Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names liveth for evermore.

Their Duty Done

A tribute to the men and women of the East Gippsland Region who Died as a result of their participation in World War One : 1914 -1919

Andrew Alexander, popularly known as Barney, was born at Paynesville in 1887 the son of fisherman James and his wife Elizabeth. He was the third of four children and after the birth of his sister in 1891, his parents divorced and James remarried. Barney was living with his sister Reubina and her husband William Butcher at Ensay. On the outbreak of war, he had a desire to enlist but at that time men were not wanted and like many others he was turned away. However, he was determined to go and volunteered again, failing his medical test twice, before being accepted on his third attempt on 11 February 1916. He was popular wherever he went, having a humorous side and made many friends. It was reported that he will be sadly missed by all lovers of dancing, for there never was a dull moment while he was in the ball room. He embarked on the Suffolk on 1 April arriving in New Plymouth on 12 June 1916. Just one week later he was charged with creating a disturbance in the lines after 10.20pm which may be more an indication of his humour than his disruptive nature. At the end of August his unit, the 6 th  Battalion, proceeded to Etaples and moved into the field on 15 September. A short time later, on 1 November, he was killed in action. Barney was well- known in Bairnsdale and throughout the Tambo shire and particularly at Ensay and Buchan. He was thirty years of age. His brother William also served and returned home. There is no known grave for Barney and he is remembered at Paynesville, Ensay and at the Villers-Bretonneux memorial.