Hill 60 First World War Memorial, Kurri Kurri Middle Image Image 0 / 0 - Prev Next Description / Background The Hill 60 First World War Memorial is a rectangular block of stone, positioned on a concrete pad. On the front face of the block are eight metal plaques, one large and seven small. The large plaque tells the story of the First Australian Tunnelling Company's (1st ATC) operations on Hill 60 in Belgium during the First World War. It is illustrated with the Rising Sun emblem of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces and a diagram showing 'clay-kicking'. This was a method of mining employed by the 1st ATC to excavate under the hill, in order to plant explosives. Five of the smaller plaques are inscribed with the details of individual veterans from Kurri Kurri and surrounding areas who served with the unit. The remaining two are inscribed with logos, possibly of the memorial's sponsors or designers. The memorial is located in Kurri Kurri's Rotary Park, near the Kurri Kurri War Memorial. Inscription Main plaque Hill 60 Zwarteleen/Ypres Belgium World War One At precisely 0310 on the morning on 7 June 1917, the First Australian Tunnelling Company (1st ATC), detonated 53,500lbs of explosives under what was known as Hill 60 on the front line of fighting in Belgium. Hill 60 mine was one 21 mines that were to be simultaneously detonated with the aim of destroying the German lines along a 9km front. A total 450,000lbs of explosive were detonated. The 1st ATC took control of Hill 60 mine in November 1916, initially to the drainage and ventilation and they later sunk a 460ft shaft and dug three galleries Sydney, Brisbane & Perth totaling over 1400ft. A unique method of mining, Clay-Kicking, comprising a team of three men. One man laid on his back on aboard inclined 45° and used a special shovel or attachments on his boots to penetrate the clay and dislodge it from the working face. The second member dragged the spoil back to the third member who loaded the spoil onto a trolley which was pulled away by support miners. Hunter Valley miners served in each of the Australian Tunnelling Companies that operated on the Western front. Eighteen Hunter Valley men were killed in action whilst serving with these mining companies, four of whom were from the Kurri Kurri and Weston areas. A Proud Day for Australia no less one of the greatest days in our history. It was for their typical qualities of endurance and fortitude the miners praises were sung. Five small plaques [Service number, Rank, Name, Decorations] Logo plaque 1 Cessnock City Council Logo plaque 2 Mine Workers Trust CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District Related memorials Kurri Kurri War Memorial Kurri Kurri Lone Pine 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 R Aldred First World War, 1914–18 view J Fenwick First World War, 1914–18 view E Mears First World War, 1914–18 view H Smith First World War, 1914–18 view J Wasley First World War, 1914–18 view Do you know more about this war Memorial? Click here to learn how you can contribute Sidebar Address Rotary Park Cnr Lang and Barton Streets Kurri Kurri NSW 2327 Local Government Area Cessnock, City of Setting Garden/park Location status Original location Memorial type Stone/bushrock Recorded by Cessnock City Council Library Conflict/s First World War, 1914–18 Materials Metal Other stone