Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

 When I attended my grand niece's 4th birthday celebration recently, little did I know I was standing on the grounds of the former estate owned by the, allegedly, richest man in Ashfield who also founded Canterbury Racecourse and lived in one of the largest mansions in the area but who also happens to call Rookwood 'home". FREDERICK CLISSOLD Frederick was born in 1831 in Gloucestershire England to John, a farm labourer, and Sarah. The family arrived on the "Layton" in January 1838, a ship plagued by a measles epidemic that took the life of his younger sister. The family settled in the inner city suburb of Glebe and more children followed.  Frederick Clissold - ancestry.com public access John found work at the Robert Cooper distillery and Frederick was educated at Grantham House Academy near his home. John left the distillery and set up as a fellmonger, a person dealing with removing wool from sheepskins, in the Blackwattle Swamp area. Frederick joined the busines...

Many headstones and memorials throughout Rookwood Cemetery have dedications to the young men, and some woman, who enlisted, fought and died in WW1. Thousands have their name mentioned on the family plot and became a place to grieve the loss of these brave people who never came home. Over a thousand of these headstones have the word "ANZAC" engraved, hundreds have "POZIERES" and just a few actually list "FROMELLES". Today, the 19th July 2022, is the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles. It was the day that the troops of the 5th Australian Division stormed the German line which centred around the "Sugar Loaf" salient near the small French village of Fromelles. Trench during Battle of Fromelles - AWM image 4094545 The plan was concocted by Sir Richard Haking, of the British Army in response to calls for a diversionary action to prevent further German Forces being transferred to the Somme some 80 kilometres south. Others involved were Major G...

 Besides many famous and infamous people who call Rookwood "home" there are many people who are remembered not for their great works or deeds but the way they tragically died. The Cemetery has many headstones stating the manner of death of it's inhabitants. Train accidents, building site accidents and many others including those that seem rather freakish.  Today's blog is about one of those horrific, tragic accidents. JOSEPH LEEDS Joseph was born in Maitland NSW in 1850, the youngest of eight children to John, a native of Yorkshire England and free settler, and Rachel nee Aarons, the daughter of Joseph and Rachel, German Jews who were sentenced for life (later commuted) for the theft of a bolt of woollen fabric.  The family relocated to Wellington after the death of his father when Joseph was three years old. His mother died nine years later and Joseph became an orphan at the age of twelve. He remained in the area, was involved in pastoral pursuits and rose through th...

 In Australia we are commemorating NAIDOC week, a time when we celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I prepare this weeks blog in  Parramatta, Western Sydney, the land of the Burramattagal people of the Dharug nation. I acknowledge their traditons and culture and pay respect to their elders both past, present and emerging. When I think of Indigenous sports people, many names come to mind. From the first Indigenous Australian Cricket team that toured England in 1868 with it's standout performer Johnny Mullagh, the boxer Lionel Rose through to the runner, Cathy Freeman and beyond with so many further achievements in politics, acting, the list goes on. This week's blog honours the life of an indigenous individual and I wish to warn those who may be culturally affected  that a photograph of that individual follows. A very fine boxer. RANOLD (RON) RICHARDS Ron was born in May 1910 at the Deebing Creek Aboriginal Presb...

 In the midst of National Refugee Week it seems only fitting to honour one of the many thousands of refugees who have come to Australia aiming for a better life for themselves and their families.  As it's also winter and one's mind turns to food, sweet treats involving chocolate abound. So today's blog honours a chocolatier who, many Sydneysiders in particular, would remember fondly. WLADYSLAW (WALTER) PULKOWNIK Wladyslaw, or Walter as he liked to be named, was born in September 1909 in Pogranichnaya, Manchuria, one of six children. His father was a baker from Lithuania and both  parents were Polish, migrating to China in 1900. Wladyslaw (Walter) Pulkownik surrounded by his creations - from "Unification" article with thanks Ivan was well known in Harbin for his pastries etc. and young Walter left school at the age of 14 to take up an apprenticeship as a pastrycook in his father's factory learning how to bake bread, make cakes and chocolate. In February 1931 he...

 Many people have been cremated at the Italianate style but very art-deco inspired Rookwood Crematorium since its earliest beginnings in 1925.  One such man is the subject of today's blog. A man who led a rather exciting life in the early days of flight in the country. WILLIAM EWART HART William was born on 20 April 1885 in nearby Parramatta NSW, the third of nine children of William Hart, timber merchant, and his wife Maria Alice, who were both born in that city. Educated locally, William was apprenticed to a dentist at the age of sixteen and registered as one on 26 June 1906. He practised at West Wyalong, Newcastle and Sydney. William Ewart Hart in his bi-plane - National Library of Australia Mechanically minded, Hart was interested in aviation. In September 1911, he bought a Bristol, Box-kite from Joseph Hammond, who was touring Australia as a demonstration pilot for the British & Colonial Aeroplane Co. Ltd. William received some tuition from Hammond's mechanic and firs...