Gunnedah branch of Red Cross will join forces with Gunnedah RSL Sub-branch to honour the war dead, with names of those killed to be read out each day in the lead-up.

The Great War (1914-18) was a catastrophic event which claimed 16 million lives and drastically affected the lived of millions of others.

Australians responded in large numbers but the war had a shattering impact on communities large and small across the country, decimating a generation of young men.

In an area extending from Premer-Tambar Springs to Mullaley, Baan Baa-Boggabri, Kelvin-Keepit, Gunnedah, Carroll, Curlewis, Breeza, Currabubula and Walhallow, more than 700 young men answered the Empire’s call to arms.

A total of 165 of them died.

Of that number, 11 soldiers died in the ill-fated action on the Gallipoli Peninsula between April and December 1915, more than 140 were killed in action or died later of illness or wounds on the Western Front in Belgium and France between 1916 and 1918 and eight were casualties of action in the Western Desert.

In chronological sequence, Gunnedah Red Cross members will each day read out the names of between nine and 12 service personnel who died and Gunnedah sub-branch will provide wreaths to be laid on the Cenotaph.

The ceremony will take place at 11am each day, starting next Tuesday with the reading of nine names.

Red Cross president Ruth Strang has issued an open invitation to Gunnedah and district residents to attend the brief ceremony each day.

“We’re hoping that descendants of the deceased soldiers will come to the services on at least the day that their relatives’ names are read out.

“It’s just a small way of honouring the war dead – and their sacrifice.

“It was a long-ago war but four or five generations later, World War I is still a source of great pride for a large number of local families.”

It will be a double celebratory event for Gunnedah Red Cross, as the branch was formed 100 years ago, one of almost 500 across NSW that year.

Foundation members kept the flame alive at home through the war, raising funds through refreshment rooms, picture nights, sporting carnivals (football, cricket, swimming, trotting and athletics) and sending a constant flow of comforts, clothing and messages to the front.

The output from home included socks, pyjamas, balaclavas, clothing, coats and gloves. The branch even formed a junior Red Cross.

According the Ruth Strang, Red Cross had shown its public spirit 100 years ago and was still active in the community. 

“We should never forget those who were prepared to put their lives on the line for their country.”

Copies of In The Line Of Fire – Gunnedah’s Role in the Great War will be available at the Cenotaph each day. The book was published by the Gunnedah and District Historical Society and costs $45..

The nine Gunnedah and district soldiers who will be honoured on the first day of the observance next Tuesday are – Private John Elsen, killed in action on Gallipoli, aged 31; Lance Corporal Archibald Rathie, Lone Pine Gallipoli, 24; Lieut. William Dannefaerd, Lone Pine, 25; Pte Colin Mackay, Lone Pine, 22; Pte Athol Eather, Lone Pine, 22; Pte Albert Nelson, Lone Pine, 26; Pte William Bayly, Gallipoli. 41; Pte William Miller, Pope’s Post Gallipoli, 22.

Names to be read out for the remainder of next week:

Wednesday, April 8: Trooper Walter Watt, Gallipoli, 26; Trooper Archibald Watt, Gallipoli, 23; Gunner Robert Williams, Western Front, 22; Pte James McGuire, 42; Pte Neville Lipscomb, Bullecourt on the Western Front, 20; Pte Walter Stafford, Western Front, 23; Pte Eric Lipscomb, Armentieres, 22;  Pte Jeremiah Dwyer, died of illness in UK, 26; Pte Henry Saunders, Fleurbaix, 27.

Thursday, April 9: Pte William Daley, Fromelles, 28; Pte Michael Balkin, Fromelles, 38; Pte Irving Thompson, Fromelles, 19; Pte Rupert Bussell, Fromelles, 23; Pte Harley McDonagh, Pozieres, 20; Pte Frederick Jenkins, Pozieres, 22; Pte Leslie Benning, Pozieres,23; Pte Reginald Bussell, Pozieres, 23.

Friday, April 10: Pte Walter Thomas, Pozieres, 19; Pte Claud Douglass, Pozieres, 33; Sgt-Major William Bailey, Pozieres, 34; Pte George Pawley, Pozieres, 32; Pte Alfred Archer, Western Front, 24; Pte William Cochran, Poperinghe, 23; Pte Robert Hutton, Lijssenthoek, 17; Pte Leonard Bowen, died of wounds and illness in London, 26; Pte Donald Donaldson, Flers, 26.

Saturday, April 11: Pte Robert Costelloe, Guedecourt, 25; Pte Harold Benning, Flers, 21; Pte Royal Grace, Villers-Bretonneux, 35; Pte James Turner, Flers, 24; Pte Harold Dumbrell, Western Front, 23; Pte William Cavanagh, Bullecourt, 27; Pte George Reading, Bullecourt, 23; Pte John Talbott, Western Front, 22; Lance Cpl John Ford, died at sea, 29.

Sunday, April 12: Pte Albert Druce, died at sea, 22; Trooper George McGuire, Bir-et-Maier, Western Desert, 25; Lieut George Edwards, died of illness, Western Desert, 27; Pte George Davies, Guedecourt, 33; Sgt William Richmond, Armentieres, 27; Pte Herbert Pryor, Hazebrouk, 27; Pte Frank Broomhead, Western Front, 20; Pte Henry Corcoran, Villers-Bretonneux, 27; Pte Percy Martin, died of illness, 23.

Remaining names and dates will be published at a later date.