Back Row L-R: Garnet Burges, Keith Poulter, Jack McColl, Geoff Braithwaite, Pat Carrucan, Teddy (Alf) Harvey, Jack Carrucan, Jack Burgoyne Second Row L-R: Dorothy Butler, Dulcie Stone, Nell Leadbeater, Gwen Ryan, Gwen Butler, Maisie McColl, Mollie Russell, Phyllis West, Grace Braithwaite, Evie Bunker, Violet Fraser Front Row L-R: Jack Newton, Cyril Bowman, George Harrison, Fred Butterworth, Stan Ellis, Loftus Hancock, Harry Butherway, George Pitcher, Sid Castledine Cross Reference Photo No.(s): 641, 642, 672, 717This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image and 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, dalton street, state school no. 209, cyril bowman, dorothy butler, dulcie stone, evie bunker, fred butterworth, garnet burges, geoff braithwaite, george harrison, george pitcher, grace braithwaite, gwen butler, gwen ryan, harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack carrucan, jack mccoll, jack newton, keith poulter, loftus hancock, maisie mccoll, mollie russell, nell leadbeater, pat carrucan, phyllis west, sid castledine, stan ellis, teddy (alf) harvey, violet fraser

"Postal acknowledgement delivery personal" "It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that VX10044 Sapper G. E. Castledine has been killed in action April 18th & desire to convey to you the profound sympathy of the Minister for the Army and the Military Board. - Minister for the Army" Sapper George Ernest Castledine (1914-1941), son of Arthur Frederick and Annie Castledine, enlisted 23 January 1940 at Lower Plenty and was assigned to the 2/2 Field Company. He is buried in the Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, Greece and is remembered on the Roll of Honour at Eltham.George was the first soldier from the Shire of Eltham to be killed in the Second World War. The telegram is oil stained as it was kept by George's brother Sid in his toolbox.Digital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine (niece of George Ernest Castledine and daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine).Original bears oil stains from being stored in a tool box2/2 field company, aif, annie castledine, arthur frederick castledine, eltham war memorial, george ernest castledine, military, minister for the army, roll of honour, second word war, sid castledine, telegram

"Dear Kevin, Everybody home here is well, hope you and Bobby are well. Sid, Laurie home, hear regular from Eddie. Lots love Polly DAD" Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, Australian Prisoners of War, C/o Prisoners of War Information Bureau Tokyo, Japan from his sister Polly (Mercia Castledine). “After the cholera had been evidence for a few days, the Nips decided that the works on the railway had to be carried on and so isolated all the cases (a number more had developed since we were first quarantined) and sent all other men back to work. By this time, the number of men unfit for work had increased tremendously and the medical officer and medical orderlies were hopelessly overworked. Volunteers were called for to assist in this cholera ward; a disease highly contagious and with a terrific death rate. This meant isolation, but did not deter many men from offering their services, Bob and Kevin Arrowsmith being selected.” - Through the Burma-Thailand Railway, pp234-5, author unknown This post card is significant for its rarity as very few ever made it through and were saved. In these instances the information provided by Polly was cryptic informing Kevin and Bob Arrowsmith that brother Eddie and brothers-in-law, Laurie Mears and Sid Castledine were all still alive.Digital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine, daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine.bob arrowsmith, burma-thailand railway, eddie arrowsmith, joan castlemaine, kevin j. arrowsmith, laurie mears, lucy mears (nee arrowsmith), mercia (polly) castledine (nee arrowsmith), postcards, prisoner of war post, sid castledine

"Dear Kevin, Hope you are both well, everybody well home here, constantly thinking of you, hear regular, Eddie, Laurie, Sid. Lots love Polly Dad" Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, Australian Prisoners of War, C/o Prisoners of War Information Bureau Tokyo, Japan from his sister Polly (Mercia Castledine). “After the cholera had been evidence for a few days, the Nips decided that the works on the railway had to be carried on and so isolated all the cases (a number more had developed since we were first quarantined) and sent all other men back to work. By this time, the number of men unfit for work had increased tremendously and the medical officer and medical orderlies were hopelessly overworked. Volunteers were called for to assist in this cholera ward; a disease highly contagious and with a terrific death rate. This meant isolation, but did not deter many men from offering their services, Bob and Kevin Arrowsmith being selected.” - Through the Burma-Thailand Railway, pp234-5, author unknown This post card is significant for its rarity as very few ever made it through and were saved. In these instances the information provided by Polly was cryptic informing Kevin and Bob Arrowsmith that brother Eddie and brothers-in-law, Laurie Mears and Sid Castledine were all still alive.Digital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine, daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine.bob arrowsmith, burma-thailand railway, eddie arrowsmith, joan castlemaine, kevin j. arrowsmith, laurie mears, lucy mears (nee arrowsmith), mercia (polly) castledine (nee arrowsmith), postcards, prisoner of war post, sid castledine

Shows the men with rifles sitting on a wood pile out hunting for rabbits around the time of the Great DepressionDigital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine, daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine, granddaughter of Arthur Frederick Castledine.araluen, arthur frederick castledine, lower plenty, old eltham road, rabbits