ANZAC Day at Metung was commemorated with support from the local community and two of its community clubs.
Representatives from RAAF East Sale and the 13th Light horse Regiment added to the meaning of the day.
The Metung Lions have been supporting the Metung RSL ANZAC Day services for many years and a small group of them started at 5am preparing the egg and bacon rolls for the gun barrel breakfast. This was enjoyed by many after the 6am Dawn Service.
The Lions provided seating for the 11am service on the village green which was well attended and appreciated. Following the service everyone returned to the RSL for lunch, refreshments and a game of two-up. A great day was had by all.
The Metung village had seven men who participated in Gallipoli campaign.
Following is their stories.
– Henry Box, age 37, Private – Landed on Gallipoli and survived for six months before succumbing to illness, he recovered and went to France and continued fighting, was severely wounded and was discharged being declared as medically unfit and returned to Australia. He and his wife were awarded pensions but they refused the entitlement.
– Robert Boyd, Labourer, age 22, Private – Sustained a gunshot wound to the head at the Battle of Lone Pine, after recovering he was then sent to France and was killed on the Somme on October 28, 1916.
– Norman Dyte, farmer, age 21, Sergeant – His unit fought on the Gallipoli peninsula for four months. He was one of the last NCO’s to leave Lone Pine and was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in the field, he went on to fight at Pozieres in France, shot twice, recuperated and was discharged in 1920.
– Martin Fender, Lieutenant – His service records show he was shot at Gallipoli in August 1915, surviving this, he returned to active duty only to be mortally wounded at Gaza in April 1917.
– John McMillan, a pastoralist, age 41, Sergeant – A striking tall man known by his mates as ‘the big Gippslander’, he was a seasoned soldier, a member of the 10th Light Horse. He was involved in the charge on the Nek (a strongly held elevated enemy position) which was eventually taken at the expense of 1000 Australian and New Zealand lives. He was wounded in the leg during this battle and repatriated to England where after a while he was discharged as permanently unfit for active service.
– William Poyner, a tinsmith, age 21, Private – Landed with the first wave of troops on Gallipoli, went missing in action and at a later enquiry was declared deceased. William has no known grave.
– George Tudgey, timber cutter, age 25, Private – A member of the 9th Light Horse Regiment, was wounded in the head during two early morning encounters with the enemy, he was transported to Alexandria hospital in Egypt but died of his wounds on June 7, 1917.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.
