LATE in 2014 Keith Stevens, DFM, a long-time resident of the Village Glen at Rosebud, was informed that the President of the Republic of France had awarded him the highest level of chevalier (or knight) of the French Legion of Honour. The award is recognition for “..risking your life for the liberation of our country 70 years ago.” This latest honour adds to those previously received: the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), which was presented by the King at Buckingham Palace, and some 20 others from UK, French, Polish, and Australian governments. Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Keith’s Legion of…
Day: April 20, 2015
MONTAGUE Romeo was born in Hastings to Charles and Katherine (nee Howard) Romeo in 1894. He first enlisted in Hastings on 11th September, 1914 but was discharged on 5th October, 1914 as being “unlikely to become an efficient soldier.” No reason was given in the official records for this assessment although his medical inspection noted “lower teeth deficient.” Moreover his height was only 5 feet 2 ¾ inches and in 1914 the army was seeking men of a minimum of 5 feet 8 inches. After several more unsuccessful attempts to enlist, Montague Romeo was finally accepted on 28th September, 1916.…
1. BULLECOURT – Arnold Roy Bartram, KIA 13th May, 1917. BULLECOURT was the scene of two costly battles for the AIF, the first beginning in the bitterly cold dawn of 11th April, 1917 when, after a night lying in the snow, Australians of the 4th Division were ordered to attack the main German defensive position, the Hindenberg Line. They were supposed to be backed up by British tanks and military, but neither of these eventuated. Although tanks had been used in the Battle of the Somme six months earlier, they were relatively untested. However the “mastermind” of the First Battle…
Frankston’s Avenue of Honour In her book “Echoes from the Front”, Val Latimer tells how as early as 1917 a committee was formed to honour all those from the Frankston District who served in World War One. This was to take the form of an Avenue of Honour along Melbourne Road, now the Nepean Highway. Trees were planted and brass plates were fixed to posts in front of each tree. By 1957 work was underway for the construction of a new six lane highway: the trees were removed and the plates placed in storage. Of the original 216 name plates…
THE Gallipoli Campaign has long been regarded as being the birth of our nation; the moment the newly Federated Australia proved itself worthy to stand on its own two feet in the dominion of the British Empire. The campaign is also noted for its military blundering; for bad decision making by British generals, sending our troops often to certain death facing insurmountable odds. Indeed, the campaign’s military miscalculations began well before the first Australian soldier set foot on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Turkey, part of the once great but now weakened Ottoman Empire, had been a…
IT was billed as the match of the round – Somerville versus Red Hill. The Eagles at home and with their well-documented list of recruits, playing in their fifth game together (including three practice matches). Red Hill, a finals team in 2014 with a list on paper that had improved with the likes of Michael Chaplin and Matt Vagg joining them in recent weeks. At quarter time, it appeared as though the Hillmen were going to have too much cohesion, willingness for the contest and team polish for their opponent. At the first change, Red Hill was 4.2 (26) and…
AN after the siren goal from Liam McKay saw Edithvale draw with Langwarrin in the second round of Peninsula Division Football. For the first three quarters of the match, Langwarrin dominated general play and had the upper hand against the home side. Ricky Johnson was continuing his outstanding form, doing the job on Jarrod Garth; Mark Meehan was being kept quiet by Nick Hammill; Matt Naughton was winning in the ruck, despite doing the bulk of it on his own, and Gerard Brown was completely dominating up forward. Brown took at least 20 marks in a dominant display in attack,…