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North Bondi War Memorial

North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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North Bondi War Memorial
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Description / Background

This war memorial has plaques with descriptions of every war or battle Australia has been involved in, as well as peacekeeping efforts. The plaques are attached to a modern S-shaped sculpture. The memorial site also contains pictures all 98 Victoria Cross recipients. A granite 'Lest We Forget' wall includes the badges of the services. Finally, it has a black granite wall dedicated to the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, Captain Reginald Saunders MBE wall with a famous quote.

Valued at over $430,000, the new war memorial was designed by Bryan Bathgate of Curtain Bathgate & Somers Architects and the commissioned sculpture is by Di Emme Creative Solutions.

The sculptural essence of the new memorial is to symbolize the solidarity, unison, courage and spirit of the Australian mateship at war.

The sailor, soldier and airman/woman are represented in a palette of materials:

  • Stainless steel blades 300mm width representing the military serviceman /woman of the ADF triservices;
  • Concrete curved blocks 150mm width x 300 high representing battlement;
  • 20mm x300mm glass inserts to the concrete block between the stainless steel blades representing the spirit and eternal flame presence when lit;
  • All collectively arranged from 800mm high to 2400mm and bolted together to create the structural integrity of the sculpture that provides the foundation of the memorial representing strength and unison in numbers.
  • The use of aged bronze represents the triservices in the form of the service badges of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force;
  • Three bronze cladded pillars with a montage of iconic images from each Australian Defence Force service.
  • War diary excerpts from all wars and conflicts that Australia has been engaged in are located through the memorial sculpture in the form of bronze plaques which provide a narrative and personal experience of the memorial.

Memorial sculpture

The large S-shaped memorial sculpture is made of marine grade stainless steel, glass and stone with four bronze pillars in the middle with the words “Endurance”, “Mateship”, “Courage” and “Sacrifice” inscribed.

Attached to the sculpture are 20 descriptive plaques of each war Australia has been in and one plaque dedicated to peacekeeping.

Reginald ‘Reg’ Saunders wall

The Capt. Reginald Saunders MBE wall recognises Australia’s first Aboriginal commissioned officer. It is emblazoned with the following quote:

On Anzac eve we dug in among friends. At last I felt like an Anzac, and imagine there were 600 others like me.

This quote is in bronze lettering across a large black granite wall with a cast bronze plaque that reads “Capt. Reginald Walter Saunders MBE – the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, said on 24 April 1951 at the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War.” This wall overlooks Bondi Beach.

Victoria Cross wall

The Victoria Cross recipients wall is made of black granite, and bears laser images, names, rank, and the theatre of war for all 98 Australian VC Award recipients.

“Lest We Forget” wall

The words “Lest We Forget” are emblazoned on a black granite wall in aged bronze lettering, alongside aged cast bronze badges of the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australian Air Force.

The memorial is located adjacent to North Bondi RSL Club.

Inscription

Memorial sculpture

'Endurance', 'Mateship', 'Courage', 'Sacrifice'

Reginald ‘Reg’ Saunders wall

'On Anzac eve we dug in among friends. At last I felt like an Anzac, and imagine there were 600 others like me' 'Capt. Reginald Walter Saunders MBE – the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, said on 24 April 1951 at the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War'

Lest We Forget wall

'Lest We Forget'

Dedication plaque

This War Memorial was donated to the community of Waverley on the 27th November 2011 by The Returned & Services League of Australia and opened by Brigadier D. T. Mulhall, AM, CSC Commander 17th Combat Service Support Brigade Australian Army Donald Rowe, OAM RSL NSW State President CR John Wakefield Mayor of Waverley North Bondi RSL Sub-Branch Executives & Trustees Frederick D. ALderman, President & Trustee David J. Griffiths, DCM, PatronMartyn Bell, CSC, President North Bondi RSL Club Ltd. David S. Sims, Vice President & Trustee Norbert C. Keough, JP, Honorary Secretary William Davis, Vice President Andrew Trickett, Treasurer Frederick D. Hyland, JP, Trustee

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
William Matthew Currey view
Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler Second World War, 1939–45 NX12378 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Henry Dalziel view
William Thomas Dartnell view
Phillip Davey view
Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick Second World War, 1939–45 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) Malay Barrier 1941–1942 view
Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson view
William Dunstan view
John James Dwyer view
Corporal John Hurst Edmondson Second World War, 1939–45 NX15705 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) North Africa 1940 - 1942 view

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Address
Scarborough Crescent Reserve
118-120 Ramsgate Avenue
North Bondi NSW 2026
Local Government Area
Waverley, Municipality of
Setting
Garden/park
Memorial type
Statue/sculpture/artwork
Wall
Recorded by
Norbert Keough, North Bondi RSL Sub-Branch and Bruce Macbryde
Year of construction
2011
Dedication date
27 November 2011
Conflict/s
Peacekeeping, 1947–present
All conflicts