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South West Rocks Cenotaph

South West Rocks Cenotaph
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South West Rocks Cenotaph
South West Rocks Cenotaph
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of honour roll 1
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of honour roll 2
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of 'erected by' plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Boer War plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Boxer Rebellion plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Korean War plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Malayan Emergency plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Indonesian (Borneo) Confrontation plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Vietnam War plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of peacekeeping plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of prisoners of war plaque
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Albert Chowne
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Sir Roden Cutler
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaquefor Thomas Currie Derrick
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for John Hurst Edmondson
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Hughie Edwards
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for John Alexander French
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Percival Eric Gratwick
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Arthur Stanley Gurney
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Richard Kelliher
South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for William Henry Kibby
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Description / Background

The memorial is a grey granite obelisk, supported by a terazzo stone base, which is positioned on top of three stone steps. It is surrounded by grass and bordered by a low, granite block wall. A marble honour roll for the First World War is attached to the front (western side) of the monument. 

The memorial was established by the South West Rocks sub-Branch of the Returned Sailors' Soldiers' and Airmens Imperial League of Australia. The stonework and inscription on the First World War roll were completed by Mr Dunn of nearby Frederickton. 

The obelisk was unveiled on Anzac Day, 25 April 1940. The ceremony was described in the Macleay Chronicle on 1 May. At a later date, an honour roll for the Second World War was inscribed on a marble plaque attached to the left-hand side of the monument. 

More recently, several bronze plaques have been added to the site. They include:

  • Six plaques dedicated to Australians who have served in the Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian (Borneo) Confrontation, Vietnam War
  • One plaque dedicated to Australians who have served in peacekeeping missions since 1947.
  • A plaque for those who were held as prisoners of war.
  • Ten plaques to individual veterans who received the Victoria Cross for their service in the Second World War, dedicated as part of the Australia Remembers campaign. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Plaques 3-10 were dedicated on 15 August 1995:
    1. Lieutenant Albert Chowne V.C., M.M.
    2. Sir Arthur Roden Cutler V.C., A.K., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E.
    3. Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick V.C., D.C.M.
    4. Corporal John Hurst Edmondson V.C.
    5. Wing Commander Hughie Idwal Edwards V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C., C.B., O.B.E.
    6. Corporal John Alexander French V.C.
    7. Private Percival Eric Gratwick V.C.
    8. Private Arthur Stanley Gurney V.C.
    9. Private Richard Kelliher V.C.
    10. Sergeant William Henry Kibby V.C.

Commemorative services are held on site at the cenotaph.

Inscription

Obelisk - front 

THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

HAIL AND FAREWELL

ALL HONOR GIVE

TO THOSE WHO NOBLY STRIVING

NOBLY FELL THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

First World War honour roll - front

In Memory Of Our

— Fallen —

[Names]

Second World War honour roll - left side

NAMES OF FALLEN 2ND AIF

NAVY

[Names]

ARMY

[Names]

AIR FORCE

[Names]

Plaque

Erected by South West Rocks R.S.S. & A.I.L.A.

Plaque

BOER WAR

1899–1902

Southern Africa

Militia Forces of the six Australian colonies, and Australia after Federation in 1900 totalled nearly 19,000 men 

606 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

BOXER REBELLION

1900–1901

China

With all Australian colonies committed to the Boer War 560 naval personnel from the Australian Colonies of New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria saw action

6 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

KOREAN WAR

1950–1953

Korea was divided at the 38th North Parallel at the end of WW2, resulting in an invasion by North Korea into South Korea

Australians served - 17, 000

339 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

MALAYAN EMERGENCY

1948–1960

The Malayan Communist party sought to overthrow the British Colonial Government by way of terrorism and guerrila warfare.

Australians served - 7,000

36 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

CONFRONTATION - BORNEO

1962–1966

An undeclared war arising from the efforts of Indonesia to destabilise and destroy the new Federation of Malaysia

Australians served - 3,500

15 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

SOUTH VIETNAM

1962–1972

Australia was part of "The Free World Forces". Our involvement in South Vietnam, was attributed to shared concerns with eight other nations about the spread of Communism in Europe and Asia

Australians served - 50,000

520 lost their lives

Plaque

Peacemaking and peacekeeping operations since 1947

The Australian Defence Forces have been involved in

The Dutch East Indies, Indonesia, India-Pakistan, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Korea, The Congo, West Iran, Yemen, Rhodesia, Uganda, Iran-Iraq, Iraq-Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Cambodia, Namibia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Western Sahara, Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Haiti, Guatemala, Bougainville, Kuwait, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan

The war against terrorism continues

Plaque

PRISONERS OF WAR

Between the Boer War at the turn of the 20th century, and the Korean War in the 1950's, 34,000 Australian service men and women were incarcerated in prisoner of war (POW) camps, 8,600 of our men and women died in captivity in these camps, many more suffered inhumane and atrocious treatment from their captors.

Australia recognises the pain and suffering they endured in the service of our nation.

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Lieutenant

Albert Chowne

V.C. M.M.

Born 19-7-1920 Died 25-3-1945

15th August 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Lieutenant

Sir Arthur Roden Cutler

V.C., A.K., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E.

Born 24-5-1916 Died [no date on plaque]

We Will Remember Them

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Lieutenant

Thomas Currie Derrick

V.C., D.C.M.

Born 20-3-1914 Died 23-5-1945

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Corporal

John Hurst Edmondson

V.C.

Born 8-10-1914 Died 14-4-1941

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Wing Commander

Hughie Idwal Edwards

V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C., C.B., O.B.E.

Born 1-8-1914 Died 5-8-1982

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Corporal

John Alexander French

V.C.

Born 15.7.1914 Died 4.9.1942

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Private Percival Eric Gratwick

V.C.

Born 19-10-1902 Died 26-10-1942

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Private Arthur Stanley Gurney

V.C.

Born 15-12-1908 Died 22-7-1942

15 August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Private

Richard Kelliher

V.C.

Born 1-9-1910 Died 28-1-1963

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers

1939–1945

Sergeant

William Henry Kibby

V.C.

Born 15-4-1903 Died 31-10-1942

15th August, 1995

Lest We Forget

Related links
South West Rocks Memorial. (1 May 1940)
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
Lieutenant Albert Chowne Second World War, 1939–45 NX24405 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Pte W. Cooper World War 1 2541 Army view
Pte F Cooper World War 1 4434 AIF view
Pte G. Crossingham World War 1 2542 Army view
Pte W. Crossingham World War 1 2540 Army view
Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler Second World War, 1939–45 NX12378 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
D/va H. Dennis World War 1 2482 Army view
Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick Second World War, 1939–45 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) Malay Barrier 1941–1942 view
Pte F Dimond World War 1 1522 AIF view
Corporal John Hurst Edmondson Second World War, 1939–45 NX15705 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) North Africa 1940 - 1942 view

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Address
Horseshoe Bay Reserve
Cnr Livingstone Ave and Ocean Drive
South West Rocks NSW 2431
Local Government Area
Kempsey Shire
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Obelisk
Recorded by
Alex Robinson and Arthur McKean, South West Rocks RSL sub-Branch. Graham Wilson.
Year of construction
1940
Dedication date
25 April 1940
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
China (Boxer Rebellion), 1900–01
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Peacekeeping, 1947–present
All conflicts
Materials
Bronze
Granite
Marble