The Killion, Quinn and Hand Families of Port Macquarie and Kempsey and their Feeney Family

Kokoda Track during the Second World War - Wal Wright at the back with the hat Walter Leo Wright was the grandson of Rose Porter (nee Killion) and the great-grandson of John Killion and Jane Feeney. Wal was born on 25 September 1925 - the second child of Charles Wright and Margaret (Cissie) Porter.  He was only 15 when he enrolled for service in the Second World War but showed his birth date as 16 September 1923.   Wal served in Papua and New Guinea including on the Kakoda Track.  Here's an undated newspaper clipping that Cissie kept until her death in 1972. Wal is numbered 10 in this photo Wal went on to marry Ethel May Hook on 2 September 1950 at St Aidens Church of England, Annandale.  He showed his correct age in his marriage registration! Wal, Cissie, Ethel and her mother In the late 1950s, Wal, Ethel and their two children, Margaret and Jim, moved to the Newcastle area.  Wal died on 27 November 1998 and Ethe...

Thank you to "chinagirl828" for sharing this photo of Mervyn on ancestry.com.au on 19 February 2011 Mervyn Reginald Killion was born on 02 October 1918 in Lismore, NSW.  He was the older son of George Killion and Ethel May Kay.  Mervyn is the great-grandson of John Killion and Jane Feeney.   When he was 21, Mervyn join the AIF and served in the Second World War.  In 1944, Mervyn married Bernice Ellen Peace Benson in Kingsford.  Bernice was also from the Lismore area.  They divorced in 1947.   In 1949, Mervyn married Marie Josephine Petra Hoban.  The marriage was registered at Canterbury.  Mervyn and Marie lived in Sydney where he worked as a dogman, fireman and storeman.  In the early 1980s, Mervyn and Marie moved to Port Macquarie.  Marie died on 08 July 1986. Mervyn died on 2 August 1994 at Port Macquarie.

Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service past and present. The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. John Maurice (Jack) Porter was born on 21 August 1919 at Lidcombe, NSW.  Jack was the fourth child of Clement William (Clem) Porter and Effie Maud Wright and the grandson of Rose Porter (nee Killion).  The family moved to Goulburn when Jack was 10. After Jack finished school, he worked at the local wool stores.  Times were difficult as this was towards the end of the Great Depression.   When Australian entered the Second World War, Jack enlisted and was a member of the 2/3 Battalion, 16th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division.   Jack was 20 and was on the first troop ship to leave Australia on 10 ...