Blooms and crimson ribbon for Belgian bullets

METAL artist, Ron Davis had a dream to create remembrance poppies from lead sourced from bullets used at Gallipoli.

But when the Turkish government didn’t “come to the table,” another pathway manifested.

“Surprisingly, I got this photo of Kerry Stokes, and his wife Christine, at Menin Gate in Ypres, being handed lead from Passchendaele by two of the landowners,” Davis said.

“I got an email saying the handover will be arranged at the Australian War Memorial, so you can imagine, I was really excited.”

In the presence of Mr Stokes, Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson, and Doug Baird, the father of posthumous Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Cameron Baird VC, MG, Davis received that lead. It originated from 18-pound shrapnel shells which had exploded above Belgian battlefields in the First World War.

“I made some lead poppies and sold them to raise money…to support returned servicemen and women, first responders and sufferers of PTSD and depression…and the kids who have lost their dads in Afghanistan or Iraq,” Davis said.

One of the beneficiaries, Cam’s Cause, was established in memory of Corporal Baird VC, MG after his 2013 death in Afghanistan.

“With the lead, I thought I would also make authentic copies of the Victoria Cross, donating one to Doug Baird, and some back to the authors of a beautiful book I was given called The Victoria Cross: Australia Remembers, by Michael Madden and photographed by Gordon Traill.”

Melting the Passchendaele lead to create each replica VC within a downsized mould, Davis had the medals copper plated in Geelong for an authentic finish.

“Dave Wright Militaria put the crimson ribbon on for me, which sets it off beautifully,” he said.

Now he’s ready to produce a series of 100 lead VC replicas, representing the 100 Australian Victoria Cross recipients.

“It’s emotional knowing I’m creating something so significant.”

Davis has postponed a trip to Belgium, previously set for May, to gift one to Passchendaele landowners who already hold one of his remembrance poppies.

“When I return, not only will it be a nice surprise for them, I think they will absolutely love it,” he said.

The Shine of Remembrance in Melbourne will be gifted one, as well as RSL Victoria, for auction. The rest will continue to raise funds for charity.