Our History
A Short Resume of the early days of the Wollongong RSL sub-Branch
Click the Link below to view the early history of the City of Wollongong RSL sub-Branch. Written by sub-Branch Secretary Corporal Sydney Brydon Wells, this historical document provides details of the formation of the sub-Branch in 1919 through to August 1940. Sydney passed away not long after committing his memories to paper.
The document provides not only an an insight into life in Australia at that time and the support that was given to WW1 veterans, but also the considerable efforts taken to establish the sub-Branch and to find a “home” for meetings and support of WW1 Veterans in Wollongong. This “home” initially had a few different locations but as you will read it eventually found its way to Church Street Wollongong and a magnificent clubhouse was built for the benefit of all members, which now proudly stands as the City Diggers Club.
September 10th, 1915
At the Soldiers Club in Sydney on the 10th of September 1915, Brigadier E.T. Wallack suggested to a number of Returned Soldiers that they should form an Association. The suggestion was warmly received and before the men dispersed, the Returned Soldiers Association was formed with Brigadier Wallack as its first Patron.
This Returned Soldiers Association was the foundation upon which the present Returned & Services League was built.
It is believed that Mr. Sam Dally was the first serviceman to return to Wollongong from World War 1, around Christmas 1915, and from that date onwards the Association undertook the task of arranging “welcomes” to all the servicemen upon their return.
November 4th, 1916
The Federation of the various Returned Soldiers Organisations took place about September 1916, and it is interesting to note that at the meeting of the local Association held on the 4th of November 1916, the following motion was carried:
“That the Name of the Branch change from the ‘lllawarra Returned Soldiers Association’ to ‘Wollongong Branch Returned Soldiers Association’: – the elected Officers to carry on in their respective posts.”
December 2nd, 1916
One month later, on the 2nd of December 1916, elections for the forthcoming year were held and the following Office bearers were appointed:
President – Mr. J. J. Kelly
Vice-President – “Gunner” Graham
Trustees – Comrades Beatson, Figtree, Powell
May 30th, 1917
The first mention of the “Returned Soldiers & Sailors League” was at a meeting held on the 30th of May, 1917, with the Sub-Branch Secretary being requested to write to the R.S.A. in Sydney for further information. Later that year, at the 14th of December meeting, a motion is recorded:
Moved by Comrade Kelly
Seconded by Comrade Graham:-
“That this Association affiliate with the R.S. & S. L.”
February 19th, 1918
There the matter stood until the meeting of the 9th of February 1918, when Comrade Hutchison moved and Comrade Graham seconded:
“That the R.S.A. of Wollongong affiliate with the New South Wales Branch of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League of Australia”. This was carried.
February 14th, 1919
Hence from these early meetings the present City of Wollongong Sub-Branch came into being, and the generally accepted date of its formation is the· 1st of January 1917.
However, the original Charter was not issued until the 14th of February 1919, making the City of Wollongong Sub-Branch one of the oldest continuous sub-Branch’s in NSW