ANZAC Day Origins

ANZAC Day No.1

ANZAC COMMEMORATION DAY. A MEETING of the ANZAC commemoration executive* was held in the Premier’s office on Monday evening last [ 6 March 1916 ]. Mr. W. Lennon [ William Lennon ] was in the chair, there being also present:– Archbishop Donaldson [ St Clair George Alfred Donaldson ] Archbishop Duhig [ James Vincent Duhig ] Brigadier-General Lee [ George Leonard Lee ] Alderman Hetherington [ John Hetherington ] Alderman Hilton [ John Edward Hilton ] Alderman Diddams [ Harry John Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago

Our Soldier Boys

ABOVE: This photo illustrated the column penned by Canon Garland (transcribed below) which appeared in the 1 March 1916 issue of the Church of England (Anglican) monthly newspaper, “The Church Chronicle” (page 51). The caption read: “Soldiers, leaving for the Front, saying good-bye to the Resident Chaplain”. Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Garland is depicted in this poignant moment – probably taken in early February 1916 at the newly-built Railway Camp Station (today’s Gaythorne) – waving off a trainload of First AIF troops bound for Pinkenba Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago
Image of Anzac Day Commemoration Commmitee in1922.

ANZAC Day planning

ANZAC DAY. COMMEMORATION, 25 APRIL 1916. IT will be remembered that on 10 January 1916, a public meeting was held in Brisbane, presided over by the Mayor of Brisbane (Alderman Down) [ George Down ], and addressed by his Excellency the Governor (Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams), the State Premier (Hon. T.J. Ryan) [ Thomas Joseph Ryan ], the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. J. Tolmie) [ James Tolmie ], Major-General J.W. McCay, CB, VD (lnspector-General of the Australian Forces) [ James Whiteside Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago

Church Parades 1916

‘Mere preachment and talk does not satisfy them’ – Garland TO: The Rev. Chaplain Captain C. Warren Tomkins Australian Imperial Forces, EGYPT Box 47, Brisbane, 18th Jany. 1916 My dear Captain Tomkins [ Charles Warren Tomkins* ], it was most good of you to write to me your letter of the 23rd November, which reached me last week. It is interesting to hear about your work, which is unique, but you are just the right man for it. I am sorry to hear about Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago

Soldier Christmas behaviour

THE SOLDIERS’ CONDUCT. Canon Garland [ David John Garland ], resident chaplain at the camps, states that the conduct of the men in camp during Christmastide was wholly admirable. He had been in all the camps during the holidays, had mixed with the men in their huts and tents, and personally had not seen any the worse for liquor, nor heard of any such. By the trains which arrived at Enoggera on Christmas Eve there Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago

Aboard Seang Bee

ABOVE: Soldiers and officers crowd the decks of the Hospital Transport Vessel “Galeka” and the HMAT “Seang Bee” during a Church Parade conducted from the forecastle. The transports would shortly leave the Greek island of Lemnos to land at Gallipoli. The bay at Mudros was so crowded that the ships were moored in pairs. HMAT “Seang Bee” returned to Brisbane in October that year and the Reverend Charles Warren Tomkins was its military chaplain when it Read more…

By The Garland Collection, ago