History Parkes

stories, photos, anecdotes….. sharing the past

Category Archives: Second World War soldiers from Parkes Shire

Yarrabandai images (clockwise from top left): Yarrabandai store; Australia's first serial killer, Frank Butler; Yarrabandai silos; and Victoria Cross recipient Rawdon Hume Middleton.

Yarrabandai

Many towns in the Parkes Shire have interesting histories; of sporting triumphs and heydays that look back to a time of larger populations. However only one village in the Parkes … Continue reading →

November 27, 2020 · Leave a comment
Photograph of an ANZAC Day service at Bogan Gate with a poppy - the symbol synonymous with Remembrance Day worldwide. Source: State Library Archives and Australian War Memorial website

Bogan Gate War Memorial

Most, if not all, country towns have a war memorial. A monument to commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice; war memorials began after the First World War and have … Continue reading →

April 17, 2019 · 2 Comments
Images source: (left) Portrait of 402745 Flight Sergeant (later Pilot Officer) Rawdon Hume Middleton VC, RAAF, attached to No. 149 Squadron RAF from Australian War Memorial website; (centre) UK. C. 1942. Portrait of 402745 Flight Sergeant R. H. Middleton VC, taken while he was undergoing training from Australian War Memorial website; and emblem of Middleton Public School, taken from school website.

Rawdon Middleton VC

The term ‘hero’ is an over-used and often inaccurate phrase allocated to popular celebrities and champions of sport. However Rawdon Middleton is a hero in the truest sense – a … Continue reading →

April 2, 2019 · Leave a comment
Front cover of Cliff Kearney's book about his cousin, Flying Officer Keith Kearney of Bogan Gate. Source: db Books website which can be found at https://www.dbbooks.com.au/p/17903/Flying-Officer-from-Bogan-Gate---Cliff-Kearney---sc---*signed*.html

The Flying Officer from Bogan Gate

The story of Keith Kearney, a young lad from Bogan Gate, is similar to many others of his era. With life opening its doors of possibilities, the Second World War … Continue reading →

December 21, 2018 · Leave a comment
Title picture of the larger than life personality that was Cecil 'Cec' Pepper. Clockwise from left: Cecil Pepper and Keith Miller walk out to bat during 1940s; author Ken Piesse in Parkes promoting the life story of Cec Pepper; front cover of Ken Piesse's book about Cec Pepper; and photograph of Sir Garfield Sobers and Cecil Pepper in the late 50s.

Cec Pepper: The Parkes Lad Too Spicy for Bradman

Title picture of the larger than life personality that was Cecil ‘Cec’ Pepper. Clockwise from left: Cecil Pepper and Keith Miller walk out to bat during 1940s; author Ken Piesse … Continue reading →

December 19, 2018 · 2 Comments

Mazoudier Park

Continuing our series on the stories behind the names of sporting fields and parks within the Parkes Shire, this post looks at a parcel of land that many people have … Continue reading →

January 29, 2016 · 4 Comments

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