Gallipoli flag stolen from RSL office

[Wally1967]

Gallipoli flag stolen from RSL office :(



THE first flag carried ashore by Australian troops at Gallipoli in World War I has been stolen from the NSW RSL's Sydney office.
State RSL president Don Rowe said staff noticed the flag missing from Anzac House (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=29277&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Anzac%20House) Castlereagh St, in Sydney's CBD, on Monday.
It was in storage with other memorabilia at the RSL's headquarters while renovations were carried out on the war memorial in Hyde Park, where it is usually on show.
Mr Rowe said (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=29277&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Rowe%20said) the flag was taken ashore by Australian troops of the 9th battalion, 3rd brigade, at Gallipoli and carried throughout the campaign from 1915.
The flag bears the signatures of several historical figures including Albert Windsor (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=29277&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=Albert%20Windsor) who became King George VI.
While the flag has been valued for insurance it is the sentimental value that means the most, Mr Rowe said.
"You can't put a value on it. It's historical as well as sentimental, something that's irreplaceable," he said on Thursday. "And it's really got no value to the person who took it because no one will want to buy it. No one will want to touch it because ... the word's out that it's been taken.


"It's significant to the nation not to an individual."
Police have been notified and a list of everyone who had access to the storage area has been compiled.
Mr Rowe said the person who has the flag can return it to Anzac House or any RSL branch.
"I hope they've got a guilty conscience and return it because a lot of cases people just don't know what it is. They just think `oh, that looks good, I'll take it'," he said. "And they don't realise what it actually means."


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25891072-29277,00.html

[T3ngu]

What sort of low life steals something like that? My guess is that they will destroy it out of sheer ignorance, or try to flog it off on the cheap.

At least not many people have access to the area shouldnt take them long to find the person.

[digrar]

Why did the bloody RSL have it anyway? It should have been at the AWM.

[AroundTheCorner]

Seriously? Fvcking bastard(s)...

[goat89]

Why did the bloody RSL have it anyway? It should have been at the AWM.
Australian War Musuem? Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if AWM offered to buy it/something like that, but rejected. I mean its a pride thing to have such a priceless piece of history which showed Australia's part in one of the bloodiest battles of WWI.

[digrar]

Australian War Memorial, which has a museum attached to it.

[Eztyga]

Why did the bloody RSL have it anyway? It should have been at the AWM.

It was being held at ANZAC House while a refurbishment of the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park is being carried out, its previous location.

[Zarak]

Whoever stole it should be tried for Treason and hung.

[digrar]

I get that, but I don't get why that particular piece was in the possession of the RSL in the first place, something with that sort of significance should be held at the AMW in my opinion.

[Flagg]

I get that, but I don't get why that particular piece was in the possession of the RSL in the first place, something with that sort of significance should be held at the AMW in my opinion.

I'd have to agree....retain an annual right of use in perpetuity for that RSL to strut their stuff on ANZAC Day and give the RSL credit at the AWM display........but protection for future generations should take precedence to any RSL Chapter oneupmanship.

We had a long saga with Sir Charles Upham's VCs, amongst others, fortunately they were retrieved.....I hope the same can be said shortly in this case.

That flag has significance far beyond just the RSL or even the ADF......it's a tangible symbol of emerging national identity that casts a shadow over everything.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

I get that, but I don't get why that particular piece was in the possession of the RSL in the first place, something with that sort of significance should be held at the AMW in my opinion.

From what I understand the AWM gets pretty parochial about items of national significance, or at least what they deem to be, and rides rough shod over anyone else to take ownership regardless of whose possession said item is in.

Waiouru Army Museum here is much the same. Has a really bad rep amongst memorabilia collectors as anything loaned to them is automatically claimed and taken without compensation. Considering they only have approx 3% of their holdings on exibit (their estimate) it's a bit unseemly.

Now obviously there is a case for that type of action in some respects, but...

[Flagg]

From what I understand the AWM gets pretty parochial about items of national significance, or at least what they deem to be, and rides rough shod over anyone else to take ownership regardless of whose possession said item is in.

Waiouru Army Museum here is much the same. Has a really bad rep amongst memorabilia collectors as anything loaned to them is automatically claimed and taken without compensation. Considering they only have approx 3% of their holdings on exibit (their estimate) it's a bit unseemly.

Now obviously there is a case for that type of action in some respects, but...

Good point....I guess one RSL/RSA's most treasured item of remembrance is potentially another museum's dusty archives.

[Wally1967]

Good News! :)


Stolen Gallipoli flag anonymously returned





AN historic Gallipoli banner stolen from ANZAC House, in Sydney, has been anonymously returned ten days after it went missing.
The 94-year-old handmade banner belonging to the Australian Imperial Forces 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade was handed in, undamaged, to a ground floor office at ANZAC House (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=29277&as=news&ac=ninews2&q=ANZAC%20House) this morning.
It was the first flag carried ashore by Australian troops at Gallipoli in World War I.

[AroundTheCorner]

^^^ Great news.

[Eztyga]

Excellent! The Hyde Park Memorial will be open soon too, so it will be back in the little museum attach to that.

[Warrigal]

Great to hear the thief had a change of heart.