April 23, 2015
The mystery of an undated photograph showing an old Anzac Day procession in Kingaroy has been solved after some detective work by local resident Kay Dove.
Late last year she was given two framed photos to present to the local RSL Sub-Branch on behalf of the descendants of Kingaroy World War I veteran Lt Robert James Carew.
Lt Carew fought and was wounded at the bloody battle of Fromelles where Australia suffered 5533 casualties in just one night. For his efforts on July 19-20, 1916, Lt Carew was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
One of the photographs showed Lt Carew leading a march down Haly Street.
Lt Carew’s son Bill, who lives in Canberra, then surprised Kay by saying his father had led the inaugural Anzac Day march in Kingaroy.
However, the photograph was undated so there was no way of knowing if this was the inaugural parade.
“When Bill described the photos I told him it was most likely 1920,” Kay said.
“He went ahead and had the march photo inscribed accordingly, however on receiving the photos I knew they were not 1920. They looked to be earlier but I couldn’t prove it.
“I set about visiting the local Heritage Museum. They had the same photos but no information re the date. Then I spoke to well-known keepers of local history, Lila and Harold Adlem, and Glady Hood.
“Glady gave me a publication that included a photo of the 1919 march however it was a very dark photocopy and the photo was taken of the group mid-way through the march, so it was still no proof.
“I rang Liz Caffery, who has been doing the Anzac research, and also spoke to the Nanango ladies (Daun Clapperton and Robyn Peterson) who have been preparing a history of the World War I men, but to no avail.
“I had nearly given up but last week I decided to contact Helen Swendson as I knew her husband Allan also had a great interest in local history.
“Sure enough, Helen came up with two photos of the 1919 march, duly inscribed, taken by a different photographer.”
Kay said she was able to take a close look at the marchers and the markings on the road to prove that it was, in fact, the same parade.
She now had proof that the photo that depicted Lt Robert Carew marching proudly at the head of the parade was in fact the very first Anzac Day march in Kingaroy.
Kay presented Kingaroy-Memerambi RSl Sub-Branch president Don Davey with a framed copy of the parade photo this week, as well as a copy of the memorial service held at the end of the march in Kingaroy Street, opposite the Club Hotel.
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Robert James Carew
World War I veteran Robert James Carew was born at Grandchester on October 26, 1896, and died at Mt Nebo on February 3, 1987.
He was known as Bob to most people, however his only son, Bill, always called him “Jerry”.
Bob’s father was Michael, brother of the pioneering Carew brothers William and Thomas who selected land in Kingaroy in 1898. His mother was Bridget Quinn, from Grandchester.
Michael and Bridget came to Kingaroy in 1907 with four of their five children Robert, Nellie, Molly and Jack. Another son, Mick, stayed behind in Grandchester with his grandparents. The couple’s third daughter, Annie, was born in 1909 in a barn at the family’s Kingaroy property, “Greenfield”.
Bob worked at the Kingaroy Post Office as a telegraphist and then transferred to the Ipswich Post Office.
When war broke out, he enlisted in the Army as a Private on August 31 , 1915, and was sent overseas on November 9 the same year.
On August 28, 1916, the now-Corporal Bob Carew was honoured with a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for holding his post, and helping to hold German bombers with his revolver – despite being wounded – at Petillon during the disastrous Battle of Fromelles.
By the following June word has been received that Bob had been commissioned “at the front” as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He retired from active service on July 1, 1920.
After the Great War, Bob returned to the South Burnett to farm with his family.
In 1927, he married Eileen Mundell, from Taroom, and they settled at Burrandowan.
After Bob sold his share of the property, he bought and operated a garage at Murgon before moving to Caboolture where he travelled into Brisbane for work.
The couple eventually retired in the Mt Nebo area.
Bob and Eileen only had one son, William (Bill), who is now in his mid-80s and lives in Canberra.
Bill donated the two framed photos of the first Anzac Day march in Kingaroy which were presented to the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch this week.
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Thank you for sharing this family story. I acknowledge my cousin Pat McCormack for his contribution of Robert Carew’s family history. Pat was also the instigator of Carew Park in Kingaroy that was officially named late last year.
Wonderful story. Great historical report. Amazing photos. What riches we have in our early settlers. Most enjoyable, thank you.