Cup carries rare tale of joy from time of horror

ON SHOW: Peter Ball and Peter Polwarth proudly display the Tavoy Prisoner of War Camp Melbourne Cup.

Hell of a cup

POW survivor rode to victory with 'Weary'TAKING pride of place in the Bendigo RSL is a cup that carries stories many have taken to the grave.Buried during World War II, the small trophy made of scrap metal and complete with coconut base was recovered several years after the war ended and brought home to sit on a mantelpiece.It then spent 40 years in a bank vault in north-east Victoria – and its story has rarely been told.The story is of the Tavoy Prisoner of War Camp Melbourne Cup.At a time when jovial behaviour often resulted in death, a brave group of Australian POWs working on the Burma railway sought permission from their captors to uphold an Australian tradition and stage their own horse race.Solid, stronger prisoners were “horses’’ while their smaller, lighter mates rode piggy-back style.Seven races were run, including the main event, in what turned out to be the only “Melbourne Cup’’ held on the first Tuesday of November, 1942.The actual Melbourne Cup was held on Saturday during the war years, and in that year was not held until November 21.Prioners dressed in racing fashion, with some finding dresses for the occasion. Even the Japanese guards were swayed to back “Peanut’’ while the favourite, “Sweet Potato’’, was never in doubt.He won the race, held over one furlong (200 metres), by two yards.Sweet Potato was Bendigo man Wilfred “Wiff’’ Muir, engraved on the cup as “Weif Muir”.His jockey was Bluey Campbell of Leongatha, the owner Captain Lovett and trainer Ron Wells.Their prize was created by a Dutch jeweller and prisoner of war, who crafted together scrap metal and coconut despite the confines of hell. The handwritten fields were hidden behind the bookie’s shaving mirror and brought home. Both the winner and bookie faced death if the trophy or fields were found in their possession.The rare pieces of wartime history are now on loan to the Bendigo RSL.The collection has been carefully curated by Peter Ball and Peter Polwarth of the Bendigo RSL – who are thrilled at being able to display a unique piece of Australian history.RSL president Cliff Richards yesterday said the remarkable story needed to be told – particularly as memorabilia from the POW Melbourne cup was concealed because of the threat of death.“The uniqueness was it was kept hidden, under the threat of death,’’ he said.“It brings back so much Australian history.“In the horrors of war men found time to enjoy traditional Australian sporting activities. It could have caused death, yet they continued with a proud Australian tradition.’’Mr Richards said the RSL was proud to display what he believed to be the only Melbourne Cup issued on the first Tuesday in November that year.“For Australia itself and the people of Bendigo, we will proudly display the Melbourne Cup,’’ he said.“It was run on the traditional first Tuesday of the month and there may have been some interesting horses and jockeys, but it was done with the same spirit and in knowing the danger to lives it could have had.’’

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Cup carries rare tale of joy from time of horror

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