The 38th Infantry Battalion’s King’s Colours were returned to Bendigo in a ceremony at the Soldiers Memorial Museum in Pall Mall on Friday.
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The colours were in the custody of the Army after they were were removed from the All Saints Cathedral in June.
President of the 38th Infantry Battalion John Munro said is was fantastic to see the colours returned.
“They’re home, we’re they should be. The people of Bendigo deserve them,” he said.
“We’ve got our centenary coming up in March next year and there’s no better place to have these colours than in Bendigo for the centenary.
“There was a bit of talk of them going to Shrine (of Remembrance in Melbourne) but we didn’t want that to happen. We wanted them here where they belong.”
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Biedermann, of the 8th/7th Battalion, said the Army only held onto the colours for safekeeping.
“The Army removed colours because the church was being sold into private property,” he said.
“These colours belong to Bendigo. It’s the rightful place for these colours to live. That’s where the soldiers who served under them came from.”
Lieutenant Colonel Biedermann, said it was up to Bendigo to decide where the colours would reside.
“It’s up to guys like John who served under these colours to determine where they should go. That’s how should be,” he said.
“They were originally in the church because they had been interred (or retired) there.
“They are meant to be interred into spiritual place or a place of significance to where they came from.
“That was determined to be her (at the Soldiers Memorial Museum). This museum is absolutely splendid.”
Mr Munro said Bendigo’s 38th Battalion was first formed in March, 1916.
“It was out at the Epsom racecourse but disease went through camp and a lot of blokes who were crook were taken away,” he said.
“The fitter ones were sent to other units, so was made up of reinforcements.”
Since then thousands of Bendigo soldiers have served under the colours.