When war was declared in August 1914, Australia sent out the call for volunteers to sign up for the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) which were to be sent to Europe and the Middle-East. Thousands of Australian men joined the AIF in the first few months after declaration of the war. From a population of around 4.9 million, 416,800 Australian men and women enlisted, with over 60,000 killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner during the war. The vast majority of Australian casualties occurred on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918.
The men enlisted for a variety of reasons, including a strong sense of patriotism and duty to the British Empire, financial incentives, and the allure of adventure. Many were also motivated by peer pressure and a desire to be with their friends.
Australian women also responded to the "call for volunteers" in various capacities, primarily through nursing and local fundraising and returning soldier support efforts. Over 2,000 Australian nurses served in the Australian Army Nursing Service, often working in hospitals, hospital ships, and casualty clearing stations on the front lines in places like France, Belgium, and Egypt.
In recognition of those who volunteered, many local shires, schools, churches etc initiated the procurement of honor roll boards to be put on display in their shire halls, schools, churches and work places to commemorate and honor the local individuals who served in the military, recognising their sacrifice and commitment. Many of these boards were initiated within the first two years of the war to recognise those who without hesitation volunteered at the commencement of the war.
Many men from Doncaster were among the thousands from across Australia who volunteered and less than a year after the declaration of war, the Shire of Doncaster council at their May 1915 meeting voted to procure a Roll of Honor board and for it to be hung in the council chamber of the shire hall. It was maintained that it would perpetuate the memory of all who had gone to the war—even if they come back or lay on the battlefield. In July 1915, the President Cr. Tully reported to council that he and Cr. Clay had procured quotations for an honor roll. There were already the names of 40 volunteers to go on, and he thought there would be more than 50. The cost would run into about £15 or £I6. The president and Cr. Clay were authorised to purchase a board for a roll of honor. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 30 July 1915, p7 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75094426]
Shortly after at the 14 September council meeting, the President of Shire read out list of around 50 names that were being placed on the board and asked to hear from others who had enlisted so that the roll would be complete. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 24 Sep 1915, p4 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75094936]
The board appears to have been completed shortly after and was subsequently was placed on display in the Doncaster Shire Hall located in Council Street, Doncaster. The Reporter (Box Hill) newspaper of 14 January 1916 provided details of the wording of the board and the names of 53 men from Doncaster listed on the board who were serving with the AIF in 1914-15. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 14 Jan 1916, p4 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75164650]
Later in 1917, Cr. Tully asked that the council’s secretary arrange for the honor roll in the shire hall to be brought up-to-date, and to have the names of others from Doncaster who were serving inserted [The Reporter (Box Hill) 27 Apr 1917, p5 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75167476].
An additional 10 names appear to have been added. The final board after the additional names were added displayed a total of 63 soldiers’ names listed in three columns. The names were listed in three columns with the additional 10 names being in the bottom half of the third column.
The board measures approximately 600(w) x 1,000(h) mm in size and is made most likely of blackwood timber and with ornate carved timber decoration, stained a golden-brown colour with wording in gold lettering. At the top of the board is a carved flowing ribbon with engraved words ‘Roll of Honor’ and at the bottom of the board the years ‘1914-15’ are shown in engraved numbers. At the centre of the top ribbon is a square shield with what appears to be stylised letters S and D likely symbolising the Shire of Doncaster.
The details on the Roll of Honor board read:
ROLL OF HONOR. SHIRE OF DONCASTER. ROLL OF RESIDENTS
Serving with The AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES. 1914-15
The original names read:
K. GRAHAM | G. WHITE | F. ELDER | K.P.T. KING | C. BULL | H. ZERBE | J. BEALE | C. WATTS | W. CROUCH | T. HUNTER | D. DUNCAN | N. CROSSMAN | D. GATES | F. AUMANN | W. WELLS | O. THIELE | T. ELDER | W. BREHENY | H. CLARK | M. ELDER | W. FRANCIS | P. GRAHAM| A. IRELAND | E. CROUCH | Wm. STRINGER | J. SIMPSON | G. BELL | H. SHELTON | H. CLAY | F. SVANBORG | R.L. CAMERON | S. CROUCH | A. LONGMORE | C.P. JOHNSON | H. FROMHOLD | Wm. BEAVIS | W. WATTS | S. CLARK | H.B. JOHNSTON | T. CROUCH | W. REISCHEIK | T. TOOGOOD | R. WRIGHT | R. BLOOM| C. MATHEWS | H.D. GRAHAM | F. THIELE | H.O. SMITH | Thos F. CULLEN | J. SMITT | Chas. W. WATSON | E. P. BUDGE | Alb. IRELAND |
Those names added in 1917:
F. LONGMORE | R. LONGMORE | F. ZERBE | G. DEMPSTER | W. BAYLEY | J. MATHEWS | F. PARKER | G. SCHAFTER | J. HARDIDGE | E. SYMONS |
The board is not a full list of the men from Doncaster who enlisted in the war as there are many other names recognised on later honor roll boards made after the war such as those by the Doncaster East state school, the Doncaster state school, the Doncaster Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF), the Doncaster Rechabites, various sporting clubs and others. Many men are listed on multiple boards. For example, the name G. Schafter appears on the Shire of Doncaster board, the Doncaster East state school board and the Doncaster MUIOOF board. Many of the names are also listed on stone type WW1 monuments at Doncaster and Templestowe.
The board does not include men who volunteered from the neighbouring Shire of Templestowe as at the initial time of preparation of the honor roll, Templestowe was not part of the Shire of Doncaster until it was reunited as one in October 1915 as the Shire of Doncaster. The board however appears to include the names of some men who were born and brought up in Templestowe but who happened to be working in Doncaster when they enlisted and this may account for them being on the board. The need for a roll of honor for Templestowe was raised at the Shire of Doncaster council meeting of 8 February 1916. The Reporter (Box Hill) newspaper of 18 February 1916 reported:
Cr. Sloan considered it was time they had a roll of honor for the late Templestowe shire. One Warrandyte soldier had been wounded in three places, and another had lost his life. Altogether 20 to 25 had gone from Warrandyte. He moved that a roll of honor be provided similar to the Doncaster one to be hung in the shire hall. Cr. Tully suggested that the roll of honor be placed in a public building in their own district. Cr. Petty seconded the motion. It was a good idea, and if they were to have a separate one, he thought they would overlap. For instance, Doncaster had names included of men who were born and brought up in Templestowe, but happened to be working in Doncaster when they enlisted, which accounted for them being on that board. That might create a little antagonism, and they were all one shire now. Cr. Hunter spoke in endorsement of the sentiments expressed, and no doubt the shire hall was the place for the honor roll. It could not be hung in the Templestowe Hall, which was locked up. Cr. Mc Namara also agreed that the shire hall was the proper place, and the resolution was approved of. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 18 Feb 1916, p2 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75164851]
However, it appears that a roll of honor board for the Templestowe Shire soldiers may never have been prepared as references to a board have not been found in subsequent newspapers of the time. Later in 1920, the Templestowe state school No. 1395 unveiled their honor roll board in a ceremony that took place at the school on 23 April 1920. The roll recognised 31 men and 1 woman, including 9 men who had lost their lives, who were associated with the school and who had served in the war. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 30 Apr 1920, p4 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257153891]
The Doncaster board does not identify those men shown on the board who tragically lost their lives in the war. From a check of the Australian War Memorial (AWM) WW1 records, National Archives of Australia (NAA) records, and from newspaper tribute notices, at least 13 of the men were found to have lost their lives. Two of the men were brothers Percy and Harry Graham, sons of George and Annie Graham of Doncaster. The men who lost their lives were:
K.P.T. KING Private Kenneth Phillip Trim King – Service No. 902, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France 26th August 1916, buried Courcelette British Cemetery, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1639851]
F. AUMANN Private Charles Frederick Aumann – Service No. 1878, 21st Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, August 1st, 1916 buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, Nord Pas de Calais, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1723337]
M. ELDER Lance-Corporal Murray Elder – Service No. 1197, 23rd Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 10th June 1918, buried Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Ribemont, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1722380]
P. GRAHAM Private Percy Graham – Service No. 164, 13th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action at Gallipoli, 26 April 1915, aged 25 years, buried Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1729826]
J. SIMPSON Lance-Corporal Jack Simpson – Service No. 2660, 2nd Australian Machine Gun Company AIF, killed in action, Belgium, 21st September 1917, aged 22 years, buried Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1661220]
G. BELL Private George Ascough Bell – Service No. 2348, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 14th August 1916, aged 32 years, buried Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Wimereux, Nord Pas de Calais, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1650411]
H. CLAY Sergeant Harold Richard Clay – Service No. 2957, 53rd Battery 14th Field Artillery Brigade Australian Field Artillery AIF, killed in action 4th August, 1917, Belgium, aged 23 years, buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1712424]
F. SVANBORG Sapper Frank Augustas Svanborg – Service No. 2311, 13th Field Company, Australian Engineers AIF, killed in action 4th February 1917, France, aged 25 years, buried Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Dernancourt, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1672374]
T. TOOGOOD Corporal Thomas Michael Toogood – Service No. 4011, 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade AIF, died at sea on returning hospital ship Kanowna from wounds, 21st December 1917, buried at sea. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1670939]
R. BLOOM Lance Corporal Rupert Otto Bloom – Service No. 4362, 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 23rd September 1917, aged 24 years, buried Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1665287]
H.D. GRAHAM Corporal Harry Drysdale Graham – Service No. 1721, 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 30th June 1916, aged 31 years, buried Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1729822]
E. P. BUDGE Trooper Edgar Harold Peter-Budge – Service No. 1063, 8th L.H., 3rd L. H. Brigade AIF, killed in action, Palestine, 14th December 1917, aged 21 years, buried Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1653679]
E. SYMONS Private Edward (Ted) Joseph Symons – Service No. 1738, 59th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, died at sea of illness (phthisis/tuberculosis), 20th May 1916, buried at sea (Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka). [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1672811]
Photographs of eight of these men who lost their lives have been found in the AWM collection and the Doncaster east state school honor book. A photo montage of these men has been prepared by Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society (DTHS) from these photographs.
