The pinkish, parallel-sided, slab of rock stands embedded in a square concrete foundation between two white flagpoles. It is beside the concrete pedestrian footpath that leads past Silvan Primary School. The front faces the nearby intersection where a school access road runs parallel to Monbulk Road. And the rear of stele faces the Primary School. The front face has a lower rectangular brass tablet that acknowledges the 'Silvan WW1 Avenue of Honour' of the past. With the upper part displaying two rectangular brass plaques, detailing the following distinguished veterans of World War One, who ended up being locals to Silvan. In the middle are two dinner-plate sized, circular platens depicting the individuals. From the left-hand side plaque:
Major William Charles Scurry MC, DCM
(1895 - 1963)
"Bill Scurry was born in Carlton in 1895 and spent his youth in Ascot Vale where he was a member of the 'Essendon Rifles'. In August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF and in the following year was sent to Gallipoli as a reinforcement for the 7th Battalion.
"By November 1915 the situation was grim on the Dardanelles Front and those in charge began looking at ways of getting our forces off the Peninsula. All plans estimated a loss of life of up to 30% of our troops. In his trench Bill Scurry thought 'it occurred to me that if we could leave our rifles firing we might get away safely'. He then set about inventing a time release gun.
"What he created was simple yet effective. Set a loaded rifle up, place a ration tin full of water on top that then leaked into another below. The bottom tine would be attached to a string that was tied to the trigger and when it filled, it would fall with a jerk discharging the rifle. Depending on the size of the hole it could take 20 minutes to an hour to fill.
"On December 19th, 1915 these were set up all over the Gallipoli Peninsula and the troops were secretly evacuated without one loss of life. In fact the ruse was so successful that it took half a day before the enemy realised they were gone. Bill Scurry was later awarded the DCM for his efforts here.
"Afterwards Bill Scurry served on the Western Front with the 15th Light Trench Mortar Battery where he was awarded the Military Cross and was wounded twice, losing his right eye. On the ship home he met and later married Sister Doris Barry and they had four daughters.
"After the war (WW1) he took up farming in Silvan, growing berries and passionfruit and was a popular member of the community, serving as president of the Lilydale RSL. During World War Two he enlisted again, was promoted to Major and was made Commandant of the Japanese Civilian Internment Camp at Tatura. He passed away in 1963 and is buried at the Lilydale Cemetery."
This is a 'Centenary of ANZAC' project by the Rotary Club of Wandin
Major W C Scurry MC, DCM
On the right-hand side of the two 'dinner-plate' sized is the plaque for VA Creswell, and it reads:
Vice Admiral Sir William Rooke
Creswell KCMG, KBE (1852-1933)
"William Creswell was born on Gibraltar in 1852 and at the age of 14 enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Cadet. He served for twelve years in the Navy, seeing action in China and Malaya, but became frustrated by the minimal chances of promotion and resigned, immigrating then to Australia. Here he helped pioneer many of today's stock routes through Queensland and the Northern Territory.
"In 1885 he resumed his naval career and served as Captain of the warship HMS Protector and then Naval Commandant for the South Australian contingent who went over to China to fight in the Boxer Rebellion.
"During this period he lobbied strongly for the creation of a totally Australian Navy and in 1904 was appointed Director of the Commonwealth Naval Forces where he did much to shape and develop our early Navy. The effectiveness of what he achieved was later shown in the early Australian naval successes of the First World War.
"He was promoted to Rear Admiral and during World War One was the government's naval adviser, organising ship construction in Australia, the development of shore support and the arranging of convoys. Sadly he lost two sons during the war.
"After the war he was awarded a knighthood and retired from the Navy. In the 1920's he bought the Ferndale Estate in Silvan and settled down to a quiet life on the and, becoming a popular member of the community and getting involved with many civic causes and events.
"He died in 1933 and was given a state funeral. Today there is a RAN naval base and park in Adelaide named after him and is looked upon by historians to the 'Father of the Australian Navy'."
Vice Admiral Sir W R Creswell, KCMG, KBE
The memorial was unveiled on the Sunday preceding ANZAC day, 24 April, 2016. "Rear Admiral John Lord and Commodore Jim Dickson will be at the unveiling of the Silvan monument on Sunday, as will Major Scurry’s daughter."
Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader, 16 April 2016 [From the Monuments Australia link below]
Visited: 1001, Tuesday, 1 March, 2022