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Poppy Seeds from Villers-Bretonneux

A gift of remembrance

In January 1920 a parcel of poppy seed arrived at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens. Children at Villers-Bretonneux had gathered the seed in the Somme Valley, and Ettie Rout sent it with a request that it reach the families of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who had died in the war. Relatives could plant the flowers in remembrance of someone they had lost.

Ettie Rout, a New Zealand volunteer and campaigner who worked in France during and after the war, arranged for the seed to be sent. In Sydney, Botanic Gardens director Joseph Henry Maiden offered the seed to families through a newspaper notice. Requests arrived from across the state and soon exhausted the first supply; a further shipment followed from France and the country around Ypres. Behind the index are the people who gathered, sent, distributed and received a small, living reminder of loss.

Seed also went to the botanic gardens in Melbourne and Christchurch. The Society says no distribution registers from those gardens are known to survive; Maiden’s Sydney registers preserve the names of people who asked for seed and offer an unusually personal record of remembrance.

The Society’s Poppy Seed story · The Society on Ettie Rout · The Society on Joseph Henry Maiden

The Gardens recorded the people who received the seed. Society members and other researchers followed those names into family histories and military records, reconnecting recipients with the people they wished to remember. This index is a starting point for exploring those connections; follow the source and continue the story in the Society’s research collection.

Do you recognise a recipient or the service person they remembered? The Society welcomes information that helps identify the people in the registers. Email [email protected] with the person’s name, service details if known, and the sources or family information that connect them. Descendants may also wish to plant red poppies as a continuing tribute.

Read about the Poppy Seed Project · Research military and cemetery records · Explore Society publications

This table is extracted from the Society’s May 2019 index. Columns that run together are shown as a source-text excerpt rather than assigned to a person. Check every entry against the linked PDF page before relying on it.

