McEachern
Gaelic, meaning "Horse Lord"
My mother Helen, (25/10/1928 - 25/3/2016) was a McEachern before she married Dad and became a Patterson.
The McEachern’s, are part of the MacDonald of the Isles Clan, or Clan Donald. This page is dedicated to them.
The McEachern’s, are part of the MacDonald of the Isles Clan, or Clan Donald. This page is dedicated to them.
Strathdownie, Victoria....
After leaving Morvern Scotland, the McEachern's settled in Strathdownie, near Casterton in western Victoria.
My great, great, great grandfather Hugh, and his sons, arrived in NSW in 1839. Then moved on to the Casterton area of south-west Victoria in 1842. William McEachern brought with him cattle for John McPherson. William was appointed manager of McPherson's "Spring Bank" Pastoral Run at the end of 1841 after the previous occupier, Edmund Morton and his worker William Lawrence were killed by aborigines.
Later William McEachern occupied the "Strathdownie East" Pastoral Run.
In 1886 he moved to NSW and died at Rosewood, near Tumbarumba, NSW in 1895.
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Below is an interesting account of how William McEACHERN was almost killed when speared by aborigines near the Wannon River in the early 1840s.
Ref: "Echoes of the Past" Shire of Glenelg BiCentennial Committee.
Originally Published: "Casterton News" 1886
The extract below is from an article based on an interview in 1886 with a Mr. Patrick Lyons and refers to an incident involving William McEachern and Dr Byass.
P. 20 "Echoes of the Past":
....."Did I tell you," said he, "how Mr William McEachern was attacked by the blacks, and nearly murdered?""Well," remarked our host, "when Mr McEachern was managing Spring - bank, which was then known as the Cattle Station - this was about 1845 - he did not stand in very high favor with the blacks, for, you see, though he had no sheep at all on his run, whenever the blacks walked off with the Dunrobin sheep, Mr McEachern would join in the pursuit, and the blacks resented his interference in what, according to their ideas of right, he had no business in which to meddle. At this time one of his bullocks died on the run, and, when he went out next day, he found that the carcase had been carried away, which seemed to indicate that the blacks had had a hand in the removal."
"He would have been very angered by this," we ventured to remark.
"You may say that," said Mr Lyons - "and he wasn't long in going out after the cattle thieves. Well, he was riding about, and soon he saw some blacks about two miles from the hut that was on the run - there were two or three women, a boy, and a man, and they were digging yams."
"Well," he proceeded "Mr McEachern rode up to the blacks, dismounted, and began talking to them, questioning them as to what had become of the beast, when one of the black scoundrels, who had been hiding behind a gum - tree, threw a spear at Mr McEachern, who was standing at his horse's head, with the reins thrown over his arm. The spear entered his temple, and, while he was pulling it out, other spears were thrown. One of the women then came up close and, as Mr McEachern pulled the spears out of whatever part of his body they stuck in, the lubras picked them up, and added to his annoyance by prodding him with them." "Did he go among these people unarmed, then?" we asked, in some surprise.
“No!" replied Mr Lyons. "He had a pistol with him, but he had, very unwisely, left it unloaded, which was the same, almost, as being unarmed. However, he used the pistol as a weapon of offence and defence, and he hit his male assailant with the butt-end, which broke off, and then he was entirely unarmed in the presence of those he was compelled to look on as his enemies. Indeed, although the blacks were friendly enough at times, with their marauding thievish habits, they could only be looked on as the white man's enemies at that time - they had not been thoroughly cowed. His endeavor to defend himself, by striking a blow, however, had its effect on the wretches, and he was able to remount his horse, and make the best of his way home, but he had not gone far when loss of blood from the spear-wounds compelled him to dismount again."
"Was he injured much, then?" we asked.
"He was hurt - he had a severe cut on his cheek and one eye was gone. Anyhow he made his way, as best he could, to the hut, and the hut-keeper sent a black boy off to Dunrobin, on Mr McEachern's horse, and Mr McPherson and I came down to the Cattle Station, about an hour after, when we found Mr McEachern almost dead. I went across the river for the doctor - named Boyce [sic], who was living then at what is now known as Boyce's Bend, between the Sandford cemetery and Councillor Rhodes'. By the same token, it was a little village of its own, then - there was a shoemaker named Rogers, and a tailor named Turnbull, living there at the time.".....
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The extract below is from an article based on an interview in 1886 with a "Mr. Jones" from Strathdownie. Mr Jones is believed to have been William McEachern and this extract also refers to the same incident and Dr. Byass.
