Melbourne Legacy
Document, Paschendaele. Report from L/tee Frank Doolan Feb 1974, 1974
... caused by artillery barrage, and emphasises the duck boards which... barrage, and emphasises the duck boards which were initiated ...
A note that Legatee Frank Doolan wrote to capture an encounter with a widow.
"Mrs Nora Sennett, a cousin of the late Sir Stanley Savige recently wrote to enquire of the whereabouts of the oil painting which had been presented by her late husband to Legacy on the occasion when Stan Savige had opened an exhibition of his work in the Athenaeum Gallery.
Mrs Sennett was visited at her new domicile in the MECWA block of single units in Warner St Malvern, and was assured that the painting was well cared for and was hung in a prominent place in Melbourne Legacy Comradeship Corner.
She is one of our senior widows now aged 87, and was one of a family of five girls, all of whom are still living and who were one of the early families of Korumburra.
Mrs Sennett explained how her late husband, who served with the 39th Battalion (EGGS ARE COOKED) was with General McNicoll on the site of the painting at Passchendaele. and the General remarked that he should paint the scene some day.
It certainly captures the atmosphere of devastation caused by artillery barrage, and emphasises the duck boards which were initiated by the AIF to help communication over the blasted terrain of mud, and shell holes of Flanders Fields. FJD'
Was with other memorabilia that has come from Frank Doolan from both his war service and his time with Legacy. He was on the archive committee and made attempts to collate the history of Legacy. This note shows that there was a painting of Passchedale painted by Stan Savige's cousin and donated to Legacy. Plus Legatees were still visiting the widow of the painter in 1974.A note x 2 pages written by Frank Doolan about a visit to a widow.Report is handwritten. In top right corner 'Report from L/tee F. Doolan Feb 1974' is in red type.world war one, legatee