Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women

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The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women was an ex-service association whose membership was open to any person who had served in the Australian armed forces irrespective of when, where or how they served, and thus differentiating the Australian Legion from other veterans' organisations of the time that had more restrictive membership criteria, primarily the RSL. The Australian Legion adopted the motto "For All Who Serve".

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The Legion was formed in 1944 however it was an amalgamation of existing ex-services associations, one of which dated back to 1919 (see below). The Legion name was adopted to reflect the ex-services' associations of similar name in Great Britain, the United States of America and other allied nations.

The Legion was structured as individual State Branches incorporated under the relevant State Acts and coordinated by a National Council of State Branch representatives. State Branches formed Sub-Branches in major cities and towns and its activities included veteran welfare, social events, advocacy and policy submission to government. Most Legion State Branches were registered charities.

Sub-Branches typically formed local social clubs providing licensed bar, gaming and sport facilities and, due to legal reforms in the 1950s, were forced to become separate entities from the veterans' association. Most of the highly-profitable Legion Clubs provided finances for the Legion Association in the early years however most ceased to donate funds for veterans' charitable causes and merely provided a room for their collocated Legion Sub-Branch to conduct administrative activities.

The Legion's National Council met annually to coordinate policies and make submissions to the Federal Ministers and government on matters affecting the ex-service community. The first Federal Conference held on

The Legion's National Council / Federal Council ceased to meet by 2010. State Branches and Sub-Branches have now closed or amalgamated with other organisations. The NSW Branch of the Legion formally merged with RSL NSW on 27 September 2022 with its remaining Sub-Branches becoming entities under the RSL NSW structure.

Origins of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women

The Legion was formed in 1944 from the amalgamation of several existing organisations, primarily the NSW Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Services' Association and the various State Branches of the Demobilised Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Association. [1]

Demobilised Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Association

The Demobilised Soldiers’ Association was founded on 24 March 1919 in Melbourne originally by and for AIF recruits who had enlisted for overseas service but had not embarked for Europe before the armistice was signed and therefore ineligible to join RSSILA (called demobbers).

The NSW Branch of the Demobilised Soldiers’ Association was formed on Tuesday 17 February 1920 at the YMCA Hall, 325 Pitt St, at a meeting presided by Colonel J. Lamrock, himself a returned soldier but as Commandant of the Liverpool AIF camp was aware of the demobber’s plight (being ineligible to join the RSL as they had not deployed to the theatre of war before the Armistice was signed). The meeting elected Mr R. Weaver (MLA) as the first NSW State Branch President.

A major purpose of the Association was to further the rights of their members, who had enlisted in the AIF but who were disadvantaged by the prioritisation of those returning from war in regard to repatriation employment, pensions, war service homes and other benefits.  Having achieved much of its objectives in the 1920s, some State Branches of the Association are reported to have fallen into ‘recess’ until WW2 when they were revived nationwide as the Demobilised Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Association of Australia to pursue similar objectives for the new generation of forgotten volunteers.

2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association

The Second Australian Ex-Service Men’s Association was founded in 1941 in Queensland originally by and for "returned" WW2 personnel wanting their own Association separate from the RSL and Diggers’ Associations. However, the NSW Branch and other State Branches would later declare membership open to “…any discharged servicemen or women who are not eligible to join any other league” and disassociate from the Queensland Branch over this issue.

According to Minute Books, the NSW Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association was originally established as the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen at a meeting of fifteen men at 166 Phillip St Sydney on 20 October 1942 (the founding committee being President R.J. Griffiths, Secretary J.M. Gibb, Treasurer T. Lawson) and had immediately sought to combine many of the various ex-service associations that had begun to form during the war. However, at a meeting in Sydney on Tuesday 3 February 1943, this entity met with the Queensland Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association and the NSW entity continued as the NSW Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association with the same committee (President R.J. Griffiths, Secretary J.M. Gibb, Treasurer T. Lawson).

A meeting on 3 February 1943 meeting agreed to immediately open an office at Twyford House, 17 Castlereagh St, Sydney, which later became the original address of the Legion and was subsequently purchased through funds raised by Legion members.

