In July, Traf District News reported on the return of a Buln Buln East soldier’s bugle to the area. Another chapter in the story of the bugle, thought to have belonged to George Eyre, has emerged.
On August 9, the Warragul RSL held an event to remember George Eyre and share the next chapter in his story.
As previously reported, George Eyre enlisted in 1916 and was shipped to the Western Front. Eyre took with him a customised bugle. Unfortunately, he was killed in action in April 1917 and the bugle was lost. It was recovered when an Australian found it while in England and traced it back to Warragul. It was then donated to the Warragul RSL.
In July, Warragul RSL president Lynn Mizen was able to get in contact with Peter Eyre, the great nephew of George Eyre. George’s oldest brother, James had a son, George Herbert who also enlisted and served in World War I. George Herbert was shot and wounded in action and returned to Australia in 1919. In 1946, he and his wife, Hilda, had a son, Peter.
Peter and his wife Jenny attended the event and presented the Warragul RSL with a medal belonging to George ‘Bugle’ Eyre that Peter’s father had come into possession of. There will be a new display at the RSL which includes this medal.
Along with this news, there was also some other news. A WW1 historian, Tim Lysett, got in contact and believed the bugle to be commemorative and not a military issued bugle.
“There is no question that when the bugle was discovered in Norfolk in the early 1980s, that it was genuinely believed to be from the first World War and that the research conducted at that time to link it to George Eyre was done in absolute good faith,” Mizen said.
“Unfortunately, at this point in time, we cannot provide the evidence to prove that the bugle belonged to George Eyre, but nor can we prove that it didn’t. Further research and investigation is required and is underway,” she said.
Going forward, the bugle will be named the George Eyre Commemorative Bugle and will honour the Eyre family.
Lachlan Wilson from the Traralgon City Band played the bugle at the event, just as he did at the grave of Gerorge Eyre in France during the band’s European tour, honouring the memory and sacrifice of the fallen soldier.
Sarah and Anthony Lucas, also members of the Traralgon City Band’s tour, spoke at the event, recountering their experiences and paying tribute. Sarah called the opportunity to “honour those like George Eyre who have served and continue to serve [Australia]” a ‘privilege’.”
Sarah spoke highly of the experience .“To say we learnt a lot is an understatement,” she noted.
“We reflect on the fact that war does not just impact those who are fighting, the impact ripples through the towns, countries, families, friends and communities,” she continued.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss and Deputy Mayor Tricia Jones were also in attendance, with the latter receiving a personal thank you from RSL president Lynn Mizen for her involvement in the process.
