The men from Pitstone who answered the call

On the afternoon of Sunday 24 April 1921, this Honour Roll was unveiled at Sawpit Gully Public School (also called Pitstone Public School). Prior to World War I, there had never been more than thirty boys and girls at the school at any one time. However, forty-four former students answered the British Empire’s call to fight during World War I, two were declared medically unfit and seven died during active service. Representatives of every family were present at the unveiling. ‘Leading men in the public life of the district attended. A small party of the AIF men formed a guard of honor. Captain Sinclair, the teacher of the school, wearing his gallantly won military cross and the 1914 star, was in charge. In the crowd were several mothers wearing the Mother’s Medal as proud distinctions of having had sons on active service.’ The ceremony started with the national anthem and school children sung hymns. Mr Venables introduced the ceremony. Addresses were also delivered by the Reverend A.E. Putland, the Mayor of Young, Alderman Weedon; the Inspector of Schools, Mr W.F. Harvey; President of the Burrangong Shire, Mr C. Crichton; Chairman of the Repatriation Mr F.H. Tout; President of the King and Empire Association, Mr A.S. Wickham; and Town Clerk, Mr G.E. Spark. When the unveiling took place, the ‘soldiers stood to attention, and everybody stood while the Last Post was sounded by Sergeant Pritchard. Mrs Vincent and Mrs Jennings, mothers whose sons made the supreme sacrifice, removed the Union Jack which had hidden the honor roll. It was made of bronze.’ Surrounding the memorial was a wreath of white flowers, with the word ‘Memories’. ‘On behalf of the returned men, Private W. Smithers expressed thanks for all the people of the district.’ The men who died during active service were: Alfred B. Burrows who was reported as missing on 1 May 1915 at the Gallipoli Peninsula. Ernest Henry Hinton was killed in action on 2 October 1917 in Belgium. He is also listed on the MUIOOF Roll of Honour. Leslie Raymond Jennings was wounded in France on 4 July 1918. He was transported back to Australia, dying at the Base Hospital in Fremantle from tuberculosis on 4 March 1919. Arnold Selwyn Metcalfe was killed in action at Moascar, Egypt on 19 April 1918. Albert John Rhall died of his wounds in France on 15 May 1917. Phillip John Vincent died in France on 5 May 1917. William Thomas Storey died from enterica (food poisoning) at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Choubra, Egypt on 31 May 1918, while his brother, Walter James Storey, returned home. D. Raynor doesn’t appear in the records of servicemen at the Australian War Memorial or the National Archives of Australia.