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South West Rocks Cenotaph

South West Rocks CenotaphSouth West Rocks CenotaphSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of honour roll 1South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of honour roll 2South West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of 'erected by' plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Boer War plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Boxer Rebellion plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Korean War plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Malayan Emergency plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Indonesian (Borneo) Confrontation plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Vietnam War plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of peacekeeping plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of prisoners of war plaqueSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Albert ChowneSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Sir Roden CutlerSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaquefor Thomas Currie DerrickSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for John Hurst EdmondsonSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Hughie EdwardsSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for John Alexander FrenchSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Percival Eric GratwickSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Arthur Stanley GurneySouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for Richard KelliherSouth West Rocks Cenotaph, close-up of Australia Remembers plaque for William Henry Kibby
Description

The memorial is a grey granite obelisk, supported by a terazzo stone base, which is positioned on top of three stone steps. It is surrounded by grass and bordered by a low, granite block wall. A marble honour roll for the First World War is attached to the front (western side) of the monument. 

The memorial was established by the South West Rocks sub-Branch of the Returned Sailors' Soldiers' and Airmens Imperial League of Australia. The stonework and inscription on the First World War roll were completed by Mr Dunn of nearby Frederickton. 

The obelisk was unveiled on Anzac Day, 25 April 1940. The ceremony was described in the Macleay Chronicle on 1 May. At a later date, an honour roll for the Second World War was inscribed on a marble plaque attached to the left-hand side of the monument. 

More recently, several bronze plaques have been added to the site. They include:

  • Six plaques dedicated to Australians who have served in the Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian (Borneo) Confrontation, Vietnam War
  • One plaque dedicated to Australians who have served in peacekeeping missions since 1947.
  • A plaque for those who were held as prisoners of war.
  • Ten plaques to individual veterans who received the Victoria Cross for their service in the Second World War, dedicated as part of the Australia Remembers campaign. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Plaques 3-10 were dedicated on 15 August 1995:
    1. Lieutenant Albert Chowne V.C., M.M.
    2. Sir Arthur Roden Cutler V.C., A.K., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E.
    3. Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick V.C., D.C.M.
    4. Corporal John Hurst Edmondson V.C.
    5. Wing Commander Hughie Idwal Edwards V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C., C.B., O.B.E.
    6. Corporal John Alexander French V.C.
    7. Private Percival Eric Gratwick V.C.
    8. Private Arthur Stanley Gurney V.C.
    9. Private Richard Kelliher V.C.
    10. Sergeant William Henry Kibby V.C.

Commemorative services are held on site at the cenotaph.

Inscription

Obelisk - front 

THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
HAIL AND FAREWELL
ALL HONOR GIVE
TO THOSE WHO NOBLY STRIVING
NOBLY FELL THAT WE MIGHT LIVE

First World War honour roll - front

In Memory Of Our
— Fallen —
[Names]

Second World War honour roll - left side

NAMES OF FALLEN 2ND AIF
NAVY
[Names]
ARMY
[Names]
AIR FORCE
[Names]

Plaque

Erected by South West Rocks R.S.S. & A.I.L.A.

Plaque

BOER WAR
1899–1902
Southern Africa

Militia Forces of the six Australian colonies, and Australia after Federation in 1900 totalled nearly 19,000 men 

606 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

BOXER REBELLION
1900–1901
China

With all Australian colonies committed to the Boer War 560 naval personnel from the Australian Colonies of New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria saw action

6 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

KOREAN WAR
1950–1953

Korea was divided at the 38th North Parallel at the end of WW2, resulting in an invasion by North Korea into South Korea

Australians served - 17, 000

339 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

MALAYAN EMERGENCY
1948–1960

The Malayan Communist party sought to overthrow the British Colonial Government by way of terrorism and guerrila warfare.

Australians served - 7,000

36 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

CONFRONTATION - BORNEO
1962–1966

An undeclared war arising from the efforts of Indonesia to destabilise and destroy the new Federation of Malaysia

Australians served - 3,500

15 Australians lost their lives

Plaque

SOUTH VIETNAM
1962–1972

Australia was part of "The Free World Forces". Our involvement in South Vietnam, was attributed to shared concerns with eight other nations about the spread of Communism in Europe and Asia

Australians served - 50,000

520 lost their lives

Plaque

Peacemaking and peacekeeping operations since 1947

The Australian Defence Forces have been involved in

The Dutch East Indies, Indonesia, India-Pakistan, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Korea, The Congo, West Iran, Yemen, Rhodesia, Uganda, Iran-Iraq, Iraq-Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Cambodia, Namibia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Western Sahara, Somalia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Haiti, Guatemala, Bougainville, Kuwait, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan

The war against terrorism continues

Plaque

PRISONERS OF WAR

Between the Boer War at the turn of the 20th century, and the Korean War in the 1950's, 34,000 Australian service men and women were incarcerated in prisoner of war (POW) camps, 8,600 of our men and women died in captivity in these camps, many more suffered inhumane and atrocious treatment from their captors.

