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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery

Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Wagga Wagga War Cemetery
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Description / Background

Wagga Wagga War Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (C.W.G.C.) site and is located in the south west corner of the Wagga Wagga Cemetery. It contains 82 war burials comprising 40 Australian Army and 42 RAAF airmen. Many of the airmen died in air training accidents, while 26 members of the School of Military Engineering buried here died on the same day in a mine training accident. Each grave is marked with a Commission headstone, inscribed with the veteran's military service details and the emblem of their service branch. The cemetery is surrounded by a brick and iron fence and is planted out with Australian vegetation. In the centre of the area is a Cross of Sacrifice. 

The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga), 4 September 1948 published a tender notice from the Imperial War Graves Commission for general construction at the site comprising concrete beams, kerbing, brick and concrete rail fence, general fencing; fabrication and delivery of stonework for the cross; and provision of concrete foundations and erection of the cross.

Sherry Morris has published a history of the Kapooka military training accident entitled 'The Kapooka Explosion, 21 May 1945'. The author states: "In 1999 significant improvements were made to the War Cemetery as part of the refurbishment of rural cemeteries throughout Australia by the Federal Government's commemorative program, 'Their Service - our Heritage'. In the following year, an information board on the accidents and photographs of the funeral was unveiled at the War Cemetery by the Minister of Veteran's Affairs, Bruce Scott, Sheila Oehmn and the Kapooka Commandant Colonel Michael Craine."

Apart from this information board, which is titled 'Largest Military Funeral in Australia: Wagga Wagga's saddest day', there is a plaque listing the war burials in the general cemetery for the First and Second World Wars. 

Inscription

Plaque

Wagga Wagga War Cemetery

Plaque

Cemetery Register

Plaque

When the Second World War ended in 1945, the total number of Australians serving in the RAAF was 154,511 of whom 137,208 were serving in the South West Pacific theatre. The majority of these aircrew and support personnel were based and trained at a number of airforce training establishments scattered throughout Australia. During the Second War, the RAAF had some 6,200 personnel killed in action.

During the Second World War, 1939-45, the No. 2 Service Flight Training School of the Royal Australian Air Force and other military training facilities, including the Army School of Military Engineering, were based at Wagga Wagga.

The Wagga Wagga War Cemetery contains 82 war burials, comprising 40 Australian Army and 42 RAAF airmen and 1 post-war grave. Many of the RAAF aircrew died in Air Training accidents, while 26 members of the School of Military Engineering buried here perished on the same day in a mine training accident. 

Buried in Wagga Wagga General Cemetery are 12 Australian Army and 21 RAAF along with 3 Australian casualties from the First World War.

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
Leading Aircraftman Stanley Baird Second World War, 1939–45 15306 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Leading Aircraftman Jack Barnwell Second World War, 1939–45 432300 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Sapper Colin Boyd Second World War, 1939–45 NX204475 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Sapper William Brown Second World War, 1939–45 VX91359 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Flying Officer Donald Burrows Second World War, 1939–45 408103 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Leading Aircraftman Barrister Bush Second World War, 1939–45 136345 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Leading Aircraftman James Cameron Second World War, 1939–45 64456 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Leading Aircraftman John Chantler Second World War, 1939–45 422931 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Corporal Joseph Collins Second World War, 1939–45 NC205981 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Pilot Officer Robert Cook Second World War, 1939–45 442489 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view

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Address
Kootingal Road
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Local Government Area
Wagga Wagga, City of
Setting
Garden/park
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Other
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
1949-1949
Conflict/s
Second World War, 1939–45