Frank McCoubrie’s body may not have come back from France’s Bullecourt battlefields, but his memory lives on, thanks to Footscray Historical Society.
The society has honoured Footscray Anzacs, including McCoubrie, through a project that has made digital copies of nearly 1500 handwritten certificate of appreciation applications, matching them with nearly 2000 names on Footscray Town Hall’s honour board.
Footscray Historical Society president Bill Horrocks says a new website will be launched almost 100 years to the day since the former Footscray city council recognised its Anzacs on the honour board.
“It’s an exciting project; it will be a vast treasure trove of information,” Mr Horrocks said. “People will be able to check on the website to find out information about individuals from the area who served.”
Mr Horrocks said the double-sided, A4-sized application forms included rich personal details: age, occupation, address, service number, rank and regiment. The applications were filled in by the families and friends of those who served, and sometimes by soldiers themselves.
The Our Local Anzacs website also encourages users to add stories of any soldier, sailor, airman or nurse who is named on the site. The project has been funded by the Australian Government Anzac Centenary Local Grants program.
The website will be launched with a morning tea at Footscray Town Hall from 10am-11.30am, Friday, April 1. RSVP by Friday to foothist@bigpond.com or 9689 3820. Visit anzac.footscrayhistoricalsociety.org.au
