Anzac Day at Arcare Epping

Anzac Day is a memorable occasion for Elizabeth (Meida) Barclay, resident at Arcare Epping, whose husband Jack went to war in 1941 at the age of 24. She especially thinks about how brave Jack was. 

At the age of 100, Meida vividly remembers the day when she stood with her mother-in-law at the docks waiting for Jack’s ship to set sail. Jack didn’t know they were there, or that they waited from 9am – 2pm. Meida was 8 months pregnant at the time which made Jack’s departure even harder.

For the first six months after Jack left, Meida received and wrote may letters to her beloved Jack and sent photos of their baby son. Suddenly though, the letters stopped and Meida was informed that Jack was MIA and had been missing for 5-6 months. During this time she didn’t even know if he was dead or alive. Her mother-in-law was a great comfort for her through this difficult period.

Thankfully, Meida received the news that Jack was alive but had been captured as a POW in Singapore where he worked on the railway in Thailand – now known as ‘Hellfire Pass’.

During this time Meida only received five cards all consisting of the same words – ‘I’m well, don’t worry love Jack’

When Jack returned home from war his son was already four years old. The war had taken a toll on Jack and Meida thinks back to how much he suffered.

Meida made a beautiful wreath for the moving Anzac Day ceremony at Arcare Epping in memory of Jack and all the brave young men and women who fought so we could have a better life. 

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