Skip to main content

Cowan Creek Anzac Cave

Cowan Creek Anzac Cave
Middle
Image
Cowan Creek Anzac Cave, close-up of inscriptions on wall
Image
Cowan Creek Anzac Cave, showing inscriptions on wall
Image
Cowan Creek Anzac Cave, showing inscriptions on wall
Image
Cowan Creek Anzac Cave, steps leading to the cave
0 / 0
-
Description / Background

This natural cave at Cowan Creek in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park was originally used by local Aboriginal people over thousands of years. Since European settlement it has been used by many people, some of who have inscrided their names or initials on the walls. This includes a group of First World War veterans during the period of 1919 to 1920.

Etched into the wall of the cave are nine names, surrounded by an Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) badge. It appears originally there were eight names listed, with the ninth name added by a different hand. It is apparent not only from the inscribed date, but also from the assortment of old beer bottles in the water at the approach to the cave, that this group of young men spent considerable amounts of time there. All of them had been wounded, with some medically discharged because of their injuries, and it seems likely that their comradeship and this cave, with its beautiful, tranquil setting, helped them deal with the traumas of war they had all experienced.

In the inscription, they refer to themselves as the 'Burwood Bing Boys'. The Bing Boys Are Here was an extremely popular light musical/comedy revue, which played in London from 1916 until after the Armistice in 1918. The first revue featured the two Bing brothers, Oliver and Lucifer, who left their dull country town to go to the bright lights of London, where they had a wide range of 'slap-bang', improbable, amusing, daring, and colourful adventures. From at least 1917, the revue was picked up by the J C. Williamson company in Australia, where it toured widely for a number of years. It is likely that some of the men who served in Europe saw the show in London. Clearly, they identified with the two brothers and their adventures and thus borrowed the name. 

Although there is quite a lot of graffiti in the cave, done over a long period, the memorial carving has not been defaced and is in quite good condition after 100 years. 

Note: The map location shown above is approximate. 

Inscription

[Names]

Burwood Bing

1919 Anzac 1920

Boys

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
Private B Conyers First World War, 1914–18 2896 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private A Cowling First World War, 1914–18 1878 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Corporal L Honey First World War, 1914–18 75 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) Gallipoli 1915 view
Private H Hopton First World War, 1914–18 4535 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private S Mann First World War, 1914–18 8737 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
S Stephens First World War, 1914–18 view
Private S Woodhead First World War, 1914–18 5056 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private E Woodhead First World War, 1914–18 3739 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private W Woodhead First World War, 1914–18 3143 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view

Do you know more about this war Memorial?

Click here to learn how you can contribute
Sidebar
Address
Cowan Creek
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase NSW 2084
Local Government Area
Northern Beaches Council
Setting
Garden/park
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Other
Recorded by
David Roden
Year of construction
1919–1920
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Materials
Sandstone