Formation as the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women

According to Minute Books, in February-March 1944 the NSW Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association (under founding President R.J. Griffiths) formally disassociated itself from the founding Queensland Branch and sought to organise and establish a new association with state branches across Australia in its preferred model that was fully inclusive of all ex-service people irrespective of where and how personnel served in the Australian armed forces. The NSW Branch subsequently held member meetings to establish a new constitution with those aims:

"...That by reason of the exclusion of a large section of discharged personnel from membership under the constitution held by Queensland, this Association holds that the ideals for which it was founded can only be achieved by independent action""Nevertheless we will be pleased to co-operate with Queensland if the interests of ex-servicemen in general can truly be served." 7 March 1944

After disassociating itself from the Queensland Branch, the NSW Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association was briefly known as the Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association for several months while developing its new constitution. On ANZAC Day, 25 April 1944 at a meeting in Melbourne, the Victorian Branch of the Demobilised Sailors Soldier and Airmen's Association of Australia (signed by K. Logan and others) and the NSW-based Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association (signed by R.J. Griffiths and others) agreed to amalgamate and establish the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women across all Australian States:

"MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT made this twenty fifth day of April one thousand nine hundred and forty four BETWEEN Victorian Branch of Demobilised Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Association of Australia (incorporated in Victoria under the Companies Act 1938) of the one part AND the Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association (formerly known as the 2nd Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association) of the other part WHEREAS each of the parties hereto are convinced that the interests and welfare of all servicemen and ex-servicemen and women cannot be advanced unless they unite in one body and with one voice throughout Australia. Now it is hereby agreed as follows:-

  1. Each of the said Associations hereby combine and amalgamate into an Association in the States of New South Wales and Victoria under the name and style of the "Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women" more shortly to be known and described as the "Australian Legion" with and upon the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association annexed hereto.
  2. That, with the written consent of the parties hereto, any other Association of ex-servicmen may become a member of and amalgamate with the Australian Legion.
  3. In relation to the Branches of the parties hereto in each state, the following provisions shall apply:-
    1. In the State of New South Wales the Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association shall forthwith apply for its registration as an association not for profit under its Companies Act under the name of the Australian Legion which shall thereupon be the New South Wales Branch of the Australian Legion. The Australian Ex-Servicemen's Association may in its discretion amalgamate with the New South Wales Branch of Demobliised Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Association of Australia.
    2. In the State of Victoria, Victorian Branch of the Demobilised Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Association of Australia shall forthwith and without any delay proceed to change its name to "Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women" and adopt the Memorandum and Articles of Association annexed hereto, and immediately thereupon shall be entitled to act and proceed as the Victorian Branch of the Australian Legion.
    3. In the States of South Australia and Western Australia the parties hereto shall forthwith and without delay apply for and procure the registration of the Australian Legion as an incorporated association under the local laws. Immediately upon such incorporation, the Australian Legion so formed in each State shall admit to its membership each interstate branch of the parties hereto upon the request of their management committees. The Australian Legion so forjmed upon the adherence of any one or more such interstate Branch shall be the State Branch in that State of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women."
    4. In the State of Queensland, the N.S.W. Branch of the Australian Legion shall register as a foreign company.
    5. In the State of Tasmania, the Victorian Branch of the Australian Legion shall register as a foreign company, and shall invite each section of the Demobilised Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Association of Australia to become a member thereof, and shall upon acceptance admit that section to membership of the Australian Legion in that State. In the event of any other section declining the invitation, the section applying for membership shall be the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women." ... [Memorandum of Agreement, 25 April 1944]

According to Federal Conference Minutes of 7 April 1945, the Victorian delegate advised that a Conference had been called to wind up the Demobilised Soldiers' Association matters and that 4 States decided to amalgamate with the Australian Legion whilst two States had stayed out.

NSW Branch Formation

On 9 May 1944, a Special Committee Meeting of the NSW Branch resolved to enact the Memorandum of Agreement:

"That the name of the Association be the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women" and "that application be made to the Chief Secretary for the registration of the Association so named as a charity under the Charitable Collections' Act." 9 May 1944

On 1 June 1944, a joint meeting of the Committees of the NSW Branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women and the NSW Branch of the Demobilised Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Associations resolved:

"...that the members of the D.S.S. & A. Assoc. of Aust. (NSW Branch) become financial members of the newly-formed Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women... and that the two associations are hereby amalgamated under the name and constitution of the Aust. Legion... and that all the funds, assets and records of the DSSAAA (NSW Branch) be forthwith transferred to the Aust. Legion..." 1 June 1944

On 18 July 1944, the First Annual General Meeting of the NSW Branch of the Australian Legion, chaired by President R.J. Griffiths, heard that "24 Sub-Branches have been formed and are functioning efficiently."

On 10 October 1944, the NSW Branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women was formally incorporated under the NSW Companies Act 1936 as a Company Limited by Guarantee Not-for-Profit.

Victorian Branch Formation

In 1944, the Victorian Branch of the Demobilised Sailors Soldiers and Airmen's Association of Australia changed its name to "Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women" and adopted the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Australian Legion.

