TIME IN SERVICE
TIME IN SERVICE
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This section contains details of some of the service history of people connected to the Montmorency Eltham RSL.
The page includes the following sub-sections:.
Links to the details of service of the 38 people whose names are engraved on the cenotaph located in the main street of Eltham and which is the site of our annual dawn service each Anzac Day
Stories of the veterans whose medals we have on display
Links to the National Archives of Australia records of members of our Sub Branch or who have been local residents
Personal stories about the military experiences of some local members. Various factors determine the nature of the work undertaken once basic training has been completed. Possibilities include postings at various sites around Australia, or deployment overseas which may involve peace-time activities, peace-keeping duties or being involved in armed conflict situations.
The ELTHAM CENOTAPH
The Cenotaph is located adjacent to Main Rd between the Library and the town centre, having earlier been on the site of the Eltham RSL premises until that Sub Branch was closed in 2011. It initially contained the names of those who died during their military service in WW 1. The names of those who gave their life in later conflicts were added later.
Unfortunately, in January 2026, the cenotaph was desecrated one night, but was quickly restored to its original condition.
Out of respect for the men whose names are on the cenotaph, a report of the service history of each veteran was read at Stand To each night over the subsequent weeks. These reports can be read in the document available at this link.
The list of names below contains links to the more detailed stories of those whose names appear on the cenotaph. Click on a name to read some details of each the veteran's military history (the list will be added to during the first months of 2026).
The PEOPLE behind the MEDALS
Our collection includes many medals awarded to veterans in recognition of the service they gave, often in overseas conflicts. Most of the medals are connected to veterans who are now no longer with us. Their relatives gave the medals to the RSL to ensure that the owner was not forgotten (some medals were originally given to other RSL Sub Branches and they have found their way to MERSL after those Sub Branches closed). No matter what path each medal took to finally arrive at MERSL, the intention of those families was that their veteran's service is not forgotten.
Each medal awarded to a veteran has their name engraved around its rim, and so we have undertaken research to write a short background about the medal's owner. In that way, MERSL members and visitors can learn something of the person behind the medal, where they served, and a short summary of their life before and after their service. Lest we forget.
Our Medals Project is an ongoing one in which we research and write each story when sufficient information comes to hand. The names listed below are links to each veteran's story:
SERVICE HISTORIES of INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
The National Archives of Australia stores the enlistment details and service histories of all service members who took part in military activities during WW1 and WW2 (NAA also has records of those who served in more recent conflicts but the sheer number of them means that it takes an exceptional length of time to check and scan them all; details of more recent enlistees will gradually become available).
Some WW1 and WW2 people who were members of the Montmorency or Eltham Sub Branches, or who were local residents, have been downloaded from the NAA, and they can be studied by clicking on the relevant name in the list below.
Jack BRENNAN Jock PETRIE Jack CORDWELL Bob BARLING Robert DAVEY
ORAL HISTORIES of MEMBERS WHO SERVED in the MILITARY
An emerging project for the History & Heritage group is to obtain first-hand records of the military experiences of some of our members.
The interviews are recorded in MP3 format and should operate satisfactorily on any device by clicking the Play icon.
John HAINES
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