Each year Lane Cove Council and the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch hold a moving Remembrance Day Ceremony in the Lane Cove Plaza. Each year they research a local who has served in the Australian Military and ask a member of their family to make a presentation.
This year was different as Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch President, Graeme Davis, explained:
“It has been our practice in recent years to honour a local citizen by having their biography read by a relative.
However, this year, we will do something different by commemorating those senior officers, community leaders and local lads who have a street in Lane Cove named after them.
The streets in question have a Poppy affixed to the top of their street sign.
The biography you are about to hear is but a portion of the lives of these men.
If you want to know more the Local Studies team at Lane Cove Library would be a great place to start.”
Birdwood Avenue
Birdwood Avenue honours Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood, the British officer who commanded the Australian Imperial Forces during the First World War. Deeply admired by the Australian troops, he later toured our country to great acclaim. Birdwood Ave was named in his honour around 1920. Birdwood Lane was also named after him.
Burley Street
Lieutenant Leslie James Burley lived with his family on Charles Street in Greenwich when war broke out. He arrived at Gallipoli just a week after the landings but was fatally wounded two weeks later, on the 19th of May 1915, aged only 23. He was buried at sea.
Campbell Avenue
Campbell Avenue is named after Frederick Campbell, the long-serving headmaster of Longueville Public School. Three of his sons—Rupert, Stewart, and Arthur Bede —served in World War I. All three sons returned home safely.
Garling Street
Terence and Raymond Garling grew up on Burns Bay Road in Lane Cove. Terence served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, where he was badly wounded and passed away in 1918. His brother Raymond continued to serve, but remained in Australia. Raymond resigned after Terence’s death.
Graham Street
William George Graham and his brother Nichol enlisted together from Lane Cove to serve in the 18th Battalion. William was sadly killed in May 1917 on the Western Front, while Nichol survived the war, resumed his trade as a butcher and later became Mayor of Lane Cove. The street was named in William’s honour in 1918.
Hallam Avenue
Private Richard Henry Hallams was just nineteen years old when he enlisted in 1916. A young grocer, he was killed by shellfire in France in April 1917. Hallam Avenue – along with Garling, Munro and Gentle Streets – was named to honour him and other local men who lost their lives in war.
Holden Street
Lieutenant Hugh Cyprian Holden lived with his family in Northwood at what is now 5 Upper Cliff Road. Serving with the 12th and 7th Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli, he was killed in action on the 23rd of November 1915. Holden Street was named in his memory.
Richardson Street
Captain John William Richardson grew up in Lane Cove, attending Longueville Road Public School and serving with the local church. He was deployed to the 34th Battalion in France and was killed in late 1917. Though his body was never found, Christine Road was renamed in his honour.
Munro Street
William “Will” Munro grew up with his family on Tambourine Bay, opposite St Ignatius College Riverview. He worked at Ludowici’s tannery before enlisting in 1916 and was wounded at Passchendaele the following year. Will later died of his wounds in May 1918 and was buried in France.
Rosenthal Avenue
Rosenthal Avenue is named for Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal, who commanded Australia’s 2nd Division during the war. He was wounded twice in Gallipoli, he led his men on the Western Front and later oversaw the return of Australian troops home in 1920. He is remembered in the naming of both Rosenthal Avenue and Rosenthal Lane.
Wardrop Street
Sergeant William “Bertie” Wardrop of Greenwich was the first soldier from Lane Cove to die at Gallipoli. He was wounded just days after the landings and died aboard a hospital ship on the 30th of April 1915. Wardrop Street was named in his honour.
Where Can I Find Details About the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch?
If there are any current or ex-serving military personnel in the Lane Cove Council area, the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch would like to invite you to join their sub-branch.
Local members of the sub-branch say the benefits of joining RSL NSW, and in particular, your local Sub-Branch are comradeship, a sense of belonging, and local military history presentation. You can also be involved in fundraising and supporting local commemorative events.
If anyone is interested in joining the Lane Cove RSL Sub-Branch, contact the Assistant Secretary – [email protected] to find out more details.
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