AJSAHistory Vol 7 Iss 2

And all who trust him find him true;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?23
Academics have outlined that Methodism was built upon Scripture, tradition, logic, and
experience, or what is called the ‘Wesleyan quadrilateral’.24 If The Salvation Army is to keep its
future practices in line with its past aims then tradition, or history, needs to play its part.
As we research, present, document and display the history of The Salvation Army, we see that
some of the old methods that made the Army so highly successful in its early years may not be
accepted in 2022. The study of history can unlock the belief and motivation behind the methods to
assist the Army to re-engaged with society. Through the investigation of controversy, education, the
knowledge of our patriarchs and matriarchs, motivation, response, culture, belief and spirituality,
service, production and music, jollification, should lead Salvationists to advancement, promotion and
opportunity. This all needs to be done with God’s guidance. I pray that The Salvation Army will
never lose the guidance of God and that the Chapter may continue to teach us from our history. God
bless our Army, God bless our Brisbane Chapter!

23 Sidney Edward Cox, “This is what the Lord has done,” The Salvation Army song book (London, UK: The Salvation
Army, 2015), 335.
24 Alan K. Waltz (ed.), “The Wesleyan quadrilateral,” A dictionary for United Methodists, (Nashville, USA: Abingdon
Press, 1991).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 101

Officer Cadet Florence Mann1

1 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 102

THE MANN AND WILL LEGACY

Lyndon Armstrong

Abstract

This paper combines everyday stories and some significant events from the lives of two
Salvationist families, who ultimately provided about 30 serving officers from three family
generations across the last century. Their stories and factual records of events help define their
impressive Salvationist values even for those Army times.

The work focusses on three generations of the Mann and Will families, originating mostly
from the small country corps of Pittsworth, west of Toowoomba. It reflects in some measure what
is well-known – how different was Army officership then and how strict sometimes could be the
organisational approach. It was a measure of the social times, both inside and outside Christian
organisations.

Their commitment to their calling by their Master would uphold many through these
difficult historical periods, the Great Depression and World War II, complementing their natural
rural fortitude. This is illustrated through some of the Army life experiences of Lyndon’s mother,
Edna Will: her officership was curtailed after seven years due to an emotional breakdown; her
short training period during which her dear father passed; her difficult appointments especially in
war-time and with insufficient support; etc were not uncommon for some officers then. Yet many
kept being “called” onward by their Heavenly father - within her family of seven, three sisters
would give valuable officer service, as did her daughter Genny (Bryant) until her recent
retirement.

Edna’s own officer service followed the previous generation of eight officers out of the one
original Mann family of 13 surviving children. This contribution may have started with a Mann,
but what followed was a Will to show the way.

Introduction

The Mann and Will family legacy was established in Australia initially by the patriarch George Mann.
He was born in 1849 in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England. George was only six years old when he
migrated with his parents and his siblings to Sydney on 3 August 1855 on the ship SS Lloyd. George’s
father John was recorded as 46 years old, and his mother Ann 41.2

The family subsequently migrated overland from Sydney to Queensland settling on the Darling
Downs near the town of Pittsworth, west of Toowoomba. It would be George as well as his wife
Sarah as adults and parents who particularly contributed to the material and spiritual prominence of
the Mann family.

Previous genealogical research has established many details of the Mann family tree and the
contributions by Mann, Will and other family branches to Queensland secular society. What is
somewhat less informed is the development of the family’s Christian faith and spiritual commitment
to leadership roles in The Salvation Army. This information is usually only sparsely listed or
referenced in genealogical records.

So our “collection of everyday stories” will include aspects on the development by the Mann
family of a farming enterprise, and its contribution to Salvation Army communities across
Queensland. This will encompass the 150 year period from the 1850s to the end of the 20th century,
focussing on selected branches of the Mann and the downline Will family.

Reference citation of this paper: Lyndon Armstrong, “The Mann and Will legacy”, The Australasian journal of
Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 102 – 115.
2 “The Mann clan” in “Roots and branches”, Eric George Will, (30 June 1984).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 103

Faith and farming

Not only did the Mann males bring their occupations as shepherds and farmers to Australia but also
their spiritual faith. Yet wives and daughters contributed significantly not just to home life, but also
to farming enterprises and spiritual values. These were valuable contributions by the whole family.
This was particularly evident from my personal observation; mothers and daughters in farming
families were generally not shielded too much from “outside” work. Some differentiation was
practised considering different skills or physical strength, but overall it was a communal effort. So it
was too in the teaching and training of the family in the “way of the Lord”.

These aspects were inherent in the upbringing of both my parents and grandparents and their
siblings, but it also continued in my generation. In each case a family farming enterprise was
developed and integrated with church worship, service and home faith teaching. This occurred from
the 1900s on the Darling Downs and from the 1950s in Central Queensland. As such the teaching of
good ethical values was founded on spiritual truths, giving an authentic mix to support practical
living.

George’s father, John Mann is listed as a “Wesleyan” on his migration records. No doubt
George would have been influenced in his adult Christian thinking by his father’s church
denomination. After their migration to Australia in 1855, George also followed in his father’s
occupation as a shepherd, working for a time on “Eton Vale” Station and others on the Darling
Downs. It is said he taught himself to read and write by scratching letters on his blackened billy can
used for making tea over an open wood fire.3 The lonely life of the shepherd in those times gave
George much opportunity for meditation and prayer, seeking a sound basis for his relationship with
his Creator.

George also tried his hand briefly at gold mining in Gympie, Queensland, following the
discovery of gold in that area, probably with the idea of establishing better financial credentials to get
married. Ultimately though he put more productive effort into selecting pastoral land blocks of his
own and turning them into profitable sheep farming enterprises. This outcome came despite some
controversy he had with the colony in some early business dealings. Nevertheless George Mann was
described in award-winning family research as having a “strict Wesleyan conscience”, as might be
expected from his upbringing.4

After he returned from Gympie to the Darling Downs, Queensland, he fell rather quickly in
love with, and quite soon married Sarah Ann Billingham on 21 July 1874. A copy of their marriage
record is in Figure 1, from a family album. Sarah was only 17 years old when they married.

Most of their surviving seven sons and six daughters were born and raised on George’s
“Lawndale” land selection, with a large home built for the growing family. A photo of George in his
“mature years” is in Figure 2.

3 “Mann Memoranda”, Norman Mann, (9 October 1982).
4 “Mann’s block”, Eric G. Will, Winner of 1985 Australia Day Writers’ Award, The chronicle, “Thursday magazine”,
(Toowoomba 24 January 1985).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 104

Figure 1: George and Sarah Mann’s marriage record5

Figure 2: George Mann6
Sarah was born in 1856 in Sydney to parents and recent migrants, Richard Billingham and Elizabeth
(née Luck). She too travelled overland as a child with her parents to the Darling Downs, but also worked for a
time in Brisbane. She was married to George Mann in her parents’ home by Rev William L. Nelson, the
Presbyterian Minister.
Table 1 has basic birth, marriage and death records for George and Sarah.

5 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.
6 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 105

George MANN Sarah Ann (née BILLINGHAM)

born 1849 ; Burwell, UK 1856 ; Sydney

marr 21 Jul 1874 ; Drayton, Qld

died 1926, 3 Dec ; Pittsworth 1934, 25 Dec; Pittsworth

Table 1 : Basic birth-marriage-death data for George and Sarah7

Their 14 children in sequence of birth are listed in Table 2 with their years of birth from 1875
(Susan) to 1904 (Edwin). Eight from this first generation became Salvation Army Officers; these are
highlighted in pink.

The number of children born to each of the 10 down-line child-bearing families are also
recorded in Table 2, together with some of the new surnames introduced into the family tree by these
marriages. A more complete list of inter-marriage surnames down to the third and fourth generations
has been provided by other research.8 This indicates how widespread is the Salvationist and church
influence originating from George and Sarah Mann’s extended downline family.

George & Sarah MANN 6 SMITH;…
1 Susan 1875

2 Ann 1877 4 REEVES;…
3 William 1879 11 OLE;…
4 John 1881 2
5 Jessie 1882 7 BRUCE;…
6 Florence 1884 6 WILL;…

DRURY;…

7 Thomas 1887 4 JACKLING;…

8 Edith 1889 0 DRURY
9 George 1891 5 PLUMRIDGE;…

10 Charles 1893 2 SONDERGELD;SMALLBON;..

11 Norman 1896 0 MARTIN;

12 Benjamin 1898 0

13 Ivy 1900 2 HARDES;.. BIGNELL;..
14 Edwin 1904 0 McNALLY;…

1st Name Birth Yr No Children (some) Next Gen Surnames

Table 2: Officer children of George and Sarah Mann

As has been described in official Pittsworth Corps documents: “in 1896, The Salvation Army
came to Pittsworth for Cottage Meetings”. Following soon after on 29 April 1897, the first officer
Captain George Simpson began the full-time Army work in Pittsworth.9 So prior to these grand

events, George, Sarah and their first 10 children probably attended the local Methodist Church, its
Sunday School and other church activities. But the “strange new church” in town quickly attracted
worshippers. “Together with other families such as the Holmes, J.C. Mann (no relation to George

7 Please note that this and other tables are not in the format of the journal as they were sent to the editor as images and
not as text-based items.
8 “Members of the Mann family who became Salvation Army Officers”, Norman Mann, (c1982).
9 These fifty years: Pittsworth jubilee of The Salvation Army; Programme & souvenir: 1896 – 1946, (The Salvation
Army, 1946).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 106

Mann), Neales, Boxes, and Wills, George and Sarah Mann’s family began attending The Salvation
Army in Pittsworth”, many becoming Soldiers and serving local officers.10

An early attendee was George and Sarah’s oldest child, Susan Mann who became interested,
then applied and was accepted for officer training college. Although not explicitly stated, one likely
enticement for joining The Salvation Army was the Army’s encouragement of service by female
officers and leaders, compared to other denominations during that time. After officer training Susan
was appointed to serve in New Zealand where she met and then later married Harry Smith.3 They
served as officers in New Zealand for many years and their descendants can be traced there to this
day.

The second child, Ann Elizabeth also answered the call to officer training college and later
married Richard Reeves. Their family descendants are scattered over most of the states of Australia.11
Florence, the 6th born to George and Sarah Mann on 28 October 1884, was also an officer, as shown
in Table 2. A delightful photo, labelled “Aunt Florrie”, has survived in good condition. She is attired
in a magnificent open-style bonnet with an extravagant ribbon, and a uniform without insignia (Figure
3). This I believe was called at the time a “Hallelujah Bonnet” as the Army bonnet was often called
at that time. Florence would later marry Harold Drury and bear six children (Table 2). After
Florence’s passing, Harold would subsequently marry Florence’s younger sister Edith, born 1 August
1889, with no further children born.

