War Memorials in Australia
Bacchus Marsh South African Memorial Fountain
Place:
Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, 3340
District: Central
(VIC)
Orientation:55 km W of
Melbourne
Location: Bacchus Marsh Road
Position:
Ref: 30401
__________________________
The memorial is a column of red and grey granite on a granite plinth on a granite base. It was originally a drinking fountain.
Subscription lists for donations to build the memorial were circulated in March 1901. With a view to making the subscription general but not burdensome a sum of one shilling was proposed. Schoolchildren contributed at the suggestion of Mr S. T Staughton who was the major donor. It was unveiled in November 1901, six months before the war ended, in front of the original freestone post office that has since been demolished. A detachment of Victorian Mounted Rifles and Cadets were on parade. A speaker, Mr. Kyle, quoted the late Mr. Staughton as saying, "This little fountain testifies to the unity of the Empire and the determination and the ability of the British race to uphold it."
In October 1990 it was pulled over and smashed by vandals. It was restored by April 1991 but the drinking tap and basin, which had originally faced the roadway, now face the footpath.
South face
PRO GLORIA
Insignia
VICTORIAN MOUNTED RIFLES
On section below
THIS FOUNTAIN WAS ERECTED
TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO WERE SELECTED
FROM THIS DISTRICT TO SERVE
THEIR QUEEN AND COUNTRY
IN SOUTH AFRICA
1ST CONTINGENT V.M.R.
CAPT
S. T. STAUGHTON D.S.O.
LANCE CORPL
D. SQUIRES
PTE
R. G. LYLE
PTE
V. J. VALLENCE
PTE
V. D. LYLE
On section below
THIS FOUNTAIN
ALSO PERPETUATES THE MEMORY
OF THE LATE
SAMUEL THOMAS STAUGHTON
M.L.A.
East face
S . A
1901
On section below
THESE LINES PERPETUATE
THE MEMORY OF THE LATE
CAPT
SAMUEL THOMAS
STAUGHTON
D.S.O. M.L.A.
North face
On section below
3RD CONTINGENT
SERGT
A. J. TINKER
4TH CONTINGENT
TROOPER G. GORMAN
5TH CONTINGENT
W. H. HODGSON
F. REID
WM BRIMBLECOMBE
WM SERJEANT
________
On
section below
LIEUT W. B. CHOMLEY
West face
S . A
1901
Information current to October 2004
Sources:
Some of the information and the photograph on this page have been
kindly provided by
Russ Haines Photo
© Russ Haines
Bacchus Marsh and the Boer War: A Community's Response, published by
Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society, PO Box 223 Bacchus Marsh Vic
3340,
Feb 2001