banner

A+ A A-

Researching WW1 diggers and nurses

from Sunshine Coast region of Queensland


box_09

2014 was the centenary year of Australia's first deployment of soldiers to Europe to fight in the First World War.

The purpose of the Adopt a Digger Project is to commemorate the centenary by honouring the men and women from the (current) Sunshine Coast region of South-east Queensland who fought in World War One either with the Army, Navy or Airforce. Criteria for a soldier's inclusion is either that he was born in the district, or his next-of-kin was resident in the district, or he enlisted in the district or he is commemorated on a local honour board or memorial. This same criteria applies to our nurses. Since the inception of the project we have decided to include the settlers who took up land at Beerburrum Soldier Settlement from 1916 as the Settlement is such a significant piece of the region's WW1 history. Our criteria dates are 1914 to 1925.

The aim of this website is to create a database which records each soldier's WW1 military history and a brief personal history. This database will be a valuable source of reference for historians, researchers, descendants and school students, and will be a significant contribution to the social and historical military records of Australia, and particularly the  Sunshine Coast region.

We held an exhibition in April 2015 to commemorate the Anzac Centenary and to remember and honour "our boys".

the-chronicleEudlo - Our Volunteers
Mr Arthur Harris left last week to take his place with the boys in camp in Brisbane.
Latest report concerning Petty Officer Syd Mitchell is that he is progressing satisfactorily. The brave and popular lad was reported dangerously ill about 1 week ago.
Otto Neilsen is on his way to Egypt.

 

Cooroy - Killed on Gallipoli
News was received here that one of our townsmen at the front had "gone West". We refer to Bruce Robins, who was one of the first selectors of the Cooroy Estate and who, when war broke out, was one of the first to enlist. He took part in the Gallipoli fights, and has been over 12 months at the front. This is our first casualty and brings very close the horrors of the war. General sympathy is expressed for the bereaved relatives, the deceased having been very popular among the residents of the district.

More Volunteers
Several more of our young fellows have announced their intention of joining the colors, viz Mr Maguire, Bank of NSW, as soon as he can be relieved. Mr Edwards, who recently purchased a banana farm here, and Messrs W Leight and E.B. Collett having been accepted, and will go into camp in January. Several others will probably follow suit immediately the holidays are over, and if reports prove true we shall be losing a good few of our boys after the holidays, the majority seeming to realise the need of men.

Source: "The Chronicle" 24 Dec 1915.
Diggers:
4476 Arthur Harris
199 Sidney Mitchell
464 Otto Carl Nielsen
249 Angus Bruce Robins
1692 William Osborne Maguire
21212 Harold Frank Edwards
413 Charles Light
4998 Ebenezer Wesely Collett