As one of 18 Cape Barren Island men who volunteered for enlistment in World War I, James Henry Paul Maynard left his home and family in September 1916 to fight for the Empire.
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Almost 102 years later Mr Maynard’s grandson, Neil Maynard, and great grandson, Bradley Maynard, were at Carr Villa Memorial Park on Thursday to honour their relative and pay respect to him during the Headstone Project’s dedication ceremony.
Mr Maynard’s brothers Frank and William enlisted before him, in May 1915 and June 1916 respectively.
As a member of the 12th Battalion Mr Maynard was wounded twice in action – at Passchendaele in 1917 and on The Hindenberg Line in 1918.
He returned home in 1919, without his brothers.
Nine headstones were dedicated during the Carr Villa ceremony, with three dedications made to Cape Barren Island men Mr Maynard, Archie Douglas Mansell and Claude Eyre Brown.
Headstone Project chairwoman Andrea Gerrard said many Tasmanians were unaware Aboriginal people had volunteered for enlistment during World War I.
“There are a number of Cape Barren Island men who served and who have ended up being buried here at Carr Villa, away from their birthplace,” Mrs Gerrard said.
“Just what impact their war service had on them and the community is not easy to quantify. It certainly impacted on relationships and on the health of the men as they aged more quickly.”
Reconciliation Tasmania executive director Fiona Hughes said the number of Cape Barren Island residents who enlisted was significant for its small population.
“All these sacrifices were made for an island whose population was probably little more than 250 at the time,” Ms Hughes said.
“We’ve lost some of our bridges across time to know how James, Claude and Archie fared after their war service. We do know they all returned to Cape Barren and married, but the 1950s were about assimilation, when the government made it difficult for people to stay in their island home.”
The remaining Tasmanian men honoured during the headstone dedication were Sydney Faulkner, Claude Charles Tyler, James Allan Palmer, Angus Alexander Campbell, Henry Angus Fitzmaurice and William Henry Campton.
Primary Industries Minister Sarah Courtney spoke at the dedication on behalf of Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett and recognised the respect the community paid for the soldiers being honoured.
“To the nine soldiers that we’re dedicating here today, and to those that are still in unmarked graves around Tasmania and around Australia, you have not been forgotten and you will not be forgotten,” Ms Courtney said.
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Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
