A beautiful ceremony to commemorate those former Fitzroy players and officials who gave their lives fighting for their country was held at the Edinburgh Gardens War Memorial at half time during Saturdays game.

The memorial was built when the local sports clubs raised funds over 100 years ago to commemorate the young men from the local area.

Fitzroys players and officials who died during service are:

• Harold Collins 1917, six games 1912 and 1915.
• Jack Cooper 1917, 136 games 1907 to 1915.
• George Eliott 1917, one game 1905, University 79 games 1908 to 1913.
• Arthur Harrison 1917, 19 games 1913 to 1914.
• Arthur Jones 1915, killed in action at Gallipoli, seven games 1914.
• Sydney O'Neill 1915, killed in action at Gallipoli, one game 1909.
• Thornton Clarke 1916, killed in action at Fromelles, four games 1911.
• Tom McCluseky 1917, five games 1911.
• Alexander Salton 1916.
• Tom Corrigan 1943, 107 games 1922 to 1928.
• Fred Heintz 1942, 14 games 1931 to 1933.
• Arty Gay 1943, committeeman, Changi.
• Desmond Charles Keays 1943, reserves player, Changi.

Thank you very much to Club Secretary Bill Atherton who organised the beautiful wreath, which featured the names of the fallen. Thank you also to former Fitzroy Director and Life Member, Colin Hobbs (pictured), who laid the wreath and to Danny Wilson who read a letter from former player Jack Cooper. Cooper corresponded with Bob King (Fitzroy time keeper) from the trenches in France, saying You really don't know how important Fitzroy is until you leave it, and come what may I don't think I will ever smile again until I see that maroon and blue flag flying in front of those two old grandstands./span>

Sadly he never did see those grandstands again - he died at war in France in 1917.

Lest we forget.