French General Paul Pau
RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.In the closing weeks of the Great War, Port Pirie was taken over by the enthusiastic welcome given to delegates of an economic mission to Australia, sent on behalf of the government of France.
The Mission’s principal aim was to re-establish and enhance the trading conditions that had existed between France and Australia in the years preceding the war, taking advantage of Germany’s eclipse.
General Pau, a French soldier who served in the Franco-Prussian War and World War 1, arrived with other members of the Mission by special train from Peterborough at 7.30am on Saturday 16th November 1918. The distinguished visitors were met by the Port Pirie mayor (Mr AB Forgan), the general manager of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters (Mr W Robertson), and a vast crowd.
The town hall was magnificently decorated with bunting, flowers and flags, and a tableau was formed at the entrance to the vestibule. Accompanied by the excelsior band, massed choirs rendered the national anthem and “The Marseillaise” as the General left the train and stood at the salute. A naval and military guard of honour were present and Mrs H Brock dressed in complete armour uniform and mounted on a grey charger represented Joan of Arc. As the party made their way to the Barrier Hotel for breakfast they were showered with red, white and blue flowers by the choir girls.
Shortly after 9 o'clock, the party were conveyed by motor to the smelters, where a monster demonstration was made. Triumphal arches had been erected and the workmen, who were allowed off for the occasion, turned out in great force.
General Pau addressed the employees, stating his appreciation of the part that Port Pirie had played in the Great War mentioning how largely the action of the men employed at arduous labour in the lead smelters had contributed to the winning of the war. He congratulated them upon the assistance they had rendered as munition workers and thanked the company for its cordial welcome.
At 12:30pm a civic reception took place at a recently completed children’s playground where scholars of the Solomontown and Pirie West schools, were assembled in front of the large pavilion. After the mayor had delivered an address of welcome, General Pau thanked those present for the homage addressed to his country. He again stated to those in attendance that the result of the 'industry of the men of Port Pirie' had contributed equally as much to defeating the enemy as the valour of their soldiers.
General Pau and the other members of the mission, the mayor and councillors and officials of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters were then entertained at luncheon by the BHAS Company before leaving for Port Augusta on their way to Western Australia.
- Trove Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5606633
