Showing posts with label Anzac Day Blog Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anzac Day Blog Challenge. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tombstone Tuesday - 2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge - Alexander Joseph McDonald

Memorial Cross  for members of 1st Field Company Australian Engineers - Gallipoli
This month I am planning to post a number of blogs about the members of our family who have participated in military conflicts as part of the 2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge.

This photo is of a memorial cross for the non Commissioned Officers and men of the 1st Field Company Australian Engineers who were killed or wounded in action on the Gallipoli Peninsula.  This memorial was erected in the cemetery in which the men were buried by their company.  One of the names on this list was my great grandmother (Annie McDonald)'s brother  Corporal Alexander Joseph McDonald, who died of wounds he received on 25 April 1915.  Yes! ANZAC day.  His story is a special one which I will post next Monday.

As a sign of respect to the other soldiers listed on this memorial I think I should list their names as well. They are:  (the number in front of their name is their service number).

239 Cpl Hugh Colquhoun, died of wounds on 19 June 1915, aged 31 years; 122 Second Cpl John Joseph Gough, killed in action on 9 July 1915, aged 26 years; 54 Sapper (Spr) Henry Harnam Fairnham, killed in action 26 May 1915, aged 31 years; 55 Spr Walter Freebairn, killed in action on 25 April 1915, aged 24 years; 60 Spr Cecil William Robert Howlett, killed in action 2 May 1915, aged 21 years; 246 Spr William Moore, killed in action on 25 April 1915, aged 28 years; 70 Spr Cleveland Edmund Page, killed in action on 25 April 1915, aged 23 years; 74 Spr James Randall Pantlin, killed in action on 5 May 1915, aged 24 years; 191 Spr Fred Reynolds, killed in action on 25 April 1915, aged 21 years; 112 Spr Francis Leslie Wells, killed in action on 12 July 1915, aged 22 years; 15 Second Cpl George Harrington Bird, died of wounds at sea on 9 August 1915, aged 19 years; 212 Spr Charles Carrington Fowle, wounded at Shrapnel Gully and died in Egypt on 13 July 1915, aged 29 years; 344 Spr Edward Moore Carter, wounded at Gallipoli on 12 July 1915, and died on 23 July 1915, aged 19 years (see image of Spr Carter's grave in Malta at P00545.040.)*
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* Australian War Memorial, http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C03164/, viewed 9/4/13

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Military Monday - 2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge

Some members of my family tree who have been to war



Taking advantage of  the Easter Break and a little R and R time, I have been catching up with some blog reading and came across the blog by Auckland Libraries' Kintalk Whānau Kōrero: family history blog, which challenges bloggers to share their family military stories, on the 2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge.  

 The aim of the challenge is to share stories of family members who served in military conflitct, their experiences and how their story has shaped your family history.  The challenge is designed to coincide with the upcoming ANZAC day celebration on the 25th April, however your story could be on family members who served in other wars other than WW1 or WW2.



What a Great opportunity to share some of our family's military tales!!


The Kintalk Blog points out that it is very easy to participate, just follow these steps: 
  • write a story about an Australian or New Zealander serviceman or woman's family and the impact the war had on their family history
  • Post a comment with the URL to your blog on the comments section of the
    2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge  page, or if  don't have a blog and would still like to participate you can send your story to kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
  • Publish your post by Anzac Day, 25 April 2013. 
Kintalk Blog will post a summary of all the postings on their blog after Anzac Day.