A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Private Wallace Moncrief Black
Born: 1896 Ascot Vale. Died: 20 January 1975 Pakenham
Enlisted: 18 June 1917, aged 21
Served: Western Front
Wally was the seventh child of Thomas and Margaret Black who, after attending Pakenham Upper State School, joined his father and brothers as an orchardist.
A few weeks before he embarked overseas, Wally was best man at his brother Thomas’s wedding to Miss Ethel Maud Ramage, the sister of Robert Ramage of Upper Pakenham who was already serving overseas. One of the toasts at the reception was to ”our boys at the front”.
Arriving inthe UK in August 1917, he was sent to Signal School where he passed wireless telegraphy examinations with credit. Wally only proceeded to France in September 1918, joining the 5th Battalion which saw little further action during the War.
Wally returned to Australia in August 1919. In 1922, Wally married Rose Edwards and raised a family of his own.
During WWII, Wally served his country again. He was particularly active in the Pakenham RSL. This included serving as treasurer of the sub-branch and as chairman of the local Repatriation Committee from the end of WWII until his death. Wally was also a very active freemason.
Wally died suddenly in January 1975, aged 78. The Gazette also described Wally as “an outstanding person – always kindly and helpful and with the highest possible standard of conduct”.
This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com
