The cenotaph was erected to commemorate those who made the supreme sacrifice in the First World War. The cenotaph is set on two brick steps with four statues of service personnel mounted on the top of the cenotaph. The memorial was unveiled at an impressive ceremony on 11 November 1938 by Lieutenant Colonel N D Barton MD, Commanding Officer of the 6th Light Horse Regiment, Parkes, and was dedicated by Reverend A E White. The stonemason, Mr Shakespeare of Parkes, was the contractor for the erection of the memorial (The Forbes Advocate, 15 November 1938).
Since that date, further memorial plaques have been attached to the Cenotaph. The names and dates of various conflicts are inscribed in gold and black lettering on the front of the monument. The cenotaph is surrounded by walls, bearing an honour roll inscribed on black stone plaques. This later honour roll was unveiled on 17 June 2000.