Letters to the editor.

Laying up of Colours

In the March 2003 edition of Sabretache, Neville Foldi expressed concern about the laying up of Colours in a museum. He opined that Colours, once consecrated, should only by laid up in a church but welcomed other views. I can assure Mr Foldi that new Colours and Guidons are still consecrated at the time of presentation.

As a traditionalist, I certainly would prefer that Colours be laid up in a church but there are other suitable places. In the United Kingdom (from whence we derive these traditions) it is not unusual to find Colours, particularly of County Regiments, laid up in Town Halls, Guild Halls or similar civic buildings. The old Town Hall in Dover for example has a number of Colours laid up. At least one example of laying up of Colours in civic buildings exists in Australia. The original Queen's and Regimental Colours of 8RAR are laid up in a prominent position within the Brisbane City Hall. There may be other examples.

Unfortunately, we do not have 'stately manors' in Australia but it is possible in the United Kingdom to find Colours laid up in the castle or stately home of a hereditary peer where a long association with a specific regiment exists. You know, four hundred years of family ties or something similar. Perhaps the Macarthur-Onslow family could offer up Camden Park as a home for the 1/19 RNSWR Colours or the 1/15 RNSWL Guidon. Such an option does not seem likely in Australia.

One eminently suitable option would be sacred war memorials, such as Melbourne's Cenotaph or the Hall of Memories under the Eternal Flame in Brisbane. The Australian War Memorial springs to mind as the primary choice, surely.

As far as museums are concerned, I agree with Mr Foldi to this extent. Most museums in Australia would regard the Colours as just a piece of military memorabilia without recognising the spiritual connotations. If there is no other choice left, however, a military museum would I believe be appropriate, especially one which is dedicated to preservation of our national, state or regional military heritage. I have a few in mind, but I'm sure that within each of our capital cities, there is at least one such museum, for example, the museum in Victoria Barracks, Sydney.

Lt Col Brian Avery (retd), Cashmere, QLD 4500

First university regiment in Australia

With reference to Mr Tom Corfinat's letter in the March 2003 issue, I should like to say that although I was a student at Sydney University I was never a member of the SUR but some of its members were friends of mine and I have always been deeply interested in its history. It is ironic that neither the SUR nor the MUR from Australia's two oldest universities, Sydney and Melbourne, have yet published its history. Some years ago, the Royal Australian Historical Society Journal published a biographical sketch I prepared on the SUR Commanding Officer at the time of the outbreak of the 1939-1945 War. The sketch included a amount of original research on the origin of the SUR for the benefit of readers like myself who had given up hope of ever seeing a published history of the SUR. I remember too the one time RSM of the SUR, Joe Button of the Australian Instructional Corps. He was widely known in his time as a dedicated soldier and a living example of a dedicated and efficient soldier. He was originally, I believe, with the British Regular Army.

At this point I should come off the fence and say that I believe that the SUR and not the MUR is the oldest existing Australian University Regiment. Again, although I am a graduate of Melbourne University I have never been a member of the MUR. I was a "Gunner". Now for the evidence for my belief that the SUR can trace its history further back in time than the MUR. This question cannot perhaps be settled with mathematical accuracy. But rather by an interpretation of the facts. The facts in respect of the MUR are as follows. The so called 'University Company' on the Melbourne University Campus in the 1880s was in fact 'D' Company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles. This Battalion was commanded by Lt Col John Aitken and its Battalion Headquarters was located at Castlemaine, 78 miles. NNW of Melbourne. What arrangements were made between the Melbourne Headquarters of the Military Commandant of the Colony of Victoria are unknown to me.

The point I stress here is that any history built up by the 'University Company' is part of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles and so it cannot be claimed by the present MUR as the origin of its own history, If the 'University Company' had been an independent company the origin of the MUR could have been interpreted differently. As things stand the MUR and the 'University Company' of the 1880s are not 'blood relations' so to speak.

