Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Brother of  30592 Gnr. Peter Matthew Larsen (/explore/people/95516)  and  2187 Pte. George Thomas Larsen (/explore/people/147453)

"SOLDIERS' HOME-COMING. Sergeant Hamilton and Private James Larsen.

An Eskdale correspondent writes: —The return to Eskdale of two local soldiers who had been wounded in tho Dardanelles operation — Sergeant Hamilton and Private James Larsen — was marked by an enthusiastic outburst of welcome on the part of the warm hearted people of this center. "Our boys" returned here on Monday evening, 30th ult. Two motor cars were specially hired to bring the two soldiers, also Private Larsen's parents and brothers, from Tallangatta. Over 300 people were out waiting the arrival of the  soldier boys. On their hovirig in sight, the Rifle Club fired a volley, and the local Brass Band, which was in good form, played a number of enlivening airs, including "Rule, Britannia," "Marseillaise," and "See the Conquering Heroes Come." On the cars pulling-up, the crowd gave lusty cheers, and the soldiers were surrounded and overwhelmed with salutations of welcome and congratulations on their safe return from the firing-line. Then Sergeant Hamilton (still lame from a bullet-wound in the knee) was lifted shoulder-high by Eskdale friends, while Private Larson was chaired by some old school-mates, and both were carried to the Eskdale Hotel, where they were treated to a champagne dinner — the first in the district. The spread was on Host Blanchfield's very best lines — and it would be superfluous to say anything more regarding its quality. Among the honored guests were Private Larsen's father and mother and brothers. The healths of the martial guests were most enthusiastically honored, and, when the guests rose to modestly respond, they were greeted with boisterous and long sustained cheering. At intervals, the diners were regaled with stirring patriotic airs rendered by the Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr, Baillie. After dinner, the soldier guests were carried in front of a procession to the Eskdale Hall, the Band playing an inspiriting march en route. The teachers of the Eskdale and Little Snowy Creek schools (from the charge of the latter Sergeant Hamilton enlisted) had the children nicely arranged, and, as the two heroes reached the lines, the children sang the National Anthem, accompanied by the Band, following this up by cheering the soldiers with juvenile gusto. The rest of the evening was spent in dancing, singing and recitations, the following ladies and gentlemen contributing to the harmony, viz., Miss M. F. Cross, Miss Spencer, Messrs. Davis, Bird, M. Cross and Beamish. A Supper-royal was provided by district ladies. The welcome of the two soldier heroes marked a red-letter day in Eskdale annals. Cr. Andrews presided." - from the Upper Murray and Mitta Herald 09 Sep 1915 (nla.gov.au)