“We remember you, the fallen ones who gave your lives for our freedom” - WILLIAM MARKEY – An Irish born soldier of the AIF

 

Who would have thought that in researching the origins of the naming of MARKEY STREET Ingham I would discover a regretful oversight in local RSL records.

In World War 1 in 1915, Irish born William John Markey was a labourer in Ingham when he enlisted. He was killed in 1916. William John Markey is recorded as one of the ones the All Souls Church, Victoria Estate is dedicated to. He is honoured at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial and in the Commemorative Area Australian War Memorial - Panel 20. On his record held at the Australian War Memorial it says that the cenotaph on which his name should appear is Herbert River as that is where he enlisted. William John Markey is not recorded on the cenotaph, nor on the RSL honour board.

In World War 2 in 1943 Ingham born Thomas Markey enlisted in Townsville at the R.A.A.F Recruiting Unit, and formerly joined up in Brisbane. He did not die overseas while in action but in Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane from an unspecified illness less than three weeks after enlistment. He is buried in Lutwyche Cemetery, Lutwyche, Brisbane, Queensland. His name is located at panel 115 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. On both the cenotaph and the honour board in the Ingham RSL Thomas Markey is recorded as a casualty of World War 2.

So who were Thomas and William Markey?

Private William John MARKEY. No. 373. William John Markey was born in Belfast, Antrim, Ireland. He was the son of William & Ellen Markey, of 51 Annadale St., Belfast, Ireland. He came to Australia as a 19-year-old. He enlisted on 13 April 1915 in Ingham, Queensland. His occupation prior to enlistment was labourer. His mother was recorded as his next of kin. He embarked on 25 May 1915, in Brisbane, Queensland  on the Ascanius. He was a member of the Battalion: 2^nd Australian Division Light Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Infantry. He was killed in action on 5 August 1916 aged 23 years. His personal effects: a bible, wallet and photos were returned to his mother on his death.

William John Markey (Source: Irish Born Soldiers of the AIF)

Aircraftsman Class 1 Thomas Markey 152019. Thomas was the son of Patrick Markey and wife Jane (nee Dunlop) who were early residents of the district. Thomas was born on 26 April 1925. Patrick made application for a perpetual lease selection in the Parish of Lannercost in 1927. The Markey family had a sawmill at Log Creek in 1924. Thomas enlisted on 17 July 1943 at 18 years of age. His occupation was mail contractor, but he also worked in his father’s sawmill. He had hoped to take on a technical traineeship but failed the aptitude test so was given the duties of aircraft hand. His father was listed as his next of kin. Tragically Thomas died less than three weeks after enlistment in Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland on 4 August 1943 of an unspecified illness. According to a Hinchinbrook Shire Council document, Future Road Names - Hinchinbrook Shire Council, dated 2011 the street is named for Thomas Markey.

Thomas Markey (Source: AWM)

Rectifying the omission

Nobody would argue that Thomas Markey’s name should not be on a cenotaph, after all he volunteered and died while on duty even if it was in the comfort of a hospital bed back in Australia, rather than on the field in course of raging battle. However, it does bring into question what is the local RSL’s criteria for both cenotaph and honour board. As cenotaphs began to be erected across Australia after World War 1 they had different criteria for who should be recorded on the cenotaph. Usually though, the cenotaphs record those war casualties who died in the field and who were residing in the place of enlistment at the time of enlistment. If Thomas Markey who lived in Ingham but enlisted in Townsville and died on home ground is recorded why then is William Markey who lived in Ingham, enlisted in Ingham and died in France in action not?

How different the criteria can be is illustrated by the centotaphs that record the REJECTS! Yes, that is the word used on the cenotaphs! Rejects were those local men who enlisted but were rejected because of flat feet, myopia, sunken chest or other physical conditions that were thought would hinder their ability to perform their duties in a war zone. What is demonstrated in including a REJECTS column is that those men had exhibited their bravery in volunteering and so were worthy of recognition.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Australian War Memorial are discerning about who is considered a war casualty. For instance, local Victor John Cowen was only relatively recently added to the Ingham cenotaph and RSL honour board at the intervention of Lloyd Greentree on behalf of the Herbert River RSL sub-branch. Cowen was not initially recorded as ‘war dead’ because he died as the result of a motor bike accident in an area not publicly classified as a war zone at the time of the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict in which Cowen had seen action in flying missions. Only in 1996 did the Australian Government release classified information about the exact nature of Australia’s involvement in the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict and its secret cross-border missions, so allowing commemorations of those Australians, like Cowen who had lost their lives.

William John Markey is another clear omission from both the Ingham’s cenotaph and the RSL honour board and hopefully that omission will be rectified before the next ANZAC Day.

Sources:

Irish born soldiers of the AIF. https://irishsoldiersaifww1.weebly.com/

W. Markey. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8214871

T. Markey. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5364915