Based on a talk by Cyril Cummins and published as “Heidelberg in World War 1 and II in the Heidelberg Historian No 138 June 1990
Living in Heidelberg during the years of World War I and World War II was one of great contrast to other years in its history. When World War I broke out there was a strong feeling of loyalty among Heidelberg residents to King and Empire, and the war was presented to the people of Australia as one of aggression by warlike nations upon a peace-loving Empire. Stirred up by strong emotions of defence of the nation a large number of young Australians volunteered for overseas service.
The rate of enlistment had a profound effect upon, the community enlistment took large numbers of young men from their sporting and cultural bodies, resulting in many of these being closed down or disbanded for the duration of the war.
Local residents organised themselves to support the soldiers overseas. In the Fairfield area particularly, numerous functions were held to raise funds to provide assistance to the wounded and families of “fallen” soldiers. Throughout the Shire ladies gathered in groups to knit articles and to provide money for their favoured project.
The Red Cross Society never established itself in Heidelberg and thus these groups were un-coordinated, but some groups worked to raise funds for various Red Cross National Units, such as the British, Belgian, Italian, French and Australian Red Cross.
The local community in 1915-1916 witnessed for the first time the horrors of war. They saw within their community men suffering from all types of appalling injuries, shell shock, war neurosis, and mustard gas poisoning.
Many of these victims were patients at the Mont Park Military Hospital. This hospital became a central point for the citizens of Heidelberg who rallied and offered assistance to the patients. Splendid work was done by the local ladies in providing many worthwhile amenities to the hospital inmates. The Austin Hospital had two wards taken over by the Defence Forces for nursing and treating the most horrifying of all injuries, mustard gas poisoning.
By the mid-war period, 1916, there was hardly a family which had not suffered loss from the war, be it a fatally injured or wounded husband, father, brother or uncle. At this time the Australian community, despite the pressure from Britain to provide further troops for its war effort, began to reject the war and its consequences. This revulsion was made quite clear by the rejections to conscription in the referendums held at that time. In an effort to attempt to revive enthusiasm, the young men under 35 years of age were encouraged to join local miniature Rifle Range Clubs established at Heidelberg, Ivanhoe and Fairfield.
At the end of the war the community had but one desire, and that was, to live at peace once again. Local ex-servicemen created their own Returned Soldiers organisations and numerous memorials were erected throughout the city.
Published with the permission of the Heidelberg Historical Society
Image: Heidelberg War Memorial from Heidelberg Historical Society. Unveiling of City of Heidelberg World War I memorial by the Governor of Victoria, the Earl of Stradbroke on 20 June 1921.
This story first appeared in “Fine Spirit and Pluck: World War One Stories from Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea” published by Yarra Plenty Regional Library, August 2016
