, aged 23 years and eight months old, 5'5" tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a 'dark' complexion.

  • 3497 reads

BIDDLE, Frederick Leslie

Date of birth: 
1885
Biographical notes: 

DSO, MID, died of wounds on 16 Aug 1917 and his death notice published in the Argus on August 27. The dearly loved son of James and Helena I Biddle of 92 Vale Street East Melbourne and brother of Hollis and Isabel.

Frederick Leslie Biddle
  • 6439 reads

BIDDULPH, Francis Edmond

Date of birth: 
1893
Biographical notes: 

Francis Edmond Biddulph was the only child of Francis Edmond Biddulph and Charlotte Izola, need Quinlivan. He aged 22 and a book keeper when he enlisted. His mother lived at 115 Grey Street, East Melbourne, which was also his address. Frank had spent 3 years with Victorian Rifles, and another 18 months with the  Citizen Forces, so had some previous military experience.  

  • 4912 reads

BIRBECK, Harry

Date of birth: 
1883
Biographical notes: 

Harry Birbeck was one of eight children of William Henry Birbeck and Margaret Jane Sutton of Laura, South Australia. Three of their children died in childhood, Frederick  born 1882 at 9 months, Horace  born 1880 at 3 years and Emily born 1888 at 2 months. Harry was their third child, born 1 July, 1881.

Camel Corps, Battle of Magdhaba, Sinai
Camel Corps World War 1
Camel Corps, World War 1
  • 5380 reads

BLACK, Emily Conyngham

Date of birth: 
1884
Biographical notes: 

Emily Conyngham Black was born in Tinamba near Maffra, Victoria in 1884, the second daughter of William Murray Black (1835-1925) of Grenock, Scotland and Mary Anne Bennison (1850-1912) of Port Albert. Tinamba was a grazing settlement, with a population 49 according to the 1891 census (Angus Watson, Lost and Almost Forgotten Towns of Colonial Victoria, 2003).

Allan Bennison Black DCM, Emily's brother wounded in France
Emily Conyngham Black AANS
52 BGH Nurses in anti-malaria dress 1918 (AWM H15761)
52 BGH Salonika 1918 (AWM H15755)
Emily Conyngham Black in the 1950s
Emily Black (back 4th left) St Anne's Grammar Gippsland c1947 (St Anne's Grammar
Grave of Emily Conyngham and Mary Isabel Black, Karrakatta Cemetery, WA
  • 7350 reads

BLACK, Herbert

Date of birth: 
1888
Biographical notes: 

Herbert Black was an architect and a widower when he enlisted on 19 February, 1917. He was not called up for duty until 2 July, 1917, and then began training, first at Royal Park, Melbourne, then at from 19 February to 29 March 1917 at Seymour and finally at Ascot Vale from 29 March until 12 May 1917.

  • 4000 reads

BLAIR, William Allison

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

William Allison Blair as a Stock and Station Agent, aged 27 when he enlisted on 27 July, 1916. He gave as his next of kin his father, Captain William Allison Blair, living at 'Mernda', 42 Jolimont Terrace, Jolimont, with his wife, Minnie Waters Blair (nee Peck).

  • 4756 reads

BLATCHFORD, Herbert Albert

Date of birth: 
1894
Biographical notes: 

Herbert Albert Blatchford had no real connection with East Melbourne, save that his sister, Clara Blatchford, lived at Clivedon Mansions, on the corner of Wellington Parade and Clarendon St, East Melbourne, now the site of the Hilton Hotel. He was a skilled labourer, living in North Melbourne, who, in the post war  period, identfied himself as a fitter. He was single and aged 31. 

Record Page with reference to desertion
  • 4383 reads

BLUNDELL, Madeline Patricia Petrie

Date of birth: 
1880
Biographical notes: 

Patricia Blundell was one of five surviving children (four daughters, one son) born to Martin Petrie Blundell and his wife Emily (nee Lineker) between 1871 and 1890. Melbourne-born Martin was employed by the Bank of Australasia on leaving Melbourne Grammar School in 1861. From 1882 until ill-health forced his retirement in 1899 he was manager of the bank’s Melbourne branch.

Patricia Blundell (Table Talk 27.5.1915)
Madeline Blundell's sister, Beatrice Emily who married George Stoving 2 Feb 1914
SS Mooltan leaving Sydney 16 May 1915. Patrica Blundell on board.
Australian sisters outside their quarters on Lemnos late 1915
Australian sisters on Lemnos 1915
Australian sisters on board SS Mooltan May 1915
First contingent of Australian sisters arriving at Lemnos 1915
Australian sisters ready to leave Lemnos early 1916
Australian General Hospital on Lemnos October 1915
Patricia Blundell on a hospital train, Egypt, 1916 (Blundell Papers, SLV)
Patricia Blundell's medals (Blundell Papers, SLV)
  • 10508 reads

BODEN, Samuel

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

Samuel Boden was born in Birmingham, England, but had lived in both India and Ceylon before he came to Australia. While in Sri Lanka, he had served for eighteen months with the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps. It seems possible that these experiences shape the early part of his military career.

Bikenar Camel Corps 1915-16
Bikaner Camel Corps, 1915-16
  • 4296 reads

BOLTON, Francis Basil

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Francis Bolton was the younger brother of Reginald Bolton, and like him, lived with his mother and younger brother, Tom, at 'Verona', corner of Clarendon and Gipps Sts., East Melbourne.He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School, Canterbury, Victoria and then took out  Accountancy qualifications and was registered with the Insttute of Accountants, Victoria, before moving to Western Austra

  • 4345 reads

BOLTON, Reginald Henry

Date of birth: 
1887
Biographical notes: 

Reginald Henry Bolton was a Company Manager, aged 29 and had been married to Doris (nee Fairland) for just over a year , when he enlisted on 3 November, 1916. They lived at 'Verona', on the corner of Gipps and Clarendon Sts., where he had been living with his mother, Mrs. Fraces Edith Bolton and his siblings, Francis Basil and Tom Harold Bolton. HIs father, Mr. F.P.

Reginald Bolton, first left, middle row, at Neuve Eglise, Belgium, 1918
  • 5622 reads

BONE, Kenric Clifton

Date of birth: 
1899
Biographical notes: 

Kenric and Ronald Bone were the twin sons of Ada and George Bone of 'Cotswold', 40 Berry St., East Melbourne. George Bone was an importer, who built 'Cotswold' in 1891 to house his growing family: Daisy, Iris, Chandos, Ronald and Kenric. Kenric and Ronald were just over 18 when they enlisted in Richmond,Victoria, having celebrated their joint birthday on 21st December, 1917.

  • 3858 reads

BONE, Ronald Merton

Date of birth: 
1889
Biographical notes: 

Ronald Merton Bone was probably an identical twin to Kenric Bone: both 5' 2 1/2" in height, with fair complexions, grey eyes and blond hair. They were ths sons of George and Ada Bone, of 'Cotswold', 40 Berry St., East Melbourne, and brothers to Chandos,Daisy and Iris (deceased). Both registered their employment as "Student Surveyors".

  • 3957 reads

BONNICK, John William

Date of birth: 
1895
Biographical notes: 

John William Bonnick was born in East Melbourne in December, 1895, the son of James William Bonnick and his wife, Georgina Jane (Ross). With the permission of his parents, he enlisted on 16 July, 1915, aged nineteen. He had trained with the Senior Cadets and had two years experience with the 58th Infantry.

  • 3952 reads