Eden War Memorial, Eden | Encyclopedia Of South East History

Eden War Memorial:

Like so many townships across Australia, the Eden community moved quickly to commemorate their servicemen after the end of WWI, and although the current memorial dates from 1967, it is closely linked to the town's efforts during the 1920s to remember their fallen.

In May 1920 the Eden Magnet reported that "The movement recently initiated with the object of erecting at Eden a monument to the memory of Eden district soldiers who served in the Great War is worthy of all possible support. It is directly in keeping with what has been or is being done in other centres throughout the length and breadth of Australia...The lengthy roll of honour of our soldiers bears eloquent testimony to the magnificence of this district's response to the call to arms. It is but right, then, that the names of those who sprang to the defence of their country in its hour of direst danger should be enduringly recorded upon a monument, which will be at once an imperishable memorial, expressive pf popular price and gratitude, and an inspiration of the highest order to the present and succeeding generations..."

According to an item in an issue of a local newspaper "Of the Eden district soldiers who served in the Great War, as many as twenty per cent - one in every five - made the supreme sacrifice."

Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.

By November, marble tablets inscribed with the names of local servicemen had been decided upon and permission was granted to place them on the front of the council chambers on the corner of Imlay and Mitchell Streets. Fundraising events such as balls, Cinderellas, guessing competitions, raffles and concerts were organised to raise the money necessary for the Eden District Soldiers' Memorial Fund.

In May 1921, an order was placed with Messrs. Cunningham and Sons of Sydney for two white marble tablets "...suitably inscribed as honor rolls..." The tablets, which arrived in Eden in October 1921, cost £104/5/2 to produce. They were put in place, one on either side of the entrance to the Imlay Shire Chambers, on the corner of Imlay and Mitchell Streets, in November.

In April 1922, the Eden Soldiers' Memorial was officially unveiled by the Honorable Austin Chapmen, M. H. R., the Eden Magnet reporting on the attendance of "...a large number of citizens and school children..." According to the same report, Mr. W. I. Swinnerton said that "...it was a matter for general gratification that public interest and support had been sufficiently strong to permit the erection of such handsome and permanent tablets to perpetuate the memory and deeds of Eden district soldiers who enlisted for service in the Great War..." Mr. Chapman commented that he felt "...highly honoured at being asked to perform such a sacred ceremony as the unveiling of a memorial...[he spoke] at considerable length with of the wonderful gallantry and heroism of Australia's soldiers...with the bulldog like tenacity and indomitable spirit of our troops, which made them victorious simply because they would never acknowledge defeat...At the conclusion of his earnest, forceful and eloquent address, which glowed with patriotism and pride, the flags were removed from the tablets, which Mr. Chapman declared duly unveiled, and the gathering sang the National Anthem..."

The local community continued their efforts to remember those from the district who had served during conflict, and in

Image © Angela George. All rights reserved.

October 1955 Imlay Park in Calle Street was dedicated to the lives of fallen diggers by the Honorable J. B. Renshaw, Minister for Local Government. He said "Today it is my honour to dedicate this Park to ten boys of the Eden district who gave their lived in the defence of their country..." Three trees, purchased by the Imlay Shire Council, were planted by the Minister, as well as Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mr. Allan Fraser, and Mr. J. W. Seiffert, State Member for Monaro. Further tree plantings were planned, along with the provision of playground equipment.

Eden's Anzac Day services continued to be held alongside the memorial tablets at the council chambers until the final service at that site in 1966. By that time, moves had been made to construct a cenotaph in Imlay Park. Designed by local Eden builder Allan Whiter, the township conducted their first Anzac Day service at the new memorial the following year, the original 1921 marble tablets having been relocated from the council chambers to the new war memorial. Almost thirst ex-serviceman marched from the corner of Imlay and Bass Streets to the Cenotaph for the Dawn Service. Both the dawn and later services were attended by "...quite large crowds..." A report of the occasion in the Eden Magnet noted that "It was quite a moving setting as the first rays of sunshine rose from the sea, silhouetting the large cross surmounted by a reverse rifle and steel helment." 1968 saw what was reportedly the largest crowd on record attend the town's Anzac Day services, with the Dawn Serive drawing more than sixty ex-servicemen and residents, while the later service was conducted in the presence of about 300 adults and children, including ex-servicemen.

Since then, plaques have also been added to memorialise those from the Eden district who served during WWII and Vietnam; as well as the volunteers from the port of Eden who served with

the US Army Service of Supply - Small Ships; and the four US Army pilots from 8th Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, who became lost in bad weather during a training flight from Canberra, two of whom lost their lives when they crashed on Mount Imlay and at Narrabarba.