Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Bombadier Fred Nott, 1917.  Photo: Frederick John Nott: a Melbourne

Musician 1885-1949 by Patricia Alsop.

 

Nott F J         Gunner    36865    Frederick John      FAB    31    Musician    Single    C of E       

Address:    Ascot Vale, Munro St, 15   

Next of Kin:    Nott, F H, father, 15 Munro St, Ascot Vale   

Enlisted:    11 Oct 1916       

Embarked:     A15 Port Sydney 9 Nov 1917   

 

Gunner Frederick John Nott

 

Never served in a theatre of war

 

by Marilyn Kenny

 

 

Gunner Fred Nott at the organ of St Peters Eastern Hill 1917.

Photo courtesy Alsop, Patricia, 1996.

 

On Sunday 12 November 1916 the congregation of St Peters Church Eastern Hill received a surprise. Their organist and choirmaster Fred Nott unexpectedly appeared for morning service wearing khaki instead of his usual academic gown and hood. It particularly caused a great stir amongst the choir boys who reportedly idolized their singing master. The parish had already farewelled Fred the previous Sunday, the evening before he was to go into camp. Then after Evensong the choirboys presented Fred with several gifts including a prayer book, The choir collectively wished him well and hoped he would always carry the prayer book with him to protect him from bullets.

 

 St Peter’s had, however, been unable to obtain a replacement organist so for four weeks after his official departure Fred obtained leave to attend at and play at the services, hence his unexpected appearance in khaki. The parishioners had a personal interest in Fred’s enlistment, for although he lived in Ascot Vale, the Nott family had been associated with St Peter’s since the mid-1850s. It is not known if Fred followed the advice regarding the prayer book, but though not discharged from the AIF till some three years later, he was never a target and never served in a theatre of war.

 

Enlistment

 

Fred Nott’s enlistment came at a time when there was great political and moral pressure on eligible men. Throughout 1916, in the face of increasing war casualties, the debate regarding conscription raged on. At the time Fred underwent his medical, 29 September, the conscription plebiscite was only one month away. Earlier in the year, with falling enlistment numbers, Prime Minister Hughes ordered all eligible men to report for military duty, to be examined for medical fitness and then go into training camp. Ostensibly this was for Home Service as authorized by the Defence Act, but Hughes’ plan was to preempt the outcome of the ballot and have the men in camp ready to be drafted into overseas service. A Proclamation on 29 September required single men between 21 and 35 years of age to report for medical examination. The penalty for not doing so was six months imprisonment. All those called up for enlistment underwent compulsory fingerprinting. Exemption Courts could grant a leave to individuals based on specified criteria such as ill-health, employment in certain industries or conscientious objection.

 

This advertisement and others of a similar vein

appeared in the Essendon Gazette in 1916.

 

At the Ascot Vale Drill Hall, 1831 men were medically examined, of whom 713 were passed as fit, 629 unfit, 442 doubtful and 57 temporarily unfit. Exemptions were applied for by 648 men. The authorities reported that the men attending the depot  undertook the procedures cheerfully and no friction developed. They continued to be pleasant and agreeable when a few days later 180 of the fit were marched from the Drill Hall to Ascot Vale Railway Station to entrain for the Broadmeadows Camp. Residents gave them gave them a hearty send off, lining the route, cheering and waving handkerchiefs. One of the men was a Highland piper and swirled laments such as MacGregor’s Gathering was interspersed with music hall chorus songs. 

 

In the event, the plebiscite returned a No vote. On 9 November Hughes announced that men would be released from camp after a month’s training if requested.  The men were paid when they returned their clothing (which was then sterilized for reissue), and transport to their homes was organized. The examination and call up of the 30,000 of the 190,000 eligible men cost half a million pounds. However, about 20% of the men who came into camp did enlist in the AIF.

