WE regret to learn that two of the Peninsula lads who were reported missing since the memorable 8th of August last year at Gallipoli, have now been officially reported killed.
We refer to Private Harry R. Twyford second son of Mr John Twyford, of Somerville, and Private Noel Travers E. Somers, the eldest son of Dr Somers of Mornington. Both lads were just 23 years of age. LIEUT. W. C. Pentland and Private Tox Anderson, late of Arthur street, Frankston, are now on their way to the front. We wish them every success.
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CORPORAL B. McMichael, Privates J. L. Pratt, and O. N, Palmer, late of “Cheer-Oh”, Frankston, have volunteered for active service and are now in camp. We wish them all a safe return.
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THE Langwarrin Amusement Co, comprising 45 performers, will give one of their popular and amusing entertainments in the Mechanics’ Hall, Frankston, on Wednesday evening next. Their brass band will also play selections during the evening.
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THERE seems to exist some difference of opinion as to who has the honor of being the first volunteer who enlisted from the Frankston district. Sergeant Polglase informs us that he carries the palm, having enlisted on the 8th August, 1914.
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CONTRIBUTIONS of flowers and books are greatly esteemed at the Langwarrin Camp, and any residents of Frankston who have some of either to spare would be deemed benefactors by leaving them with either Mr J. Reynolds or Mrs Rimmer, who will see that they reach their destination.
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THE name of Mr. P. Wheeler as a donor of 5s to the Soldiers presentation Fund was inadvertently omitted from the list recently published, and F. A. Haul Esq should have been F. A. Hunt, Esq, and C. Wells, Esq, should have been O. Wells Esq.
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MESSRS Brady and Mason will hold a clearing sale of household furniture and effects, on account of Mrs P. H. Thwaite, who is leaving the district, on Wednesday next on the premises “Caringa” Melbourne Rd. two doors from Fiochi Avenue.
The sale will commence at two p.m, and on Saturday, 27th May in a marquee, on the ground, the same firm will sell 25 building allotments of the Beach St Estate, each allotment having 66ft frontage by big depths to Finlay St. The terms are easy being £3 deposit and the balance in monthly installments of 10s, without interest. The sale will commence at 3 o’clock.
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MISS Rene Bates was the victim of a sensational accident on Sunday 7th inst. She was in the act of mounting into a sulky when the pony broke away and threw her down, the wheels passing over her legs and severely bruising one ankle. The animal bolted along the road and upset the vehicle, smashing the harness and getting clear.
Mr Grover, jun., who happened to be driving in the opposite direction, stopped the runaway and brought the sufferer into Mornington. She was attended by Dr Somers, who reported no serious injuries other than severe bruises.
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PEANUT Farm at Frankston. At the invitation of Mr C. E Liardot, a visit was paid to the peanut Farm at Frankston on Monday last. Harvesting was in full swing. About 11 ton to the acre will be secured, and this result is considered very satisfactory.
The plants make excellent hay, and the nuts are larger and of better quality than those grown in China. Under some of the plants 100 nuts were counted, but the average per plant is about 50.
The proprietor of the farm states that the plants are larger than those grown in China. No disease has affected them, and rabbits will not touch them. The season has been one of the worst experienced here for many years. The absence of rain has been a great drawback.
The results have fully demonstrated that the peanut can be successfully grown for commercial purposes in Victoria. The most successful results were obtained from nuts grown in sandy loam and in black coarse (bracken) soil.
No manure of any kind was used. It is expected that even better results will be obtained from this year’s planting.
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LETTER From The Front. The following letter has been received from, Lance-Corporal R.Sherlock, Royal Engineers, dated March 22nd, from France. Fritz has been quiet lately. He has not been sending many shells over these last few days; but I suppose he will have a spasm shortly and make up for it.
We did not go up to the trenches last night as they were changing troops and the trenches get so congested that it is impossible to get up there, so we had a night in for a change. The trenches are in a terrible plight —mud, slush and water—but they are improving as the weather gets better. We go up, making the conditions better for the infantry, as well as we are able to; but it is terrible work at times. Perhaps we are wiring back frames over the parapet and you have to pull a dead German or a Frenchman out of the way so that you can drive a picket in and then more than likely the Germans in their trenches will hear you driving the picket in and will open fire on you with their machine-guns or a whiz bang or a coal-box or heavy shrapnel, just as the fancy takes them; but we will get over it all some time, I suppose.
It is raining again, how I wish it would cease, as it makes it bad for us, we will be slipping all over the place, sometimes on your back down a shell-hole.
I fell down a big one the other night and one of my pals said it was the nearest I had been to Australia for some time. I had to laugh and got into a row from the officer because the Germans could hear me. I was thinking of applying for a commission, but I think I an better off where I am now.
An officer’s life or rather a lieutenant’s is only for ten weeks. I think that’s the average. He leads the way, we follow. It is better to be a live N C.O than a dead commissioned officer.
I am feeling as fit as a fiddle here. This sort of life seems to suit me. I have just had dinner—a piece of steak and a few potatoes. I could eat just about as much again. We shall have for tea —bread and butter and marmalade.
We expect to be going back for a rest in a few day’s time. It is not much of a rest, as we have to do company drill, squad drill, fatigues, clean buttons, etc., but we are away from the firing line, that’s one good thing.
We are in a ruined village now. I am at present writing this letter in a ruined house on top of our underground domicile.
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From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 20 May, 1916
First published in the Mornington News – 17 May 2016
