Millar Buzzard

Introduction

Millar Buzzard, my grandfather, was born in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia on 2nd November 1886.

His grandfather, Thomas Meredith Buzzard, migrated (at his own cost) from Jewry Street, London to Port Phillip (Melbourne), Victoria in 1852. In London, Thomas was in the straw hat trade but soon after arriving in Melbourne, he changed occupations to become, initially, a successful bookseller and stationer. He married a local girl, Elizabeth Anne Long, the daughter of a chemist, in 1859.

The Thomas Meredith Buzzard Family Tree is in Appendix 1.

Millar’s father, Alfred Ernest Buzzard, was born in Hawthorn, Melbourne in 1859 and had success as an auctioneer and real estate developer. He married Emily Alice Millar in 1885.

Emily Alice was the daughter of Charles Gibson Millar, who together with his brother Edwin Franks Millar, formed a timber company. The company evolved into a very large and profitable company and in 1902 became the Millar’s Jarrah and Karri Co, and then Millars Timber and Trading Co Ltd. The latter company was taken over by Bunnings Brothers Ltd in 1983 and is now known as Bunnings, which is currently, the largest hardware supplier in Australia.

Being born into a wealthy family, Millar was educated in the best schools in Australia and England. After his schooling, Millar eventually went to work, for a short time, in the Millar family timber industry in Western Australia. When his father died, his mother re-married and he was made a manager and then partner, of a sheep station (large farm), with his stepfather.

After the station was sold, Millar married Margaret Mary Sheridan in 1913. They eventually settled, for a short time, near Dongara and Geraldton, Western Australia, where they began to raise a family.

In World War 1, he served with artillery units of the 1st A.I.F.. He embarked on a troopship for Europe on 11th May 1916. The warring parties signed an Armistice on 11th November 1918 and Millar, with many other servicemen, was kept in Europe for a short time after the war. He eventually returned to Australia when his ship arrived at Fremantle on 18th October 1919.

He went back to Moora, Western Australia, and after a short time secured a Soldier Settler farm. Less than five months after taking possession of the farm, he was killed in a shooting accident, on his farm. He left behind his pregnant wife, Margaret Mary Buzzard (nee Sheridan), and three young children.

This is the story of the Buzzard Family, starting with Thomas Buzzard, and following subsequent generations until we focus on Millar Buzzard.

MOORA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, CEMETERY

In Tender Memory
of
MILLAR BUZZARD
Lieut. In A.F.A
4 Years Active Service in A.I.F.
Born Victoria Nov. 2nd 1886
Accidentally Killed Moora July 12th 1920
Aged 33 years.
REST ETERNAL GRANT UNTO HIM. O’LORD

[Lieutenant in Australian Field Artillery
4 Years Active Service in Australian Imperial Force]