The Channon First World War Roll of Honor

The Channon First World War Roll of Honor is a large timber board, decorated with colour paintings of the First Commonwealth Coat of Arms and the Union Jack and Australian flags. The board has supporting timber shelves at the top and bottom and carved columns on the left and right sides. It is typical of the timber memorials obtained from various department stores located on the North Coast of NSW. 

The board lists the names of 52 members of The Channon community who served in the war. Their names are printed in gold, across two columns. Eighteen names are accompanied by 'remarks', to identify if the soldier was wounded, killed in action, or returned from service. 

Following a period of planning, the memorial was unveiled at the Channon Hall on 4 August 1916. The event was recorded in detail in the Northern Star on 9 August. At that stage, the board had 29 names and more were expected. The unveiling was performed by Mrs George King, who had two sons at the front. She told the crowd, "the roll was in honor of the boys. It showed their loyalty and patriotism, and she sincerely hoped that they would be spared to return after the war." Other speakers included Councillor Simes, Sergeant Major Durand, Sergeant Saunders and Messrs Foster, Raward, and Smith. The service was closed with the singing of the national anthem. 

The roll is available for viewing when the hall is open for public functions. 

Note: The Daily Telegraph, 24 March 1917 reported that another honour roll for Channon was unveiled, in memory of the local brethren who had gone to the front. It was unveiled by Worshipful Brother W.B. Lockett of Lismore District, Grand Master of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows. As of June 2024, this Oddfellows honour roll has not been located.