Figure 3: Officer Cadet Florence Mann12
And so it continued into successive generations as selected for Table 3, extending Table 2.
Some of the officer surnames in the following generations are highlighted on the right.

10 “Mann Memoranda”, Norman Mann, (9 October 1982).
11 “Mann Memoranda”, Norman Mann, (9 October 1982).
12 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 107

George & Sarah MANN

1 Susan 6 SMITH;…

2 Ann 4 REEVES;…

3 William 11 OLE;…

4 John 2 BRUCE;…

5 Jessie 7 WILL;…

6 Florence 6 DRURY;…

7 Thomas 4 JACKLING;…

8 Edith 0 DRURY

9 George 5 PLUMRIDGE;…

10 Charles 2 SONDERGELD;SMALLBON;..

11 Norman 0 MARTIN;

12 Benjamin 0

13 Ivy 2 HARDES;.. BIGNELL;..

14 Edwin 0 McNALLY;…

1st Name No Children (some) Next Gen Officers

Table 3: Other generation officers from George and Sarah Mann

This phenomenon extends to and has been documented by other research down to the fourth
generation from George and Sarah Mann.13

One example of the extended officer generations to this day is Marlene Pillinger (later Burns)

who still leads an active life of faith contribution in Brisbane, Queensland. Marlene is a grand-

daughter of Ann, the second child to George and Sarah (Tables 2 and 3), and a daughter of Hilda

Collins. I met up with her when she and her husband Keith Pillinger served as corps officers in
Gladstone, Queensland.14

Some other examples in successive generations were also previously published: Noel Reeves

(grandson of Ann, son of Bramwell and Elsie Reeves); Roslyn Walker (grand-daughter to Ivy,

daughter of Joy McLeod); Julia Metcher (grand-daughter of Envoy Charles, daughter of Ron); and

Sandra Hogg (great-granddaughter of Ann, grand-daughter of Frederick, daughter to Allison
Wiseman).15

George and Sarah’s shared faith and its manifestation in their married and family relationships
makes for an interesting everyday story. One of George’s grandsons by way of his mother Jessie Will
was Eric George Will, who did some meticulous family research. He stated “George Mann (Snr) was
a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, helping establish the church in Pittsworth.”16

Eric Will also comments on the everyday story of George’s wife Sarah in this way: “she became

mother to 14 children, one dying in infancy, most of whom she reared as members of The Salvation
Army. She loyally supported her husband during a long and active life.”17 Another describes the
situation in similar terms: “Sarah was a Salvationist of the Pittsworth Corps. Her husband, a
Methodist, supported and encouraged their Salvationist children.”18

It is a delightful outcome that these two “analogous” denominations, Methodism and

Salvationism co-existed in productive harmony within this family for the benefit of both. The

convivial faith arrangement produced clergy, and other leaders for The Salvation Army, and also to

13 “Members of the Mann family who became Salvation Army Officers”, Norman Mann, (c1982).
14 “Members of the Mann family who became Salvation Army Officers”, Norman Mann, (c1982).
15 “Members of the Mann family who became Salvation Army Officers”, Norman Mann, (c1982).
16 “Mann Memoranda”, Norman Mann, (9 October 1982).
17 “Mann Memoranda”, Norman Mann, (9 October 1982).
18 “Members of the Mann family who became Salvation Army Officers”, Norman Mann, (c1982).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 108

some extent for the Methodist Church with Eric Will and others doing much lay-preaching for the
Methodist Church around Toowoomba.

There are also many collections of everyday stories of the Mann and Will families in early War
cry publications. The often quaint vocabulary and “warrior wording” are examples of the passion and
fervour not very often found in published articles today. Notable among these was one on Ivy Mann,
the 13th child to George and Sarah Mann, with the following article published when she was 19 years
of age at Pittsworth Corps prior to her going to officer training college:

Sister Ivy Mann of Pittsworth is an “explosive”, and is highly valued for her work in our Corps.
An open-air fighter of the first grade, always ready to speak, sing or pray, she is an earnest YP
Guard, who teaches the Primary Class and is loved by her small band of scholars. All in our town
know and speak of Ivy as a Salvationist. Our young comrade always smashes her target for Self-
Denial, and can be depended upon to do all that she is asked to do; at Harvest Festival and Self-
denial sales she does well with her confectionary stall. Her confectionary is well made, and always
finds a ready sale.

There is only one thing lacking, and we are unanimous in our desire to see her in a
Hallellujah bonnet. We appreciate her, and wish her God’s continual blessing – S. Hook,
Captain.19

Will contribution

Another everyday story from an early War cry gives an entertaining description of the wedding day
of my grandmother (Jessie Mann - fifth child born to George and Sarah Mann) to my grandfather,
George Jacob Will, as shown below. This is a good way to introduce the next generation – the Will
contribution to the Mann - Will family legacy:

Brother Will and Sister Mann of Pittsworth, two reliable soldiers put their heads together and
made up their minds they would get married. On January 18 they both agreed to say, “I will”.
The service was to take place in the barracks at 11am, but the great fall of rain, which was truly
welcome, prevented this, so our humble servant had to be driven 5 miles to the bride’s parent’s
home to make the happy couple man and wife. But to get there was anything but a pleasant job,
as the black soil roads of the Darling Downs after three or four inches of rain are rather bad, but
it’s surprising what one can do at a time like this. The groom made a tip-top driver, mud and slush
were nothing to him that day, and we arrived at the home, and we soon got to business”.20

The war cry editing at that time must have been designed more for interest value and not strictly
for information!

Here was another example of ecumenical attitude in the household across denominations, where
the mother Jessie encouraged her children towards Salvationist worship and leadership, while George
Jacob Will’s personal faith was Methodism. Yet both parents were proudly supportive of the faith
development in their children and their service contribution to God’s work, whether it was manifest
through the local Methodist Church or in wider Salvation Army service.

As well as serving in local Pittsworth Corps leadership and learning in those roles, three Will
sisters were accepted into officer training colleges, as shown in Table 4 with red highlight.

19 The war cry, (Melbourne, 30 May 1919).
20 The war cry, (Melbourne, 11 February 1905).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 109

George & Sarah MANN Children

5. Jessie m. George Jacob WILL Miriam 1931

Bessie 1931

Dulcie 1933

Eric

Edna 1941

Les

Merv

College Session

Table 4: Will Salvation Army officers

• Bessie Will was accepted into the 1931 Sydney Training College session and served in mostly
social appointments as a single officer in or around Sydney. It was a difficult time for society
and for social work with the Depression accentuating needs in city and rural communities.

Bessie so much missed the family farm on the Downs and her parents and family. She was
only 23 in her college year, but was a dedicated and caring officer for several years.

• Dulcie Will was trained in the Sydney Officer Training College in 1933, followed by
Midwifery and General Nursing in Melbourne. The Silver Star Award was presented in
December 1936 to Dulcie’s mother Jessie Will, as the usual recognition of her as the mother
of an officer. This is shown in Figure 4. Dulcie undertook some years’ service as a single
officer using her nurse’s training before marrying Captain Ted Adams in December 1941.
They served together for 38 years in various leadership posts mainly in Victoria until Brigadier
Ted’s passing in 1972. Dulcie continued as a single officer with another 20 years’ service
mainly in aged care facilities in Perth, Western Australia.

Figure 4: Jessie Will’s Order of the Silver Star for Dulcie’s commissioning21
• My mother, Edna Will entered Sydney Training College in 1941, then served for seven years

as an officer before ill health and The Salvation Army rules of the time combined to force her
early retirement from officership. More personal details will follow in the next section to show
what it was like to be a young single Salvation Army officer in the World War II years.

21 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

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Edna’s officer training
In 1941, officer training in the Australian Eastern Territory was conducted for only 10 months, from
March 1941 to the commissioning of officer cadets on 12 January 1942. This happened in the training
college complex at Petersham, New South Wales. The building (Figure 5) had an impressive edifice,
even compared to today’s college facilities. Edna’s room was on level two at the far left of the photo.

Figure 5: The Salvation Army Training College, Petersham, Sydney, 194122
The bedroom/study cubicles and personal areas (Figure 6) had a more functional look than today’s
equivalent. Photos of the time show nevertheless a pleasing “fullness to capacity” of lecture halls and
common areas (Figure 6) compared to intakes of today.

Figure 6: Personal cubicle and lecture room in the Petersham Training College23
Edna was a hard-working student who wanted to do well. She was popular with staff and fellow
cadets, as shown by official college reports and anecdotes from other session cadets. Figure 7A shows
Edna receiving instruction with a group of other female cadets. Figure 7B is a close-up part-way
through her 10 month’s training.

22 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.
23 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 111

Figure 7A: Cadet Edna Will (seated, far left)24

Figure 7B: Officer Cadet Edna Ruth Will, 194125
Although only 23, she exhibited strong discipline, and blossomed with new confidence and
skills, as she showed in out-training and evangelical assignments locally in Sydney and in Brisbane.
All seemed to be proceeding well for her during November 1941 towards her final studies. She
celebrated her 24th birthday on the 24 November 1941, with congratulatory telegrams from family
and friends back in Queensland. But only three days after her birthday, she received shattering news
that would turn her world upside down - a telegram came stating her father had passed away suddenly
of a massive heart attack. Her earthly father was so near and dear to her, possibly reflecting her being
his youngest daughter. He was also such a strong spiritual encouragement to her calling and
commitment as an officer.
Edna spoke little of it in later years, not saying whether this personal tragedy seriously tempted
her to give up officership - neither of her fathers, her Heavenly Father or her earthly one, would want
her to neglect such a definite calling. Her resilience came in some measure from her earthly father.
She took bereavement leave to make the long, lonely travel by train back to Pittsworth for the funeral.
Her commitment to her Heavenly Father remained true and strong, and she returned to college,
finished her studies and was commissioned in mid-January 1942 for His service in the “Crusaders”
College Session. Two weeks earlier she even travelled to Melbourne to fulfill being bridesmaid at her
sister Dulcie’s wedding - when Edna made a commitment, it was a commitment.

