MENDOORAN KNOWN AS Mundooran in WW1
The Mendooran War Memorial is situated in the main street outside the Services Club. A plaque lists those killed in WW1 and WW2. Another plaque lists the local men who marched in the Kookaburra Enlistment March from Tooraweenah to Bathurst in 1916.
Private William Joseph Bird 5128, was a 31 year old station overseer on Marran Station, Mundooran when he enlisted on 30 December, 1915. He was single and his next of kin was his aunt, Mrs J Mason of Petersham, Sydney. He embarked from Sydney on board the HMAT ‘Ajana’ on 5 July 1916 with the 20th Battalion. Private William Bird was killed in action on the Menin Road in Belgium on 20 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.
Private Martin Carney 2140, was a 24 year old farmer of Merrygoan when he enlisted on 20 March, 1916. His father was martin Carney of Purlawaugh, Coonabarabran. He embarked from Sydney on board the HMAT ‘Port Sydney’ on 4 September 1916. He was killed in action on 29 September 1917 and he has no known grave. Private Martin Carney is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.
Mr Fanny Hobbs of ‘Fernhill Mundooran, saw four of her sons enlist and serve overseas, Arthur, Charles, Henry and Thomas. Only two returned. Private Arthur Hobbs 1933 was a 25 year old farmer when he enlisted on February 22, 1916. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT Warilda on May 22, 1916 and served on the Western Front with the 45th Battalion. He was killed in action on February 19, 1917 at Guedecourt, near Bapaume, France. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Private Charles Hobbs 1664 was a 35 year old farmer of Gilgandra when he enlisted on January 4, 1916. He embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Ceramic on April 14, 1916 and served in the Western front with the 54th Battalion. He was in Le Verguier, France when he was killed in action on March 29, 1917. He is buried at Morchies Australian Cemetery, France. His headstone reads;
SO LONG AS LIFE AND MEMORIES LAST
WE WILL REMEMBER THEE
George and Thomas Morrison were two of 6 children born to Andrew and Mary Morrison of Mundooran. Private George Hugh Morrison 1668 was a 20 year old farm labourer of Mundooran when he enlisted on 15 January 1916 in Tooraweenah and marched to Bathurst with the Kookaburra Recruitment March. He embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Ceramic on 14 April 1916 and trained in Egypt and served on the Western Front with the 45th Battalion. He was killed at Passchendaele on 10 October 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres Belium.
Private Thomas William Morrison 817 was a 26 year old labourer when he enlisted 14 February 1916 and embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Beltana on 13 May 1916. He served in France with the 36th Battalion and was killed near Armentieres on 16 December 1916. Thomas is buried in the Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Belgium.
THE KOOKABURRA MARCH ENLISTEES. These men enlisted at Mendooran on 15 January 1916 when the Tooraweenah to Bathurst Kookaburra Recruitment March came through Mendooran.
James Gerald Cameron DCM 4747 was 23 years old when he enlisted 10 October 1915 in Gilgandra with the Gilgandra Coo-ee Recruitment March to Sydney. He embarked from Sydney on the ‘Star of England’ and after training in Egypt, he served on the Western Front with the 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion. James returned to Australia on 8 May 1919.
Private Charles East, 1745, was a 30 year old single labourer of Yarragreen, Mundooran, when he enlisted on 15 January 1916. He marched with the Kookaburra Recruitment March to Bathurst and embarked from Sydney on board the HMAT ‘Ceramic’ on 14 April 1916 with the 45th Battalion. Charles served in France and in June 1917 suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh and his leg was amputated. He returned to Australia on 16 March 1918.
Private George Fennamore 1727 was a 38 year old cook when he enlisted on 15 January 1916. After training at Bathurst he embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Ceramic on 14 April 1916, He served in the Western Front with the 45th Battalion and returned to Australia on 12 May 1919.
William Robert Goldfinch 2184/3604 was an 18 year old boundary rider of Coonabarabran when he enlisted at Mendooran with the Kookaburras. After training in Bathurst he was discharged on 21 August 1916, medically unfit. He reenlisted on 19 July 1917 and embarked on the HMAT Euripides in Sydney. He arrived in France on 24 April 1918 with the 1st Battalion and was reallocated the service number 3604A. One month later he was killed in action on 21 May 1918 and is buried at the Meteren Military Cemetery Belgium.
Private Claude Richard Meers 1740, was a 28 year old farmer when he enlisted with the Kookaburras and trained at Bathurst. He embarked on the HMAT Ceramic on 14 April 1916. He served on the Western front with the 45th Battalion and returned to Australia on 22 December 1918
Vivian Ernest Meers1715 was a 25 year old farmer when he joined the Kookaburra March to Bathurst. He embarked on the HMAT Ceramic on 14 April 1916 and served on the Western Front with the 45th Battalion. Lance Corporal Meers returned to Australia on 12 May 1919.
Edward Monk 1669 was a 37 year old grazier of Mendooran when he enlisted before the Kookaburra march on 28 December 1915. He trained at Bathurst and embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Ceramic on 14 April 1916. He served on the Western Front and returned to Australia, wounded on 21 December 1917.
George Andrew Snodgrass 2249 was a 21 year old farmer of Merrygoen when he enlisted on 14 January 1916 and marched with the Kookaburras to train at Bathurst. He served on the Western Front with the 45th Battalion and returned to Australia 21 December 1918. He also served in World War Two.
The following names on the War Memorial are unconfirmed. Allen JY; Hayes M; Crosbie W; Walsh M.