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Alchin Brothers in Arms

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Herbert and Horace Alchin did not remain onlookers from home.  They went and helped.  (Australian World War 1 recruitment poster; State Records of SA)


Edward “Ned” Alchin (1865-1940) and Sophia Jane Alchin (nee Smith) (1870-1960) had seven children, three at Dalton, one at Inverary and three at Crookwell. Two of these children were Herbert and Horace.

Brothers Herbert Alchin (1893-1968) and Horace Alchin (1896-1954) enlisted in World War 1 on 7 August 1917 in the 17th Battalion. Both lads served in France and Belgium. Both suffered illness and Herbert was wounded but the brothers came back to Australia to resume their lives at Crookwell.

On 20 October 1917, just ten days before embarkation and with only one-day’s leave, Herbert married Violet Philadelphia May Waye – known as May – at St Bartholomew’s Church of England, Crookwell. She was born at Yarra near Goulburn. Herbert and May Alchin had two children.

Herbert and May Alchin (Collection of Gary Smith)

Herbert and May lived in Crookwell on several properties while Herbert worked as a farm hand and labourer; May worked as a domestic on the properties.

Herbert was accidentally killed on 13 April 1968 when a falling tree struck him on the head. He was
75 years old and was buried in the Anglican section of the Crookwell Cemetery. May died on 23 June 1974 aged 78 years.

Horace Alchin went to war with his brother. His labouring jobs had left him with scars on his shoulder, chest, knee and back. His return to civilian life after serving in France and Belgium saw him marry local Crookwell girl, Elsie Alice Poll on 24 November 1920; Elsie died following the birth of her sixth child in 1942.
Horace Alchin (Honouring Anzacs; honouringanzacs.net.au)

The second marriage for Horace was to Elsie’s younger sister Myra Jane Poll in Sydney on 15 November 1944. They had three children. Horace spent many years in Crookwell working as a shop assistant. He died at Crookwell on 26 June 1954 aged 57 years. He is buried with Myra Jane Alchin at Crookwell Methodist Cemetery.

Myra Alchin went on to grow a reputation for community service with the scouting movement in Queanbeyan. She died at Queanbeyan Hospital on 15 October 1987 aged 81 years.

Ned and Sophia Alchin’s sons, Herbert and Horace, served their country as brothers in arms and the Crookwell community.

 Garry Norman Smith

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