Gunning & District Historical Society

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...

 WW1: Alchin Men  Who Had the Courage to Try By Garry Norman Smith A number of Alchin men have varying histories relating to World War One – The Great War. Among these Alchin men are those who presented themselves for enlistment but were rejected. There were those who returned from war damaged by their experiences. Still others were never really in the fight, spending much of their time overseas in hospitals.  The Australian War Memorial records that 416,809 Australians enlisted for service in the First World War, representing 38.7% of the total male population aged between 18 to 44 years. At almost 65%, the Australian casualty rate (proportionate to total embarkations) was the highest of the war. For those men who had the courage to try the motivation was newly born nationalism for Australia, some remnant loyalty to England, and the desire for adventure and to see something of the world. Clyde John Alchin (1892-1957) was initially described at his first attempt at enlist...

Myra Vera Alchin – Sibling of Roy Irwin Alchin by Garry Smith Myra Vera Watson (nee Alchin) & Albert Victor Watson 1928 Myra Vera Alchin was the second child of Edward Alchin (1863-1941) and Elizabeth Anne Alchin (nee Bailey) (1872-1964); she was born at Gunning on 17 February 1895. Myra was a member of the Methodist congregation of Gunning for all of her young life. In 1909 the 61st Anniversary of the Methodist Sunday-School was celebrated at the Gunning Methodist Church. Local children were to the fore during the celebrations; Myra joined young people from such families as Wheatley, Plumb, Crundwell and Alchin to present celebratory recitations and songs.  Myra recited “God’s Own”. In 1910, while her mother Elizabeth Alchin was taking out second prize for her gooseberry jam at the Gunning P. A. and I. Society 14th Annual Show, young Myra won second prize for her rainbow cake; the Alchins were regular contributors to such events. The 1916 Gunning Methodis...