Athenian Gymnasium Club - Roll of Honour 1914-19 (Collection of the Ipswich Historical Society)
The Athenian Gymnasium Club was founded in 1896 and met for practice twice a week at the Congregational Sunday School in East Street, Ipswich. The members regularly gave public displays at various events.
During the First World War, thirty-eight members of the club enlisted and served overseas. Of these young men, one died of illness in Egypt, and five were killed in action.
The Honour Board was unveiled in the Central Congregational Church by the Rev. Joseph Robertson in July 1916. The Honour Board then held thirty-five names. It was made by Mr. G. Lye, of Warwick-Road, and the writing done by Mr. A.B. Beal. The ceremony was reported in the local press:
Mr Robertson prior to removing the Union Jack from the honour board referred to the 35 men, whose names were inscribed thereon as young men who have sacrificed comforts and the joys of home, have risked prospects in business and jeopardised their limbs, and their lives. They recognised the spirit of these young men, and admired their courage.[1]
[1] Queensland Times (Ipswich) (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Monday 24 July 1916, page 5
During the First World War, thirty-eight members of the club enlisted and served overseas. Of these young men, one died of illness in Egypt, and five were killed in action.
The Honour Board was unveiled in the Central Congregational Church by the Rev. Joseph Robertson in July 1916. The Honour Board then held thirty-five names. It was made by Mr. G. Lye, of Warwick-Road, and the writing done by Mr. A.B. Beal. The ceremony was reported in the local press:
Mr Robertson prior to removing the Union Jack from the honour board referred to the 35 men, whose names were inscribed thereon as young men who have sacrificed comforts and the joys of home, have risked prospects in business and jeopardised their limbs, and their lives. They recognised the spirit of these young men, and admired their courage.[1]
[1] Queensland Times (Ipswich) (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Monday 24 July 1916, page 5
Norman Foote (State Library of Queensland)
The first name on the board is that of Norman Victor Foote who died of pneumonia in Cairo on April 7, 1915. In August 1915 some of his fellow club members visited his grave. In a letter to his brother, Arthur Whitehead wrote:
We made arrangements on Saturday afternoon to visit Norman Foote's grave, and we were very glad we had when we found that our company was on brigade fatigue on Sunday. Our party consisted of Lieut. S. J. Morgan, Sergt. H. B. Wallis, Eric C. Cribb, A. B. Callaway, W. J. Johnson, and A. H. Whitehead. We all met at Heliopolis, and then took a taxi to Cairo, where we picked up a wreath we had ordered, and then drove on, out through Old Cairo to the English cemetery there - a distance of about seven miles.
We found the place without any difficulty, and by looking up the register we found the number of the grave. There is a marble slab set on the grave, engraved with Norman's name, &c., which was set up by his comrades of the 2nd L.H.; it is very nice, and should be very comforting to the relatives to know that Norman was thought so much of.[1]
[1] Queensland Times (Ipswich) (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Saturday 9 October 1915, page 15
Note: The Honour Board is now in the collection of the Ipswich Historical Society, and is currently part of an Anzac Centenary display.
K.C. Sbeghen
We made arrangements on Saturday afternoon to visit Norman Foote's grave, and we were very glad we had when we found that our company was on brigade fatigue on Sunday. Our party consisted of Lieut. S. J. Morgan, Sergt. H. B. Wallis, Eric C. Cribb, A. B. Callaway, W. J. Johnson, and A. H. Whitehead. We all met at Heliopolis, and then took a taxi to Cairo, where we picked up a wreath we had ordered, and then drove on, out through Old Cairo to the English cemetery there - a distance of about seven miles.
We found the place without any difficulty, and by looking up the register we found the number of the grave. There is a marble slab set on the grave, engraved with Norman's name, &c., which was set up by his comrades of the 2nd L.H.; it is very nice, and should be very comforting to the relatives to know that Norman was thought so much of.[1]
[1] Queensland Times (Ipswich) (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Saturday 9 October 1915, page 15
Note: The Honour Board is now in the collection of the Ipswich Historical Society, and is currently part of an Anzac Centenary display.
K.C. Sbeghen
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