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Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial

Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial
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Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial - Cemetery Office backdrop
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Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial - view of 'stone of remembrance' plaque at base
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Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial - cemetery backrop
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Middle Head Submarine Mine Explosion Memorial - illustration 1894
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Description / Background

This memorial commemorates Lieutenant T. Hammand, Lieutenant R. Bedford, Corporal J. McKee, and Bugler C. Bennett, who were killed by the premature explosion of a submarine mine during the Middle Head Easter encampment in April 1891.

The upper portion of the memorial is made of marble. Resting on the upper tier of bluestone is a marble base 4ft. 6in. by 4ft. 6in. The faces of the marble base are decorated with bronze sculptures of crossed swords, with helmets and crossed sculis. The upper portion of the marble base is decorated with relief carvings of rope. Rising from the base is a die with four tablets attached, facing north, east, south, and west respectively. The die is decorated with laurel, and facing each point of the compass, there is a cherub. Above these again is a dome supporting a grenade.

The memorial rests upon a foundation of concrete, laid to a depth of 7ft. The whole occupies 9 square ft. of ground,and rises to a height of 23ft. The total weight of the structure is 21 tons, 11 tons of which is marble.

Erected at the entrance to Waverley Cemetery, the memorial was unveiled on 6 May 1894 by Major General Hutton, in the presence of representatives of all branches of the military force. 

Inscription

Bluestone base, one name per side

Hammand - Bedford -  McKee - Bennett

Marble tablets

Corp J A McKee Aged 25 years

Bugler C Bennett Aged 23 years

Lieut. T Hammand Aged 38 years

Lieut. R Bedford Aged 36 years

This monument is erected by their comrades of the miltary forces of New South Wales

Marble tablet at base of memorial

Lest we forget

Stone of Rememberance

Anzac Day 25 April 2010

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Sidebar
Address
Waverley Cemetary
Cnr St Thomas and Trafalgar Streets
Bronte NSW 2024
Local Government Area
Waverley, Municipality of
Setting
Garden/park
Memorial type
Column/pillar
Recorded by
Margaret Diebert
Dedication date
06 May 1894
Conflict/s
Other
Materials
Bronze
Concrete
Marble
Other stone