A SWAN Hill police officer and his brother have paid tribute to their grandfather for Anzac Day, 100 years after he returned to the district from Gallipoli.
Like many of the Anzacs, Private Alfred Ernest Morrison (1895*-1979) didn’t like to talk much about his wartime experiences.
Yet, he had an incredible story to tell, having departed for Gallipoli on March 24, 1915.
This was the discovery was made by Swan Hill police Leading Senior Constable Mick Lobé, Pte Morrison’s grandson, who only learned the story recently when looking over some documents left behind by his late uncle.
Among the documents was a wartime letter written by Pte Morrison to his mother back home in Murrabit.
“If you read his letter, the wording he chose was so matter-of-fact,” Ldg Sen-Constable Lobé said.
“He was a very strong character, lesser people would’ve folded over the events he would’ve seen and been involved in while he was there.”
Speaking to The Guardian along with his brother, Chris, Ldg Sen-Constable Lobé told of the renewed sense of pride he had for his grandfather after he’d read the letter.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (April 25).
