Waiuku First World War memorial

Waiuku First World War memorial

Memorial in 1986 before restoration Memorial Plaque Memorial Plaque Memorial Plaque Memorial Plaque Memorial Plaque Memorial after 2014 restoration Dedication details Dedication details Dedication details

Waiuku First World War memorial

The Waiuku War Memorial Committee oversaw the development of the war memorial obelisk and later, the Franklin Memorial Hospital. In 1926, the president was A. M. Barriball and the secretary J. D. Chalmers. The Waiuku branch of the Returned Soldiers’ (later Services’) Association (RSA) was established in 1919 and was the first in the Franklin district. It is likely that this group was involved in the campaign for the memorial as well, as Major (later Colonel) Maxwell Aldred, the president of the Waiuku RSA, is quoted in newspaper articles about the memorial.

Waiuku’s war memorial was unveiled on 9 June 1921. The ceremony was led by Aldred, with Rev. J. C. Fussell offering a blessing and C. Motion of the Franklin Borough Council speaking. The ceremony also included hymns and the laying of wreaths. It concluded with the Last Post.

Two years later, in 1923, a special ceremony was held and the names of the 32 men from the district who had been killed on active service were added to the memorial. A roll of honour was unveiled in the local public hall in 1931.

On Anzac Day in 1947, the names of Second World War servicemen were added to the memorial and another ceremony was held. More than 25 years later, Aldred was still involved with the memorial and laid a wreath at the service.

In 2006 the memorial was restored and its surrounds redeveloped.

For further information relating to this memorial, see: 'Unveiling the Monument: An Impressive Ceremony', Waiuku News, 10/6/21, p. 2; 'Waiuku Memorial: Unveiling Ceremony: Impressive Function', NZ Herald, 11/6/21, p. 10; ‘Memorial to Fallen Soldiers’ [photograph], Franklin Times, 1/5/23, p. 5; ‘Roll of Honour: Unveiling Ceremony', Waiuku News, 28/4/31, p. 5; 'Waiuku Monument: New Inscription', Waiuku News, 11/4/47, p. 2; 'Unveiling of New Inscriptions', Waiuku News, 3/5/47, p. 3; ‘Public Praised for Cenotaph Completion', Franklin County News, 20/4/2006, p. 3; Waiuku Cenotaph', Post, 2/5/2006, p. 6; ‘A Superb Community Effort', Post, 9/5/2006, p. 7; ‘Special Gift Adds Even More to Waiuku's Anzac Day', Post, 15/4/2009, p. 1.

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