Blaxland War Memorial Park contains a sandstone cenotaph, dedicated to First World War soldier Private Harold Kenneth Campbell.
The monument was established by the residents of Blaxland and Blue Mountains Shire in 1925, to commemorate Harold Campbell, the only resident of Blaxland who was killed in the First World War. It was dedicated on 28 March 1925 by Sir Charles Rosenthal, KCB,CMG,DSO, opposite Blaxland Railway station, close to the Campbell family home 'Beverley' which stood where the present day Blaxland Shopping Centre (IGA) now stands.
In 1926, when the Great Western Highway was proclaimed, the monument was relocated to Blaxland Park, which was at the western end of the town.
Originally, the monument had a feature element of a captured German machine gun, but this was removed at an unknown date for reasons unknown. It is thought about the same time, the original wreaths and plaques were also removed.
Between 1985 and 1987, the Great Western Highway was upgraded in this section, and Wilson Way was also re-routed to its present configuration. This had the effect of alienating the monument from Blaxland Park. Following investigations from local historians and the Glenbrook-Blaxland RSL Sub-Branch, and assistance from the Federal Member for Macquarie, Mr Ross Free, plaques were added to the front and rear of the monument.
In 1999, following representations from local residents, including Barbara Higginson, Blaxland Park was renamed Blaxland War Memorial Park.
In 2014, Blue Mountains City Council, with grants from the Federal and State Governments refurbished the monument, replacing the original dedication plaques and wreaths to the short faces, undertook minor stonework and joint repairs and improved drainage around the monument. A replica post and chain fence was also installed around the monument.
Information from Mrs. B Higginson:
The monument measures in height 1.550mm, length 1.530mm, and width 900mm.
The monument is a rectangular block of sandstone on a two tiered base, comprised of four large slabs of sandstone, and has a two piece sandstone top.
The monument was first erected alongside the railway steps in the centre of the town of Blaxland and on the southern side of the railway line, when the main road was on the northern side of the railway line. In 1926 when the new main road was built on the southern side of the railway, the monument was relocated in the park on the western end of town. In 1985/87 the Great Western Highway was widened and Wilson Way was re-routed, dissecting Blaxland Park. The monument was allowed to stay in position and Wilson Way was constructed around it, leaving it on its site, but now on the grass strip between the Great Western Highway and Wilson Way, near the intersection of these two roads.
A captured German machine gun was originally mounted on top of the monument. The gun, according to old time residents, Nan Munro and David Thomas, was removed during the second World War and used as scrap metal to make steel for the war effort. The gun has never been replaced but the marks remain on top of the monument where the gun once stood.
When first erected there were two round plaques on the eastern and western ends of the monument, and a large rectangular plaque on the southern side. It is believed that these plaques were removed at the same time as the gun and used for the same purpose. This belief cannot be substantiated. The position of these plaques can be clearly seen on the monument. Nobody knows or can remember what was on these plaques, and no information can be found about them. Many other people have researched these plaques including the RSL, Council and local Federal Member Mr Ross Free, but all to no avail.
The monument was restored in November, 1989 when two new bronze plaques were attached to the monument, on the northern and southern sides. The plaque on the southern side has a rising sun, In Memory of 3715 Private H. K. Campbell, 3 Battalion, 2.8.1916, Age 19, Lest We Forget. The plaque on the northern side has the following information; The Grave of Private Harold Kenneth Campbell is at St Sever Cemetery France, This memorial was erected by his family and the people of Blaxland in 1925, and was refurbished in 1989.
The new bronze plaques have raised gold lettering on a black background, with a gold border all around the outside edge of the plaque. The plaque on the souther side also has a rising sun above the lettering.
The monument was surrounded by a post and chain fence.
Location:
The monument to Blaxland's First World War hero, Private Harold Kenneth Campbell is situated on the grass strip between the Great Western Highway and Wilson Way on the western end of the town of Blaxland, and near the street lights at the intersection of these two roads.
