Dunrobin Volunteers, World War 1 Honour Roll, Dunrobin (near Casterton), Victoria, Australia

The Dunrobin World War 1 Honour Board is located in the Dunrobin Hall, near Casterton in south-west Victoria, Australia.

This page is an attempt to assist with the identification of the soldiers associated with the names on this Honour Roll.

We are looking for additional information, stories, family links or corrections to any of the following information.

updated : 3 May 2017 [image : Judy Ryan]

Name on Roll	Dunrobin Volunteers (additional information)
G. A. BEDDELL *	George Alfred BEDDELL 1888-1917, b. Sandford, S-W Victoria, son of Richard Henry BEDDELL 1856-1938 and Catherine WILSON 1863-1891. His mother died in 1891 and he resided with an uncle and aunt George & Emily BEDDELL on a farm on the 1912 "Dunrobin" Estate Closer Settlement scheme, near Casterton. George Alfred BEDDELL enlisted 22 May 1916 at Hamilton, Victoria as Pte 6619, 7th Battalion, AIF; presented with a wristlet watch and farewelled at Dunrobin Mechanics' Institute on 11 Sep 1916; embarked from Melbourne on 2 Oct 1916 with the 21st Reinforcements for the 7th Battalion, AIF. He arrived in France on 20 Apr 1917 and was KIA on 4 Oct 1917, Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium. Unknown grave. Named on the... Bahgallah Honour Roll (Old Scholars) Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Honour Roll Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Marble Tablet Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Casterton War Memorial Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium (external information link)
G. A. BLACK	Gordon Alexander BLACK 1890-1917, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of John William BLACK and Louisa SEALEY; m. 1913 to Amy Phillipina AYRES 1889-1992, b. Casterton to Alfred Henry AYERS and Mary Ann "Polly" RICHARDSON, d. ..?... 2 children. He was a carter and storeman of Casterton with a wife and 2 children when he enlisted as Pte 1235, 39th Battalion, AIF on 25 Mar 1916, Hamilton, Victoria; KIA 4 Oct 1917 Broodseinde Ridge, Passchendaele (Ypres), Belgium. Named on the... Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Honour Roll Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Marble Tablet Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Casterton War Memorial Dunrobin Honour Roll Scots' Church (Presbyterian) Honour Roll, Casterton Sons of Temperance Lodge No 29 Honour Roll
P. BOND	Appears to be Percy Philip BOND 1893-1940, b. Mount Gambier, South Australia to Joseph Bond and Maria Elizabeth SKIPWORTH, who became settlers at Wando Vale under the Closer Settlement Scheme of 1900. Percy served in WW1 as Pte 4146, 8th Battalion, AIF & AAMC, enlisted Melbourne 12 Aug 1915, embarked Melbourne 29 Dec 1915, wounded twice in Jul 1917, embarked England 21 Dec 1917 for RTA, discharged from AIF, 21 Mar 1918; m. 19 Oct 1918 at Mount Gambier, SA to Hilda May NORTH 1896-1986; d. Warrnambool, Victoria. Named on the... Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Wando Vale State School No. 3397 Honour Roll Wando Vale War Memorial
J. HILL	John Page HILLS 1895-1990, b. Barling, Essex, England, son of John HILLS and Alice Jane PAGE; m. 1924, Geelong, Victoria to Helena Emily MATTHEWS 1886-1964, b. Geelong Victoria to James MATTHEWS and Grace WADDELL. John HILLS was a labourer, aged 20y of Dunrobin, N of Casterton, Victoria when he applied to enlist in the AIF; passed his AIF medical at Casterton, Vic on 2 Sep 1915; enlisted as Pte 4809, AIF at Melbourne, Vic, on 28 Sep 1915; embarked Melbourne, Vic as Pte 4809, 6th Battalion, AIF on the "Wiltshire, 7 Mar 1916; disembarked 10 Apr 1916, Suez, Egypt; transferred in Egypt to 4th Division Cyclist Coy, AIF on 19 Apr 1916; transferred in France to 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion, AIF on 9 Jul 1916; wounded 8 Apr 1917; sent to Hospital in Birmingham, England; rejoined his unit in France on 11 Feb 1918. He embarked from England 4 Jul 1919 on the "Wiltshire" for RTA, discharged from AIF at Melbourne, Vic 11 Oct 1919. His wife d. 1964 Melbourne and he d. 1990, Melbourne, Vic., both buried in Springvale Cemetery. [updated 26 Jun 2023; thanks to Kelvin Bateman] "The Casterton News" (Vic.) Thursday, 27th January 1916. A Dunrobin Soldier.--There was a great gathering at the Dunrobin Mechanics' last night of friends and neighbors assembled to bid farewell to Pte John Hills, a Dunrobin volunteer who is home on final leave. Cr Rees occupied the chair, and, in handing to Pte Hills a wristlet watch as a memento of Dunrobin friends and token of their appreciation of the loyal and patriotic spirit of their guest in undertaking the honorable career of a member of Australia's fighting force, expressed the hope that the recipient would be spared to take part in the triumphant march of the Allies into Berlin and return safe and sound to his friends at Dunrobin. Pte Hills suitably acknowledged the gift and good wishes of the donors. During the evening, musical and other selections were given by Mrs D. McLean, Misses Alice Rees, Hilda and Jean Lane and Linda Hayward, and Messrs Russell Lane, J. Mills and J. Lane. Dunrobin Honour Roll
A. E. LOWE	Albert Edwin David LOWE 1895-1964, b. Wando Vale, near Casterton, Victoria to Edward "Ted" LOWE and Mary Ann McDONALD and died in Melbourne. He was married at Casterton in 1922 to Hazel Maybird SMITH 1898-1972 b. Casterton to Charles SMITH and Frances Flora "Fanny" McLEAN; d. Melbourne, Victoria. Children ..?.. Albert Edwin LOWE was a farmer of Wando Vale, near Casterton when he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 1343, 39th Battalion, AIF, on 3 Mar 1916 at Hamilton, Victoria; embarked Melbourne 29 Dec 1915, wounded May 1917, embarked England 27 Sep 1917 for RTA. Named on the... Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Honour Roll Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Chetwynd State School No. 2738 Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Wando Vale State School No. 3397 Honour Roll Wando Vale War Memorial
E. W. LOWE	Edward William Francis LOWE 1893-1956, b. Wando Vale, near Casterton, Victoria to Edward "Ted" LOWE and Mary Ann McDONALD and died in Melbourne. He was married in England in 1918 to Wilhelmina Victoria Gladys de KORTE c.1897-1939 b. England to Johann Godfried de KORTE and Kate GREEN; d. Melbourne, Victoria. Children ..?.. Edward was divorced and married again in 1940 to Zena May BIGMORE 1917-2004. Edward William LOWE was a farmer of Wando Bridge, near Casterton when he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 2845, 1st Pioneer Battalion, AIF, on 31 Jul 1915 at Melbourne, Victoria; embarked Melbourne 27 Oct 1915, wounded Jul 1916, wounded severly 13 Apr 1918 (both arms amputated); embarked England 5 Jan 1919 for RTA. Named on the... Casterton Christ Church C.of.E. Honour Roll Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Chetwynd State School No. 2738 Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Wando Vale State School No. 3397 Honour Roll Wando Vale War Memorial
D. LEY	Donald Alexander LEY 1887-1954, b. Carapook (Muntham), S-W Victoria, son of Charles Arthur LEY and Annie COTTER, d. Hamilton, S-W Victoria; m. 1920 to Virtue Mary Jane SEALEY 1892-1980, b. Casterton to William Edward SEALEY and Mary Ann BEST, d. Penshurst, Victoria. He was a labourer of Dunrobin (near Casterton) when he enlisted as Pte 4128, 23rd Battalion, AIF on 23 Feb 1915, Casterton, Victoria; transferred to 5th Division Artillery 16 Apr 1916 in Egypt; arrived in France 29 Jun 1916; wounded 24 Apr 1918; discharged 14 Aug 1919, Melbourne, Victoria. Named on the... Carapook WW1 Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Soldier Settler at Minhamite (near Penshurst), S-W Victoria, Australia Sons of Temperance Lodge No 29 Honour Roll
R. LANE	Charles Russell "Russ" LANE 1897-1974, b. Sandford, S-W Victoria, son of James Edgar LANE and Caroline HUMPHRIES who were farming at Dunrobin by 1915. In 1916 he was the Honary Secretary of the Dunrobin Mechanics' Hall and in 1918 enlisted in the AIF on 15 Aug 1918 at Melbourne, farewelled at Dunrobin on 13 Nov 1918, discharged from the AIF on 24 Dec 1918 due to the war ending and he did not have to sail from Melbourne as planned. He married at Sandford, Victoria in 1921 to Lucy Frances Elizabeth "Robbie" ROBINSON 1899-1981, b. Shepparton, Victoria. Russ and Robbie LANE died at Horsham in 1974 and 1981 respectively. "The Casterton News" (Vic.) Monday, 25th November 1918. Dunrobin. --- (From Our Own Correspondent.) --- A social evening was tendered to Private Russell Lane on Wednesday, November 13th, but owing to some mistake on the promoters' part he was not presented with a watch till Thursday in Casterton. Private Lane was home on final leave and returned to camp on Friday, but owing to the glorious news of peace, he is now returning to Dunrobin. It is a delight to think this would be the last social of the kind in to be held at Dunrobin, and all are looking eagerly to the welcome home socials. Each of our soldiers as he left Dunrobin has been presented with a watch, or one has been sent after them. Dunrobin Honour Roll Sandford War Memorial. Sandford S.S.1654 WW1 Honour Roll. St Mary's Anglican Church Sandford Honour Roll.
J. P. MURPHY*	John Patrick "Jack" MURPHY 1892-1917, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of John Michael MURPHY and Jessie Ann ANDERSON who appear to have resided at Dunrobin from about 1887. Jack MURPHY was a farm labourer, single, aged 23y 11m from Dunrobin (near Casterton) when he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 1360, 39th Battalion, AIF on 20 Mar 1916, Hamilton, Victoria; farewelled at Dunrobin on 22 Apr 1916, embarked Melbourne on 27 May 1916, arrived England 18 Jul 1916, embarked for France 23 Nov 1916, KIA as Dvr 1360, 39th Battalion Machine Gun Sect., AIF, on 12 Oct 1917, Passchendaele (Ypres), Belgium. Buried Tyne Cot British Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium. John and his brother Thomas MURPHY were farewelled on the same evening as reported in the local newspaper... "The Casterton News" (Vic.) Thursday, 27th April 1916. "Send-Off" to Soldiers.--With Cr. A. Rees in the chair, the district people assembled in force at the Dunrobin Mechanics' Hall on Saturday night last to do honor to three of their soldiers who harve volunteered and are going on active service. Privates John and Thomas Murphy and George C. Black. The chairman, also Messrs J. Gunther and J. Hart voiced cordial appreciation of many district friends of the patriotic spirit which had inspired the soldiers to offer themselves for defence in arms of their homes and country, and, on behalf of the donors, Mr J. Gunther presented to each of the guests of the evening a wristlet watch, wishing them all success in their military service, "God speed and safe return." Private T. Murphy acknowledging in feeling terms the gifts and good wishes of their friends. During the evening, musical and other selections were given by Mrs G. Spurrell, Misses Hart, Sealey, Byrnes, Messrs R and J. Lane, W. McEwen, and Hart, and the proceedings concluded with an enjoyable dance. Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Casterton War Memorial Dunrobin Honour Roll
T. MURPHY	Thomas Francis MURPHY 1895-1977, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of John Michael MURPHY and Jessie Ann ANDERSON who appear to have resided at Dunrobin from about 1887. Thomas MURPHY stated he was a Groom, single, aged 21y 7m when he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 176, 39th Battalion, AIF on 1 Feb 1916, Horsham, Victoria; farewelled at Dunrobin on 22 Apr 1916, embarked Melbourne on 27 May 1916, arrived England 18 Jul 1917, embarked for France 23 Nov 1916, embarked from England on 12 Jun 1919 for RTA, discharged from the AIF on 27 Jul 1919 at Melbourne, Victoria. Thomas Francis MURPHY married in 1916 to Elsie Leila DONOHUE 1892-1981, b. Casterton, Victoria to Sterne DONOHUE and Annabella Louisa McKenzie FARLEY who were residents of Dergholm, near Casterton for many years. Thomas and Elsie MURPHY had at least 2 children and Thomas died in Melbourne in 1977 and Elsie died there in 1981. Dunrobin Honour Roll
H. MURPHY	Henry "Harry" MURPHY 188-1977, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of John Michael MURPHY and Jessie Ann ANDERSON who appear to have resided at Dunrobin from about 1887. Henry MURPHY stated he was a labourer of Dunrobin, single and aged 27y when he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 6320, 6th Battalion, AIF on 27 Apr 1916; farewelled at Dunrobin on 2 Aug 1916; embarked at Melbourne on 11 Sep 1916, wounded twice in France before he embarked from England on 14 Jan 1919 for RTA. Henry MURPHY married in 1921 to Mary Eliza BURNS 1896-1983, b. Goroke, Victoria. Henry and Mary MURPHY had 3 children at Hamilton, Victoria