Centenary of locals returning from World War I remembered
Just over 60 Coulthart family members attended a special reunion in Nowra on Saturday.
The gathering commemorated the centenary of the return from World War I of John Stronach ("Jack") Coulthart and his brother William Burgess ("Bill") Coulthart, along with their brother-in-law John ("Jock") Mackay, and close friend James Varney ("Jim") Wilson.
All four, along with another mate, Ken Hyam, who didn't make it home, were from Numbaa.
The event was held in the Nowra RSL-Sub-Branch hall in Nowra and featured plenty of memorabilia on display as well as life-size photos of the soldiers.
David Morley, the great nephew of the late Ken Hyam, gives an emotional account of how Ken was mortally wounded and the effect on the Hyam family and friends.
Reunion organiser David Wright, of Kiama, the grandson of Bill Coulthart, said each of the soldiers' lives, including their war service, was spoken about.
"The war service followed the Australian's part in WW1 and the history of each soldier in relationship to each other," he said.
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Some of the memorabilia on display at the reunion.
"Ken Hyam, who was wounded at the Battle of the Windmill at Pozieres in France, a battle in which more Australians were killed than any other, died a couple of weeks later due to his injuries, aged just 23, was also remembered.
"His great nephew David Morley gave an emotional account of how Ken was mortally wounded and the effect on the Hyam family and friends."
The five Numbaa boys who were honoured at the Coulthart reunion on Saturday (from left) Jack Coulthart, Jack Mackay, Ken Hyam (front), Jim Wilson and Bill Coulthart.
The Shoalhaven Historical Society attended the gathering and had a display, while Alan Clark gave an account of the return home celebrations at Numbaa.
Nowra RSL Sub-Branch president Fred Dawson talked about the returning soldiers being foundation members and how they actively developed the branch by building the first hall.
The wonderful life-size photos of the soldiers.
Mr Dawson gave the ode and Peter Williams played the last post and reveille on his 120-year-old bugle.
The event gave the individual returned soldiers' families a chance to unite and reform the friendships that existed between the soldiers, of course, while enjoying homemade Anzac biscuits and tea.
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