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The Great War : Extracts |
Formation of R.S. L. branch
(From: Footscray's first 100 years: the story of a great Australian city, page 100 (Published 1959))
WITH THE RETURN of hundreds of Footscray servicemen from World War 1, a local branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia was formed following a meeting convened by Lieut. Charles W. Engblom, in 1919, at Footscray town hall. Office bearers were elected as follows. President: Lieut. Col. (Dr.) Ramsay Webb; vice-presidents: W. F. Fitzpatrick and Kemp; hon. secretary and treasurer: Wm. F. Blyth; committee: A. Robertson, Len Caldecott, Jack Borlase, A. W. Hamilton, M. Grant, Tom Drew and C. W. Engblom.
Later Gerald T. Hollings became secretary
and the branch moved to its present headquarters, the Memorial
Hall, 48 Geelong Road, which was officially opened by the then
Governor of Victoria.
Past Presidents are: Dr. R. J. Webb, A. T. Loveridge, G. T. Hollings,
K. McLennan, R. Fordham, D. Bonham, R. Fordham, G. Dolphin, W.
Braddish (cousin of Sir. Geo. Holland, now Federal President),
C. H. Farmington, A. H. Carter, C. Stephens, B. J. Davies, O.
A. T. Bowden, M. McBean, K. Mitchell, W. J. Borlase, F. Drew,
R. Cross, W. Bright, R. Cross, W. Bright, R. Cross, F. B. Crowe.
Now president, since 1954, is Harold Schuldt, who is also welfare officer, having taken over after the death of Dr. E. L. Watson, Ed. D.D., in March, 1951. Previous to Dr. Watson, Padre W. G. Dexter, the most decorated padre in the A.I.F. (D.S.O., M.C., D.C.M.), acted in this capacity.
The present spacious premises were purchased from the late F. E. Shillabeer for £3900, citizens subscribing £3100 and a returned soldiers' carnival raising £800. The first trustees were the Mayor, together with president of the R.S.L (Dr. R. Webb), T. H. Launder, J. Gent (Town Clerk) and R. Michaelis.
The first steward of the Memorial Hall was M. Grant (1922), later O. Bowden, as assistant secretary and steward. After a period of years the stewardship was taken over by Arch Bowden, who held the position for 15 years; and G. Dolphin took over the secretaryship, followed by Arthur Polson, and after his death, by F. B. Crowe who held the position until 1958, when L. Po1a was elected.
The branch's oldest member was the late Jack
Garcia, who served in three wars Boer, 1914 18 and 1939 45 and
won the D.C.M.,
D.S.M., and Belgian Croix de Guerre. After surviving three campaigns
he was accidentally killed by a motor car in Geelong Road, and
is the only soldier to have been buried from the Memorial Hall.
The club obtained a liquor licence in August, 1958.
The branch is guardian of the rights of returned servicemen and performs yeoman service in hospital visitations, etc. Annually it organises Footscray's Anzac Day Commemoration, held at the cenotaph erected by ex-servicemen [and women] at Footscray Park.
The City of Footscray Regiment
Prior to 1911, there was no formed military unit in Footscray , although, of course many local men served in the South Africa,, War and in militia units, particularly the garrison artillery at Fort Gellibrand and the Harbour Trust battery at North Melbourne.
In 1911 when universal military training was
introduced, Footscray was divided into two Areas Area 65A, Footscray
Bacchus Marsh, Area Officer Capt. (H/Maj) J. T. B. Hickson and
Staff Sergeant Major M. Coats, located in two rooms in front
of the Masonic Hall in Leeds St., Area 65B, Footscray South and
Yarraville, Area Officer Capt. F. V. Trickey (still going strong)
and Staff Sergeant Major A. Doubleday, located in a shop in Stephen
St., Yarraville.
On Saturday, 1st July, 1911, the first parade of Senior Cadets,
comprising men born in 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1897, was held at
the corner of Gordon and Barkly Sts., in Footscray and near the
Cuming Institute in Yarraville. Amongst the first officers appointed
were Lts. C. A. Thomas, L. Blick, G. Punshon, R. Stewart in 65A
and Lts. T. K. (now Sir Thomas) Maltby, E. A. McKenna and W.
R. D'Altera in 65B. In 65A parades were held at the old Barkly
St. market (where the girls' school is now) and later at Scott's
boatshed, near the swing bridge. About this time the Area office
moved to a shop in Chambers Street.
N.C.O's had been selected and had attended a class of instruction
prior to the commencement of training. Many older folks will
remember the defaulters being sent off to Queenscliff for the
proverbial "thirty days" for failing to render service.
The Defence Act at that time prescribed training in the Senior
Cadets at ages 14 -18 and in the Citizen Forces from 18- 26.
The first Citizen Force unit in Footscray (one company) came
into being in July 1912, on the drafting of the 1894 quota to
"E" Coy., 66th Inf., with an office in Donald Street.
That Coy. was commanded by 2/Lt. C. A. Thomas, with 2/Lts. L.
C. Blick, A. G. Bennett and R. McG. F. Stewart. The sergeants
were R. L. Hanson (Colour Sgt.), H. Moore. S. Nichol, G. Hollings
and F. Harper.
In July, 1913, the 1895 quota passed into
the Citizen forces forming G. and H. Coys. of 66th Inf. These,
with the previously formed E. and F. Coys. and the Castlemaine
and Kyneton Coys., attended the first Citizen Force camp at Waubra
near Ballarat, in February 1913.
During 1913, drill halls were erected on the old "pound"
site on the Barkly Gordon Streets' corner and in Somerville Yarraville.
At a meeting convened by the Mayor (Cr. Hills 18th July, 1911,
a strong Citizens' Association supported local Council, was formed
to further the erection of drill halls. Mr. G. Cuming of Yarraville
was a prime mover in this. A Military Tattoo was held on the
Western Reserve on 7th October 1911, to raise funds for the project.
Reports on the above appear in the "Advertiser" of
22nd July, 6th September and 14th October, 1911. On 15th November
1913, after a review by Sir Ian Hamilton at Royal Park, the four
companies proceeded to camp at Gisborne.
Footscray's own battalion, the 65th Inf., was created 1915, being
formed from E., F., G. and H. Coys., of the Inf., together with
the 1896 quota drafted in 1914 and the quota in July 1915. The
Bn. HQ. and four coys. were at Footscray, with a detachment at
Bacchus Marsh and four coys. at Yarraville. The first C.O. was
Major Geoff Hurry of Kyneton with Lt. J. A. Whittaker as Adjutant,
S.S.M. M. Coats was attached as instructor and H. Moore was R.S.M.
During this time, World War I was in progress and in the early
part the battalion carried out guard duties at the munitions
factory, oil installations and railway bridges. Many members
who joined the A.I.F. in the early stages won promotion because
of their training in the unit. The 7th Battalion A.I.F. has a
definite link with Footscray and the unit. Most of the men of
E. Coy. 7th Bn. were enlisted at the Footscray drill hall from
members of the unit and local citizens. Its officers were from
the 65th Inf. being commanded by Capt E. A. McKenna, with Lts.
Blick and Grills as subalterns and Lieut. R. M. F. Stewart as
signal officer. Many other members of the unit served with distinction
in all of the services.
In 1921, the Citizen Forces were again reorganised on the A.I.F.
basis and the 32nd Bn., with the cognisance of the Footscray
City Council, was granted the title "City of Footscray Regiment".
Between 1921 and 1939 the Rifle Club achieved fame in winning
many competitions, notably the Bullecourt Trophy in 1932 and
the winning of the coveted "King's Medal" by Corporal
Alex Carson in 1933, when he defeated champions from all states.
The Regiment was without a band until 1924, when the members
of the Kingsville and Yarraville band were enlisted as the regimental
band. They won several military band contests including the 3LO
shield. Sgt. L. Skane was bandmaster in 1924 and Sgt. T. Campbell
(later W.O.) took over in 1932. He is still bandmaster of the
Kingsville and Yarraville band and several of the original bandsmen
are still in. The drum major was Sgt. A. Hitch, who was later
D.M. 2/6th 2nd AIF band. In 1924 the Regiment received its "Colours".
The King's Colours were sent from England and handed over by
Maj. Gen. C. H. Brand, C.M.G. The Regimental Colour, emblazoned
with the battle honours of the 32nd Bn. A.I.F., was made in Melbourne
and paid for by the Footscray Council and public subscription.
The ceremony of "Trooping the Colour" was carried out
on several occasions in the following years.
About 1928 the Regiment became allied with the Leicestershire
Regiment (The Tigers) of the British army, through the efforts
of Col. C. S. Davis who had commanded the 32nd Bn. A.I.F. at
one time. All ranks of the Leicesters subscribed to present to
the 32nd Bn. a sterling silver rose bowl valued then at about
£120, to be known as the "Tigers' Cup" for annual
competition within the unit. In July 1958 Capt. H. Schuldt paid
a visit to the Leicestershire Regiment's H.Q., and on behalf
of old comrades of the 32nd Bn., presented a clock, which has
been installed on the cricket pavilion at the Regimental depot.
This cup and the colours are at present held by the 58/32Bn.,
now styled "The City of Essendon Regiment" which absorbed
the 32nd Bn. on resumption of Citizen Force activities after
World War II.
On the 1st November 1929, universal training was abandoned and the Regiment was reconstituted on a voluntary basis. So great was the response all ranks that Lt. Col. Whitton retained all Officers, the majority of NCOs and a large number of other ranks, resulting in the first voluntary parade on 18th December mustered nearly 500. Included in these was a number of ex A.I.F. men who volunteered.
By 1938, just prior to the Second World War, the Regiment had reached a high state of efficiency and had won 32 cups and trophies in various military events. On partial mobilization in 1940 the Regiment went into camp at Mt Martha for three months. From there many joined the second A.I.F. and other services. In 1942 the Regiment was placed on a war footing and was again in camp under Lt. Col. F. R. Watson. It was reinforced and sent to Western Australia, where they were stationed in the vicinity of Geraldton for the defence of that area.
A colourful personality with the longest service in any one Australian Unit, and well known in Footscray and Williamstown, is Lt. Col. Marmaduke Coats. He was the Area Sergeant Major 65A at the inception of universal training in 1911, (continuing except for A.I.F. service), until 1937, a total of 26 years. In 1915 he was selected as an officer of the 29th Bn. A.I.F. serving in the 6th Brigade under Col. E. Tivey. On his return he was appointed Adjutant 32nd Bn. with the rank of Captain, being promoted to Major on 1st May 1930, and to Lt. Colonel on his retirement on 7th September 1944. During World War II, Lt. Col. Coats carried out staff duties and was commandant of enemy P.O.W. camps at Tatura and Murchison. He is now residing in Mitcham.
With the dispersal of the 32nd Bn. In 1943, the City of Footscray Regiment, as such, virtually came to an end.
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