Minister of Internal Affairs S.M. Smith formally opened the Helensville War Memorial Hall in Commercial Road on 3 November 1956. The building included not only a large main hall but also supper rooms, Plunket and restrooms and the Kaipara RSA's clubrooms. A library was later added to the complex.
The commemorative plaque reads:
THIS BUILDING IS DEDICATED / TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DISTRICT WHO HAVE / SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN TIME OF WAR / - AND - / HONOURS THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL.
During the opening ceremony, Rev. W.J. Hughes unveiled the district First and Second World War rolls of honour: four bronze tablets which together list 31 First World War names and 22 Second World War names.
Images and information from Christine Chambers, Rodney Libraries, 2009
Text: Bruce Ringer, 2024
Sources: 'War memorial hall for Helensville' [sketch], NZ Herald, 19/9/1955, p. 10; 'War memorials opened', Auckland Star, 5/11/1956, p. 7.
Find out more about the people listed on this memorial on the Auckland Museum's Cenotaph website