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Ramornie Cenotaph

Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Ramornie Cenotaph
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Description / Background

The Ramornie Cenotaph is situated in a park on the side of the Gwyder Highway at Ramornie. It is a marble obelisk standing on a pedestal, which is mounted on a concrete base. Pine trees grown from seeds from the original Lone Pine tree from Gallipoli stand along the rear of the memorial. A long row of rosemary has been planted as a hedge at the front of the park. A single flagpole stands behind the hedge in line with the monument.

The cenotaph was originally erected to commemorate the soldiers from Ramornie who served and fell in the First World War. An inscription in black lettering on one side of the marble pedestal honours the fallen servicemen. An additional two sides of the memorial's pedestal are inscribed with the names and rank of the 14 fallen servicemen from the war. A crossed rifle and bayonet design intertwined with ivy is carved into the obelisk above the names on one side of the memorial. An inscription was later added on the fourth side of the pedestal to commemorate those from the Jackadgery, Cangai, and Eatonsville districts who served and fell in all conflicts. A black marble plaque honouring those who served and died in the Second World War, Korea, Malaya, and Vietnam has been added later to the concrete base.

The Daily Examiner, 23 May 1922, reported on a meeting held at the Ramornie Meat Works where the details of the unveiling ceremony were discussed. The obelisk, together with a machine gun trophy, were unveiled on Empire Day, 24 May 1922. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Mrs J Allen and Mrs Winkler from Ramornie, with speakers including the Bishop of Grafton and Mr D J Lobbau, with singing by local school children.

Two gardens are situated on either side of the obelisk, one contains a brass plaque laid on ground rock commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong in South Korea; the other garden contains a brass plaque commemorating animals that served in wars. Five pine trees stand towards the rear of the park, under which is situated a remembrance seat, featuring the last lines of The Ode.

Inscription

Base - front 

In honour

of our Ramornie soldiers

who fought and fell for

the Empire's cause, in the

Great War

1914 - 1919.

Plaque

Lest we forget

World War II 1939-1945

Korea 1950-1953

Malaya 1964-1965

Vietnam 1965-1972

Base - left side 

In honour of all those

who served and fell

in all conflicts from

the Jackadgery, Cangi

and Eatonsville districts

"Lest we forget"

Base - rear 

[Names and rank]

Base - right side 

[Names and rank]

Garden - plaque

Commemorating the 70th Anniversary

of the Battle of Kapyong, South Korea

23-25 April 1951

3rd Battalion,

Royal Australian

Regiment

Princess Patricia

Canadian Light

Infantry

16th Field Regiment

Royal New Zealand 

Artillery

A Company 72nd US

Tank Battalion

Freedom is not free

Lest we forget

South Grafton RSL sub-Branch

Garden - plaque

Dedicated to all

war animals

They also served

Lest we forget

Remembrance seat

South Grafton RSL

Est. Jan 1938

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them

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Address
Gwydir Highway
Ramornie NSW 2460
Local Government Area
Clarence Valley Council
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Board/roll/plaque/tablet
Obelisk
Recorded by
Barry Whalley. Graham Wilson. Peter Hay, Clarence Valley Council.
Year of construction
1922
Dedication date
24 May 1922
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Vietnam War, 1962–75
All conflicts
Materials
Concrete
Marble
Other stone