 

Fred Nott’s enlistment may have been prompted by this series of events; however it may have always been his intention or the cumulative result of political and personal pressure. Nineteen men from his street in Ascot Vale had enlisted and by October 1916, two hundred Essendon boys had died in their country’s service. The Honour Roll at St Peters was also growing. It had started with the name of Noel Béchervaise, a 22 year old  theological student who had died at the Landing at noon, 25 April 1915. He had left a bequest to St Peters, used to fund scholarships for choir boys.

 

Members of St Peter’s congregation were also more exposed than most to the distress caused by the growing war toll. As a High Anglican church it offered Prayers for the Dead and was receiving multitudes of requests for this facility. These came from both within and without the Anglican Church and the numbers were such that special intercessory prayer services had to be arranged. This included an ANZAC Day service on the 25 April 1916, during which two trumpeters played the Last Post from the church gallery.

 

After being passed medically fit Fred then signed his affirmation on 11 October. It is unclear what then transpired but on his service record this date was crossed through and his enlistment was dated from 6 November. Fred had no previous military experience as his age had put him outside the reach of the 1910 Defence Act. He was allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery. Recruits with above average levels of education tended to be directed to the Artillery as the very technical nature of gunnery required intensive training. He went into camp at Maribyrnong where most troops lived under canvas. It was less than an hour’s walk from his home.

 

Fred may not have been a warrior but he was one of the most highly qualified and experienced musicians of his generation. In enlisting for overseas service he would have been anticipating returning to a hemisphere from which he had only returned 12 months before.

 

The Family

 

An early T H Nott label from the Collection of Andrew H.

Photo courtesy of Ephemera Society of Australia.

 

Fred Nott was a scion of a family well known in Melbourne.  Fred’s grandparents John and Rhoda had arrived in the colony from Bristol in 1856. They were joining John’s younger brother Thomas Henry who was married to Emma, Rhoda’s sister. In the United Kingdom the Nott name had been synonymous with confectionary since the 18th century. When he arrived in 1853, TH established what was to become one of Victoria’s three major confectionery firms. Initially manufacturing and selling sweets on the goldfields, the firm had come to specialize in high quality handmade chocolates. These were made in their factory in the Lonsdale St precinct and wholesaled widely. The Notts also maintained at least one flagship retail outlet - a chocolate salon. This shop had various locations, Collins St, Swanston St, Royal Arcade, and Howey Place being some, always within easy reach of the fashionable who came to Do the Block. 

 

Shopfront for T H Nott c 1910, This shop was at 226 Collins located in the Stewart Dawson

building now replaced by the Manchester Unity building. The location known as Puppy Dog

Corner was a meeting place to rival the Flinders St clocks. Photo courtesy SLV ID1788770.

 

The firm provided employment for many of the Nott offspring including our Fred’s father, Frederick Henry, b 1856, who was christened at St Peter’s. The families had their homes in Carlton.  However Fred’s parents after their 1884 marriage had made their home in Temperance Township, Ascot Vale. Initially they lived on the north side of Munro St. Finding this too small for their needs they purchased a large block 128' X 300' on the southern side. There they constructed a weatherboard cottage, No15 Munro St, where Frederick Henry Nott and wife Margaret Ford raised Fred, Frank, Henry, Margaret and Marjorie. On the vacant land they established a rose garden, orchard and kept hens, a cow and horses.The land went through to Miriams St and over time was sub divided and houses also built on this street frontage.

 

Detail from MMBW c1900. Plan courtesy of Alex Bragiola. No 15 Munro St was a 6 room WB cottage built close to the boundary line of the property and was held in Mrs Margaret Nott’s name, The vacant land adjoining marked 17-19 was also owned by her. Fred Henry Nott was a well-known rose expert.

 

A Musical Career

 

 Aged 17 A Gold Medal Winner. Photo The Australasian June 1903. 

 

By the turn of the century Frederick Henry was the principal manager in the firm of T H Nott. Frederick John, aged 14, left school at Moonee Ponds West in 1899 and joined the firm, working alongside uncles and cousins. As well as their confectionery skills, the Notts shared musical talents. Several Nott uncles played the organ at their local church and gave recitals. Our Fred’s father was reputed to be able to pick up and without a lesson play any instrument.  The three Nott boys sang both the St Pauls and the St Thomas’s choirs and played various instruments. Fred, in 1901, played a brass instrument in the Essendon Town Band and performed in the Melbourne Symphony orchestra after its formation in 1906. Brother Harry played the violin in the same semiprofessional ensemble. Brother Frank was a pianist and in later years had career in light entertainment at dances and concerts.  Fred took his first lessons from Professor of Music, Ernest Augustus Jager,  located in North St, Ascot Vale.

 

E A Jager was a foundation member of the MSV and conductor of the Essendon Musical

Association for two decades. His instrument was the viola.

Photo courtesy: The Musical Society of Victoria, a centenary history.

 

Viola Jager, b 1874, may have contributed to Fred’s musical education as she

was a registered teacher of piano and organ. Photo: Weekly Times May 1905 p18.

 

Fred went on to become a pupil of the leading organists and choirmasters of Melbourne. In 1903 he won the first gold medal awarded by the Musical Society of Victoria since its inception in 1861- the highest honour the society can bestow. To finish first of the 1500 candidates Fred earned top marks in practical pianoforte and theoretical harmony. The family decided that his talents warranted advancement and so Fred returned to academic study while continuing to perform at recitals.  

 

Fred Nott in 1905 as one of the prominent artists of the Musical Society of Victoria.

Fred went on to be an Office Bearer in the MSV.  Weekly Times May 1905 p18.

 

He gained his Matriculation, qualified in 1908 and enrolled at the Conservatorium of the University of Melbourne in 1909. After obtaining his Diploma in 1911, Fred took out his degree of Bachelor of Music in 1913. In every year Fred gained first class honours and Exhibitions. His principal field of study was organ/pianoforte with minor studies in trumpet. In 1911 he became assistant organist and choirmaster at St Peter’s later succeeding to the principal role there.

 

A Bachelor of Music

Punch (Melbourne)  May 1913 p 26  

 

London

 

The RCM, located in South Kensington, opposite the Royal Albert Hall.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

 

Frederick left on the Orvieto in January 1914 after several farewell performances including one at the Melbourne Town Hall. Fellow Ascot Valers Sydney Davies and his wife left for a six months European tour in the April of 1914. In his letters home to the Essendon Gazette, Syd described the voyage: the entertainment and boxing matches staged by the crew, hundreds of people sitting about enjoying the fun and the loafing.  

 

Fred took up studies at the Royal College of Music in London partly funded by a scholarship. His principal studies were in organ and choral music but the curriculum was wide and encompassed vocal performance, orchestral studies, harmony and counterpoint. Under the direction of Sir Hubert Parry (composer of Jerusalem) Fred’s teachers were among the most eminent of the time including several Masters of the Kings Music. At the RCM Fred met up with fellow Conservatorium student and pianist William Garnet James. 

 

Interior of Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

 

Fred took out the Diploma of the Royal College of Organists. He acted as assistant organist in several inner London churches including Grosvenor Chapel and St Dunstan’s in the East. It had been intended that he would stay away for two years, but six months after his arrival war was declared. He continued his studies, but by November 1914 musical things are at a standstill.

 

St Bartholomew’s, Horley, Sussex.

By October 1914 Fred had a position as organist and choirmaster at the 14th century Church of St. Bartholomew, Horley, Sussex about 25 miles from London. He continued to reside at a boarding house in Maida Vale patronized by musical Australians  living in London. As the Harvest festival approached, Fred arranged for a number of his friends to travel down to the church and perform at the Festival. Syd Davies wrote home describing the day in detail. One  of the group was another Essendonian tenor George Jennings, licensee of the Royal Hotel. George, son of a former Mayor, Thomas Jennings, had travelled to Milan in February 1914  to undertake further vocal training.   See also John Edgar Jennings.  

 

Fred, seated far right, with compatriots in London. The group includes George Jennings, standing second from left, violinist Donald MacBeath and  pianist and composer, Una Bourne (seated second from left). At the request of Doris Carter, seated centre, Una Bourne composed the 23rd Battalion’s March. Billy James seated far left. Note the kanga mascot  Photo: Punch December 1914 p19.

 

Although Jennings and the Davies then returned to Australia, Fred stayed on. He performed at a function in early 1915 to establish a London branch of the Australian Natives Association and was noted as amongst those who entertained Australians visting London. He played the organ before a capacity audience at the Royal Albert Hall, toured Wales, his compositions were performed and his teachers’ praises reported. As Fred’s studies drew to a close, the Principal of the RCM recommended him to a position as organist in Canada, but Fred was determined on returning home. He admitted that London was an incurable disease from which he was suffering, but it was not then the place for musicians with ambitions. He did some sightseeing in Paris and Ireland before embarking in November 1915 on the Orontes.

 

The difference in the return trip had been noted in Syd Davies’ letters. He and Elizabeth Davies had left a city of darkness, blacked out London. The journey was less than pleasant. The fear of what might happen was a daily topic about the ship, and at night, when the portholes were closed and covered and the lights on deck were out, one had ample time to think. What with scare, heat and choppy weather we were glad when we sighted Australia's shores again. 

 

Fred’s arrival was noted in the newspapers and by February 1916 he was taking pupils, resumed his positions with St Peters and was also playing at St Paul’s, Ascot Vale.

 

Essendon Gazette January 1916

 

Military Music

 

The regimental anthem of the 7 Battalion  AIF was played to the tune of Men of Harlech. In addition

each Company, including the Essendon Rifles, had their own march. 7th Battalion A.I.F. songs. Victoria:

The Battalion Association ca. 1920 State Library of Victoria rare books.

 

Music was an integral part of military life. The daily routine of camp was punctuated with bugle calls; armies marched in parade, on route marches and to battle to the sound of the drum and the pipes. Music was used to encourage troops, keep up morale, entertain and divert. It was an essential part of church parade and sports days. The camp concert was a much appreciated event. Recruits brought their instruments and skills into camp and communities raised funds to equip bands.  According to Cronk (2017) By 1916, the importance of battalion bands was firmly established with orders from various division headquarters requesting that every battalion or brigade should have a “band of some kind”.  It seems that this was done by both building on the talents that already existed in a unit and by novices being taught to play.

 

Bandsmen, although trained soldiers, normally took on a support role at times of active conflict. Traditionally they acted as stretcher bearers, ammunition carriers and assisted in bringing forward rations. They were subject to the risks of battles and a number are known to have been killed. Instruments were also lost or damaged in battles.  Playing brass instruments outdoors in European winters often inflicted damage on both instrument and the bandsmen’s fingers.  

 

From the time he went into camp Fred was involved in its musical life, the camp benefitting from his knowledge of music. Fred however did not take a leading role. The camp already had the Maribyrnong Field Artillery Band and a choral group. The Bandmaster was Robert James McCaskill. Bob McCaskill, aged just 21 years, came from a line of Bandmasters and had been in charge of the Shepparton Model Band prior to his November 1916 re-enlistment. His instrument was the cornet. He went onto a significant career both in football and brass band performance.  

 

Weekly Times    Apr 1932   Page 15.

During WW 11 Bob led the Southern Command Band. He

also coached North Melbourne and Hawthorn VFL Clubs.

 

That Fred might have had some reservations about this situation may be found in a newspaper interview he gave years later. Asked about whether having musically experienced conductors would make a difference to bands.

 

Mr Nott said Yes the mistake is often made of appointing a man as bandmaster because he is a good cornet player. The proper place of such a man is as solo performer not as conductor. The ideal conductor is a thoroughly trained musician and he should if possible have a practical knowledge of every instrument in the band. A trained musician will not allow those crudities of interpretation to pass that are so often heard from bands under the beat of solo cornetists. …In Australia a man who can play his cornet with a good tone and fair execution without being able to explain the simplest problems in theoretical music is considered a fit person to train and conduct a band, this of course is all wrong.

