“Vote Yes!” – Kapunda’s WWI Conscription Battle

“Vote Yes!” – Kapunda’s WWI Conscription Battle

Kapunda Herald, 13 Oct 1916

In August 1916, Australian Prime Minister William Morris Hughes announced that the question of compulsory overseas service would be put to the people in a referendum.
Hughes was under pressure from the British to provide extra reinforcements from Australia in Europe.

In Kapunda, conscription meetings were held for the yes vote and the no vote. A No vote meeting, held at Kapunda institute and hosted by Kapunda mayor S.E. Hancock, saw a very large turnout of Kapunda’s population, with a large base of women.
Arguments for either side were very heated. Those who opposed conscription were labelled as disloyal to Australia.


The feeling toward those who were voting yes to conscription in Kapunda was much worse. Posters and banners promoting the yes vote were torn down by no voters. Eggs were thrown at shop fronts and townsfolk chose to vote with their money, with shops that displayed a “vote yes” banner feeling the economic pinch when “no voters” refused to use their services or buy their goods.


The referendum was held on 28 October 1916 and resulted in 1 087 557 votes for and 1 160 033 against. New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia voted ‘No’.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2019

References:

1916 'National Service Referendum. Alleged Victimization.', Kapunda Herald, 13 October, p. 2. , viewed 06 Mar 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124986543

1916 'National Service. Anti-Conscription Meeting at Kapunda.', Kapunda Herald, 20 October, p. 3. , viewed 06 Mar 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124986644

1916 'National Service.', Kapunda Herald, 27 October, p. 3. , viewed 06 Mar 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124986721

State Library of New South Wales (2014) Australia’s Conscription Debate, https://ww1.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/australias-conscription-debate

Kapunda People: Charles Albert Hazel

Charles Albert Hazel

Charles Albert Tremaine as a teenager - year unknown.

Charles Albert Hazel born on the 9^th of November 1887 at Hawkers Creek, Kapunda.

He married his second cousin. Violet Jane Hazel on the 3^rd of February 1917 at the Pirie Street Methodist Church, Adelaide. Together had five children;

Mabel Dulcie  in 1917

Madge Lorraine in 1918

Elysa Edith Harriet in 1921

Florence Edna May in 1922

Ross Charles in 1923

L to R (Florence) Edna,  Elysa,  Albert,  Madge, and Ross Hazel (Mabel not in photo) at Port Parham
photo by Audrey Tiller circa 1931

Unfortunately, Violet passed away in 1924 leaving Albert to look after the children. At first, they lived in Port Parham, but at some point moved further south to St Kilda, where Albert took over the local shop near the beach. 

 Audrey Tiller (nee Tremaine), Alberts niece, went to stay with the small family for a number of months to help out with chores. In her letters (held by her Grandson, Allen Tiller), Audrey tells of sewing clothing for the children as well as cooking for them.
 Audrey was an avid photographer, and because of her photographic inclinations, we have the photos on this page to share with you.

Albert Hazels St Kilda Beach shop (year unknown)
Photo by Audrey Tiller

Allen Tiller is a great-grandson of a sister (Florence May Tremaine - nee Hazel) of Charles Albert Hazel

Albert died at Prospect on the 4^th of Oct 1939. Albert is buried in the Kapunda General Cemetery.

The grave of Jane and Albert Hazel - Kapunda General Cemetery
Photo by Allen Tiller

Researched and written by Allen Tiller

© 2018