War Memorials in Australia

Coral Sea Battle Memorial Park

Place: Cardwell, Queensland, 4849
District: Northern Tropical Coast and Tablelands
Orientation:
Location: Coral Sea Battle Memorial Park, Coral Sea Drive and White Street
Position:
Ref: 40255

__________________________

The main memorial in the park is a wall topped with a series of columns and bearing a series of plaques.  There are various other plaques, some attached to boulders.

 Circular bronze plaques on west face of wall, reading from north to south
1st plaque
Image and insignia of  USS Lexington
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
SHIP & CREW OF THE UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT CARRIER
USS LEXINGTON (CV2)
WHICH ENGAGED THE ENEMY AT THE BATTLE OF THE
CORAL SEA HALTING JAPAN'S SOUTHWARD THRUST
TOWARDS AUSTRALIA AND AFTER MANY HITS BY JAPANESE
PLANES, THIS MIGHTY SHIP WAS SCUTTLED BY
THE US NAVY. TO OUR SHIPMATES,
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE
FOR IT WAS THRU THEIR EFFORTS THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCEED.

PRESENTED BY
SURVIVING CREW MEMBERS.    
 

2nd plaque
Insignia of Papua New Guinea
IN MEMORY OF THOSE COMMITTED AND
COURAGEOUS PAPUA NEW GUINEANS
WHO SERVED WITH THE AUSTRALIANS
AND THEIR ALLIES IN THE PACIFIC WAR
BETWEEN 1942 AND 1945
DEDICATED BY THE PNG CONSUL TO QUEENSLAND
AND NORTHERN TERRITORY

MR. THOMAS N. POLUME

9 MAY 1993

3rd plaque
WITH LOVING MEMORIES
OF MY LATE HUSBAND HAROLD
REAR-ADMIRAL
H. B. FARNCOMB CB, DSO, MVO,
AMERICAN NAVY CROSS, M.D. (3)
CAPTAIN OF H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA
DURING THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
AND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION
AND FOND MEMORIES OF THE SHIP
AND THE MEN WHO SERVED
JEAN FARCOMB OBE
MAY 1992

4th plaque
Insignia of Naval Association of Australia
DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO SERVED AS MEMBERS OF THE
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN ALL THEATRES
DURING WORLD WAR II 1939 - 45
AND TO THOSE
WHO PAID THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

DEDICATED MAY 1993

5th plaque
IN MEMORY OF
ADMIRAL
SIR JOHN G. GRACE.
KBE, CBE, CB, RN
FLAG OFFICER AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON
DURING CORAL SEA BATTLE MAY 1942
BORN 1887 CANBERRA DIED 1968 IN ENGLAND
THIS PLAQUE DEDICATED BY HIS SONS
ALLAN, MICHAEL, NICHOLAS
AND OTHER RELATIONS

6th plaque
"THUS IN STRENGTH DOES HOBART GROW"
Insignia of  H.M.A.S. Hobart
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
SHIPS COMPANY OF AUSTRALIAN CRUISER
H.M.A.S. HOBART
WHICH ENGAGED THE ENEMY AT THE
BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
6TH - 8TH MAY, 1942.

PRESENTED BY
HMAS HOBART ASSOCIATION

Bronze plaque below
DEDICATED ON BEHALF OF
THE CREW
OF HMAS HOBART BY
L/STOKER SNOW MACKRELL
2. 5. 93

7th plaque
ENDEAVOUR
Insignia of HMAS Australia
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
SHIPS COMPANY OF AUSTRALIAN CRUISER
HMAS AUSTRALIA
WHICH ENGAGED THE ENEMY AT THE
BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
6TH-8TH MAY, 1942

PRESENTED BY
HMAS AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION

8th plaque
Insignia of United States Navy
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE
SHIP &  CREW OF THE UNITED STATES CRUISER
USS CHICAGO (CA-29)
WHICH ENGAGED THE ENEMY AT THE BATTLE
OF THE CORAL SEA AND WAS LATER SUNK
DURING ACTION OFF RENNEL ISLAND
30 JANUARY 1943

