Remembrance Day 2018

Remembrance Day 2018
at
MOLOGA
Zero-hour (8th August 1918)
Leslie Bowles

100 Years on
Remembrance Day 2018
at
MOLOGA
1914 - 1918
We will remember Them
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Invitation to all community and descendants of our soldiers to
join with the Mologa & District Landcare Group in
commemorating our war heroes on this Remembrance Day at
the Mologa War Memorial, service commencing at 10.30 am.
Today at 11 am Australia will fall silent to mark the conclusion
of the First World War, the Great War, which ravaged Europe
for more than four years and claimed the lives of more than 16
million people including 60,000 Australians. Tragically, WW1
would not be the war to end all wars. History has borne witness
to the consequences.
The commemoration of Armistice is for most about
remembering the millions who fought and died during the
conflict. Each combatant and civilian life lost was one too many
– a principle often obscured by the unprecedented bloodshed.
Remembrance requires that we tell the stories of those who
served, many of whom never returned.
All descendants are asked to bring along any war medals and
photos they may have for a display of memorabilia (medals,
uniforms, certificates) newspaper stories of the time.
A warm invitation is extended to all to stay and enjoy a chat
and the BBQ.
Bill Boyd
President
Mologa & District
Landcare Group
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Order of Service
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2018
At Mologa
Welcome address and introduction of MC
Cr Cheryl McKinnon
Mayor of
Loddon Shire
will guide us through the service as MC
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Would you sing with me
Abide with me
Hymn
Abide with me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless. Oh, abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glory pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see –
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the Skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain Shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
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Prayer
Prayer of Remembrance
Today we remember with thanksgiving those who made the
supreme sacrifice for us in time of war. We pray that the offering
of their lives may not have been in vain. Today, we dedicate
ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace: and for the
wisdom and strength to build a better world.
Let’s all join together in saying
The Lord’s Prayer
Our father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by thy name
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us his daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen
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In Flanders Field by Lieutenant – Colonel John McCrea
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
The Distribution of the Poppies
Wreath Laying
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The Ode from the poem “For the Fallen,”
By Laurence Binyon
They shall grow not old, as we are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The Last Post
We pause in silence, to remember
Rouse
National Anthem
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth to toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair!
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Introduction of guest speakers
Kerry O’Connor,
Vietnam Veteran
I lived in Redcliffs and it was from there that I was called up for
Army service from 1968 to 1970. I was posted to the 5 th Battalion
of the Royal Australian Regiment after basic training.
The Battalion was posted to SVN early 1969.
I was wounded by mortar August 21, 1969, and was released
from a hospital in January 1970. I was made President of the
Redcliffs RSL soon after returning home for 12 months.
I then married and moved to near Sunbury. I then spent 5 years
as Victorian President of the Royal Australian Regiments
Association.
I was also my Battalions Representative for 35 years. I also did
pension and welfare for all ex-service members for 19 years.
At the moment we are caravanning as far and as often as we can.
Jordann Broad
Pyramid Hill College
Year 10
Winner of the Essay Competition from the
Mologa and District Landcare Group
With the emphasis on
“To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high”
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From the poem from Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea
“In Flanders Fields”
Many will recognise this excerpt from the famous poem
composed by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea, about
his friend Alexis Helmer, who was killed during battle. Written in
1915, “In Flanders Fields” is still read at Remembrance Day
services in Australia and other services all over the world. It was
based on the aftermath of the Battle of Ypres in World War 1, in
which our ANZACs fought.
“To you from failing hands, we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high”
100 years on, the people of today need to take the legacy and never
forget the soldiers who risked and gave their lives for their country’s
future. It is now our job to honour those who served in World War 1
and not allow the world to forget. This rises the question: why is the
memory of World War 1 still important today? Although the tragic
events of World War 1 occurred 100 years ago, the lessons the world
learned and the sacrifice and courage it witnessed are something that
should be kept and treasured forever. From the young and
unsuspecting men staring death in the face, to the struggling women
back at home taking on what previously considered the ‘men’s tasks’,
the events that happened showed how Australia unites as one when
the time comes.
