Thames South African War memorial c1910 (top image) and c1986.
On 18 December 1902 Thames unveiled a memorial ‘To those who fell and in honour of those who served’ in ‘The Empire’s Hour of Need’ in South Africa. It was sited beside the town’s main thoroughfare, Pollen St, facing out towards Grahamstown and the Hauraki Gulf beyond.
The tall, thin stone obelisk with fountain and ornamental bowl sat on a stepped base of Malmesbury bluestone. It featured Sicilian marble panels carved with the arms and emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the ensign and shield of New Zealand. The memorial displayed the name and country of origin of the fallen: Gunner Fred W.D. Forbes of the 5th New Zealand Contingent, Trooper William Donkin of the 7th New Zealand Contingent, and Trooper Robert Farquhar of H Squad, Brabant’s Horse.
It was unveiled by Councillor J.W. Poulgrain before a large crowd that included the Minister of Mines and of Justice, James McGowan, volunteer soldiers, returned troopers, veterans, school cadets, and military and civilian bandsmen, who also performed.
The memorial was later moved to Victoria Park, where it still stands.
Further information
- ‘The Trooper’s Memorial’, Thames Star, 19 December 1902, p. 4
- Chris Maclean and Jock Phillips, The Sorrow and the Pride: New Zealand War Memorials, GP Books, Wellington, 1990
- Find out more about this and other Thames Memorials on The Treasury website.
- Heritage New Zealand entry for this memorial
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: Price Collection, 1/2-001549-G
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image
Inset image, Jock Phillips and Chris Maclean, c1986