A photo of Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop holding the violin that is part of Melbourne Legacy's collection (see 00080). Unsure when this photo was taken. Background: This violin was played by VX30301 Dvr Roy Arnel, as a member of the Australian Imperial Force Concert Party, in the Changi POW camp, Singapore from 1942-1945. It is claimed that the violin, in its case was thrown over the wall by a Chinese civilian. Roy Arnel, a South African by birth enlisted on 7 June 1940 at Royal Park, Melbourne and served with 2 AASC Company as a driver. He was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army at the fall of Singapore in February 1942. There was more than one concert party in Changi as indicated on the rear of the violin. The details of the Dutch, British and American Concert Parties scratched in to the varnish. There are some well-known names scratched into the violin including: The English author and cartoonist, Ronald Searle; Australian entertainer, Frank Rich; and Australian Author, Russell Braddon Mr Arnel died in 1982 and the violin was presented to Melbourne Legacy for preservation, safe keeping and display.A record of relationship of Weary Dunlop with Legacy.Black and white photo of Sir Weary Dunlop with the Changi violinchangi violin, dunlop

Photocopy of brief biographical notes in respect of the guest of honour, Colonel Sir Edward Dunlop at a Legacy meeting. Legatees met regularly and usually had guest speakers to entertain and inform on different subjects. This document was from a file of information about guest speakers (see also 00812-00822 and 00829-00837). The requirement to be a guest of honour at a Legacy meeting is highlighted in purple. It says: A Guest of honour shall be an individual who by reason of his services to the community and/or the ex-servicemen and his dependants, is unanimously deemed by the Board of Management to be worth of being so described". In this case Sir Edward (Weary) Dunlop was a speaker and his brief biography was included in this Bulletin.A record that the speakers at Legacy functions were from very different walks of life and the subects spoken on were many and varied. Weary Dunlop is famous for his work to many organizations but most notable was his service in WW2 as a Japanese prisoner of war.White A4 paper photocopy of a Melbourne Legacy Bulletin Page 3 mentioning the Guest of Honour at a meeting was Sir Edward Dunlop.dunlop, speakers, edward dunlop