The Keppies is a pioneering family of the Paterson district and one of the most respected for a long history of contributions to the development of the town.
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James Keppie arrived in 1831 as engineer of the Sophia Jane, the first paddle steamship seen in Sydney Harbour.
When war was declared on August 6, 1914, Arthur Ernest Keppie was one of the first to enlist with the 4th NSW Battalion AIF – service number 205.
Arthur (Podge) was born at Paterson on March 3, 1883, the eighth of 10 children born to William and Salome Keppie.
Private Keppie’s battalion became part of the first contingent of Australian and New Zealand forces that assembled in a large flotilla in King George Sound on the south coast of Western Australia.
He was aboard the SS Euripides that sailed for Egypt on November 1, 1914.
Private Keppie kept an articulate diary and his writings to family and friends provided detailed records and impressions of army life.
“After leaving Albany and calling at Colombo, Aden, Suez, Port Said, Alexandria and from there to Cairo by train, we encamped at the foot of the pyramids. About 10,000 troops here and more to follow,” he wrote.
Food, clothing and general conditions, outings and jesting were well described and carefully kept and published.
During its time in Egypt, Private Keppie’s company was changed to the 14th Platoon, D Company, 1st Infantry Brigade AIF.
Private Keppie wrote his last letter while at sea on April 21, 1915, en route to Gallipoli.
A telegram to his parents from the secretary of defence on June 15 stated that Private Keppie was reported wounded but not seriously.
What followed was an ominous void.
The Mercury of March 29, 1916, reported that a Private Price, in the same company, stated that: “Arthur was wounded during a charge about a mile and a half inland from Anzac beach. He was hit by machine bullets and died instantly.”
Price stated that he saw “Arthur buried between Shrapnel Gully and Tasmanian Post at Gallipoli”.
Private Keppie was killed in action at Gallipoli on April 26, 1915, but this was not confirmed to his grieving family until August 1916.
They had spent 16 months waiting, frustrated and in sadness.
A celebration walk around one of the Hunter Valley’s most interesting towns will be held on Sunday, March 15.
So fascinating is the story of the heritage-listed village that dates back to 1821 land grants, the Paterson Historic Town Walk attracts big groups of visitors every year.
The town walk, celebrating 100 years since the landing at Gallipoli, starts at 1pm from Paterson Court House Museum, which will be open from 11am until 4pm.
Cost is $5 per person and includes entry to the museum, the town walk and afternoon tea.
Paterson Historical Society president Cameron Archer is the tour guide.
“The walk attracts 50 to 100 visitors,” Dr Archer said. People love Paterson and there are many with attachments to the town and an interest in it.
“It has an interesting history and the walk provides an opportunity for people to be exposed to a lot about Paterson in a short period.
“The walk has become part of the town’s annual calendar and people set aside time to attend.”
A special feature of the walk will be acknowledgement of the service of Private Arthur Ernest Keppie, of Paterson, who was killed at Gallipoli on April 26, 1915, one day into the campaign, Dr Archer said.
“We have letters from Arthur Keppie and a small book written about his service.
“Extracts from his letters home will be read at the start of the walk.”
Another highlight will be the ringing of the original 1884 bell at St Columba’s Catholic Church to start the walk.
The tour will also take in the air raid shelter built near the local school in 1941.
