Memorials visited over the past year.
The McLaren Vale is a small town south of Adelaide, the area is now best known as a wine district. The war memorial was built in 1933, during the Great Depression, along with the hall behind it. Most small town memorials were built in the 1920s and it was noted that this memorial was built during a time of economic hardship. The original names on the memorial were the 22 local men who died during the Great War (World War I). A new plaque with the names of those who died during World War I and World War II was added at a later date.
Stirling is a small town in the Adelaide Hills where historically Adelaideans moved to, to escape the heat of summer. This memorial is quite a recent one as it was unveiled on the 17th of October 2018. It's a memorial to all who died in wars and peace keeping actions.
The Henley and Grange Soldier's Memorial Hall was built to commemorate the local men who served in World War I. The foundation stone was laid in 1921, which is why that's the date on the building. But the building itself was finished and opened in July 1922. It is attached to the Town Hall.
Tailem Bend is a major transport hub on the River Murray, about 100km Southeast of Adelaide. This memorial was originally erected in 1949 to commemorate those who had died in World War I and II. It was repositioned to its current location in February 2005 and rededicated on ANZAC Day 2005. The Rosemary hedge was created from cuttings from a small branch that was brought back to Australia from Gallipoli by a wounded soldier. That branch was used to propagate a rosemary bush at the Repatriation Hospital in Adelaide. Cuttings then were used to create this hedge.
Penola is an historic town in the southeast of South Australia. It's the town closest to the wine district known as the Coonawarra. This memorial was originally erected in 1927 to commemorate those who died in World War I. It was moved to its current site in 1934, plaques have been added to the memorial to commemorate those who died in World War II and the Vietnam War.
Naracoorte is situated in the southeast of South Australia, it's about 300km from Adelaide and services the local farming area. This memorial was dedicated in August 1922 and it commemorated those who had died in World War I. The names of those who died in World War II were added in 1951. It's now surrounded by plaques commemorating the conflicts Australia has been involved in since the Boer War (1899-1902). The memorial was rededicated in 2006.
Keith is a small town in South Australia at the junction of the highways that either go east to Melbourne or south to Mt. Gambier. The position of the this modest war memorial, illustrates the major industries for the town. In the background is the railway line and the grain silos. It commemorates those who died in World War I, the memorial was dedicated in October 1920.
Lyndoch is about an hour's drive east of Adelaide as it's a gateway town to the wine region known as the Barossa Valley. The area was settled by German immigrants fleeing from religious persecution. The memorial with the cross commemorates those who died in World War I and was dedicated in January 1922. The plinth memorial behind it commemorates the three soldiers from the district who were killed in the Boer War in South Africa. This memorial was originally on a hill overlooking the town and unveiled in November 1901. At the time of one of these soldier's death Australia was not 'Australia' it was a collection of colonies and these men served in the 'Bushman's corps'. The World War II memorial is the Lyndoch Council Library.
I am surprised that I managed to see so many new memorials this year considering that we weren't allowed to move around much. Last year the ANZAC Day commemorations around the memorials were cancelled and people were encouraged to stand at the end of their driveways with a lit candle at 6am. (The time of the Gallipoli landing) This year all of these memorials will have their normal commemorations.
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