I should like to end with a comment on Dr J K Haken's article 'One Hundred years ago--Development of the Colonial Military Police', in New South Wales 1854-1903' which has given rise unwittingly to all this wordage. I enjoyed reading Dr Haken's article and I regard it as an important contribution to the Military History of the Colony of New South Wales.

Major Warren Perry, MBE, ED, Litt.D. (Melb), Eaglemont Vic 3084

ANZAC Research Project

For about fifteen years Bryn Dolan, Patrick Gariepy and myself have been compiling a biographical background and photo of all the AIF and NZEF officers who died as a result of service on Gallipoli. To date we have photos of 499 out of the 507 officers. Our web site can be viewed on www.anzacs.org

All being well we hope to produce a book and CD to be released on Anzac Day 2004. However, if possible, it would be great to find photos of the remaining eight officers. Also, we are always interested in improving the quality of photos currently on file. If any member of the Society can assist us it would be very much appreciated. The eight officers are:

* Lt Herbert Alexander Biggsley, 6th Bn AIF. Killed in action at Steele's Post 18 July 1915 and buried at Shrapnel Gully cemetery. Born at Sale in Victoria 13 Dec 1885. Employed as a law clerk with Strongman & Crouch, Solicitors in Melbourne prior to being commissioned in 6th Bn on 11 Nov 1914. Son of Charles Alexander and Barbara Biggsley (nee Jones.). Left Australia on 22 Dec 1914 as the OC of the 1st reinforcements to 6th Bn. In 1920 his mother was living at "Rhondda" Cnr Montrose and Blackburn Streets, Surrey Hills.

* Capt Philip Ignatius Callary, 9th LH AIF. Killed in action at Hill 60 28 Aug 1915 and has no known grave. Born at Petersburg (now Peterborough) SA 21 July 1886. Occupation shown as General Storekeeper, Main Street, Petersburg. Son of Philip Aloysius and Margaret Matilda Callary. Educated at Christian Brothers College, Adelaide 1900-1903. Previous Militia service as an officer in the 24th LH. An original officer with 9th LH and embarked aboard HMAT Al0 (Karoo) on 11 February 1915.

* Lt William Dalziel Seymour Finlay, 24th Bn AIF. Killed in action at Lone Pine 29 November 1915 and buried at Lone Pine cemetery. Born at Albert Park, Melbourne 12 Apr 1880 and attended the Albert Park Grammar School (Dux of school 1893.) Occupation shown as Accountant. Son of William Seymour and Margaret Finlay (nee Hardie) of "Noorie" Cambridge Street, Auburn. At the time of gaining his commission on 16 May 1915 his address was "Strathallan" North Road, Brighton. Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1930 his brother Mr R G Finlay lived at Neds Corner Station, River Murray via Mildura. Another brother was Capt G L Finlay MC, 5th Bn who died 9 February 1919. Left Australia as OC of the 2nd Reinforcements 24th Bn.

* 2Lt James Home, 4th Bn AIF. Died of wounds 13 May 1915 and buried at Chatby Military Cemetery, Egypt. Born at Thornhill in the parish of Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire, Scotland 19 Apr 1884. Occupation was Police Constable stationed at Coonamble, NSW and previously at Dubbo, NSW. Served for seven years in 1st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and attained the rank of Sergeant. Son of Capt George and Elizabeth Home, Newmill-on-Teviot, Hawick, Scotland. Enlisted on 21 Aug 1914 with the regimental number of 245 and posted to F Coy, 4th Bn as a Sergeant. A memorial tablet was erected on the wall at St. Barnabas (CE) Church, Coonamble. Prior to being commissioned he was appointed CSM, C Coy, on 1 Jan 1915. Date of commission is shown as 1 May 1915.

