TWO more graves of World War I veterans have been dedicated in the Nowra General Cemetery.
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The Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group, through the hard work of member Graham Morrison, local historian Robyn Florance and the Commonwealth War Graves has seen the graves of Percy Hume Victor Smith and Robert William Senior refurbished and rededicated in a moving ceremony on Wednesday, October 12.
Private Percy Smith saw service with the 31st Battalion on the Western Front, while Private Robert Senior was part of the 4th Infantry Battalion Tropical Force 'C' Company Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force (AN and MEF) serving in Rabaul, New Guinea maintaining a military government over the former German territory that was captured in the early part of the war.
Private Senior actually re-enlisted a second time, after being discharged on April 28, 1917 for reasons 'time expired', enlisting again on April 27, 1918 but while undergoing a medical examination was found to have renal colic and unfit for service.
Family members of both men were present at the special service, as was Shoalhaven Mayor, Amanda Findley and the Executive Officer of HMAS Albatross Commander Nigel Rowan.
Albatross personnel also provided an honour guard for the event which was organised by Murphy Family Funerals.
Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group chairman Rick Meehan and president Fred Campbell both provided outline's of the men's service.
"It is fitting to provide the last respects to both these men who served in the First World War," Mr Meehan said.
"We've come here to say goodbye and say thank you to not only one who served his country in war but also the people who served in the country's defence forces."
Mr Smith's great granddaughter Lynda Nolan spoke of the man the family simply knew as 'Pop Smith'.
"We don't know why Pop was in an unmarked grave," she said.
Joined by her own daughter, four-year-old Eva, she said "to have somewhere we can now bring our children and explain about him will make a big difference".
"We are extremely grateful for all the work that has been done to make this happen," she said.
"Someone in the family must have known why he was in an unmarked grave - we didn't - we knew he was here and knew of his service but didn't come up - who comes up to visit a patch of grass?
"There was not much to see and not much to remember.
"To have a war grave memorial put up and for everyone to realise here lies someone who served makes a big difference not to just my family but our community.
"Due recognition for someone who served their country at war and giving due respect for that service.
"We'd like to thank everyone involved in this - it is much appreciated."
Mr Smith's grandson Peter Ellis, who is recovering from a double knee replacement and couldn't be present at the event, said he will always remember his grandfather's ingenuity.
"He was a very clever man - he invented many things, although never patented any of them.
"There was so much more to him apart from his service.
"He'd lived through the Great Depression - he squatted in the then State Forest off Albatross Road, near where we live today - it was there my parents met."
He was a qualified fitter and turner and with work hard to get during the Depression, after completing his electrical qualifications went to work for Nowra Council stringing wires, which Mr Ellis said was "one of the few jobs going at that time."
"During the depression he would also build and sell valve radios to make money," he said.
"He was my mother's father and my major role model.
"In the first year of high school I lived with them. We would sit up until the early hours of the morning designing, making and listening to crystal radio sets - tuning into whatever stations we could.
"One night we built a massive set and we pulled in 76 stations - we checked them later and they were all the same station.
"He later went to work on Warringah Shire Council until he retired but had also built a holiday home at Callala and when they retired they returned,"
"We grew up on tales of Pop," Lynda said.
"All the funny things, silly things he did - we grew up hearing about a man who was a fully grown adult - but he was 18 when he joined up - just a kid - so many were - a lot of them signed up for adventure and they got an awful lot more than they expected - a lot of them didn't come home.
"We're grateful he came home.
"We grew up hearing about the man who was larger than life, the legacy, someone who I never got to meet but still affected the way I was brought up - he had such a big impact on my father's life and that followed through for my cousins and myself.
"We are extremely grateful for Pop's service, for everyone who served and those who serve today. You can't grow up in Nowra, or live in Nowra without knowing people in the services. You can't grow up in this town and not know navy.
"We are so grateful for all who serve and thank you to everyone who put in the hard work and effort to recognise those who do serve."
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Noeleen Brown, Robert Senior's great niece spoke of the man she knew as "Uncle Bob."