P. 39 "Echoes of the Past":
....."In June, 1842, I arrived at the Glenelg, in charge of Mr John McPherson's cattle and horses. We came to the Glenelg, opposite the old Dunrobin head station. Mr William McPherson was then managing Dunrobin. The river was half-flooded, and there was no bridge, so I took the wheels off one of the bullock-drays, and, with the aid of a tarpaulin, I made a boat of it, by which we got all the things across the river. Then I made the cattle and horses swim across, in lots, myself and my horse swimming after each lot. Mr John McPherson, who was with us, got over in the dray boat, and so did the men, and we then took the cattle and horses to what was then called Morton's run, now Spring Bank. The former owner, Mr Morton, with his bullock-driver, was out stripping bark, and, having camped out at night, was killed by the blacks, about eighteen months before our arrival, and the place was deserted, through fear of the blacks, until we took possession in 1842. There was no Casterton for some years after that. In 1844, the blacks killed one of the Dunrobin shepherds, and took half the flock - some 750 sheep. Mr Wm. McPherson and his men were out for three days, but could not find the sheep. Then Mr McPherson came to me one evening, and stayed with me all night. He told me about his unsuccessful hunt after the sheep, and that he had at last to give them up, but knowing, as he did, that I was good at tracking, he urged me to go with him, and I at last consented, and I asked him to take me where he had last seen the tracks. He did so, and I then picked up the tracks, after passing through what is now called Bahgallah. We then followed them across the river. By that time it was getting late, and, as we were not prepared for camping out, I told Mr McPherson that we had better go home for the night, and that we should get some men from Mr John Henty's place, at Sandford, and so be better prepared for staying out on the morrow. This being done, we started next morning to where we last saw the tracks, and in the evening we came on the blacks and the sheep. The blacks were busy, making spears; they had three or four sheep on the fire, and were preparing for a feast, but the moment that they saw us they bolted into a ti-tree scrub, leaving everything behind them. We tried to have a shot at them, but they were better bushmen than we were, and so got out of our reach, so we took possession of the sheep, and got back four miles with them that evening. Next morning Mr McPherson and myself were leading the way, and the men were following with the sheep. Mr McPherson, on seeing the Digby ranges to the right of us, wanted to go that way, thinking that it was the Bluff at Runnymede, I wanted to persuade him to the contrary, and when I found he was firm in his own idea, I said, 'well, Mr Mac, you can go your own way, but, for myself, I will go home.' Mr McPherson did not like to part with me, so he followed me, and we got home with the sheep that evening. After that time every flock of sheep had two armed shepherds, and every hut two armed keepers. Even after my going after those Dunrobin sheep the blacks were watching me - as I had no jumbucks - meaning sheep - but only bullocks, they considered that I had no business to assist my neighbor to recover his sheep. They thought that if I was not in the party, the sheep would have been their own, for themselves and their friends to feast upon. In fact, I was told afterwards, that some of them tried to get a gun at a neighbouring station, to shoot me while after the sheep. It was about November 1844, that I was attacked by the blacks. The attack took place about two miles from the hut, near to what was called the Middle Camp. The blacks had taken to spearing cattle, after I had recovered the sheep for Dunrobin, and I had to take several of the cattle to the stock-yard, to cut out the spears that were sticking in them. After I found that the blacks were watching for myself, I used to carry a brace of horse-pistols, in holsters, on the saddle. On the day of the attack on me a duelling-pistol was all I had with me, and it was unloaded. My kangaroo dogs, which always followed me, did not follow me on that day, so that I was alone and helpless. I found the blacks hiding themselves amongst some trees on the cattle track, so that they would as I thought, spear the cattle on their way to the camp. When I spoke to them they seemed to be very frightened, and, as I knew they were always frightened of a man on horseback, I alighted, so that I could speak to them about the spearing of the cattle, when some blacks from behind commenced spearing me. Every spear I pulled out I broke, so that they had none left to use at last.""I then faced one of the blacks with my empty pistol," states Mr McEachern, in continuation of his story "as if to shoot him, and then I broke the pistol over his head. I then remounted my horse, which was a young one just broken in, and stuck the spurs into him, and after going some distance, finding myself getting into thick timber, and being so weak that I could not guide my horse among the trees, I threw my self off, for fear of having my brains knocked out against the trees. The horse, when he felt me falling turned round, but did not pull the bridle out of my weak and exhausted hand. I was then so weak, from loss of blood, that I could not get into the saddle again, until I took the horse to a projecting root of a tree, above the level of the ground. By getting on to this root I was then able to get my foot into the stirrup, and myself into the saddle once more. The horse then walked homewards with me, but when I reached the hut I could not raise my right leg over the saddle, to dismount. Every time I would try to do so, I could hear the blood rushing through a wound on my back, opposite my heart, and I could feel the blood running down the inside of my trousers. I at last got off, with the help of my kind hut keeper, Michael Londrigan, who afterwards continued to be my nurse for three months during the time I was laid up. Mr W. McPherson sent for Dr. Corney, and I sent for Dr. Byass, and they arrived at the same time, and, after they had examined and probed my wounds, Dr. Corney said that, if I lived for four hours, there might be hope for me. Dr. Byass said twenty-four hours, Dr. Byass attended to me and did not leave my bedside for five days and nights, although his own house and family was only four miles distant, away on the Wannon. There was a piece of spear, three inches long, through my upper lip, clenched against my jaw-bone, which the doctor would not venture to cut out for some days, until he would see what turn my life would take. About two weeks before all this happened to me, I found blacks on the river, opposite Runnymede, with some beef they had carried away there. Then a black fellow went about fifteen yards on one side of me, and another about the same distance on the other side, with spears poised to throw at me. On my noticing their intentions, I said to the others that were standing by, 'Good night, good night to all,' and turned my horses round and coolly walked away, so the spears did not follow me that time. Another time they took the working horses away, and then sent one of themselves to tell me where they were. It was M Londrigan that went that morning to bring the horses, and when he got to where they were he saw several blackfellows sitting near the horses with a bunch of spears in their hands, and, on their seeing him, they sprang to their feet, and were quite disappointed when they saw it was not I. So, luck was kind to me that day in saving my life. All this took place, and more, after the killing of Casey, and the recovering of the sheep. In 1845, I came through the bush from Glencoe to Heathfield with a constable from Portland following me. Coming through Kilbride (now Nangwarry), I said to the constable that if I had stock, I would put them on this ground. The constable, on reaching Portland, spoke about what I had said to him, and at once people went out, and had a look at the country that was spoken of, so that it was soon taken up as a run.'......
