South African War MemorialPrint Page
Memorial commemorates those from the district who served during the South African (Boer) War.
Monument characteristics :
Sandstone plinth supporting a fluted column, in turn supporting a light. The memorial features carvings, including a slouch hat with crossed rifles and laurel wreath.
ORANGE, Wednesday. A memorial to soldiers who fell in South Africa was unveiled to-day by Brigadier General Gordon. The first item of the days programme was an inspection of the Orange company by the General, and this was followed by the presentations to Private Alfred Polson, of the South African medal. The General addressed the company on various matters, particularly on the lessons to be gathered from the war in the East. At 11 o'clock General Gordon was received by the Mayor at the Town Hall, and welcomed there by a number of prominent citizens. The health of the guest was honoured, and the General, in replying, referred to the necessity of adequate preparation for defence, and pointed out that a new Power had arisen in the East. The unveiling ceremony followed. The memorial, which has been erected at the intersection of Summer and Anson streets, is in the form of a pillar on plinth, surmounted by double lamps, and is the work of Messrs. M'Murtrie Brothers, of Orange.
General Gordon referred to the admiral services of Australians in South Africa, and to the patriotism displayed by the colonials, which they had in common with other necessary qualities, to make good soldiers, and appealed to all to evince more sympathy with the defence of Australia, and concluded refuting the calumnies that had been levelled against the Australian soldiers in South Africa. He then unveiled the memorial, the ceremony being followed by the playing of the National Anthem by the massed bands and the singing of the anthem by the school children.
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), 30 March 1905.
|Address:||Byng Street, Robertson Park, Orange, 2800|
|GPS Coordinates:||Lat: -33.282047|
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
|Actual Event STart Date:||11-October-1899|
|Actual Event End Date:||31-May-1902|
|Monument Designer:||Messrs McMurtrie and Co. (Orange)|
|Actual Monument Dedication Date:||Wednesday 29th March, 1905|
Pro Patria Semper / Memoriam
Serg Maj J S Smith
Trooper E J Conybeare
Trooper H St J Beasley
Trooper M L Bastic
BRIG. GEN. GORDON, C.B.
COMMDT. N.S.W.FORCES 29.3.1905.
The Patriotism of
The Contingent From
South African War
THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE
CENTENARY OF THE BOER WAR MEMORIAL
AND WAS UNVEILED BY
CR.JOHN DAVIS, MAYOR
ON 29 MARCH 2005
THE MEMORIAL HAS BEEN RESTORED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
THE COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS