More On World War Two - Noel Dawson

Noel Dawson - Service No. N75360, was born in Springwood 12th December 1904 to Thomas Robert and Muriel Jane (nee Broughton) Dawson.  His older brother Kinglsey served in World War One.  The Dawson family owned the property 'Euchora' that the Hon. James Norton had originally owned. 

Today the property is the site of Buckland Retirement Village.

More on World War Two: Stanley Craddock Judge

Stanley Craddock Judge: Service Number N190755, was born at Redfern 5th August, 1906 to David and Mary Judge. He noted his father as next of kin when he enlisted at Springwood.

More on World War Two: Charles Gordon, Roy andRupert Colless

Charles Gordon Colless: Service Number N347666, was born in Springwood 25th January 1904 to Vivian (Viv) Rupert and Ada Celia (nee Dent) Colless. The Colless family built four weatherboard shops in Springwood c1905 that were located opposite the present-day post office.  Viv operated a mixed business selling fruit and vegetables, confectionary, ice-cream and drinks; they also served teas. He is reputed to have had the first soda fountain in the Blue Mountains. 

Charles followed his father into trade and his service record shows that he was a fishmonger/butcher. Charles had several siblings; namely Vera, Robert, Roy, Margery, Oliver, Rupert, William, Martin, Mabel and Mary. He married Margaret Anne Maddox in Katoomba in 1938, and they were the parents Tom Colless who is a current resident of Leura.

His service record shows that Charles was a part-time member of the Volunteer Defence Corps from 1942 until 1945. 

Brothers Roy Lucas Colless (Service No. 2601) and Rupert George Colless (Service No. N347597) also served in World War Two. Roy served with the Royal Australian Navy.

* The service record of Charles Gordon Colless has been digitalised by the National Archives and can be downloaded from their website.

* The Making of a Mountain Community: a Biographical Dictionary of the Springwood District has a larger article about the Colless family.

More on World War Two: Norman Kenneth Mann

Norman Kenneth Mann: Service Number NX206044, was born in Springwood 16th November 1925.  His place of enlistment was Paddington.  It is possible  he was related to James and Flora Mann who resided for a short time in Springwood and  later Mount Wilson. According to electoral rolls, Norman was residing in Kiama in 1949 and Lawson (Blue Mountains) in 1954. 

More on World War Two: Norman Joseph Rafferty

Norman Joseph Rafferty: Service number NX52435, was born in Springwood 18th April 1919.  His parents were John and Lillian Florence (nee Hamer) and his siblings were Arthur John, Henry & Loma.  The family lived in the cottage La Loma.  According to information in Springwood Historian's biographical dictionary, The Making of a Mountain  Community, Norman died in Burma in 1942.  He was a prisoner of war. 

More on World War Two: Michael Joseph Cantwell

Michael Joseph Cantwell: Service Number N346786, was born at Leura in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales 8.10.1898.  He enlisted at Springwood giving Gertrude Cantwell as his next of kin.

More on World War Two: Lindsay Burns Blackwood

Lindsay Burns Blackwood: Service Number NX54837, was born Springwood 8.1.1919 and enlisted for World War Two at Paddington.  His next of kin was Harry Blackwood.

More on World War Two: Norman Hewitt Banfield

Norman Hewitt Banfield: Service number N347673, was born 16.9.1906 at Dudley New South Wales.  He enlisted for World War Two at Springwood. His next of kin was Amy Banfield.

More on World War Two: Harold James Anderson

Harold James Anderson: Service number N388497, was born in Springwood 15.6.1885 but enlisted for World War Two at Paddington.  His next of kin was Irene Anderson. 

More on World War Two: Patrick Lancelot Allen

Patrick Lancelot Allen: Service Number NX48669, was born in Springwood but enlisted for World War Two at Paddington.  His next of kin was Ella Allen.

More on World War Two: Ernest Henry Bishop

Ernest Henry Bishop: Service Number N471815, was born in Shrewsbury England 25.3.1904.  His place of enlistment was Springwood.  John Bishop was given as his next of kin.  It is unclear if they were related to S.W. Bishop who took over the license of the 'Oriental Hotel' in 1908.

More on World War Two: Brothers in Arms - Edwin Harold Bennett, Percy Bennett, Ronald Alan Bennett

Edwin Harold Bennett: Service Number N346385, was born at Eskinville New South Wales 4.1.1904.  His parents were Edwin & Phoebe Bennett and Phoebe was named his next of kin.  The Bennett family resided in the cottage 'Barangah' situated on the corner of Paterson and Hawkesbury Roads.  Edwin (Ted) is thought to have been a one time Deputy Registrar General.  

Percy Steven Bennett: Service Number N347355, was born 2.6.1908 at Hurlstone New South Wales.  Percy lived in the cottage 'Weona' located in Paterson Road, Springwood.  He was the local ice man before the introduction of modern refrigerators.  He married Elsie Jean McPhee in 1937. 

Ronald Alan Bennett: Service Number N190753, was born at Springwood in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales 15.3.1914 to Edwin and Phoebe Bennett.  His next of kin was also mother Phoebe. Ronald (Ron) was a milkman in the area.   

More on World War Two - Alfred John Aldridge

Alfred John Aldridge: Service Number N347675. Alfred was born in Parkes in 1906 and his next of kin was his wife Lillian May.  He owned Springwood Garage at one time but later, with Ted Honeysett, operated Henry's Garage.  The Aldridge family were residents of Springwood for many years.

Ref:
National Archives of Australia
Springwood Historians, The Making Of A Mountain Community: A Biographical Dictionary of the Springwood District, Springwood Historians, 2002, p. 3.

More on World War Two - Reginald James Adamson

Biographical information regarding the men & women who served in World War Two will be added as it comes to hand.

Reginald James Adamson: Service Number NX111254.  Reginald was born in Springwood and was the son of James Moyes & Ivy Adamson.  His siblings were Ron, Marjorie (Mrs. W. Moxham, Rhodes) and Jean (Mrs. W. Davenport Faulconbridge).  His father was the local barber while his mother Ivy was the daughter of William Werner who owned the local ham and beef shop in Springwood.  

The Nepean Times newspaper reported in January 1943 the marriage of Corporal Reg Adamson to Gwendoline, daughter of Mr & Mrs Grace of South Hurstville at St George's Church of England Hurstville.

Ref:
Springwood Historians, The Making Of A Mountain Community; A Biographical Dictionary of 
 the Springwood District, Springwood Historians, 2002, p. 2.
Ann Gugler, 'Charles Price,' Hidden Canberra, updated Feb. 2010,
 http://www.hiddencanberra.webs.com/, accessed 12.2.2011.
Nepean Times, 21.1.1943.