Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Chaplain Sydney Morkham Potter with the honorary rank of Captain, WW1, circa 1919. Courtesy of Marjorie Morkham.
Potter S M Chaplain Sydney Morkham [also Markham] YMCA 38 Baptist Minister Married Bap
Address: Ascot Vale, Ascot Vale Rd, 238
Next of Kin: Potter, Elsie Ruth, Mrs, wife, 238 Ascot Vale Rd, Ascot Vale
Enlisted: 1 Aug 1916
Embarked: 1918
Sydney Morkham Potter is dressed in the photo above as an army chaplain with Christian chaplain’s collar badges and black edged shoulder straps. His cap band may be black as well but carries the standard Rising Sun badge rather than the regulation badge that was the same as the collar badges. Chaplains tended to be a law unto themselves in matters of dress. Most chaplains wore a dog collar under their tunic but others preferred an officer’s regular collar and tie, and considered that military service gave them the opportunity to abandon the more uncomfortable dog collar. Most chaplains in the field wore metal collar badges, but some purchased the pre-war pattern embroidered versions in black and silver for both collar and cap. Potter carries the embroidered version on each lapel. The wartime regulation badges were the same pattern but made of oxidised brass or copper, which gave a dull brown appearance. Buttons and rank insignia were also oxidised, which Potter’s appear to be. The buttons bear the words ‘Australian Military forces’ around the edge. As the shoulder straps carry curved ‘AUSTRALIA’ titles beneath the rank insignia your photograph shows Potter during his overseas AIF service. (Commentary from the AWM in an email to Marjorie Morkham 2018.)
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SOCIAL BREVITIES
Rev. S..M. Potter. who, for the past six years has held the pastorate of Newmarket Baptist Church, and for two years has been a chaplain in the home camps, is leaving for Europe with the next transport, and will bid his people farewell on Sunday, 24th February. Mr. Potter is going abroad as Y.M.C.A. field secretary.
SOCIAL BREVITIES. (1918, February 21). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved February 4, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74605186 |
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The "Australian Christian World" writes:-Two Victorian Baptist ministers, the Rev. S. M. Potter, of Newmarket, and the Rev. W. F. Nash, of Balwyn, Victoria, are on their way to the front as, Young Men's Christian Association secretaries. Mr. Potter, whose congregation gave him a cheque as a token of esteem, was for two years a home service chaplain. |
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SOCIAL BREVITIES
Rev. S..M. Potter, who, for the past six years has held the pastorate of Newmarket Baptist Church, and for two years has been a chaplain in the home camps, is leaving for Europe with the next transport, and will bid his people farewell on Sunday, 24th February. Mr. Potter is going abroad as Y.M.C.A. field secretary.
SOCIAL BREVITIES. (1918, February 21). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved June 4, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74605186 |
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Reverend Sydney Morkham Potter was in France with the YMCA before he joined the Australian Army Chaplains Service at AIF Headquarters, London, on 7 Apr 1919. He had previously served with the CMF from 1 Aug 1916 as a 4th Class Chaplain and was on leave for active duty with the YMCA. Potter had disembarked at Southampton from France on the previous day with orders to present himself at AIF Headquarters. He received instructions a few days later to proceed to No 4 Group, Hurdcott. He received a period of leave from 11 July 1919 to 20 July 1919, then to report to the No 2 Group. From 5 Aug 1919 Potter was given further leave extending to 5 Sep 1919. On 8 Sep 1919 he was appointed as Chaplain to the Euripides for return to Australia. He arrived in Melbourne on 20 Oct 1919, and his appointment was terminated on 3 Nov 1919. The army judged him eligible for the British War Medal as "Mr S M Potter, YMCA repres".
See B2455 NAA. |
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POTTER On the 5th December, at "Bethesda" hospital, Richmond, to Chaplain and Mrs. S. M. Potter, "Bracknell," Westbourne grove, Northcote - a son (Sydney Rosse). Both well. Family Notices. (1920, December 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 13. Retrieved February 4, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4565328 |
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The Rev. S. M. Potter, of the Baptist Church, Newmarket, has gone to the front as one of the Y M.C.A. secretaries. Mr. Potter, who was for two years a home service chaplain, was presented by his congregation with a cheque as a token of esteem.
OUR SOLDIERS. (1918, March 7). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74605313 |
Hobart Mercury 17 June 1940, courtesy of
Marjorie Morkham.
Mentioned in this publication:
One Man's Story....of the Newmarket Baptist Church, by Ed. F, Dickinson, 1998.