Salvo's Startling Find of Historic Flag

Salvo's Startling Find of Historic Flag

In an extraordinary set of coincidences, an Australian Flag with the names of 27 Australian Diggers (26 from the 2/2 Field Regiment) has been handed into the Salvo's shop in Clyde North in Melbourne's southeast suburbs. The flag was in a rubbish bag of wet clothing found in a dumpster by a forager and when there was nothing of value to him took it to the Salvo's.
Volunteer worker Yvonne Ross when going through the contents thought it strange to find the flag and alerted her boss Kylie Baker to the find. Both agreed the flag may have some historical value. Taking the flag home to her ex-serviceman father to have a look at, Kylie's father Denis Holland noted the "2/2FLD REG" written on the flag.
This led to an internet search where our new website was the first site to come up. President Malcolm Fallon was contacted to ascertain were we still an active Association and informed of the find. After receiving some photos and a bit of detective work we were sure that the flag certainly related to the 2/2nd Field Regiment and the names and VX numbers all correlated. 
Fast forward to Friday 21 November and Association Historian Terry Cole and the President met with the Salvo's at the store where a formal handing over of the flag was conducted. In front of the Salvo volunteers, an emotional Denis Holland (RSL member at Springvale) formally handed the flag to the President for safe keeping.
A couple of speeches were made with the Association presenting a framed letter of appreciation to the shop recognising their diligence, thoughtfulness and care for the flag whilst in their possession. A small morning tea followed the presentation.
Attending from the Salvo's were Regional Manager Leigh Murphy, Chaplain Bronwyn Bethell, Flag finder Yvonne Ross, Store Manager Annette Camilleri, Ass. Manager Kylie Baker, store staff and shoppers, Mr Denis Holland and Mrs Sue Holland, The Association's President Malcolm Fallon and Historian Terry Cole.
The near 85-year-old flag is in good condition considering what it has been through with the names and VX number quite readable. 

So who wrote their names on the flag?

SX10747  SHAW, Jerrald
VX14413  PITTS, Charles
VX33128  CAMPBELL, Robert
VX35403  CRAIG, Sydney
VX36526  HOY, Alan
VX36993  HUGHES, William
VX37962  McMAHON, Robert
VX37998  BLAIR, Francis
VX39986 WILLIAMS, Frederick
VX43473  HOGAN, Daniel
VX44812  STAGG, Ernest
VX45203  GILLETT, Robert (non 2/2)
VX50217  MAHONEY, Athol
VX50243  CLANCY, Maurice
VX50373  MOORE, Robert
VX50663 SMITH, Kenneth
VX51245  LYALL, R. J.
VX51263  CARTER, William
VX51499  STEINDL, Anthony
VX51608  JONES, Joseph
VX51783  SUTTON, Frank
VX52059 MERCER, Malcolm
VX52421  DODD, Keith
VX53276  THOMPSON, Ronald
VX53760  BISHOP, Keith
VX53771   HOPKINS, Frederick
VX512919 ISAAC, Arnold

It goes without saying, if you have any info that may lead us to who held this flag for so many (80+) years we would love to hear from you.

The flag will find a place in the upcoming exhibition at The Shrine in 2026-27 and the Association will explore the best way to preserve the flag as part of our history.
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​The Association will be forever indebted to the Salvation Army and recognise and acknowledge the work volunteers perform within the community.

L-R: Association Historian Terry Cole, Flag "finder" Yvonne Ross, Mr Denis Holland, Mrs Sue Holland, President Malcolm Fallon, Store Asst. Manager Kylie Baker and Chaplain Bronwyn Bethell. ​Photo courtesy: Cranbourne Star newspaper (with permission).