Thread: Australian Records?

Hi,



It has always been known in the family that my great great uncle, Hugh Brooke, moved to Australia (Queensland) in 1911, after being given some land by the Government. He joined the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Fighting Core?) in 1914 and died in the war. He lived near Wondai, Queensland.





I would love to find some records of his existance in Queensland, perhaps living records, land ownership records or maybe the records that he was given land by the Government. The family also wonder if he ever had children or a wife in the three years he lived there.





Could anyone link me to anywhere that would have these records? I'm a bit lost as to where to start looking for these kind of records in Australia. Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks, Vicki x

Hugh appears to have died 10 August 1917 and is buried at the Ypres Memorial Gate. He was a Gunner in the 1st Div. Australian Trench Mortar Battery.



I could not find a marriage for him in the Queensland Records. Here is the link to the Queensland BDM. https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au/IndexSearch/BirIndexQry.m



Unfortunately there are not a lot of records online for Queensland.

Thankyou very much (:



Soon after we posted this, we found a record of his acceptance into the Australian Imperial Army.



Do you believe that there will be landrecords anywhere?

Unfortunately Queensland is not as enlightened as New South Wales and very few records are available online. This is the link to the National Library of Australia giving what is available for Queensland. And not all of them are available online. It is only in the last year that we have gotten the Birth Deaths and Marriage Records online to search. Before that you had to buy the CD's for them and they were quite expensive. When I was looking for my Mother's Mother who was born in Queensland I had a lot of fun tracking her down.



http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/browse/129

Thanks for all your help! It sounds like I'm going to have no end of fun trying to find Hugh!

Hi Bobbin



I'm a bit late in to the discussion but just wanted to let you know there is a whole file online for Hugh at the National Australian Archives RecordSearch web site!



Maybe you already have this.



Hugh BROOKE enlisted Sept 1914 at Enoggera in Qld, aged 26yrs 11 months, born Sheffield, occupation farmer, next of kin is listed as his uncle, Mr George Burkenshaw of Sheffield England. He was 5' 5.5" tall, 130lbs with a fair complexion, blue eyes and 'reddish' hair, Church of England. He was discharged soon after he enlisted.



Oddly there is the enlistment of what would appear to be another Hugh BROOKE in the same file! He enlisted in Dec 1914 and is shown as born in Pennistone, Yorkshire, aged 27yrs 2 months, labourer, next of kin aunt Mrs Martha Brooke of Bardsley, Ashton-under-Lyne!



Their signatures look suspiciously similiar! This 'other' Hugh is 5' 5 and 3/4" tall, 122lbs, with hazel eyes and 'ginger' hair, C of E.



He served in Gallipoli, and was killed in action in August 1918 (France). His aunt Martha was sent his effects, namely 2 discs, book, 2 photos, letters, metal cigarette case, 6 buttons, 4 coins, key.



You can check it out at www.naa.gov.au

I'd just like to say a huge thankyou for finding us that! We hadn't got it, and that has just made all the family's day to hear that. It will be the same Hugh as we have two cards, one with his next of kin being George and the other being Martha; so thankyou so much! I really can't thankyou enough

Hi Vicki



ANZAC =Australian New Zealand Army Corps. Try Australian WW1 Army Records at the National Achives Canberra - follow promps



Should also be able to find land grants at the National Archive site



Hope this helps - Tawney

Thanks very much, it's really appreciated.

It's great to be able to tell the family where he was, he's been quite a hero figure for us!