Balmain Rowing Club honoured their oarsman who went to war as part of our annual Anzac day commemoration. Following a short service and laying of floral tribute off White Horse Point, our two crews participated in the Dardanelles dash between Rodd Point and Rodd Island. An Anzac breakfast was enjoyed back at the shed, then we stepped back in time by reading letters written by our oarsman from the front during WWl.
Dardanelles Eight
In 1915 BRC had eight or more oarsmen serving at Gallipoli. BRC’s captain at the time, Cornelius McNamara, as a witty morale boost writes in a letter to Alec Gillian Murphy that BRC had enough men over there to form a ‘Dardanelles Eight’.
In a profound letter from Stan Riorden, also at Gallipoli, he joins in the banter of forming a crew for the Dardanelles Eight, writing with great respect about racing against Turkish soldiers. With a bit of research I have identified our eight oarsmen who were at Gallipoli. Below is a copy of the letter from Stan along with the names and a few photos of our ‘Dardanelles Eight’.
Lest we Forget
Beverley - archivist@balmainrowingclub.com
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