John Michael Avison PARKER 

- Friend to Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh

Michael, as he was known, was born in Melbourne on 23 June 1920, the son of Captain C.A. Parker, and was educated at Xavier College, Melbourne. He served in the Royal Australian Navy, and then the Royal Navy from 1938 to 1947, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Parker first met the then Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1942, when Philip was assigned to the destroyer HMS Wallace as a sub-lieutenant. They became close friends. As officers, the two men were also united by a relative lack of ready money. As Parker put it: "He was better off than I was, but compared with many people he didn't have a brass razoo."

Parker's Aussie disregard for Prince Philip's Royal connections also impressed the future Queen's Consort: "The fact that he was a Prince didn't register with me. I gave him deference when it was official, but if it was not official then 'relax' was the order of the day."

 In 1947, when Philip was created Duke of Edinburgh in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Parker joined the Household of the Duke of Edinburgh as Private Secretary, initially on a part-time basis. He later became Equerry to the Duke and the Duchess of Edinburgh.  Parker eventually became full-time Private Secretary to the Duke.

In 1952, Parker was in Kenya with the royal couple and broke the news to them of King George VI's death.  I never felt so sorry for anyone in all my life", Parker later recalled. He (the Duke) looked as if you'd dropped half the world on him." 

He was charged with arranging the Royal couple's triumphant tour of Australia in 1954.  

Parker's divorce in 1958, reported on extensively in the media, forced him to resign as the Duke's Private Secretary.  The divorce featured in the Netflix series, The Crown.  The first big scandal in season 2 focuses on Parker's divorce and how it nearly brought down the royal marriage. 

Although he returned to live in Australia in the late 1960s, Parker remained in contact with Prince Philip until the end of his life.  

In the 1996 Australia Day Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "service to education, particularly through the Plain English Speaking Award Scheme, and to the community

He returned to Australia in 1968 and in 1996 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Michael died in Melbourne on 29 December 2001, leaving his third wife, two daughters and a son. 

He is buried at Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery.

Sources: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/  https://www.reddit.com/

KILLED IN ACTION - GALLIPOLI

CHARLES ANDREW LA NAUZE

Date of birth	16 September 1882
Place of birth	Mauritius
School	Royal College, Mauritius
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Accountant
Address	116 Piesse Street, Boulder, Western Australia
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	32
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs R La Nauze, 116 Piesse Street, Boulder, Western Australia
Enlistment date	25 August 1914
Rank on enlistment	Lieutenant
Unit name	11th Battalion, F Company
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 2 November 1914

From the Kalgoorlie Miner Friday 9 July 1915.

Goldfields Casualties.
Captain La Nauze - Killed In Action At Gallipoli - 28th June 1915.
The notification of Captain C. R. La Nauze's death in yesterday's `Miner` caused widespread regret at Boulder, where he was particularly well known and respected. The flag was flown at half-mast on the Town Hall throughout the day.
The messages of condolence received by his wife, who, with her two little children, have to bear up against the sad, intelligence, were numerous, and expressive of his honourable end.
The words `killed in action` certainly tend to lighten sorrow's burden, but to close friends and relations death, even on the field of honour, is a sad event when it removes such a universally respected young man. Patriotism to King and country was his sole aim in leaving with the first expeditionary force, and his enthusiasm and wealth of military knowledge, always at the disposal of the local forces, where his name stood for honourable action, will be an irreparable loss. He left here as Lieutenant under Captain Leane. of Boulder, both fast friends in the private as well as the military sphere, but his abilities soon, gained his promotion to the captain's rank - a privilege, unfortunately, he was destined not long to enjoy. "You will be pleased to hear I gained my captaincy ; it came out today," he wrote to his wife, in a letter received on June 20. The information was heralded with enthusiasm by all who had followed the young, officer's career, and further distinction was looked for in the future. In all his letters Captain La Nauze exhibited a full and cheerful spirit, as the following extract from one recently to hand shows : "I am writing this in a "dug out." Shrapnel is bursting over head merrily varied by the "twit twit" of the Maxim and the sharp burst of the explosive bullet. I have not had a wash since landing. Still I am feeling well on bully beef and biscuit, varied occasionally with bacon, cheese and jam, and am as fit as a fiddle. Leane and I `dig it` together, and manage very well." In another letter the late captain said: "'The 3rd Brigade is feeling very proud of itself, I can tell you. Since landing it has been dig, dig, dig, and fight, fight, fight. The navy is simply raving about us, and all the generals are showering 'soft soap' on us." Captain La Nauze was only about 28 years of age. News of his death is certainly sad news and it shows that Australia is giving her best in assistance to the Empire which is straining itself to prevent the onrush of the most barbarous foe of civilised times. 

Captain La Nauze's Memorial at Boroondara Cemetery

Damage to the Springthorpe Memorial

During some extremes of weather in late January 2018, the Springthorpe Memorial sustained some damage, due to fast and extreme temperature changes having an adverse impact on the marble.

The Boroondara Cemetery Trust’s primary responsibility, under the Act which governs the operations of cemeteries, is to see to the perpetual maintenance of the entire cemetery, so it is unable to expend its own funds on the repair or maintenance of substantial private memorials such as the Springthorpe Memorial.

The Trust is, however, actively investigating the condition of the memorial, seeking an expert review of its condition, and options for restoration of the memorial in the event that external funding can be obtained. The Trust has approached a number of suitably qualified parties in this matter, and has engaged with Heritage Victoria regarding this important memorial.

Note that the Cemetery website is being regularly updated with postings of additional facts regarding this and other projects on an ongoing basis.

www.kewcemetery.com.au

God's Triangle

A year or so ago we were contacted by Mr Ian Richardson who asked for our assistance to locate the grave of his aunt, Florence (Florrie) Cox.

Ian is an Australian former journalist who lives in London.  He was born in Wonthaggi and worked for a time at 3BO in Bendigo and Radio 3AW in Melbourne.  From there he and wife Rosemary travelled to London where he was offered a job in the new department of BBC World Services.  They now reside permanently in the UK.

It was 1997 and Ian was sorting photos with his mother when he came across a picture of her grandparents and their children.  There was one person in the photo Ian didn’t recognize. Ten years of sleuthing ensued , the result of which was Ian piecing together a story that anyone, journalist or otherwise would be intrigued by.

Ian has written a book entitled “God’s Triangle”.

When Florence "Florrie" Cox and the newly-ordained Baptist missionary, the Rev. Frank Paice, became engaged to be married in 1912, there was much joy in the two families and at the church they both attended in Melbourne, Australia. But it was in an age when society regarded discussion about sexual matters - even at their most basic - as a taboo. Hence, Frank and Florrie hit the marital rocks on their honeymoon in Bengal, India, when they discovered she had a very rare intersex condition, about which they knew nothing. So began the compelling saga of how the couple struggled to understand and cope with Florrie's condition, while fellow Baptist missionary Olga Johnston waited impatiently in the wings to snatch Frank away.

Why did the families and the church go to such lengths to hide what happened? And why did two Supreme Court judges in Melbourne order the divorce file to be sealed for all time? Ian Richardson, an Australian journalist who worked for many years for the BBC, was determined to learn the truth about his Great Aunt Florrie. God's Triangle is the result: a true story of revelation and betrayal.

I’m happy to report that we were able to locate Florence’s grave.  It was a particularly difficult grave to find, wedged between two rows and completely unmarked.  You can see in the photo below it runs between two rows - very unusual.

Ian was very appreciative of FOBKC's help in locating Florence's grave.  He returned to place a special plaque on the grave so that Florence can finally be recognized and given the acknowledgement and respect she deserves.

For more information or to purchase this fascination book go to http://www.godstriangle.com

Madge Connor

There has been quite a bit of publicity recently surrounding the 100th anniversary of women in the police force in Victoria, the poster girl being Boroondara Cemetery's very own Madge Connor. We have often feature Madge on our walks as she was and I think still is an inspirational woman.

Understandably the papers aren't able to publish her full story, so we'd like to do so here, acknowledging her groundbreaking appointment and her work in paving the way for women in the police force.   She was a true 'force' to be reckoned with. 

Madge Irene Connor was born possibly on 14 November 1874 at Waterford, Ireland, only child of John Edward Howard McCarthy, master mariner, and his wife Mary, née Barron. By the time she retired, however, Madge had eight recorded variations of her name and four dates of birth. She claimed that after her father was lost at sea, when she was aged 2, she went with her grandmother and mother to England, then the United States of America where they stayed for two and a half years before moving to New Zealand. Her mother died when Madge was 7, leaving her upbringing to an aunt. Aged 16, Madge eloped to Australia. Life in Melbourne with her husband Edward Connor (O'Connor), an English-born labourer, and two children was difficult.

Edward died suddenly in 1916, and it is possible that the police constable informant for Edward's death registration brought Madge to the attention of detectives. She started working undercover for the Victoria Police later that year: by her account obtaining evidence against 'many subtle craft people and illegal bettors' and taking up residence in a boarding house with a hardened criminal and 'his woman' in order to obtain evidence against him.
This work stood her in good stead when, following campaigns by women's groups, the Victorian government appointed female police agents. Connor was the first of two, selected in July 1917, on half the pay of a policeman, with no powers of arrest or rights to a pension. They did not wear uniforms.  In 1922 she helped in undercover surveillance of a witness in the case against Colin Campbell Ross. Quickly accumulating commendations for her work, she was stationed at Russell Street and Fitzroy for most of her career. 