The board measures approximately 600(w) x 1,000(h) mm in size and is made most likely of blackwood timber and with ornate carved timber decoration, stained a golden-brown colour with wording in gold lettering. At the top of the board is a carved flowing ribbon with engraved words ‘Roll of Honor’ and at the bottom of the board the years ‘1914-15’ are shown in engraved numbers. At the centre of the top ribbon is a square shield with what appears to be stylised letters S and D likely symbolising the Shire of Doncaster.
Shire of Doncaster Roll of Residents Honor Board at the Doncaster RSL – Photo by DTHS February 2022 Photo Ref: Doncaster Shire - Roll of Residents Honor Board WW1
ROLL OF HONOR. SHIRE OF DONCASTER. ROLL OF RESIDENTS
Serving with The AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES. 1914-15
The original names read:
K. GRAHAM | G. WHITE | F. ELDER | K.P.T. KING | C. BULL | H. ZERBE | J. BEALE | C. WATTS | W. CROUCH | T. HUNTER | D. DUNCAN | N. CROSSMAN | D. GATES | F. AUMANN | W. WELLS | O. THIELE | T. ELDER | W. BREHENY | H. CLARK | M. ELDER | W. FRANCIS | P. GRAHAM| A. IRELAND | E. CROUCH | Wm. STRINGER | J. SIMPSON | G. BELL | H. SHELTON | H. CLAY | F. SVANBORG | R.L. CAMERON | S. CROUCH | A. LONGMORE | C.P. JOHNSON | H. FROMHOLD | Wm. BEAVIS | W. WATTS | S. CLARK | H.B. JOHNSTON | T. CROUCH | W. REISCHEIK | T. TOOGOOD | R. WRIGHT | R. BLOOM| C. MATHEWS | H.D. GRAHAM | F. THIELE | H.O. SMITH | Thos F. CULLEN | J. SMITT | Chas. W. WATSON | E. P. BUDGE | Alb. IRELAND |
Those names added in 1917:
F. LONGMORE | R. LONGMORE | F. ZERBE | G. DEMPSTER | W. BAYLEY | J. MATHEWS | F. PARKER | G. SCHAFTER | J. HARDIDGE | E. SYMONS |
The board is not a full list of the men from Doncaster who enlisted in the war as there are many other names recognised on later honor roll boards made after the war such as those by the Doncaster East state school, the Doncaster state school, the Doncaster Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF), the Doncaster Rechabites, various sporting clubs and others. Many men are listed on multiple boards. For example, the name G. Schafter appears on the Shire of Doncaster board, the Doncaster East state school board and the Doncaster MUIOOF board. Many of the names are also listed on stone type WW1 monuments at Doncaster and Templestowe.