24 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.
25 Courtesy of Lyndon Armstrong.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 112

Edna’s service appointments
Comments can be made about Edna Will’s officer appointments displayed in Figure 8:

Figure 8: Edna’s appointments, and later as a local officer with George Armstrong
• Her seven years of appointments involved six different Corps, all but one in NSW.
• She started as a Provisional Lieutenant and retired as a Captain due mainly to emotional ill-

health.
• Her longest appointment was 20 months at Kingaroy, her last appointment. Her shortest was

her first appointment at Macksville for six months.
• Her first position with sole responsibility as the “CO” (Corps Officer) and living by herself

was at Singleton NSW for nine months in 1943. She was only 26 years old, and had been an
officer for only 18 months, up to then only as an assistant at smaller Corps like Macksville
and Adamstown.
o Years later she would speak of the anxiety she felt at various times at Singleton. It was

World War II and the Singleton area had large solders’ camps and military barracks. At
times coming back at night by train would be a fearful experience with many soldiers,
drunk as well as sober, crowded onto the trains. Others would “sleep it off” under her
front verandah - they likely got more sleep than she did! At this stage she had to rely on
her bicycle or public transport to do her officer work. Later she would purchase a 15 year
old (1928) “Chevvy” ute which was very useful for her rural or semi-rural appointments.
o One noteworthy coincidence of history was linked to an event that had happened years
earlier in Singleton. In February 1889, George Thomas HILDER and Sophia
STEVENSON, the parents of Edna’s future mother-in-law, were the first couple to be
married in the new Singleton Corps.
• Edna’s next two appointments after Singleton were Bega and Griffith, both in New South
Wales and both had warm-hearted people and relied on surrounding rural areas. Edna was
happy to stay somewhat longer at each place, 12 – 15 months. Also welcome was an assistant
The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 113

provided to her in each place, especially her cousin Faith Mann at Griffith (grand-daughter to
John Mann; see Table 3). She tried new ideas to attract attendees and to win souls which
sometimes brought harvest, and she made some life-long friends.
• Kingaroy, Queensland, was her next and last officer appointment, shown in blue font in Figure
7. This was a bigger town but still with a rural base and this reminded her somewhat of her
interaction with Toowoomba earlier in her life. She continued with her innovative ideas such
as radio broadcasts of Sunday worship and showed effective inspiration of her local officers.
o The major “grand moment” of her life there was meeting and later falling in love with her

future life partner George Armstrong, then a young Corps Sergeant Major at Kingaroy,
who had also felt the calling to become an Officer.
o But the corps work-load became overbearing for Edna. What she felt was inadequate
support from management meant she was compelled to take sick leave to recover her
emotional well-being after what was then called a nervous breakdown.
o Sometime after, my father George and Edna made plans to marry and work as a couple
together as officers. However, the latter was not accepted by Army regulations at the time,
since their age gap was just beyond the acceptable range; even though they felt working
together as married officers would have given them both the required support. They
decided on a marriage calling, but they could not do so as officers, so Edna resigned and
was farewelled from Kingaroy Corps and from officership on 11 January 1948.
But when one door closes, God often opens another. They travelled north to buy farmland and
ultimately settled in a small rural community near Gladstone, Queensland, called Machine Creek, just
west of Mount Larcom village. From that decision, God refined their calling for community ministry
encouraged initially by the quite young officer at Gladstone Corps, Lieutenant Bill Cairns. Other
officers at Gladstone would also encourage their ministry over the years, although some would not
be wholly on board with their degree of independence.
What followed were several decades of effective ministry in a rural community, a mix of
outpost Salvationism and inter-denominational aspects. Yet it was known far and wide in Army
circles as the “Machine Creek Outpost” with farm social events mixed with evangelical and
community outreach spanning over 40 years, shown in red font in Figure 8. It resulted in local families
across several generations being called to become immersed emotionally and spiritually in Christian
worship and service. This included their daughter Genny (and Dennis Bryant) as long-serving
Salvation Army officers until their recent retirement.

Why this legacy outcome?

It is interesting for me to experience the above officership phenomena personally over my last 60
years and now re-live the wider context via this family research. As such, it encourages me to
speculate tentatively on the elements that might have fostered such an enthusiastic response of
officers from within the Mann, Will and subsequent generations.

The significance of this calling and service can be gauged by the number of officers directly
from the Mann and Will generations plus those officers indirectly linked by marriage or birth. These
combined situations resulted in about 30 officer contributions, for the period from c1900 when the
first cadets in Table 2 were in their 20s, through to today.

So cautiously I proceed to propose why this happened via the Mann family in this period,
cautiously since I have never had the calling or the experience of officership myself. Yet factors

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 114

present in or around Pittsworth Corps with the earlier Mann and Will generations are worth
consideration as they were transposed in some measure to later generations.

So I contend that the significant output of officers and other leaders from this family and others
might be attributed in part to factors such as:

1. The times: The western world generally, including Australia in the early 20th century was less
secular and more respectful of Christianity compared to now. This was certainly the case with
the Army due to its social program having a high and appealing profile during the national or
international calamities in this time. This resulted in more church worshippers, and
consequently a flow on to more leader volunteers.

2. Female ministry opportunity: The Army’s approval and even encouragement of female
leaders was an unusual phenomenon and a definite attraction for God’s calling of female
leaders to be heard and obeyed. This may have been even more significant in the Mann and
Will families since the mothers in each case (Sarah Mann and Jessie Will, respectively) were
more active in Salvationism than the fathers in the families. It was probably no coincidence
that in those two cases outlined in detail in this paper (Tables 2 and 4) that 73% of the 11
direct officers were women.

3. Worship and service: Personal character traits related to strong spiritual values stemmed in
part from combining worship and service foundations. For the Mann and Will families, this
promoted a strong social network within the local Salvation Army fellowship. Sibling
interactions within larger families usually helped younger candidates follow previous service
pathways with more confidence.

4. Pioneering enterprise: A successful family enterprise helped all children who contributed to
it to learn the value of hard work, team-work, confident actions, etc, and to work with different
people. Seeing the value of these individually and in community might call them to more
willingly take on a Salvationist leadership role.

5. Local corps emphasis: Nurturing and stretching young adults within a supportive and caring
corps would instil confidence and “tough love” in local leaders, so that they gain the courage
and resilience to stand and withstand as candidates and officers in difficult circumstances.
Such a corps experience at Pittsworth would also mould and mature candidates so they
developed an effective mix of social and spiritual skills especially for pastoral care and other
functions of a leader.

It is apparent that at least some of these “effectiveness parameters” were transposed, but not
fully from the early years of the Mann and Will families of times past to the generations that followed
within present lifetimes. Yet still God calls Salvation Army leader candidates to His service as He
sees best, and well may we be thankful for that.

And to conclude, may we summarise the outcome of this paper as:
“This legacy started with a Mann, but what followed was a Will to show the way.”

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 115

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SALVATION ARMY LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
1988 – PRESENT

BOOKS DISCOVERED OR PUBLISHED SINCE
THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF AJSAHISTORY

Garth R. Hentzschel

Some issues of The Australasian journal of Salvation Army history will include a list of literature to
follow on from R.G. Moyles, A Bibliography of Salvation Army literature in English 1865-1987.1
The published works will be by Salvationists or contain information on The Salvation Army. It is
hoped these lists will assist researchers and those interested in more information on The Salvation
Army. Both bibliographical information and a brief outline of the work will be included. Please note
that the referencing style used in this list will mirror that of Moyles, to be compatible with his work.

Dowley, Tim (ed.). CHRISTIAN MUSIC: A GLOBAL HISTORY. Oxford, UK: Lion Hudson, 2011,
264 pp.

Two pages were dedicated to the history of music in The Salvation Army. The remainder of the
book covered the prehistory of Christian music as well as the changes of hymn and composition
styles in churches throughout the ages.

Flemming, Francina. JALU’S OUTBACK ADVENTURE. Australia: Francina Flemming, 2014, 28
pp.

The book for children was written and illustrated by retired Salvation Army officer Major
Francina Flemming after her tour of Australia. Australian animals and landscapes were included
to show ‘Creator God’.

Hailes, Ross. A RENMARK REVOLUTION: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF THE
COMMENCEMENT AND GROWTH OF THE SALVATION ARMY IN THIS SOUTH
AUSTRALIAN RIVERLAND IRRIGATION SETTLEMENT. Sydney, Australia: Ross
Hailes, 2022, 160 pp.

A collection of newspaper articles and memoirs tell the stories of Salvationists who commenced
and worked in the Renmark Corps (South Australia) of The Salvation Army.

Reference citation of this article: Garth R. Hentzschel, “A bibliography of Salvation Army literature in English
1988 – present. Books discovered or published since the previous issue of AJSAHistory”, The Australasian journal
of Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 116 – 119.
1 R.G. Moyles, A Bibliography of Salvation Army literature in English (1865-1987), (Lewiston, USA: The Edwin
Mellen Press, 1988).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 116

Cover of A Renmark revolution
Hentzschel, Glenda. A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MINISTRY.

THE SALVATION ARMY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, BRISBANE CHAPTER. Brisbane,
Australia: Cross & Crown Publications, 2022, 31 pp.
The booklet outlined the story of Salvation Army Historical Society meetings prior to the
commencement of the Brisbane Chapter. Information on the development of the Chapter and a
chronological list of meetings after its inception were included.

Cover A happy anniversary
Hetherington, Lloyd Brengle; with Hetherington, Sherrill; Hutchinson, Denise; and Hetherington,

Greg (eds). THE GENTLE GIANT. Canada: Independently Published, 2021, 189 pp.
The autobiography contained information on the life of the author in Canada and Africa. There
were also words of wisdom by the author and letters of encouragement by the author’s family
and friends.
May, Rob. THE TWO SISTERS: THE STORY OF ETTIE WOOD AND ANNIE MCKENZIE,
WIFE OF “FIGHTING MAC”. Australia: Rob May, 2021, [Kindle], 70 pp.
The family history outlined the story of two Hoepper sisters. One, Annie McKenzie was a
Salvation Army officer.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 117

Raimo, Ruth and Bray, Anja Mari. BEYOND THE UNTROD ROAD. BIOGRAPHY OF MAJOR
KEI GENO. THE FIRST PAPUA NEW GUINEAN SALVATIONIST. Papua New Guinea:
Ruth Raimo and Anja Mari Bray, 2006, 104 pp.
The collection of autobiographical notes, published reports, recollections from family members
and friends told the story of an early Papua New Guinean Salvationist.

Cover of Beyond the untrod road
Read, J. Edwards. KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT. Brookwood, Canada: J. Edward Read, 1995,

194 pp.
Christian covenant was investigated through both theological and practical discussions.
Examples of Old and New Testament covenants, The Salvation Army Soldiers’ Covenant, and
the marriage covenant were all investigated.
Sheridan, Greg. CHRISTIANS: THE URGENT CASE FOR JESUS IN OUR WORLD. Crows Nest,
Australia: Allen & Unwin, 2021, 372 pp.
Biblical and theological discussions were given to introduce the reader to Christian concepts
and Christian leaders. Lt.-Col. Dr. Lyn Edge was interviewed for the project and some of her
discussions were included at the conclusion of the book.
Stevens, Bruce A. CORPS LEADERSHIP LESSONS: HINTS ON LEADING A SALVATION
ARMY CORPS. Sydney, Australia: Bruce A. Stevens, 2016, 100 pp.
The book was a reflection on the skill and knowledge the author felt were needed in the
leadership role of a Salvation Army officer.
Swain, Jason R. UNDER TWO FLAGS: THE RISE, REBELLION AND REBUILDING OF THE
SALVATION ARMY IN AMERICA 1870-1913. Alexandria, USA: Crest Books, 2021, 93 pp.
An overview of the formative years of The Salvation Army in the United States of America. It
covered the leadership of James Jeremy, Amos, Annie and Eliza Shirley, George Scott Railton,

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 118

Thomas Moore, Ballington and Maud Booth, Frederick and Emma Booth-Tucker and
Evangeline Booth.

Cover of Under two flags
The Salvation Army. INNOVATE RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN. THE SALVATION

ARMY AUSTRALIA TERRITORY DECEMBER 2020-DECEMBER 2022. Melbourne,
Australia: The Salvation Army Australia Territory, 2020, 36 pp.
The booklet was an action plan to incorporate first nation’s philosophy and ideology into The
Salvation Army in Australia.
Y., Mariana M.. NOT ENOUGH PER ANNUM. Australia: Amazon.com.au, n.d., c2020, 55 pp.
Diary entries covered the time 2016 – 2020, when the author worked in a Salvation Army
headquarters in New Zealand.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 119

Garth R. Hentzschel with Dawn Volz at the Salvo Publishing booth during meetings to celebrate the
official launch of the new Australia Territory at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in

2018.1

1 Photo courtesy of Rachel Hentzschel.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 120

MEET THE AUTHOR

Publications about The Salvation Army or by Salvationists are often referenced, quoted, critiqued,
and evaluated without the reviewer knowing anything about the author, motivation, or publication
process. In an attempt to introduce works published about The Salvation Army to its readership, The
Australasian journal of Salvation Army history will, from time to time, investigate an author, or
outline the process of and motivation for writing a book. It is hoped this section of the journal, “Meet
the author”, will assist researchers and readers to better understand the works they review.

In the following paper, Garth R. Hentzschel, executive editor of AJSAHistory, interviews Dawn
Volz, author of the new biography Wings of faith: The remarkable life of Harry Read.2

AN INTERVIEW WITH
DAWN VOLZ

Garth R. Hentzschel and Dawn Volz

Garth Hentzschel: It is great to communicate with you again Dawn. The first time we met, you
were assistant literary secretary working with Salvo Publishing, and you were promoting
several books. What was your early connection with The Salvation Army and how did you come
to work with the Army and its Australian publishing outlet, Salvo Publishing?

Dawn Volz: Along with my five brothers and one sister, I was born and bred in The Salvation Army
and grew up attending the meetings at Fairfield (Vic.) Corps, plus primary, Sunday school and Corps
Cadets (gaining first prize in the General’s International Corps Cadets competition in 1963). I became
the junior timbrel leader, with 20 girls in the brigade, and was also an assistant leader in the Cubs.
My dad, Gordon Cooper, was the 3rd Fairfield Group Scoutmaster, honoured with a certificate of
exceptional service by Commissioner Hubert Scotney for his 45 years of Scouting leadership, and
presented with a medal of merit by Victorian Governor Sir Rohan Delacombe. He was also a member
of the Melbourne Staff Band from 1938 to 1945. Eddie Cooper, my uncle was the Fairfield
bandmaster, having also served as a Red Shield representative in Papua New Guinea during World
War II.

In 1965 I attended the Army’s Centenary Celebrations in London, where I met my future
husband, Kurt, a fine Salvationist from Germany, at the Royal Albert Hall. Kurt came to Australia
and after we were married we soldiered at Ringwood (Vic.). When our three sons were grown, I
applied for a position in the Australia Southern Territory’s Editorial Department in 2001 – having a
BA majoring in literature – and was hired by then Editor-in-Chief Pam Trigg. That was the beginning
of 19 years of the best job of my life. I revelled in working with words, interviewing remarkable
people, undertaking interesting research, and writing articles for Warcry and On fire. Copy-editing
and proofreading also became my responsibility. During this time, I undertook Certificate IV in
Magazine Writing, Editing and Publishing at RMIT University.

In 2009 the position of assistant literary secretary became available, and I jumped at the
opportunity. Working with Mal Davies (now Editor-in-Chief and Literary Secretary in the United
Kingdom and Ireland Territory), and others including Laurie Robertson and Ian Callander, we

Reference citation of this article: Garth R. Hentzschel and Dawn Volz, “Meet the author: An interview with
Dawn Volz”, The Australasian journal of Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 120 – 129.
2 Dawn Volz, Wings of faith: The remarkable life of Harry Read, (Australia: Dawn Volz, 2022).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 121

produced dozens of books under the banner of Salvo Publishing. Mal delighted in informing readers
that at that time we were “the most prolific book publishers in the worldwide Salvation Army”.

Hentzschel: Some Australian readers will remember your work in the lifestyle section of the
Australian Warcry. What did you look for in a good article for this section of the publication?

Volz: Obviously, lifestyle is an almost inexhaustible subject, and I enjoyed crafting the weekly,
generally light-hearted column, while also keeping an eye on current events and writing articles to
coincide with Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, and other annual celebrations. The topical articles
covered subjects from fitness, thriftiness and nutrition to exercise, volunteering, and fundraising for
a good cause, while sometimes referencing a newly-published good-advice book. I sometimes
enjoyed spicing up the articles with humour, quips and plays on words.

As an editorial staff writer until 2009, I had other responsibilities besides lifestyle articles and
film reviews. From time to time I was asked to write feature articles, interviewing – among others –
Julian Burnside QC, champion athlete Jana Pittman, singer Marina Prior, tennis legend Margaret
Court, former deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, TV personality Jessica Rowe, baritone Anthony
Warlow, and TV personality Mike Munro.

A stand-out interview was with the Hon. John Anderson. After the article was featured in
Warcry I was thrilled to receive a handwritten letter from him, and I quote: “You have a very real
way with the English language. In fact, I don’t think I’ve been interviewed by anyone who has done
a better or finer job. I salute you and thank you.” (Yes, I did keep that letter!)

I also wrote the occasional Retrospect column, which featured, among others, John Gore OF,
Bramwell Booth, the hallelujah lassies, Adjutant Mary Murray, the famed donut girls, the Joystrings,
Salvation Santa, Evangeline Booth, Sir Paul Hasluck, Henry Lawson, the Salvation Navy, and
Arnott’s SAO biscuits.

Hentzschel: I understand that you also wrote for On fire, the in-house publication for the former
Australia Southern Territory.3 Were there any differences in your mind when you were writing
for On fire compared with Warcry?

Volz: The war cry, first published in Australia on 16 June 1883, and later rebadged Warcry,
underwent another name change in 2020 to become Salvos magazine. Warcry and Salvos magazine
were not aimed primarily at a Salvation Army or Christian audience, but rather to challenge readers
about the Christian faith, report on the Army’s work in local communities, and advise people in need
about how to access assistance, including homelessness, domestic and family violence, and alcohol
and other drug services.

On fire was the Southern Territory equivalent of the Eastern Territory’s Pipeline, and the two
publications merged to become Others magazine in 2017. These magazines covered contemporary
Christian issues and Salvation Army news, while also encouraging readers toward personal and
spiritual growth.

Warcry and On fire were aimed at different readerships, but my aim in writing articles for either
magazine was to begin with an eye-catching first sentence to hook the reader, follow through with
interesting facts, observations and/or comments after extensive research, and end the article on a high

3 See for example, Dawn Volz, “Certain Women [Women in the Salvation Army]”, On fire 8, 13, (7 July 2007), 4 – 7.;
Dawn Volz, “Home and away”, On fire 5, 19, (2 October 2004), 6 - 7.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 122

note, giving readers something to think about. No matter the article, I always tried to make the
language vibrant and accessible.

Hentzschel: We have communicated a few times over our love of books. From where did your
love of books and the written word come?

Volz: Although I have many books in my home library, I don’t consider myself to be a bookworm.
Rather than flights of fancy such as novels (although many life lessons can be learned from great
novels), my enquiring nature means I’m keen on biographies and informative tomes. I’ve always
loved the written word, and can remember being rather proud when my English teachers at school
read out my compositions. I love the verve, energy and dynamism of language that good writers
display. I also enjoy the eloquence and majesty of the King James version of the Bible.

Hentzschel: Approximately how many books were published during your time with Salvo
Publishing and what were the major genres of books produced?

Volz: Over the years more than 70 books were published under the banner of Salvo Publishing,
largely targeting Christian readership, and also including children’s books. Specific genres included
holiness, Salvation Army history, leadership and devotional books. A scripture-based adult colouring
book, Blessings of the righteous, by Jo Brookshaw, proved to be a popular choice with readers, as
were three books of Lindsay Cox’s whimsical Salvo cartoons.

Authors were predominantly Salvation Army luminaries including Harry Read, Wesley Harris,
Lucille Turfrey, Stephen Court, Howard Davies, Ian Southwell, and Peter Brookshaw, some authors
producing two or three books over the years. It was a pleasure to work with each one of them, and
their cooperation and camaraderie made my job fulfilling and enjoyable. It was also a pleasure to
work with members of the Literary Council, who gave considered and valued advice about proposed
books.

Hentzschel: Were there any books that stood out to you while working with Salvo Publishing
and that you are especially proud to have published?

Volz: I thoroughly enjoyed working on each and every book, but two that were especially memorable
for me were first-person life stories that involved much courage on the part of the authors. One,
Fingerprints of grace, by Claire-Louise Watson, asked the question “Where is God in our suffering?”,
recounting her journey when her little daughter Hannah was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The
other, When hope speaks, by Jessica Morris, tells of how she had lived with depression and anxiety
since she was 12, and in the years since her diagnosis found that faith in God and the support of
family, friends and professionals enabled her to lead a life she once only dreamed of.

Best-sellers included The people’s general (Eva Burrows tribute); Words & music (Howard
Davies; Insane: The stories of crazy Salvos who changed the world (Nealson Munn and David
Collinson); My dear general: Letters to William Booth from the 21st century (Wesley Harris); Sounds
of the gospel: 125 years of the Melbourne Staff Band (Merv Collins); Heart talk: The give and take
of communion with God (Harry Read); Cuppa tea, Digger?: Salvos serving in World War Two
(Lindsay Cox); and children’s book Will & Kate: The story of William and Catherine Booth (Dawn
Volz).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 123

Hentzschel: You have assisted with editing devotional books, such as Ian Story’s Spiritual
lunchtime,4 and poetry books, such as Harry Read’s Heart talk, which would have had
interesting procedures themselves. However, you were also associate editor of a book in which
I contributed chapters. Darkness and deliverance: 125 years of the ‘In Darkest England Scheme’5
was academic writing and focused on history. How did you approach such a book when thinking
of editing?

Volz: Editing is an exacting task, requiring more than simply dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
Copy-editing begins with meticulous vetting of spelling, punctuation, grammar, consistency and
sense, as well as questions of style and content. The primary requirement of a copy-editor is skill in
language – weeding out ambiguities, tautologies, inaccuracies and incongruities – and my primary
aim in editing is to attune my eyes and ears for getting the words right.

These basic requirements apply to all kinds of writing, academic or otherwise. Editing of
academic writing also involves examining the structure and logic of the work, removing any repetitive
data and ensuring that all arguments are sound and well-supported. Darkness and deliverance brought
together contributors from around the world to explore past, present and future implications of
William Booth’s ‘Darkest England’ scheme, and with contributions from accomplished scholars and
writers including Roger Green, David Malcolm Bennett, Harold Hill, Matthew Seaman and Garth
and Rachel Hentzschel, my job as editor was unproblematic.

Hentzschel: There were two books you co-edited with Mal Davies. These books, while different
in layout, were focused on important areas of Salvation Army history. One, The people’s
General: A tribute to Eva Burrows,6 the other, A century of sessions: Cadets of The Salvation
Army Australia Southern Territory.7 Would you please tell our readers a little about these books
and the motivation behind their publication?

Volz: The people’s general, a coffee table book, explores Eva Burrows’ life, including being the
second-youngest of nine children, her university education, 17 years’ service in Africa, leadership in
Sri Lanka, Scotland and Australia, her worldwide inspiration as General and her incredibly active
retirement. The people’s general was launched in Melbourne by General André Cox on 29 November
2013.

The book was the brainchild of Mal Davies, who had a good rapport with General Burrows.
Published on the 20th anniversary of her retirement, it includes more than 200 photographs – many
sourced from Salvationist John Smith’s collection – and excerpts from a previously unpublished
Australian biography interview conducted by Robin Hughes. Australian biography was “a series that
profiles some of the most extraordinary Australians of our time”.

4 Ian Story, Spiritual lunchtime, (Ringwood, Australia: The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 2010).
5 Matthew Seaman, Darkness and deliverance: 125 years of the ‘In Darkest England Scheme’, (ebook Salvo Publishing
2016).
6 Mal Davies and Dawn Volz (Eds), The people’s general: A tribute to General Eva Burrows: (Melbourne, Australia:
Salvo Publishing, The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 2013).
7 Mal Davies and Dawn Volz (Eds), A century of sessions: Cadets of The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory,
(Melbourne, Australia: Salvo Publishing, The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 2014).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 124

Cover of The people’s general
Publication of A century of sessions was prompted by the closing of the Training College at 303
Royal Parade, Parkville – where officers had been trained for the past 35 years – and its relocation to
alternative premises in Ringwood. The book was an update of Officer cadets 1940–1999, compiled
by Walter Hull and John Kirkham.
Every effort was made to honour each of the thousands of cadets who trained for service as
officers in The Salvation Army, though the passage of time meant there would be a few inaccuracies
and omissions. There’s no doubt that A century of sessions rekindled many happy memories of, and
respect for, those called to full-time service throughout the preceding 100 years. Often when I was
manning a bookstall at large Salvation Army events, people would come up with their friends, leaf
through the book and exclaim, “There’s my grandfather … Aunty Maude … my favourite CO” or
“There I am in 1975”.

Cover of A century of sessions
Hentzschel: You have assisted in the publication of books, edited volumes, written articles, co-
edited publications and also written your own books. The first book you authored was Saved!
The Salvos’ guide to the good life.8 How did this book come to be published?

Volz: When Kurt passed away after an illness in 2009, I was searching for something meaningful to
do in my spare time, besides delighting in my grandchildren. Having written Warcry lifestyle articles
for a number of years, it seemed a natural progression to write a book about ‘the good life’ for general
readership. Saved! was initially about saving money but as it developed it became more than that.

8 Dawn Volz, Saved! The Salvos’ guide to the good life, (Melbourne, Australia: Salvo Publishing, The Salvation Army
Australia Southern Territory, 2010).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 125

The book promoted values such as thrift, conservation, kindness, compassion, tolerance and seeking
the spiritual.

Ideas came from researching the internet, talking to friends and colleagues, and drawing on my
own experience as one of six children who were of necessity taught to be frugal by our wonderful
mother. The tips were a mix of up-to-date research, common sense, a bit of old-fashioned ‘nanna
know-how’ and experiences from my own life as a mother of three sons, and grandmother – at that
time – of two, with twins on the way.

After the chapters on saving your money, your life, the Earth, and your sanity, it seemed to be
a natural progression to shine the spotlight on the spiritual. The last section, ‘Saving your soul’,
included chapters on altruism, integrity, justice, meaning and spirit, with well-loved Bible verses
pointing the way to ‘the good life’.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce AD, CVO, was very gracious in writing a foreword for the
book, mentioning its “disarming clarity and directness’” and its “brevity and refreshing humour”.
Two thousand copies were printed, with Salvos Stores ordering 500 for their outlets.

Cover of Saved!

Hentzschel: I was very excited when your book for children, Will & Kate: The story of William
& Catherine Booth9 was published with its focus on important Salvation Army historical figures.
I think it would be of interest to many of our readers if you could outline why you chose to write
about William and Catherine Booth.

Volz: When I was thinking about travelling to London to attend the upcoming 2015 ‘Boundless’
meetings celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of The Salvation Army, the thought came
to me that such an event would be an apt time to write an illustrated children’s book celebrating the
lives of William and Catherine Booth. With Prince William and Kate Middleton very much in the
news, I thought the catchy title Will & Kate would resonate with children and adults alike.

My proposal to the Literary Council met with unanimous agreement, and talented artist Chris
Green was enlisted to illustrate the book. Chris was a pleasure to work with and his eye-catching
illustrations made Will & Kate come alive. As well as being of interest to Salvation Army families
with young children, the book was also intended to be given to children who attended playgroups,
mainly music and other children’s ministry outreaches. The back cover features a captivating picture
of Will carrying his fishing rod and Kate rolling her hoop, with the message: “Read about Will and
Kate, two ordinary children who grew up to do extraordinary things and change the world forever.”

9 Dawn Volz and Chris Green (Illustrator), Will & Kate: The story of William and Catherine Booth, (Victoria, Australia:
Salvo Publishing, The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 2015).

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 126

Though it was to be a children’s book, I undertook extensive research, with my reading list
including: William Booth and his Army of peace (Cyril J. Barnes); Army without guns (Cyril J.
Barnes); Everybody’s life of General Booth (Charles T. Bateman); William Booth (David Malcolm
Bennett); Echoes and memories (Bramwell Booth); The life of Catherine Booth, The mother of The
Salvation Army (Frederick Booth-Tucker); Catherine Booth (Catherine Bramwell-Booth); William
and Catherine Booth: God’s soldiers (Jenty Fairbank); Mother of an Army (Charles Ludwig); and
The young William Booth (Bernard Watson). I also liaised with the THQ Children’s Ministry
Department and those I knew who had an interest in Army history.

Keeping in mind that many non-Salvationist parents reading Will & Kate to their children could
be interested in its wider historical relevance, Mal Davies wrote ‘The story behind the story’ that
appeared at the back of the book, outlining the lives of William and Catherine Booth and the work of
The Salvation Army during the years since its inception.

Eventually Will & Kate was ready for publication. Most children’s authors state that writing for
children is deceptively difficult and, after about 25 revisions, I totally agreed. Never before had I put
so much effort into 1200 words! However, the book was enthusiastically received, selling 1000 copies
around the world in the first few months, necessitating a reprint. It was subsequently translated into
Russian in 2018, in a hard-cover version.

Dawn Volz holding her children’s book Will & Kate

Hentzschel: Your latest book is the biography, Wings of faith: The remarkable life of Harry
Read. As you are aware, Read is part of my family’s history. When he was Territorial
Commander of the former Australia Eastern Territory, Read commissioned my parents. I
remember walking up to him, giving The Salvation Army salute and he and his wife gave us,
new OKs (Officers’ Kids), a card and badge. Why did you write this book about Read and how
was it achieved?

Volz: I first met Commissioner Harry Read in February 2013 when reading Stephen Court’s online
Journal of aggressive Christianity in which Harry participated in an in-depth interview about his life.
Reading of his wartime service as a 20-year-old wireless operator who parachuted into France on D-
Day in 1944, I was captivated and thought, “This Commissioner has a story to tell!”

Then I read about his many years at The Salvation Army’s International Training College, and
his overseas leadership in Canada and Australia East, followed by his appointment as British
Commissioner. I was intrigued and looked to see if his name came up on Facebook. There it was,
including the poems for which he has become renowned and which have blessed so many, including
me.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 127

I also noted the many Facebook comments urging Harry to publish a book of his poems. As I
was the assistant literary secretary, a light bulb clicked on in my head, and I presented my proposal
for the territory to publish an anthology of Harry’s poems, a suggestion readily taken up by the
Literary Council, under the leadership of Mal Davies.

I found an email address but, before presenting the proposal, wanted to confirm that the
recipient was indeed Commissioner Harry Read. Back came the prompt answer, with typical wit: “I
am the guilty party!” Within months a book of Harry’s poems, titled Heart talk: The give and take of
communion with God was produced by Salvo Publishing, and launched at a Sunday morning meeting
at Winton Bournemouth UK, Harry’s home corps, when I was delighted to be present.

Cover of Heart Talk

From that time on Harry and I became online penpals, with weekly missives being exchanged
via email. Never one to blow his own trumpet, it took years of wheedling, encouragement and coaxing
to convince him that his was a story that needs to be told. Recently retired, I thought to myself, “What
better way to spend early retirement than chronicling the life story of Commissioner Harry Read!”

As we lived on opposite sides of the world, there were many hours of emails, phone calls and
FaceTimes between Melbourne and Bournemouth in a lively collaboration. Harry’s prodigious
memory, wit and wisdom made these happy and enjoyable times.

Hentzschel: From your book on Read, what is the story that stands out to you the most?

Volz: In a life with so many uplifting and heart-warming moments, it is difficult to single out one
aspect, but on thinking about it, Harry’s reaction to a heart-rending tragedy really stirred my emotions.
Harry and Win were bereaved of their newly-born son Peter in January 1953, after he contracted a
virus in the hospital. Recounting the experience, Harry said, “Our faith remained firm, and, although
it happened many years ago, our memories of and love for our newly-born and newly-lost child
remained forever fresh in our hearts.”

