Auburn's Temporary Roll of Honour (Lost/Missing)

Auburn's Temporary Roll of Honour was presented to the local Recruiting Committee in 1916 and was intended to be a spur to recruitment for the First World War. The roll was donated by Mr S M Paris, and was erected in South Parade, close to the entrance to the railway station. The names of the 450 servicemen on the board at the time of the unveiling were also inscribed by Mr Paris, who also did the signwriting for the Auburn Public School First World War Honour Roll.

The temporary roll consisted of two large timber boards, each with a simple decorative curved header, identical inscription headings, and 12 columns of names with up to 47 rows on each. By mid 1917, there were over 850 names on the roll. This list was the basis of the Municipality of Auburn First World War Honour Roll, installed originally in Auburn Town Hall shortly after the war, and for the names on the Auburn War Memorial, unveiled in 1922.

The unveiling ceremony was held on 22 July 1916 on South Parade and was attended by 2,000 people (Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 29 July 1916). The Mayor of Auburn, Alderman T Cheetham, presided over the event, which was attended by military representatives, ministers of local churches and members of the Recruiting Committee, including the Chairman, Alderman C F Willick. The unveiling was performed by Colonel David Miller, District Inspector of Camps, who evoked great applause by mentioning the name of ex-Mayor of Auburn, Corporal William James Johnson, who was at the front in France. Unfortunately, Corporal Johnson died of wounds the day after the newspaper report was published. 

The Temporary Honour Roll was decorated each Empire Day until its removal in 1919. Its fate is unknown.