War Memorials in Australia
Mannum War Memorial
Place:
Mannum, South Australia, 5238
District: Murray
Orientation: 38 km N of Murray Bridge
Location: Randall Street near Parker Street
Position:
__________________________
The memorial is a cast bronze statue of a World War I soldier with rifle at the on-guard position, standing on a granite pedestal on a granite plinth and three stepped granite and concrete base. The soldier faces west, there is a flagpole on the west side and a concrete block wall on the south side. On the east side a 77mm German field gun, converted to naval use and presented to the town as a war trophy, has been mounted on a circular concrete base.
The monument was unveiled on 30 March 1924 by Sir Tom Bridges, the Governor of South Australia. The statue was cast by A W Dobbie & Co Limited of Adelaide. The monumental work was carried out, and the whole erected, by Mr John Tillett of Adelaide. The cost was £650.
The unveiling took place in front of about 1,000 people. The governor, accompanied by Capt. Hambleton, Misses Bridges and Angus and the Hon. R. T. Melrose, was met by the Chairman of the District Council, Cr. E. R. Baseby. After inspecting the guard of honour, which was composed of scouts and guides under Scoutmaster Bulbeck, His Excellency inspected about 60 returned men. The hymn 'O God our help in ages past' was sung by the combined choir and audience.
The Governor said, 'To the glory of God and the everlasting memory of the men of the Mannum district who fell in the Great War, I unveil this monument'. He added that he felt honoured at being asked to take part in any ceremony which commemorated the deeds of the Australian Army. The monument was erected as a memorial to fallen soldiers whose memories were revered the world over. They lay in Palestine and Gallipoli and in the fields of France. Their graves were well marked and tended. The war cemeteries were beautiful. Each grave had its headstone which was of the same design for a general as for a private. Wherever 40 dead lay a cemetery had been made and a cross of sacrifice erected. There were many who were not identified who were commemorated by the unknown warrior who slept at Westminster, in the company of kings and queens and great men of England. The monument which had just been unveiled was placed in a well chosen and conspicuous spot, that those who passed would remember the sacrifice. It was also a monument to the living. The people must play their part and bring up their children to work for the Empire, and even die for it if necessary. The motto of the scouts, 'Be prepared' should be the motto of each citizen.
'The Last Post' was sounded by Scout Bugler Rawnsley. Dedicatory prayers were then offered by the Rev. A. L. Bulbeck after which Kipling's 'Recessional' was sung by the audience.
About 200 men enlisted for the Great War from the Mannum District.
On corner of bronze base of
figure
A W DOBBIE & CO
ADELAIDE
North face
Circular bronze wreath
Below this, a bronze plaque
GREAT WAR
OUR GLORIOUS DEAD
| F. N. BASEDOW. | L. C. MAY. | ||
| T. BELLIS. | H. E. MENGERSEN. | ||
| C. BOCK. | C. J. MERRITT. | ||
| F. M. BRADLEY. | E. L. McKENNA. | ||
| S. D. COCKSHELL. | R. B. RANDELL. | ||
| J. L. DODD. | A. RATHMANN. | ||
| A. DOHNT. | A. C. G. RATHMANN. | ||
| O. DIERCKS. | R. S. READ. | ||
| L. EDWARDS. | W. H. READ. | ||
| W. H. FIELD. | T. M. RETALLACK. | ||
| S. FOWLER. | N. SEARS. | ||
| H. FLOWERS. | F. STANLEY. | ||
| R. GEISLER. | W. A. SPURLING. | ||
| W. H. GREEN. | W. TREMLETT. | ||
| J. L. GREENSHIELDS. | H. TUCKER. | ||
| W. J. GRIBBLE. | R. G. TUCKER | ||
| W. E. R. HERMANN. | W. WEBB. | ||
| O. L. LAYCOCK. | W. H. WELLS. | ||
| J. A. LYDEAMORE. |
1914 - 1919
West face
Open bronze wreath
Below this, a bronze plaque
WORLD WAR II
IN REMEMBRANCE
| BANKS R. S. C. | JONES T. L. | ||
| BYRTH W. K. | LLOYD N. R. | ||
| EGEL R. C. | MILLER A. W. G. | ||
| FIELD W. H. | PREISS J. E. | ||
| FROMEN C. A. | RATHJEN E. S. | ||
| GASS J. H. | SCHAEDEL K. A. | ||
| GRAETO R. | SHEARER B. W. | ||
| GREENING D. H. | UNDERWOOD A. P. | ||
| GROTH R. | VIVIAN E. W. | ||
| HUMPHRIES R. B. | WACHNER E. C. | ||
| JENKINS J. J. | WARHURST R. |
1939 - 1945
Bronze plaque on east face
Insignia of Australia Remembers 1945 - 1995
50th ANNIVERSARY
DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED
OVERSEAS AND AT HOME TO ENSURE
ENDURING PEACE IN AUSTRALIA
Brass plaque on north-east side
of concrete block wall
COMMEMORATION WALL
1915 - 1965
Information current to November 2000
Sources: The Inglis Collection
in Australian War Memorial, AWM PR 00944 6/141 453 49
Register, 31 March 1924