PRESENTED BY
SURVIVING CREW MEMBERS

Metal plaque on west face of boulder on north side of wall
CORAL SEA BATTLE MEMORIAL PARK
THIS PARK ESTABLISHED BY
THE CARDWELL SHIRE COUNCIL
WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY
THE GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JAMES RAMSAY.
KCMG KCVO CBE DSC
AT A TREE PLANTING CEREMONY ON THE
29TH MARCH 1984
THIS PARK COMMEMORATES THE CORAL SEA BATTLE DURING WORLD WAR II
WHEN AMERICAN AND ALLIED FORCES DEFEATED THE JAPANESE IN AN AIR  
AND SEA BATTLE TO SAVE AUSTRALIA. IT IS ALSO A LASTING MEMORIAL         
TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN DEFENDING THIS NATION   

Metal plaque on west face of boulder on south side of wall
                ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA

IT IS MY PLEASURE
TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE MEMORIAL SECTION
IN HONOUR OF
AUSTRALIAN AND AMERICAN SERVICEMEN
DEDICATED BY JANET RAMSAY
WIDOW OF THE LATE SIR JAMES RAMSAY
GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND (1977 - 1985)
ON MAY 2ND 1992

Other plaques
1st plaque
Insignia of USS Thach
COMMEMORATING THE US NAVY'S CONTRIBUTION TO
THE CORAL SEA REMEMBRANCE BY
THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF USS THACH (F.F.G. 43)

8TH MAY 1994

2nd plaque
Insignia of HMAS Brisbane                       This tree and plaque commemorates       
                                                        the gallantry and sacrifice
                                                         of those who fought and died
                                                           in the Battle of the Coral Sea
                                                            4 - 8 May 1942

Proudly donated by the Ship's Company,
HMAS BRISBANE (DDG-41)
May 1994

WE AIM AT HIGHER THINGS

3rd plaque
Insignia of HMAS Warrnambool
TO COMMEMORATE THE LOSS OF
HMAS WARRNAMBOOL
A BATHURST CLASS CORVETTE
COMMISSIONED ON 23rd SEPTEMBER 1941
AND SUNK DURING MINESWEEPING OPERATIONS
OFF COCKBURN REEF ON 13th SEPTEMBER 1947
WITH THE LOSS OF THE FOLLOWING CREW -

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

4th plaque
PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TASMANIA
2 MAY 1992
TO COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION OF THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
Coat of Arms of the State of Tasmania

5th plaque
Insignia of Royal Australian Navy                                                   Insignia of United States Navy
THIS PLAQUE IS A TRIBUTE TO
THE SHIPS AND SAILORS OF THE U.S.N.
AND R.A.N. WHOSE EPIC
"BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA"
PAVED THE WAY FOR FINAL VICTORY
OVER THE JAPANESE AGGRESSOR IN
THE SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA
LEST WE FORGET
DEDICATED BY
THE CARDWELL SUB-BRANCH RSL

6th plaque
TO HONOR
THOSE AMERICANS AND AUSTRALIANS
WHO FOUGHT AND DIED
IN THIS IMPORTANT BATTLE
SAVING AUSTRALIA FROM INVASION
BY
THE JAPANESE FORCES IN MAY 1942
THE AMERICAN LEGION
CORAL SEA BATTLE POST 4, N.Q.

7th plaque
A UNITED EFFORT
FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA
A HANDFUL OF RESIDENTS OF THIS SMALL COASTAL TOWN
COMBINED WITH THE LOCAL SHIRE COUNCIL
AND A GROUP OF NATIONAL CITIZENS
TO CREATE THIS MEMORIAL PARK
TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF
ALL AUSTRALIANS
WHO SERVED IN THIS CRUCIAL BATTLE
WHICH VIRTUALLY SAVED AUSTRALIA