* 2Lt John Edmund Marshall, 6th Bn AIF. Killed in action at German Officers' Trench 7 Aug 1915 and has no known grave. Born at Carlton, Victoria 20 Feb 1884 and attended Portland State School and possibly Macarthur State School 1892/93. Occupation was permanent soldier with the rank of Staff Sergeant Major. Enlisted at Albury on 13 Aug 1910. Prior to permanent Army service he served in the 6th AIR (1st Bn) for five years. Son of Emily Marshall (later Campbell) who died at Essendon in 1924. Brother to Charles Frederick Marshall who resided at 'Ruo Tsen' Balmoral Street, Essendon and died at Moonee Ponds in 1945 at the age of 61 years. Originally enlisted as regimental number 1070 in the MG Section, 5th Bn. Transferred to 6th Bn at Gallipoli on 10 Jun 1915 as Regimental Sergeant Major. Received commission as 2Lt on 4 Aug 1915.

* 2Lt William Harold McLeod, 5th Bn AIF. Killed in action at Krithia 8 May 1915 and has no known grave. Born at Wollongoon Station, Mortlake, Victoria, Sept 1886. Occupation was Senior Linesman with the Postmaster-General's Department. Husband to Emily McLeod (nee Willingham) who lived at 91 Punt Road, Windsor, Victoria and later at 4 Stone Street, North Brighton, Melbourne and later again at 17 Vaucluse Street, North Brighton. Son of Charles Henry and Mary McLeod (nee Sutton.) Enlisted as regimental number 213 with rank of Corporal in B Coy on 17 Aug 1914. Promoted to Sergeant on 16 Dec 1914 and commissioned as 2Lt on 28 Apr 1915. Embarked with 5th Bn on 21 Oct 1914. Prior to joining the AIF he spent two years in the 52nd (Hobson's Bay) Infantry. Cousin to Lt Morris McLeod who served with 7th Bn and was killed in action on 25 Apr 1915. Father and sister were shown as living at 1 I Flinders Street, Thornbury, Melbourne in 1930.

* 2Lt Harold Freeman Tippet, 24th Bn AIF. Died of wounds at sea on HMHS Maheno 18 Sep 1915 as a result of injuries received at Lone Pine. Born at Kalkee West near Horsham, Victoria, 23 Nov 1895. Occupation shown as a salesman. Son of Thomas and Fanny Elizabeth Tippet (nee Edwards.) Thomas was a school teacher at Kalkee West at the time of his birth and died on 25 Sep 1935. Educated at different State Schools, finishing at Brighton Road, St Kilda. At the time of his enlistment and for many years later the family resided at 67 Wheatland Road, Malvern, Victoria. Enlisted as regimental number 343 on 22 Mar 1915 and posted as CSM of B Coy on 28 Apr 1915. Date of commission as 2Lt was 21 Sep 1915 which was three days after his death. Previous service for nearly three years with 49th Bn, Senior Cadets, Prahran. At the time of his enlistment in the AIF he was a Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets and had passed examinations for Captain.

* 2Lt Valentine Blake, Canterbury Bn NZEF. Killed in action at the Apex on 9 Dec 1915 and buried at Embarkation Pier cemetery. Born at Windsor NSW 7 Oct 1887 and educated at Victoria College, Wellington NZ. Son of Vincent Ignatius and Kathleen Hamilton Blake (nee Hunter.) His father was Commissioner of Crown Lands of Lands and Survey office, Gisborne NZ. Occupation shown as Government Land Surveyor living at Wellington. Previous military service in 5th (Wellington) Regiment and 'D' Battery, Field Artillery, Wellington. Enlisted as regimental number 6/2832 on 15 Mar 1915 and posted as Sergeant to 'B' Coy, 6th Reinforcements. Promoted 2Lt on 31 Jul 1915 and joined the Battalion at Mudros on 30 Sep 1915.

Please contact John Meyers, PO Box 432, Maryborough Qld 4650. 07 4123 5800 (h); 07 4121 7777 (w); 0500 500 861 (m) Email:jjohnmeyerskdaleandmeyers.com.au

John Meyers, Maryborough Qld 4650