The memorial is a beautifully restored roll of honor for the First World War. It consists of a decorative copper plaque, attached to a timber backing board. The names of more than 100 ex-pupils from Alstonville Public School who served in the war are inscribed on individual brass plaques, which are attached across eight rows in the centre of the board.
The roll was made by the Wunderlich company of Sydney, notable manufacturers of war memorials. This board is typical of their designs from the early post-war period. It is ornately decorated, featuring an egg and dart motif at the top; the crossed flags of Australia and Britain; a scroll with the dedication plaque attached in the centre; a fleur de-lys at the bottom, and a decorative flame column on each side of the board.
Work on the memorial was already underway by May 1917, when the Honourary Treasurer of the Alstonville Parents and Citizens Association (P. and C.), Mr J. M. Abernethy, submitted quotations and designs at a meeting at the school. The Reverend Mr Yates moved "this meeting approves of the purchase and erection of an honor board for the Alstonville Public School, and that the secretary obtain further details of particulars as regards prices and designs, and submit same to public meeting to be called under the auspices of the Society" (Northern Star, 17 May 1917). The meeting took place on 9 August and it was decided to purchase a roll and to raise funds by public subscription (Northern Star, 16 August 1917). A committee was formed in February 1918 to organise the unveiling function.
The President of the P. and C., Mr J. A. Daley, unveiled the roll on Wednesday, 13 March 1918. A large audience gathered at the school for the event, which was described in detail in the Northern Star on 16 March. Following the service, the children were entertained at a picnic held on the showground.
At the time of the unveiling, the board was described as follows (Northern Star, 22 March 1918):
[It] is in the form of a hammered copper tablet of most artistic design, with a backing of polished oak. Each name is engraved on a brass plate. The whole design has a pleasing effect and is greatly admired. The cost is close upon £30, and the fund has a credit balance of £9 to meet future contingencies. The roll at present bears 88 names, with three more names to add ... This is a fine record.
In his publication They served us well: WWI service personnel of Tintenbar Shire (2015, p. 10), Ian Kirkland wrote:
The honour roll was painstakingly restored in 2003 by Kevin Quinnell, former RSL sub-Branch president. It took him over 400 hours to do so. Larry Anthony, the Federal Member for Richmond, unveiled the restored honour roll at an assembly on 7 November 2003.
By this stage, the number of names on the roll had increased from 88 to 105. In 2021, the roll includes 114 names and it remains on the school grounds, with restricted access.
Note: Research by Alison Draper, The A.I.F. Project database, and They served us well were used to research the names in the table below.