War Memorials and Commemorative Sites

in the Western Area Teacher Resource

Gelland War Memorial

Anzac Plaza Memorial

South East Asian Forces

St Margarets Anglican

West Torrens Memorial Gardens

Henley & Grange Memorial Hall

Semaphore War Memorial

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Memorial Memorial Reserve - Adelaide Airport Address Behind the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith War Memorial building in the

Domestic Terminal car park. Background Information The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has thirty five

memorial bronze plaques affixed to the front angle faces of concrete blocks set on concrete slabs.

In the centre of the reserve is a dedication memorial,

which comprises of a granite boulder set on a concrete slab with a bronze plaque affixed to the west face.

Student Activities On Site (1) What R.A.A.F group were known as the “Flying Shovels”? Airfield Construction Group (2) What was the motto of 454 Squadron? ‘Nihil impossible’. (3) What role did 456 Squadron perform? They were a Night Fighter squadron. (4) Locate the two women’s services commemorated on these plaques. They

commemorate those who served in the WAAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force) and as RAAF Nursing sisters. During what conflict did they serve?

World War II (5) Select a type of RAAF aircraft or squadron to research

when you return to the classroom. Information can be found on all RAAF squadrons and aircraft at www.raaf.gov.au. However you may use the internet or other information sources for your research. Classroom (6) Why was the WAAAF (Women’s Auxiliary

Australian Air Force) formed during World War II? What roles did these women perform?

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Information can be found at

www.womenaustralia.info> Women at War Exhibition Browse organisations and select WAAAF However you may use the internet or other information sources for your research. The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II Australian Women's Services. It was disbanded in December 1947. Airwomen were accepted into 73 different musterings (trades), including highly skilled technical employment on aircraft. In addition to telegraphists, women became armament workers, electricians, fitters, flight mechanics, fabric workers, instrument makers and meteorological assistants, besides using skills in many clerical, medical, transport, catering, equipment, signals and radar fields of employment. Over 700 women held commissioned rank and like airwomen, worked in a great variety of administrative, technical and professional tasks. A number commanded units in operations rooms at General Douglas MacArthur's Headquarters in Brisbane dealing with intelligence matters, at Operational Units, in RAAF Hospitals, Aircraft Depots, Radar Stations, RAAF Bases – wherever they were needed, they served. (7) Write a paragraph on the Dam Busters raids conducted by 617 Squadron

in 1943. Include how and why the raids were undertaken and the numbers of Australians involved?

No. 617 Squadron of the RAF was formed to undertake a specific operation- breaching three dams in the Ruhr Valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. Of the 147 airmen in the Squadron, 13 were Australians, some of whom held key appointments with the Unit. A special bomb was devised to skip across the water's surface, over an anti-torpedo net, and hit the dam wall, sink to the base of the dam and explode. To breach the dam, each 4200 kilogram bomb had to be dropped from an aircraft flying at a precise speed flying at exactly 18 metres above the water. This was particularly dangerous, due to the risks of anti-aircraft fire, night-fighters and flying into the water. Nineteen crews were hand-picked to fly specially modified Lancaster bombers and after months of training, the Squadron executed a brilliant night raid. