Winiam State School Roll of Honour

Source:
Canadian Wallpaper Online

Can you imagine how it must feel to have sons fighting in a war on the other side of the world?  Or the feeling of relief  and happiness when the war finished and your son would be returning home soon?  Or how about the feeling of sadness that your son would not be coming home, but feeling proud of his courage?

I cannot even begin to imagine.

About a week after the official end of World War 1, the following appeared in the Nhill Free Press on 19th November 1918;

"In accordance with the declaration by His Excellency the Governor (Sir Arthur Stanley) Sunday was observed in the local Methodist Church as a day of thanksgiving for the victory that has [crowned] Allied arms in the war, and a day of remembrance of those who gave their lives in the great cause of righteousness, justice, truth and freedom.

Mr W Barber officiated at the morning service, and Rev. W.M. Cannam in the evening.  The sacred edifice was crowded in the evening, and a large assemblage of country members and adherents was in evidence.  The honor roll, on which are the names of our gallant heroes, was entwined with the Union Jack, and there was an excellent display of red, white, and blue in the front portion of the church.  Thanks was offered to God for His Majesty the King and his statesmen, together with Kings and Presidents of Allied nations; for our gallant dead; for our doctors, nurses, chaplains, and other workers; prayers for the enemy.

Source: www. trove.nla.gov.au
Nhill Free Press (Vic.:1914-1918)
Friday 3rd May - page 3

The names of our fallen heroes which appear on the Methodist honor roll in this circuit were then read, and are as follows:- Privates A.R. and L. Anderson*, C Day, A.H. Dean,

H. Hales, H. Muller, T Stevens, F Argall, C.C. Collins, L Parker, E Taylor, - Baker, T. Dickinson, A. Munro, A.G. Warner*, G.J. Blythman, J.W Gniel*, A.J. and F.W. Weir*, Lance-Corporal F.E. Clark, and Sargeant L.J.G. Clark, after which the Dead March was played, the congregation standing with bowed heads.  Miss Davis officiated at the organ."1

Many of the above boys (marked *) also attended Winiam State School, who remembered the valiant efforts of their prior students by unveiling a Roll of Honour on Anzac Day (25th April) 1918.

Several of the young men listed are related to me.  All of them would have been well known to family members in the small farming community of Winiam.

I have previously paid tribute to the following relatives listed on the Honour Roll;

Roy Weir

Ern Geyer

Albert George (Bertie) Warner

As we commemorate 100 years since Australia's involvement in World War 1 , please join me in the following weeks and months when I shall remember each of those listed on the Winiam State School Roll of Honour.

"They shall not grow old, as we 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 will remember them"

Lest We Forget

Sources
1 Trove - Nhill Free Press, Tuesday 19 November 1918, page 3

Side note: This post was written in advance and scheduled for automatic uploading @ 11am on Remembrance Day, 11th November 2014.  We will be on a cruise (refer prior post) and will be in Turkey on Remembrance Day but will still stop for a minute of silence to remember those who lost their lives and fought for their country.