The Footscray Yarraville City Band, from the western suburbs of Melbourne in Australia, is hoping that the discovery of an old bass drum in their bandroom storeroom can lead to a formal centenary commemoration of the heroic ANZAC First World War service of former players of the band.

100 years ago

The band’s ANZAC Centenary project manager, Colin Harrison, told 4BR that they are now seeking information from relatives of the soldiers who inscribed their names inside the vintage bass drum almost 100 years ago.

“This drum saw service overseas with the 1st AIF during World War 1 and we are keen to learn further details about these men from their relatives,” he said.

"We were doing a clean out of the bands’ storeroom when we came across the drum and upon looking inside it we saw the names and immediately realised the significance."

Research

He added: "We have researched the names and come up with initial details which we hope will enable others to help us in our quest to commemorate their heroism.”

Heroes

The men in question were:

No: 2133: Alexander McArthur Lambert,
Killed in Action on 30th August 1917 (born Wallsend, enlisted Newcastle)

No: 3833: Ossary Arthur Charles Fitzpatrick (born North Sydney, enlisted Dubbo)

No: 2123: Edward Rees Harry (born near Broken Hill, enlisted Adelaide)

No: 3715: Robert Lynch (born Glasgow, Scotland, enlisted Brisbane)

No: 3307: Edward McCarter Brown (born Hamilton, Scotland, enlisted Sydney)

Project

The band recently launched an ANZAC Centenary project with the support of the Honourable Tim Watts (Member for Gellibrand) and the Department of Veteran Affairs, with the aim of commemorating the centenary through the restoration and preservation of memorabilia.

It is hoped that the project will culminate in an ANZAC Centenary Commemorative Concert in November this year.

“The Footscray Yarraville City Band will put on a fantastic show for the ANZAC Centenary commemorations. To find the stories behind the names inscribed on the inside of this beautiful drum would be the icing on the cake,” Tim Watts MP added.

We have researched the names and come up with initial details which we hope will enable others to help us in our quest to commemorate their heroismColin Harrison

On parade

In the meantime, the drum can be seen at the Australian National Band Championships’ Parade of Bands in Sydney’s Hyde Park on Saturday 4th April and in Melbourne at the ANZAC Day march to the Shrine of Remembrance on 25th April.

The band can be contacted by e-mailing: anzaccentenary@fycb.com.au