Brothers in arms

TWENTY pairs of brothers who gave their lives in the First World War will be remembered at this year’s Anzac Day service at the Arch of Victory.

Their names have since been given to streets in the suburb of Lucas.

“We always remember and call the names of a group of Ballarat soldiers or nurses, and this year we decided to highlight the background to a group of streets at Lucas,” said Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee president, Garry Snowden.

“Of course, Lucas was open paddocks when our Arch and Avenue were created, so these soldiers grew up in various parts of old Ballarat.

“There were brothers killed on the same day, like Samuel and William Sells in 1915 and the Moore twins, Ina and Clement, in 1916.

“We can only imagine their families’ grief and the extended anxiety experienced by the McCallum and O’Shannassy families who lost one son in 1915 and another in 1918.”

The service at the Arch of Victory will commence at 8am.

“During the service wreaths will be laid by distinguished guests and by students representing the schools attended by many of the soldiers,” said Mr Snowden.

“Any Ballarat citizens wishing to lay a tribute will then be invited to do so.”

The soldiers to be remembered are Ivan and Harry Bastow, John and Samuel Brew, Stanley and Percy Coltman, Norman and George Craven, James and William Daly, Harold and Eric Ewart, Charles and James Gitsham, Joseph and Percy Grose, Charles and Frederick Harris, Edward and Harry Holgate, James and John Lumsden, Austin and Clement McCallum, Ernest and Maurice McLeod, Ina and Clement Moore, Richard and Sydney O’Shannassy, Frederick and Sydney Rawlings, Cornelius and Ernest Rowley, Samuel and William Sells, Ivan and Bertram Shortridge and Harold and Arthur Yates.