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Wagga Wagga 1915 Kangaroo March Memorial

Wagga Wagga 1915 Kangaroo March Memorial
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Anzac Avenue Walkway with Sign and Plaques.
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Kangaroo March Memorial Information Panel.
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Walter Beaver Plaque.
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Charles Brooker Plaque.
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Archie Box Plaque.
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Description / Background

The Wagga Wagga Kangaroo 1915 March Memorial commemorates the eighty eight men who took part in a recruiting march from Wagga Wagga to Sydney, a distance of 350 miles, which started in Wagga Wagga on the 1st December 1915. The memorial is located on the Anzac Avenue Walkway which itself borders the western side of the Wagga Wagga Victory Memorial Gardens. Along the walkway are eighty eight individual plaques each with the name of one of the men who took part in the march. There is also a large interpretation panel which provides information on the history of the march and its significance.

The memorial was unveiled as part of a ceremony to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the march in 2015. The ceremony took place at 2 pm on Tuesday 1 December 2015 where local dignitaries joined relatives of the original marchers to unveil the first 11 of the 88 memorial plaques placed along the walkway.

Inscription

WAGGA WAGGA KANGAROO MARCH 1915

In late 1915 and early 1916 recruitment marches were held across the country. The longest march in NSW and QLD was the Kangaroo March which began on 1 December 1915. Eight eight Wagga Wagga men volunteered - most in their early 20s. By the time the men reached the outskirts of Sydney there was over 220 in all. They marched with rousing cheer, stirring music and sustenance support from townsfolk along the way to Harefield, Junee, Illabo, Bethungra, Cootamundra and Wallendbeen. At Wallendbeen on December 9th, they were addressed by the Governor-General of Australia. The March continued to Murrumburrah then Harden, through Galong, Binalong and Bowning to Yass, averaging 8.8. miles per day before finishing at Campbelltown where the Kangaroo recruits went by train into Sydney so as to retain the country contingent. The march captivated the early war years sentiment of the times.

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
Private August Arndt First World War, 1914–18 1613 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private Tom Baker First World War, 1914–18 1623 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private Mick Ball First World War, 1914–18 1618 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) Somme 1918 view
Private Jack Beaver First World War, 1914–18 1624 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Walter Beaver First World War, 1914–18 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Corporal Archie Box First World War, 1914–18 1621 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) Somme 1918 view
Private Wentworth Bradney First World War, 1914–18 1620 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) Somme 1916 - 1917 view
Charles Brookes First World War, 1914–18 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private Les Brown First World War, 1914–18 5346 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view
Private Reg Brown First World War, 1914–18 5345 Australian Army - First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) view

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Sidebar
Address
Anzac Avenue Walkway
Morrow Street
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Local Government Area
Wagga Wagga, City of
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Memorial avenue/Memorial tree/Memorial trees
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
2015
Dedication date
01 December 2015
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Materials
Metal
Other stone