Ballarat Anzacs | Display | Talks | Research

BALLARAT ANZACS | Display

At the outbreak of the war in August 1914 Ballarat men were quick to enlist. While most consider the Gallipoli landing on April 25th 1915 to be Australia’s first action of the war, Ballarat’s first casualty occurred on September 14th 1914 with the loss of the submarine AE 1 off the north coast of New Guinea. Crew member, John ‘Jack’ Messenger, became the first Ballarat serviceman to lose his life in what became known as the Great War.

Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour commemorates the service of 3801 men and women from the district, 758 of whom gave their lives, their sacrifice recognised on the National Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Among these were nurses Gertrude Munro and Blodwyn Williams, and George Merz, the first Australian pilot to lose his life in the war. Some were killed in desperately unlucky circumstances. William Paisley was killed by a lightning strike, Harold Dixon was struck by a train in Egypt, Otto Davies was run over by a horse drawn wagon while sleeping and Robert Geddes fell overboard on the trip home. In addition to those on the Roll of Honour, there were around 150 more who returned, and died in the years after the war, whose death was attributed primarily to their war service.

Many Ballarat ANZACs served with great distinction. For his gallantry at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, William Dunstan was awarded a Victoria Cross, the only Ballarat man to have received that award. Leslie Morshead and Albert Coates, both from Tress Street, Mt. Pleasant, served in WW1 then again in WW2 with such distinction that they were both awarded knighthoods. Sister Rachel Pratt was amongst the many from the Avenue of Honour who were awarded high level gallantry and service awards.

The Ballarat community took great pride in the service provided by its citizens, shown by the creation of the nationally significant Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour. In recent years the Garden of the Grieving Mother was created to reflect the experience of so many people at home while their ANZAC sons and daughters were serving our country.

This display will chronical some of these stories.

The Display

• The display will be during regular operating hours of the Library. 10am – 2pm weekdays and 9.30am – 12noon Saturdays. 
• Research | Tuesday’s & Thursday’s | 12 noon – 2pm
• Talks  | Thursdays’ at 11am