Excerpt from At Sea Service narration.
Throughout the day relatives shared their stories and mementoes of the people they had come to honour.
Annette Ralston from Mirrawinni in Far North Queensland, attending with her mother Ellen O’Neill, showed a precious handkerchief that had belonged to her grandfather, Ambulance Driver Tommy O’Neill, who was lost on the Centaur.
The handkerchief contained 36 rare signatures of 2nd 12th Australian Field Ambulance members.
It was a moving moment as relatives recognised the names of loved ones signed so many years ago.
I happened to find this photo by chance and recognise my brothers signature and his cousin’s is there as well. John Edward Stanley and Henry Oakley in the bottom left hand corner just above the “Don’t steal” …. Rather wonderful to see but sad as well.