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From the collection of Melbourne Legacy

3180 Items featured online

Letter, To Robert Bowring from Rob C. Allison, 2000

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Historical information

A file copy of a letter sent from Legatee Rob Allison to Robert Bowring (6th November 2000) in answer to a request regarding the origins of the first Dawn Service.
Legatee Rob Allison signed himself as the Chairman, Advisory Tradition and History Committee. To research his response he consulted the AWM and summarised the content in the letter and enclosed four articles. Unfortunately the four articles sent to Robert Bowring are not included here.
L/- Rob Allison makes reference to information obtained from Dr Richard Reid (historian at the Australian War Memorial and then the Commonwealth Branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs). Also Rob Allison makes reference to Lyn Witheridge (Australian War Memorial and later with the Centenary Federation Secretariat).
He was addressing the rumour that there was a Dawn Service held in Albany WA in 1914 when the first convoy in WW1 from Australia was about to sail from Albany. The letter also makes reference to a gathering at Toowoomba QLD on Anzac morning 1919, however that rumour suggest that flowers were placed on returned soldiers graves, L/- Allison cast doubt about the placing of flowers on graves of returned service personnel, because only Major General Bridges and the Australian Unknown Soldier were the only two WW1 troops killed in action, to be returned to Australia.

Significance

A record that members of the public approached Legacy with questions about military and post war history. Legatee Allison made an effort to research and base his reply on evidence.