Alfred James Eggins and Maurice Raymond Eggins of Coopernook, New South Wales
Alfred James Eggins and his brother, Maurice Raymond Eggins (my maternal grandfather - born in Coopernook, NSW) shortly before they each travelled to fight in France in 1915.
Alfred James Eggins was killed in one of that last major battles in April 1918 in France
Alfred
James and his sister, Sylvia, whom I met in the late 1950s as Aunty Sylvie, with
her hubby, Uncle Ern, at a Christmas lunch
at Pop and Nanna's at Avalon.
I recall Pop around 5pm on Christmas Day walking Uncle Ern and Aunty Sylvie 200m
down Nth Avalon Rd to the bus stop on Barrenjoey Rd for them to travel back to
the Eastern Subs.
A snippet of a postcard that my maternal great grandmother, Maurice's mother, posted to Maurice who was serving his country in France.
Part of a postcard that great uncle, Alfred Eggins. mailed to his mother from France.
Letter from Alf's Commanding Officer sent to Alf's mother after Alf's death in April 1918
Above three pictures of Alfred’s Cenotaph in the Mitchell Island Cemetery taken by a local, Paul P_dley, in mid Feb 2024
Above is my maternal grandfather,
Maurice Raymond Eggins, who survived in WW1. Otherwise I would not be
here. (Nor would my two children.) We called him Pop - a
pleasant, cheerful chap who was passionate about attending the Members Stand at
the SCG (with his mates) to watch both Sheffield Shield and Test Matches. Pop invariably
sat in the very back row so he could chat with players in the NSW 'players
change room' as the window was usually open. In winter months, Pop
occasionally watched his beloved Balmain Tigers when they played at the SCG which
was
often as The Tigers were usually a premiership contended with
Keith Barnes,
Golden Boots, steering his goal kicks between the uprights.
At Mum &
Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1993, Dad noted that Pop's contribution in life was
often under-appreciated.
.
Above is a pic of Nanna & Pop
and my mother (their daughter) holding her 5th born, Rosemary, at the entrance
sundeck at West Killara, circa mid-1958.
Nanna &
Pop were exceedingly loving grandparents.
We were lucky to draw them as grandparents.
Pop took us very youngens to the
rock pool at northern end of Avalon Beach to paddle in the ocean water
amidst the safety of the rocks.
And to play in the Nth Avalon sandhills.
When we mastered the meek ocean water in the rock pools, Pop would drive us to
The Speedboat Beach on the bay
side of Palm Beach.
Nanna was a very competent cook, especially
at Christmas Day lunch where mum contributed a large Christmas Cake.
Nanna would
invariably assert "Marge, that is the best Christmas Cake that you have ever
baked". Nanna baked a rich dark brown Christmas pudding where
there were a few
threepences and sixpences hidden within,
as an indication from Santa that we had been good children - most of
the time!
Above are memories from Tom and Marge's 3rd child, Philip James Johnston.
Alvin McHugh who died aged 19 in France on 3 Sept 1916
Francis William Edwards
(1st
Light Horse Regiment)
Killed in Action, Gallipoli Cove,
Dardanelles, Turkey, 29 May 1915
Lost medals of fearless WWI flying ace find home at war memorial