1,075 entries · browsing page 1 of 18

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Poppy Seeds from Villers-Bretonneux
Source
V. AdamsonHillgroveAdamson, Private Randolph14/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs Nata AkhurstAnnandaleAkhurst, Lance Corporal Herbert Gordon10/01/1921PDF p. 1
J. R. Allan J.P.MayfieldAllan, Corporal John Robert12/01/1921PDF p. 1
Miss C. L. AllisonAlexandriaAllison, Private John Edmund5/10/1920PDF p. 1
L.J. AllsoppSydneyAllsopp, Sergeant Eric Arthur12/01/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs P. C. AndersonSt PetersAnderson, Driver Cuthbert John Stephen11/10/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs Rosina AndersonSt PetersAnderson, Lance Corporal George Leslie / Anderson, Private Robert Frank9/03/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs A. AndersonManlyAnderson, Sapper Albert Robert James11/10/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs E. K. AndersonBinalong-21/03/1921PDF p. 1
J. R. Anderson--22/01/1920PDF p. 1
Jane AndrewsSt PetersAndrews, Private Leslie James11/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs AndrewsArtarmon-10/01/1921PDF p. 1
Miss Fannie AplinLewishamAplin, Private Frederick John11/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs R. ArchibaldCanley ValeArchibald, Private Robert17/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs A. ArmstrongBotanyArmstrong, Private George Cecil5/10/1920PDF p. 1
Chas ArnettKyogleArnett, Private Alexander Samuel11/10/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs Alf AshAlectownJohnston, Private Robert Henry / Johnston, Private Harry19/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs Agnes AshtonHayAshton, Private Sydney19/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs K. AveryCamperdownAvery, Gunner John Bede11/10/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs Marie AylieffWaverleyAllsop, Private Frederick William12/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs Marjorie BailieNorth Sydney-11/01/1921PDF p. 1
Miss N. F. BaillieCodrington-11/10/1920PDF p. 1
John BaillieRockdale-11/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs A. BaillieSydney-14/01/1921PDF p. 1
William BakerBanksia-10/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs P. C. BakerMorpeth-14/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs Balmer--7/01/1921PDF p. 1
Mrs L. BanksAlexandriaBanks, Private Reginald George11/10/1920PDF p. 1
Mrs D. J. BaragryAdaminabyBaragry, Private Edmund Joseph / Baragry, Private William Francis11/10/1920PDF p. 1
5/10/1920 Barder Rev Horace William Alexander / Rev H. W. Barder Randwick NSW 170 In memory of comrades Rev Barder was Army and Hospital Chaplain for Holdsworthy and Randwick during WWI. Not connected to a---PDF p. 1 · check columns
12/01/1921 Barnett Mrs J. Mrs J. Barnett Inverell NSW 179---PDF p. 1 · check columns
12/01/1920 Barnett F.J. F.J. Barnett Newcastle NSW 163---PDF p. 1 · check columns
15/01/1921 Barnsley William Thomas W. T. Barnsley West Kogarah NSW Clyde, Hill Street, West Kogarah NSW 179 Barnsley, Private Cecil Clyde 2558 Father---PDF p. 1 · check columns
5/10/1920 Barsby E. E. Barsby Merrylands NSW 170---PDF p. 1 · check columns
11/10/1920 Bartlett Mrs E. Mrs E. Bartlett Edgecliff NSW 173---PDF p. 1 · check columns
17/01/1921 Barwick Mrs Margaret Mrs M. Barwick Bankstown NSW Chiswick Road, off Highview Avenue, Bankstown179 Barwick, Private Archibald Forbes 4656 Mother Father John Barwick---PDF p. 1 · check columns
17/01/1921 Basham Mrs E. Mrs E. Basham Manning River NSW Tinonee, Manning River NSW 179 Basham, Private Maynard 4141 Mother---PDF p. 1 · check columns
11/02/1921 Bass Blanche B. Bass North Sydney NSW 3 Morden Street, North Sydney 179 Bass, Private Charles Ernest 1314 Sister in Law Wife of brother Sidney Bass---PDF p. 1 · check columns
12/01/1920 Bauer Mrs Edith Harriet Mrs E.M. Bauer Brookvale NSW "Wirian" Pine Avenue, Brookvale 163 Bauer, Private Francis Charles 4008 Wife---PDF p. 1 · check columns
24/01/1921 Baxter C. C. Baxter Burwood NSW 179---PDF p. 1 · check columns
7/10/1920 Bayliss Mrs Sarah Christiana Mrs S. C. Bayliss Greenwich NSW Hinemoa, Victoria Street, Greenwich 171 Bayliss, Gunner Alfred John 10121 Mother / Bayliss, Private Walter Norman 3684---PDF p. 1 · check columns
Miss Bessie BaylisNewtownBayliss, Gunner Alfred John / Bayliss, Private Walter Norman8/01/1921PDF p. 1
11/01/1921 Beard Mrs Constance Violet Mrs Constance Beard Camperdown NSW 23 Marsden Street, Camperdown 179 Beard, Private Rupert Francis 4920 Mother Father Francis George Beard---PDF p. 1 · check columns
8/10/1920 Beaton Mrs Isabella Mrs J. Beaton Peakhurst NSW 21 Gardinia Street, Peakhurst 172 Beaton, Private Duncan James 6719 Wife---PDF p. 1 · check columns
17/02/1921 Beauchamp Mrs Mrs Beauchamp Waverley NSW 178---PDF p. 1 · check columns
11/01/1921 Beaumont Mrs Emily Augusta E. A. Beaumont Ashfield NSW Nixon Avenue, Ashfield 179 Beaumont, Private Bernshaw Lomax 3709 Mother Father William Beaumont lived at Combarngo, Yuleba, Queensland---PDF p. 1 · check columns
13/01/1921 Beaven Mrs Esther Mrs Esther Beaven Bowral NSW Bundaroo Street, Bowral NSW 179 Beavan, Private Benjamin John Ernest 5223 Wife---PDF p. 1 · check columns
3/03/1921 Beaven Miss Laura Miss L. Beaven Cootamundra NSW Jindalee via Cootamundra 179 Beaven, Private Arthur 4429 Sister Parents Arthur John and Elizabeth Beaven, Clifford Street, Parramatta---PDF p. 1 · check columns
27/01/1921 Beavis Miss Rosina L Miss R. Beavis Bathurst NSW 240 Rocket Street, Bathurst 179 Beavis, Lance Corporal Edward Bathurst 1717 Sister---PDF p. 1 · check columns
9/01/1921 Beckhaus Mrs Teresa Mrs T. Beckham Croydon Park NSW Clyde Street, Croydon Park NSW 179 Beckhaus, Private John Roy 3694 Mother---PDF p. 1 · check columns
27/01/1921 Beer Mrs Kathleen Mrs K. Beer Glebe NSW 62 Glebe Street, Glebe 180 Beer, Private Alexander James 2528 Wife---PDF p. 1 · check columns
6/04/1921 Beggs Mrs Eliza Mrs Maurice Beggs Parkes NSW Billabong Creek, Parkes 180---PDF p. 1 · check columns
12/01/1921 Begnell Mrs Sarah Mrs Sarah Bagnell Strathfield NSW Eve Street, Strathfield 179 Gorman, James William 6997 Mother Enlisted as James William Gorman, his grandmother's name, but was born in Dublin as James William Begn---PDF p. 1 · check columns
11/10/1920 Bell Mrs Ernest Milton Mrs E. M. Bell Croydon NSW Queensbury Road Croydon Park 174 Bell, Gunner Roy Pinto 10126 Mother---PDF p. 1 · check columns
19/05/1921 Bell Mrs Mary Ann Mrs Mary Bell Botany NSW Botany Road, Mascot 180 Bell, Private Edward 5438 Mother Second packet sent---PDF p. 1 · check columns
10/01/1921 Bell Mrs Mary Ann Mrs Mary Bell Botany NSW Botany Road, Mascot 180 Bell, Private Edward 5438 Mother Father John Bell (deceased)---PDF p. 1 · check columns
13/01/1921 Bennett Mrs P. Mrs P. Bennett Haberfield NSW 180---PDF p. 1 · check columns
12/01/1921 Bennett Mrs A. Mrs A. Bennett Junee NSW 180---PDF p. 1 · check columns
13/01/1921 Bennetts Arthur Victor A. V. Bennett Mosman NSW Durrow, 21 Spofforth Street, Mosman 178 Im memory of comrades 26516 Friend Postwar he was actively involved with ex-service organisations. At the time of his death, in a car accident on---PDF p. 1 · check columns
11/10/1920 Berry Mrs Jane Mrs E. J. Berry Eastwood NSW "Bendigo" May Street, Eastwood 174 Berry, Private Frederick 137 Mother Father James Berry. Brothers James 2316 and Edward 1150 also served and returned to Australia---PDF p. 1 · check columns
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