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Bimbi Great War Memorial

Bimbi Great War Memorial
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Bimbi Great War Memorial
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Bimbi Great War Memorial
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Bimbi Great War Memorial
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Bimbi Great War Memorial, close-up of plaque
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Bimbi Great War Memorial, close-up of honour roll
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Bimbi Great War Memorial, close-up of honour roll
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Bimbi Great War Memorial, close-up of honour roll
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Bimbi Great War Memorial, close-up of dedication
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Description / Background

The Bimbi Great War Memorial is a grey and red granite obelisk, mounted on a two-step base. The names of 68 soldiers who served in the war are inscribed on three faces of the monument. Those who were killed in the war are grouped together on one face. 

Planning for the memorial was underway by late 1921. On 21 November, The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser reported the Bimbi Red Cross Society (formed in June 1916) had donated to the Bimbi Soldiers' Memorial Fund. The secretary of the committee, R.S. Smith of Bimbi, placed an appeal in the Grenfell Record on 16 March 1922 for the public to send names of all soldiers who had volunteered for active service before 24 March. All names were to "be inscribed on the tablet, and any soldier not desiring his name thereon is asked to notify the secretary."

Early in June, a visit was made to the Waverley Monumental Works in Sydney to be shown the monument that was to be erected at Bimbi. In reporting on the visit, the Grenfell Record, 8 June 1922, listed all of the names to be placed on the monument.

The next month, the Grenfell Record, 10 July 1922, reported the design for the monument was to be re-considered by the Public Monuments Advisory Board. Five weeks later, Mr Smith advertised the unveiling ceremony would be held on Sunday, 27 August at 2.30 pm. Members of the public and returned soldiers were all invited (Grenfell Record, 17 August 1922).

The ceremony was well attended, including visitors from Grenfell and other areas. The event was described in detail in the Grenfell Record the following day. The unveiling itself was performed by Mr A.H. Grimm, M.L.A. and speeches were delivered by the Mayor of Grenfell, Alderman J.N. Taylor, and the President of Weddin Shire, Mr. W.H. Simpson. The Dedication and Benediction prayers were given by Reverend Black (Presbyterian). 

The memorial is located next to the Rural Fire Station. It is the site for various commemorative ceremonies throughout the year.

Inscription

Face 1

Killed

[Names]

This monument was erected by the residents of the district to those who fought and fell in the Great War 1914-1919.

Faces 2 and 3

[Names]

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
Pte H A Gault World War 1 6989 AIF Villers-Bretonneux, France view
Pte P W Geraty World War 1 74 AIF Armentieres, France view
B D Griffin World War 1 view
R Grimm World War 1 view
Pte H ( H T H ) Hughes World War 1 6517 AIF Bailleul, France view
N King World War 1 view
C Kirk World War 1 view
A KnIght World War 1 view
M KnIght World War 1 view
M Larkin World War 1 view

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Address
Cnr Young and Caldwell Streets
Bimbi NSW 2810
Local Government Area
Weddin Shire
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Obelisk
Recorded by
Graham Wilson. Peter Levarre-Waters.
Year of construction
1921-1922
Dedication date
27 August 1922
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Materials
Concrete
Granite
Other stone