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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial

Tenterfield Boer War Memorial
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, front view and surroundings
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, front panel
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, left panel
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, right panel
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, back panel
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Tenterfield Boer War Memorial, close-up of tiger emblem
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Archival image, Tenterfield Boer War Memorial c1920, The State Library of NSW
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Description / Background

The Tenterfield Boer War Memorial features a sandstone statue of a rifleman, standing at ease, holding a carbine rifle in his right hand. He stands atop a sandstone dome, supported by a granite and sandstone pillar base, with decorative marble columns supporting the dome. Four Carrara marble plaaques are attached to the base of the monument and are inscribed with leaded lettering. 

On 21 March 1903, the Maitland Weekly Mercury published the below description of the memorial:

A sandstone plinth covers the panels and carries four short sandstone bases supporting four solid marble columns. In the space between the columns is a sandstone die, bearing the crest and motto of the Rifles. The motto is Toujours Pret–"Always Ready". 

The statue was cut out of Ravensfield sandstone ... and is the work of Charles O'Kelly, a Sydney sculptor. 

The memorial was designed to commemorate three members of the Tenterfield Mounted Rifles who lost their lives in South Africa, during the Boer War. It was established by the comrades of the fallen soldiers and the construction work was undertaken by Stonemason Browne of Maitland. The memorial was unveiled by Colonel Onslow from Sydney on 22 April 1903.

In 2021, the Tenterfield RSL sub-Branch commissioned Mr Robin White of Queensland Heritage Masonry to survey the momument and prepare a thorough condition report. The report was supported by a Community War Memorials Fund grant from the NSW Government. Mr White made several recommendations for cleaning, restoration, and ongoing maintenance. Overall, he commented: 

The Tenterfield Boer War Memorial is a well-proportioned and excellently constructed memorial, generally in good condition for its age, the use of a locally carved sandstone statue sets it apart from most other war memorials in Australia.

The memorial is located in front of the Tenterfield and District Soldiers Memorial Hall. It is surrounded by a timber 'palisade' fence and gardens.

Inscription

Front panel

Erected

by the Tenterfield Mounted Rifles

in memory of their three comrades

who fell in South Africa

during the Boer War 1900–1902.

Browne.Maitland

Left panel

Trooper William Bender

Died from enteric fever at Bloemfontein

3rd April 1900

Right panel

Trooper Arthur Percy Britten Grey

Died from enteric fever at Pretoria

19th November 1901

Back panel

Sergeant-Major James Mitchell 

Killed at Elands River

18th August 1900

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
Trooper William Bender Boer War 178 Colonial Military Forces Palmersfontein, South Africa view
Trooper Arthur Percy Britten Grey South African 201 Colonial Military Forces Pretoria, South Africa view
Sergeant-Major James Mitchell Boer War 130, 508 Colonial Military Forces Elands River, South Africa view

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Address
Tenterfield and District Soldiers Memorial Hall
96 Molesworth Street
Tenterfield NSW 2372
Local Government Area
Tenterfield Shire
Setting
Building – outside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Monument
Recorded by
David Stewart. Graham Wilson.
Year of construction
1903
Dedication date
22 April 1903
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
Materials
Granite
Marble
Sandstone