"I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me"
WEATERHEAD, John Fortescue Law
WEBB, Leonard Cassanette
WEBSTER, Cyril Ormond Ernest
WELCH, David Egerton
Extreme regret was expressed when news was received by cablegram on Friday last that Captain (Dr) E. R. Welch, R.A.M.C., elder son of the Rev. and Mrs 13. J. Welch, of the Ballan Presbyterian manse,was killed in action on September 16th.
Captain Welch was born at Sandgate, Queensland, in the year 1887, thus making him at the time of his death 29 years of age. He spent some years at the Ballan State school, after which he attended Grenville college, Ballarat, from which he matriculated. Between matriculation and University he taught in several private schools, amongst them being St. Paul's Cathedral choir boys school and St. Patrick's Cuthedral Christian Brothers' school. During his medical course he obtained several scholarships, which enabled him to become a resident of Ormond college for about 4 years. After graduation, he enlisted for service in the British Army on May 12th, 1915, for one year, and went to England for a short period of military training. Afterwards he went to France, where he served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. At the end of his term he signed on for another year, with the rank of captain, hoping to return to Australia at the end of !his second year's service. But this was not to be, and a very promising career was cut short. Captain Welch was near the front trenches in the first days of the great Somme offensive, where, it is surmised, he met his death, full particulars of which can not come to hand for some time. The heartfelt sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved relatives.
Ballan Times Thursday 05 October 1916 page 3
Captain Welch was born at Sandgate, Queensland, in the year 1887, thus making him at the time of his death 29 years of age. He spent some years at the Ballan State school, after which he attended Grenville college, Ballarat, from which he matriculated. Between matriculation and University he taught in several private schools, amongst them being St. Paul's Cathedral choir boys school and St. Patrick's Cuthedral Christian Brothers' school. During his medical course he obtained several scholarships, which enabled him to become a resident of Ormond college for about 4 years. After graduation, he enlisted for service in the British Army on May 12th, 1915, for one year, and went to England for a short period of military training. Afterwards he went to France, where he served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps. At the end of his term he signed on for another year, with the rank of captain, hoping to return to Australia at the end of !his second year's service. But this was not to be, and a very promising career was cut short. Captain Welch was near the front trenches in the first days of the great Somme offensive, where, it is surmised, he met his death, full particulars of which can not come to hand for some time. The heartfelt sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved relatives.
Ballan Times Thursday 05 October 1916 page 3
I never knew my uncle - He lies in a foreign place - My father never knew him either - But he had a photo of his face
My father carried it all his life - A keepsake from his mother - A memorial photo of a soldier, a son and a brother
And then the photo came to me - So the memory would not fade - Of that young lad from Redcliff - And the terrible price he paid
I’ve read the letters - Felt the pain - Of a mother broken of heart - The end to her sad story - Is where my story starts
For I’ll journey to that foreign place - To remember my father’s brother - And lay a flag upon his grave
In honour of his mother……..
Cath Liston
My father carried it all his life - A keepsake from his mother - A memorial photo of a soldier, a son and a brother
And then the photo came to me - So the memory would not fade - Of that young lad from Redcliff - And the terrible price he paid
I’ve read the letters - Felt the pain - Of a mother broken of heart - The end to her sad story - Is where my story starts
For I’ll journey to that foreign place - To remember my father’s brother - And lay a flag upon his grave
In honour of his mother……..
Cath Liston