Clunes Australian Native's Association Roll of Honour

At its fortnightly meeting on Thursday 6th May 1915 the Clunes branch of the Australian Native's Association (No 12) discussed the fighting in the Dardanelles and the performance of the Australian troops who had “by their magnificent feats of bravery covered themselves with so much glory’. The meeting passed a resolution expressing deep sympathy with the relatives of the fallen soldiers and immense admiration for the behaviour of the Australian forces (Clunes Guardian and Gazette, 8/05/1915).

At this meeting the branch also decided to place a roll of honour in the meeting room, on which to place the names of members who had gone to the front.

At the half yearly meeting of the branch the treasurer (Mr. E. Payne) submitted a report about the proposed roll of honour which would recognise town and district volunteers at the front. Mr. Payne’s report included a proposed design for the roll of honour. The meeting made a unanimous decision that ‘Mr. Payne should supply the roll of honour, and that the names of volunteers from Clunes and within a radius of seven miles should be inscribed upon it’ (Clunes Guardian and Gazette, 1/07/1915).

The completed roll of honour was presented at the meeting of the branch on Thursday 22nd July 1915 by Mr Payne. The board is made of cedar, stained and with gold lettering. According to the report in the Clunes Guardian and Gazette (27/07/1915) the roll of honour is artistically embellished and ornamented with flags, etc., and is altogether a most satisfactory production reflecting great credit on Mr. Payne, whose heart was evidently in the work.

The roll of honour was placed on view in Mr. Greenhalgh’s shop.

The inscription on the roll of honour is:

Clunes Branch No. 12

Members and Relatives

who have joined the

Australian Expeditionary Forces

The names that were initially included on the roll of honour are:

Cpl. J. Robertson; Privates M. Williamson; G. Nelson, H. Pickford, A. J. K. Skellett, R. Oliver, W. Schultz, H. Williams, A. Campbell, E. Andrews, H. E. Parkinson, J. Campbell, G. Christie, T. Oliver, J. Nelson, W. Williams.

As the war progressed the following names were added:

Cpl. S. O. Chambers; Privates J. W. Cantwell, A. Pickford, W. Gillespie, A. R. Payne, D. McDougall, A. Sexton.

At present the Roll of Honour is held in the Clunes RSL Branch building at 30 Fraser Street, Clunes.

• Clunes Guardian and Gazette; 8/05/1915, 1/07/1915, 27/07/1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/search