Family pride in war history
There is no denying the immense pride that descendants of Warragul’s Decker brothers have for the legacy of their grandfather and great uncles who served in World War I.
Three young brothers – Jacob, William and Albert decker - enlisted for war in 1914 and 1915. Albert was killed in Belgium in 1917.
William Decker’s grandson, Ian Decker, lives in the family home built by William under a soldier’s loan program when he returned from war.
But his grandchildren, including Ian, his sister Dianne Jinks of Jindivick and cousin Peter Risol of Newborough, know little of the war stories of their grandfather and his brothers, other than what they have found through local historians and the Australian War Memorial.
“Dad (Allan Decker) was very proud of his father’s war service. He marched every year. He never said much about it, but he was proud.
“As kids Pop never talked about it…it was just never discussed,” Dianne said.
Peter said his mother Jean, at 92 before she died, also was proud of the Decker’s war history. He said she was up early every year for the dawn service and then after breakfast would always attend the Moe services on Anzac Day.
The three boys – William, Jacob and Albert – were all born in Warragul, attended Warragul Primary School and have their war service recognised on the school and shire honour boards. It was a significant sacrifice for one family. As the three grandchildren of William, sit together in the Peace Ave home their grandfather built post-war, they reminisce about family Christmas’ spent with their pop and the family – and of course the traditional game of cricket played in the backyard on Christmas day.
Between them, they have a collection of photographs, historical war documents including William’s will (written as he left for overseas service in May 1916) and his pay book which also is a record of where he served.
They may not have heard the war stories from their pop, or the detail of how their great-uncle Albert was killed, but they cherish the information and records they have, and are united when they say they are “absolutely” so proud of the Decker family contribution to more than one war campaign.
Ian said he cannot imagine what it would have been like for his great-grandparents Jacob and Emily Decker to farewell three sons to war. They had nine children and it was an anxious time for the family on the home front.
Albert, the youngest of the three, was only 18 when he left home to serve overseas. He served on the Western Front and was wounded in action in 1916, then killed in action in Belgium in 1917, just 20-years-old.
Peter has visited Albert’s memorial at the White House Cemetery in St Jean-Les Ypres.
Both Jacob and William served with distinction before they were discharged in 1919.
Jacob, 20, enlisted in 1914 answering one of the first calls to join after war was declared. He was wounded on the opening day of the Gallipoli campaign on April 25, 1915.
Jacob recovered to later serve in Egypt and the Western front, being promoted during his service to reach the rank of Company Sergeant Major.
On his return, he worked on the roads and lived at Fish Creek and Korumburra before being tragically killed in a work accident.
William, the eldest of the Decker boys, was just short of 23 when he enlisted and served on the Western Front where he earned promotion to Corporal.
He returned to Warragul late in 1919, gaining employment as a carpenter with J.A. McGilton Pty Ltd where he worked until his retirement.
William was offered a soldier settlement loan, which enabled him to build what was to become the family home in Peace Ave in 1922. He and his wife Beatrice raised their four children in the home – Jean (Risol), Allan, Isobel and Jack.
When Beatrice died, Ian said he had the opportunity to buy the family home from the estate. “It was a renovator’s delight,” he jokes. But deep within the halls, original fireplaces and yard of the Peace Ave home were many family memories that Ian wanted to keep close.