ANZAC Day No.2
ABOVE: The front cover of the “Citizens’ Celebration” programme for Brisbane’s second-ever Anzac Day service on the evening of 25 April 1917. This solemn commemoration event took place in the Royal National Association of Queensland’s Exhibition Hall in what is today the Old Museum on Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills. This image is from “Hackett’s Scrapbooks, 1914-1939” (Item No. OM92-46) from the State Library of Queensland collection.
TO: Lieut. J.A. Collum [ John (“Jack”) Athelstan Collum* ],
Army Service Corps,
c/o. Rev. W.W. Williams,
Vicarage,
Midsomer Norton, England.
Box 47, Brisbane.
24th April 1917.
“My dear Mr. Collum,
“Your lengthy letter received and is of great interest to me.
“I do not quite know what to do with the information you gave me as we are so far away, we could not take any action, but I will watch.
“I am so sorry to tell you I have quite lost touch with your wife [ Ruth Collum, neé Joynson ] and child [ Dorothy Haidee Collum ].
“I sent someone to visit them in South Brisbane and found they had gone to Sandgate, where Mr. Baggaley [ Stephen Baggaley ], the parish priest, visited them and kept in touch.
“On getting your letter I enquired from him and learned that Mrs. Collum had gone away too New South Wales some considerable time before Xmas.
“Subsequently I heard she was in South Brisbane, and tried to find her and failed, at the same time I heard she had returned to N.S.W.
“This is really the reason for my delay in answering your letter.
“There is much of which I would like to tell you, but circumstances forbid. I am still at work in camp, and lately have been extra busy organising the celebration of Anzac Day which we hold tomorrow [ 25 April 1917 ].
“Queensland is doing that very well, we are having services in all Churches in the early part of the day and public meetings at night.
“There were those who wanted to turn it into a festival occasion, but I blocked that.
“All Saints’ [ All Saints’ Church, Spring Hill ] carry on. I take the Anzac Requiem Eucharist there tomorrow.
“Our Sunday Teas are still going strong, and all our work for the Soldiers.
“I often think of you, and your name has been on my lips many times lately, remembering how you helped us last year for Anzac Day.
“With all good wishes for your safe return.
“Yours affectionately,
[ David John Garland ] ”
– Accession OM71-51, Canon David John Garland Papers, Item No. OM71, State Library of Queensland
*Jack Athelstan Collum, was a 22-year-old, Cunnamulla-born accountant when he enlisted on 18 February 1916 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 23rd Company, Australian Supply Column, 3rd Divisional Train. He enlisted in the First AIF on 14 August 1914.