My great, great, great grandfather Hugh, and his sons, arrived in NSW in 1839. Then moved on to the Casterton area of south-west Victoria in 1842. William McEachern brought with him cattle for John McPherson. William was appointed manager of McPherson's "Spring Bank" Pastoral Run at the end of 1841 after the previous occupier, Edmund Morton and his worker William Lawrence were killed by aborigines.
Later William McEachern occupied the "Strathdownie East" Pastoral Run.
In 1886 he moved to NSW and died at Rosewood, near Tumbarumba, NSW in 1895.
_________________________________________________________________________
Below is an interesting account of how William McEACHERN was almost killed when speared by aborigines near the Wannon River in the early 1840s.
Ref: "Echoes of the Past" Shire of Glenelg BiCentennial Committee.
Originally Published: "Casterton News" 1886
The extract below is from an article based on an interview in 1886 with a Mr. Patrick Lyons and refers to an incident involving William McEachern and Dr Byass.
P. 20 "Echoes of the Past":
....."Did I tell you," said he, "how Mr William McEachern was attacked by the blacks, and nearly murdered?""Well," remarked our host, "when Mr McEachern was managing Spring - bank, which was then known as the Cattle Station - this was about 1845 - he did not stand in very high favor with the blacks, for, you see, though he had no sheep at all on his run, whenever the blacks walked off with the Dunrobin sheep, Mr McEachern would join in the pursuit, and the blacks resented his interference in what, according to their ideas of right, he had no business in which to meddle. At this time one of his bullocks died on the run, and, when he went out next day, he found that the carcase had been carried away, which seemed to indicate that the blacks had had a hand in the removal."
"He would have been very angered by this," we ventured to remark.
"You may say that," said Mr Lyons - "and he wasn't long in going out after the cattle thieves. Well, he was riding about, and soon he saw some blacks about two miles from the hut that was on the run - there were two or three women, a boy, and a man, and they were digging yams."
"Well," he proceeded "Mr McEachern rode up to the blacks, dismounted, and began talking to them, questioning them as to what had become of the beast, when one of the black scoundrels, who had been hiding behind a gum - tree, threw a spear at Mr McEachern, who was standing at his horse's head, with the reins thrown over his arm. The spear entered his temple, and, while he was pulling it out, other spears were thrown. One of the women then came up close and, as Mr McEachern pulled the spears out of whatever part of his body they stuck in, the lubras picked them up, and added to his annoyance by prodding him with them." "Did he go among these people unarmed, then?" we asked, in some surprise.
“No!" replied Mr Lyons. "He had a pistol with him, but he had, very unwisely, left it unloaded, which was the same, almost, as being unarmed. However, he used the pistol as a weapon of offence and defence, and he hit his male assailant with the butt-end, which broke off, and then he was entirely unarmed in the presence of those he was compelled to look on as his enemies. Indeed, although the blacks were friendly enough at times, with their marauding thievish habits, they could only be looked on as the white man's enemies at that time - they had not been thoroughly cowed. His endeavor to defend himself, by striking a blow, however, had its effect on the wretches, and he was able to remount his horse, and make the best of his way home, but he had not gone far when loss of blood from the spear-wounds compelled him to dismount again."
"Was he injured much, then?" we asked.
"He was hurt - he had a severe cut on his cheek and one eye was gone. Anyhow he made his way, as best he could, to the hut, and the hut-keeper sent a black boy off to Dunrobin, on Mr McEachern's horse, and Mr McPherson and I came down to the Cattle Station, about an hour after, when we found Mr McEachern almost dead. I went across the river for the doctor - named Boyce [sic], who was living then at what is now known as Boyce's Bend, between the Sandford cemetery and Councillor Rhodes'. By the same token, it was a little village of its own, then - there was a shoemaker named Rogers, and a tailor named Turnbull, living there at the time.".....
_____________________________________________________________
The extract below is from an article based on an interview in 1886 with a "Mr. Jones" from Strathdownie. Mr Jones is believed to have been William McEachern and this extract also refers to the same incident and Dr. Byass.
