2020 marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War. To commemorate this important year, the NSW Government interviewed WWII veterans about their experiences. Read our 75th Anniversary Stories.
The 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. Marble plaaques are attached to the base of the monument.
The Maitland Weekly Mercury, 21 March 1903, 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.
The memorial is located in front of the Tenterfield and District Soldiers Memorial Hall.
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
Trooper WILLIAM BENDER
Died from enteric fever at Bloemfontein
3rd April 1900
Trooper ARTHUR PERCY BRITTEN GREY
Died from enteric fever at Pretoria
19th November 1901
Sergeant-Major JAMES MITCHELL
Killed at Elands River
18th August 1900
Rank | Given Name | Family Name | Conflict/s | Fate | Service No. | Service | Unit | Campaign | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trooper | William | Bender | Boer War | KIA 19/07/1900 | 178 | Colonial Military Forces | Mt Rifles - NSW A Sqd | Palmersfontein, South Africa | view |
Trooper | Arthur Percy Britten | Grey | South African | Died 9/11/1900 | 201 | Colonial Military Forces | NSW Citizen Bushmen | Pretoria, South Africa | view |
Sergeant-Major | James | Mitchell | Boer War | KIA 17/8/1900 | 130, 508 | Colonial Military Forces | Tenterfield Squadron M.R., NSW Citizen Bushmen | Elands River, South Africa | view |
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