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Casino High School Second World War Honour Roll

Casino High School Second World War Honour Roll
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Casino High School Second World War Honour Roll
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Description / Background

The memorial is a simply designed, timber honour roll. It has a Gothic shape at the top, and is supported by two small timber feet. The inscription and names of the ex-students and staff of Casino High School who served in the Second World War are painted on the board in gold. 

In July 1947, Mr J.W. Green, President of the Casino sub-Branch of the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women, called for details of those from the school who had lost their lives in the war (Northern Star, 11 July 1947). Four months later, on 22 November, the Star published the names of the ex-students that had been collected. 

The roll was presented to the school by Mr Green in 1949, to be placed in the former memorial library.

This library was the second memorial established at the school in the late 1940s. It was opened on the afternoon of 26 April 1949, by Mr J.T. Reid M.L.A. The event was covered in detail by the Northern Star the following day, including a photograph showing offiicals standing in front of bookshelves, presumably installed to form the libraryThe money for the initiative was mostly raised by the school's women's auxiliary.

While the memorial library has since been replaced with a modern facility, the school maintains its legacy. Each year at the special Anzac Day assembly, a book is donated to the current library in memory of deceased local servicemen and women.

Melinda Buckley, Head Teacher for Human Society and Its Environment, explained the assembly is regarded:

As one of our most important assemblies of the year. We invite families and friends of local servicemen and women, who have passed away during the year to attend. These fallen servicemen and women are commemorated by us sharing their stories and photos to showcase their service to the community. In their memory, the local Returned Servicemen's League donate a book to the library for each of them. We have musical and drama pieces, around a relevant theme, performed by the students, as well as visual art displays. After the assembly, our special guests join with our staff for morning tea. All guests leave with a gift pack of Anzac cookies that have been baked by our hospitality class.

The roll has since been moved from the library to the front foyer of the school. Access to the roll is restricted as it is inside school grounds.

Inscription

Roll

HONOUR ROLL

1939 1945

STUDENTS CASINO HIGH SCHOOL

[Names]

STAFF

[Names]

[illeg.]

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
Sergeant Errol Bancroft Second World War, 1939–45 QX9488 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Flight Sergeant William R Barber Second World War, 1939–45 423587 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Private Bruce Blanch Second World War, 1939–45 NX47960 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Sergeant Gordon Blanch Second World War, 1939–45 420827 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Flight Sergeant John S Boden Second World War, 1939–45 426013 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
Pilot Officer Raymond G Crisford Second World War, 1939–45 421576 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) view
James N Dean Second World War, 1939–45 view
Sapper James R Drinkwater Second World War, 1939–45 NX68039 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Private Henry A Ellem Second World War, 1939–45 QX7487 Australian Army - Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) view
Able Seaman Walter G Falls Second World War, 1939–45 S/6543 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) view

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Sidebar
Address
Casino High School
90 Queensland Road
Casino NSW 2470
Local Government Area
Richmond Valley Council
Setting
Building – inside
Location status
Moved/altered
Memorial type
Board/roll/plaque/tablet
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
1949
Dedication date
26 April 1949
Conflict/s
Second World War, 1939–45
Materials
Timber