P. 39 "Echoes of the Past":
....."In June, 1842, I arrived at the Glenelg, in charge of Mr John McPherson's cattle and horses. We came to the Glenelg, opposite the old Dunrobin head station. Mr William McPherson was then managing Dunrobin. The river was half-flooded, and there was no bridge, so I took the wheels off one of the bullock-drays, and, with the aid of a tarpaulin, I made a boat of it, by which we got all the things across the river. Then I made the cattle and horses swim across, in lots, myself and my horse swimming after each lot. Mr John McPherson, who was with us, got over in the dray boat, and so did the men, and we then took the cattle and horses to what was then called Morton's run, now Spring Bank. The former owner, Mr Morton, with his bullock-driver, was out stripping bark, and, having camped out at night, was killed by the blacks, about eighteen months before our arrival, and the place was deserted, through fear of the blacks, until we took possession in 1842. There was no Casterton for some years after that. In 1844, the blacks killed one of the Dunrobin shepherds, and took half the flock - some 750 sheep. Mr Wm. McPherson and his men were out for three days, but could not find the sheep. Then Mr McPherson came to me one evening, and stayed with me all night. He told me about his unsuccessful hunt after the sheep, and that he had at last to give them up, but knowing, as he did, that I was good at tracking, he urged me to go with him, and I at last consented, and I asked him to take me where he had last seen the tracks. He did so, and I then picked up the tracks, after passing through what is now called Bahgallah. We then followed them across the river. By that time it was getting late, and, as we were not prepared for camping out, I told Mr McPherson that we had better go home for the night, and that we should get some men from Mr John Henty's place, at Sandford, and so be better prepared for staying out on the morrow. This being done, we started next morning to where we last saw the tracks, and in the evening we came on the blacks and the sheep. The blacks were busy, making spears; they had three or four sheep on the fire, and were preparing for a feast, but the moment that they saw us they bolted into a ti-tree scrub, leaving everything behind them. We tried to have a shot at them, but they were better bushmen than we were, and so got out of our reach, so we took possession of the sheep, and got back four miles with them that evening. Next morning Mr McPherson and myself were leading the way, and the men were following with the sheep. Mr McPherson, on seeing the Digby ranges to the right of us, wanted to go that way, thinking that it was the Bluff at Runnymede, I wanted to persuade him to the contrary, and when I found he was firm in his own idea, I said, 'well, Mr Mac, you can go your own way, but, for myself, I will go home.' Mr McPherson did not like to part with me, so he followed me, and we got home with the sheep that evening. After that time every flock of sheep had two armed shepherds, and every hut two armed keepers. Even after my going after those Dunrobin sheep the blacks were watching me - as I had no jumbucks - meaning sheep - but only bullocks, they considered that I had no business to assist my neighbor to recover his sheep. They thought that if I was not in the party, the sheep would have been their own, for themselves and their friends to feast upon. In fact, I was told afterwards, that some of them tried to get a gun at a neighbouring station, to shoot me while after the sheep. It was about November 1844, that I was attacked by the blacks. The attack took place about two miles from the hut, near to what was called the Middle Camp. The blacks had taken to spearing cattle, after I had recovered the sheep for Dunrobin, and I had to take several of the cattle to the stock-yard, to cut out the spears that were sticking in them. After I found that the blacks were watching for myself, I used to carry a brace of horse-pistols, in holsters, on the saddle. On the day of the attack on me a duelling-pistol was all I had with me, and it was unloaded. My kangaroo dogs, which always followed me, did not follow me on that day, so that I was alone and helpless. I found the blacks hiding themselves amongst some trees on the cattle track, so that they would as I thought, spear the cattle on their way to the camp. When I spoke to them they seemed to be very frightened, and, as I knew they were always frightened of a man on horseback, I alighted, so that I could speak to them about the spearing of the cattle, when some blacks from behind commenced spearing me. Every spear I pulled out I broke, so that they had none left to use at last.""I then faced one of the blacks with my empty pistol," states Mr McEachern, in continuation of his story "as if to shoot him, and then I broke the pistol over his head. I then remounted my horse, which was a young one just broken in, and stuck the spurs into him, and after going some distance, finding myself getting into thick timber, and being so weak that I could not guide my horse among the trees, I threw my self off, for fear of having my brains knocked out against the trees. The horse, when he felt me falling turned round, but did not pull the bridle out of my weak and exhausted hand. I was then so weak, from loss of blood, that I could not get into the saddle again, until I took the horse to a projecting root of a tree, above the level of the ground. By getting on to this root I was then able to get my foot into the stirrup, and myself into the saddle once more. The horse then walked homewards with me, but when I reached the hut I could not raise my right leg over the saddle, to dismount. Every time I would try to do so, I could hear the blood rushing through a wound on my back, opposite my heart, and I could feel the blood running down the inside of my trousers. I at last got off, with the help of my kind hut keeper, Michael Londrigan, who afterwards continued to be my nurse for three months during the time I was laid up. Mr W. McPherson sent for Dr. Corney, and I sent for Dr. Byass, and they arrived at the same time, and, after they had examined and probed my wounds, Dr. Corney said that, if I lived for four hours, there might be hope for me. Dr. Byass said twenty-four hours, Dr. Byass attended to me and did not leave my bedside for five days and nights, although his own house and family was only four miles distant, away on the Wannon. There was a piece of spear, three inches long, through my upper lip, clenched against my jaw-bone, which the doctor would not venture to cut out for some days, until he would see what turn my life would take. About two weeks before all this happened to me, I found blacks on the river, opposite Runnymede, with some beef they had carried away there. Then a black fellow went about fifteen yards on one side of me, and another about the same distance on the other side, with spears poised to throw at me. On my noticing their intentions, I said to the others that were standing by, 'Good night, good night to all,' and turned my horses round and coolly walked away, so the spears did not follow me that time. Another time they took the working horses away, and then sent one of themselves to tell me where they were. It was M Londrigan that went that morning to bring the horses, and when he got to where they were he saw several blackfellows sitting near the horses with a bunch of spears in their hands, and, on their seeing him, they sprang to their feet, and were quite disappointed when they saw it was not I. So, luck was kind to me that day in saving my life. All this took place, and more, after the killing of Casey, and the recovering of the sheep. In 1845, I came through the bush from Glencoe to Heathfield with a constable from Portland following me. Coming through Kilbride (now Nangwarry), I said to the constable that if I had stock, I would put them on this ground. The constable, on reaching Portland, spoke about what I had said to him, and at once people went out, and had a look at the country that was spoken of, so that it was soon taken up as a run.'......
McEachern brothers in WW1......
Four Brothers answered the call.....
