This opening page is not designed to contain any dramatic monologue regarding the self sacrifice made by the nine young men whose names appear at the top of the plaques (depicted by a †) that adorn the Memorial Gates at what is the entrance to the Urana Road Oval Lavington.

 

However, many members from the local area were extremely generous with their uncoerced willingness and intent to serve this country during the two great upheavals of the last century. Many had enlisted to serve in either the Australian Imperial Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Australian Navy. That participation was spread across both those atrocities.

 

During those unsettled times fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and cousins, would be inextricably linked together by a concatenation of circumstances completely beyond their collective control.

 

Whether swayed by a compelling pride in our nations commitment to go to the aid of our Mother Country in her fight against the political actions undertaken thousands of miles away in Continental Europe, influenced by a sense of comradeship borne out of the unique lifestyle that most endured, or simply bowing to the mantra: "if he enlists so should I", will always be debatable.

 

What is not up for debate is the fact that they went, and for the most part, returned relatively unscathed from their ordeals.

 

Not everything is known about those nine who did not return but every endeavour has been made to make sure that we remember the sacrifice they made on our behalf!

 

Various photos and documents can be seen in the sub-pages connected to each lad. Unfortunately the medals, Dead Man's Penny, Memorial Scrolls, and Kings Letter that are shown here are not the originals but facsimilies taken from the Department of Veteran Affairs and the National Museum of Australia web-sites.

 

Comments may be made via the Contact page.

 

 

Courage, boys, 'tis one to ten

But we return all gentlemen

All gentlemen as well as they,

Over the hills and far away.

 

Over the hills and O'er the Main,

To Flanders, Portugal and Spain,

The King commands and we'll obey

Over the Hills and far away

 

(with apologies to Thomas D'Urfey, George Farquhar, John Tams, & Dominic Muldowney)