Armistice Day event to mark centenary at Scarborough

Shane Alloway says it is scary to imagine what could have happened if France, Germany and Great Britain didn’t sign The Armistice 100 years ago. He’s part of a special commemoration in Redcliffe on November 10.

Shane Alloway, of Woodford, with Alpha. Picture: Chris Higgins

Shane Alloway says it is too scary a thought to imagine what could have happened if France, Germany and Great Britain did not sign The Armistice 100 years ago.

The Woodford man spent 20 years with the Australian Army infantry, serving in many conflicts on the front line.

“We would have lost a lot more good young men had that document not been signed,” Shane says.

“Along with civilian casualties.”

November 11 marks 100 years since the ceasefire was put in place. It was the start of the end of WWI.

To commemorate the milestone Brisbane North RSL District is holding a special event, organised with the help of the Redcliffe RSL.

It will include a re-enactment of the signing, starring students from Grace Lutheran College Rothwell, sounds of cannon fire, a skirmish, military vehicle displays, camels, a WWI campsite and a fly past.

It is the only major Armistice Day commemoration event planned for the Brisbane North RSL District.

Shane will be there in a Light Horse uniform with his waler horse Alpha.

Waler horses were among the first to be used by Light Horsemen in WW1.

They were specifically bred to cope with Australian conditions.

“Alpha is a crowd favourite at Redcliffe, he is 23 years old this year,” he says.

“You can trace his blood lineage to horses who helped in WWI. He is a special fella.

“One of my passions is to make sure the walers don’t disappear.”

For Shane, Remembrance Day is about remembering what “Australia stands for”.

“It is about the way we forged ahead. It was the war that united us as a nation,” he says.

The event is on at Jamieson Park, Reef Point Esplanade, Scarborough, on Saturday, November 10 from 10.30am-3pm.

There will also be food trucks and performances from the Army Rock Band.

Parking around the park is limited.

There will be free shuttle buses running from Kippa-Ring train station and Redcliffe Showground, via Lamington Drive, from 9.30am.

For more information about the event visit armisticeday.info