History Notes - preparation for ANZAC Day
History Notes
Well, Easter is over for another year, Anzac Day is almost here and then winter will arrive with frosts. I am told it will be a warm winter!
The vintage car visit on Sunday morning saw lots of treasured cars in the street and plenty of people inspecting the cars and being treated to morning tea before inspecting the museum. Those inspecting the museum showed a lot of interest in our collection and asked a number of questions, including items in the blacksmith’s shop. An early lamb cradle attracted a lot of interest as well as descriptions on how to tail a lamb.
The museum is having a busy week with plans to organize an Anzac Day display on Tuesday and then more visitors on Wednesday. Wednesday’s visitors are tracing the Natty, Connors and Corcoran families for an elderly family visitor.
In research so far, I have found an Irish Convict who served his sentence in Tasmania before moving to Victoria where he met his wife, Martha. They moved north to NSW with their growing family and seemed to settle in the Gunnedah area.
As we are approaching Anzac Day it is appropriate to mention two members of this family who enlisted and served in World War 1. Mary Ann Launt and her husband Harry Corcoran were the parents of 19-year-old Arthur James Corcoran and 24-year-old Henry Corcoran when they enlisted at Gunnedah towards the end of 1915.
Sadly, Henry was killed in action while serving with the 54th Battalion in February 1917. He is buried in France. His young brother returned to Australia after the war.