Lara’s ‘Macs’ honoured in new RSL collection
LARA RSL’S latest museum display is a family affair.
Dedicated members of the local branch have curated a collection of memorabilia and letters from four local ‘Macs’ who served in World War I: brothers and Australian Imperial Force soldiers Jim and John McIntyre and cousins and war nurses Sadie McIntosh and Kitty McNaughton.
The Macs of Lara District exhibition will open tomorrow at the McLelland Ave branch, and will feature personal letters and photographs from the four locals, along with memorabilia including gas masks, helmets, tools, kit bags and silk embroidered cards.
The exhibition comes after months of work by the RSL’s members to digitise and better organise much of their collection.
Copies of eulogies for the McIntyre brothers give insight into their lives and service.
“Jim enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 20th September, 1916, and served with the 14th battalion, probably better known as ‘Jacka’s Mob’,” it reads. “He was wounded twice, good fortune being with him on the second occasion when an enemy bullet struck his tin hat and saved his life.”
“Always a good traveller, Jim took advantage of any leave to visit many parts of France, including Marseilles on the Mediterranean.
“He passed to a higher service on the 23rd November, 1976.”
John’s eulogy revealed the brothers lived together in a soldier settlement property on Bacchus Marsh Rd in 1920, before moving to a new home on Walkers Rd in 1960.
“Passing years saw Jack the sole surviving member of the family,” his eulogy read. “Always of a retiring nature he was never a great conversationalist, but usually warmed to a discussion on farming or past times in the district.”
“To outsiders he appeared to live a lonely life, but he seemed to prefer it that way.”
John died on February 2, 1990.
Lara RSL will hold an opening event for the display tomorrow, featuring guest speaker Dr Janet Butler, the author of award-winning novel Kitty’s War.
Kitty’s War follows the experiences of Kit McNaughton, a Little River nurse posted to Egypt during World War I before being sent to the Western Front. Kit and her cousin Sadie McIntosh were both nurses at Geelong Hospital before signing up.