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Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries VC and Pte. William Matthew Currey VC Memorial Wall

Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries VC and Pte. William Matthew Currey VC Memorial Wall
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Description / Background

This memorial is in the grounds of Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle. It consists of a brick wall with five large brass plaques for the names of those from Newcastle who served in the First and Second World Wars. In the centre, is a dedication plaque naming the wall in honour of Captain Jeffries VC and Private Currey VC. In addition, there are 100 small brass plaques attached to the wall dedicated to individual servicemen that have been installed by their families.

Immediately in front of the wall is a black stone obelisk with the words 'Lest we forget' inscribed in white and a white cross. In line with the obelisk, to the left (north) is a small Aleppo Pine and to the right (south) is a boulder with a brass plaque detailing the opening of the memorial. Further out from the obelisk, is a row of six brick pillars, from left to right, two small, two large and two small.

Inscription

Naming plaque

THE CAPT. CLARENCE SMITH JEFFRIES (V.C.) born 26.10.1894 at Wallsend killed in action 12.10.1917 Passchendaele, Belgium age 22 AND PTE. WILLIAM MATTHEW CURREY (V.C.) born 19.9.1895 at Wallsend died 20.4.1948 age 52 MEMORIAL WALL.

This memorial wall is dedicated to remembering the hardship and sacrifices made by these Australian men and women whose GALLANTRY has become LEGENDARY. WE WELL REMEMBER THEM. 

Aleppo pine

Plaque

'Donated by Taree Shire Council' ALEPPO PINE (PINUS BRUTIA) Grown from the original Lone Pine on Gallipoli. This tree planted in memory of departed comrades Year 2000. LEST WE FORGET. 

Plinth 

Aleppo pine planted 9th Jan. 2000.

Opening plaque

SANDGATE CEMETERY TRUST

To commemorate the official opening and dedication of THE CAPT CLARENCE SMITH JEFFRIES VC AND PTE WILLIAM MATTHEW CURREY VC MEMORIAL WALL 16th April 2000 by EDWARD KENNA VC and KEITH PAYNE VC.

Sandgate Cemetery Trust — Kevin Coburn, John Deppe, Susan Herd, Cynthia Hunter Ghing Marchich (Secretary), Peter Owens, Adrian Quain (Chairperson).

Newcastle RSL Council — Phil Winney (President), Colin Davies (Vice President) Charlie McGregor (Secretary). 

Designer — EJE Architecture Mike Craig. 

Clergy — Chaplain (W/Cdr) Kevin Russell, Chaplain (S/Ldr) Murray Earl Chaplin (F/Lt) Ross Naylor.

Researchers — Maureen Connelly, Nanette Harris, Gary Hodgkinson Cynthia Hunter, Garry Mitchell, Bill Saxby.

Stonemasons — Edstein Creative Stone R. F. Gates.

'Sandgate Cemetery' Bill Saxby (General Manager).

Brick pillar 1

Brass plaque of Merchant Navy.

Brick pillar 2 

Brass plaque of Royal Australian Navy.

Brick pillar 3

Our heroes. The landing at Gallipoli, was under-way at dawn Hundreds of soldiers waded ashore, from their ships of war. Guns were blazing, bullets were whistling above the Anzacs heads. The cries of wounded soldiers were heard among the dead. The frantic faces of warriors who were fighting for our land. Showed their pain and anguish their bleeding stained the sand. They wondered why this madness as one by one they fall Heroes, they were the Anzacs brave men who answered the call. by Amanda Gleeson age 11 April 1997.

Brick pillar 4

Brass plaque of Australian Commonwealth Military Forces.

Brick pillar 5

Brass plaque of Royal Australian Air Force.

Brick pillar 6 

Brass plaque of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Pro Humanitate.

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
P F Barrie World War 2 view
L C Bartholomew World War 1 view
L C Bartlett World War 2 view
W T Bartley World War 2 view
J F Bartley World War 1 view
W D Bartley World War 1 view
A Bates World War 2 NX68983 Borneo view
J F Bates World War 2 view
G R Bates World War 1 view
A C Batterham World War 2 view

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Address
116 Maitland Road,
Sandgate Cemetery,
Sandgate NSW 2304
Local Government Area
Newcastle, City of
Setting
Garden/park
Memorial type
Wall
Recorded by
Mr Robert McLardy
Year of construction
2000
Dedication date
16 April 2000
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45