April 30, 2015
A special bugle was an unusual feature of this year’s Anzac Day commemorations in Wondai.
Wondai Town Band member Lucy Jacobsen, from Brisbane, played the Last Post and Reveille on an historic World War I bugle owned by former Wondai soldier Les Pearce.
Les was a local labourer who served in the 2/9 Battalion during World War II in Palestine and Syria, Milne Bay and Buna. He was shot and killed on December 27, 1942, at the age of 25.
His bugle is now housed at the Wondai RSL Club, and Lucy was invited to play it for the town’s Gallipoli centenary commemorations.
As usual, Wondai’s Dawn Service and Commemoration Service both drew good crowds,
And as was common in other South Burnett towns, numbers were larger than usual this year because of the special significance of the occasion.
The traditional parade along Mackenzie Street was well supported by marchers and local school children, who were urged on by crowds of appreciative spectators.
* * *
Wondai Men Who Served At Anzac
(Information collated by Noel Selway)
April 25 to December 20, 1915
* denotes also wounded in action at Anzac
1st Light Horse Brigade Train (later 5th Company Australian Service Corps)
61 Driver Robert Glanville (Mentioned in Despatches 1917)
62 Driver William Glanville
75 Farrier Thomas Horne
16 Lt Ernest Atkins
135 Private James Swarsbrick (KIA April 11, 1917)
52 WO Archie Drummond (Mentioned in Despatches 1918)
69 Driver Alfred Harper
71 Driver William Hatchett
105 Driver Eric Nowland
116 Cpl Crauford Rees
148 Lt Vincent Potter
164 Driver George Hendry
151 Private Sydney Young
1st Light Horse Regiment
280 Trooper Emil Seiler *
2nd Light Horse Regiment
532 Sergeant Lester Jurd *
116 L/Cpl Robert Alexander
6597 Sergeant Robert Burvill
1096 Trooper Edward Jarman
5th Light Horse Regiment
198 T/Cpl Wilfred Welch *
313 T/Sgt Percy Conridge
311 Trooper Edward Lane *
477 Trooper Lars Anderson (Mentioned in Despatches 1918)
479 Captain Charles Somerset (Military Cross 1916) (Mentioned in Despatches 1916, 1918)
736 Trooper Andrew Olsen
868 Trooper Archie Graham
9th Infantry Battalion
137 Private Theo Humphries *
575 Private Albert Zarnke (KIA May 20, 1915)
1167 Private Herbert Nairne *
1104 Private Joseph Barnes (KIA May 2, 1915)
1101 Private Thomas Alexander * (KIA February 25, 1917)
138 L/Cpl George Greenaway *
2237 Private Henry Lyons (KIA September 5, 1916)
13th Infantry Battalion
1365 Private Charles Wardill * (KIA August 30, 1916)
15th Infantry Battalion
268 Sergeant Robert Bull *
805 Private Charles West
916 Driver Harry Lamy *
1766 Private John Loft (KIA August 8, 1915)
1971 Private Arthur Laing
2391 Private John McCabe (Died of Wounds October 18, 1917)
2755 Private Percy Iszlaub
2827 Private Thomas Perrie (Military Medal 1918)
25th Infantry Battalion
368 Private Claude Gallaway (KIA, July 29 1916)
215 S/Sgt Noble Richardson
954 Sergeant Albert Painter
1917A L/Cpl Robert Grevell
1552 Corporal Charles Malley (KIA July 29, 1916)
26th Infantry Battalion
442 Private Arthur Wilson
263 Lt Alfred Armstrong * (Military Medal 1917 & Mentioned in Despatches 1917)
2160 Private Donald Lamont *
404 Cpl Vivian Robinson
642 Private Percival Bennett
1664 Cpol Richard Clarke (Distinguished Conduct Medal 1918, Died of Wounds October 16, 1918)
290 Private Percy Cochrane
310 Private Edwin Evans
1681 2nd Lt. George Humphrey *
650 Private Victor Masson
522 Private Otto Mischlewski
164 Sergeant George Newburn (Mentioned in Despatches 1919)
163 Private John Smyth (Died of Injuries, August 18, 1917)
Lucy did a great job but why did she replace the usual Wooroolin State School bugler? Rumour has it that the council wanted a “more qualified” bugler for this important 100 year anniversary. One Anzac day is no more important than another and it’s a fact of life that mistakes are made on Anzac day, flags raised and not lowered, bugle notes missed, speakers bumbling through speeches etc etc. If the event was so important why was the “Shire of W n ai”, lectern used, yes, letters missing and the shire no longer exists. it looked like it had been salvaged from the Wondai tip. Fantastic turn out for the parade and service.
Lucy again provided a commendable effort, even though she now lives in Brisbane whilst studying at University, we recognize her talent and commitment each time she travels home to participate at various band engagements and events.
But Pete, let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture here.
Community leaders volunteer their time and skills organizing events such as this, equally, participants also volunteer time for practice and performance to mark these important anniversaries. Specifically, Lucy has for the past several years provided the bugle call at the 8:00am cemetery and 10:00am Wondai services.
The “Wondai and District Band” has enjoyed involvement with ceremonial duties and entertainment since 1911. Equally, the “Wooroolin Bugle Band” leads the Anzac parades at both Wondai and Wooroolin services, with a proud history dating back to 1959.
Well said Josh Gadischke. People should not listen to ‘rumours’.
The lectern did look very shabby at the Wondai Anzac Day service. I apologise and I have requested this be remedied.
The numerous services throughout the South Burnett were very well-attended and a credit to our returned servicemen and women, RSLs, community leaders, the bands, schools, various community groups and the public who took the time to acknowledge those who gave their tomorrows so we could enjoy today.