They played their part to the uttermost 1

At 11am on 11 November 1918, Cook and Opposition Leader men who lived or studied in of four young people associated the guns on the Western Front fell Andrew Fisher, pledged full Old Government House (OGH). with OGH: two sons of former silent after more than four years of support for Britain. As in many From 1862 to 1910, OGH served Queensland governors, who spent continuous warfare. This moment other places, the outbreak of war as both the official residence of their childhoods here, and two became universally associated with was greeted in Australia with great Queensland’s governors, and from UQ students who were among the remembrance of those who had enthusiasm. World War 1 remains 1911, it was the main building of the astonishing 60 percent of UQ served and those who had died in the most costly conflict in terms of the newly established University staff and students who enlisted for the war. Australian deaths and casualties. of Queensland (UQ). It was a site active service between 1914 and where many spent their halcyon 1918. Australia’s involvement in World To commemorate the 100th days before the outbreak of the

War I began when Britain and anniversary of ’s Great War forever changed it 1. Quote taken from C.E.W. Bean, ‘The Great War, 1914–1919,’ Printed by authority: Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer, Germany went to war on 4 August end, this special exhibition all for everyone. This exhibition Melbourne, 1919, p.2. This was a speech written by Bean, Australia’s official war correspondent at the request of the Commonwealth Peace Celebrations Committee and was to 1914, and Prime Minister Joseph honours the young women and features the wartime experiences be read during the presentation of Peace souvenir medals.

The Red / The Emblem of Remembrance

Today, the red poppy is Front. The total devastation caused the graves of those who had that would honour the dead and universally acknowledged as here by the endless explosions died at . That afternoon, he help the living. The red poppy the symbol of war remembrance, churned up the earth and left the composed the now famous poem was adopted as that emblem. In yet the poignant story behind area almost devoid of life. However, called ‘In Flanders Fields’ while 1921, the Legion ordered 9 million its adoption is less known. this released poppy seeds from sitting in the back of an ambulance and sold them on 11 their dormancy. After a long, cold at an Advanced Dressing Station. November that year. The poppies Red is the natural colour of the winter, the weather around Ypres sold out almost immediately. field poppy, a delicate but resilient in Belgium was unusually warm In November 1918, an American flower. Its seeds need light to grow, in the spring of 1915, and poppies academic named Throughout the and and when buried in the earth, they soon sprang into life. was deeply moved by McCrae’s allied countries, resolutions were can lay dormant for over 80 years. poem, and penned a poem in passed that officially established Once the soil is disturbed and the Lieutenant-Colonial John McCrae, a response. She vowed to wear a red ‘the Poppy of Flanders’ Fields as seeds are exposed to light, they Canadian doctor, was one observer poppy every day until she died as the international memorial flower bloom. This germination process of this poignant sight of poppies a sign of remembrance. She also to be worn on the anniversary of explains how poppies became a growing across the battle-scarred began to make and sell red silk .’ feature of the deathly landscape at fields. While performing the burial poppies which were brought to Flanders, Belgium. service of his close friend Alexis England by a French woman, Anna Helmer, who had been killed on Guérin. In Britain the newly formed The main theatre of war during 2 , McCrae noticed how veterans’ organisation the British World War I was on the Western poppies had quickly grown around Legion was seeking an emblem

In Flanders Fields We Shall Keep the Faith by John McCrae, 3 May1915 by Moina Michael, 8 November 1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Between the crosses, row on row, Sleep sweet — to rise anew! That mark our place; and in the sky We caught the torch you threw The larks, still bravely singing, fly And holding high, we keep the Faith Scarce heard amid the guns below. With All who died.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We cherish, too, the poppy red

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, That grows on fields where valor led; We acknowledge with thanks the generous Loved and were loved, and now we lie, It seems to signal to the skies assistance with this exhibition from the following organisations: In Flanders fields. That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red • The Queensland Women’s Historical Association Take up our quarrel with the foe: Of the flower that blooms above the dead • Army Museum South Queensland • University of Queensland Fryer Library To you from failing hands we throw In Flanders Fields. • University of Queensland Archives The torch; be yours to hold it high. • State Library of Queensland If ye break faith with us who die And now the Torch and Poppy Red

This project is proudly supported We shall not sleep, though poppies grow We wear in honor of our dead. by the Queensland Government. In Flanders fields. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields.