This mural depicts five local Gunditjmara men who proudly served their country in two separate wars
Western Front Association Central Victoria BranchThe four Lovett brothers depicted in this mural, Leonard, Frederick, Edward, and Herbert served in World War One and Two.
They saw frontline action in World War One and home service in Australia during World War Two. Their older brother, Alfred John Henry Lovett (1880 – 1962), fought with the 26th and then 12th Battalion AIF in several battles on the Somme in France during World War One, but due to his age, he was ineligible to serve in World War Two.
Younger brother Samual Alexander Peacock Lovett (1903 – 1955) enlisted and served with 2/5th Battalion AIF against the Vichy French in the Syrian Campaign and against the Japanese in New Guinea.
As a result, James and Hannah Lovett had the unique experience of having six sons serve Australia in wartime, with five serving in World War One and five in World War Two. At least thirteen members of the wider Lovett family served across World War One and World War Two. They include two Lovett women who served in World War Two; Alice Lovett (Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force) and Pearl Lovett (Australian Women’s Army Service). Other Lovett men who served in World War Two were Alfred Patrick Lovett, Leo Lawrence Lovett, James Ebenezer Lovett, Robert Leonard Lovett and Norman Allan Lovett.
Reginald Saunders served with distinction in World War Two and the Korean War.
In World War Two, he saw action in North Africa, Greece, Crete and New Guinea. His service included surviving nearly thirteen months behind enemy lines in German-occupied Crete. During the New Guinea campaign, Reginald’s natural leadership qualities lead to his appointment as the first known Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army (November 1944). Enlisting again during the Korean War, Reginald served as a Lieutenant and then Captain with 3 RAR (3rd Royal Australian Regiment). He led ‘C” Company at the Battle of Kapyong, when 3 RAR fought off repeated waves of attack from a significantly larger enemy force (April 1951). This action saw 3 RAR awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in combat.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a long history of ‘Fighting for Country’. They have participated in nearly every conflict and peacekeeping mission involving Australian military forces since Australia’s Federation. Indigenous personnel served in the Boer War, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, at Tobruk and Kokoda, in Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. Approximately 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders served overseas in World War One and over 550 at home and abroad during World War Two. Today, hundreds of Aboriginal and Tottes Strait Islanders proudly serve in the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force within Australia and overseas. Peter Bakker, Military Historian (July 2021) |
