Wongarbon First and Second World Wars Soldiers' Memorial

The memorial is a reinforced concrete obelisk, standing on a base of the same material. Each of the four faces bear white marble panels that are inscribed and inlaid with lead, listing the names of those from the district who served in the First World War and dedications in their honour. On the pedimental cap is a design of crossed guns, the Union Jack and the Australian flag, all of which are inlaid with lead. From the base to the apex, the obelisk measures approximately 4.8 metres. The monument is surrounded by a wrought iron fence, set between eight decorative concrete posts. The concept designer and builder was W Larcombe and Son of Dubbo. 

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 28 March 1919, advertised the unveiling ceremony to take place in the Wongarbon Public School grounds on Saturday 5 April. On the day, the Headmaster of Wongarbon Public School, Mr W A Oldham, presided over the event, which was attended by more than one thousand people, including the Federal and State Members of the district. Mr E Campling, School Inspector, unveiled the obelisk, which included 49 names with more to be added (Wellington Times, 10 April 1919).



At the 1921 Empire Day celebrations held at the school, a war trophy machine gun, captured by the 53rd Battalion of the AIF in France, was gifted to the school. The trophy was presented by Mrs F S Lovett of Maryvale who lost her son, Captain N H Lovett, in the war. The gun was to be placed on a pedestal near the memorial (Wellington Times, 2 June 1921). Many public schools and community halls were presented with war trophies including machine guns at the end of the First World War.

Attached to one side of the obelisk's base is the Westella District Second World War Honour Roll, unveiled at the local hall around October 1948. The hall closed in 1980 where the honour roll remained until 1987 when it was relocated to the obelisk. 

The obelisk is located within the grounds of Wongarbon Primary School. The machine gun is no longer on site.

Notes on veterans' names:

• Lt Harry Davensport: Alias Harry Augustus Swendson
• Dvr William Thomas Dunn: on memorial as T. Dunn
• Etienne Louis Lasserre: on memorial as L. Lassere
• Dvr Leslie Arthur Lye: on memorial as T. Lye
• Pte Edward Joseph McSweeney: on memorial as T. McSweeney
• Pte John Edward McLennan McLennan: on memorial as E. McLennan
• Pte Jacob Isak Palmgren: on memorial as L. Palmgreen
• L/Cpl Harold Charle Robbins: on memorial as H. Robins
• Pte Cyril James Tompkins: on memorial as J. Tompkins
• Pte Henry Neirhoff: on memorial as H. Neroff
• Lieut John Valentine Roxburgh: on memorial as V. Roxburgh
• Pte John Lasserre: on memorial as Lassere
• Pte Clement Patrick Kane: on memorial as C. Cain