WW1: Alchin Parents Who Farewelled Their Sons

by Garry Norman Smith

Louisa & Albert Alchin (Doug Langdon, via Ancestry.com.au)

Albert Noah Alchin did not see his son go to The Great War. Albert died in 1913, before war was  declared. His wife Louisa Susannah Alchin was the next-of-kin for their sons, Arthur Montague Alchin, when he enlisted in 1916 at Goulburn.

Louisa Susannah Alchin was also the sister of a Great War soldier. Frank Henry Borman shared the same fate as Arthur Montague Alchin; both were killed in action on the Western Front. Arthur left a grieving mother; Frank left a saddened sister.

Albert Noah Alchin & Louisa Susannah Alchin nee Borman (Debbie Longhurst)

Albert Noah (Bert) Alchin was a teacher for some years. He was born in Araluen in 1870, the eldest son of Charles and Mary Alchin (nee Stear). He attended Chain of Ponds Public School. At the age of 21 years he began a career in teaching. In 1892, while living in Gunning, he was instructed to take temporary charge of the Khalangan School near Murrumburrah. 

Thereafter he taught at small and part-time schools. Albert died of “cardiac thrombosis” at Summer Hill, Sydney on 16 January 1913 following surgery. For a full exposé of the life and times of A.N. Alchin, see GDHS Blog item by this author.

Louisa Alchin was left with 7 children when Albert died. The youngest was only 2 years old. Her son Arthur had gone to war in 1916 and died at Passchendaele 1917; her brother died at the Battle of Polygon Wood in the same year. Tragedy upon sorrow upon loss.

Louisa Susannah Alchin died at Burrangong near Young in 1913. She was buried at Young, but a plaque was placed in Gunning cemetery beside the graves of Albert and their child Ruby Jean Alchin.

Albert & Louisa are the great (grand) uncle & aunt of the author.

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William Leslie Alchin, the brother of Albert Noah Alchin, and Mary (Minnie) Alchin (nee Sargent) were the parents of Charles George Alchin who enlisted in 1916 at Murrumburrah after his family had moved from Gunning where William was born.

William and May Alchin had at least twelve children; Charles George Alchin was the sixth child and third son. 

 

William & Mary with seven of their children

(back, l-r) Amos Ambrose, Percival Augustus, Charles George, (front, l-r) William Leslie, Ivy Avis, Olive Cynthia, Eliza, Mary, Myrtle Evelyn)- (Ancestry – LynMB45 & rroughan168)

Both William Leslie and Mary lived to see their son Charles George return from The Great War in 1920. Charles had been away for longer than most soldiers. He had “detoured” to America after the war to take up study in agriculture and pig raising methods.

William Leslie Alchin had been a railway worker for much of his adult life. 

His 1938 obituary (Harden Express and Central Southwest Advertiser, 21/7/1938) noted that he began work with the railways when he was 18 years old in 1879 and retired as a ganger in 1919. 

William Leslie Alchin (LynMB45)

Mary Alchin outlived her husband by several years; William died at Cunningar aged 77 years while Mary lived until she was 86 years when she died at Cunningar. Mary almost lived until her son Charles died aged 43 years in 1958.

Mary Alchin nee Sargent,
 with 'Blackie' (Lyn MB45)

William & Mary were the great (grand) uncle & aunt of the author.

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Oliver Henry Gordon Alchin’s parents were George Alchin and Harriet Sarah Alchin (nee Nibbs). George and Harriet saw their son Gordon, as he was usually called, leave to enlist at Goulburn in 1916 – never to return.

Harriet Sarah Alchin nee Nibbs and George Alchin (unknown)

George Alchin was the son of early Dalton pioneer Ambrose Alchin. George was born in the Camden district but moved on from Dalton to Wagga Wagga c1874 from where he worked as a carrier for many years and at least 14 children with 2 wives, both named Harriet. 

George and Harriet lived their married lives at Wagga Wagga not too far from the current railway station. George worked as a labourer and then a carrier out from Wagga Wagga to such places as North Yanco, Toyal, Coolamon, and Ganmain.

When sons Gordon and Donald enlisted, the Alchins of Forsyth Street were probably both proud and anxious for their children. Donald returned home but Gordon was to become one of the soldiers to be killed in action on The Western Front.

Children of George & Harriet Alchin: (back, l-r) Oliver Henry Gordon, Donald Clyde, (front, l-r) Emma Plumb & Elsie Mary Harriet (unknown)

George Alchin died not long after the end of the war; he died at Wagga Wagga on 3 October 1924. Harriet Sarah Alchin died in 1923 at Wagga Wagga.

George & Harriet Sarah Alchin were the great, great (grand) uncle & aunt of the author.

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Edward (Ned) Alchin and Sophia Jane Alchin (nee Smith) saw two of their sons go off to war. Happily, both sons returned from the battle to continue their lives as civilians.

Both Herbert and Horace Alchin enlisted in the 17th Infantry Battalion of the A.I.F.; their parents were long-time members of a different army – the Salvation Army (see image below). Ned Alchin was born at Oolong Creek and grew up at Dalton; he worked there as a farmer and labourer.

Ned married 18-year-old Sophia Jane Smith; their families were staunch Primitive Methodists. Sophia was a Dalton girl, born at Jerrawa Creek.

Ned and Sophia lived and grew their family initially at Dalton, later at “Inverary Park”, Bungonia, then Laggan and Crookwell. Ned worked as a teamster in Laggan and Crookwell.

Horace Alchin (Karren Alchin)

Herbert Alchin

Ned and Sophia Alchin were living in Crookwell when their sons enlisted. After some time working as a teamster Ned took up farming at various properties. 

Ned died in 1940 at his property “Kismet”on the Binda Road. Sophia Jane died in 1960 aged 89 years. They are buried together in the Crookwell General Cemetery.

Edward (Ned) Alchin & Sophia Jane Alchin were the great, great (grand) uncle & aunt of the author.