Arts
12 March, 2024
New book shares stories of sacrifice
By CHRIS EARL STORIES of service and sacrifice by more than 100 men from across the Loddon Shire have been shared in historian Geoff Arnott’s latest book. Launched by RSL Victoria vice-president Des Callaghan in Wedderburn on Saturday, Geoff was...
By CHRIS EARL
STORIES of service and sacrifice by more than 100 men from across the Loddon Shire have been shared in historian Geoff Arnott’s latest book.
Launched by RSL Victoria vice-president Des Callaghan in Wedderburn on Saturday, Geoff was lauded for his meticulous research of soldiers, sailors and airmen who enlisted to serve under colonial and Australian flags from the Boer War in the last 19th century through to Iraq.
The book - War Veterans from Wedderburn and District - has a strong emphasis on soldiers who served in World War 1.
Mr Callaghan told the launch attended by more than 100 people that 48 per cent of the Australian male population aged between 18 and 35 had served in that war.
Among them was the first Victoria Cross recipient, Albert Jacka.
Geoff said Jacka’s heroism typified a lot of soldiers in World War One.
“From this district, there were 12 soldiers who were awarded the Victoria Cross or Military Cross,” he said.
Geoff said many soldiers were a name on a memorial in France but their stories still had to be told for people today to “know what sacrifice was”.
“Otherwise, after 50 years or so people won’t even know they existed or the sacrifices they made.”
Sales of Geoff’s book will raise funds for the historical records society. Its members were joined by descendants of many soldiers featured in the new book.
Geoff recounted the story of Colin Cameron, a Z Force commando in World War Two.
“There were 23 commandos sent to Singapore and all would be killed,” he said. “He was killed after first fending off the Japanese while under fire and enabling others to escape. Sgt Colin Cameron of Wedderburn ... he should have received the VC.”
Geoff said everyone who had served in war, whether they returned home or not had been a “casualty in some way”.
And he said many of those who did come back from war had made positive contributions to local communities.
Among them, Geoff said, was Ron Webb who had trained the Z Force commandos.
Mayor Gavan Holt said the new book was a credit to Geoff.
“There is tremendous history not only in Wedderburn but in other towns and among the soldiers mentioned in the book from Inglewood and Boort and other towns,” he said.
“Many of us can relate to the many families Geoff has mentioned in the book.”
Geoff said he had enjoyed writing the book that had funding from Loddon Shire and Inglewood and District Community Bank.
“I love research and writing about Wedderburn and district,” he said.
Earlier books on the district written by Geoff include Remembering Wedderburn & Neighbouring Towns and The Golden Harvest: A History of Wedderburn co-authored with Keith Ring.
“It is most important we don’t forget the local soldiers who served,” Geoff said after the book had been launched.