1. Introduction Collie Boys General History

Collie Boys General History - Collie Boys Short Stories

Saluting their Service - Grahame Old

Introduction

Collie Boys in all Wars is a series of short stories featuring the service of selected servicemen and women during the Boer War, WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam. The stories have been published in the Collie River Valley Bulletin and in the Collie Mail newspapers.

Collie has a rich military history dating back to the Boer War, the town has continually punched above its weight in providing manpower to the war efforts. Enlistments from Collie have generally exceeded the national average on a pro rata to population basis. During WW1 the population of Collie and Surrounding districts was around 3300, 560 men and 3 women (nurses), around one in six of the population, enlisted for overseas service. 133 never returned, around one in every five.  

The history of individual Collie Boys in all wars is available for viewing on a touchscreen at the Collie RSL premises. The short stories will now complement that historical data.

Section 1 General History

With the exception of peacekeeping operations the stories in the general history section are not specific to one war hence the separate section. The stories are intended to provide the reader with a background to the RSL, in particular the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch and to the origins of the many aspects of military history.

The Collie Boys Stories in all wars is an ongoing project which may never be completed. The RSL motto; ‘The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance’ is even more relevant now in 2022 than it was back in 1923.  

‘Lest we Forget’