As early as 1920 Connor led deputations of female police and watch-house matrons to the chief secretary, arguing for an increase in their salaries. She described the often distasteful duties they had to undertake for seventeen shillings and sixpence per week. Successful in obtaining a small increase, Connor made further representations in 1923. 

Unrelenting in pursuit of equality, she wrote several reports, insisting that a 'stroke of the pen' would solve all problems.  Connor proved correct. On 12 November 1924 the by then four policewomen were sworn in, becoming the first women to obtain equal pay, nearly half a century ahead of women in other occupations in Australia. Then 5 ft 6 ins (167 cm) tall, with grey eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion, Connor gave her religion as Church of England. Because of a technicality in the police seniority system, she lost her place as 'senior in service', becoming 'junior in number'. She continued to bring petty criminals, fortune-tellers and bookmakers before the courts until she was forced to retire on 14 November 1929.

Ineligible for a police pension, having not completed the necessary fifteen years as a sworn officer, Connor operated as a private detective. She died on 12 October 1952 at St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, and after a Catholic service was buried in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, survived by her daughters. 

Source:  Australian Dictionary of Biography

LEST WE FORGET

ATHOL McGREGOR KIRKWOOD

Athol McGregor Kirkwood is one of the many sons buried on foreign soil but remembered on their parents’ grave in Boroondara Cemetery.

Unit: 6th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of death: 27 July 1915

Place of death: Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey

Cause of death: Killed in action

Cemetery or memorial details: Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey

 

Group portrait of 14 unidentified soldiers and officers standing in a cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The central cross commemorates the men of C Company, 6th Battalion, who were killed in action. The grave on the right is that of 323 Lance Corporal Athol McGregor Kirkwood of Melbourne, Vic, who was killed in action on 27 July 1915 and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The officer standing directly behind the headstone, second from the right, is wearing epaulettes decorated with stripes.

Shrapnel Valley Cemetery is a cemetery from World War I and is the second largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in the former Anzac sector of the Gallipoli Peninsula after Lone Pine Cemetery. Shrapnel Valley (sometimes called Shrapnel Gully) got its name in the early days after the landing. As the Turks realised that this had become the highway to the front their guns rained shrapnel shells down upon this area. These shells made a particular whistle before they burst showering those below with lethal pellets. It was said that as the shells could be heard before soldiers passing through the valley had the chance to take cover. Confronted with such danger, it was written that men became ‘fatalists’ and thought that a particular shell had a man’s name and number on it! – ‘Until that shell arrived, it was best to let others see them going proudly rather than flinching’.

Gallipoli was an eight-month campaign fought by Commonwealth and French forces against Ottoman Empire forces in an attempt to force the Ottoman Empire out of the war, which it was hoped would relieve the deadlock of the Western Front and to open a supply route between Russia and the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.

 

8 May 1915
The Australian 2nd Brigade (Victoria) - 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions - attacked Turkish positions at Krithia in the British area at Helles. The attack was unsuccessful. Charles Bean wrote:

The stone houses of Krithia were still 2000 yards away, but in advancing 1000 yards the brigade, already reduced at Anzac to 2900 men, lost in one short hour another 1000.
  

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Metal.

For conspicuous gallantry and ability on 8th May, 1915, during the operations North of Cape Helles (Dardanelles).  During an advance, when the Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers had been killed or wounded, Private Kirkwood assumed the command, taking charge of the men in his immediate neighbourhood, directing their fire and by his coolness and courage rendering invaluable assistance in steadying all ranks at a critical moment.  He led each advance in his section of the line and finally performed most valuable service in consolidating the position gained.

Source: London Gazette No. 8855

Date:  6 September 1915

 

"A wonderfully fulfilling project"

These were the feelings expressed by the grandchildren of one of the cemetery's 'residents' recently.  The two girls, Suzanne and Sam, decided to clean up their grandparents' grave as a surprise for their mother.  They consulted with family friend, Helen Page (trustee and horticulturist) who encouraged them in their endeavours. 

 

We don't have any before photos, but here is the 'after' and you will agree that they have done a beautiful job.

This is something anyone who has a family grave that may currently be sprouting nothing but weeds can do.  It doesn't have to cost a lot of money - just some time and effort.  You may have noticed some planting that's been done near the High Street gate entrance in recent months.  If you haven't, it's worth a visit as Helen and her workers have created a very impressive entry with simple plantings.

We'll be updating this site in the weeks to come with some guidelines on how headstones can be safely cleaned and maintained.