Newcastle First World War Memorial Middle Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image 0 / 0 - Prev Next Description / Background This Great War memorial stands outside the former Newcastle Post Office at 96 Hunter Street. According to Ken Inglis, it is believed to be Australia's first memorial of the Great War that incorporated a soldier-statue (Sacred places : war memorials in the Australian landscape / K.S. Inglis assisted by Jan Brazier. Published Carlton, Vic. : Melbourne University Press, 2001). The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor in early April 1916 less than one year after the landing at Gallipoli and the memorial was unveiled later that year on 16 September. On the first anniversary of the Anzac landing on 25 April 1916, marchers led by men wounded at Gallipoli, saluted the incomplete pedestal on their way to church services. The memorial's erection was sponsored by a local resident and retired Naval Officer Commander Frank Gardner VD (Volunteer Decoration), while the pedestal and setting were designed by a local architect Edward Tingle. A local stonemason Thomas Browne carved the pedestal, while the marble soldier atop the memorial was carved to order by an artisan in Italy. The soldier is carved with arms reversed and head bowed. The pedestal is carved from Ravensfield sandstone from a Maitland quarry owned by Browne, with a marble Corinthian column at each corner. Marble plaques are set on the four faces of the pedestal inset with lead lettering. The main plaque with the dedication faces east and the remaining three faces contain the honour roll from the local area. When the memorial was unveiled,15 names of the dead had been inscribed. By the end of the war 73 names had been inscribed. The pedestal is unusual in that it incorporates a drinking fountain. A similar design stands at Thirroul. It is also rather ornate and as such is representative of memorials designed early in the war such as the similarly ornate early war memorial at Balmain. Later memorials from the Great War tended to be less ornate. A later bronze plaque was fixed above the northern plaque commemorating the role of the 35th Battalion, formed in 1916 and which comprised of men drawn mostly from Newcastle and its districts. Inscription Eastern (main) plaque Roll of Honor. This fountain was presented by Commander Frank Gardner V.D. in memory of the Officers and Men of Newcastle who gave their lives to uphold the honour of the British Empire. Northern, Western and Southern plaques [Names] Later plaque 35th Infantry Battalion 'Newcastles Own' World War One battles in France and Flanders 1916-1918 Villers-Bretonneux Messines Accroche Wood Morlancourt Passchendale Bray-Sur-Somme. In memory of those who served and those who made the supreme sacrifice. Lest we forget. Related links Fallen soldiers' memorial (11 Apr 1916) Newcastle's memorial to fallen soldiers (20 Sep 1916) Veterans listed on this memorial Veterans listed on this memorial Sort by Family nameGiven nameWar Order AscDesc Items per page 1050100- All - Apply Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more Lieut H B Allen World War 1 view Pte J A Antcliffe World War 1 view Pte A Armstrong World War 1 view Pte A Banks World War 1 view Pte G Bebbington World War 1 view LCpl E Belford World War 1 view Pte W Bisson World War 1 view LCpl W J Bleazard World War 1 view Pte E P Bourke World War 1 view Cpl N S Bright World War 1 view Pagination 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next › Next page Last » Last page Do you know more about this war Memorial? Click here to learn how you can contribute Sidebar Address 96 Hunter Street Newcastle NSW 2300 Local Government Area Newcastle, City of Setting Public square Memorial type Fountain/Drinking fountain Recorded by Mr Andrew Howell. Peter Levarre-Waters. Year of construction 1916 Dedication date 16 September 1916 Conflict/s First World War, 1914–18 Materials Marble Sandstone