It was an honor to paint the Collie RSL Mural for the recent Collie Art Trail.
When researching for the mural, I was struck with the profound impact that the War had on Collie and it’s people. It has been said that Collie sent more of it’s population to War (on a per capita basis) than any other community in Australia.
Instead of focusing on the devastating side of War, I wanted to create a tribute for the veterans. An uplifting piece that focuses on comraderie, mateship and the loyalty that each soldier had for one another before, during and after the war.
I chose the iconic game of Two-Up as the driver behind the first part of the mural. The game of two-up has been played by Australian Soldiers as far back as WW1, whenever there was a lull in the fighting, soldiers would escape the horrors of war with a friendly game of two-up. The game played an important part in mateship.
The Mural depicts ‘Collie Boys’ from all wars as well as Coal Miners, crowded around a game of Two-Up.
Mining companies in Collie have always fostered great mateship among the miners on and off the work site. During WW1 the Military Mining Corps was formed, to tunnel under enemy trenches. Among the first to enlist were miners from the coalfields of Collie. A total of 21 miners from Collie served in the Mining Corps during WW1, sadly 2 of those soldiers died whilst on active service.
PART ONE
From the street view, left to right.
The first two men depicted are unknown miners from Collie.
The 3rd man sitting is 55630 Robert Hugh Loxton, Vietnam War Veteran.
Robert Loxton served with 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers.
The 4th Man is 5400124 Neil Francis Wood, Korean War Veteran. Neil Wood served with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. Past President of the Collie-Cardiff RSL sub Branch.
The 5th man is Lieutenant George Arthur Lamerton MC, WW1 Veteran. Lt Lamerton was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during the battle of Bullecourt in May 1917.
George Lamerton was a founding member of WA’s own 11th Infantry Battalion, first ashore at Gallipoli he survived four long years at War before being Killed in Action on the 10th August 1918, during the last major battle of WW1.
The 6th man is 54324 Leslie Thomas Murrell, Vietnam War Veteran. Les Murrell served two tours of duty in Vietnam, one with the Special Air Service (SAS) and the second tour with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV).
The 7th man sitting is WX20337 Thomas Job Bowers, WW2 Veteran. Thomas Bowers served with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion in the Middle East and Java.
The 8th man is 3970 Martin O’Meara VC, WW1 Veteran. Martin O’Meara served with the 16th Infantry Battalion.
The 9th man is 1438 Thomas Hugh Sarre MM, WW1 Veteran. Thomas Sarre served with WA’s own 10th Lighthorse Regiment. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in September 1918 for actions in Egypt. Past President of the Collie-Cardiff RSL sub Branch.
The 10th man sitting is 5715861 Terrence John Healy, Vietnam War Veteran. Terry Healy served with 96 Transport Platoon.
The two-up spinner in the ring is 5714772 Sydney Alexander Murchison Riley, Vietnam War Veteran. Syd Riley served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.
Everything depicted in the mural is authentic to each ear, from the World War 2 Ammo Crates to the Vietnam war Cooler boxes and boots. Each portrait was painted from enlistment photos and various press photographs.
The mural was painted over 6 nights, so I could dodge the sharp heat and uneven lighting. Every morning when I’d pack up, I’d see family members or relatives of the Veterans painted, visit the mural.
Some in tears as it would be the first time they would see their family member – a veteran be brought back to life.
Thanks to Graeme and Gary from the RSLW for all of your assistance, look forward to catching up again at the RSLWA for a beer and maybe a game of two-up!
PART TWO
PART TWO
The RSLWA LOGO was only recently modified in 1990 to include a sailor, soldier, airman and servicewoman. The portraits are of proud, happy servicemen and women including an Aboriginal infantrymen. Collie is believed to be the first place in Western Australia to acknowledge Aboriginal servicemen in a memorial.
The Sailor shown is 2148 Charles George Suckling RAN, WW1 Veteran. Charles Suckling served as a Stoker on board the Australian Submarine AE2. The AE2 was badly damaged of the coast of Gallipoli and subsequently scuttled by her crew. The crew became prisoners of war held by the Turks for the remainder of the war.
The soldier shown is NX43500 Harold West, WW2 Veteran. From NSW Harold has no link to Collie. Harold West was one of many Aboriginal servicemen who have served the nation in all wars. Harold served on the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea. Sadly Harold contracted scrub typhus and died of sickness whilst on Active Service on 26 Nov 1942.
The Airman shown is 415079 Herbert (Bert) Leonard Fuhrmann DFM, WW2 Veteran, Bomber Command England. Bert Fuhrmann was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for air actions in April 1943, when he flew his badly damaged Bomber aircraft back to the safety of England. Sadly in July 1943 he was killed in Action when his Lancaster Bomber was shot down over Germany killing all crew.
The nurse shown is WXF34623 Lillian Annie Mumme, WW2 Veteran. Lillian was Nursing Sister with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). Lillian Mumme served with the 2/4th Australian General Hospital in the Middle East during WW2. The record of service rendered by the 2/4 AGH in many battlefields between 1940 and 1945 is second to none.
PART THREE
Ron Miffling
Pictured here is portrait of Collie Boy, Ronald Miffling, showing a fellow soldier a photo of his wife and newborn son in Vietnam. The photo was a rushed telegram sent to Ron, two weeks after the birth of his child.
The story was run in newspapers across Australia in August 1967
The depiction represents the sacrifice that service personnel make in war when they leave their loved ones behind.
PART FOUR
Martin O’Meara VC. 3970 Martin O’Meara VC, WW1 Veteran.
Martin O’Meara was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions of valour during the battle of Pozieres in 1916. Martin O’Meara repeatedly entered ‘no man’s land’ whilst under heavy gunshot and shell fire to recue wounded soldiers, he was credited to having saved 25 lives. When Martin O’Meara returned he suffered from shell-shock, or PTSD As we call it now.At the time, the only treatment for PTSD was a straight-jacket, which he was constrained in whilst in Graylands hospital for 17 years before his death.