Arising from his own sense of loss, it occurred to Harry that there were other families who had
suffered the same kind of loss and needed guidance and help. At this time, he and Win were in their
second corps appointment, stationed at Eastbourne Old Town. Looking up the local newspaper, Harry
discovered the addresses of parents who had lost a child and paid them a visit, telling them that he
too had lost a child, and that he was praying for them. He also asked if there was anything else he
could do for them. Amazing grace! Amazing faith! Amazing fortitude!

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 128

Hentzschel: I understand that the profits from the sales of Wings of faith are raising funds for
The Salvation Army’s Anti-Trafficking work in the UK. Could you please tell the readers a bit
about this ministry and why you have chosen to support this work?

Volz: In its Fight for Freedom Strategy, The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice
Commission has made its response to modern slavery and human trafficking a global priority. Since
July 2011, The Salvation Army in the UK has delivered the government’s contract to manage support
services for victims of modern slavery, with a programme to preserve their dignity, protect and care
for them in safe accommodation, and provide access to confidential support services.

At the time of nonagenarian Harry Read’s parachute jumps his daughter-in-law, Major Anne
Read, was The Salvation Army’s Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery, and Harry
realised that his skydiving ventures would be a great opportunity to increase awareness of modern
slavery and raise funds for confronting this terrible problem head on. His two skydives – one was a
practice jump before the 75th D-Day commemoration in Normandy – raised a total of £20,899
(approximately A$37,000), donated by 850 supporters. At the outset, I determined that all proceeds
from the sale of Wings of faith would also go towards the UK’s Anti-Trafficking work.

Hentzschel: The book on Harry Read was launched online in May 2022. How have the sales of
the book been proceeding thus far?

Volz: As the manuscript of Wings of faith was nearing completion, Commissioner Harry Read was
promoted to Glory on 14 December 2021 at the age of 97 years, following a fall at his home a few
weeks earlier. The book was launched on 17 May, which would have been Harry’s 98th birthday, and
in the first eight weeks 350 copies (hard cover, paperback and ebook) were sold internationally,
raising around $1700 for The Salvation Army’s Anti-Trafficking work.

Hentzschel: What is the hope you have for Wings of faith?

Volz: My hope is that readers will be encouraged, blessed and inspired as they read about the
remarkable life and vibrant faith of Commissioner Harry Read. I also hope that many of your readers
will be stirred to purchase Wings of faith by ordering the book online, and in so doing aid the work
of The Salvation Army’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department, a cause close to Harry’s heart.

Cover of Wings of faith
Hentzschel: Thank you greatly for your time and your words.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 129

BOOK REVIEW
THE GENTLE GIANT

Reviewed by
Garth R. Hentzschel

Lloyd Brengle Hetherington, Sherrill Hetherington, Denise Hutchinson, and Greg
Hetherington, The Gentle Giant, (Canada: Independently Published, 2021), 189 pp.,
Paperback and Kindle, ISBN 979 8 704265 36 8.1

Cover of The gentle giant

The gentle giant was a mixture of autobiography, words of wisdom, and letters of commendation on
the life and work of Canadian Salvation Army Officer Lt. Colonel Lloyd Brengle Hetherington. It
was one of the ever growing independent, print-on-demand publications that have appeared in recent
years. While this type of publication cuts the cost of publishing and brings the life of ordinary people
to the attention of readers outside the usual circle of influence, these volumes often lack the
professionalism of books that go through the rigorous process with a professional publisher. While
The gentle giant had issues on account of not being professionally published, it carried within it
information on social, family, and Salvation Army history that may be of interest to a number of
people.

The book appears to have been written initially solely for friends and family members to
celebrate the 86th birthday of Hetherington on 22 February 2021. The date of the birthday was
referenced a few times throughout the book.2 Although there was no copyright page, and therefore
no publication date, Amazon listed the book as being published on 3 February 2021, which would
have been in time for the birthday celebrations.3 Through print on demand, The gentle giant has now
been made available to a wider readership. Previously, such publications would have been authorised
and sold by Salvation Army publications and only available through trade and supply departments,
usually only visited by Salvationists. Or printed in small numbers by the family and handed to

Reference citation of this review: Garth R. Hentzschel, “Book review: The gentle giant”, The Australasian journal
of Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 130 – 133.
1 At the time of publication the book was available as Kindle and Paperback issues at Amazon.com.au
2 See for example Lloyd Brengle Hetherington, Sherrill Hetherington, Denise Hutchinson, and Greg Hetherington, The
gentle giant, (Canada: Independently Published, 2021), 6, 142, 162.
3 “The gentle giant”, Amazon, (1996-2022), The Gentle Giant - Hetherington, Lloyd, Hetherington, Sherrill,
Hutchinson, Denise, Hetherington, Greg | 9798704265368 | Amazon.com.au | Books accessed 25 March 2022.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 130

interested people. Online printing now opens the purchase of the book to anyone searching key words
on the internet.

A laid back, conversational style of writing was used throughout the book, making it a very
quick read. It was loosely segregated into three major sections. These sections included an
autobiography on the life and career of Hetherington, then words of wisdom by Hetherington, finally
letters by friends and family to praise Hetherington.

The autobiography was presented in the first person and set the subject as the key and central
player of the book. There was no lineage of the Hetherington family presented. Often parents, siblings
and others were only included in the narrative in relation to the writer. Each phase of Hetherington’s
life was only covered briefly, although the large size type font made it appear that there was more
information on each topic than it contained. The narrative commenced in Petrolia, and quickly moved
on through his childhood to Ridgetown, Toronto, Kirkland Lake, Sault Ste Marie, and then Barrie
and London. No geographical insight was given, so it was up to the reviewer to identify that all these
locations were in Ontario, Canada. There was also no indication if remaining in one province as a
child of Salvation Army officers was unique, or a normal experience at the time under investigation.

Throughout the narrative of his early life, there were stories of the exploits of a young boy, but
these were only seen through the eyes of the key character and not corroborated with historical context
or comparisons or contrasts of other boys of the same age and time. These actions included watching
trains, selling newspapers, going to school, cutting down a Christmas tree, and holidays at the family
campground. Some references were made to The Salvation Army, but this was done more to show
Hetherington’s actions and entrepreneurship than to set a context or show his connection within a
community. Two examples: in one corps he could remember nothing except his conversion
experience, and this needed to be built upon throughout his life. Secondly, the action of selling The
war cry was discussed, not as a ministry in a community, but as a way of making money.4

The autobiography set the ‘other’, that is people who are perceived by the individual as not
belonging, and world events somewhat at an arm’s distance from the key person. The ‘other’ and
events were only included when Hetherington had a direct impact on the life of the other or the event.
While Hetherington discussed the reasons for relocation as being his parents’ ministry as Salvation
Army officers, little was discussed on the corps, his parents’ actions, or emotional elements of the
relocations. For example, while much may have occurred in the spiritual and social programs of the
corps, Hetherington only revealed that the Army Hall was used for his sporting activities and hiding
a gun. Another example was that although Hetherington lived through the tragic events of WWII, his
story of the time told how he became a trend setter by wearing surplus military gear to school. In this
way, the historical period was not explored to investigate how the context or era impacted the life of
the individual.

One story that was included in the book of his father’s ministry linked with a tragic event in
Canadian criminal history. This story appeared to be included only as a reason for his father’s early
Promotion to Glory as it was not deeply investigated. Major Clifford Hetherington acted as chaplain
for murderer Edgar Simons. Simons had murdered the wife and child of his employer. It was claimed
that the pastoral care given to Simons negatively impacted the health of the main character’s father.5
On the matter of family, Lloyd Hetherington also gave an honest discussion on his siblings, but again

4 Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 13, 23.
5 Although little information on this topic appeared in the book, information on the trial of Simons can be viewed at
“Murder at Pancake Bay: The trial”, Remember this? (SOOTODAY.com, 21 July 2019), Murder at Pancake Bay: The
trial - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com), accessed 25 March 2022.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 131

only his relationship to them and what they had done for him; not their relationship to the family or
their life apart from the main character.

Of interest to social historians, Hetherington included discussions on household appliances and
childhood activities of the 1940s. The appliances described by Hetherington included washing
machines, a typewriter, a gestetner, and encyclopedias. The childhood activities mentioned in the
book included different types of entertainment, games, paper dolls, Meccano, chemistry sets, model
steam engines, and outdoor activities. Several images were included in the text as a way of example.

The section titled “Highlights of my career” unfortunately only covered Hetherington’s
teaching career, which included much of his time as a Salvation Army officer. Time in The Salvation
Army’s training college for officers and his time as a manual labourer were not included in his
discussion. Also, sadly, only about three pages of text were given to his family’s time in the Army’s
Chikankata school, Zambia.6 It must be stated that there was also a two paged letter from their time
in Zambia that appeared without introduction in later pages.7 After Chikankata, Hetherington only
served one appointment away from an educational institute, serving his time at both the College for
Officer Training (Newfoundland and Toronto) and William and Catherine Booth College (Winnipeg).
After retirement, Hetherington assisted with other ministries, but this and his corps appointment were
not discussed. The discussion in this section mirrored the narrative of his early life, it only placed
Hetherington as leader in each setting. His position as a colleague or fellow Salvationist was not
outlined, setting himself up as the hero of the narrative. One story even placed Hetherington in a
leadership position over a former schoolteacher who had been accused of doing wrong to
Hetherington as a child. This is a common trap to which autobiographies often fall. Filling in the gaps
of learning experiences and outlining his lesser roles in the book may have assisted in developing a
deeper sense of community and placing Hetherington in a context familiar to the readers.

The second section of the book set out Hetherington’s ideas under the title of “Elder wisdom”.
Here he covered topics that included finances, death, loss, health, ministry in later stages of life, self-
awareness, respect, enjoyment, and generosity. The narrative follows Hetherington into advanced age
and shows that there are ministry opportunities at any age. It however set the key figure as the
conqueror over an unjust system. There are many problems internationally with aged care, so this
narrative may assist people to identify with the issues and walk through their own situation. Through
this section, Hetherington again set himself up as a leader and teacher, giving of his knowledge,
wisdom, and leadership. Descriptions were given of the podcast and engagements where he has
spoken to give advice on aging. The narrative defined the key player more as an entrepreneur, leader,
and educator than a Salvation Army officer, minister, and pastor.

In the section titled “Memories of the gentle giant”, there were several letters from friends and
family that described events linked with Hetherington. The letters included were from people such as
former students from Chikankata: Assedy Mwanza, Violet Musambila, Allen Natala, and Godfrey
Kalaluka; fellow Salvation Army officers, Major Doreen and Max Sturge; and family members.
These letters to some degree acted as supporting evidence for some of the memories included in the
autobiography.