[information required]

South Australian Branch Formation

Delegates of the South Australian Branch were present at the first Federal Conference of the Australian Legion held in August 1944.

[information required]

Western Australian Branch Formation

The Western Australian Branch of the Australian Legion was formed in 1944.

[information required]

Queensland Branch Formation

During 1944, The Australian Legion had been created by several State Branches of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association which had disassociated themselves from the Queensland Branch of the 2nd Australian Ex-Service Men's Association due to its restrictive membership criteria.

According to Minutes of the first Federal Conference on 30 August 1944, a delegate reported that he had received a letter from the Demobilised Soldiers Association ..."enquiring re the possibility of forming a Branch of the Legion in that State [Queensland]" and the meeting agreed to obtain reports on the existing Ex-Servicemen's Associations in Queensland.

According to Federal Conference Minutes of 7 April 1945, the NSW Branch sent two delegates to a meeting called in Brisbane in December 1944 when the Queensland Branch was established. According to the First Annual Report of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women, the first committee took office on 18 December 1944 and included President C.W. Brown, Vice Presidents T. McG. Skea and A.V. Warnes, Treasurer K.A. McGrath and Secretary C.S.Collins. There were 40 members at inception but rapidly grew to 800 members by 30 June 1945.

[information required]

Tasmania Branch Formation

The first Federal Conference of the Australian Legion held in Melbourne on 14 October 1944, resolved:

"That this meeting receives with gratification the request by the Tasmanian Association formerly known as the Demobilised Sailors', Soldiers' & Airmen's Association, but now known as the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women (Tasmanian Branch) for authority to amalgamate and be part of this Federal Council and this Federal Council approves of that Branch incorporating and being the Branch in Tasmania of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women, subject to an upon the condition that upon incorporation it shalll forthwith enter into the agreement hereinbefore in these Minutes referred to."

According to Federal Conference Minutes of 7 April 1945 held in Sydney, The Tasmanian Branch was incorporated under the Companies Act as from 28 February 1945 and that the legal formalities of transfer from the DSSAAA to the Legion is continuing.

Federal Council Formation

On 30 August 1944 the first formal meeting of inter-state delegates was held at Australia Hotel, Sydney "TO FORMULATE A TEMPORARY FEDERAL EXECUTIVE OF THE AUSTRALIAN LEGION". The meeting was attended by delegates of the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian Branches and the first Federal Executive positions were allocated to Acting Federal President M. Kelly (Vic), Acting Federal Secretary D.J. Newlands (SA), Acting Federal Vice President B.J. McDonald (NSW) and Acting Federal Treasurer W.J. Allen (Vic).

The first Federal Conference was held in Melbourne on 14 October 1944.

The Legacy of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women

The Legion's State Branches declined in membership since the 1970s and by 2016 most had formally or informally dissolved or amalgamated with other associations. The National Council of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women ceased meeting by 2010 as many of the State Branches dissolved.

References to the National Council were written out of the NSW Branch Constitution in 2016.

Since the reforms of the 1980s, the membership policies of RSL nationwide now accept all ex-servicemen and women as equal, irrespective of how and where they served in the Australian armed forces. These changes within RSL Australia achieved the core objective for the establishment of the Legion in 1944 as well as the core motivation of the demobbers to establish their own organisation in 1919.

NSW Branch merger with RSL NSW

On 27 September 2022, the NSW Branch of the Legion formally merged with RSL NSW with all remaining Legion Sub-Branches being offered full RSL Sub-Branch status if they agreed to meet the constitutional requirements of RSL NSW, otherwise being offered the opportunity to become "Legion Chapters" of other nearby RSL Sub-Branches.

All assets of the NSW Branch of the Legion were transferred to RSL NSW and the RSL NSW agreed to "Permanently publicly recognise and celebrate the Legion (NSW Branch), its sub-branches and its members as part of the history and legacy of the RSL NSW".

The original Incorporation Certificate of the NSW Branch of the Australian Legion dated 10 October 1944 was presented to RSL NSW upon merging on 27 September 2022.

Victorian Branch...

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South Australian Branch...

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Western Australian Branch...

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Queensland Branch...

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Tasmanian Branch...