Australia recognises the pain and suffering they endured in the service of our nation.

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Lieutenant
Albert Chowne
V.C. M.M.
Born 19-7-1920 Died 25-3-1945
15th August 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Lieutenant
Sir Arthur Roden Cutler
V.C., A.K., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., O.B.E.
Born 24-5-1916 Died [no date on plaque]
We Will Remember Them
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Lieutenant
Thomas Currie Derrick
V.C., D.C.M.
Born 20-3-1914 Died 23-5-1945
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Corporal
John Hurst Edmondson
V.C.
Born 8-10-1914 Died 14-4-1941
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Wing Commander
Hughie Idwal Edwards
V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C., C.B., O.B.E.
Born 1-8-1914 Died 5-8-1982
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Corporal
John Alexander French
V.C.
Born 15.7.1914 Died 4.9.1942
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Private Percival Eric Gratwick
V.C.
Born 19-10-1902 Died 26-10-1942
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Private Arthur Stanley Gurney
V.C.
Born 15-12-1908 Died 22-7-1942
15 August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Private
Richard Kelliher
V.C.
Born 1-9-1910 Died 28-1-1963
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Plaque

Australia Remembers
1939–1945
Sergeant
William Henry Kibby
V.C.
Born 15-4-1903 Died 31-10-1942
15th August, 1995
Lest We Forget

Related links

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given Name Family Name Conflict/s Fate Service No. Service Unit at embarkation Campaign Read more
Lieutenant Albert Chowne Second World War, 1939–45 Killed in action (KIA) NX24405 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) 2/2 Australian Infantry Battalion view
Pte W. Cooper World War 1 2541 Army 33rd Btn view
Pte F Cooper World War 1 4434 AIF 2/13 Btn view
Pte G. Crossingham World War 1 2542 Army 33rd Btn view
Pte W. Crossingham World War 1 2540 Army 33rd Btn view
Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler Second World War, 1939–45 Returned to Australia (RTA) NX12378 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) 2/5 Field Regiment view
D/va H. Dennis World War 1 2482 Army 37th Btn view
Lieutenant Thomas Currie Derrick Second World War, 1939–45 Died of wounds (DOW) Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion Malay Barrier 1941–1942 view
Pte F Dimond World War 1 1522 AIF 2/2 Btn view
Corporal John Hurst Edmondson Second World War, 1939–45 Killed in action (KIA) NX15705 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion North Africa 1940 - 1942 view

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Address
Horseshoe Bay Reserve
Cnr Livingstone Ave and Ocean Drive
South West Rocks NSW 2431
Australia
Local Government Area
  • Kempsey Shire
Setting
  • Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
  • Obelisk
Recorded by
Alex Robinson and Arthur McKean, South West Rocks RSL sub-Branch. Graham Wilson.
Year of construction
1940
Established Date format: 
$e_original_date = $entity->field_established['und'][0]['value']; if (!empty($e_original_date)) { $changed_date = strtotime($e_original_date); $new_date = date("d F Y", $changed_date); print '
Established date
'; print $new_date; } else{ print ''; }
Dedication date
25 April 1940
Conflict/s
  • South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
  • China (Boxer Rebellion), 1900–01
  • First World War, 1914–18
  • Second World War, 1939–45
  • Korean War, 1950–53
  • Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
  • Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
  • Vietnam War, 1962–75
  • Peacekeeping, 1947–present
  • All conflicts
Materials
  • Bronze
  • Granite
  • Marble

Memorials nearby

Memorial Distance
South West Rocks First World War Memorial Avenue 0.34
South West Rocks RSL Club First World War Honour Roll 0.74
South West Rocks Trial Bay Gaol German Monument 3.27
Stuarts Point War Memorial 8.28
Yarrahapinni Public School First World War Honour Roll 8.62
Eungai and Surrounding District Second World War Honour Roll 8.62
Scotts Head and Wai Wai Districts Honour Roll 15.56
Eungai Soldiers' Memorial Hall 16.06
Eungai Public School First World War Honor Roll (Lost) 16.63
Eungai Creek Cemetery First World War Memorial 16.89