"He was my great uncle - the eldest of five - his father died when he was 10 - he was my grandmother on my paternal side, Susan Atfield's brother.
"He died not marrying and we were his family.
"In the last years of his life he resided with my grandparents Susan and James Atfield in Bomaderry - it would be the last six years of his life and the first six years of my life.
"I remember him - I lived only two houses away - he had his own seat in our back garden - he was quiet, patient and I think probably a little lonely or whether he was reflecting on his past.
"I was an only child at that time and he was my buddy.
"First, he pushed me in the pram, he read to me and taught me to read. We played with my little dog and would go for walks together."
She recalled how as a youngster she developed a limp and was taken to the doctor because her parents thoughts something was wrong with her leg
The mystery was solved when her mother saw Uncle Bob taking Noleen for a walk.
He had a bad limp, and Noeleen limped on the same leg.
"This means so much to us all - we know where Uncle Bob is and we can visit him when we wish," she said.
"The collaboration and research of records and upgrade of his grave and service Robert was deserving of.
"On behalf of our family we give thanks and appreciation to all who have been involved in this event - it is very much appreciated."
The work done by local historian Robyn Florance and Graham Morrison in locating the grave sites and researching Mr Smith's and Mr Senior's service was also acknowledged.
The service concluded with the reciting of the ode and playing of the Last Post and Reveille
PERCY HUME VICTOR SMITH
Percy Hume Victor Smith was born in Marulan.
Private Percy Smith serial number 3036 enlisted from Casula in the Australian Imperial Force 1st A.I.F. January 17, 1916 aged 18 years of age.
After initial training he left Australian shores from Melbourne on March 14, 1916 attached to the 5th Reinforcements on transport ship H.M.A.T. A68 Anchises.
Upon arrival in the U.K. and on September 15, 1916, he joined the 31st Battalion on the Western Front.
The Reinforcements were well needed as the 31st Battalion only a few months earlier fought its first major battle at Fromelles and suffered 572 casualties, losing half its strength.
It was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 31st and for Percy.
While the 31st spent the rest of the year on the frontline it was not involved in any major battles.
But living on the frontline still took its toll on many, including Percy.
On November 14, 1916 he was taken from the front to hospital, removed due to 'sick in the field'.
On December 10 Percy was taken to the 5th Division Hospital before being removed to England on December 13.
Recovery was slow and, on the February 17, 1917, he was attached to No.2 command depot in Weymouth.
Percy saw no more frontline action with the 31st Battalion with further postings to the ANZAC Provisional Corp and guard duty at A.I.F. headquarters in London until the end of the war.
Percy like all diggers who put on the uniform had the respect of all, served his country proudly until his discharge on June 10, 1919.
For his service to his country Percy was awarded the 1914-1918 War Medal and the 1914-1919 Victory Medal.
Percy passed away in Nowra on September 20, 1961 aged 63.
ROBERT WILLIAM SENIOR
Robert William Senior was born in Yellow Waterhole.
Private Robert Senior serial number 767 enlisted at Holdsworthy on August 2, 1915 and voluntarily joined the 4th Infantry Battalion Tropical Force 'C' Company Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force (AN and MEF) aged 36 years of age.
After initial training he left Australian shores from Sydney embarking on November 20, 1915
for Rabaul, New Guinea on board the troopship H.M.A.T. S.S. Te-Armu.
Robert arrived in Rabaul on January 6, 1916.
He spent all of his active service in New Guinea with the Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force maintaining a military government over the former German territory that was captured in the early part of the war.
On March 15, 1917 he returned to Australia from Rabaul onboard steamship SS Marsina and was discharged on April 28, 1917 for reasons 'time expired'.
He enlisted again on April 27, 1918 and in May while undergoing a medical examination he was found to have renal colic and unable to return to camp.
He was discharged once again on October 4, 1918 stating unfit for active service.
For his service to his country Robert was awarded the 1914-1915 Star; 1914-1918 War Medal and the 1914-1919 Victory Medal.
Robert passed away in Bomaderry on December 24, 1954, aged 75.