Memorials in Australia and New Zealand
Last year I commented that in travelling around Australia, it was quite noticeable how many towns had war memorials. Generally they all dated back to the 1920s and were originally erected to commemorate the fallen from what was then called The Great War. (Now World War I as other wars followed) Australia suffered a huge loss of life and there was a desire to have permanent memorials as so many lives were touched by that loss.
City councils, local councils and the councils from small towns ran fundraising drives for memorials to be placed in their area. After World War II, many were upgraded and the names of the fallen from that war were added. Names from further conflicts can also be found on the memorials, many have been restored as younger generations have become more interested in Australia's military past.
The memorials too, seem to reflect the population of the area, smaller places have similar memorials, large cities have a grand memorial.
This past year I've been quite conscious of looking to see if there's a memorial and here are the ones I've come across. With a trip to New Zealand, I've been able to include memorials there as well.
Australia
The Crafers memorial, Crafers was (and still is) a small town/village in the Adelaide Hills. A simple memorial with crossed rifles embossed in the plinth, by the looks of the lettering this memorial has been restored.
Memorial at Aldinga, at the time a small village so another simple memorial. It's on a main road, now a very busy main road and I didn't want to risk an arm or leg trying to cross speeding traffic to get a closer view!
The Auburn memorial in the Clare Valley.
Renmark, in the South Australian riverland. The Institute building is behind it, the queue outside is for the Rose Festival display held in October.
The Cairns memorial, on the top is a soldier with his slouched hat, the most common image on the memorials was the soldier leaning on his rifle.
The figure on this memorial at Burnside (a suburb of Adelaide) is the most unusual one I've seen on a memorial. The soldier has a tin hat, he's bending down and it seems he's pushing up the rifle. Not a very clear photo as it was a quick one taken on my phone, as I walked past.
The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, each of the trees has a plaque as they commemorate a particular military unit.
New Zealand
Napier
Rotorua, the memorial is in the Government Gardens.
Cambridge
Wellington, the National War Memorial. The tower part houses the Carllion, a series of bells that can be rung.
Last year I commented that in travelling around Australia, it was quite noticeable how many towns had war memorials. Generally they all dated back to the 1920s and were originally erected to commemorate the fallen from what was then called The Great War. (Now World War I as other wars followed) Australia suffered a huge loss of life and there was a desire to have permanent memorials as so many lives were touched by that loss.
City councils, local councils and the councils from small towns ran fundraising drives for memorials to be placed in their area. After World War II, many were upgraded and the names of the fallen from that war were added. Names from further conflicts can also be found on the memorials, many have been restored as younger generations have become more interested in Australia's military past.
The memorials too, seem to reflect the population of the area, smaller places have similar memorials, large cities have a grand memorial.
This past year I've been quite conscious of looking to see if there's a memorial and here are the ones I've come across. With a trip to New Zealand, I've been able to include memorials there as well.
Australia
The Crafers memorial, Crafers was (and still is) a small town/village in the Adelaide Hills. A simple memorial with crossed rifles embossed in the plinth, by the looks of the lettering this memorial has been restored.
The Cairns memorial, on the top is a soldier with his slouched hat, the most common image on the memorials was the soldier leaning on his rifle.
The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, each of the trees has a plaque as they commemorate a particular military unit.
New Zealand
Napier
Cambridge
Wellington, the National War Memorial. The tower part houses the Carllion, a series of bells that can be rung.
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