Early in 2016 the Tatong Heritage Group in conjunction with the Moorngag Cemetery Trust and the Benalla Family Research Group embarked on a project to identify unmarked graves in the Moorngag Cemetery.
The main object of the research, as part of the Centenary of Anzac, was to ensure that there were no ex-servicemen, or women, in unmarked graves.
The research was completed by Barry O’Connor from the Tatong Heritage Group along with Wendy Maxwell and Beverley Walker from the Benalla Family Research Group in consultation with the late Ted Exton from the Moorngag Cemetery Trust.
“Part of the work had already been completed by Wendy Maxwell during her research and digitising of the cemetery records,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Further investigation was undertaken and three ex-servicemen were located in unmarked graves.”
Details of these were referred to the Benalla RSL for submission to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
In the interim the remaining 58 graves were researched further, and the tragic circumstances surrounding some of these deaths was uncovered.
“There are 16 stillborn babies, infants or children who died before the age of 10,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Many unmarked graves were as a result of the last member of the family passing away and leaving nobody to consider memorials.
“One of the district’s matriarchs had given assurances that funds were available to erect memorials on the graves of family members.
“Unfortunately, she was in aged care for an extended period and upon her passing there were insufficient funds to cover the costs.
“Many in the unmarked graves were people who had made a significant contribution to the community during their lifetime and it is indeed sad to think that these people had been completely forgotten, until now.”
The volunteers in the working group decided to proceed and mark all of the graves while the War Graves Commission considered the submission in relation to the three ex-servicemen’s graves.
The major project was completed in 2017, with the exception of the three remaining servicemen’s graves.
“Word did come back from the War Graves Commission that the three servicemen were not eligible for a grave marker, as they had not been deployed to a designated war zone during their service,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The three servicemen were, William Andrew Drummond, who was the headteacher at the Samaria Primary School, and also the lieutenant in the local detachment of the Victorian Mounted Rifles.
“He died in 1900 as was given the full honour of a military funeral.
“The second unmarked grave was that of George Henry Dennis.
“He enlisted on February 21, 1916. He embarked from Melbourne on June 20, 1916 and returned on May 12, 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal 1914-18 and the Allied Victory Medal.
“The third serviceman was Colvin Henry Murray. He was a signalman and did see overseas service and experienced considerable ill health. He was discharged on January 10, 1946. He died in 1970.”
In 2025 the Tatong Heritage Group decided to conclude the ‘Missing Memories’ project by marking the remaining three graves of these servicemen.
The graves were marked by the members of the Tatong Heritage Group and representatives from the Benalla RSL, on Anzac Day last month, following a ceremony at the Moorngag Cemetery.
The booklet ‘Missing Memories’, which gives details of all of the graves marked, can be downloaded for free, from the Tatong Heritage Group website.
16°C