By Jenel Hunt
For generations, a number of World War I veterans have rested in unmarked graves in Stanthorpe.
This week five of them were honoured with symbols of respect when monumental plaques bearing their names were dedicated at their grave sites, thanks to the efforts of the Stanthorpe RSL Sub-Branch.
On Monday (27 February), a muted yet moving ceremony was held. Anglican minister ReverendJohn Pattison presided over the Unmarked Graves Dedication, Stanthorpe piper Lisa Vichie played Amazing Grace, a bugler played The Last Post, two members of one person’s family were there and others including Sub-Branch members and additional veterans from the community gathered for the solemn occasion.
Sub-branch vice-president and spokesperson for the unmarked graves project subcommittee Glen Gibson, who recited the Ode of Remembrance at the ceremony, said the Stanthorpe Sub-Branch had been involved in the project since 2018.
He and Kevin Ross had become a sub-committee of two to continue the work in 2021. (Other namings were done in 2019.) This Australia-wide undertaking was started by The Headstone Project which described its aim as: “They served. They deserve to be remembered.“
Mr Gibson said he knew about a dozen unmarked graves and there might be as many as 20 in Stanthorpe.
“We thought that if we did five this time, that was achievable. We had to get funds for the project so we put in a Charitable Objects Fund submission to the Western Districts [RSL regional level]. We were allocated $5000, but the cost came close to $7000 so the local Sub-Branch put in the balance.
“I really wanted it to be the work of a stonemason. I wanted it to last. I approached Craig Jessen at KC Monuments because he’s a certified stonemason. He’s done memorial work around Warwick and also worked with Australian war graves. He understood what was required.“
He said to find the original information he had liaised with Mark Winkler, a keen local researcher who had provided the details of the unmarked graves. After that came more research, putting the names and known details of the men in the paper to try to find family and even tracking down their Battalion associations, although many of them were reformed in World War 2 and ’didn’t go back that far’.
“We only found family members for one of the men, Harold Bernard Mann. But you have to expect that. By now they would be someone’s great grandfather,” said Mr Gibson.
“It has been interesting seeing the occupations they had at the time of enlistment. There was a horse breaker, two labourers, a porter and a drover.”
Their death dates ranged from 1932 – 90 years ago – to 1965, so they have been waiting a long time for recognition.
“These people kind of fell through the cracks. If they had returned home from war and succumbed to their injuries or as a result of illness from their wounds the Office of Australian War Graves would have organised headstones and looked after them. But for whatever reason – perhaps their families perhaps couldn’t afford a headstone – they did not have a headstone. But they were veterans of World War I. We want to recognise them, recognise their service.“
Mr Gibson said he believed the project would continue now that there was a blueprint from which to work.
“I have digitised the information so that even if I’m not here someone can carry on this work in the future. There were certainly no digital records at the time these men passed away,” he said.
Each of these men now lies under a concrete desk with granite inscription plaque:
John Graham c1873-1938 (born Belfast, Ireland)
Service Details: Regimental No. 2311, Enlisted in Toowoomba QLD on 08/11/1915 aged 42. Unit. Australian Remount Unit 2, Squadron 8.
Charles James Larkins c1876-1932 (born New England, NSW)
Service Details: Regimental No. 2106. Enlisted in Townsville QLD on 22/04/1916 aged 40. Unit. 41st Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement.
Bernard Maguire c1895-1965 (born Wyalong NSW)
Service Details: Regimental No. 3851. Enlisted in Sydney NSW on 03/05/1916 aged 18. Unit. 30th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement.
Harold Bernard Mann 1888-1960 (born Stanthorpe, Qld)
Service Details: Regimental No. 1878. Enlisted in Narrabri on 08/02/1916 aged 23. Unit. 33rd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement.
William Williams c1891-1942 (born Stanthorpe, Qld)
Service Details: Regimental No. 2705. Enlisted in Sydney NSW on 29/06/1915 aged 24. Unit. 13th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement.
At the top of each plaque is the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces’ rising sun badge. At the bottom is the time honoured phrase, Lest We Forget.
