Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA: 1861 - 1954) Friday 25 July 1919

MILLICENT.

July 23.

On Thursday evening about 20 townspeople assembled at the invitation of the Millicent Soldiers' Reception Committee at Miss Plunkett's tea rooms to meet Mr. J. V. Corigliano, a commissioned mechanician of the Royal Australian Navy, at present serving in the cruiser Melbourne. Other guests were Priv. Peter Corigliano and Priv. Hugh Agnew. The Corigliano brothers are sons of Mr. C. Corigliano, of Beachport, four of whose sons served abroad during the Great War. The Rev. D. Chapman presided. The warmth of the greeting had the rare effect of "loosening the tongue" of the representative of the silent navy, and when pipes were lit after a little repast the chief guest commenced to talk. Nearly two hours slipped away while he entertained the company with reminiscences of naval life. Mr. Corigliano served on the old Protector in the China war, long before an Australian naval unit came into existence. He has been connected with the navy for nearly 18 years, and during that time has steamed into almost every port in the Pacific, and from the Falkland Islands to the land of the midnight sun. He was one of a party of seven stokers (and the only South Australian amongst them) who went to England to fit themselves for service in the Australian warships, and "stood by" during the building of the Dreadnought Australia. He has had a most successful career, and now that he has attained commissioned rank he is on the threshold of a bright future. Mr. Corigliano was on H.M.A.S. Australia when she was rammed and severely damaged by the New Zealand in the North Sea. He told many tales of the Great War. Mr. Corigliano's heart and soul are in his calling, and what he had to say concerning the disabilities under which Australians have been working in the navy awakened sympathy, and a determination to do all that civilians could do to ensure just treatment for our sailors. The Rev. D. Chapman welcomed the guests to Millicent, and made reference to the head of the Corigliano family that was especially pleasing to the chief guest. Other speakers were Messrs. D. M. Slater, C. H. Davis, G. Willshire, J. B. Mitchell, G. Bone, H. J. Armitage, F. M. White, A. A. Bratchell, and G. Glen. Mr. Corigliano left for Adelaide on Friday morning, to meet his wife, who will return to Beachport with him.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77752327 (nla.gov.au)