Blaxland is a town situated on the lower Blue Mountains, about 900mm west of Sydney on the Great Western Highway. Blaxland is approx 11km west of Penrith, and approx 9.5km east of Springwood, the two largest neighbouring towns.
The monument was first erected in the centre of the town near the railway steps in the days when the main road was on the northern side of the railway line. In 1926 when the new main road was built on the southern side of the railway line the monument was moved to the park on the western end of the town of Blaxland.
In 1989 when the Great Western Highway was widened, the monument was moved a little to the south and the road works were built around it. The monument was refurbished at this time.
Date of Construction/Installation:
The nearest date obtainable is March, 1925. An article was printed in the Blue Mountains Echo of 3 April, 1925, which describes the ceremony of the "unveiling and dedication of a memorial, erected by the good people of Blaxland, to the memory of Private Harold Campbell."
Name of Builder/Stonemason:
There is no mention anywhere either in the newspapers or on the monument itself as to who the builder or the stonemason was. However, there were stonemasons at Lawson, Springwood and Penrith, all within easy reach of the town and the railway, and sandstone has been used in many monuments in the cemeteries at Springwood, Faulconbridge, Emu Plains and Penrith.
Body or Organisation responsible:
The monument to Private Harold Kenneth Campbell was erected by the Cameron family and the people of Blaxland. Presumably the money was raised in the small community of Blaxland at the time to pay for the memorial.
Gregory's Commercial Guide of 1938 showed the population of Blaxland as 143 (H F Calver, "Some Aspects of the Early Church of England in Blaxland", unpublished and undated.)
There were not very many permanent residents at Blaxland in the 20s/30s but many Sydney businessmen had holiday homes in the village. It was a small close community and no doubt the businessmen also contributed generously towards the cost of erecting the monument in honour of Harold Campbell. The Campbell family were a well-known and respected family in the town and had been responsible for donating the land on which the Church of England was established.
There was also a memorial to Private Harold Kenneth Campbell erected in the Church of England at Blaxland, but the church and all its contents were destroyed in the 1968 bushfires.
Historical Information:
Private Harold Kenneth Campbell "enlisted in the 1st Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, New South Wales on 25 August, 1915". Private Campbell's number was 3715 (Letter to Ms J Tolhurst, Mountain Press Pty Ltd, Springwood, from Central Army Records Office Melbourne, 16 November 1987). The Mountain Press are publishers of the Mountain Gazette, which published several articles about the Harold Campbell memorial when the road was being widened and re-routed in 1985/87.
Private Harold Kenneth Campbell was born at Croydon, New South Wales in March 1897. At the time of his death he was 19 years and 5 months old.
Harold Campbell was the son of Edith J and James S Campbell. By the time Harold enlisted in the Australian forces, the family has taken up residence at Blaxland, on the lower Blue Mountains, in a home called "Beverley". "Beverley" was destroyed by fire in the 1968 fires. Private Harold Campbell embarked on the "Medic" at Sydney for overseas service with the 3 Australian Infantry Battalion on 7 January, 1916. He died as a results of his wounds on 2 August, 1916 in the 6th General Hospital at Rouen. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery, France, in grave number 3070.
In memory of Private Harold Campbell, a monument was erected at Blaxland, by his family and the people of Blaxland, in March 1925. The monument was first placed by the railway steps on the southern side of Blaxland Railway Station, "in full view of passengers by the passing trains" (Blue Mountains Echo, 3 April, 1925)
Note: There is confusion as to the age Harold was when he died. His enlistment papers give his date of birth as in February 1896, which would have made him 20 at the time of his death, as shown on the main plaque (refer to inscription below). This is reflected in the original drawings of the monument.
Note from Mrs. B Higginson: New plaques were supplied by Australian Office of War Graves in 1989. The original plaques, situated on the eastern, western and southern aspects of the monument are believed to have been removed during the Second World War. The positions of the original plaques can be plainly seen on the monument.