Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 25 November 1916, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
MANY WOUNDS. – His uncle, Mr. S. Harkus, of Nelligen, informs us that Lieut. Roy, only son of the late Corporal Ben Harkus, has just been wounded in France and has been sent to England. This gallant son of a gallant father, has been a despatch rider at the front for 2 years received no less than 30 wounds from the explosion of one shell.
DEATH. – The death of Mr Clarke Anderson, cousin of the late Mr. R. Anderson, took place at the residence of Mr. F. H. Anderson, “Lake View”, Bergalia, early last week at the good old age of 84 years. The deceased gentleman came to Bergaila many years ago, and for a considerable period filled the important position of cheesemaker at the Bergalia Estate, and subsequently at the “Lake View” Dairy, where he remained with the family until his demise.
SUCCESSFUL. – At the London College of Music Examination (Practical) held in Bega on Nov. 10th Miss Jessie Mercer passed the Intermediate Section and Miss Marion Bate the elementary the latter gaining 87 marks. Both girls are pupils of Mrs. Preddy (A.L.C.M.) of Wagonga.
ANOTHER HERO GONE. – The deepest commiseration was felt for Mrs. W. Bishop, of Eurobodalla, when the sad news became known that her son’s, Second Lieutenant Harold McKay Bishop, name had been added to the list of fallen heroes. This young hero, who at only 22 years of age, enlisted from Bega at the beginning of the war in 1914, and quickly won honors. He left Australia as a Corporal, was made Sergeant, then Quarter-Master at Gallipoli, and received his commission in France. He fought through the landing at Gallipoli, through Lone Pine and Pozieres without being seriously wounded. The loss of her second eldest son is the more keenly felt by Mrs. Bishop, owing to the months of anxious suspense through which she has passed, awaiting news of her fourth son Ray, who has been reported missing since 20th July last, and who has it is now feared, met his death at the hands of the enemy after being taken prisoner, as no trace of him can be found.
NAROOMA. – A large gathering assembled at the rifle range on Saturday, 18th, to give a fitting send-off and presentation to Mr. H. Mitchell, who was leaving for camp on Monday. Although the afternoon was threatened by rain at any moment it never prevented visitors from the surrounding districts attending. Mr. Carter also gave a well-delivered address. Mr Carter said it was very hard to have to part with a young man like Mr. Mitchell, who was making a big sacrifice. He was only a few months married and was about to leave for the front. He said that Mrs. H. Mitchell was also a heroine. When Private Mitchell felt it his duty to volunteer that Mrs. Mitchell, instead of trying to prevent him, as only natural any young wife would, had helped him to overcome the difficulty and shared the sacrifice with him.
TRAGIC DEATH OF THE MAYOR OF BRAIDWOOD. – PATRICK COFFEY – Quite a gloom was cast over the town of Moruya early on Tuesday morning when the news of the news of the tragic death of Alderman Patrick Coffey, the widely known and popular Mayor and Licensee of the Royal Hotel, Braidwood, became known. On Sunday afternoon Mr. Coffey motored to Moruya from Braidwood in Mr. T. W. Draper’s private car, driven by the owner, and accompanied by Messrs. J. F. J. O’Brien and Myles Dempsey. On Monday Mr. Coffey, who was Managing Director of the Braidwood Freezing Works, and Mr. Draper, his Secretary of same, spent the day in matters connected with the Moruya Freezing Works, which they are now erecting, and having business at Bodalla visited the Village that evening. On the return journey to Moruya, and near Mr. J. Lennard’s residence something went wrong with the steering gear, with the sad result that the car toppled over an embankment and Mr. Coffey was crushed and died almost immediately. The most sorrowful and heart-rending feature of the deplorable accident is in the fact that the deceased leaves a widow and nine children, six boys and three girls, the youngest being only four years of age, to mourn their irreparable loss.
Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1915 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).
