Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Restoring Frame
My "Tribute to Delaney Brothers".
Restoring the Frame: A Tribute to the Delaney Brothers
In the quiet of memory, a frame stands—a portal to the past, a canvas for heroes. Its edges, weathered by time, cradle stories etched in sepia tones. And within its wooden embrace, the Delaney brothers find their place—a testament to courage and sacrifice.
Robert “Bob” Delaney—his name whispered like a prayer. The war had claimed him, leaving a void in the hearts of those who loved him. The Australian Army, in solemn recognition, bestowed this frame upon his parents, Anna “Maria” Brumby Delaney and her Whiskey Tom Delaney. Their grief, a river of tears, flowed through the wood, staining it with memory.
And yet, joy danced on the horizon. For John “Ceasar” Delaney, another son, returned—a phoenix from the ashes of war. His footsteps echoed through the halls, a melody of reunion. The frame bore witness to both loss and homecoming—a paradox etched in oak.
Leo and Wilma Delaney, custodians of memory, held the frame close tracing the lines of their legacy. And Michael & Alison Walsh, for keeping the frame’s flame alive.
And so, with reverence, we restore the frame. Each nail driven, each brushstroke—our tribute to the Delaney brothers. Robert's face, lost to time, will once again grace its borders. And as it hangs, pride will swell—a beacon for generations yet unborn.
Lest We Forget.

DELANEY, Private Robert,
2240, 4 Light Horse Regiment (15 Reinforcement Group).
Labourer, single,
Mother - Mrs Maria Delaney, Nirranda.
Enlisted 26 July 1915, age 18, Nirranda. Embarked HMAT A68 Anchises on 14 March 1916.
Transferred to 14 Battalion. Killed in action at Allonville on 31 May 1918:
Story
In early May 1918, German forces captured British and Australian prisoners who, under skillful questioning, revealed critical information. They disclosed that the headquarters (HQ) of the 3rd Division was located in Allonville, an Australian rest and training village. Additionally, they divulged that a Brigade HQ was situated at La Houssoye and another at Franvillers.
By the night of May 30, the 4th Division had replaced the 3rd. German artillery, using high bursting shrapnel shells, targeted Allonville. An airplane assisted in ranging the artillery accurately, dropping colored flares after the fourth shell to indicate the correct range. In the early hours of May 31, a high-velocity gun fired high-explosive shells into the village at approximately five-minute intervals.
At that time, the 4th Division had its headquarters and part of the 4th Brigade in Allonville. Two companies of the 14th Battalion were quartered in immense barns, one of which was also used as a picture theater for the 4th Divisional “Smart Set” of pierrots. Tragically, during the shelling, a shell burst in one of these barns, causing a beam supporting the roof to collapse. The entire roof and part of the walls fell onto the sleeping company. According to the history of the 14th Battalion, this incident resulted in the loss of thirteen lives and wounded fifty-six—making it the most costly shell-burst in the history of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
The next shell crashed into a neighboring barn, killing five and wounding twelve soldiers from the other company.
Buried Allonville Communal Cemetery, France - Grave
B.6. This Cemetery was used from August 1916 to February 1917, by the 39th Casualty Clearing Station,
Bernard Delaney

Robert "aka Bob" Delaney
WW1 Soldier
Info
DELANEY Robert
Birth
23 Oct 1897 • Nirranda, Victoria, Australia
Death
31 May 1918 • France
Name Private Robert Delaney Birth Place Nirranda, Moyne Shire, Victoria, Australia
Death Date 31 May 1918 Death Place France Cemetery Allonville Communal Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place Allonville, Department de la Somme, Picardie, France
Burial
1918 • Allonville, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France
Early in May 1918 the Germans captured some British and Australian prisoners who disclosed under clever questioning that the HQ of the 3rd Division was at Allonville, an Australian rest and training village and area. These careless soldiers also disclosed that a Brigade HQ was at La Houssoye and another at Franvillers. On the night of 30 May, by which time the 4th Division had replaced the 3rd, German artillery, firing high bursting shrapnel shells, was ranged on to Allonville by an aeroplane which, after the fourth shell, dropped coloured flares indicating that the range was correct. In the small hours of May 31 a high velocity gun fired a high explosive shell at about five minute intervals into the village. At that date the 4th Division had its headquarters and part of the 4th Brigade in the village. Two companies of the 14th Battalion were quartered in two immense barns, adjoining that used as a picture theatre for the 4th Divisional “Smart Set” of pierrots. The third or fourth shell burst in one of these barns bringing down one of the beams supporting the roof and causing the whole roof and part of the walls to collapse on the sleeping company. According to the history of the 14th Battalion, this shelt killed thirteen men and wounded 56 - the most costly shell-burst in the history of the AIF. The next crashed into the neighbouring barn and, exploding on the floor, killed five and wounded twelve of the other company.
Soldiers of the 4th Light Horse Regiment
My late father, Mick Delaney's Notes
It is significant that more than 20 members of the regiment came from Warrnambool and the surrounding district, at least eight of them being among the regiment’s original volunteers.
“They included the unit’s first regimental medical officer, Major Macknight and three who were killed or died of wounds — troopers Clifford Phillips, Herbert Young and our beloved Robert Delaney.
Colourised Picture
Lest we Forget,