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Relationship to Other Organisations

Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs

The "Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women" is a separate and unrelated entity from the "Australian Legion of Ex-Service Men's Clubs", the latter being an association of independent ex-service social clubs (an association of independent member clubs, not an association of real person members). On 19 Sep 1944 in The Sun, p.5 'No Connection', it was written that "The Secretary of the Legion of Ex-Service Men's Clubs, Mr Frank P. Mannix, said today his organisation had no connection with the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women". [2]

Formed in 1926, [3] the Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Clubs of New South Wales, later that year the Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Clubs (though still a NSW organization), as a peak body to represent the hundreds of ex-servicemen's clubs scattered throughout the State. It was primarily concerned with matters affecting the lives of veterans of The Great War, such as pensions, employment, health care and housing. One of its first, and most enduring, innovations was the installation of a "Lamp of Remembrance" in each club to commemorate fallen soldiers. [3]

Office holders in 1926 were B. L. Smith, president; J. H. Cask, hon. secretary; H. E. Lording, treasurer; vice-president Willingham, and councillors Hart and Rushbrooke.

Ernest Alfred Rushbrooke (c. 1897 – September 1952) [4] was hon. secretary 1927–1935. [4]

In 1927 W. Kennedy was elected president, D. Willingham and J. Morris vice-presidents, J. H. Cask hon. secretary and E. Rushbrooke his assistant; R. Lording hon. treasurer; and councillors W. McInnes and J. Paterson. [5] A later reference had that year's officers G. W. Patterson as president; E. A. Rushbrooke secretary; and J. S. Davidson treasurer. [6]

In 1927 the association organised the dedication ceremony for the newly erected Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney [7]

On 25 April 1928 at 4:30 a.m. a representative group from the Association laid a wreath on the Cenotaph, commemorating the time and date of the First AIF landing at Gallipoli, long recognised as Anzac Day. From this act of remembrance the Anzac Day "Dawn Pilgrimage", [8] later Dawn Service, evolved. [9]

In 1929 the Association became The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen's Clubs, [10] following the titles of similar organizations in Britain, France and America, and initiated the Anzac Day Dawn Service (as "Dawn Pilgrimage") in Sydney at the cenotaph. [11] The assembly of Units and procession to The Domain was organised quite separately by the RSSILA.

In 1932 it decided to affiliate with the League of Nations Union and protested the cut in War Service pensions.

In 1933 the Legion introduced hymns into the service, and for the first time a public address system was employed. [12]

Legion Cabs

The Legion Cab company in NSW was founded by the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women which successfully lobbied government for the allocation of 50 taxicab licenses to go to veterans in order to assist their employment. The Legion Cab Company employed veterans as drivers, mechanics, radio operators and administrative roles. [13]

Returned and Services' League (RSL)

Unlike the Returned and Services League (RSL) and its predecessor organisations prior to the 1980s, the Legion's membership was open to all ex-service members irrespective of how and where they served in the Australian armed forces. The RSL had only accepted as members those veteran soldier, sailor and airmen who had served in wartime operations overseas and its restrictive policies often caused anger with those ex-servicemen and women who were denied membership. During reforms in the 1980s, the RSL's policies were relaxed nationwide and equal membership of the RSL became open to all ex-service members. On 27 September 2022, the New South Wales Branch of the Legion formally merged with the RSL NSW.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Minutes of General Meeting and Committee. The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women (NSW). 1945.
  2. ↑ "The Sun (Sydney), Tue 19 Sep 1944, p.5, 'No Connection'". www.nla.gov.au. 19 September 1944. Retrieved 10 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 1 2 "Returned Soldiers' Clubs". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 27, 629. New South Wales, Australia. 24 July 1926. p. 17. Retrieved 6 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  4. 1 2 "Death of Mr. E. A. Rushbrooke". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 35, 798. New South Wales, Australia. 15 September 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 5 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Returned Sldiers; Clubs". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 27, 854. New South Wales, Australia. 14 April 1927. p. 16. Retrieved 6 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Anzacs March in Drizzling Rain". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) . Vol. XIII, no. 30. New South Wales, Australia. 26 April 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Cenotaph Ceremony". The Sun (Sydney) . No. 5250. New South Wales, Australia. 5 September 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Dawn Pilgrimage". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XIV, no. 9. New South Wales, Australia. 9 April 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 5 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Scenes at the Cenotaph". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) . No. 15, 094. New South Wales, Australia. 26 April 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "Justice for Soldiers". The Labor Daily . No. 1563. New South Wales, Australia. 4 February 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "In New South Wales". The Recorder (Port Pirie) . No. 9, 333. South Australia. 26 April 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 5 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance". The St George Call . Vol. XXX, no. 16. New South Wales, Australia. 21 April 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2020– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Department of Veterans' Affairs Annual Report 2013-14" (PDF). www.dva.gov.au. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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