As far as the Walpole, Nornalup & Districts Historical Society can gather, around 126 Walpole & Districts men and women have served Australia and her allies in war and peacekeeping missions since 1914, including 35 who served in World War I and 87 in World War II — extraordinary numbers for such a small community.
Those who never returned …
… shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them
And to those who are still with us we can only offer our most sincere and heartfelt thanks.
The following are just a select few of the photographs archived by the Historical Society, who on April 25, 2015 put on display in the Walpole Community Hall a magnificent collection of photographs and memorabilia to mark the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli:
Founding members of the Returned Soldiers & Sailors League (RSL) Walpole Sub Branch. (c 1932) Back Row: F Swann, Hughie Wilson (?), ____ Thomsett, L Hunter (Pres), F Palmer, C Chugg, A Sweeny, D Underhill, Tom Chitty. Front Row: W Stevens, L Chatley, B Stewart (?), J Cogden (?). (Pic: WNDHS)
John Robert Reeby Jnr. (1941), Hazelvale, Group 138. (Pic: WNDHS)
Jack Anning, George Anning, Len Anning, Samuel Anning, Arthur Anning. Group photo during World War II (1943) (Pic: WNDHS)
My Uncle Frederick Aldridge had a small block in the 1930’s. I thought it was because he was an ex serviceman from WWI.
About 1935/36 my family, Father Arthur Aldridge, Mother, sister, and myself, aged about 6, visited Frederick Aldridge, his wife Linda and two daughters. We drove from Kalgoorlie via Perth, Manjimup in an open Chrysler car. A very rough road through to Walpole.
All I remember now is the slab house of about two rooms in the middle of much undergrowth. Couldn’t understand how the couple of cows they had survived. As a child from Kalgoorlie I was shocked at the conditions under which my Uncle, Aunt and cousins lived.
Frederick was subsequently gored by a bull, family left Walpole to settle in Perth.
With my parents after Frederick left, about 1939, we drove again to Walpole and stayed with Rex Hughes, who lived in Manjimup, but had tents and a boat on Walpole inlet.