By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE RSL’s first president is now at rest in the sub-branch’s memorial garden.
William Fleming and his brothers Vic and Tom founded the RSL in 1920 after returning from the World War I battlefields.
They started with 50 members and initially held meetings at the Fleming family home.
The RSL, now in Osborne Avenue, Springvale, named the Fleming Lounge in their honour.
On 17 May it welcomed William back.
Phil Cuthbert said the cremated remains of his grandfather and grandmother Ethel had been interred at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
“They called us and said ‘time’s up, what would you like to do with them?’” he said.
“We called the RSL. They said ‘we have a memorial garden in the property we own next door and would be proud to have them there’.
“I thought it would be nice for the family, but it turned out to be really important for the RSL as well.
“To them it was a real piece of history to have a founding member buried on their grounds.”
William Fleming was a market gardener in Springvale before he went to Gallipoli.
“He was wounded, and did some time in France and he was gassed,” Mr Cuthbert said.
“He ended up as an acting sergeant in training in England in about 1917.”
Mr Cuthbert played The Last Post on the bugle during a service for William and Ethel.
“It’s not very often you get to play at your grandfather’s funeral, 45 years after he’s died,” he said.
“It was a bit of an honour for me.”
He said the family now planned to meet at the RSL once a year.
William’s son Doug Fleming is trying to locate Vic and Tom’s remains to attempt a reunion of the brothers, and the Navy man will join the Springvale RSL.
“And my two boys are joining.
“We’re all going down for Anzac Day next year,” he said.