At the end of the book there were 19 pages that appeared to be part of a booklet entitled “My
blessing book”. This was somewhat superfluous as it included unconnected images, unlinked
Salvation Army songs, verses of scripture, words of wisdom, and an abbreviated discussion of family,

6 Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 99 – 102.
7 Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 103 – 104.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 132

faith, education, and career. Much of this information had already been described in the earlier
sections of the book.

The gentle giant suffered from the lack of the rigorous process that would have been applied if
it had been professionally published. There are elements of book structure that are missing, including
the title and copyright pages. There was little in the way of bridging from one idea to the next or from
one section to the next, and this impacted the flow. Several editorial and formatting errors also
appeared throughout the book, for example: an extraneous page break appeared on page 12; there
were examples of needless repetition;8 spacing issues occurred at the end of some sentences; and
there were changes in the size of fonts.9 There were also errors in lettering and numbering of points
in the sections titled; “Modern conveniences of home”, “Outdoor activities”, “Elder wisdom” and
“My blessing book”.10 While most of these editing errors did not detract from the information, they
did impact the readability of the book and at times were a little confusing.

There was a list of “Jobs I have held” which was inserted but appeared to be out of place.11 As
several portions of Hetherington’s life were not discussed, and with his constant relocation, this list
may have been better placed at the commencement of the book and made into a chronological list of
life events. This may have helped map out for the reader life events and helped guide the author in
the writing of his memoir.

There were unexplained inclusions of images and untitled photographs throughout the book.
Unexplained images included what looked to be an advertisement for Ridgetown, a photo of a dew-
covered flower, a drawing of an old man, and a picture of a cross in a landscape.12 All the photographs
published in the book were untitled, which left the reader to assume who the people were in the photo,
and where and when they were taken. There were also no references to who took the photographs, so
some images may have breached copyright laws.

Despite the weaknesses of the book, it revealed Salvation Army association of one man from
youth to advanced age. It was clearly published to celebrate the 86th birthday of Lt.Col. Lloyd Brengle
Hetherington, which it appeared to have accomplished. The book would also be a nice keepsake for
family and friends of Hetherington. The book was not a history of The Salvation Army, or an
autobiography that strongly placed the key character within historical contexts; it was simply a
collection of memories; memoirs to share with others. The gentle giant may interest those who know
Hetherington, are interested in the lives of officer children, or who enjoy reading about a
Salvationist’s life. It also touched on social history and areas of Canada and Africa. Finally, people
working in, or who have an interest in understanding aged care ministry, may be keen to read what
clients think about the care they receive. If so, this book may assist in understanding the opinion of a
person who had a lived experience.

8 For example, the purchase of a piano, cutting down a Christmas tree, and selling papers were all included on a number
of occasions. Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, (17 – 18, 70 – 71); (20, 55); (32 – 57).
9 See for example Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 62, 65, 67, 70, 74, 77.
10 See Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 70 – 71; 61, 74; 82, 84; 116; 182.
11 Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 88 – 93.
12 Hetherington, et al., The gentle giant, 9, 172, 173, 174.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 133

BOOK REVIEW
UNDER TWO FLAGS

Reviewed by
Kingsley Sampson

Jason R. Swain, Under two flags: The rise, rebellion, and rebuilding of The Salvation Army
in America 1870-1913, (Alexandria, USA: Crest Books, 2021), ISBN 978 1 946709 37 0.1

Cover of Under two flags

For anyone wanting a quick overview of the events of the first 30-40 years of The Salvation Army in
the United States of America, Jason Swain’s book provides just that. The book is well presented with
an attractive cover and includes a foreword by United States National Commander Commissioner
Kenneth G. Hodder, a collection of photographs midway through the book together with endnotes
and a bibliography. The intriguing sub-title hints at the phases of the Army’s early years in the States
which are covered in the six easy-to-read chapters of this short book.

The ‘rise’ phase’ (chapters 1-3) covers the ministry of Christian Mission convert James Jeremy
in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1870s, and the evangelism by English Salvationists Amos, Annie and
Eliza Shirley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1879. These were followed in 1880 by George Scott
Railton and his ‘Hallelujah Lassies’ who ‘officially’ started the work and the subsequent
developments under Railton’s successor, Thomas Moore.

The ‘rebellion’ part of the story (chapters 4 & 5) deals with Moore’s breakaway organisation
(The Salvation Army of America) and the development of other Salvation Army look-alikes,
especially in the north-eastern states. It also covers the rebuilding of the Army in America under the
leadership of Ballington and Maud Booth and the Volunteers of America, their eventual break-away
organisation.

The final ‘rebuilding’ phase (chapter 6) covers the leadership of Frederick and Emma Booth-
Tucker and finally that of Eva (later Evangeline) Booth. Put together, apart from the years 1880 to
1886, The Salvation Army in the United States was under the command of Booth family members
for nearly 50 years (1886 to 1934).

Reference citation of this review: Kingsley Sampson, “Book review: Under two flags”, The Australasian journal of
Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 134 – 135.
1 At the time of publishing, this book was available from Christianbook.com https://www.christianbook.com/under-two-
flags-jason-swain/9781946709370/pd/709399?event=ESRCG and Tradecentral, USA Central Territory Under Two
Flags (satradecentral.org)

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 134

This story of the early years of the Army’s foray into the United States highlights some of the
difficulties the Army faced in introducing an organisation controlled by a London office into a
strongly independent nation with a different legal system. The book shows how heavy-handed control
from London at times exacerbated rather than ameliorated some of the difficulties and so contributed
to the various ‘rebellions’. It describes some of the Salvation Army look-alikes that arose over the
years, very few of which still exist. This story also shows that poor record-keeping in the early years
has made it difficult for any researcher seeking to accurately trace the growth, development and
setbacks of The Salvation Army in the United States. The same also applies to the copy-cat
organisations.

Some errors were noted in the book. These errors, as well as missing words in sentences and
some unnecessary repetition of details showed the lack of a good copy editor. One query concerns
the Railton party. On page 17, the text says that Railton arrived in the United States with seven women
so this made a party of eight people. Yet on page 18, the text says that when Railton and six women
left New York for Philadelphia, they left behind Emma Westbrook and one other lassie. This makes
for nine people (one man and eight women) but the text does not say where the other woman came
from. Another error is found on page 19 where the book states that the official start of The Salvation
Army in Australia was in Melbourne when it is traditionally understood that this took place in
Adelaide. Then in the Epilogue, the text seems to suggest that General William Booth approved the
replacement of the American eagle crest with The Salvation Army’s international crest with crown
in 1976. Surely it must have been General Clarence Wiseman who approved this.

A short book like Under Two Flags will not cover this period of Salvation Army history in any
depth but as Hodder writes in his foreword (page ix), “books like this invite comment [and] response
and so the story gets clarified, refined and developed.” Therefore, a reader wanting more details would
need to turn to other books on the subject or even do their own research. But despite ‘glitches’ such
as those listed above, this book could be a useful introduction for someone who wanted to learn
something about the early years of The Salvation Army in the United States of America.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 135

Come and join us

The Australasian
Journal of

Salvation Army History

is on

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 136

You are invited to

Salvation Army History Symposium

2024

Australia

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 137

Drawing from The war cry, (Melbourne, 14 June 1890), 5.
The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 138

The Master’s Plan

The life and legacy of Commissioners Earle and Wilma Maxwell

A new biography on
Salvation Army Officers

by

Graham Durston

To order contact
Salvationist Supplies
Sydney or Melbourne

http://thetrade.salvos.org.au/catalogue/

Earle and Wilma Maxwell were a force for God. Called
to be Salvation Army officers from a young age, they
enriched the spiritual lives of thousands of people
throughout the world.

The Master’s Plan traces the Maxwells’ journey
from their early ministry years in Australia to their time
at International Headquarters when Earle served as the
Chief of the Staff and Wilma as the World Secretary for
Women’s Organisations.

You will be inspired and encouraged by the paths of
service God placed before them and discover the truth
of Earle’s steadfast conviction that, “The Master’s Plan
is the master plan.”

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 139

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A
MEDICAL SALVATIONIST

A Promise Fulfilled

An autobiography of challenges
and great achievements

A new book by Salvationist

Dr Helen E.S. Ashwell

Available through

In Kindle, paperback, and hardback editions
or in Australia direct from the author @
[email protected] for

AU$25 + AU$10 package & postage

Born and raised in Sydney, Helen grew up on an orchard
surrounded by bushland, with swimming and horse riding as
hobbies. Initially training as a nurse / midwife, Helen went on to
spend more than 32 years working in developing countries -
Ghana, Papua New Guinea, China, and Indonesia. Helen gained a
Master’s Degree in Public Health (Sydney Uni) and Doctorate of
Philosophy in Community Health (Charles Darwin Uni). She has
devoted her life to empowering others less fortunate than herself
to develop skills to empower others. This is her story of
overcoming challenges and encouraging others to go on to
achieve great things.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 140

A NEW DOUBLE BIOGRAPHY

The

Two Sisters

The Story of Ettie Wood and
Annie McKenzie, Wife of
“Fighting Mac”

By

ROB MAY

Only US$1.99

Amazon (Kindle), Smashwords (ePub
& PDF), and other popular eBook sites

The Two Sisters is a biographical historical novel that follows the life
and times of a Prussian family’s journey to Australia, accompanied by
all the hopes, dreams and hardships that inspired Australian pioneers
and their descendants. The Salvation Army must have seemed like a
breath of fresh air for the family, with the spirit of the pioneers, and a
new expression of faith. Two sisters emerge from this family with a
fascinating story; one married William McKenzie (“Fighting Mac”), hero
of Gallipoli, World War I and regional leader of The Salvation Army.

Professor Robert Heimann, Professional genealogist - “Fascinating story”

Associate Professor Peter Brinkworth, Editor of The Pioneer - “colourful and
adventurous family members, who are well worth memorialising … a … thorough
job of researching their stories”

Dr Peter Kreminski, member of AMA(SA) Historical Committee and writer -
“a phenomenal amount of time and effort into the project … It is a very valuable
acknowledgment of the life of their ancestors and a reference for future generations.
It is also of value to genealogists and those interested in the history of European
migration to Australia. Congratulations.”

