The Dawn Service - A Continuing Tradition
The Rottnest Island Dawn Service on Anzac Day has become a regular and much anticipated community commemorative event. It combines the excitement of a special journey with an evocative setting, and commemoration on an intimate scale to make it a unforgettable experience. It has a special poignancy for the descendants of veterans who fell in the Boer War, World War One and World War Two as the receding vista of Rottnest was for most Western Australians who paid the supreme sacrifice, their last view of home as their troopship sailed out of Gage Roads into the Indian Ocean. The first recorded organised Anzac Service on Rottnest was reported as taking place in 1931. Under command of Captain Leslie Riches, MC, fifteen Returned Servicemen marched from the Board of Control office (Salt Store) to the schoolhouse (Cottage 436} where it was recorded that the entire population of the Island was present for the service except for two duty personnel, one at the lighthouse and one at the signal station. Service and bravery were evident on the march through three Military Crosses, and one Distinguished Conduct Medal and one veteran of three campaigns, Mr E Hoyle, whose decorations included the Indian Frontier medal with four clasps, the Queen's medal (Boer War) with six clasps, the Kings Medal with two clasps, and others awarded for service in the Great War. The service was conducted by Mr Arnold Hamer, who served at Gallipoli. Mr Roland Smith sounded “The Last Post” and in the evening Mr J Balfour Stark, DCM, officer in charge of the Island chaired a reunion of ex-service men. The success of this first service was such that by 1932, reference was being made to “the usual Anzac Day Service”. Some 30 ex-servicemen were expected to participate including several from the mainland. Arrangements were coordinated by a committee of returned soldiers on the Island under the chairmanship of Mr JB Stark. Mr Arnold Hamer once again conducted the service. By 1938, with the military garrison present at Kingstown Barracks, the service and ceremonial had expanded. There was a marchpast of 60 troops under command of Captain J. Calder with the salute being taken by Major Young and the Secretary of the Rottnest Board of Control Mr JB Stark. Over 150 visitors and residents attended the service.