in the 1920s and were residing at Dunrobin by 1929. Henry died at Casterton in 1977 and Mary died at Merino in 1983, and both are buried at Casterton. Henry MURPHY was the third of the MURPHY brothers to be farewelled at Dunrobin... "The Casterton News" (Vic.) Thursday, 3rd August 1916 Dunrobin Volunteers. Three Soldier Brothers. Mr. John Murphy enjoys the distinction of having given three sons as volunteer-soldiers to the service in arms of their country. His eldest son, Henry, who has just joined the colors, was honored at the Dunrobin Hall, last night by friends and neighbours, of whom there was a big muster, with Cr. A. Rees in the chair, and was presented on behalf of donors by Mr C. J. Ley with a wristlet watch, as a souvenir of pleasant associations, and of the appreciation by the donors of the recipient's patriotism and devotion to duty in going to join his brothers and other Australian comrades now with the fighting forces of the Empire. The Chairman, also Messrs C. Barr, J. Gunther and H. Hayward voiced the respect and esteem of the Dunrobin people for the guest of the evening, his father and family, in connection with the enlistment of the three brothers. During the evening songs were given by Mrs. F. Spurrell, Misses M. Hayward, H. Murphy and Hilda Lane, and Mr. R. Lane, recitation by Mr H. Munro, and Sailor's Hornpipe by Mr A. Heeps, Misses Lane and Widdicombe presiding at the piano. Supper was as usual provided by the district ladies. Dunrobin Honour Roll
W. MUNRO	William MUNRO 1889-1983, b. Rochester, Victoria to Daniel MUNRO and Eliza FORGE, who became settlers at Wando Vale under the Closer Settlement Scheme of 1900. William MUNRO was a settler (single, aged 27y 2m) on the 1912 "Dunrobin" Estate Closer Settlement scheme before he enlisted in WW1 as Pte 2199, 39th Battalion, AIF at Melbourne 4 Jul 1915; embarked Melbourne 25 Sep 1915; wounded twice on the Somme in 1917; embarked England 12 Mar 1918 for RTA; re-embarked Durban, South Africa for RTA; discharged (medically unfit) on 25 Jun 1918 at Melbourne, Victoria. William MUNRO m. in 1919 at Connewirricoo (near Harrow), S-W Victoria, to Olive Rachel McCLURE 1892-1954, b. Harrow, S-W Victoria to Adam McCLURE and Elizabeth "Bessie" GASH. Olive MUNRO died at Casterton in 1954 and William MUNRO died at Casterton in 1983, both buried in the Casterton cemetery. Named on the... Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll Dunrobin Honour Roll Scots' Church (Presbyterian) Honour Roll, Casterton Wando Vale State School No. 3397 Honour Roll Wando Vale War Memorial
H. MILL	Appears to be Howard MILL 1894-1921, b. Kenwyn, near Truro, Cornwall, England, son of William MILL and Selina Mary MITCHELL; d. 1921 Myrtle Bank Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. He was residing at Sandford, S-W Victoria c.1912 and was a farm labourer, single, aged 20y 4m when he enlisted on 14 Sep 1914 at Casterton, S-W Victoria as Pte 1618, 14th Battalion, AIF; 17 Sep 1914 farewelled at Casterton; Feb 1915 on leave at Sandford; embarked 25 Feb 1915 at Melbourne, embarked 4 May 1915 Egypt for Gallipoli; 8 Aug 1915 missing at Gallipoli; 11 Aug 1915 admitted hospital at Malta; 31 Aug 1915 admitted hospital England; 29 Apr 1917 proceeded to France; 12 Aug 1917 wounded in action; 12 May 1918 embarked England for RTA (tuburculosis); 10 Jul 1918 welcome home at Sandford, Vic.; 21 Aug 1918 discharged at Melbourne, Vic. Named on the... Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll. Casterton Christ Church (C-of-E) Honour Roll. Dunrobin Honour Roll. Sandford War Memorial. St Mary's Anglican Church, Sandford Honour Roll.
