Sub-Branch & Club History

The Charter of membership for the Five Dock Sub-Branch was dated February 1918. It was formed under the ‘Branch of the League’ the Officials of the Returned Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia – NSW Branch.The initials RSL stand for Returned & Services League. The organisation was initially formed as a support group for Returned Service Personnel, their families and the families of those lost in the line of duty.

The RSL organisation itself was formed in 1916 when the first members of the 1 st AIF started returning to Australia after the Gallipoli Campaign. These soldiers realised that there was no assistance available to the families of the Diggers who had been killed in Gallipoli. These soldiers got together and formed an organisation to assist the families of their mates and those who returned the with shocking injured and disabilities, such as missing limbs, shell shock etc.

Since then, the RSL has become one of Australia/s largest support-based organisations, providing millions of dollars back into the community through hospitals, Retirement Homes, Charities, and Sporting Groups. It then merged in 1920 to become known as the Haberfield, Five Dock and Abbotsford RSL sub-branch.

The Sub-Branch Meetings were held in the Haberfield School of Arts. The earliest minute book located for year 1931. The first Sub-Branch ANZAC Service was held at Robson Park, Dobroyd Point. Work on the current building located at 66 Great North Road, Five Dock commenced in early 1957, after obtaining a Club License and purchasing the property for 3000 pounds.

The official opening of The Haberfield/Five Dock/Abbotsford R.S.S. & A.I.L.A was on 26 th July, 1958 by the Governor General Lieut. General Sir Eric Woodward. In September 1961 the premises was again renovated and was officially opened by the State President Mr William Yeo C.B.E of the R.S.L Memorial Hall and Ballroom.In 1999 Five Dock RSL Community Club Ltd purchased the premises at Club Five Dock RSL Sub Branch.

Mission

To be recognised and respected as the preeminent association within the community and wider New South Wales RSL family

Company Overview

The main areas, which Five Dock RSL Sub Branch operate and support are the following:

  • Assistance to all veterans and ex-service men and women

  • Provision of a means for members to enjoy camaraderie and mate-ship

  • To provide assistance to spouses and families (when required)

  • Promotion of loyalty and pride, as part of the National RSL community

  • To offer Sub Branch’s resources to aid other local community organisations (Where possible)

Description

Five Dock RSL Sub Branch provides for the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defence Force Personnel and their dependents including members from overseas allied forces within the local Five Dock and surrounding areas.


General information

Meetings are 1st Wednesday of every month from 7pm, upstairs Club Five Dock RSL, 66 Great North Road, Five Dock.

Contact Sub Branch

Five Dock RSL Sub-Branch Website

subbranch@clubfivedockrsl.com.au 02 9712 2055

The Seabrook Brothers

Five Dock RSL Sub Branch provides for the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defence Force Personnel and their dependants including members from overseas allied forces within the local Five Dock and surrounding areas.

Seabrook brothers. L-R: Theo, William and George Seabrook, 17th Infantry Battalion.

As haunting as any image of the ghosts of Passchendaele is this studio portrait photo of the Seabrook brothers, the sons of William and Fanny Seabrook of Five Dock in Sydney NSW.

Theo (age 25) and George (age 24) were both privates, while their younger brother William (age 20), with his previous military experience, soon made it to Second Lieutenant. William had in fact joined the AIF back in August 1915, but this had somehow fallen through as he was discharged two months later. At any rate, he joined up again with his two elder brothers in August 1916 and they left Sydney together as part of the 17th Reinforcements for the 17th Infantry Battalion. 

By the time they got over to Belgium to actually join their unit it was already June 1917 and preparations were well underway for the great offensive at Ypres. The Battle of Menin Road that began on 20 September 1917 was the first engagement of Australian infantry in this offensive and proved a stunning success.

But despite this success, for the Seabrook boys it was their first and only battle. All three were mortally wounded in action, and died in the days immediately afterwards. For some the war was very short, but the sacrifice was nevertheless the full measure. 

One can scarcely begin to imagine what went through the minds of William and Fanny Seabrook, and how they might come to terms with this perhaps baffling and seemingly pointless loss of their three cherished sons.

William is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, just west of Ypres. George and Theo's remains were either never identified or never found, so they are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Lest We Forget.

Source: Craig Tibbitts, Australian War Memorial website