Lest we forget
Devonport, Tasmania
COVID-19 has affected all major events around the world, in Australia this included the ANZAC Day commemorations. Each year parades of veterans and their descendants take place in towns and cities, the day begins with a 6am service at the local war memorial. These services also occur outside of Australia and New Zealand, with a major service held at Gallipoli in Turkey, Villers Bretonneux in France and one is held in London as well. This year none of these services are taking place, instead in Australia people are asked to stand on the end of their driveways with a candle and listen to the service through an app.
Each year I post photos of war memorials I've seen since the last ANZAC Day. Travelling around Australia I had noticed how many small communities had created memorials, and liking collections, I'm collating the ones I see.
Devonport is a small town in northwestern Tasmania, it's now under a very strict lockdown due to an explosion of COVID-19 cases in the local area. The Devonport Cenotaph was unveiled on the 6th of June 1922, originally it had the names of those locals who lost their lives in the First World War, plaques were added for later conflicts.
Pinnaroo, South Australia
This simple memorial was unveiled on the 25th of June 1922, originally just had the names of those from the local district who died in World War I. Now has the name of those who perished in World War II as well.
Wodonga, Victoria
This memorial in Wodonga was unveiled on the 18th of November 1924, it originally had a 'digger' (a soldier) on the top. It was later removed and replaced by the pointed column that's there now. Like the other memorials built and unveiled in the 1920s, it was built to commemorate those from the district who lost their lives in World War I, now had plaques commemorating those from later conflicts.
Barmera War Memorial Gate, South Australia
Not all memorials are statues, I've seen some memorial arches and in Barmera there is a memorial gate. These gates were constructed as a memorial to the 18 men who lost their lives in World War II, plaques for later conflicts up until the Vietnam War have been added. The gates are the entrance to the main oval with Lake Bonney in the background. The gates were opened on the 31st of October 1953.
Loxton, South Australia
The Loxton War Memorial is a stone cross with plaques around it commemorating those who have lost their lives in various conflicts Australia has been involved in. These conflicts predate World War I, with plaques for those who died in the Boer War, the Waikato conflict (NZ) and the Sudan Boxer rebellion. The most recent conflict commemorated is the Gulf War of 1990-91. I couldn't find the date of the unveiling, there is an older memorial in Loxton's main street. (I forgot to photograph it!) It's the Loxton's Soldiers Memorial Rotunda, it has the names of the 13 local men who died in World War I and was unveiled in July 1928.
Kingston, Norfolk Island
The Norfolk Island memorial commemorates the Norfolk Islanders who died in World War I and II. Per capita Norfolk Island lost more men in World War I than any other country. The Norfolk Island Cenotaph was unveiled on the 25th of April 1929, previous to this permanent monument there had been a large wooden plaque with the names of the fallen from World War I. The local community however wanted a more permanent fixture and a dedicated site, the commonwealth provided the site and the community raised the funds for the monument.
To finish up, not a memorial but a nice little ANZAC Day touch, ANZAC biscuits. (Which are available all year round!) Legend has it that these biscuits were made by wives and women's groups and send to the troops overseas. There were no perishable ingredients so they would survive the long trip by ship to reach their destination. I decided to bake some this year (thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown I had lots of time!)
COVID-19 has affected all major events around the world, in Australia this included the ANZAC Day commemorations. Each year parades of veterans and their descendants take place in towns and cities, the day begins with a 6am service at the local war memorial. These services also occur outside of Australia and New Zealand, with a major service held at Gallipoli in Turkey, Villers Bretonneux in France and one is held in London as well. This year none of these services are taking place, instead in Australia people are asked to stand on the end of their driveways with a candle and listen to the service through an app.
Each year I post photos of war memorials I've seen since the last ANZAC Day. Travelling around Australia I had noticed how many small communities had created memorials, and liking collections, I'm collating the ones I see.
Devonport is a small town in northwestern Tasmania, it's now under a very strict lockdown due to an explosion of COVID-19 cases in the local area. The Devonport Cenotaph was unveiled on the 6th of June 1922, originally it had the names of those locals who lost their lives in the First World War, plaques were added for later conflicts.
This simple memorial was unveiled on the 25th of June 1922, originally just had the names of those from the local district who died in World War I. Now has the name of those who perished in World War II as well.
This memorial in Wodonga was unveiled on the 18th of November 1924, it originally had a 'digger' (a soldier) on the top. It was later removed and replaced by the pointed column that's there now. Like the other memorials built and unveiled in the 1920s, it was built to commemorate those from the district who lost their lives in World War I, now had plaques commemorating those from later conflicts.
Not all memorials are statues, I've seen some memorial arches and in Barmera there is a memorial gate. These gates were constructed as a memorial to the 18 men who lost their lives in World War II, plaques for later conflicts up until the Vietnam War have been added. The gates are the entrance to the main oval with Lake Bonney in the background. The gates were opened on the 31st of October 1953.
The Loxton War Memorial is a stone cross with plaques around it commemorating those who have lost their lives in various conflicts Australia has been involved in. These conflicts predate World War I, with plaques for those who died in the Boer War, the Waikato conflict (NZ) and the Sudan Boxer rebellion. The most recent conflict commemorated is the Gulf War of 1990-91. I couldn't find the date of the unveiling, there is an older memorial in Loxton's main street. (I forgot to photograph it!) It's the Loxton's Soldiers Memorial Rotunda, it has the names of the 13 local men who died in World War I and was unveiled in July 1928.
The Norfolk Island memorial commemorates the Norfolk Islanders who died in World War I and II. Per capita Norfolk Island lost more men in World War I than any other country. The Norfolk Island Cenotaph was unveiled on the 25th of April 1929, previous to this permanent monument there had been a large wooden plaque with the names of the fallen from World War I. The local community however wanted a more permanent fixture and a dedicated site, the commonwealth provided the site and the community raised the funds for the monument.
To finish up, not a memorial but a nice little ANZAC Day touch, ANZAC biscuits. (Which are available all year round!) Legend has it that these biscuits were made by wives and women's groups and send to the troops overseas. There were no perishable ingredients so they would survive the long trip by ship to reach their destination. I decided to bake some this year (thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown I had lots of time!)
Impressive Ophelia
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