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A SPADE FOR A DIGGER
BY TOBY MILLER
The 20th anniversary of Australia’s entry into the First World War was commemorated at the Shrine of Remembrance with a ceremony followed by tree planting. In contrast to the Shrine’s public dedication, held three months later on Armistice Day (now known as Remembrance Day), the tree planting ceremony, officiated by Sir Harry Chauvel, fittingly focused attention on 100 ‘former fighting units’ of the Australian Imperial Force. A representative from each unit was invited to plant a tree in honour of their unit or group‘s service and to commemorate those who had died. For those wishing to mark the occasion with a souvenir, small nickel-plated commemorative spades could be purchased and engraved with the details of the person planting the trees. Almost 90 years later, the now well-established trees form a much-loved sprawling arboreal reserve separated by two perpendicular rows of Bhutan cypress (Cupressus torulosa). Together they form an avenue of honour, fittingly lining the northern approach from Linlithgow Avenue to the Second World War Memorial Forecourt, and the penultimate destination for Anzac Day marchers.
Shrine collection
The Shrine collection has one example of the commemorative spade presented as a souvenir to the diggers. Housed in a felt-lined jewellery box, the spade is engraved on the reverse with the following:
From his official war record we know that William McLaren enlisted in 1914 as a medical doctor. He spent the opening stages of the war performing surgeon duties with the 1st Light Horse in Egypt, where he was stationed at the 2 Australian General Hospital. By 1917 McLaren was stationed at the 14th Australian General Hospital near Cairo. He transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade Headquarters before assuming command of the 5th Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, incorporating components of the recently decommissioned Camel Corps, during the later stage of the war.
The Age 6 August 1934
It is unclear whether the tree McLaren planted remains on the reserve today. There is a tree dedicated to Imperial Camel Corps 5th Light Horse Brigade standing tall but no specific plaque for the associated field ambulance unit. As with all gardens, the Shrine Reserve is a living space and many trees have come and gone over the years. While some were removed to make way for the Shrine Forecourt following the Second World War, most of the trees no longer with us succumbed to natural causes and have been replaced with new trees. Each new tree renewing a cycle of life and death that can serve as an allegory of what it might mean to speak of young soldiers being cut down in their prime on a distant battlefield.
Toby Miller is Collections Coordinator at the Shrine of Remembrance.