A. McNEE	Arthur McNEE 1880-1956, b. Penshurst, S-W Victoria, son of Archibald McNEE and Anna Maria DREWITT. Arthur McNEE stated he was a farm labourer, single, aged 35y 9m when applied for the AIF at Casterton on 30 Mar 1916. He enlisted in the AIF as Pte 6307, 8th Battalion, AIF on 1 May 1916, Hamilton, Victoria; embarked Melbourne on 11 Sep 1916, arrived England 26 Oct 1916, embarked for France 13 Dec 1916, wounded in Flanders 20 Sep 1917; embarked England on 13 Jul 1919 for RTA, discharged from the AIF on 13 Oct 1919 at Melbourne, Victoria. Arthur was a long term employee of Donald McLEOD, dairy farmer of Retreeat-road, Dunrobin Estate, near Casterton. His photograph is part of a detailed article on Donald McLEOD's dairy farm in "The Weekly Times" (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday, 24th August 1929. Arthur McNEE died in Melbourne in 1956. Dunrobin Honour Roll
F. R. SHARPE	Frederick Rayner SHARPE 1894-1924, b. Tenterden, Kent, England, son of Edwin Rayner SHARPE and ..?... Frederick Rayner SHARPE was a farm labourer (c/- J. BOND, Wando Vale, Victoria), single, aged 21y 8m when applied to join the AIF at Casterton in January 1916. He enlisted in the AIF as Pte 5202, 5th Battalion, AIF on 11 Jan 1916, Melbourne, Victoria; embarked Melbourne on 1 Apr 1916; transferred to the 57th Battalion, AIF in Egypt on 19 May 1916; arrived Marseilles, France 30 Jun 1916; joined the 58th Battalion, AIF in France 23 Jun 1916; admitted hospital 3 Feb 1917; admitted hospital 8 Jan 1918; transferred to the 4th Australian Division Provost Corps 5 Jan 1919 in France; embarked England on 16 Apr 1920 for RTA; discharged from the AIF on 10 Aug 1920 at Melbourne, Victoria. When in England Frederick Rayner SHARPE married Alice May CARPENTER at Tenterden Parish Church, Kent, England on 21 Aug 1917. Frederick Rayner SHARPE died at Heidelbrg, Melbourne on 27 Sep 1924, leaving a widow Alice May RAYNER who was at "Ullswater" station near Edenhope, S-W Victoria later in 1924, and ...?.... Dunrobin Honour Roll
G. F. SPURRELL*	NOTE: No G. F. SPURRELL who died in WW1 has been identified ??? NOTE: Was this meant to be F. A. SPURRELL (Frederick Alexander SPURRELL 1896-1916), brother of Harry SPURRELL (below) who died of wounds in France on 6 Aug 1916, who should be named on this board but is not? Dunrobin Honour Roll Perhaps this name should be Frederick Alexander SPURRELL 1896-1916, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of Frederick James SPURRELL and Janet Matilda ROPER who were farming on "Dunrobin" Estate in 1915. Frederick SPURRELL stated he was a Clerk (with Mr O. A. BERKEFELD of "Berkefeld's Motor Works" Casterton), single, aged 18y 10m when he applied to join the AIF in Sep 1915; he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 3942, on 17 Sep 1915, Melbourne, Victoria; he trained as signaller at Broadmeadows Army Camp, Melbourne Nov-Dec 1915; he was appointed as Pte 3942, 23rd Battalion, AIF at Melbourne on 12 Jan 1916; farewelled at Dunrobin on 31 Dec 1915, embarked Melbourne on 8 Feb 1916, arrived Egypt Mar 1916; disembarked Marselles, France on 27 Mar 1916; wounded in action on 4 Aug 1916 at Warloy, France; died of wounds 6 Aug 1916, Warloy, France. He is named on... Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll. Casterton Christ Church (C-of-E) Honour Roll. Casterton Christ Church (C-of-E) Marble Tablet Casterton War Memorial
H. SPURRELL	Appears to be William Henry "Harry" SPURRELL 1894-1929, b. Casterton, S-W Victoria, son of Frederick James SPURRELL and Janet Matilda ROPER who were farming on "Dunrobin" Estate in 1915. Harry SPURRELL stated he was a Blacksmith, single, aged 21y 11m when he applied to join the AIF on 12 Aug 1916; he enlisted in the AIF as Pte 7046, on 12 Aug 1916, Melbourne, Victoria; he was appointed as Pte 7046, 8th Battalion, AIF at Melbourne on 3 Nov 1916; farewelled at Dunrobin on 12 Nov 1916, embarked Melbourne on 23 Nov 1916, arrived England 29 Jan 1917, transferred to Medical Corps Details (medical problem) on 15 May 1917; embarked from England on 13 Mar 1918 for RTA (hernia); discharged from the AIF on 17 Sep 1918 at Melbourne, Victoria. William Henry "Harry" SPURREL married in 1928 to Ethel May ACOTT 1902-..?.., b. Ballarat, Victoria to Philip Francis ACOTT and Frances Rebecca BURRIDGE, he died the next year (1929) in a Melbourne hospital. He is named on... Casterton Town Hall Honour Roll. Casterton Christ Church (C-of-E) Honour Roll. Dunrobin Honour Roll

Casterton & District Historical Society Inc., S-W Victoria, Australia

Dunrobin World War 1 Honour Roll

Dunrobin (near Casterton), S-W Victoria, Australia