Interesting facts have been uncovered whilst indexing several Mosman Daily issues from World War I. This adds to our knowledge of Mosman’s contribution to the Great War effort. The Mosman Daily reveals a snapshot of the Mosman community at this time through original source material.
Although it was pretty much business as usual in the Mosman Daily during World War I, there were poignant reminders of the war. There was pride in Honours bestowed on servicemen. A mother Mrs J. P. Dalziel advised that her son Vincent C. Dalziel was awarded the Military Medal as an engineer at Ypres.
Under the article heading ‘Three Birthdays at the Front’, Mr and Mrs Carver of “Ormside” took pride in their son, Private P. W. B. Carver’s Medal For Conspicuous Bravery for service as stretcher-bearer in the 5th Field Ambulance.
Sadly, an obituary for Sergeant-Major H. I. Peisley who died aged 40, August 1918 in France, revealed a long career of military service. Sergeant-Major Peisley had been wounded at Gallipoli and also served in the Boer War.
On the home front there was fundraising by the local ladies for a fete for the Army Medical Comforts Fund.
The returned servicemen’s organization – Returned Soldiers and Citizen’s Policy Federation, Mosman Branch – was active and advertised its meetings in the Mosman Daily.
Returned servicemen in advertising their services, noted that they were “Returned Soldiers”. Two such returned soldiers advertising as house repairers, renovators were Mant Doorey of 5 Cabramatta Road and H. G. Turner of 47 Dalton Road.
There were 2 curious comments, perhaps reflecting the bias of the Mosman Daily editor, on one page:
‘A nation thrives through the thrift of its people – buy War Loan Bonds’
Then on the next page:
‘Soldiers Risk Lives – Others Lend Money’