Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial

This memorial commemorates Lieutenant T. Hammand, Lieutenant R. Bedford, Corporal J. McKee, and Bugler C. Bennett, who were killed by the premature explosion of a submarine mine during the Middle Head Easter encampment in April 1891.

The upper portion of the memorial is made of marble. Resting on the upper tier of bluestone is a marble base 4ft. 6in. by 4ft. 6in. The faces of the marble base are decorated with bronze sculptures of crossed swords, with helmets and crossed sculis. The upper portion of the marble base is decorated with relief carvings of rope. Rising from the base is a die with four tablets attached, facing north, east, south, and west respectively. The die is decorated with laurel, and facing each point of the compass, there is a cherub. Above these again is a dome supporting a grenade.

The memorial rests upon a foundation of concrete, laid to a depth of 7ft. The whole occupies 9 square ft. of ground,and rises to a height of 23ft. The total weight of the structure is 21 tons, 11 tons of which is marble.

Erected at the entrance to Waverley Cemetery, the memorial was unveiled on 6 May 1894 by Major General Hutton, in the presence of representatives of all branches of the military force.