(from their official records)
Name
Service number Joined Unit Age at joining Joined at NOK Embarked Sydney Wounded in action Injury Returned to Australia Discharged Time Served Other Recommendations Charges |
Hugh
1944 7/10/1915 3rd/56th Battalion 28y 7m Cootamundra John Holden 23/6/1916 "Barambah" 18/10/1917 5/4/1918 Gassed Gassed 31/12/1919 31/12/1919 4y 2m SGT Farmer |
George Ernest
2462 17/3/1916 5th/45th Battalion 21y 3m Cootamundra John Holden 24/8/1916 "Anchises" 24/2/1917 Gunshot wound (Chest) 9/12/1918 2y 8m+ CPL Farm Labourer 9/7/1918 VD 34 Days |
John Gilbert
3185A 29/9/1916 8th/55th Battalion 21y 9m Goulburn John Holden 11/11/1916 "Suevic" 2/9/1918 Gunshot wound (L/leg & R/groin) 18/1/1919 2y 4m+ PTE Farmer 22/1/1917 (in UK before France) 1. Breaking Isolation 2.Refusing to obey orders 3.Insolence to an NCO 1 Days pay 28/7/1918 1. Improperly Dressed Admonished |
William Holden
(my Grandfather) 3439 10/9/1916 9th/56th Battalion 23y 10m Cootamundra Elizabeth 24/1/1917 "Anchises" 2/9/1918 Shrapnel wound (R/arm & face) 8/1/1919 2/4/1919 2y 7m CPL Farmer 12/5/1918 DCM. (Distinguished Conduct Medal) |
The following is taken directly from the AIF Project
William Holden McEACHERN
Regimental number; 3439
Place of birth; Glenroy, New South Wales
Religion; Presbyterian
Occupation; Farmer
Address; Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Marital status; Single
Age at embarkation; 23
Height; 5' 6.25"
Weight; 158 lbs
Next of kin; Mother, Mrs Elizabeth McEachern, Wolseley Park, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Previous military service; Nil
Enlistment date; 10 September 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll; 9 August 1916
Place of enlistment; Cootamundra, New South Wales
Rank on enlistment; Private
Unit name 56th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number; 23/73/3
Embarkation details;;Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 24 January 1917
Rank from Nominal Roll; Lance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll; 56th Battalion
Recommendations; (Medals and Awards) Distinguished Conduct Medal
Refers 11-12 May 1918.
Recommendation date: Unspecified
Fate; Returned to Australia 8 January 1919
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records Commemorated in Rosewood Cemetery:
Stone '1914-18 War. In thanksgiving for the safe return of Hugh, William, Gordon and John. Sons of John and Elizabeth McEachern.'
Discharge date 2 April 1919
Family/military connections; Brothers: 1944 Corporal Hugh McEACHERN, 56th Bn, returned to Australia, 5 September 1919; 3185 Pte John Gilbert McEACHERN, 56th Bn, returned to Australia, 18 January 1919.
Other details; War service: Western Front
Embarked; Sydney, 24 January 1917; admitted to ship's hospital, 4 March 1917; discharged from ship's hospital, 22 March 1917; Disembarked Devonport, England, 27 March 1917, and marched in to 14th Training Bn, Hurdcott, and reverted to the ranks.
Proceeded overseas to France; 12 October 1917; taken on strength, 56th Bn, in the field, 28 October 1917.
Appointed Lance Corporal; 1 November 1917.
Detached to Corps Gas School; 17 February 1918; rejoined Bn, 27 February 1918.
Detached to Brigade School; 7 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 14 June 1918.
On leave to Paris; 28 June 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 15 July 1918.
Appointed Temporary Corporal; 6 August 1918.
Wounded in action; 2 September 1918 (shrapnel wound, right arm), and admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 37th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 33, 2 September 1918, and admitted to 12th General Hospital, Rouen, 3 September 1918; transferred to England, 4 September 1918, and admitted to Military Hospital, Boscombe, Hampshire, 5 September 1918; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 21 September 1918; discharged to Littlemoor Camp, Weymouth, 4 October 1918.
Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Orsova', 8 January 1919; disembarked, Melbourne, 20 February 1919, for onward travel to Sydney;
Discharged; (medically unfit), 2 April 1919.
Medals; British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous details; Second given name incorrectly recorded on Embarkation Roll as Holdin; address incorrectly recorded as Woolsey Park.
Sources; NAA: B2455, McEACHERN William Holden
Regimental number; 3439
Place of birth; Glenroy, New South Wales
Religion; Presbyterian
Occupation; Farmer
Address; Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Marital status; Single
Age at embarkation; 23
Height; 5' 6.25"
Weight; 158 lbs
Next of kin; Mother, Mrs Elizabeth McEachern, Wolseley Park, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Previous military service; Nil
Enlistment date; 10 September 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll; 9 August 1916
Place of enlistment; Cootamundra, New South Wales
Rank on enlistment; Private
Unit name 56th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number; 23/73/3
Embarkation details;;Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 24 January 1917
Rank from Nominal Roll; Lance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll; 56th Battalion
Recommendations; (Medals and Awards) Distinguished Conduct Medal
Refers 11-12 May 1918.
Recommendation date: Unspecified
Fate; Returned to Australia 8 January 1919
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records Commemorated in Rosewood Cemetery:
Stone '1914-18 War. In thanksgiving for the safe return of Hugh, William, Gordon and John. Sons of John and Elizabeth McEachern.'
Discharge date 2 April 1919
Family/military connections; Brothers: 1944 Corporal Hugh McEACHERN, 56th Bn, returned to Australia, 5 September 1919; 3185 Pte John Gilbert McEACHERN, 56th Bn, returned to Australia, 18 January 1919.
Other details; War service: Western Front
Embarked; Sydney, 24 January 1917; admitted to ship's hospital, 4 March 1917; discharged from ship's hospital, 22 March 1917; Disembarked Devonport, England, 27 March 1917, and marched in to 14th Training Bn, Hurdcott, and reverted to the ranks.
