13th Battalion A.I.F. Flag

Plaque under flag

This silk Union Jack was presented to the 13th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces by the Ulster Association of New South Wales. The presentation was made on 22nd October 1914, by Mrs Martin McIlrath who handed the flag to the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Granville J Burnage, C.B., V.D.

It was used to mark the position of Battalion Headquarters at Liverpool, New South Wales; Broadmeadows, Victoria; on H.M.A.S. Ulysses, at Gaza, near Cairo, Egypt, and at Gallipoli, from the landing to the evacuation. At the request of the senior battalion officers the flag was brought back to Australia by Lieutenant Colonel Burnage for presentation to this Cathedral.

The presentation was effected on Easter Day 1916, during a special Divine Service, which was conducted by the Very Rev. H.K. Archdall, M.A. Dean of Newcastle in the presence of Military and Naval local units.

Restoration plaque

To the immortal memory of the 15 Officers and 385 Soldiers of the 13th Battalion A.I.F. who gave their lives at Gallipoli.

This flag laid up in this cathedral in 1916 has been restored.

Their Sacrifice - Our Heritage

'Lest we forget'

Restoration Committee 2000 - 2001 Neil Brown, President Raymond Brown, Secretary Roland Millbank, Treasurer 22nd April 2001.