With Anzac Day this Sunday, we’d like to pay homage to the ANZACS who fought and served in the war to afford us the opportunities and freedoms we have today.
Safetyline Jalousie is a proudly family-run company, and many members of our founders’ family have served in the war, and we’d like to share the personal story of our co-founders, Leigh and Nathan’s, great grandfather Fredrick (Fred) Edward Rust.
On June 16, 1915, at just 18 years of age, Fred enlisted as a Private in the Australian Imperial Force. Almost exactly a year later, after traveling to Egypt, Fred, alongside the 10th Battalion, arrived in Marseilles, France where they fought in the infamous Battle of the Somme.
The Battalion suffered heavy enemy bombardment during which Fred was severely wounded by shell fire. Diary accounts Fred kept show that for 12 hours he lay in the trench presumed dead. Thankfully, he was found by another Battalion and travelled to the UK to recover.
This is one, of many stories of struggles, sacrifice and triumph to come from the war.
On this Anzac Day, we’d like to share this story, and what it means to our founders and their family. If Fred Rust wasn’t found on that day, over a hundred years ago, our company wouldn’t be here today.
We’d also like to pay tribute to Leigh and Nathan’s great-uncle Howard Rust who served in WW1 and William and Albert Rust who lost their lives in the Boer War.
On behalf of the Rust family, and the Safetyline Jalousie team, we’d like to pay our respects to all those who served during the war.
Reflecting on their stories allows us to keep memories alive and ensure their sacrifices are not forgotten.
Image of Fred Rust’s British Service Medal and Victory Medal (which commemorates the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers)
Leigh and Nathan Anzac Day 2017 after walking with their great grandfather’s medals