St Patrick's Day: From Ireland to Australia

"Fourteen V.C. winners, on grey horses, form Guard of Honour for Archbishop Mannix in St Patrick's Day Procession, 1920". F. Murphy, Daniel Mannix: Archbishop of Melbourne 1917-1963, Melbourne, 1972, p. 33.

On St Patrick's Day 1920, some 20,000 people took part in Melbourne's parade, including 6000 returned soldiers and sailors, 2000 boys from Christian Brothers' schools, and members of Irish national societies and Catholic parishes. The parade was therefore very lengthy: the Catholic Press timed it to have taken one hour and twelve minutes to pass a given point on the route. Victorian police were prepared for trouble during the march: 440 foot police lined the route, armed with batons and handcuffs, while 100 mounted police joined the march. But there was no disturbance. There was, indeed, an absence of so-called 'disloyal' references to Sinn FŽin or republicanism. The Argus alluded to 'one or two isolated individual cases' of 'disloyal' emblems, but admitted that the parade was not unlike previous benign celebrations. Yet the Argus was most annoyed that the 'promised' Union Jack had not appeared at the front of the march; indeed, it did not emerge until the parade had been in progress for over half an hour. Even then, the paper complained, 'it was not calculated to attract much attention', for it was 'tucked away' in a corner of the St Patrick's Society banner. Although this measured at least 10 by 12 feet in size, the Union Jack was only some 12 inches by 15 inches in diameter. The Australian flag appeared on the same banner but was nearly three times larger than the British flag, and the rest of the tableau was a representation of St Patrick.

A change of city council procedure meant that councillors would now vote on next year's street march; the mayor no longer had sole jurisdiction. After deliberating, the town clerk notified J.H. Kennedy, the new secretary of the St Patrick's Day Celebration Committee, that the council had given approval for the march, albeit subject to conditions. Namely: the Australian and Union Jack flags had to be carried at the forefront of the procession attached to poles, and they had to measure 6ft. by 3ft. The now usual disclaimer of no 'disloyal' emblems was also added. For parade organisers, there seemed no way to avoid it this year; the flag of Britain would have to lead their march, and at a time of Anglo-Irish war in the homeland. Apparently, a plan was under way by a group of 'young republicans' for a Union Jack doused with petrol to be carried at the head of the procession. The strategy was for the flag to be lit at a suitable moment, with the flag-bearer making a sprint down Queen Street to Queen's Bridge, where he was expected to dive into the Yarra River, making good his escape. At the start of the parade a dense crowd had formed, and a man holding the Australian flag came forward, met with cheers. He was soon followed by another flag-bearer with the Union Jack in hand, who received jeers. The congested assembly and presence of a strong police contingent prevented protestors from intercepting the Union Jack. This was too much for a couple of the 'rebels'. They ran towards the flag-bearer, struck him a blow, and then ran away with the Union Jack, soaking it with petrol. This attracted the attention of police, who quickly apprehended and arrested the protesters. They didn't even have time to light a match.