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REDHEAD WAR MEMORIAL
Like all war memorials, the Redhead monument commemorates “local”
soldiers who have served in all conflicts in which Australia has been
involved.
The Memorial consists of three separate stone panels with each panel in
the shape of a sail or wave.
The monument is located in Bicentennial Park, next to the Redhead
Community Preschool, on Cowlishaw Street, Redhead.
Every year in ever increasing numbers, the local community gather at the
Memorial to commemorate and recognize the selfless sacrifice of soldiers
in all wars that Australia has been involved in. This involves special
recognition and understanding of ANZAC and Remembrance Days.
The foresight of Don “Banjo” Paterson and the Redhead War Memorial
Committee must be given special recognition for developing the
memorial.
The inspiration for this book was the realisation that three of the soldiers
killed in action in World War 1 had attended Redhead Public School.
Their names were found in the initial 1908 Redhead School class list
found at the State Records Department.
The two World War 1 plaques are on the right hand side of the War
Memorial as you look at it. The top plaque is in ornate copper and was
presented to the Redhead community in 1926. Some Redhead soldiers had
helped establish a large memorial at the junction of Ocean Street Dudley
and Redhead Road in the 1920s. Naturally their names appear on that War
Memorial to this day.
Further Research
Who are they?
The plaques contain some different names, and whilst the plaques inspired
this book to be written, I have relied on the evidence of local war
participation recorded on the
Certificate of the Roll of Honour
that
thanked the local soldiers for their voluntary war service during the war.
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