Our history
Short History Alstonville Sub-Branch
Returned and Services League
The Alstonville Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Imperial League of Australia, New South Wales Branch, was chartered on 13 May 1919. The motto of the RSSILA was ‘The price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance’. The first Alstonville President was Mr Pearson Crawford and the Honorary Secretary was Mr Ernie Gray. The members of the sub-branch were a mix of Boer War and World War 1 veterans: some men had served in both wars. In order to be a member of the RSSILA you were required to have been on active service. As the Royal Australian Air Force was yet to be created, the membership was a mixture of largely soldiers and some sailors. The members of the sub-Branch met in a variety of locations and in the early days did not have a permanent building to meet in.The contribution of Alstonville and Tintenbar Shire men who served is well documented in Ian Kirkland’s book They served us well. The impact on Alstonville and the Tintenbar Shire was devastating, and the RSSILA was a place for men to gather and talk to other men who had experienced the horror of war. Like now, many wanted to forget the war and little was passed on of their experiences so much of the talk was of ‘normal’ things. A memorial to the fallen was constructed in 1924 in the Alstonville showgrounds. You can still see the Tintenbar gates in their original location today. The tablets were relocated in 1984 where they were dedicated on Remembrance Day in Elizabeth Ann Brown Park in Alstonville.One of the most important challenges to Veterans is support for themselves and their families. Advocacy to Government resulted in a significant number of benefits following World War 1; however, these were to be proven to be insufficient to meet the needs of veterans who in most cases had to rely heavily on their families for support. Today the RSL acts in a similar way making representations to Government on Veterans’ matters. It is important to note that a local lad, Private Patrick Bugden won the Victoria Cross. Several days after the announcement of his VC he was killed in action. He is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium. The first memorial to him in Alstonville was unveiled in 1948 and is a simple brass plaque with a cross. The second is nearby and was unveiled on 28 September 1997, 80 years after his death and 100th Anniversary of his birth. Both memorials are located on Bugden Avenue in Alstonville. A book, So I Fear Nothing – The Story of Paddy Bugden VC has been written by Mr John Barnes OAM and can be sourced from the Alstonville Historical Society. It provides significant detail on Paddy and his family. Finding a place to call home took until the 1930s for the Sub-Branch. In 1934 the Sub-Branch purchased the old Alstonville School of the Arts which is located at 13 Bugden Avenue. Like many buildings in Alstonville it had been relocated to its current location.In the history of Australians’ involvement in armed conflict, Australians of all backgrounds have been sent to the Boxer rebellion, Crimea, two World Wars, British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Japan, Korea, Malaya, the Indonesian Confrontation, Vietnam, Peacekeeping Missions (numerous), Peace Enforcing Operations (such as Somalia), UN Missions and Observer missions, and the latest two conflicts Iraq and Afghanistan. The numbers of veterans have been in the millions. Part time service has always been an integral part of the Australian Defence Force right back to Colonial times. Volunteers have always stepped forward. That said we have also had at least three occasions when our Government has made military service compulsory. Many Australians born overseas, some with service in other countries, have also served our country.The town of Alstonville has always been supportive of the Veterans’ community and their needs. The original motto of the RSSILA is still the same today as it was 100 years ago. The effects of war continue long past the day of ‘peace’ and it is the people of our community that deal with the real problems associated with that service. Government assists but it can not be present like families who deal with the aftermath of military service.Today the Alstonville Sub-Branch of the NSW Branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL) is still active with about 58 members. Our purpose is assisting Veterans and their families. A veteran is now defined as any person who has given one day’s service to Australia in the Australian Defence Force. The Australian Defence Force is still recruiting young Australians for military service and is still structured for war. The technology associated with war has significantly changed in the past 100 years; however, the holding of ground has not changed. Boots on the ground is still a fundamental of war and the people who wear those boots are still putting their life on the line today.
To find out more about Private Patrick Bugden please click here
For a short history of the RSL Hall and the rest of Alstonville, please click below:
