Rightful And Respectful Recognition Home Hill RSL Reflects On Major 2023 Project

When Allan Petersen began researching for his military history book ‘Home Hill Remembers’, he didn’t realise the number of gravesites in the Home Hill Cemetery that weren’t formally recognised as war service gravesites.

This discovery led the Home Hill RSL Sub Branch on a five year journey to honour these servicepeople which came to an end with the installation of plaques and a Dedication Ceremony in August last year.

“In all, 56 graves had no recognition as a war serviceman’s grave,” Mr Petersen, the Sub Branch Secretary, said.

“There were 25 that had no indication of a burial site – just covered in lawn and appeared to be vacant plots.

“16 had a family monument with no recognition as a war serviceman’s final resting place.”

“Some were just buried in the dirt with no recognition whatsoever, so we decided to do something about it,” added Sub Branch President Richard Kelly.

“The ones who didn’t have any recognition, we’ve given them some recognition.”

Mr Petersen continued his research, dedicating hours to collecting names, ranks, enlistment information and serial numbers of the World War I and Boer War veterans.

Divining rods were used to locate unmarked graves before being cross-checked with cemetery records to trace people’s identities.

Once pinpointed, cement plinths were moulded by members of the Sub Branch and polished headstones and bronze plaques were supplied by local undertaker Ken Wright.

With the help of Mr Wright, the local cemetery sexton and two students from Home Hill State High School, the Sub Branch installed the plaques.

The Sub Branch received a grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs for the project.

“It was a combined effort,” Sub Branch member Uli Liessmann said.

“A lot of people did a lot of different things.”

An official ceremony was held at the cemetery on Saturday, August 26, 2023 to commemorate the Australian veterans who now bear military recognition on their headstones.

“What it has done is provide a record of those people who have served the nation,” Mr Petersen said.

“Prior to that, there was nothing, some were just a bare patch of grass; I don’t think that is any way to recognise service men and women.

“It does recognise, rightfully and respectfully, them forever.”

A further 15 sites were identified as those of British military veterans who immigrated to Home Hill, however the Sub Branch was unable to secure funding for the recognition of these graves.

“A lot of them had no relatives here,” said Sub Branch member Bill Lowis.

“They lived here, came here for work, enlisted, served, and then they came back here as damaged people, passed away and they were buried here.”

‍

L-R RSL Sub Branch members Allan Petersen, Bill Lowis, Richard Kelly and Uli Liessman. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie