User:Maypm/Thirroul World War I Memorial

Thirroul World War I Memorial is located in Woodward Memorial Park, Lawrence Hargreaves Drive. It is a sandstone pillar surmounted by a statue of a World War I soldier. There is a water fountain on each of the east and west sides and a flagpole to the south of the monument. The central section is eight-sided and on each section, above the names, is a representation of a shroud. On six of the eight panels are the names of the returned soldiers.

D. H. Lawrence described the Memorial in his novel "Kangaroo" when he lived in Thirroul in 1922. He said:

"The Statue itself was about life size but standing just overhead on a tall pedestal it looked small and stiff and rather touching. The pedestal was in very nice proportion and had at eye level white inlet slabs between little columns of grey granite bearing the names of the fallen on one slab in small black letters and on the other slabs the names of all the men who served: "God Bless Them". The fallen had "Lest We Forget" for a motto. A real town monument."

The men on the panel that contains those who were killed in the War (see below) are those outlined in this article.

Overview
The memorial was unveiled on Anzac Day in 1920. It was originally located on the corner of Railway Parade opposite the School of Arts but was moved in 1978 to its current location. A very large parade was held at the time which was described in detail in the local newspaper as follows.

"On Sunday afternoon (Anzac Day), that long-looked forward to event, the unveiling of the memorial monument and fountain took place. Near the bridge at the northern end of the town a procession was formed up, consisting of the Y.A. Detachment, under Commandant Crossle, in the lead, followed by the Citizens' Brass Band, under Band master C. H. Rowan. This was followed by over forty returned soldiers under the command of Sergt.-Major Lawrence. Pride of place was given to Mrs. Riach Senior known so well as 'Grannie’ in her uniform as a life member of the R.S.A., accompanied by two lads in blue, representing the Royal Navy. Following the soldiers and senior cadets came a large number of school children most of whom had come from the Sunday Schools, under the supervision of their respective teachers. 'Many beautiful wreaths were carried, and a very significant token, a sprig of rosemary, was worn by 'many. Well to time, the procession moved off along the main street to the front of the School of Arts Hall, where the monument stands. A very large number of residents and others had already gathered around this centre. The 'band played "Lead, Kindly Light" The chairman then requested Grannie to perform the ceremony of unveiling the monument. This grand old lady, of over seventy, years, now had the proudest moment of her life. She had laboured unceasingly for the past five years, so that Thirroul would have a fitting memorial for our, soldiers and here was one that any town might envy. With clearly spoken words, Grannie then said, “Ladies and gentlemen, this memorial has been erected as a slight token of the esteem in which our soldiers and sailors are held. It will serve to remind everyone of our brave heroes who kept Australia safe from the horrors of warfare. I have now much pleasure in unveiling this memorial and I hope that the people of Thirroul will see) that it is kept as a sacred memorial to our brave soldiers and sailors of Thirroul."

Those who were killed
These men are those shown on the "Fallen Heros" panel.