This photograph comes from Museums Victoria, and is labelled Armoured Car in a Street, Victoria, 1914-1918. Part of the description offers the suggestion that it may have been taken in Playne Street, Frankston. I assumed it was connected to a procession or fundraiser in World War One, and with some research on Trove I found it was an exhibit in the Pageant of Loyalty held in Frankston on September 1, 1917.
Imitation tank from the Pageant of Loyalty, Frankston, September 1 1917
Museums Victoria https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/2098766
The Pageant of Loyalty was a fundraiser for the Red Cross effort, to augment the fund for the erection of an honor roll in the town bearing the names of locally enlisted soldiers, and to help the Wattle Club and Australian Club of Frankston, each of which entertains men going to and returning from the war (1). One of the ways that money was raised was through the sale of a beautiful souvenir [which had] been prepared and will be on sale for 1s. It is entirely original, and contains, besides other treasures, a list of the names of the boys who have gone from the district to fight for us. Everyone should make a point of obtaining one at least of these books (2).
The main attraction was a spectacular procession (3) which started at the Frankston State School, wound it's way around the main streets of Frankston and ended up at Frankston Park. There were some special guests, of which the most distinguished were their Excellencies, Sir Arthur and Lady Stanley - Sir Arthur being the Governor of Victoria (4). The Prime Minister, Mr Hughes (5) was also scheduled to attend, but was unexplained absence, however the local M.L.A., Mr Downward (6) was in attendance. The Shire of Frankston and Hastings was represented by Cr Oates, in the absence of the Shire President, Cr Watts (7).
That's a brief overview of the day and we will have a look in more detail how the day unfolded. The picturesque little town (8) of Frankston was en fete for the pageant - The display of bunting in Frankston had never before been equalled, flags of every color and design being suspended on ropes hung at short, intervals across the street, while the front of the business places were also decked with flags and colored ribbons (9).
That's a brief overview of the day and we will have a look in more detail how the day unfolded. The picturesque little town (8) of Frankston was en fete for the pageant - The display of bunting in Frankston had never before been equalled, flags of every color and design being suspended on ropes hung at short, intervals across the street, while the front of the business places were also decked with flags and colored ribbons (9).
Troops from Langwarrin leading the procession.
Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#
The procession, which was reported to be a mile and a half long (10) started as we said at the Frankston State School, hence to Davey Street, Bay Street, Playne Street (where the photo of the tank was taken) to the Railway Station, Wells Street, back to Bay Street and onto Frankston Park (11). It was lead by exhibits organised by the Langwarrin Military Camp - a Band, headed by pony mascotte; Infantry guard, 2 platoons, under Sgt Tarrant; Army Medical Corps, 3 stretcher squads, cyclist orderly, ambulance waggon and field dressing station, under Staff Sgts Cox and M'Henry. Army Service waggon, 8 horse team, and display of stores, arranged by Supply Officer Nedwell and Transport Sgt Fishwick. Home Service Kitchen, in charge of Sgt Beer. Blacksmith's Forge, Farrier Sgt Blackway. Y.M.C.A. in charge of Mr M. J. Blok (12).
Following these were the community groups and floats - Mornington Red Cross, Britannia (Soldiers and Sailors), Britannia (The Allies) - The United States and Britannia were both represented allegorically by classically garbed ladies wearing helmets and draped with the national flags (13); Frankston Red Cross, Frankston Tent of the Independent Order of Rechabites. Next to come were various tableaux showcasing aspects of Australia's history which included Australian Home, Wounded Soldiers, Young Australia, Bourke and Wills and Captain Cook. This was followed by other exhibits such as the Fire Brigade, Company Red Cross Nurses, Company of Boy Scouts, Bugle Band, School children and about 50 cars of the Volunteer Motor Corps with wounded and returned soldiers (14). Another highlight was Loads of pretty girls in fancy costumes, embowered in greenery, wattle bloom and heath (15).
Some of the pretty girls in fancy costumes in the pageant.
Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#
The procession ended with the whole winding up with a veritable "Tank," with swivel turret and guns, which were fired at intervals along the route, and created no end of wonderment to the youngsters (16). The tank was built at the Langwarrin Miltary Camp. When the procession arrived at Frankston Park a number of speeches were made, prayers were offered for the troops serving their Country and the National Anthem and the hymn, O God, our help in ages past, were sung. The Governor, Sir Arthur Stanley's speech focused on our connection to and love of the Empire, the need to unite in the cause of liberty, equality and fraternity and the fight for freedom. You can see a report of the speeches, here.
Of course there were many school children present and they had a special treat as during the speeches, the children were marched off to the Anglican Sunday School ground, where Mrs. Deane and Staff Sgt Cox, assisted by a detachment of the Army Medical corps, provided them with the good things so liberally contributed, and which had previously been prepared in bags by a body of workers. 500 bags of cakes, fruit and lollies vanished in the onslaught (17). The newspapers reported that the pageant was a brilliant display (18) and the afternoon's display was very entertaining, creditable to the organisers, and financially successful, much money being collected by ladies and secured by sales of souvenirs (19).
I wonder if this tank inspired the Tank Tour around Victoria and New South Wales in 1918? In that year, the Commonwealth Government sought to raise 40 million pounds through the Seventh War Loan. Each state was allocated an amount they needed to raise - Victoria's share was £13,500,000 and each Victorian Municipality was given a quota to raise money, based on valuations and population etc. One of the ideas to encourage members of the public to subscribe to the War Loan was to have a imitation Tank tour the countryside where at each stop people would hopefully be inspired to subscribe. This idea had also been used in England and the United States the previous year, but were they inspired by the Pageant of Loyalty tank? I have written about this tank tour, and there are photographs of the tanks, in another of my blogs, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years, read it here.
The Tank
Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#
This is the photograph that confirmed that the Museums Victoria photograph at the top of this post, was the veritable tank of the Pageant of Loyalty, which caused no end of wonderment to the youngsters who saw it.
Trove list I have created a list of articles on the Pageant of Loyalty on Trove. You can access it here. All the articles referred to in this post are on the list.
Sources
(1) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.
(2) Mornington Standard September 1, 1917, see here.
(3) Punch August 30, 1917, see here.
(4) Sir Arthur Stanley (1875-1931) and Lady Stanley (nee Margaret Evelyn Evans Gordon). he was Governor of Victoria from 1914 until January 1920. Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here. Lady Stanley was the first President of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian division. Read about the formation of this branch, here, in The Age of August 22, 1914.
(5) Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes (1862-1952) read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
(6) Alfred Downward (1847 - 1930). Member for the seat of Mornington in the Legislative Assembly from 1894 to 1929. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member
(7) Shire of Frankston and Hastings - William James Oates, Shire President 1915, 1918, 1931 and 1944. He was defeated after 34 years on the council in August 1944, at the end of term as Shire President. He died in 1958, aged 82 and is buried in the Frankston Cemetery. Cr Watt - I believe this is James Morice Watt, who was an orchardist, from Hastings. He was Shire President in 1917. He died in 1932, aged 67, you can read his interesting obituary here, in the Frankston and Somerville Standard of February 13, 1932.
(8) The Argus September 3, 1917, see here.
(9) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.
(10) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.
