Rotorua South African War memorial

The Rotorua South African War memorial, c1986.

The sacrifice of Sergeant Fred. W. Wylie of Galatea in the South African War was honoured by the unveiling of a memorial at the Rotorua carnival on 23 February 1904 by Mr Herries M.H.R.

Wylie was a member of Fourth Contingent who was promoted to Sergeant after capturing, unaided, a 15 pounder gun and two prisoners at Hartebeestfontein on 26 March 1901. He subsequently joined the Seventh Contingent and was killed leading an attack at Klipfontein.

The white marble statute of Sgt Wylie has a drinking fountain at its base and is similar to the South African War memorial erected in Auckland’s Albert Park. Both monuments were made by Parkinson & Co. of Victoria Street, Auckland.

Further information

• Fitzgerald's Circus and Menagerie - Observer, 28 March 1903, Page 20
• Pars About People - Observer, 23 January 1904, Page 4
• Carnival At Rotorua - Colonist, 24 February 1904, Page 3
• Chris Maclean and Jock Phillips, The Sorrow and the Pride: New Zealand War Memorials, GP Books, Wellington, 1990

See more recent images of this memorial here.