ALBERT EBERT  CHAIRMAN
BILL PHILLIPS  SHELLEY BATES  LES KIRK

CARDWELL SHIRE COUNCIL
CR. JAMES PATRICK BYRNE CHAIRMAN

COUNCIL OFFICERS.
MR. R. MORRIS   MR. I. MADDOCK   MR. A. RAITI
MR. J. PETTIGREW   MR. B. MITCHELL

NATIONAL COMMITTEE
PATRON  LADY RAMSAY
AIR VICE-MARSHALL F. W. BARNES ^. K. L. BUTTSWORTH ^. COUNCILLOR J. P. BYRNE
SIR JOHN CARRICK ^. SIR LLEW EDWARDS ^. JEAN FARCOMB
MARTIN FERGUSON ACTU ^. ADMIRAL GUY GRIFFITHS ^. BRIGADIER IAN HUNTER
AIR VICE-MARSHALL J. C. JORDAN ^. SIR WILLIAM KEYS ^. ROBERT KLIPPEL
BRIGADIER GEORGE MANSFORD ^. R. H. MUTTON ^. PNG CONSUL THOMAS POLUME
M. H. ROWELL MLA . COMMODORE J. PEARSON ^. US CONSUL PATRICIA WAZER
PROFESSOR SAXON WHITE

DEDICATED BY
THE HONOURABLE SIR JOHN CARRICK
KCMG, B.Ec, Hon D.Litt (Syd.)

8th plaque
CHERISH THY FREEDOM
RESPECT THY PRIVILEGE
CREATED AND PRESERVED
BY THE FALLEN.
KEITH, GWEN,
ASHLEY AND LEAH FLEGLER
1992

9th plaque
IN HONOR OF
MEMBERS OF THE RED CROSS
WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
IN PEACE AND WAR.
BARRON DELTA BRANCH
OF RED CROSS.
PRES. M. SHERMAN
SEC. M. McDONALD  TREAS. T. CAIRNS

10th plaque
Insignia of Girl Guides Australia
IN HONOUR OF GIRL GUIDES
AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHO SERVED IN OUR CONFLICTS.
DEDICATED BY
LADY CARRICK A.O.
MAY 2ND. 1992.

11th plaque
IN MEMORY OF DAD AND GRANDPA
THIS BLOCKLAYING IS DEDICATED
QX60268 DRIVER
J. D. BOCCA
11 AUST. FIELD ENGINEERING A.E.M.E.
JOHN BOCCA AND HIS FAMILY

12th plaque
Rising sun insignia
IN MEMORY OF
QX9059 CORPORAL
ROY ALEXANDER
HENRY
2/1 AUST. FIELD SURVEY

13th plaque
Rising sun insignia
IN MEMORY OF
QZ1569 PRIVATE
JAMES ALWYN HENRY M.M.
2/6TH AUST. INF. BAT.

14th plaque
Insignia of Royal Australian Air Force
IN MEMORY OF
L.A.C. GREGORY CHRISTOPHER
TOOHEY EXA118631 R.A.A.F.
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED IN MALAYA
REMEMBERED BY HIS BROTHERS BRIAN &
CECIL TOOHEY AND BY HIS
BROTHER AND SISTER MOLLY GRANT
& ALBERT MURRAY
LEST WE FORGET  12TH MAY 1996

15th plaque
Rising sun insignia            IN MEMORY OF OUR FATHER                                       
104 PRIVATE
JOHN BARON (ANZAC)
15TH INFANTRY BN A COY A.I.F.
14TH NOVEMBER 1914-7TH OCTOBER 1918
ALWAYS REMEMBERED
DOROTHY GEORGE DOUG AND DOUG JNR.

16th plaque
YOU MAY SAY
IT'S AN OLD PIECE OF BUNTING
YOU MAY CALL IT AN OLD COLOURED RAG
BUT FREEDOM HAS MADE IT MAJESTIC
AND TIME HAS ENNOBLED THE FLAG

THE FLAG CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA
WAYVILLE STH. AUST. 5034

Information current to September 2004

Sources:   The information and photograph on this page have been kindly provided by Peter Fox

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