A special moment for the Torquay RSL after placing a headstone for world war one veteran Sydney Barker.
The Jan Juc born veteran – who served in France before being shot in the face – lived in Torquay after returning to Australia, and was buried in an unmarked grave when he died in 1974.
The grave contained not only Baker, but his wife and one-day old son Sydney.
Torquay RSL’s Lyle Raison said marking Barker’s grave was part of a project to locate the burial sites of World War One veterans buried in the region.
“Our search for unmarked WW1 graves in local cemeteries in this region was well worthwhile,” he said.
“Assisted and encouraged by the Bellbrae Cemetery Trust members and with the generous support of Buckle Stonemasons, Geelong, Torquay RSL is proud that Private Sydney Barker, is now recognised.”
Mr Raison said there were a number of reasons that soldiers across the region did not have marked graves, including many who simply did not want to be linked to their time in the war.
He thanked the many groups and people involved in finding the grave and marking it with the new grave stone.
