What they hoped was that, one day out of the blue, their husband, brother, nephew, son, dad or grandfather would come walking across the yard with a big smile on his face.
Sadly, many received the alternative. A telegram confirming they would never see their loved one again.
One of those was Benalla’s Margaret Ellis, who was living in Church St when she was informed that on June 9, 1917 her son, Private Albert James Ellis, had been killed in action.
She would have received this telegram many weeks later, and would hold on to it, until the day she died.
The telegram in question is still in the family.
Albert’s great-niece, Gwen Randall, is its current guardian, finding the historical document when clearing her own grandmother’s home after her passing.
She was keen to share it with the community ahead of Anzac Day, highlighting exactly what the annual commemoration means today, and why Benalla, and towns across Australia, still takes time to remember.
“It went missing for a while, and I was very happy to find it,” Gwen said.
“He was killed in France.
“He had been fighting in World War I, and I believe he’d been out there a couple of years by then.
“He was only 24 when he died.”
The telegram
The telegram was initially sent to Reverand PJ Edwards, Holy Trinity Church, in Benalla. It read:
Officially departed 1163 Private A J Ellis killed in action 9/6/17.
Kindly inform mother Mrs M Ellis Church St, Benalla of sad news and convey sympathy of King, Queen and Commonwealth...
Albert was one of two brothers from the Ellis family to have an active role in WWI.
Thankfully for the family, his younger brother Bill, Gwen’s grandfather, would return to the Rose City.
Albert is the first name at the top of the Benalla Cenotaph, erected initially to honour those who never had the chance to return home from the ‘Great War’.
Since then, sadly, many other names have been added, many from other wars.
“I found it in a drawer in my grandmother’s house,” Gwen said.
“She must have gotten it from her mother-in-law. Her husband’s brother was Albert.
“I’ve taken a photo of it down to the Benalla RSL, so they have a record of it too.
“I thought it was very important for the younger generation to be able to see it.
“It’s part of the town’s history.”
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