Roma's War Trophies

Last Update 25th June 2003

[Extracts from correspondence and meetings over the allocation of War Trophies to Roma. Italics are hand written, [square brackets] are my notes]

Form for allocation of War Trophies

• D.1751/3.20--C.4847.--4M [Form Number]
• Allotment Form (2) Q14
• Town Roma
• Entitled to One Gun
• UNITS FROM WHOSE CAPTURES TROPHY(IES) ALLOTTED IS TO BE SELECTED
• (Several to be Given in Order of preference)
  • 9th Batt
  • 5th Light Horse
  • Signalers 25 Bat
  • 2nd Light Horse
  • ICC [no idea what this means]
• Are Brackets Required?
• (Postal note for 8/- to be attached if brackets are required.)
• [ticked]
• Address to which to be forwarded
  • Town Clerk, Roma, Queensland
• Most Economical method of Despatch
• By Sea to
  • Brisbane, Q
• By Rail to
  • Roma, Q (From Brisbane)
• Trophy(ies) Allotted
  • 75mm Gun No 29 Captured by C Sqdn 5th light Horse Regt
  • History Sent
  • 75mm TM [Trench Mortar] 52nd Bn No 21096
  • Heavy MG (no mount) No 39441 D.4044 M2096
  • Ceded
• A brief description of the circumstances of capture is attached
• Notification of Despatch
• Package No
  • c/s 3535 [+unreadable]
• Place on board s.s.
  • Toromeo
• on
  • End of March 1921
• in Capital City of your State, who will arrange for your package to be placed on rails,
• OR
• Placed on rail at Melbourne on
  • Cooma 7/9/21
• in Truck No
• i/c despatch

Letter Accepting additional Trophies

• Town Of Roma
• Council Chambers
• Roma
• Secretary,
• Qld State trophy Committee,
• 122 and 138 King Street,
• Melbourne
• Dear Sir,
• I beg to acknowledge and thank you for your letter of the 14th inst. advising me of the allotment to the Town of Roma of one Trench Mortar and one Machine Gun, in addition to the Field Gun already received, and in reply beg to inform you, that my Council accept your kind offer with many thanks.
• As brackets will be necessary for fixing Trophy to a wall, I enclose herewith 2 PN's for the sum of 8/- for same.
• Yours Faithfully,
• CG McKeown
• Town Clerk

Letter Accepting responsibility for transportation costs

• On Behalf of the town of Roma I hereby agree that the citizens will pay the transport charges from Brisbane of the trophy or trophies allotted the town by the Queensland State trophy Committee.
• 20 Jany 21 (date) CG McKeown, Town Clerk Roma Town Council Signature
• NOTE
• To be signed by Town Clerk, or one of the three Trustees appointed to receive the trophy, or other accredited representative, and both copies returned to the Secretary, Queensland State trophy Committee.
• One copy will be forwared to the Queensland Government when the Trophy is despatched, as authority to forward it on immediately from Brisbane.

Trustees Agreement

• Form 3
• Town Roma, Q
• AGREEMENT
• WE, THE UNDERSIGNED TRUSTEES, appointed by the town of Roma to receive trophy(ies) allotted it by the State Trophy Committeee, accept the trophy(ies) as set forth in the Committee's circular, dated [blank], and will comply with the conditions laid down, viz:-
• (a) Arrange for it to be permanently housed in a public park, garden, or building within the town, whichever may appear most suitable, and for its subsequent preservation and safe custody.
• (b) Arrange a simple ceremony, at which it will ['should' is crossed out and replaced with 'will'] be formally taken over.
• (c) Bear all expenses conencted withthe transport and installation after arrival at the nearest railway station.
• 1 Signature W Conroy
• 2Signature W Miscamble per CG McKeown Town Clerk
• 3 Signature Paul D Robinson
• Ex memeber of (unit) PD Robinson AIF
• Date 24th July 1920

Meeting Of Council, Council Chambers, 30th June 1920, 7:30PM

From the Military Authorities advising that ONE GUN had been allocated to Roma. On the motion of Ald Care sec by Ald Ward. "The Mayor, Ald Miscamble and Mr P Robinson Trustees to receive the trophy allocated."

Western Star Neswpaper, 3rd July 1920

[discussion on prior council meeting] Queensland War Trophies Committee, stating the population of Roma supplied by the state representative is 3788, and were entitled to an allotment of one gun in connection with the distribution of German War Trophies - received. The Mayor, Ald Miscamble and Mr PS Robinson were appointed trustees in connection with this matter.

Western Star Newspaper, 9th April 1921

[discussing council meeting] Notice from War Trophy Committee, advising that one field gun, No 29, a war trophy. Captured by the 5th Light horse Regiment, has been forwarded to Roma. After some discussion it was decided to place the gun in the recreation reserve, as being the best place for the trophy to be seen by the public.