Text and Images: Pauline McDonough
Cleveland Frank Snoswell (World War 1 Enlistment No 3224) was born in Curramulka, South Australia. Cleveland had been in cadets for 18 months. He was 22 years and 10 months and a clerk at the time of enlistment on 24th October 1916. His father John Mourelyn Snoswell of Waverley Ridge, Crafers, was next of kin on his enlistment papers. Cleveland was described as 5 feet 11 inches with blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Congregational.
Cleveland embarked as part of the 8th Reinforcement for 50th Battalion on the boat Berrima on 16/12/1916 and disembarked from Devonport on 16 February 1917. His 8th Reinforcement group marched to Codford where he undertook training in the 15th Training Battalion from 21 February to 6th May 1917. Then Cleveland joined his battalion at the front 4th July 1917 in France.
On 2 November 1917 he was on active service but was found to be in the town of Truges without a pass and no permission for leave. He forfeited 7 days’ pay because he had overstayed his leave by a day. A trial followed on 11-12 March 1918. In May 1918 Cleve was sick in hospital in France. In August 1918 Cleveland was in Cambridge Hospital Aldershot with multiple gunshot wounds. In February 1919 Cleveland was found guilty of obtaining leave under false pretences. He was docked 17 days of pay.
Cleveland left England on the boat Khyber 31 March 1919 and was discharged on 30 June 1919.
“A welcome was given in the Crafers Institute on August 22 (1919) to Sergeant D. Murphy, Corporal F. Howard, and Privates A. Brooks E. W. Elborough, L Ellison. A. Hart, C. Snoswell, H Fullgrabe, A. and B. Winter, Dr. S. L. Dawkins presided over a large audience. The contributors to the programme were Mrs. Smith, Misses D. Whittle, and Fullgrabe, and Mr. G. Milford, Addresses were given by the chairman. Rev K Collison, and Pastor Train. Each soldier was presented with a gold medal. Sergeant D. Murphy responded. Supper was provided, and a dance – followed Miss Doris Fewster was pianist, and Mr. J. Grimes was M.C.” Chronicle 30 August 1919
Dorothy Fullgrabe sang at the welcome event which her cousin Bill Fullgrabe of Crafers attended after his return from the war on the Tros Montes. Cleveland Snoswell was the son of family friends of Dorothy Fullgrabe’s parents Charles and Elizabeth Fullgrabe of 3 Fern Street Waverley Ridge. Dorothy Fullgrabe’s and Chaplin cousin and close friend Lizzie Allen of 26 Sheoak Drive Waverley Ridge reminisced that Dorrie or Dorothy went out with Cleve Snoswell.
Postcard photo from Cleveland Snoswell of himself has the inscription
What price the “ANZAC”? March / 18 Yours sincerely Cleve (Snoswell)
(Source Wilhelmina Fullgrabe and identified by Lizzie Allen)
Cleve Snoswell is remembered on the Memorial Plaque of the Lych Gate at the Mt Lofty Congregational Church, Orley Avenue, Stirling. (Subsequently moved to the new Uniting Church property at Sunset Rock, Spencer Street, Stirling)
Do you have stories or memories of Cleve Snoswell or other people memorialised on the Lych Gate or other War Memorials?
Contact us at mldhsgateways@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au or drop into the History Centre at the Coventry Library, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling.
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