AN AUCTIONEER was so keen to see Uralla's long-lost WWI Honour Roll return home that he threw in $500 himself.
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The marble tablet commemorates local soldiers who fought in WWI, and ended up sold to a military museum in western QLD when St David's Presbyterian Church was deconsecrated.
Graham Lancaster sold the marble tablet back in 2013, and then back to Uralla RSL sub-branch member Jim Swales, who's own father is named on the roll, for $3650 at the weekend.
"The auction went extremely well, there were about three or four serious militaria collectors there," he said.
"When I sold it back in 2013, a guy called Gary Dunn contacted the RSL and there was total inaction, I begged local people to buy it.
"When I first sold it I really couldn't believe it was leaving the town, I'm a historian as well and I wanted it to go back, I thought if I put $500 there it would give them a better chance of securing it - it's not something I normally do."
The honour roll was made by Narrabri's monumental mason Michael William Hardy and is described by Mr Lancaster as an "absolute work of art".
"It's unusual to have a marble honour roll, it would have cost a lot of money in its day," he said.
The crowd at the auction house erupted into applause when they heard the honour roll would be returned home, Uralla RSL sub-branch president Russ French said.
"Apparently there was another bidder but it went well," he said.
"Jim, who was our member who went up to bid for us, has a real personal connection to it because his father is on the honour roll - he was determined to get it back no matter what.
"It's tucked away safe and sound in our RSL meeting room and we will work out the best place to hang it; it's a beautiful piece and the auctioneer said it's one of the best preserved honour rolls from that era."
The honour roll was sold to a military museum in western QLD in 2013, that has since closed.
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The RSL club worked with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, McCrossin's Mill Museum and the Uralla Historical Society to chase the piece down.
And, there have been a number of offers from the community to donate toward paying it back, Mr French said.
"People have wanted to contribute to buying it back to repay the money that Jim paid out for it, we don't use RSL funds because those are for veteran programs not memorabilia, we've even had offers to buy it outright and donate it back to the RSL," he said.
"It's just amazing that people feel so strongly about getting things back that belong to the community here.
"We'll do a fundraiser to have that paid back and we are hunting for some other things - another honour roll from the church which was timber and a photographic board of the men on the honour roll, mostly in their military uniforms."
The honour roll was made by Narrabri's monumental mason Michael William Hardy and is described by Mr Lancaster as an "absolute work of art".
The crowd at the auction house erupted into applause when they heard the honour roll would be returned home, Uralla RSL sub-branch president Russ French said.
"It's tucked away safe and sound in our RSL meeting room and we will work out the best place to hang it; it's a beautiful piece and the auctioneer said it's one of the best preserved honour rolls from that era," he said.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