The board does not include men who volunteered from the neighbouring Shire of Templestowe as at the initial time of preparation of the honor roll, Templestowe was not part of the Shire of Doncaster until it was reunited as one in October 1915 as the Shire of Doncaster. The board however appears to include the names of some men who were born and brought up in Templestowe but who happened to be working in Doncaster when they enlisted and this may account for them being on the board. The need for a roll of honor for Templestowe was raised at the Shire of Doncaster council meeting of 8 February 1916. The Reporter (Box Hill) newspaper of 18 February 1916 reported:
Cr. Sloan considered it was time they had a roll of honor for the late Templestowe shire. One Warrandyte soldier had been wounded in three places, and another had lost his life. Altogether 20 to 25 had gone from Warrandyte. He moved that a roll of honor be provided similar to the Doncaster one to be hung in the shire hall. Cr. Tully suggested that the roll of honor be placed in a public building in their own district. Cr. Petty seconded the motion. It was a good idea, and if they were to have a separate one, he thought they would overlap. For instance, Doncaster had names included of men who were born and brought up in Templestowe, but happened to be working in Doncaster when they enlisted, which accounted for them being on that board. That might create a little antagonism, and they were all one shire now. Cr. Hunter spoke in endorsement of the sentiments expressed, and no doubt the shire hall was the place for the honor roll. It could not be hung in the Templestowe Hall, which was locked up. Cr. Mc Namara also agreed that the shire hall was the proper place, and the resolution was approved of. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 18 Feb 1916, p2 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75164851]
However, it appears that a roll of honor board for the Templestowe Shire soldiers may never have been prepared as references to a board have not been found in subsequent newspapers of the time. Later in 1920, the Templestowe state school No. 1395 unveiled their honor roll board in a ceremony that took place at the school on 23 April 1920. The roll recognised 31 men and 1 woman, including 9 men who had lost their lives, who were associated with the school and who had served in the war. [The Reporter (Box Hill) 30 Apr 1920, p4 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257153891]
The Doncaster board does not identify those men shown on the board who tragically lost their lives in the war. From a check of the Australian War Memorial (AWM) WW1 records, National Archives of Australia (NAA) records, and from newspaper tribute notices, at least 13 of the men were found to have lost their lives. Two of the men were brothers Percy and Harry Graham, sons of George and Annie Graham of Doncaster. The men who lost their lives were:
K.P.T. KING Private Kenneth Phillip Trim King – Service No. 902, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France 26th August 1916, buried Courcelette British Cemetery, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1639851]
F. AUMANN Private Charles Frederick Aumann – Service No. 1878, 21st Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, August 1st, 1916 buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, Nord Pas de Calais, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1723337]
M. ELDER Lance-Corporal Murray Elder – Service No. 1197, 23rd Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 10th June 1918, buried Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Ribemont, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1722380]
P. GRAHAM Private Percy Graham – Service No. 164, 13th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action at Gallipoli, 26 April 1915, aged 25 years, buried Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1729826]
J. SIMPSON Lance-Corporal Jack Simpson – Service No. 2660, 2nd Australian Machine Gun Company AIF, killed in action, Belgium, 21st September 1917, aged 22 years, buried Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1661220]
G. BELL Private George Ascough Bell – Service No. 2348, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 14th August 1916, aged 32 years, buried Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Wimereux, Nord Pas de Calais, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1650411]
H. CLAY Sergeant Harold Richard Clay – Service No. 2957, 53rd Battery 14th Field Artillery Brigade Australian Field Artillery AIF, killed in action 4th August, 1917, Belgium, aged 23 years, buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1712424]
F. SVANBORG Sapper Frank Augustas Svanborg – Service No. 2311, 13th Field Company, Australian Engineers AIF, killed in action 4th February 1917, France, aged 25 years, buried Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Dernancourt, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1672374]
T. TOOGOOD Corporal Thomas Michael Toogood – Service No. 4011, 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade AIF, died at sea on returning hospital ship Kanowna from wounds, 21st December 1917, buried at sea. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1670939]
R. BLOOM Lance Corporal Rupert Otto Bloom – Service No. 4362, 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 23rd September 1917, aged 24 years, buried Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1665287]
H.D. GRAHAM Corporal Harry Drysdale Graham – Service No. 1721, 23rd Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, killed in action, France, 30th June 1916, aged 31 years, buried Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1729822]
E. P. BUDGE Trooper Edgar Harold Peter-Budge – Service No. 1063, 8th L.H., 3rd L. H. Brigade AIF, killed in action, Palestine, 14th December 1917, aged 21 years, buried Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1653679]
E. SYMONS Private Edward (Ted) Joseph Symons – Service No. 1738, 59th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF, died at sea of illness (phthisis/tuberculosis), 20th May 1916, buried at sea (Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka). [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1672811]
Photographs of eight of these men who lost their lives have been found in the AWM collection and the Doncaster east state school honor book. A photo montage of these men has been prepared by Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society (DTHS) from these photographs.
Shire of Doncaster Roll of Honor Board WW1 - Those Men Who Lost Their Lives. Photo montages by DTHS July 2025
Shire of Doncaster Roll of Honor Board WW1 - Those Men Who Lost Their Lives. Photo montages by DTHS July 2025
The honor roll board at some point in time was removed from its original location at the Doncaster shire hall in Council Street, Doncaster. It is now displayed in the Doncaster RSL sub-branch building at the corner of Doncaster Road and Leeds Street, Doncaster East.
Lest We Forget
Sources:
Source: Ian Schafter, DTHS – September 2025
- Soldier service records (search by name and service No.):
- Australian War Memorial people search - https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people
- National Archives of Australia (NAA) name search - https://www.naa.gov.au
- UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy - The AIF Project - https://aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html
- Newspaper reports
- National Archives of Australia (NAA) digital newspaper archive Trove - http://trove.nla.gov.au
Source: Ian Schafter, DTHS – September 2025
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