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Bathurst Ex Service and Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Bathurst Ex Service and Vietnam Veterans Memorial
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Bathurst Ex Service and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, full area
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Bathurst Ex Service and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, pavers surrounding cross design
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Description / Background

The Bathurst Ex Service and Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at the rear of the Bathurst Cemetery. It consists of three elements. Firstly, there is a stone pillar with a brass plaque attached, which commemorates the Battle of Lone Pine (Gallipoli, August 1915). Secondly, there is an area containing self-funded pavers, engraved with the service details of subscribers. The third element is another area of engraved pavers, commemorating by name each of the soldiers who died while serving as National Servicemen in either Borneo or South Vietnam in 1966 to 1971. All the pavers are earthenware and are laid on a concrete base. In the centre of the paved area is a cross, made out of contrasting cream-coloured pavers, inscribed with the words 'Lest we forget'. 

The memorial was conceived, designed, and constructed by members of the Mid State Sub Branch National Servicemen's Association of Australia (NSW Branch), between 2018 and 2020. The design was done by Mr James Dietrich, President of the Sub Branch. He was assisted with the administrative side of the project by Mr Fred Collett, Mr James Nash, Mr Keith Smith, and the Reverend Howard Knowles. Basic site preparation and non-skilled construction work was also performed by Messrs. Dietrich, Nash, and Smith, in their roles as Sub Branch members. The paving portion was carried out by Mr Alan Harvey, a local paving tradesman, working in a voluntary capacity.       

The self-funded section of the memorial was dedicated on 10 November 2018 and the section commemorating fallen National Servicemen was dedicated on 15 May 2021.     

It is believed the section of the memorial commemorating fallen National Servicemen by name is unique in Australia. Other memorials commemorate their service, but do not identify them specifically by name as having died while serving as National Servicemen. 

The purchase of materials for the fallen National Servicemen section was funded through a grant given under the Australian Government's Department of Veterans' Affairs 'Saluting Their Service' program. The self-funded section was funded by subscribers each paying $40 to have their service details engraved on a paver and then laid within the memorial. The Gallipoli pillar is believed to have been largely privately funded by Mr Barry Stuart.  

Statement of Significance provided by James Nash, Mid State Sub Branch National Servicemen's Association of Australia (NSW Branch), May 2022:

This memorial is particularly significant to the Bathurst region because it contains the service details of numerous Bathurst residents, those details dating back in some cases to the Second  Boer War (1899–1902) and through to the details of serving and ex service personnel up until the present time. That section of the memorial commemorating by name each National Serviceman (1966–1971) who died while on active service is believed to be unique in terms of content.

Inscription

Paver in centre of cross

Lest we forget

Pavers above cross

This memorial commemorates the 194 National Servicemen who died while on active service alongside their comrades of Australia's regular and citizen forces

Malaysia 1964

South Vietnam 1972

Paving stone below cross

This memorial was planned and developed by the Mid-State Sub Branch N S A of A (NSW Branch)

Funding by the "Saluting Their Service" Commemorations Program DVA

Paving by Alan Harvey Bathurst

James Dietrich President 2020

Veterans listed on this memorial

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Address
Bathurst Cemetery
Bradwadine Road
Bathurst NSW 2795
Local Government Area
Bathurst Regional
Setting
Garden/park
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Other
Recorded by
James Nash
Year of construction
2018–2021
Dedication date
10 November 2018
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Other
Materials
Brass
Concrete
Other stone