The Douglas Shire WWI Honour Board

The Honour Board is where The Douglas Shire Historical Society started the project – we thought we were looking for the 145 soldiers on the board.

We have so far documented 225 soldiers for Douglas Shire, some born and bred here, some who came to work here, some born here and then moved on. Most of the additional soldiers belong to the born and moved on category. But unfortunately we also found significant gaps – longstanding Douglas Shire residents who somehow did not make it to the Honour Board. 

Let’s point out a few of these by looking at brothers who missed out. 

In the first column (below), brothers William Hugh and Charles Crawford of Brie Brie are missing. This is a little surprising as Hugh who served in the Middle East with the 11th Light Horse won a Military Medal and was the first President of the Mossman RSL after the war. He also led the mounted Voluntary Defence Corps between the first and second World Wars. Charles was wounded serving on the Western Front. (have photo of VDC on horseback). 

Column 1 also shows GH Coultas. He was in fact killed in action and should be in the section honouring those killed. 

Column 3 shows Hardwick H (Herbert). But it does not show his two brothers, Jack and Arthur who also fought. Herbert fought with the 5th Light Horse in Gallipoli and Middle East. He was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the field in Jordan and later suffered a gunshot wound to the throat. Jack (John Thomas) and Arthur were also in the Middle East. Arthur was involved in the famous Charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade to take Beersheba. All three brothers survived the war. (have photo of the three brothers).

Column 4 shows HT Pringle (Harry Tyson), but not his brother Thomas Lynch. Both were in the Light Horse, with John Thomas awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for consistent good work and devotion to duty. 

D Prendergast in column 4 was killed and should be in the memorial column for soldiers who died. 

Column 6 shows H Osborne, Harold, who died before going overseas but his brother Arthur Daintree Osborne who served and survived years on the Western Front should appear in Column 4. He was a tunneller involved in the famous detonation of Hill 60 near Messines. Another brother Eric also enlisted but did not serve overseas due to recurring illness. 

Finally, note in Column 6 the name GC Sibley. No GC Sibley could be found in the war records. It turned out that the soldier listed was stepson of George Sibley who had married …. Cudday. The stepson was locally known as George Sibley Jnr – his true name was Fraser Harold Cudday, killed in action and honoured on the board as Sibley, GC.  Fraser Harold Cudday had a brother known as Lewis Cuddy, who is recognised as a Townsville enlistment. 

 We have not traced just when the Board was constructed and why these significant citizens of Douglas missed getting their due honour.