Remembrance Day centenary poppy project display installed on Broadway Street

At 26 years old in 1915, he and his brother enlisted from the war office in Lockhart.

They were sent to the Western Front.

Ernest took the trenches, his brother joined the transport auxiliary. They returned home in 1919.

“He was gassed so he always struggled, talking was hard for him,” said Ernest’s granddaughter Sue Lamb.

Ms Lamb founded Junee’s poppy project, which has seen an installation of almost 4000 knitted and crocheted poppies fixed to the front facade of the old ANZ building.

With the combined 17mm of rain over the town this week, it may be shifted.

Jenny Morton of Junee’s Red Cross presented display to His Excellency the Governor of NSW David Hurley upon his visit last month.

“He said he was amazed by its colour and how its beauty really showed the community spirit,” said Ms Morton.

To commemorate the centenary of armistice on Sunday, the poppies will become the centre piece of the all-day celebration.

Four silhouette soldiers standing in the catafalque formation will join the poppies.

“During these services we tend to think of those who died on the battlefields, but we should also remember those who returned and had to live with the terrible effects of war,” said Ms Lamb.

“My dad was in the airforce, my brother and my husband were in the army, that’s why I got involved.”

To couple with the poppies, the CWA’s Kelly Shield entry has also been erected in the Annie’s Place window.

It includes three ceramic dolls to represent stretcher-bearer John Simpson and his donkey.

“They took about four months to make with all the clothes,” said dollmaker Anne Skinner.

“The hardest bit was the donkey. I had to make him over about four times but he kept looking like a cow.”