THE memoriam stone has been part of the Cleveland cenotaph for some time but to some, these Redland men are more than just names.
And now, 100 years since the first world war began, Cleveland historian Peter Ludlow is giving these names new life in a bid to create a Redland contingent of local war heroes.
To this end, he is seeking any information from families in order to create the story behind each name. The names include Captain RC Herbertson, Sgt R Rowland, L Corporal A Duffy and privates JO Booth, GW Burns, A Cook, FC Gale, JM Kelso, WJR Mills, A Noble, A Reid, SN Spence, JD Street, RS Taylor and WG Twist.
He is also interested in hearing other WWI stories from people who either lived in the area, had an association with the Redlands or whose families have continued to live here.
"I was approached to collate these stories, dedicated to these World War I heroes. I am keen to hear from descendants who lived in the Redlands before or after the war and have interesting information. The purpose of the stories is to provide the story behind each of the names on our WWI memorials and honour boards in the Redlands," Peter said.
Already, Peter has unearthed some information about JD (Joe Dandy) Street, who was a farmer in the Redlands and went to war at age 31, only to be shot and killed at Gallipoli.
"Not a lot is known about these men on the memoriam stone. But I am not restricting the stories to the stone alone. I want to hear about the Redlanders who fell but also the heroes who returned," he said.
One hero is Doug Morton, who enlisted as a private in 1914, falsely stating his age at 18. Doug served in Gallipolli and contracted a fever from the poor sanitary conditions. He recovered in hospital and returned to fight in France, where he was severely wounded. He was left for dead but someone noticed arm movements and he was saved. He had a metal plate inserted in the back of his head and convalesced in Scotland. He was given the Military Medal.
He and fellow soldier Eric Gordon farmed on Coochie- mudlo Island as a means of recovery. Eric found it too lonely as the island was then uninhabited and left after six months. Crops included custard apples, naval oranges and pineapples. His farm was considered a showpiece. Doug and his wife Beatrice Mary Colburn (married 1921) built five jetties during his 41 years on the island and a sister jetty at Victoria Point. He also constructed a six-hole golf course on the island. Their legacy is honoured by the naming of a reserve on the island.
This information will be published in either a hard cover and/or ebook format entitled WWI Heroes of the Redlands by the Redland City Council's library as a way of marking the war's centenary.
"The names don't mean much, but the stories will. I am interested in the people themselves what they did before the war and what they did on their return. It will give a picture of what the Redlands was once like," Peter said.
"Diggers who would qualify for this book may include any digger who was born in the Redlands, was living in the Redlands prior to WWI or who moved to the Redlands just after WWI."
