DESCENDANTS of Pyramid Hill’s 17 Rats of Tobruk were humbled on Monday when portraits were unveiled in a new display in the former RSL hall.
They were joined by members of the town’s historical society and students from Pyramid Hill College and St Patrick’s Primary School to see Descendants of Rats of Tobruk Australia Association member Ray Windlow reveal the new display wall.
Society president Alan Mann said the portraits were a fitting honour to the soldiers who served from the district who fought in the Siege of Tobruk in World War Two.
He thanked Mr Windlow for the association’s donation. “We will certainly treasure this kind gift to continue sharing the stories of local men who served.”
Ron Peacock had earlier spoken of the bravery of the the Rats and support from Royal Australian Navy ships during the siege during the commemorative service where Julie Boyer sounded the Last Post to signal a minute’s silence.
The work crew building the town’s new community centre across the street downed tools before 11am to attend the service.
Soldiers honoured on the tribute wall are Ernest Crabb, Wallace Curnick, Lindsay Forster, Robert Innocent, Hilary Lester, John L’Huillier, Hugh MacRae, Douglas McAlister, Malcolm McGillivray, Stuart McIntosh, Calvert McKean, Gordon Moss, Charles Twigg, John Weir, Charles Wood, Denis Wood and Richard Young.
Descendants Trevor McIntosh and Terry Wood were among the first to recount stories of their fathers to students discovering the deeds of local men more than 70 years ago.
Mr Windlow said: “They were average people who left the land ... they were like you and they had names and they had families.”
He said the portraits helped recognise the merit of service given by the men.
Mr Windlow thanked the historical society for their assistance in researching local soldiers who were at Tobruk.
At Boort, Adam Wright preformed the flyover in his Spitfire plane to signal the start of the service of commemoration attended by 40 people.
Alan Streader, now in his 100th year, sounded the Last Post and Rouse.
“He never missed a note, receiving a great applause when he was finished. I am now 78, he has been playing the bugle all of my life,” said RSL sub-branch president Paul Haw.
The sub-branch’s poppy appeal raised $2500 this year.
Wedderburn College had a strong contingent at the RSL sub-branch’s memorial gardens where students were featured in the service with poetry readings.
In Bridgewater, the school’s playgroup did poppy-theme arts and crafts on Monday morning before joining students and the community for the service outside the memorial hall.
The Inglewood service was attended by students from the primary school and St Mary’s School who assisted sub-branch president Michael Hobson and members in presenting the service.
East Loddon Historical Society this year held its Remembrance Day service at Jarklin.
- CHRIS EARL