Proceeded overseas to France; 12 October 1917; taken on strength, 56th Bn, in the field, 28 October 1917.
Appointed Lance Corporal; 1 November 1917.
Detached to Corps Gas School; 17 February 1918; rejoined Bn, 27 February 1918.
Detached to Brigade School; 7 June 1918; rejoined Bn, 14 June 1918.
On leave to Paris; 28 June 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 15 July 1918.
Appointed Temporary Corporal; 6 August 1918.
Wounded in action; 2 September 1918 (shrapnel wound, right arm), and admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 37th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 33, 2 September 1918, and admitted to 12th General Hospital, Rouen, 3 September 1918; transferred to England, 4 September 1918, and admitted to Military Hospital, Boscombe, Hampshire, 5 September 1918; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 21 September 1918; discharged to Littlemoor Camp, Weymouth, 4 October 1918.
Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Orsova', 8 January 1919; disembarked, Melbourne, 20 February 1919, for onward travel to Sydney;
Discharged; (medically unfit), 2 April 1919.
Medals; British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous details; Second given name incorrectly recorded on Embarkation Roll as Holdin; address incorrectly recorded as Woolsey Park.
Sources; NAA: B2455, McEACHERN William Holden
DCM Citation...
On this form, there is no record of the recommendation ever being received by Brigade HQ. Nor is there anything to indicate it had been approved or denied.
The reason for this appears to be either a clerical error or an oversight. (or my theory, 2 paragraphs below)
Therefore the awarding of this decoration to L/Cpl McEachern should proceed posthumously and I've put the wheels in motion to do so.
Recently I received an answer from the honours people indicating that there is absolutely no chance of the DCM being awarded posthumously to my grandfather. This is resultant of a ruling made in 1919. They also say that the family should be very proud that he was recommended for such an honour. Oh well, I did but try.
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On a lighter note, for many years prior to my mother discovering that he had in fact been recommended for the medal, (c1993) there had been a story going around the family that he had traded the awarding of a major medal for leave in Paris. On looking at his records, soon after the date of the citation, he did indeed have 18 days leave in Paris granted to him, indicating this could be true. Further along this theory is that the recommendation wasn't received at Brigade headquarters. Could it be that it was never sent, because the "leave in Paris" deal had already been done? Who knows?
Upon visiting the Villers Bretonneux "Franco-Australian Museum", I mentioned this to them. They were amused by the story but it didn't come as a shock to them. They had heard of this sort of thing before, which further strengthens the theory that it may well be true.
The reason for this appears to be either a clerical error or an oversight. (or my theory, 2 paragraphs below)
Therefore the awarding of this decoration to L/Cpl McEachern should proceed posthumously and I've put the wheels in motion to do so.
Recently I received an answer from the honours people indicating that there is absolutely no chance of the DCM being awarded posthumously to my grandfather. This is resultant of a ruling made in 1919. They also say that the family should be very proud that he was recommended for such an honour. Oh well, I did but try.
----------------------------------
On a lighter note, for many years prior to my mother discovering that he had in fact been recommended for the medal, (c1993) there had been a story going around the family that he had traded the awarding of a major medal for leave in Paris. On looking at his records, soon after the date of the citation, he did indeed have 18 days leave in Paris granted to him, indicating this could be true. Further along this theory is that the recommendation wasn't received at Brigade headquarters. Could it be that it was never sent, because the "leave in Paris" deal had already been done? Who knows?
Upon visiting the Villers Bretonneux "Franco-Australian Museum", I mentioned this to them. They were amused by the story but it didn't come as a shock to them. They had heard of this sort of thing before, which further strengthens the theory that it may well be true.
From; "Sons to the Empires Cause" by Catherine and Ron Frew comes.....
William was well known for his marksmanship, having been used as a sniper, and stories are told of his methods of quickly dispatching poachers on his property, "Two-up", by firing shots behind and in front of them.
William was well known for his marksmanship, having been used as a sniper, and stories are told of his methods of quickly dispatching poachers on his property, "Two-up", by firing shots behind and in front of them.
Although this image is of another battalion (Georges 45th in fact) and was taken a couple of weeks after Billy's war was over, it gives us a good idea of how his skills were utilized. I took this photo in the Villers Bretonneux "Franco-Australian Museum". It was shot through glass, so please excuse the reflections in the image.
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56th Australian Infantry Battalion (from the Australian War Memorial) https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51496
The 56th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 14 February 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Half of its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 4th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 4th, the 56th was predominantly composed of men from New South Wales. The battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.
Arriving in France on 30 June 1916, the battalion entered the frontline trenches for the first time on 12 July and fought its first major battle at Fromelles a week later. The battle was a disaster, resulting in heavy casualties across the division. Despite these losses the 5th Division continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a further two months.
After a freezing winter manning trenches in the Somme Valley, in early 1917 the 56th Battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was spared the assault but did, however, defend gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Later in the year, the AIF's focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The 56th's major battle here was at Polygon Wood on 26 September.
With the collapse of Russia in October 1917, a major German offensive on the Western Front was expected in early 1918. This came in late March and the 5th Division moved to defend the sector around Corbie. The 14th Brigade, took up positions to the north of Villers-Bretonneux and held these even when the village fell, threatening their flanks.
