The Koo Wee Rup Sun of May 4 1922 had a report of the unveiling of the Honor Board and the Machine Gun War Trophy at the Cardinia State School which took place on Anzac Day in 1922. It is transcribed below.
The Honor Board has 30 names divided into Scholars and Residents - there are 16 scholars and 14 residents. The Scholars are - R. Bennett, R. Byrnes, L. Dow, A. Duff, T. Duff, G.W. Haw, M. Haw, A.S Henry, A. Hill, J.A. Lecky, M. Lecky, H. Lindsay, W. Murphy, A. Patterson, B. Smith and P.J Wenn. The Residents are S.G. Allars, W.S. Allars, C. Andrews, T.S. Bell, J.P. Conroy, R. Duggan, G. Hobart, A Moxon, G.Moxon, E.C. Osborne, A.N. Prior, W.R. Reeves, H. Smith, A. Wall.
On Arbor Day, July 6, 1917 trees were planted at the Cardinia State School, in honor of the boys of this district who have responded nobly to the country's call. There were trees planted for 25 soldiers that day. Counting the Memorial trees and the Honor Board 35 men with a connection to Cardinia were honoured, with 20 Soldiers being honoured twice - on the Board and with a tree. I have written about these 35 men, here. The Honor Board is still at the school, but I don't know what happened to the machine gun.
Cardinia - Unveiling of
Honor Board and Machine Gun
The ceremony of
unveiling the honor board and machine gun in the Cardinia State School took
place on Anzac Day, in the presence of very large gathering. Mr W. Duff, J.P.,
presided.
The proceedings were
opened by singing the hymn, “God of Ages” and by a prayer by the Rev. Matthews.
Captain Marriott, an
Anzac, said that it was with mixed feelings he was there to say a few words in regard
to the gallant First Division and to what took place seven years ago, just as
the sun was rising over the Straits of the Dardenelles. After vividly
illustrating the brave deeds done by the Australians and the severe task they
had to undertake in landing on Gallipoli, he considered the people of Australia
should indeed be proud of their men, and honor those who had made the supreme
sacrifice. He hoped the people would not forget the “month of appeal” which was
now being made by the Returned Soldiers’ League for funds to assist soldiers
out of employment. The State branches of the league were endeavouring to put
the men in permanent work, and were not out to help the wasters or the men who
would not work. There was, however, a number of men who had never had a fair
opportunity, and it is hoped by this appeal to obtain money to start works
which will not only be of national benefit, but will afford such men regular
employment.
The “Recessional”
hymn was then sung.
The Rev. Uren said
they had assembled to do honor to the memory of the fallen men who had
participated in one of the most glorious feats of arms recorded in history.
They learned of the splendid failure of the charge of the Light Brigade, and
they were there that day to do honor to the memory of men who were as famous as
the gallant horsemen of the Light Brigade and also to commemorate a failure as
magnificent as that charge. In honouring the Australians they should not,
however, forget their intrepid comrades in arms, and also honor the New
Zealanders and other gallant troops who went to death and glory in Gallipoli.
The word “Anzac” has been indelibly engraved in the heart and mind of the
Australian nation. They reverenced these Anzacs, who fought for our sake, for
duty’s sake and the Empire’s sake, and they honoured the men who had made the supreme
sacrifice, and who thus wrote with their own hearts’ blood the first page of
Australian history.
Cr Croskell, in honoring the men who
fought, said that the next war would be the “commercial war,” and that
Australia’s only way to combat it was to educate and train the boys and girls
to the responsibilities confronting them. Other countries were using every
effort to turn out goods and put them on Australian markets, and unless
Australia uses every endeavour to successfully compete, a serious state of
affairs will arise. The boys and girls were not yet old enough to understand
the causes of unemployment, but he asked them to do their best and not shirk
their lessons, and so do their part and help to put Australia in line with
other countries, and so be a credit to
the men who had died for them in the Great War.
Cr Hill, in referring to the bravery of
the Australians, said that Anzac Day was an epoch making day, as it marked the
birth of the Australian nation, and was the event of events which subsequently
transpired on Gallipoli. The men had behaved gloriously and stood up to the
best traditions of the British race.One thing, however, he felt should be done
by Australia in fulfillment of a right
to her honored dead – an unknown British warrior was buried in the Cenotaph in
London – and he thought it only just that one of Australia’s warriors should be
brought across the seas and buried in Australia. He also thought that Anzac Day
should be observed religiously as a day of thanksgiving. In reference to the honor
roll, the district had responded splendidly to the call, and that of the 30 who
enlisted 11 had made the supreme sacrifice, and that in regard to the machine
gun it was somewhat significant that it was captured at Villiers Brettoneaux on
25th April 1918, exactly four years ago. He asked the boys and girls
when they looked on this emblem of destruction to treasure the names of those
who fought and died for them, and to strive and pray that war should never
again occur.
Cr Mills expressed pleasure at seeing
the large number of people present to do honor to the Anzacs.The patriotism of
the people in the Cardinia district was unsurpassed. The number who had
enlisted in comparison with the population of the district was very high,
whilst no effort was spared to raise funds to provide comforts to the soldiers.
He paid a high tribute to the bravery of the Australians. When the first contigent
left these shores in 1914 it occurred to him that the same fearless spirit of
their forefathers, who must have had hearts of iron, in coming here to open up
and make Australia what it is to-day, still lived in the younger generation.
Mr A.E. King then sounded The Last Post.
After refreshments were partaken of, the Union Jack was saluted by the scholars and a vote of thanks, moved by Mr Lobb, seconded by Mr Conroy, to the speakers and all those who had assisted was unanimously carried. The proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.
I have written about the men on the Honor Board, here.
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