TWO Chinese Anzacs from Golden Point have been recognised during a tour of World War One battlefields and war cemeteries on Europe\u2019s Western Front.<\/p>\n
The graves of fallen troops, Bertie Pring – at Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier – and Albert Lepp – at Ration Farm Cemetery \u2013 were visited by an Australian group in September.<\/p>\n
The tour group was led by former Golden Point junior footballer and passionate WW1 researcher, Garry Snowden, who has visited Gallipoli 18 times.<\/p>\n
Local lady, Mrs Tung, hand made some tributes \u2013 crocheted poppies in Golden Point\u2019s colours \u2013 blue and white.<\/p>\n
Andrew Young and Mr Snowden – who both attended the Golden Point State School \u2013 said a few words and laid the poppies on the graves of Pring and Lepp.<\/p>\n
Mr Snowden asked the group to \u201cfeel the spirits\u201d of the soldiers as they travelled the battlefields.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terribly sobering. Those boys were no different to me,\u201d Mr Snowden said.<\/p>\n
Joint secretary treasurer of the East Point Football Netball Club Past Players and Supporters Memorabilia Committee, Peter Storey, said it may have been the first time the graves had been visited.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring research\u2026it became increasingly apparent that very strong ties existed between the Ballarat Chinese community and the playing of Australian Rules football\u2026with Golden Point,\u201d Storey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence exists of matches played between Chinese miners and gardeners in the late 1880s.\u201d<\/p>\n
The memorabilia committee talked with leaders of the local Chinese community and the possibility of Chinese men from Ballarat serving in WW1 became an area of interest.<\/p>\n
This led the committee to Mr Snowden.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis research revealed 22 Chinese Anzacs commemorated in Ballarat\u2019s Avenue of Honour, five of whom were killed in action,\u201d Mr Storey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree of those men have no known grave with only Albert Lepp and Bertie Pring having headstones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Snowden researched grave locations for both men, discovering their whereabouts, and was able to add the visits to a tour he had already organised within the region.<\/p>\n
Pring and Lepp are recognised on Golden Point State School\u2019s Honor Board of former pupils who were involved in the Great War.<\/p>\n
Another poppy was laid at Arnold William Minster\u2019s grave at Lijssenthoek, Belgium. He played for Golden Point Football Club before he was killed at war in October 1917.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey did what their country asked of them,\u201d Mr Snowden said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO Chinese Anzacs from Golden Point have been recognised during a tour of World War One battlefields and war cemeteries on Europe\u2019s Western Front. The graves of fallen troops, Bertie Pring – at Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier – and Albert Lepp – at Ration Farm Cemetery \u2013 were visited by an Australian group in September. […]<\/p>\n