South West Rocks First World War Memorial Avenue

Ronald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntoshRonald L McIntosh
Description

A total of 83 men from the Kempsey district enlisted for active service in the Great War, eight did not return. From 1914, Norfolk Island Pines were planted along Memorial Drive, originally called Sturt Street, in remembrance of those soldiers who lost their lives. Plaques were also installed, listing their details. Only four of these trees remain, the rest were replaced with New Zealand Christmas bushes.

Sturt Street was renamed Memorial Avenue and the memorial tablets were placed under the Norfolk Island Pines and re-dedicated in 1927. Two veterans died of war related injuries and sickness, and tablets for each of them were installed. Anzac Day services were held on the corner of Memorial Avenue and Livingstone Street for many years, until the South West Rocks Cenotaph was constructed. All 10 of the veterans listed on the tablets are listed on the Cenotaph. The tablets are painted white, stand approximately 60cm tall and are made of concrete. Each bears the veteran's name, rank, service number and Unit. They are heritage listed and are maintained by the South West Rocks RSL Club under the Environmental Heritage regulations.

Inscription

Example of a tablet

No. 2541
Pte. W. Cooper
33rd Batt.

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given Name Family Name Conflict/s Fate Service No. Service Unit at embarkation Campaign Read more
Private W Cooper World War 1 KIA 12.10.1918 2541 AIF 33rd Battalion Infantry Belgium view
Private C Crossingham World War 1 DOW 05.04.1918 2542 AIF 33rd Battalion Infantry France view
Private WA Crossingham World War 1 DOS 22.02.1917 2540 AIF 33rd Battalion Infantry England view
Driver H Dennis World War 1 DOW 06.10.1917 2482 AIF 37th Battalion Belgium view
Private A Edwards World War 1 18.06.1918 4343 AIF 2nd Battalion France view
Driver PJ Flanagan World War 1 730 AIF 45th Battalion view
Trooper L Plummer World War 1 16.02.1916 AIF 6th Light Horse Australia view
Private SR Plummer World War 1 7518 AIF 34th Battalion / 13th Battalion view
Private A Sanders World War 1 KIA 06.08.1915 1213 AIF 1st Battalion Gallipoli view
Lieutenant H Thompson World War 1 DOW 15-4.1918 AIF 18th Battalion France view

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Address
Memorial Avenue
South West Rocks NSW 2431
Australia
Local Government Area
  • Kempsey Shire
Setting
  • Roadside
Location status
Moved/altered
Memorial type
  • Memorial avenue/Memorial tree/Memorial trees
Recorded by
Ronald L McIntosh
Year of construction
1914
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
20 August 1914
Conflict/s
  • First World War, 1914–18