Queanbeyan Red Cross, Its 1920 Homecoming and Presentation Banquet for District WW1 Soldiers

Queanbeyan Red Cross, its 1920 Homecoming and Presentation Banquet for District WW1 soldiers. (Compiled by Sandra Young, 2014) At the end of WW1, in 1920, and after many of the local Queanbeyan and District veterans had returned home from the Great War, the local branch of Queanbeyan Red Cross, with local assistance, arranged for a banquet and presentation of commemorative medals for Queanbeyan and District WW1 veterans. The following information from the local paper, the Queanbeyan Age, is a record of most of these events, and also gives glimpses into the formidable and tireless WW1 efforts of Australian Red Cross groups, throughout the country. (Part of a WW1 illustrated cover for a Red Cross dedicated song) (A WW1 postcard image asking for veteran assistance) (A WW1 image from an RSL poster to help it raise money) (The Queanbeyan Age 1/5/1920 page 2) A special general meeting of the Red Cross members was held last week, at which Mrs. J.M. Macintosh presided. The honorary secretary reported satisfactory progress in connection with the Queanbeyan Returned Soldiers Banquet on June 10th. As a great number are expected to be present at the banquet, it was decided that parents attending be respectfully requested not to take young children and that admission be only by presenting invitation card or purchase ticket at the door. As a few men who enlisted may have been inadvertently omitted from the list of invitations, any local Digger who has not yet received an invitation is requested to communicate with the secretary, Mrs. C.T. Campbell. Light refreshments will be served to those attending the social in the Triumph Hall from 10 pm to 11 pm in the Protestant Hall. The executive committee meets on Thursday, June 3rd, at the Council Chambers to arrange details. Mrs. McIntosh undertook the responsibility of a sweets stall, at the Merrymakers concert in the Triumph Hall on June 3rd, proceeds to go to the banquet fund. All returned soldiers are asked to attend the banquet in uniform if possible, or wear badge. Queanbeyan Red Cross Society Banquet and Presentation 100 Returned Soldiers Receive Medals A Happy and Successful Gathering (The Queanbeyan Age 11/6/1920 page 2) The function at the Protestant Hall last night may be regarded as a final effort in the honouring of the returned soldiers of the Queanbeyan district. All along, since the return of our soldier heroes, singly or in batches, a full recognition of their magnificent services to the Empire and the state which sent them forth to “do their bit” in this world’s big war has been made by quite another organisation, which took upon itself the presentation of souvenirs and certificates to the worthy recipients. But the affair at present under notice is quite of a different character. Whatever else has been done in the interests and for the honour of our brave fellow-citizens who counted their lives not dear unto themselves so that they might help towards that triumph which has been so splendidly realised, it is due to the local branch of the Red Cross Society to note that from the incipiency of the war its whole heart and soul has been devoted to the study of comforts and welfare of those who went forth to war at a cost of self-sacrifice known only to themselves. How many of us can call to mind the almost constant despatch to the seats of war of parcels containing “goodies” for the inner man and comforts for the outer man, and how much these thoughtful gifts ameliorated the wretched conditions obtaining in the trenches and elsewhere, the recipients alone can testify. The “fags,” the knitted socks, the woollen comforters, the toothsome delicacies, and what not sent by even little children as well as grown-ups, will be gratefully remembered by our brave boys to the end of their lives. And last night’s efforts put the finishing touch on all that had gone before. The previous evidence of how deeply-seated in the hearts of their friends and relatives was the thought of the great sacrifices which had been made for the defence of our hearths and homes, our country’s liberties and prestige, found last night their culmination in the splendid banquet which had been arranged and the more enduring tokens of popular admiration bestowed in the presentation of the handsome medals provided by the Red Cross Society for those who had proved themselves eminently worthy of them. And not only so, the splendid gathering added further testimony, and so did the speeches of the gentleman who lauded the returned men in terms of eloquence inspired by the various speakers’ conviction that they were only uttering words of soberness and truth, and if anything more were needed to add lustre to the occasion, it was present in beautiful decorations which brightened the place of tryst. It will be many a long day before the Queanbeyan Red Cross Society’s welcome to and recognition of the citizen-soldiers who foregathered in the Protestant Hall last night will grow dim in the recesses of memory. The Toasts (The Queanbeyan Age 11/6/1920 page 2) The chairman proposed the loyal toast, which was enthusiastically received. Captain Chaplain Cosier, M.M., proposed “Our Fallen Comrades” and said they wished to avoid the sad note, but it was the best they could do for them. It was a very mean tribute, after all, for no one could gauge what they had done for the Empire, which could neither pay, or reward, the services given and victory won. The toast was received in silence, the whole assemblance standing. Mr. H.G. Colman, in proposing a toast of the “Army and Navy” said no words were needed from him to make them accept the toast with the greatest enthusiasm. The Army and Navy were the bulwarks of our great land, and the time was coming when the defence of Australia would be put beyond all doubt. It was now being so organised as to ensure our national safety. Major General J. G. Legge, C.B., C.M.G., commandant of the Royal Military College, said he felt honoured in being asked to return thanks. The war was over and great things had been done both by the Army and Navy. He would like them all to realise that the greater portion of the work had not been done by the men who held high ranks, but by those who had stoked the ships, and rowed the boats and handled the guns. Too much credit had been given to those with the highest labels on them. He would like to draw attention to the fact that about 30 years ago, he was asked if he thought the Australian would ever make a good soldier and he said “Certainly.” It was argued the Australians could never be disciplined, but he gave the assurance an Australian could be as easily disciplined as any other soldier in the world. There was never any doubt as to whether he would fight, but it was questioned whether he would put up with other things. Fighting was only a small fraction of what a soldier had to put up with. There was hunger and thirst, want of sleep, exhaustion and mud. Those who had been in France knew what it meant when he said mud. They had to carry heavy loads often up to their waist, and sometimes deeper, in mud. Those men who had been in it realised what it meant, it was twenty times as bad as bullets and shells. To instance it, he saw two chaps in a trench one day and heard one say, “My oath Bill, if ever I see Australia again, I’ll never grumble about hot winds.” Another time he saw a soldier walking in the trenches with holes in the soles of his boots. He said to the man “Why don’t you go to the Q.M. and get a new pair?” He replied, “I’ve got a new pair here (pointing to under his overcoat), but I wear the old ones to work, and keep the dry pair to sleep in.” In returning thanks he would like the Flying Service also to be included, and as one in command, he urged them always to remember “the man who carried the gun”. The toast of the “Parliaments of the Commonwealth and States” was entrusted to Mr. John Gale, ex- member for the old Murrumbidgee electorate. In the course of an appropriate speech he stressed the responsibility of the Commonwealth Parliament in liberally repatriating the returned soldiers, and said he hailed with satisfaction the advent of a Labor Government in New South Wales, giving that party, as it did, an opportunity of demonstrating their ability to govern in the interests of every section of the community. The Hon. Austin Chapman responded on behalf of both Parliaments. The Rev. P.M. Haydon was called on to propose the “Local Returned Men”, and said that as an Australian, he appreciated what the soldiers had done. They had gone forth free and independent men, bearing the standard over the length of the world. The stars had shone splendidly everywhere. He hoped all returned men would enjoy a happy life in the future, especially those in Queanbeyan. Captain Christie was pleased to respond and said he was thankful to see the soldiers received in the manner they had been that night. It was the first time since their return that they had all been gathered together, and they all deeply appreciated the work of the Red Cross ladies.

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