France's Day

France's Day was held on 14 July 1917 across the British Empire to show solidarity with their French allies, and was supported by numerous celebrations and charity fund raising events across Australia to aid the French Red Cross.

An Australia WWI poster was issued to promote France's Day, stating that the fate of Great Britain and the Empire depended upon the ability of France to hold out until the hour of victory arrived, and that France's Day would be in aid of the suffering in France. The last paragraph on the poster stated that "Great hearts are glad when it is time to give".

Dalby's celebration of France's Day began after lunch, when a procession consisting of 200 State School, 100 Convent School children, and a number of local motorists in decorated cars, gathered at the Bell monument, and then headed by the Town Band, marched to the Recreation Reserve.

A large crowd turned up to view the procession, and once at the Recreation Ground, the children marched past the French flag, which they saluted by sections.

A short but stirring address was then given to the children by the Mayor (Ald. A. Hunter), at the close of which the Marseillaise was played, and cheers were given for the Tricolour flag and the Union Jack. A programme of sports then began, opening with a drill by the Dalby State School Junior Cadet Corps, under the tuition of Mr. Martin. Other events followed, and a concert was held that night.

The amount raised that day for the French Red Cross exceeded £100.