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Thirroul World War I Memorial

Thirroul World War I Memorial is located in Woodward Memorial Park, Lawrence Hargreaves Drive. It is a sandstone pillar surmounted by a statue of a World War I soldier. There is a water fountain on each of the east and west sides and a flagpole to the south of the monument. The central section is eight-sided and on each section, above the names, is a representation of a shroud. On six of the eight panels are the names of the returned soldiers.

D. H. Lawrence described the Memorial in his novel "Kangaroo" when he lived in Thirroul in 1922. He said:

"The Statue itself was about life size but standing just overhead on a tall pedestal it looked small and stiff and rather touching. The pedestal was in very nice proportion and had at eye level white inlet slabs between little columns of grey granite bearing the names of the fallen on one slab in small black letters and on the other slabs the names of all the men who served: "God Bless Them". The fallen had "Lest We Forget" for a motto. A real town monument."

The men on the panel that contains those who were killed in the War (see below) are those outlined in this article.

Overview

"Fallen Heros" Panel of Memorial

Memorial shortly after it was cemented into place in 1920 before the unveiling.

The memorial was unveiled on Anzac Day in 1920. It was originally located on the corner of Railway Parade opposite the School of Arts but was moved in 1978 to its current location. A very large parade was held at the time which was described in detail in the local newspaper as follows.

"On Sunday afternoon (Anzac Day), that long-looked forward to event, the unveiling of the memorial monument and fountain took place. Near the bridge at the northern end of the town a procession was formed up, consisting of the Y.A. Detachment, under Commandant Crossle, in the lead, followed by the Citizens' Brass Band, under Band master C. H. Rowan. This was followed by over forty returned soldiers under the command of Sergt.-Major Lawrence. Pride of place was given to Mrs. Riach Senior known so well as 'Grannie’ in her uniform as a life member of the R.S.A., accompanied by two lads in blue, representing the Royal Navy. Following the soldiers and senior cadets came a large number of school children most of whom had come from the Sunday Schools, under the supervision of their respective teachers. 'Many beautiful wreaths were carried, and a very significant token, a sprig of rosemary, was worn by 'many. Well to time, the procession moved off along the main street to the front of the School of Arts Hall, where the monument stands. A very large number of residents and others had already gathered around this centre.

The 'band played "Lead, Kindly Light" The chairman then requested Grannie to perform the ceremony of unveiling the monument. This grand old lady, of over seventy, years, now had the proudest moment of her life. She had laboured unceasingly for the past five years, so that Thirroul would have a fitting memorial for our, soldiers and here was one that any town might envy. With clearly spoken words, Grannie then said, “Ladies and gentlemen, this memorial has been erected as a slight token of the esteem in which our soldiers and sailors are held. It will serve to remind everyone of our brave heroes who kept Australia safe from the horrors of warfare. I have now much pleasure in unveiling this memorial and I hope that the people of Thirroul will see) that it is kept as a sacred memorial to our brave soldiers and sailors of Thirroul."

Those who were killed

Private Jack Brosnan Private Jack Brosnan Jack Brosnan was killed in France on 13 January 1917. He was only 18 years old. Jack came from a working class family who lived in Pyrmont. His father Maurice Brosnan was a wharf labourer and his mother Harriet Brosnan in addition to her own children cared for three nephews (named Cadigan) who had been orphaned when her relatives died. Jack enlisted at Casula in January 1916 and joined the 1st Pioneer Battalion. . His cousins William and Dennis Cadigan had joined the forces a year before. He was sent to the Western Front two months later. He was wounded at Pozieres in July 1916 but recovered and was sent to the Somme. Jack died of wounds on 13 January 1917. A comrade described how this occurred. Apparently he was constructing tunnels at a village called Flers. He was carrying timber to a shaft when a shell landed killing the man next to him and wounding Jack in the thigh. He was taken to No.36 Casualty Clearing Station but died of his wounds shortly after his arrival. He was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery (Plot V, Row E, Grave No. 25), Mericourt-L'Abbe, France.

