The ‘Moreland Remembers’ exhibition documents the mounting strain placed on communities and individuals as World War I continued with no end in sight. As casualty numbers overseas continued to rise, families at home watched more of their loved ones leave to replace soldiers already lost and waited a painful amount of time to receive news of their fates. As items like paper and sugar became scarce, women increasingly wore black as a sign of mourning.
War weariness infiltrated communities as bad news kept accruing. Maude O’Loughlin, a Brunswick resident during the war, lost 2 of her 3 soldier sons to the war and her husband to an accident soon after.
Soldiers who did return home often brought terrible injuries, disease and PTSD with them. The Caulfield Military Hospital cared for many of these patients. Within Moreland, from 1915 to 1917 Glenroy’s Wiseman family mansions were the site of an infectious diseases hospital for soldiers still in training.
View the ‘Moreland Remembers – War weariness’ banner here.
About the ‘Moreland Remembers World War I’ exhibition:
The ‘Moreland Remembers World War I’ exhibition contained a series of 20 banners documenting experiences of World War I relating to the city of Moreland. It was presented for viewing by members of the public in Moreland City Libraries and community spaces during the month of April, 2015.
Access the series here.
Image credit: Caulfield Hospital ca 1916 – 1917. Victor Laidlaw. Source: State Library of Victoria, H84.356/58
