Unveiling of the Cardinia State School Honor Roll and Machine Gun

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 State School Honor Board

Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers website  http://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/

This is the transcription of the Koo Wee Rup Sun article from May 4, 1922, p. 2.

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.

 The Hon. A Downward, M.L.A.,said the people would that day see on the honor roll the names of those who went from this district to take part in the world’s greatest war – a war that was full of menance to the British Empire. In 1916 it was almost despaired of to check the German Army, and while it is not claimed that Australia won the war, military experts say that the troops from the British dominons, numbering three-quarters of a million, turned the tide; and, in drawing attention to the Australians’ heroic deeds, he emphasised that the people could not do too much for the retured men, nor could they honor too much those who had fallen. Their hearts went out in deepest sympathy to the relatives of those who had made the supreme sacrifice, but it was some consolation to know that such sacrifices had not been made in vain, as these brave men suceeded in retaining for the people of Australia this great and splendid country. In regard to soldier settlers, he considered that it was impossible for many of them to pull through, as the price of the land to be paid was too high. This price would have to be written down, as was done some years ago in the irrigation districts, in order to give these settlers every opportunity to make good. Australia required settlement in the country, and it was recognised that the returned men had  a right to expect treatment which would enable them to have  a chance to succeed as settlers in the land which they had helped to save from the enemy. He was very pleased to unveil the honort roll and the machine gun.

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 25^th 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.