Private Fred Bennett Frederick William Charles Bennett was killed in France in 1917. He was born in 1897 in Birkenhead, England. His parents were Frederick Charles Bennett who worked in Birkenhead as a driller in the shipyard. His mother was Louisa Susanna Jones. The family immigrated to Australia after 1911 and lived in Cochrane Road Thirroul. Fred obtained a job in the Bulli mines as a miner. In May 1916 he enlisted at Kiama and joined the 45 Battalion. The unit left Sydney in August 1916. Seven months later Fred was killed at Guedecourt, near Bapaume, France. His friend Private W Thurman who came from Bulli described the incident. He said that Fred was “in the line” while he was on fatigue duty. He heard that he had been killed by a shell and verified that this true. There is no grave but his memorial is at Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Private Henry Bourke Private Henry Bourke Henry Bourke was killed in France in 1916. He was from Uralla in NSW but his mother Theresa Bourke, a widow appears to have lived for some time in Thirroul as a newspaper reports the letter she received from the Chaplain of the 3rd Battalion about her son while she was there. Henry Bourke was born in Uralla in 1895. His father was James Bourke who owned a pastoral property called Wilhelmshohe in Uralla and his mother was Theresa Murray. Henry was employed as a motor driver when he enlisted in 1915. He was sent to France early in 1916 and joined the 3rd Battalion. He died in Etaples in August 1916. This is an interesting case of how the relatives were spared the anguish of the manner of their child’s death. The records show that Henry was wounded in the back and chest in July and taken to Etaples Hospital but did not die for another two weeks. A Red Cross Enquiry was held in February 1917 which was not totally conclusive about the location of his grave. It was at this stage that the Chaplain of the 3rd Battalion wrote a letter to his mother telling her that her son was with other members of the gun crew in a dugout when a single shell exploded at the entrance killing instantly all those within reach of it. He assured her that there was no pain or suffering for any of them.

Edward William Leneard (enlisted as Edward William Clifton) Edward William Leneard appears to have been nominated for inclusion on the memorial by Mrs M Hockey of Raymond Road Thirroul who was named in the enlistment papers as the postal address for his wife Elsie Josephine Leneard. Edward was 25 when he enlisted in 1915 under the alias of Edward William Clifton. He joined the 55th Battallion in 1916 and died at the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. He was buried at V.C. Avenue, Rue de Petillon.

Corporal William Daisley Corporal William Daisley in the centre William Daisley came from a family who lived in Thirroul. His father was Matthew Daisley a miner and his mother’s name was Sarah.The family came from Scotland in 1914 when William was 16 and he found work as a labourer. He was a member of the Thirroul Band and he joined the forces with four other boys from the band in 1916. A special evening was held for them before they sailed for France and they were toasted as “the Boys in Khaki”. They were also given socks knitted by the Thirroul Waratah Ladies Club. Letter about mistake made in location of his grave. William served for about three years before he was killed in August 1918 almost at the end of the war. It was reported that he was killed at Mont St Quinton but the details were not conclusive. His parents were told that he had been buried in the Prospect Hill British Cemetery and were sent a photo of his grave. However they were subsequently informed that this was a mistake and that further searches would be made for his burial place (see letter at left). No grave was ever found and his name was placed on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France. There is also a memorial plaque on the family grave in Bulli Cemerery. Shortly after his death a memorial service was held in Thirroul Presbyterian Church and was described in detail in the Illawarra Mercury as follows. “The church was decorated with the colours of the deceased soldier's Battalion (red and white) also the Union Jack and the Australian Flag. Beautiful lilies decorated the rostrum. The local band, under the conductorship of Mr. Higgins, was present to do honour to their fallen comrade. The deceased soldier being a member of the band prior to enlisting. Pastor Hugh W. Ross occupied the pulpit, and preached a very earnest and impressive sermon. Friends from all denominations were present and it was the largest congregation that has ever been inside the church. The service concluded by the singing of the National Anthem. During the service the preacher referred to the good qualities of the deceased and when only a young lad in Scotland was awarded the Royal Humane Society's award for conspicuous bravery in rescuing a child under very perilous circumstances."

Private Robert Devine Robert Devine was 33 when he died in France in 1918. He lived in Corrimal and worked in the Bulli mines as a miner. He was not married. He was born in Hamilton, Scotland in 1884 and worked there as a coal miner. His father was Robert Devine who also worked as a coal miner and his mother was Agnes Grant. The family immigrated to Australia and Robert found work in the mines. He was a member of Thirroul Presbyterian Church and acted as superintendent of the Sunday School. He enlisted in 1916 and went to France. He was wounded twice in 1917. The second time he was gassed and repatriated to England. He re-joined the troops but was again wounded this time fatally. He was buried at Brie British Cemetery, Picardie, France.