We remember and respect those men and women on Remembrance
Day, whether they served, were wounded or fallen. We take that torch
and hold it high by continuing to hold Remembrance Day ceremonies,
wearing our poppies, laying our crosses, reciting ‘The Ode’ and ‘In
Flanders Fields’ and holding a minute’s silence at 11:00am.
100 years since World War 1 ended, everyone alive during those times
has passed away. We cannot let their courage and sacrifice die with
them, Remembrance Day is not only our chance to honour those who
gave their lives for our country, but to remind the children of Australia
of its history. The ANZACs had many, many desirable traits, their
bravery, selflessness and mateship is something that should be passed
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down through the generations and for that to be successful, children
should be educated and need to know the whole story to fully
understand the hardship that soldiers went through. Not only is it
important that Australia’s stories and culture are passed down, it is
essential that Australians have something to appreciate. The events
that occurred during World War 1 really allow people these days to put
their first world problems today into context. To forget the events of
not just World War 1 but all other events in our history, both tragic and
joyful, would be disastrous.
Our stories of war, struggle and our ability to unite as a country in a
time of conflict and warfare is something for our future citizens and
countries all over the world to look up to and something for Australia
to be eternally proud of.
Prayer
God bless Australia
Guard our people
Guide our leaders
And give us peace
And peace to those who laid down their lives
To defend our nation
We remember their courage and sacrifice
With thanks for freedom we enjoy
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen
Blessing
And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep our
hearts in love and joy of the Lord. Amen
A warm invitation is extended to all to stay and enjoy the BBQ
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We Shall Keep the Faith
By Moina Michael, November 1918
Oh! You who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Having read John McCrea’s poem “In Flanders Fields” Moina Michael
made a pledge to ‘keep the faith.’ She felt compelled to make a note of
the pledge and hastily scribbled down a response entitled
“We Shall Keep the Faith”
on the back of a used envelope. From that day she vowed to wear a
red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance.
http://www.greatwar.co.uk
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Australia’s involvement in World War 1
World War 1, sometimes called the “Great War”, lasted 4 years, 3
months,
14 days.
The outbreak of the war began on June 28, 1914, when Austrian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot dead in the Bosnian
capital, Sarajevo.
Britain, France, Ireland and Russia were part of an alliance called the
Triple Entente, while Germany aligned itself with Austria-Hungary,
known as the Central Powers. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
triggered a chain of events within these countries which resulted in the
war.
King George V (Great Britain), Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany) and Tsar
Nicholas II (Russia) were cousins, and grandchildren of Queen Victoria
Tension boiled throughout July until August 1 saw Germany order
general mobilisation and declare war against Russia.
After sending troops into Luxembourg and demanding free passage
through Belgium for German troops, Germany declared war on France
on August 3.
Great Britain then declared war on Germany on August 4 before
Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia on August 5.
Serbia followed suit, declaring war against Germany on August 6.
Montenegro against Austria-Hungary on August 7 and against
Germany on August 12, then France and Great Britain declared war
against Austria-Hungary on August 10 and August 12, respectively.
Finally, Japan declared against Germany on August 23, Austria-Hungary
against Japan on August 25 and against Belgium on August 28.
The war was fought on a number of fronts. In Europe, the Western
Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front involved Russia
and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another front because of the colonial
possession on that continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1
November 1914, the Middle East became another theatre of war.
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Although the theatres of war were very distant from Australia, its
membership of the British Empire ensured that there were strong
(although not universal) public support for involvement in the war. In
1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised
Australian support for Britain “to the last man and the last shilling”.
THE ANZACS
Australian involvement in World War 1 is synonymous with the legend
of the Anzacs (ANZAC = Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). The
name became famous with the landing of the Corp on the Gallipoli
Peninsula, Turkey on 25 April 1915. It was the first military
engagement in which significant numbers of Australians fought and
died as Australian nationals.
The Anzacs were part of an Allied campaign against the Turks to
control the Dardanelles and thus open the way to Constantinople and
Eastern Europe. This engagement ended with the evacuation of
Australian troops on 19 – 20 December 1915.
The Australian population in 1914 was less than five million. A
summary of the numbers of those who served and of the numbers of
deaths and other casualties makes it clear that Australia made a major
sacrifice for the Allied war effort. Numbers involved:
Enlisted and served overseas: 324,000
Dead: 61,720
Wounded: 155,000 (all services)
Prisoner of war: 4,044 (397 died while captive)
(Source: Australian War Memorial at http://www.awm.gov.au/)
The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and
2,500 New Zealanders and the wounding of 19,000 Australians and
5,000 New Zealanders. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to the
heroism, comradeship and valour of the soldiers, stretcher-bearers,
medical officers and others involved remains a source of Australian
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pride and national identity. (Teacher and student resources:
http://www.anzacday.org.au/)
MAJOR BATTLES
Gallipoli, Turkey
Fromelles on the Somme, France, July 1916
Bullecourt, France, 1917
Messines, Belgium, 1917
Ypres (the battles of Passchendaele), Belgium, 1917
Battle of Beershebah 1917
Hamel Spur, France, 4 July 1918
Mont San Quentin, France
Peronne, France
Hindenburg Line, France
(Details of each of these battles are available at
http://www.awm.gov.au/, 1918 section)
ROLE OF WOMEN IN WORLD WAR 1
Women were not involved as fighting personnel during the war.
However, they served as members of the Australian Army Nursing
Service dealing with injuries and immense suffering in the field. The
first draft of nursing sisters left Australia in September 1914.
Throughout the war they served wherever Australian troops were sent.
In total, 2,139 served overseas,423 served in Australia, 25 died and 388
were decorated for their service.
(Teacher and student resource: http://www.anzacday.org.au/)
Women worked in Australia through organisations such as the Red
Cross and the Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau and contributed
to the morale of the fighting forces by organising and packing supplies.
The huge toll of dead and wounded meant that frequently women
were left with the entire responsibility for holding families together.
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On the Homefront
Debate about conscription
Although there was great popular support for Australia’s involvement
in the war, it was not universal. In particular, the issue of conscription
created great debate in the Australian community.
The Australian Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes, was committed
to supplying the AIF and the British Government with as many
reinforcements as possible. He opted to put a referendum to the
Australian people. The referendum proposed that men undergoing
compulsory military training should serve overseas. The national vote
was held on 28 October 1916 and was defeated: 1,160,033 voted
against and 1,087,557 for.
On 17 December 1917 a second referendum was held. At this
referendum, Prime Minister Hughes was seeking to reinforce voluntary
enlistment with single men, widowers and divorced men without
dependants, who were between the ages of 20 and 44 and who would
be called up by ballot. The referendum was defeated with 1,181,747
against 1,015,159 in favour. (Teacher and student resource:
http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs161.aspx)
During World War 1, dogs were used to carry messages in capsules
attached to their body. Dogs also carried and placed telegraph wires in
important areas.
Pigeons were also used during the war. About 500,000 pigeons were
regularly dropped into enemy lines by parachute, and then sent back
with messages.
On Christmas Eve, 1914, both sides declared an unofficial truth and
sang Christmas carols to each other. Football matches were played in
no-man’s land (the area between the German and British) trenches,
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and German and British soldiers’ exchanged food and souvenirs. The
ceasefire was known as the Christmas Truce. The following Christmas,
sentries on both sides had orders to shoot any soldier who did this.
(http://primary facts.com/)
The German delegation, under Secretary of State and peace advocate
Matthias Erzberger, arrived in a forest clearing near the French town of
Compiegne on November 8 with the intention of winning some
concessions. But at the discussions and after three days of negotiation,
which took place in the private railway carriage of Supreme Allied
Commander Marshal Ferdinand Foch, there were no question of
negotiation. When Erzberger was told that the German Emperor,
Kaiser Wilhelm II, had abdicated, and was then instructed by Chief of
Staff Paul von Hindenburg to sign the armistice on the Allied terms, the
First World War was effectively at an end.
17

(German Federal Archive)
Photograph taken after German leaders sign the Armistice in the
forest of Compiegne
second from right General Foch
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This was done at 05.10 on November 11 th . However, the actual
ceasefire would not start until 11.00 to allow the information to travel
to the many parts of the Western Front. Technology allowed the news
to go to capital cities by 05.40 and celebrations began before many
soldiers knew about the Armistice. On the Western Front, many tens of
thousands of soldiers assumed that it was just another day in the war
and officers ordered their men into combat.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) states that their
records show 863 Commonwealth soldiers died on November 11 th
1918 – though this figure also includes those who died on that day but
of wounds received prior to November 11 th .
