Today the nation stops to remember the sacrifice of those who took part in the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War 1.

ANZAC Day is one of Australia’s most important occasions, as it serves as a memorial for those brave soldiers whose lives were taken while serving their country.

In honour of the ANZACs, representatives from the Australian Army 7th Brigade based in Brisbane will take to the field before the Saturday night’s match between the Lions and Geelong to lead the ode and bugle salute, and help sing the Australian National Anthem.

There will also be a display in the Lion Park (located outside Gate 2) pre-game with various Australian Army vehicles including a Bushmaster and M77.

The Club would also like to take this opportunity to recognise those Fitzroy players who were killed on active duty during the Boer War, World War 1 and World War 2.*

BOER WAR

Name: Stan Reid
Career: 1897-98
Location / Detail of Death: Renshoogte near Middleberg, South Africa
Date of Death: 29/06/1901

WORLD WAR 1

Name: Thornton Clarke
Career: 1911
Location / Detail of Death: Armentieres, France
Date of Death: 19/07/1916

Name: Harry Collins
Career: 1912, 1915
Location / Detail of Death: Lihons, France
Date of Death: 10/08/1918

Name: Jack Cooper
Career: 1907-1915
Location / Detail of Death: Polygon Wood, Belgium
Date of Death: 20/09/1917

Name: Artie Harrison
Career: 1911
Location / Detail of Death: Bullecourt, France
Date of Death: 3/05/1917

Name: Arthur Jones
Career: 1914
Location / Detail of Death: Gallipoli, Turkey
Date of Death: 7/08/1915

Name: Tom McCluskey
Career: 1910
Location / Detail of Death: Paschendaele Ridge, France
Date of Death: 4/10/1917

Name: Sid O’Neill
Career: 1909
Location / Detail of Death: Walkers Ridge, Gallipoli, Turkey
Date of Death: 7/08/1915

WORLD WAR 2

Name: Tommy Corrigan
Career: 1922-28
Location / Detail of Death: Died of illness OAS at Heidelberg Hospital
Date of Death: 9/01/1943

Name: Fred Heintz
Career: 1931-33
Location / Detail of Death: Ambon, Indonesia
Date of Death: 20/02/1942

Name: Percy Roberts
Career: 1929, 1932
Location / Detail of Death: KIA
Date of Death: 3/08/1943

*Taken from the AFL’s official records

LEST WE FORGET

VFL Premiership
In 1916, Fitzroy were one of only four teams that competed in the VFL due to World War 1. Still, the Club claimed its sixth VFL premiership in bizarre circumstances, becoming the first and only club to win the ‘wooden spoon’ and the pennant in the same season. They lost their last nine games to finish last at the end of the 12-game home-and-away season with two wins and a draw, but, with all sides playing in the finals, they won three finals in a row to claim the flag. The players donated match payments and Fitzroy all profits to the ‘Patriotic Fund’.

Military Cross
In 1918, the sporting clubs of Fitzroy erected a War Memorial to commemorate the fallen. On 9 August, ex-player Captain Jack Loughnan, wounded at Bullecourt in 1916, was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the field.