By JESSE GRAHAM
A MOCK battle held in preparation for World War I celebrated its centenary in Coldstream last week, with a new sign unveiled to pay homage to the event.
The sign, which pays tribute to the Battle at Mount Mary, was unveiled on Thursday 13 February 1914 on the Maroondah Highway – exactly 100 years after the mock battle took place in the same spot.
The battle involved 3000 soldiers, from numerous infantry battalions, who split into two groups – the Southlanders and the Northlanders – with both pretending to be at war.
The Southlanders took up a defence on Mount Mary, not too far from Coombe Cottage, while the Northlanders had orders to advance and attack on the Southlander’s territory.
The soldiers were under the command of General Sir John Monash – who was then a Colonel.
The unveiled sign features intricate details of the mock battle, including comments from the Inspector-General, Sir Ian Hamilton, that the area was perfect to practice manoeuvres in.
The sign was created with the help of Lilydale Rotary Club, with Rotary International’s Margi Sank helping with the unveiling in place of current-Present, Helen McDonald.
Former Victorian Premier and chairman of the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee Ted Baillieu, local historian and author of Monash’s Militia Camp Anthony McAleer, and Former CEO of the General Sir John Monash Foundation Ken Crompton all spoke at the event, with others.
Mr Baillieu said that, at the time of the mock battle, Australia did not have compulsory military service, but had compulsory military training, and that many of the soldiers present were between the ages of 16-26 years.
“Some were younger, and they were required to do military training – out of hours and on weekends – because of perceived threats to our community,” he said.
He urged the younger generation to take note of the Anzac centenary and to make connections, whether through families or locations, to the past, in order to carry the stories to the future.
“I simply urge you to join in that search for connection and to tell the story, so that the young kids learn and are forever connected,” Mr Baillieu said.
Children from Yering and Coldstream Primary Schools sung Advance Australia Fair with the gathered crowd, before the sign was unveiled.
The Australian Great War Association had a Guard of Honour present at the unveiling, while Healesville RSL’s Bob Gannaway ran the Ode to the Fallen.
Piper Iain Townsley performed music for the attendees, along with bugler Tom Steele, who performed the Last Post.
The Battle at Mount Mary sign is located on the Maroondah Highway in Coldstream, near Stringybark Creek on a service road.
To see more pictures from the unveiling, visit mail.starcommunity.com.au.
