CBC PAY RESPECT TO FALLEN OLDBOYS

CBC PAY RESPECT TO FALLEN OLDBOYS

Joseph Leo Skene , 3rd Brigade and CBC old collegian, was one of the first to land at the small rocky outcrop at Ari Burnu. Surviving the first landing and digging in with the rest of the troops, Skene lost his life in heated battles along the ridges of Shrapnel Valley. The beautiful cemetery nestled in amongst the shrub contains the grave of Private Skene.

The August offensive at Lone Pine was a big push by the Allies to gain important ground. This area saw heavy and bloody fighting, the small distance between the trenches, restricting the battle to hand-to-hand combat and grenades. It was in this area at Lone Pine that seven Victorian Crosses were awarded. Roland Edward Driscoll, 23rd Battalion and CBC old collegian is buried in the pristine cemetery at Lone Pine.

We stood around the graves and placed a CBC key ring on the tombstone. In a heart-rending speech, a 16 year old current student of CBC paid tribute to these fine men, eulogizing the virtues of this generation of Australians.