The CWGC records that the last British soldier killed in World War One
was Private Georg Edwin Ellison of the 5 th Royal Irish Lancers. He was
killed at Mons (where he had also fought in 1914) at 09.30, just 90
minutes before ceasefire.
The last French soldier to die was Augustin Trebuchon from the 415 th
Infantry Regiment. He was a runner and was in the process of taking a
message to his colleagues at the front informing them of the ceasefire.
He was hit by a single shot and killed at 10.50. In total, 75 French
soldiers were killed on November 11 th .
The last Canadian to die was Private George Lawrence Price of the
Canadian Infantry (2 nd Canadian Division) who was killed at Mons at
10.58. Officially, Price was the last Commonwealth soldier to be killed
in World War One.
The last American soldier killed was Private Henry Gunter who was
killed at 10.59. Officially, Gunter was the last man to die in World War
One. His unit had been ordered to advance and take a German
machine gun post. It is said that even the Germans – who knew that
they were literally minutes away from a ceasefire – tried to stop the
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Americans attacking. But when it became obvious that this had failed,
they fired on their attackers and Gunter was killed.
His divisional record stated:
“Almost as he fell, the gunfire died away and an appalling silence
prevailed.”
Information about German casualties is more difficult to ascertain.
However, it may well be the case that the last casualty of World War
One was a young German officer called Thomas who approached some
Americans to tell them that the war was over and that they could have
the house he and his men were just vacating. However, no one has
told the Americans that the war had finished because of a
communications breakdown and Thomas was shot as he approached
them after 11.00.
Officially over 10,000 men were killed, wounded or went missing on
November 11 th 1918. The Americans alone suffered over 3,000
casualties.
In November 1919, Pershing faced a House of Representatives
Committee on Military Affairs that examined whether senior army
commanders had acted accordingly in the last few days of the war.
However, no one was ever charged with negligence and Pershing
remained unapologetic, remaining convinced that the Germans had
got off lightly with the terms of the Armistice. He also stated that
although he knew about the timing of the Armistice, he simply did not
trust the Germans to carry out their obligations. He therefore, as
commander in chief, ordered the army to carry on as it would normally
do as any “judicious commander” would have done. Pershing also
pointed out that he was merely carrying out the orders of the Allied
Supreme Commander, Marshall Ferdinand Foch, that were to “pursue
the field greys (Germans) until the last minute”.
(historylearningsite.co.uk.)
20

Armistice Document 1918
21

Wireless signal sent by 2 nd Australian Division regarding
Ceasefire 1918
Text reads: “Message from General Foch to Commander
In Chief BEF reads
Hostilities will cease on the whole front on the 11th
November French Time
11 O’clock AAA. The Allied troops will not cross until
further orders the line
reached o that date at the time AAA.
Signed Foch 6.35 am”
2 nd Aust. Division
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The following Telegram Received via EASTERN, at 9/36pm ud
Clear The Line
42. London-po 15 11 th I0 55am BG Clear The Line Priority
Governor General Melbourne
Most urgent armistice signed 5
AM this morning
Long
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Remainder from the past
1926
The Advertiser
FRIDAY, 12 TH NOVEMEBR, 1926
“At 11 o’clock to-day, November 11 th 1918, the troops will stand
fast. A line of outposts will be established to report to
Headquarters. All military precautions will be preserved. There
will be no communication with the enemy.”
This curt notification was sent out from army head quarters shortly
after half past 7 o’clock on the morning of November 11 th, 1918, and
its purport was known to the troops within an hour. One can imagine
the joy of the troops at the knowledge that their long watch was over
and the relief of the loved ones in far-off lands at the thought that it
was now only a matter of time before they would have their heroes
back.
All this now is history, but on Armistice Day the memory is apt to dwell
on these things, and to reflect on how narrow a margin separated
victory from defeat. Time has dulled the keen edge of personal sorrow
caused by the war, and the soldiers have now been absorbed back into
civil life, but there are still many remainders for Australians of the fact
that the great struggle was only too recent. An empty sleeve, a patient
figure lying on a bed, which, perhaps he will never leave, an honor roll
with its rows of names in letter of gold – all these serve to bring back
to us vividly the memory of the great testing-time when Australia rose
through tribulation to Nationhood. And particularly on this day, at the
eleventh hour when we bow our heads in solemn and silent tribute to
those lying under the wild-flowers on Gallipoli and the poppy-starred
fields of landers in France, we feel that we can never forget.
A service was held in the Memorial Hall yesterday morning, it was
largely attended. Mr. C.M. Young President of the R.S.A. presided. The
service opened with the 100 th psalm. Rev. Stroud then led the
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gathering in prayer. At 11 o’clock the two minutes silence was
observed. Rev. Yarrington delivered a stirring address and while the
gathering stood in
silence a wreath was placed on the Roll of Honor. Kipling’s
“Recessional” followed by the Benediction and the National Anthem
brought the ceremony to a close. Miss Manley officiated at the Piano.
“As God is our Judge
We shall not forget.”
Bendigonian Thu 11 Oct 1917
In France
He rests, where nations mourn their
Dead,
Upon the Flanders Plain.
The charm his loving presence shed
Will never return again.
In blissful dreams his hand I take,
His sunny smile I see;
In lonely sorrow I awake
To find him not with me.
And he, who sleeps in far-off France,
beneath the Flanders dew,
may dream of love and home, per
chance
he may be lonely, too.
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Though stars o’er him may glow on
Earth,
Where grows her hallowed moss,
They are not stars that watched his
Birth –
His golden Southern Cross.
Or garland tributes deck his tomb,
That loyal hands entwine,
They are not wreath of wattle bloom,
The hands, they are not mine.
But brighter beams, and fairer blooms
With spirit eyes I see,
And by my side a form there looms,
Like Him of Gallilee.
And chanting seraph voices say –
“He loves, He guides, He rules;
They shall be His, in that great day,
When He makes up His jewels.”
J. B. Ostler, Hobart
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Soldiers on the WW1 Memorial at Mologa
who made the ultimate sacrifice
David Ray LEED 3168
15 th July 1916
Patrick Joseph RYAN 2784
15 th July 1916
Robert William CAMPBELL 4451
23 rd November 1916
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Daniel O’SULLIVAN 5747
27 th November 1916
real Name was
Christopher COONEY
John Theodore Price 1980
11 th April 1917
Albert Wilfred MARLOW 2363
17 th July 1917
George Tennyson MARLOW 2748
21 st September 1917
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William STREET 115
26 th October 1917
Charles MARLOW 2123
26 th April 1918
David Leslie TOWNSEND 114
28 th August 1918
Lest we forget
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THE POPPY
Results of Essay Competition
CONDUCTED BY MORWELL
BRANCH R.S.S.I.L.A
November 1932
The following is the winning essay prize-winners in connection with the Statewide
competition conducted be Morwell Branch of R.S.S.I.L.A.
Subject: - “The Poppy – the emblem of wartime sacrifice, and what we owe to
those who Fell.” Possible marks 75
1 st Prize – Queenie Bolding, age 11 years, 11 month, Hazelwood North State
School; 58 marks.
Judges: - Mr. H. W. Gay, Morwell and Mr. D. Lisdany, H.T. Higher Elementary
School, Traralgon.
The winning essay is as follows: -
The scarlet poppy burns again
The tender grasses wave,
The bitter almonds shed their leaves,
On many a nameless grave.
Poppies are sold on Armistice Day each year and the proceeds given to the
Red Cross. The reason for selling poppies is that the battle fields in Flanders,
where so many gallant men lost their lives, were covered with poppies. The
scarlet of the poppies signifies the blood that was shed. We, who live in a time
of peace can hardly realise the horrors and suffering of war. War is the most
terrible, appalling, wicket thing imaginable, and it is hard to realise that
human nature could be so capable of such cruel deeds as the Germans
committed in Belgium under the name of war. We owe a huge debt to the
soldiers, especially to those who fell.
“The bugles of England were blowing
o’er the sea,
as they had called a thousand years
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calling now me;
They woke me from dreaming in the
Dawning of the day.
The bugles from England – and how could
I stay.”
Our country was calling for help, and the gallant men of Australia responded
voluntarily and none were too old to help in that great sacrifice. They endured
the horror of war in a magnificent, determined, and unselfish way and so
became the pride of our country. We must not ignore the dangers and
hardships they faced at Gallipoli.
“They went with songs to battle,
They fell with their faces to the foe.”
We must not forget the mothers, sisters and wives of those noble men.
How hard it must have been when they were saying good-bye to know
that perhaps it was forever. They, as well as their men paid the prise of
victory, and will always mourn the loss of those who sleep beyond the
foam. Our country has been given into the hands of the younger
generations and it is our duty to be good citizens.
The soldiers made Australia a free country. Imagine Australia ruled by the
Germans! To do our duty we must be fit in body, mind and soul. We can
never replace the sixty thousand men who fell, though the money and
material used can be replaced.
“Those dead would be remembered
evermore
The valiant dead that grazed upon the
skies
And slept in great battalions by the
shore.”
The League of Nations is now aiming at universal peace by settling arguments
at their Conference at Geneva, because a future war would be much worse
than the last because of the new inventions and discoveries in the way of
machineries and gases.
We keep it fresh in the memories of the children by commemorating Anzac
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Day each year and celebrating Armistice Day. Then there are honor rolls in
most school, churches and halls with stars against the names of those who
paid the supreme sacrifice.
“They shall not grow old as we are that are
left grow old,
Age shall not weary them nor the years
condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the
morning,
We shall remember them.”
By reading about the soldiers and their brave deeds, we are encouraged to
follow their example of courage and patriotism and so improve our
characters. Surely there is no one with a soul so dead that he takes no pride in
his country. We must all try to make our native land not so good as, but better
than any other country in the world. We must all be nation builders by
obeying the laws and deserving to be free so that the British Empire may be a
blessing to all the people on earth. By keeping in mind the things mentioned
above, the children are taught to love and serve their country and our boy’s
great achievement in the world war will not have been in vain. What a
pathetic sight it is to see those cripples at the Caulfield Hospital – men
without arms, without legs or maimed in body and mind. If the League of
Nations is successful in abolishing war, there will be none of these cripples in
the future.
After all, war with its barbarities, though fair according to the law of war, is a
setback to any nation, as it means the loss of the very best men a country has
produced. Let us hope in the future that we have peace.
“Peace! No longer from its brazen
portals,
The blast of war’s great organ shakes
the skies;
But, beautiful as songs of the immortals,
The holy melodies of love arise.”
R.S.S.I.L.A. = Returned Sailor’s & Soldier’s Imperial League of Australia
32

A BID OF WORN KAHKI
(The only son of his mother, and she was a
Widow. – Luke, 7, 12).
My soldier boy has fallen,
In the cause of right he fell;
He bravely did his duty
In the face of shot and shell.
No more my winsome laddie,
As he left me, shall I see,
But they sent me home his Bible
And a bit of worn khaki!
He never flinched or faltered,
When the call of duty came;
My only son – I gave him –
Could I hold him here in shame,
To part with him was anguish,
He was more than life to me,
But they sent me home his Bible
And a bit of worn khaki!
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I know not where they laid him,
But I know his lowly bed
Is by a fallen comrade
In the city of the dead.
I know that I shall see him
When at last the shadows flee,
For they sent me home his Bible
And a bit of worn khaki!
Of things sublime and sacred
It was little was he said;
He wore the garb of honor,
And he fought for them instead.
He fought for God and Country,
And he died for you and me,
And they sent me home his Bible
And a bit of worn khaki!
- Fred. P. Morris
Eaglehawk, 27 th December, 1916.
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Zero hour (8 th August 1918)
Leslie BOWLES
A founding member of the Australian Academy, Bowles studied in Brisbane
and London, where he became a studio assistant for Bertram McKennal. He
enlisted in London after the war broke out and served in Palestine and France
in the Royal Tank Corps.
Returning to Australia, he succeeded Web Gilbert, taking charge of sculpture
for dioramas between 1924 and 1931. He also repaired and cast Web Gilbert’s
Light Horse memorial and Georg Lambert’s Port Said memorial maquette, and
completed the General Sir Jon Monash memorial and the King Georg V
memorial in Melbourne. His belief that art should have a strong narrative and
moral content is demonstrated in works like The man with the donkey.
(ART19795)
Australian War Memorial
Mologa & District
Landcare Group
http://www.mologalandcare.com
memories@mologlandcare.com
November 2018
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