Once the German offensive had been defeated, the Allies launched their own offensive in August 1918. The 14th Brigade did not play a major role in these operations until late in the month, but its (56th Battalion) actions were critical to the capture of Peronne, which fell on 2 September. The 56th fought its last major battle of the war, St Quentin Canal, between 29 September and 2 October 1918. It was resting out of the line when the Armistice was declared on 11 November. Soon after, members of the battalion began to be returned to Australia for discharge. It ceased to exist as a separate entity on 10 April 1919, when the remnants of all of the 14th Brigade's battalions were merged into a single unit.
56th's Battle Honours
Somme, 1916-18
Bullecourt
Ypres, 1917
Menin Road
Polygon Wood
Poelcappelle
Passchendaele
Ancre, 1918
Villers Bretonneux
Amiens
Albert, 1918
Mont St. Quentin
Hindenburg Line
St. Quentin Canal
France and Flanders, 1916-18
Egypt, 1916
The 56th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 14 February 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Half of its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 4th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 4th, the 56th was predominantly composed of men from New South Wales. The battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.
Arriving in France on 30 June 1916, the battalion entered the frontline trenches for the first time on 12 July and fought its first major battle at Fromelles a week later. The battle was a disaster, resulting in heavy casualties across the division. Despite these losses the 5th Division continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a further two months.
After a freezing winter manning trenches in the Somme Valley, in early 1917 the 56th Battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was spared the assault but did, however, defend gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Later in the year, the AIF's focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The 56th's major battle here was at Polygon Wood on 26 September.
With the collapse of Russia in October 1917, a major German offensive on the Western Front was expected in early 1918. This came in late March and the 5th Division moved to defend the sector around Corbie. The 14th Brigade, took up positions to the north of Villers-Bretonneux and held these even when the village fell, threatening their flanks.
Once the German offensive had been defeated, the Allies launched their own offensive in August 1918. The 14th Brigade did not play a major role in these operations until late in the month, but its (56th Battalion) actions were critical to the capture of Peronne, which fell on 2 September. The 56th fought its last major battle of the war, St Quentin Canal, between 29 September and 2 October 1918. It was resting out of the line when the Armistice was declared on 11 November. Soon after, members of the battalion began to be returned to Australia for discharge. It ceased to exist as a separate entity on 10 April 1919, when the remnants of all of the 14th Brigade's battalions were merged into a single unit.
56th's Battle Honours
Somme, 1916-18
Bullecourt
Ypres, 1917
Menin Road
Polygon Wood
Poelcappelle
Passchendaele
Ancre, 1918
Villers Bretonneux
Amiens
Albert, 1918
Mont St. Quentin
Hindenburg Line
St. Quentin Canal
France and Flanders, 1916-18
Egypt, 1916
In the Spring of 1918, the Germans launched their "Spring offensive". It began on the 21st MAR '18. They did this knowing that the USA had just entered the war and would soon be opposing them. In anticipation of this, they wanted to take up as much ground as was possible. The map above clearly shows Amiens, that the Germans wanted desperately to control because of its major railway network. To the East (right) you can make out Villers Brettoneaux where 56th Battalion and others in the Brigade were based to defend the railway and the town of Amiens. It is here and during the "offensive" that William carried out the action where he was recommended for the DCM medal and when Hugh was gassed for the second time. The offensive was eventually put down and the Germans began retreating in August 1918.
Somme Battlefields tour, 15th August 2018
Paying our respects.......and learning.......
A Century after they were fighting there, Sandy and I travelled to Amiens in order to get a better idea of what they went through, for King and Country etc.
We had organized a Battlefields tour guide over the interweb and totally lucked out. She, Barbara LeGrande, was/is a good-un and on the 15th August 2018 we followed her, who followed them, 100 years on. We started our tour in Amiens, visited the Museum at the Villers Bretonneux "Victoria School", the Australian National Memorial and the Sir John Monash Center. Later we saw the Australian Corps Memorial Park at LeHamel and eventually drove on to Peronne and finished at Mont St. Quentin. It was all very humbling and sad. Now home,we both feel very proud, and very pleased that we took this journey.
Amiens....
Amiens Cathedral was and still is, the largest Cathedral in all of Europe. It is a fabulous building. The Allies saved it from destruction (and the nearby Rail Head from capture) by the enemy. Barbara started our tour here, explained its importance and showed us inside which included the stone shown below. I wonder if Billy was ever in here? I hope we managed to walk on the same floor, 100 years apart.
Villers Bretonneux.....
As part of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front German forces using infantry and tanks captured Villers-Bretonneux (near Amiens) from exhausted British defenders on 24 April 1918. The Australian 13th and 15th Brigades were brought forward and in a model of a well planned and co-ordinated night attack successfully recaptured the town.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E155
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E155
Just out of Villers Bretonneux is the Australian National Memorial. It stands proudly on a hill overlooking some lovely countryside. In front of the memorial is a cemetery and behind it is the recently opened, new, Sir John Monash Center. Any Australian visiting here would be very proud of whats been accomplished here. Its an impressive memorial, and a moving museum that will bring both tears to your eyes and a swelling pride in your chest.
A FABULOUS place that I hope my grandchildren will get to visit someday.
Le Hamel....
Several allied Generals reckoned it would take 4 days to liberate the town of LeHamel. General Monash estimated it'd take he and his Australians just 90 minutes. He was wrong.....it took 93 minutes and the new tactics he used would be used successfully over and over again in their advance against the enemy. Billy was on leave in Paris when Hamel was liberated, but returned prior to the commencement of the Battle of Amiens that kicked off from here in August. On top of the hill behind the town you can see the flags of the Australian Corps Memorial Park. It was somewhere between Villers Brettoneux and here where Billy took the DCM action.
