Wellington Methodist Church Second World War Lectern and Book of Remembrance

This war memorial is one of the Books of Remembrance prepared for members of the Wellington Methodist Church who served in the Second World War. It is kept in a glass and timber lectern in the Wellington Uniting Church. The lectern was dedicated by Reverend W. C. Francis D.C.M. on 11 November 1948 (The Methodist (Sydney), 12 March 1949). 

Planning for the books was underway by late 1947. An article in the Wellington Times on 4 December gave details of the proposed project and published the names that had been put forward so far. An appeal was included for any additional names.

A Soldiers' Memorial Fund was in charge of fundraising for the project. By February 1948, they had raised 700 pounds and 18 shillings (Wellington Times, 18 February 1948). On 15 March, the Times reported a Soldiers' Carnival made a net profit of about 1,600 pounds. 

The contents were compiled by Lieutenant Colonel Dr V. W. Savage D.S.O. and the local RSL sub-Branch. Lieutenant Colonel Savage was President of the sub-Branch from 1934 until the end of 1946. He then held the office of Patron to the branch.

The books also contained an individual photograph of the men who did not return, including their number, name, rank, date of enlistment, unit, date of birth and date and place of death. There was also a photograph of the Wellington Cenotaph and of HMAS Sydney, on which Petty Officer R. B. Abernathy died when the ship was sunk. Books were distributed to the families of those who fell in the war (Wellington Times, 19 April 1948).

The book is available for viewing when the church is open to the public.