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 141

Australia’s Fundraising Buttons,
Badges and Pins

SALVATION ARMY
(AUSTRALIA)

2018 Australian
Badge Guide

BY

Mark Taylor

AU $24.95

Paperback or ebook

Australian Badge Guides

https://markomarkot.wordpress.com

2018 Australian Badge Guide - Salvation Army
(Australia) Badges & Buttons (4th edition) 67 pages; 279
references; 290 full-colour, close-up badge images; and
9 badge makers. The Guide fills a niche in the market for
fundraising buttons, badges, and pins, as guides exist for
coins, stamps, medals, and medallions. The Guide
includes the history of fundraising pins, The Salvation
Army, and manufacturers, and collecting. It attempts to
unlock the scant records of the buttons and badges and
identifies them pictorially. This guide will be updated as
more items and information are sourced. Where
possible original and current prices are displayed.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 142

A NEW HISTORY OF

THE SALVATION ARMY

IN AMERICA

UNDER TWO
FLAGS

THE RISE, REBELLION, AND
REBUILDING OF THE SALVATION
ARMY IN AMERICA 1870-1913

BY

JASON R. SWAIN

US$10.00

www.christianbook.com

The point at which divine inspiration and human agency meet is not always easy
to detect, but this book details how, in the case of the Salvation Army in the
United States, the Holy Spirit worked through characters and events to
eventually shape of movement fit to embody the word of God and serve in
Christ’s name. As the Salvation Army was experiencing growing pains and
becoming an international ministry proclaiming the world for God, early
salvationists came to the United States and by trial and error, unbridled zeal, and
often unplanned and contentious proceedings, overcame competing agendas,
rivalries, and misunderstandings to set the foundation for a unified mission. This
book dives into the many characters, missteps, visions, and events out of which
a cohesive burgeoning and God inspired movement became a respected
participant in the American landscape and continues to serve under two flags.

Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, USA National Commander - This book is filled with details,
many of which will be new to Salvationsts who might otherwise consider themselves experts.

Lt.-Colonel Allen Satterlee - Under two flags has a good amount of information I hadn’t seen
before. Great work!

Lt.-Colonel Mark Bell - I love Army history and this book was so very informative about “us”.
Major Raymond Patrick - I learned some things that had never come to mind and changed a few

thoughts I had held for years.
Scott Bedio - The book is face-paced, just like the early days of the Army

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 143

So They Came:

Young Men Farmers

Young men applied to
The Salvation Army

trained at
Hadleigh Farm Colony
and emigrated to Canada

their story is told by

Elaine Becker

CA$20.00

+Shipping & Handling

Order from

[email protected]

Published by Oxford Historical
Society

https://www.oxhs.ca

The stories of young men who left home and family to make
a new way of life in Canada is both thrilling and
encouraging. They were not outstanding in any other way
than that they had a hope for the future. They came from
families facing untold challenges of unemployment, illness,
and death, as well as the lack of hope for the future.

Major Ron Millar, Director of Archives The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory
The Founder’s “Darkest England Scheme” comes to life in the story of Burnside Lodge as told by Major
Elaine Becker in her fascinating book ….Using research grounded in credible, reliable primary sources,
Becker records the unfolding story of young men, … who set out from their homeland in Britain in search
for new opportunities in a new land, …. Woven through this book are first-hand accounts, supported by
amazing photographs, … It is a captivating read and a well-written work.

Kathie Richards, President of the Oxford Historical Society, Woodstock Ontario
This very readable book gives an overview of the Salvation Army from its inception and its efforts in
meeting the needs of the people in Britain and in Canada. It tells of the Salvation Army’s involvement in
immigration of young men to Canada … Of particular interest is the list of the names of the young men
and the stories of some of the ones that the Salvation Army brought here … Thanks, Elaine Becker, for
preserving this important history and helping us to remember our roots!

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 144

MEMOIR OF A SOLDIER
SOUP BONE HOLLER

“A story of survival,
faith and hope”

A new memoir by
Violet Jean Anderson Gerber

With Lisa Danka

30% of proceeds donated to The Salvation Army

Soup Bone Holler, Indiana

From Hunger to a Future and a Hope

Features connections with the infamous murderers Sante & Kenny Kimes

Available as Paperback & Kindle

The first question the NYPD detective asked me was, "Why are YOU still alive?"
Soup Bone Holler, Indiana is the true story of Jean Gerber and her
experiences serving those in need as a social worker, Salvation Army
missionary, and teacher in a homeless shelter. The book also includes Jean's
relationship with mother-and-son serial killers, Sante and Kenny Kimes, whom
she met on her mission in the Bahamas. The Kimes attempted to use Jean as
a pawn in what was called “the crime of the decade” in the 1990s; the
disappearance and murder of New York socialite Irene Silverman.

Online review – A charming, delightful memoire. This is a very charming memoire… the author
pulled herself out of the poverty and travelled widely as a lay missionary for the Salvation Army. … a
story many women share - divorced, raising children alone, trying to stay focused on getting an
education. … She shows us what true girt really is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's uplifting,
positive and heart-warming. The author’s tenacity and zest for life and for God are inspiring.
Online review - A story of survival, faith and hope. …it was such a pleasure to read. … truly a
survivor from her childhood poverty to the missions she served in some of the most brutal conditions,
is really amazing. ... This book will be read by many, and the memories will be preserved. …. Thank
you for sharing the story.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 145

THE REMARKABLE LIFE
OF A SALVATION ARMY

COMMISSIONER

A NEW BOOK BY
DAWN VOLZ

WINGS

of

FAITH

THE REMARKABLE LIFE
OF HARRY READ

All proceeds to The Salvation Army’s
Anti-Trafficking Unit, London

Parachuting into France with the 6th Airborne Division on
D-Day in 1944, 20-year-old Harry Read spent a harrowing
time as a wireless operator in the trenches on the Normandy
battlefields. Following meritorious service in the British
Army, the rest of his life was spent in another army – The
Salvation Army – where he and his wife Win became esteemed
international leaders on three continents. Harry made
worldwide news when at the age of 95 he skydived into
Normandy with the famed British Red Devils on the 75th
anniversary of D-Day in 2019. Harry’s remarkable life
story, impelled by his Christian faith, makes for
inspirational, uplifting and heartwarming reading.

Brian Peddle, General of The Salvation Army:
You will be inspired by Wings of Faith. It beautifully captures the story of
Commissioner Harry Read and his dedication to God. I hope we will each aspire to
live such a life.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 146

TRIBUTE – GEORGE HENRY HAZELL
BA, MEd, DipEdAdmin, PhD
1931 – 2022

David Woodbury and Garth R. Hentzschel

Envoy Dr. George Hazell was described as “General of the Junior Soldier”1 and was the farther of
Salvation Army history in the former Australia Eastern Territory. His place in preserving and
promoting Salvation Army history will be remembered by generations of Salvationists through his
work with the junior soldier program and his encouragement of the research of Salvation Army
history. This tribute gives an outline of Hazell’s life and his importance to the promotion of Salvation
Army history in Australia.2

Early years

Born 19 January 1931, at Auburn, New South Wales, George Henry Hazell was the third in a family
of 11 children to George Henry Hazell Snr. and Jane Phyllis Hazell. Although having a limited
education Hazell Snr had a strong entrepreneurial insight and encouraged his children towards
ongoing and further education.

Envoy George Hazell’s parents, George and Jane Hazell
at their 50th wedding anniversary, 19783

Reference citation of this report: David Woodbury and Garth R. Hentzschel, “Tribute – George Henry Hazell
BA, MEd, DipEdAdmin, PhD, 1931 – 2022”, The Australasian journal of Salvation Army history, 7, 2, 2022, 147 –
157.
1 Graham R. Harris, “Envoy of the Junior Soldier”, 39 – 42 in various authors, In the steps of the founder. Celebrating
the lives of 23 Australian recipients of the order of the founder, (Victoria: The Salvation Army, 1995), 39.
2 Some information from this tribute has been taken from previously published biographies and tributes to Hazell. See
David Woodbury, “People, A sound investment”, Hallelujah, vol 3, iss 4, (June 2011), 55 – 58.; reprinted David
Woodbury, “George Hazell – A life of significant influence”, Others Online, (2022), https://others.org.au/army-
archives/george-hazell-a-life-of-significant-influence/ accessed 13 August 2022.; Harris, “Envoy of the Junior Soldier”.
3 Courtesy of George Hazell’s collection.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 147

Envoy Dr. George Hazell O.F.4

4 Photograph from various authors, In the steps of the founder. Celebrating the lives of 23 Australian recipients of the
order of the founder, (Victoria: The Salvation Army, 1995), 38.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 148

The Hazell family had previous contact with The Salvation Army, however it was when the
family moved to Hornsby, an Upper North Shore suburb of Sydney, that a firm link between the
family and the Army was established. George Hazell Jnr. became involved in directory, Sunday
school and senior meetings. One of the early influences in Hazell’s life was his young people’s
sergeant-major, Mrs Leaney. Under her guidance, Hazell later became a junior soldier, the pledge he
treasured all his life. Leaney taught the children in the YP Corps with such passion that it became an
inspiration for Hazell, something that Hazell would later emulate in his own ministries with junior
soldiers and Army history.

Among Hazell’s most treasured possession was his junior soldier pledge, signed in 19395

5 Courtesy of George Hazell’s collection.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 149

Hazell also came under the influence of a very dedicated Scottish born schoolteacher, Mrs
Malcolmson. She was quick to see Hazell’s potential and persuaded Hazell’s parents to let him have
a university education. This, as will be seen was later fulfilled with Hazell’s lifelong learning. It was
also Mrs Malcolmson’s influence that was to spark Hazell’s interest in history.

Mrs Malcolmson’s class c1939, George Hazell is second from the left in the front row6
During World War Two, the Hazell family felt it safer to move from the east coast of New
South Wales to an inland region. The family relocated to a small, leased property at Merrygoen about
50 kilometres from Dubbo.7 The property was too far for the family to attend the local corps so not
to lose touch with The Salvation Army the children were enrolled in the Army’s Postal Sunday
School. The family also conducted Army meetings in their own home.
Later, the family bought a property 5 kilometres from Dubbo which enabled a reconnection to
the Army through their links with the Dubbo Corps. George Hazell Jnr came under the influence of
two officers who were to impact his life; Captain Abraham Unicomb imprinted the need for a caring
and mentoring character, and Captain Bram Lucas imprinted the importance of wisdom and
knowledge. At Dubbo Hazell commenced his high school education and became a corps cadet and
senior soldier in the Dubbo Corps.
Young people’s work

In 1948, the Hazell family moved back to Sydney to the beachside suburb of Manly, where they lived
a few blocks from The Salvation Army Hall. The following year, Hazell enrolled at teachers’ college
to follow his life’s calling as an educator. At the same time, he began his ministry in young people’s
work through The Salvation Army. He was influenced at this time by Captain Peter Lucas, brother of
one of his Dubbo corps officers.

Throughout these years many Salvationists had tried to teach Hazell to play a brass instrument
but to no avail. He believed that his lack of musical ability was significant and that the whole of his
ministry to the young may never have eventuated had he become a bandsman. At Manly Corps Hazell

6 Courtesy of George Hazell’s collection.
7 One source placed this at Mendooran a nearby town, Harris, “Envoy of the Junior Soldier”.

The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2022. Page 150