“When the Australians came to France, the French people expected a great deal of you... We knew that you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning you would astonish the whole continent...
I shall go back tomorrow and say to my countrymen, I have seen the Australians, I have looked in their faces, I know that these men will fight alongside of us again until the cause for which we are all fighting is safe for us and for our children.” by Georges Clémenceau, Président du Conseil (French Prime Minister) |
This map sort of explains what was going on. The city of Amiens, with its valuable rail head and fabulous Cathedral, needed to be protected and kept from enemy hands. The enemy did get as far as Villers Bretonneux but were forced back as far as Le Hamel before the real battle of Amiens began. As far as I can make out, Billy was involved in the night battle that liberated Villers Bretonneux, missed the Le Hamel battle because he was in Paris but was again in that advance up as far as Peronne, where he was severely wounded. But his battalion, along with others continued on, pushing the enemy back, past the Hindenburg line to as far as the dotted 10th October line, when the Americans took over. The REALLY hard work had already been done for them.
Peronne & Mont St. Quentin.....
"1st September 1918, saw Australian forces break into Péronne and take most of the town. The next day it completely fell into Australian hands. On those three days, without tanks or protective barrage, the Australians, at a cost of 3000 casualties, dealt a stunning blow to five German divisions and caused a general German withdrawal eastwards to the Hindenburg Line.
The taking of Mont St Quentin and Péronne is regarded as among the finest Australian feats on the Western Front and the intensity of the action is evident from the fact that eight Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians between 31 August and 2 September 1918".....AWM
The taking of Mont St Quentin and Péronne is regarded as among the finest Australian feats on the Western Front and the intensity of the action is evident from the fact that eight Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians between 31 August and 2 September 1918".....AWM
In the town of Peronne, today, this old castle on the banks of the Somme, has become a museum (The Historical, Museum of the Great War) highlighting the war effort, with one whole wing dedicated to the efforts by the Australians. In one corner of this display is a 3 dimensional table showing the lay of the land around the town, including Mont. St. Quentin and the Somme River. Images are then projected vertically downwards to indicate how the battle unfolded showing various battalions positions and artillery fire. It helped me to understand just what happened to my Grandfather and his brother John, on the 2nd of September, 100 years ago.
This is the image that is most important here.
It shows the Australians advancing from left to right and Peronne as a walled township on the banks of the Somme River. (in Blue). It also shows Mont St. Quentin at the top, with 23rd Battalion. In Peronne are the last of the Enemy, with Billy's battalion, the 56th just outside the walls. It also shows heavy artillery shelling coming from the enemy position on Mont St. Quentin around the 54th, 55th and 56th battalions positions and I can only assume that this was the incident where my grandfather received his serious shrapnel wounds. The images below indicate how the Australians forced the enemy back, secured the Peronne township and the high ground of Mont St. Quentin.
On the slopes of Mont St. Quentin, is a memorial to the Australian men who took part in the action, that secured this important high ground from the enemy.
Even now, a century after it all took place, the local communities are immensely grateful to these men and welcome Australians with open arms.
We were very proud to be there. We laughed and we cried, but we had a fantastic 10 hours with our guide Barbara LeGrande.
Beautiful country......
I was surprised to find that the Somme River area, where all this action took place, is really quite beautiful. It has some flat-ish country and some lovely rolling hills, not unlike the land around Tarcutta, Wagga, Junee area, but with different vegetation. The images below will give you an idea, but the one on the right, with the chimney stack, shows the spot where the Red Barron, was shot down by an Australian sniper.
Battlefield Tours....
Should you, or anyone reading this, decide that they'd like to visit the battlefields, and need a tour guide, then I can very highly recommend Barbara LeGrande.
Her "True Blue Digger Tours" https://trueblue-diggertours.com/?/index is a well organized business, run entirely by herself.
When her son was a student in the Villers Brettoneaux school, she became interested in the Museum above the school. That interest grew to the point where she volunteered there and started studying the subject in depth. She has been conducting these tours for many years now, the van you see is her second, she wore out the first, and she is still studying. The front passenger seat is covered in books and research material and she is hungry for more information. We spent almost 10 hours with Barbara, who after picking us up at our hotel, started our tour at the Amiens Cathedral and finished it at Mount St. Quentin. Then drove us back to the hotel.
It was a long day, but one I will never, ever, forget.
Thank You Barbara, "Well done".
If you ever do get to visit this part of the world, you can't help but hold your head up high and feel wonderfully proud to be an Aussie.
The efforts of our grandfathers, great grandfathers etc, made it so we could.
Her "True Blue Digger Tours" https://trueblue-diggertours.com/?/index is a well organized business, run entirely by herself.
When her son was a student in the Villers Brettoneaux school, she became interested in the Museum above the school. That interest grew to the point where she volunteered there and started studying the subject in depth. She has been conducting these tours for many years now, the van you see is her second, she wore out the first, and she is still studying. The front passenger seat is covered in books and research material and she is hungry for more information. We spent almost 10 hours with Barbara, who after picking us up at our hotel, started our tour at the Amiens Cathedral and finished it at Mount St. Quentin. Then drove us back to the hotel.
It was a long day, but one I will never, ever, forget.
Thank You Barbara, "Well done".
If you ever do get to visit this part of the world, you can't help but hold your head up high and feel wonderfully proud to be an Aussie.
The efforts of our grandfathers, great grandfathers etc, made it so we could.
When it was all over, the Australians had liberated 166 towns and villages from the invaders.
Lest we Forget.
&
RIP
Lest we Forget.
&
RIP