The first of "Citizens' Welcome" event organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee.Pink coloured card printed in blackst kilda patriotic committee, wwi, world war i, citizens welcome to anzacs

A "Citizens' Welcome" event organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee in 1918. Buff coloured card printed in black with blue and red stripes across top left cornerst kilda patriotic committee, wwi, world war i, citizens welcome to anzacs

Second of a series of "Citizens' Welcome" events organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee in 1918 and 1919.Pink coloured card with red edge and printed in black. st kilda patriotic committee, wwi, world war i, citizens welcome to anzacs

The first civic welcome and ceremony of presentations was held on 4 December 1918. This second welcome and presentation, to a further group of returned soldiers of St. Kilda, was arranged to take place earlier than 14 May 1919 but had to be postponed because of restrictions on the holding of public meetings during the influenza epidemic. Cream coloured card, printed in red, blue and brown, folded. Paper insert, printed in brown and stapled to cover, contains details of the program for the evening and names of those presented. Back cover has 1914 sepia photograph of 14th Battalion. 14th battalion aif, wwi, citizens welcome to anzacs, st kilda patriotic committee

For welcome and presentations to St Kilda's (1914) ANZACs on 4 December 1918. The event is described by John Butler Cooper in 'The History of St Kilda' (pp 263-264) as follows: 'On Wednesday evening, December 4, 1918, seventy Anzacs of St. Kilda who had returned were welcomed by the St. Kilda Patriotic Committee at the City Hall. The hall was decorated with an immense bouquet of red, white and blue flowers, depending from the centre of the ceiling, with floral and electric festoons leading therefrom. Anzacs shields in laurel wreaths and flags were displayed along the balcony of the hall. Over the stage the word "Anzacs," outlined by electric lights, was surmounted with the words "Patriotic Committee of St. Kilda heartily Welcomes You." As the returned soldiers marched into the hall, they were received with cheers, and an electric button being touched, the word "Welcome" flashed in light caught their eyes. The Mayor presented the 1914 soldiers with gold enamelled medals, bearing the arms of St. Kilda.' White paper, single sheet folded, printed on 3 pages in blue.wwi, world war i, st kilda patriotic committee, citizens welcome to anzacs

Tribute medallions were presented to all 1914 enlistees from St Kilda by the citizens of St Kilda. Two presentations were held, one in November 1918 (98 recipients) and one in May 1919 (90 recipients). Both were organised by the St Kilda Patriotic Committee and held at the St Kilda Town Hall. Gunner J.D. Cullen attended the May 1919 function. John (Jack) Dudley Cullen was the first person from St Kilda to enlist in World War I. He lived at 23 Argyle Street (now Waterloo Crescent), St Kilda. An electrician with three years service with the militia behind him, Jack enlisted on 14 August 1914 at the age of 21. By 20 October that year he was sailing to Egypt on the HMAT Shropshire as a member of the 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. He served in the Middle East for a short time before being hospitalised with enteric fever and returning home to Australia. After recovering, Jack undertook permanent guard duties at Broadmeadows Training Camp until October 1916, when he went to England with the 118th Howitzer Battery on the HMAT Aeneas. He again returned to Australia on health grounds, this time suffering a bronchial condition, and was discharged in June 1918. In February 1918, while still in England, Jack married Miss Daisy Dawes of Durrington, near Salisbury. They settled for a short while in Australia but returned to live in England in 1921.Round medal, 9 carat gold and dark blue enamel. Eyelet attachedFront: The City of St Kilda coat of arms within a dark blue enamel band bearing gold lettering 'PRESENTED BY THE CITIZENS OF ST. KILDA' Back: Engraved with the inscription 'GNR J.D. CULLEN' and raised lettering 'ENLISTED AND EMBARKED IN 1914 THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914-18'john dudley cullen, jack cullen, wwi recognition of service, citizens welcome to anzacs, st kilda patriotic committee, wwi