 

Not everyone was of this opinion. McCaskill was posted to France as bandmaster in April 1917. In his letters home he noted praise from Brigadier–General H W Lloyd complimenting him upon his training and handling of the 1st Division HQ band, remarking that the playing of the band was little short of brilliant.

 

Bombadier Fred Nott, 1917.  Photo: Frederick John Nott:

a Melbourne Musician 1885-1949 by Patricia Alsop.

 

 

 

At Maribyrnong Fred would have undertaken basic training and become familiar with the skills of a gunner, including the care and management of the horses that pulled the limber to which the field gun was attached. The camp had a dedicated band room and musical instruction and rehearsal would be scheduled.  Part at least of his time would have been spent preparing for a Grand Concert held by the artillerymen in the Essendon Town Hall in October 1917. The concert was held to mark their imminent departure for overseas service. The entire function was the responsibility of the artillerymen who staffed the doors, acted as ushers and provided the programme. The local newspapers gave it detailed reporting though none of the more than two dozen performers seemed to be local. Bombardier Nott was on the organizing committee, sang with the choral group, played masterfully and on getting an encore added a little humoresque. The programme was extensive ranging from classical pieces, comic items and conjuring tricks. After their items lady friends threw Kewpies to the soldiers. The funds raised by the concert went to erecting a Church of England Men’s Society Church Hut for the rest and recreation of troops in France.

 

HMAT Port Sydney A15

 

Front cover of the Limber Log

Illustration by Gunner Herbert Horace Chappel.

 

On the 9 November 1917, after twelve months in camp, Fred embarked as part of the 29 Reinforcements on HMAT Port Sydney A15. There were about two dozen other Essendonians on board. A fifty-six page ships’ newspaper, The Limber Log 1917, was produced and distributed to the thousands of troops aboard for this lengthy voyage. It was illustrated with sketches of life at sea and contained articles on aspects of the voyage as well as humorous, reflective and literary items.

 

Sleeping below decks in hammocks was not popular with troops.

Illustration by Gunner Herbert Horace Chappel.

 

The ship travelled via Colombo (where there was a day’s leave) and it seems to have been a very pleasant trip. The band played at the thrice weekly concerts and it (and Bandmaster McCaskill) drew praise for the music which evoked enjoyable memories of the good old days. The band also played at a burial at sea of a Digger who died of illness. A last lament was played, the Last Post sounded and then a lively march returned troops to their duties. Fred’s name appears in connection with the CEMS whose watchword was pray to God every day and forward the work of His church. A shipboard branch was formed on board attracting one hundred men, Fred taking on the role of Treasurer. He may also have attended the two Freemasonry services that were held as there were 122 Freemasons on board. However, his prime role was a pale shadow of his previous career.

 

A Harmonium was a reed organ as opposed to a Pipe organ. The smaller, portable

harmoniums used on the Western Front were known as "Groan boxes".

 

The troops disembarked at Suez on 12 December and went into a rest camp. After more sightseeing and an overnight train trip they re-embarked at Alexandria on the 18 December. The ship stopped at Taranto in Italy on the 22 December. Troops then entrained for a trip across snow covered France and finally made it to Southampton on the 4 January 1918.

 

United Kingdom 

 

A group of men and some of the huts of the reserve brigade Australian artillery, at Heytesbury,

 The Unit diary records that unlike other camps the accommodation as good and plentiful

and rationing excellent. Photo courtesy AWM Accession Number J 06317.

 

That same day, shortly before his 33rd birthday, Fred marched into camp. This was the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery based at Heytesbury on the edge of the Salisbury Plain. It comprised five field batteries and provided trained reinforcements to the AIF on the Western Front. Those based at the two thousand strong camp were a mixture of fresh men from Australia, casualties for retraining and specials, men who needed a time in an instructional environment before re-deployment. Because of its nature as a training camp there were high standards of military protocol. The Unit Diary reports the regular departure of men for France, however Fred was never of this number. He  stayed at Heytesbury for 1918 presumably playing at the monthly sports days in the grounds of the local manor, the regular camp concerts in the ANZAC theatre, church parades and march past of the various dignitaries that visited the Reserve. He also wrote home to St Peters that he had coached a military choir in singing the solemn church service written by John Merbecke. The band also travelled. On 14  October 1918 they went up to London to play at the Feed The Guns display in Trafalgar Square. This spectacular  week-long  fund raising event displayed a European battlefield scene, with windmill, bomb damaged farmhouse,  undulating ground, trenches and  tree stumps. Artillery, trucks and other equipment was also displayed.

 

Photo courtesy of web site Tales from the Supply Depot.

The campaign raised £33 million.

 

After this the Bandmaster and most of the band were posted to France and a new band had to be formed. It must have been at this stage that Fred took on the Bandmaster role, as on 23 October he was promoted as Temporary Corporal  and made part of the permanent cadre at the Depot. In later life Fred stated that regular daily band practice was essential and soon knocked the dullest players into a good combination.  At least in military life, he said, you can be sure of getting the men together to practice, unlike civilian life where they have to be cajoled. The Unit celebrated Armistice Day on the 14 November with an all-day holiday to attend sports in the afternoon and a concert in the evening. The process of Repatriation then got fully underway. 167,000 men and women had to be returned to Australia and re-absorbed into the community and meaningfully occupied until this was done. The shipping process eventually required 176 voyages in 137 different ships and extended over two years. Every returning troopship was required to have a band on board and WO Percy Copp stayed in the UK to ensure that this was possible.

 

105 Elgin Avenue Maida Vale, Fred’s London home.

 

Fred stayed at Heytesbury until late March 1919. He was then granted leave to take up Non Military employment. This was to undertake further studies to qualify as a Fellow of the Royal College of Music. Fred was paid 6/-per day, given a daily sustenance allowance also of 6/- and College fees of £10 paid. There were also funds from an Exhibition that he had been unable to take up from previous studies. He was issued with a civilian suit and cap and again took up residence in Maida Vale. He was granted two further extensions to this leave to take him through to 31 January 1920, though the latter period was without pay. With one last unit to complete Fred asked for further leave and to this end produced many letters of support from RCM staff. Fred’s application was refused and the repatriation process continued. It took until 12 March 1920 for Fred to be allocated to a voyage, on the Ceramic leaving Tilbury Docks. He was to act as Bandmaster and was given a promotion to Sergeant for voyage only. There were nearly 1500 on board - troops and many wives and children of returning soldiers. The ship arrived at the Heads on 25 April 1920, but docked at the Port Nepean Station. Sickness on board had been found to be smallpox so the remaining 320 passengers were ordered into quarantine. They were released on the 6 May and given leave at the dockside in Melbourne. Fred’s formal discharge took place on 14 June 1920. On 31 August his fellow citizens gave Fred a complimentary Welcome Home concert at the Essendon Town Hall. This was organized by a committee of friends, chaired by the Mayor of Essendon and involved the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This marked the resumption of Fred’s promising musical career.

 

Post war  

 

In March 1921 Bandmaster Fred Nott (standing far right) donned his uniform to act as groomsman for violinist Captain Donald McBeath RFC at his society wedding to Eleanor Thomas. Father Fred Thomas co-founded Maples furniture stores and in 1922 established Thomas’ Music Store. The best man was air ace Capt. Reg Baillieu  MC, AFC.  Photo: Table Talk April 1921 p22.

 

In June 1920 Fred resumed his position as St Peters’ organist at a salary of £80 pa. Fred was still receiving sustenance, a modest interim payment designed to keep men solvent until settled in regular employment. It ensured returned men had an income of about 55/- per week. By October he was able to report to the Repatriation Department that he had two music pupils each paying 4 guineas per term and he hoped that this would be the beginning of a good teaching connection. At this stage he ceased to draw an allowance. Fred began to teach and examine at the Conservatorium and resumed performances with the MSV, MSO and at municipal and church functions. He composed, published a musical instructional text and adjudicated at Festivals. His application however for a Victory Medal was refused in 1923 as he had not served in a theatre of war.  

 

The War Memorial, The Cross of Sacrifice, was unveiled in 1924 and very publicly identified

St Peter’s with the soldiers’ experience. Photo courtesy of St Peters History page. 

 

In 1927 Fred fell foul of the new authoritarian Vicar of St Peters. He considered Fred unsuitable as an organist and dismissed him from his role, though Fred publicly announced he had retired. Fred invoked the force of the RSL in trying to ensure that his successor was also a returned man.  This was a major issue for Fred, as organists were allowed the use of the church space and instruments to give instruction to private pupils and thus augment their income. Fred had the support of elements of the congregation who gave him a farewell in the Victorian Artists' Society Hall, presenting him with letters of appreciation and a wallet of notes. Tuition space was also found for him in Albert St, East Melbourne. Fred was already conductor to the Heidelberg and District Musical Society and an Eastern Hill Choral Society was then formed under his wise guidance. Locally Fred was also conductor for the Essendon Operatic and Choral Society in their twice yearly performances of light opera at the Essendon Town Hall.   In mid-1928 he was appointed an Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Music to honor his musical distinction. His focus was however on playing the organ in a liturgical setting. For a period Fred was sub-organist at Scots Church, Collins St. There he gave an occasional recital with Donald Mcbeath, whose war time injury had resolved sufficiently for him to resume the violin. Some of Fred’s performances were also broadcast from the Church, Billy James now being Director of Music programmes for the ABC. In October 1930 Fred became organist and choirmaster for the Independent Collins St Church (now St Michaels.)

 

The rebuilt organ at the Independent Church. Photo courtesy

Organ Historical Trust of Australia.

 

Marriage

 

Fred in the year of his marriage, The Mercury Hobart Nov 1932 p3.

 

Fred’s enlistment eventually gained him a wife and family of his own. In 1917 he and others from the camp had been entertained by the Taylor family at their farm, Springburn Park in Broadmeadows. Edward John George Taylor ran a successful firm of manufacturing tailors and had only recently moved to the farm from their property in Royal Ave, Keilor. Fred became a family friend and this relationship endured into the 1920s. He was older brother and best man to the Taylor boys and gave music lessons to the girls. During the 1920s he would frequently drive home family members who were working in the city to their then home Edenhope in Maribyrnong Road. Catherine May Taylor was seven years old when she first met Fred. She attended Penleigh then undertook business studies at Stott’s and  studied piano with Fred in the 1920s.  In 1932 two days before his 47th birthday the couple married and set up their household at 24 Mangalore St, Travancore.  Fred, the year before, had purchased this former home of Councillor Archibald Dobson on the prestigious Golf Links Estate. He had chosen the location as convenient to the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. With the assistance of his brother Henry he extended it, creating a music studio for pupils.

 

24 Mangalore St, Travancore, c 1925. Photo courtesy Alex Bragiola.

 

The brothers also built a holiday cottage on Fred’s 38 acres at Clematis with a frontage to Cardinia Creek. The TH Nott firm had passed from family hands in the late 1920s, but Harry continued to work there making chocolates until the mid-1950s. Fred Henry was still active in the Confectioners Union until his death, at 88 years, as the oldest confectioner in the State. Our Fred became a churchwarden at St Georges, Travancore and a member of three Masonic Lodges, music being an essential aspect of the Craft. Fred maintained a hectic schedule even with the birth of his sons, who seemed to inherit his musical talents, though they did not follow his career. F J Nott acted as Tasmanian examiner for the RCM and was a conductor for the Victorian Centenary Choir and several 100 voices Messiah choirs. Additionally Fred gave weekly lunchtime organ recitals at the Independent Church. In 1936 Fred was made a member of the Royal Society of Teachers, London in recognition of his roles. Fred had firm ideas regarding music and performance. In 1937 he initiated newspaper correspondence regarding the ABC‘s political decision to cease broadcasting organ recitals. He protested at the use of the Town Hall organ for recitals of everyday melodies calling it a debasement of the king of instruments. He also was part of a movement to maintain the sacred integrity of music performed at church weddings.

 

In 1938 he became one of the founding members of the Victorian Society of Organists. In 1939 Fred took up the position of organist at Wesley Church in Melbourne. He had been encouraged to make the move believing that a new organ would be installed. The intervention of war frustrated his hopes and in 1946 he left this position for one at the Ascot Vale Presbyterian Church. Fred returned to the church of his fathers in his June 1949 appointment as organist at St James Old Cathedral, West Melbourne. He however became ill and his memorial service was held there in September 1949. He was remembered as one of nature’s gentlemen. During his last illness hospital care at Heidelberg, treatment and monetary aid for his family was provided through the Repatriation Department as part Australia’s care of ex-servicemen.

 

 

Acknowledgements Many thanks to Alex Bragiola and Lenore Frost

 

References

 

Alsop, Patricia  Frederick John Nott a Melbourne Musician 1885-1949 Melbourne : James Neylan Memorial Press, 1996

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Australian Imperial Forces Unit War Diaries 1914-1918 War AWM4 Subclass 13/48 - Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery

Chalmers R   Annals of Essendon, Essendon Historical Society, 1998

Cronk Theresa Musicians under fire Australian War Memorial September 2017

Garland H (Ed) The Limber Log 1917

Holden C   Awful Happenings on the Hill ES Hughes and Melbourne Anglo Catholicism before the War, Melbourne 1992

Holden C   From Tories at Prayer to Socialists at Mass St Peters Eastern Hill 1846-1990, MUP 1997

Horner, David  The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery, 1995 Sydney, Allen & Unwin.

Hunter-Payne G   Proper Care Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital  1994,  Sydney, Allen and Unwin

Kaye B   Anglicanism in Australia 1998 MUP

Maclean L   History of the Ordinance Factory Melbourne Living Museum of the West.

McNeice Jennifer  'Military exemption courts in 1916: a public hearing of private lives’, Provenance: The Journal of Public Record Office Victoria, issue no. 14, 2015.

Lemon A   Broadmeadows The Forgotten History. Executive Media Pty Ltd 1982.

NAA B2455 Service Records, Repatriation Files

Newspapers Multiple including Essendon Gazette, The Australasian,  North Melbourne Advertiser,  The Age, Argus, Weekly Times, Table Talk, Punch, The Herald. 

Payton P   Repat A Concise History of Repatriation in Australia DVA 2018

PROV Wills and Probate, Shipping Records, Inquests

Royal Historical Society of Victoria  The Story of a Chocolate https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/ehive-object-details/753062/

Smith T   Frederick J Nott Mus Bac FRCO Hon ARCM MRST  Essendon Historical Society Newsletters 4 May 1987,7 August 1987 

State Library of Victoria - Sands and McDougall Directories, MMBW Plans, Victorian Government Gazettes

Tan Eril   The Musical Society of Victoria: celebrating 150 years Musical Society of Victoria 2011

Victorian Births Deaths Marriages

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

 

Web sites

Confectionery e Melbourne encyclopedia https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00391b.htm

Manchester Unity building e Melbourne encyclopedia https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00893b.htm

Ephemera https://www.ephemerasociety.org.au/ephemeral-cures-for-coughs-and-colds/

Music and the First World War exhibition 13 June 2019 - 4 November 2019 AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions-online/music-ww1

 

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Town Hall L-R

Moonee Ponds West State School                                                                                                       

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours