The Rangitātā Soldiers' Memorial Hall was formally opened on 17 January 1918. It was one of a handful of war memorial halls erected in New Zealand before the Great War actually ended, being preceded only by Darfield (29 December 1916), Lakeside (3 August 1917) and Waikari (8 December 1917). The Rangitātā hall had been funded largely by donations and a bequest by the late Thomas Hobson, a Temuka dairy farmer.
The roll of honour unveiled during the opening ceremony was a wooden tablet headed 'In memory of Rangitata soldiers who fell in the Great War.' It listed the names of six local men who had died on active service: Privates F.G. Yates (killed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); A. Talke (died in hospital at Mudros West on 16 May 1915); R. O'Neill (killed at Gallipoli on 6 August 1915); L.W. Hill (killed in France on 21 September 1916); J.T. Hearn (killed in France on 13 June 1917); J.A. Tate (killed in France on 21 August 1917). A seventh name was later added: H. McNab, who died at Featherston Military Camp on 24 November 1918.
After the Second World War, the 'Rangitata District Roll of Honour, World War 2, 1939-45' was also installed in the hall. This listed the names of 15 men who had served: J.H. Davies, L.G.R. Edgar, K.C.J. Ineson, C.R.D. Jefferson, C.C. Kelland, W.G.S. Loomes, H.S. Mahan, C.H. Moss, W.M. Metcalf, V. McCann, A. McDonald, G.W. Palmer, D.F.C., A.J. Palmer, H.K. Palmer and D.H. Wright. The only death indicated was that of Charles Henry Moss, who was killed in Fienza, Italy, on 19 December 1944.
See: 'Rangitata Soldiers' Memorial Hall', Temuka Leader, 19/1/1918, p. 3; Rangitata Soldiers Memorial Hall (heritage item record form), Timaru District Council, 2018.
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