WWI Centenary – Page 4 – Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

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Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society

Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation SocietyPort Melbourne history

South and Port Melbourne Thistle Society Lady Pipers

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJanuary 12, 2018

On Saturday 12 January 1918, during the South and Port Melbourne Thistle Society monthly concert at the South Melbourne Town Hall, the President of the society, Cr Tom Smith, made an important announcement. The society intended to enrol lady players in the pipe band. The committee had agreed to fill up the ranks in the band which had been…

Holy Trinity Anglican Church Honour Board

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryDecember 16, 2017

Holy Trinity Anglican Church WWI Honour Board. The First World War Honour Board from the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Bay Street, Port Melbourne does not bear any identification other than the title "For King and Country 1914 - 1918". When the main church building was sold and converted into apartments* between 1997 and 1999 the board is on display in…

Holy Trinity Branch of League of Soldiers’ Friends

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryAugust 11, 2017

On a chilly August night in 1917, three years into the Great War, a Mr Wray arrived in Port from the Melbourne headquarters of the League of Soldiers’ Friends to speak to a group of interested citizens gathered at the Holy Trinity Parish Hall. He had come to enlighten them on the work of the League, which existed to assist…

Fundraising Bazaar – 9 June 1917

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJune 9, 2017

Among the papers found with the Honour Roll in the recess in the Nott Street School “Old Boys” Memorial were a few copies of a letter distributed by Mr A Richards (Head Teacher) and Cr J P Crichton (Chairman of the School Committee). Letter, dated 15 May 1917, distributed by Mr A Richards and Cr J P Crichton asking for gifts…

State Schools Benefit – 31 July 1916

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJuly 31, 2016

On the evening of Monday 31 July 1916 a State Schools Benefit Night was held at Port Melbourne Town Hall to raise funds for providing comforts for the wounded soldiers at the Caulfield Base Hospital. Tickets were sold through both the Nott Street and Graham Street State Schools and. according to the Standard newspaper, the hall was provided on very generous…

French Button Day

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryJuly 14, 2016

In July 1916, the Mayor, Cr Albert Tucker, instituted a French Button Day to be held on Friday, July 14 (Bastille Day). He called upon the ladies who had sold buttons on previous occasions and other ladies who would like to assist to sell buttons in Port on the day to support the French. Buttons could be collected for sale…

Certificates of Appreciation

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryMay 23, 2016

H J Ainsworth - Certificate from Town of Port Melbourne. PMHPS Collection In May 1916, Port Melbourne Council decided to give each soldier and sailor of Port Melbourne a certificate commemorating the citizens' commendation of his patriotism and requested 'relatives or friends to send to the Town Hall the name, corps, and home residence of every soldier who enlisted from this…

Reflections on Anzac Day 2016

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryApril 24, 2016

As we approach the 101st anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli it is interesting to look back at how the news of the first Australian campaign of the First World War was received in the Port and how they commemorated the first Anzac Day in 1916. The First Casualties In the weeks and months that followed 25 April 1915, as the authorities…

Methodist Football Club Honour Board

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryFebruary 5, 2016

The honour board for the football club associated with the Graham Street Methodist Church was unveiled in school hall on Saturday 5 February 1916 during a send-off for several members of the church congregation as well as the church football and cricket clubs. Following the send-off the Rev J Trathan invited the audience to gather at the front of the hall.…

Soldier Send-Offs

Home Front Stories, WWI CentenaryFebruary 5, 2016

During the war years it was common for organisations and even groups of friends to organise send-offs for the mates and members who had enlisted for active service. Usually the soldier or soldiers were entertained with songs and recitations and were given a useful gift to take with to the front. Saturday 5 February 1916 saw one such send-off at the…

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians