Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 19 October 1918, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
COMPULSORY LOAN. – The Compulsory War Loan Bill fixes the amount that may be raised at six times the average income tax during three years
NAVAL PASS. – We offer our heartiest congratulations to Master Willie Bull, the elder and clever son of Dentist R. N. Bull, who has qualified at the education examination for entry to the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay. There were 127 applicants from N. S. Wales, who went up for examination and 41 passed the examination. The successful candidates have to appear before the interviewing committee.
ROLL OF HONOR. – Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Middleton of Nelligen, received the sad intelligence on Tuesday that their son Pte. Archibald Middleton, had made the Supreme sacrifice on the 1st inst. Deceased was one of three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Middleton who are upholding the honor of their country.
FIRST ANZAC. – The first Anzac to arrive in Moruya is Gunner Mervyn Johnston who was warmly welcomed to his father’s (Mr. D Johnston) home in Mullenderree on Wednesday. The public reception will take place later on.
MASONRY. – Recently a Royal Arch Chapter of Masons was formed at Moruya. The Grand Superintendent of the order, Mr. J. A. Perry, with the Grand Secretary and other visitors from Sydney, came to Moruya to constitute and dedicate the new chapter. We understand that Mr. C. Cheeseman is the First Principal of the chapter here.
TURLINJAH. – (From our Correspondent) A Welcome Home was tendered to Pte. Arthur Thomson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Thomson, of Moruya, in the Turlinjah Hall on Monday evening. The hall was crowded with visitors from Moruya, Bodalla, Eurobodalla and surrounding districts. As the young hero entered the hall, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Thomson and family, the company sang “Home Sweet Home.” The chairman, Mr. C. Callaghan, in a few well-chosen words, extended to Pte. Thomson a hearty welcome. He also feelingly spoke of brave local boys who will never return, having been killed in action, viz., Privates F. Clarke and W. Revallion (Coila), and W. Robinson (Lake View).
ROLL OF HONOR. – Mr. and Mrs. W. Costin, of Narooma, are in receipt of the following from Lieutenant A. Fortell, 33rd Battalion A.I.F. –
“In notifying you of the death of your son, Frank, it gives me great regret to lose such a fine boy. As perhaps you know, Frank was my batman and runner for some time, up till when he was killed. Owing to a shortage of men in the lines I had to detail him out as a ration packy to carry rations up to the front lines, and it was whilst carrying out this duty that the fatality happened. He was carrying a Dixie with another man of my platoon, named Tiney, and a shell fell right on the Dixie they were carrying, and Frank was mortally wounded by a small piece going into his head. I am pleased to say that his body was not mutilated in the least. On the night of the 4th April, after a bayonet charge we had on the Bosche, we dug in, and later on in the evening a man dressed up in a British Officer’s uniform, came up to Frank, and on learning what troops we were ordered a retirement. Frank asked him who he was. He replied, “a British officer.” Frank called on him then to produce papers or coins to prove his identity. This he could not do, and Frank shot him dead. It was afterwards found out that this man was a German spy, and the prompt action on Frank’s part had a serious influence on saving the line.”
Nineteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1917 are available ($5 ea) from the Society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the Society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au).
