Historical information

William CANN (centre) with his son, Harry, in military uniform, and three unidentified children.

British-born William CANN arrived in Melbourne in 1907 and set up a pram building business, London Prams, in Lalor Street, Port Melbourne. In the 1930s, at the height of the Depression, William set up a kitchen in the corner of his upholstery workshop to feed hungry children from Nott Street School free of charge. After a few years the Council shut it down due to hygiene concerns. William set up another kitchen with a hired cook and continued to feed the children.

William's son, Henry, aka Harry, was born in Croydon, England. He was 21 years old working as a biscuit maker when he enlisted in the AIF on 13 July 1915. He suffered a bomb wound to his ear while serving in France in July 1916. He returned to Australia on 22 July 1919 and was formally discharged two months later as medically unfit due to deafness.

Physical description

Digital copy of a B&W photograph.