Private William Farrell William Farrell lived at Kennedy’s Hill Thirroul with his parents Peter and Mary at the time of his enlistment at Bulli in 1917. He was employed as a wheelwright and was 21 at this time. He was born in Scotland where his father was employed as a coal miner and immigrated to Australia with his family. He joined 18th Australian Infantry Battalion and was killed in France June 1918. He is buried at Longueau British Cemetery, Picardie, France.

Private Robert John Frew Private Robert John Frew Letter from Mrs Frew asking for information about her missing son. Robert John Frew was the eldest son of Robert Frew, the stationmaster at Thirroul. He died in 1915 at Gallopoli. Robert John Frew was born in Kurri Kurri in 1894. His mother was Margaret Meharg of Wollongong. His father was employed in the railway and in the early 1900s the family moved to Thirroul where they lived in Station Street. Robert went to Thirroul Public School and later found a job in Bulli Colliery as a miner. He enlisted in the Armed Forces in May 1915. On 2 August 1915 he joined the 13 Battalion, 6th Reinforcement at Gallipoli. Three weeks later on 23 August 1915 he was reported as wounded and as no further information was sent from the Battalion he was reported as wounded and missing. It was at this stage that his mother sent several letters pleading for more information about her son. One of these letters is shown. An inquiry was held and in March 1916 he was declared to be killed in action on the date that he was first reported missing seven months earlier. This was not unusual because of the chaos in Gallipoli at this time. His name was placed on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Private Walter Henry Funnell At the time of his enlistment in 1916 Walter Henry Funnell, a 23 year old miner, was living with his wife Annie and three children in Raymond Road, Thirroul. His parents lived in Lithgow and his name is also on the Lithgow World War I Memorial. Before he left for the front he was given a presentation by the residents of Thirroul. In September 1917 he joined the 34th Battalion and was killed instantly by shell shrapnel at Zonnebeke on 1 October 1917. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXXIV, Row A, Grave No. 9), Passchendaele, Belgium.

Private Alfred Forest Hall Alfred Forest Hall’s mother was Eleanor McNaughton who had remarried and lived at Lynwood House, Thirroul with her husband Councillor Henry McNaughton. He also had a sister living at Bulli whose name was Ivy Summarsell. At the time of his enlistment in 1916 he was 27 years old and working in Manly as a pastry cook. He was not married. He joined the 3rd Battallion and on 10 November 1917 he was killed at Passchendaele. He is buried at Passchendaele New British Cemetery (Plot XIV, Row D, Grave No. 10), Belgium.

Trooper John Richardson Herbert John Richardson Herbert was 30 years old and a resident of Thirroul for some years before he enlisted in 1917. He was employed as a driver and horse breaker. He had been married but his wife had died. He joined the 7th Light Horse and was given a special presentation by Thirroul citizens. At this function he said that now that he had no family he felt that it was his duty to go to war. He was born in Carlisle England in 1888. His father was John Carlisle, a farmer, and his mother was Martha Richardson. He immigrated to Australia alone and found work in Thirroul. He was transferred later to the 35th Battalion and was killed in action near Villiers-Bretonneux. He has no grave but his name is on the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Lance Corporal John Logan John Logan was a miner from Scotland who lived in Wave Street, Thirroul. He was 26 and single when he enlisted in 1915. His father was John Logan, a coal miner in Ormiston, Scotland and his mother’s name was Elizabeth. John immigrated to Australia alone in about 1912 and found work as a miner in Bulli Colliery. His girlfriend was Sabina Round who lived with her parents Edward and Sarah Round in Thirroul. In his will (shown) he left some money to her and the rest he left to his mother who was still in Scotland. After he enlisted in 1915 he was sent overseas and fought for three years in the war. He was promoted to a Lance Corporal in 1917 and joined the 18th Battalion. He was killed in action on 9 April 1918 and buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot I, Row G. Grave No. II), France.

These men are those shown on the "Fallen Heros" panel.