Moora Historical Society President Kaye Lewis, made an extraordinary discovery in her pantry one day finding a sword-bayonet from World War 1.
The original owner of the weapon was Private Charles James Alphine Clinch and despite previous tenants of the house the bayonet had remained hidden.
“It had been in the house for some time, since the First World War, I found it up in the pantry behind some empty dripping tins,” she said.
“I’ve had it looked at by someone with authority and they tell me it’s definitely a World War one sword.”
Private Clinch is in fact one of the best documented Anzacs in Moora’s history thanks to a diary of his service.
Clinch signed up at the age of 19 in the Moora post office in February 1917, and was assigned to the 19th light horse regiment.
While in training he was transferred to the 10th Light Horse at Camp Claremont.
While training at the Blackboy camp he took part in a tug of war against the Infantry and twisted his knee an injury that would follow him on campaign.
In November 1917, he left Australia experiencing terrible seasickness on the way and landed in Port Suez.
On the way to the Moascar camp, Pvt Clinch fell and twisted his knee again.
The diary details his service in the Palestine campaign including his reaching Jerusalem in June 1918.
Bouts of measles and Malaria put Pvt Clinch out of action during the campaign and he would continue to have returning bouts of malaria after the war.
On November 11, 1918 Pvt Clinch gave his account of the troops reaction to the Armistice.
“News that Germany has signed an armistice of 36 days. The troops have gone mad having a great time shooting rockets off and kicking kero tins about making a hell of a row,” he wrote.
The most heartbreaking entries are when the troops are heading home and have to part with their horses.
On February 19 he wrote: “We handed over all our A Class horses today at 10am. Good luck to our poor old pals.”
February 24, “We took all our C Class horses up to the hills to be shot today. Poor old pals have done their part and well done too.”
Returning home on the “Ellinger” in March 1919, Pvt Clinch was hospitalized for a time for malaria before returning to Moora.
In 1939 he married Jean McKenzie and had 3 children, he was Captain of the Moora Rifle club in 1928, a member of the Moora marching band and Captain of the Moora Volunteer Fire Brigade.
