THE tragedy that befell a Kogarah family in World War I almost defies belief.
Elizabeth Mullarkey, who was widowed three years before the war, lost two of her five sons in action on the Western Front, while another was rendered a paraplegic and died soon after returning home.
A fourth son was seriously wounded and never fully recovered.
The only son not killed or injured received the news while fighting in France that his wife had died from tuberculosis.
Their stories are contained in a new book, Carlton Roll of Honour, published by Kogarah Historical Society to honour the 164 heroes from the area named on an honour board.
Co-incidentally, Hans Stephens, of Kirrawee, recently wrote to the Leader about the family's graves at Woronora Cemetery.
"I spend a lot of time at Woronora Cemetery walking our two little dogs and when Anzac Day comes around I'm drawn to a family plot which highlights the tragedy of war," he wrote.
"The family obviously bought the plot when the husband Frederick sadly died in 1911, leaving his widow to look after the children.
"It would've been tough for a single parent to provide for and raise a young family in those days and one can't imagine the anguish and despair of this poor lady when three of her precious sons died one after the other while fighting on the Western Front.
"May this family rest in peace and God bless all those who have served, who serve our nation now and those left waiting here at home."
Carlton Roll of Honour, which was edited by Kogarah Historical Society president Beverley Earnshaw, includes an extract from a letter written by Sergeant Herbert Mullarkey, who described war as an invention of the devil.
The roll of honour, which was unveiled in 1919, used to hang in the booking office at Carlton railway station but was handed over to the society in 1984.
Now it hangs in the vestibule of the Carss Cottage Museum at Carss Park.
TRAGEDY’S TIMELINE
1911 Frederick Mullarkey, 52, dies, leaving Elizabeth, 49, to raise five sons.
1914 1915 All five join the Australian Imperial Force, four serving in Gallipoli.
1916 (April) James’s wife Kathleen dies while he is in France.
1916 (August) Herbert, 29, is killed at Pozieres in the Somme Valley.
1916 (November) Niall, 21, is killed at the Battle of Flers in northern France.
1916 Clarence, 26, and Kevin, 18, are wounded and return home.
1917 James returns home.
1918 Kevin, 20, dies in Randwick Hospital (now Prince of Wales Hospital).
Do you know more about Kogarah’s Mullarkey family?
