Stories of shire veterans brought to life

Torquay Museum Without Walls will launch Together They Served, a 460-page book authored by Cheryl Baulch, at the Torquay RSL next Monday.

The comprehensive book, which took five years of research to come to fruition, details the 700 men and women from the Surf Coast Shire who enlisted during World War I.

It features 17 short historical chapters which each cover different aspects of the war and recognise the local veterans’ experiences across the war’s duration.

One chapter discusses how veterans in the shire prepared for battle, their accounts of Gallipoli, the Western Front and the sinking of HMAT Ballarat, the challenges faced by those left behind, and what it was like to be part of the Charge of the Light Horse Brigade.

It also mentions letters from home as well as messages in bottles that were thrown overboard when soldiers departed from the Australian shore.

While it took some time to get the ball rolling, the book was made possible thanks to funding from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Surf Coast Shire.

Complimentary copies will be distributed to local schools, public libraries, history groups, RSLs and families who assisted in providing key details of family members who fought in World War I or helped acquire relevant photographs and artefacts.

At its core, the book investigates the locations and history of local memorials and honour boards and delves into the lives of the men and women whose names are etched on them.

Together They Served will be launched at the Torquay RSL at 2pm on Monday September 23. Orders for both printed and digital copies will be taken on the day. For more information, head to togethertheyserved.com.