- ‘Goldfields Soldiers of World War I’ to detail the battles Kalgoorlie soldiers were involved in including the Gallipoli landing and Western Front
- More than 4100 Kalgoorlie and Boulder men served in the Great War
- Lecture to be presented by WWI researcher and Kalgoorlie Miner editor, Anne Skinner
The Goldfields link to World War I will be explained in a public lecture at the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Saturday April 28 from 5:30pm.
Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder Manager Zoe Scott said the ‘Goldfields Soldiers of World War I’ lecture will give locals an opportunity to reflect on the personal meaning of ANZAC day for the Goldfields community.
“More than 4100 men from the Goldfields mining towns volunteered for World War I, and sadly many of them didn’t come back,” she said.
Lecturer Anne Skinner has been a keen World War I researcher since discovering her great uncle was killed at Ypres in Belgium while serving in the British Army in 1917.
Ms Skinner started her research in her previous home town of Gympie in south-east Queensland, and began focusing on the Kalgoorlie history when she moving to the area four years ago.
“Every Anzac Day I would read the names of the fallen on the local war memorial and wonder who these men were and what happened to them during the war,” Ms Skinner said.
Ms Skinner said it is important for communities to remember and understand the sacrifices made by those who served.
“The history of the Goldfields soldiers are the stories of ordinary men who did extraordinary things. They are decorated heroes whose medal citations describe acts of astounding courage,” she said.
“These are men to be proud of and we should hold them in our memories.”
The lecture will be held at the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder, from 5:30pm on Saturday April 28. Entry is by donation, with wine and nibbles to be served afterwards.
Niki Comparti
Media and Publicity Officer
Western Australian Museum
9212 3840, Niki.comparti@museum.wa.gov.au
