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David John Willis Memorial

David John Willis Memorial
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Description / Background

A stone drinking fountain to Boer War veteran and local resident Private David Willis, located near the former School of Arts. The memorial is located outside the Beecroft Community Centre.

Additional notes by Sydney Trains:

This memorial is located on the southern corner of the intersection of Wongala Crescent and Copeland Road and forms a group with the two war memorials on the other side of the Wongala Crescent. It is a tall sandstone monument set on a concrete base and is highly visible from the intersection. It features carved side columns, military symbols and is surmounted by a floriated Celtic cross. The memorial is located on railway land, but not within the heritage curtilage of Beecroft Railway Station. It is a rare example of a Boer War memorial within railway land.

Inscription

Base

Erected by the residents of the district to memory of DAVID JOHN WILLIS killed in battle at Elands Kop South Africa Oct 10th 1900 aged 20 years

Plaque

David John Willis lived in Beecroft before he volunteered to serve in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). He trained with the 6th Australian Rifles Regiment at Hornsby before he left for South Africa on 3 November 1899 with the NSW Infantry. David John Willis was killed in a skirmish on 1 October 1900 at Elands Kop near Heilbron, one day short of his twentieth birthday.

This memorial was originally erected on the Village Green and unveiled on 24 November 1991 by the Beecroft community to commemorate the life of David Willis and to impress upon the local citizens, especially young people, the importance of duty and discipline. The memorial was later moved from the Village Green and during repairs the date of David Willis’ death was incorrectly recorded as 10 October 1900.

To mark the centenary of the death of David Willis, this plaque records the conservation of the memorial, funded and supported by Hornsby Shire Council and Beecroft – Cheltenham Civic Trust. 8 October 2000.

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
David John Willis South African Campaign Atelanski view

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Address
Cnr Copeland and Beecroft Roads
Beecroft NSW 2119
Local Government Area
Hornsby Shire
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Fountain/Drinking fountain
Recorded by
Sydney Trains, Epping RSL Sub-Branch and Adrian Mitchell. Updated photographs by Peter Levarre-Waters.
Year of construction
1901
Dedication date
24 November 1901
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902