Graves and memorials are in poor condition

A woman recently contacted the Goulburn Post to say she was “heartbroken” to see the state of disrepair of a soldier’s memorial. 

“I was recently up at the two old cemeteries (Mortis Street and St Saviour’s Cemeteries) and was heart broken to see the neglect of all the graves and memorials,” Bernadette Hilton said. 

“What was particularly upsetting was seeing a memorial to a soldier who had died a Gallipoli that was so neglected.”

The plaque she was referring to is that of Edward Caruthers Bryden, who was killed in action at Gallipoli on April 26, 1915.

The top of the headstone that contains an inscription to Private Bryden has been knocked off and the cement around the base the crypt (which contains other members of his family) is cracked and broken. 

Goulburn RSL sub branch historian Rod MacLean confirmed that Mr Bryden is not actually buried in the Mortis Street grave, and that no trace of his remains have ever been found. 

“To set the record straight, Edward Carruthers Bryden is not buried in that grave,” Mr MacLean said. 

“He was killed in action on April 26, 1915 during an attack at 400 Plateau and was originally buried at the head of Wire Gully on Gallipoli, but no trace of his grave nor his remains have been found and he is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial Anzac. His widowed mother lived at "Birklees" 220 Cowper St Goulburn.”

Some research at the Mulwaree High Remembrance Museum revealed that Private Edward Bryden was a station hand. He enlisted on September 18, 1914 and was in the Fourth Battalion, First Infantry Brigade. He was 20 years old when killed in action. 

A call to Goulburn Mulwaree Council confirmed that: “individual graves are not council's responsibility.”

“The sad reality is that the families of these graves are probably no longer around to fix them,” Ms Hilton said.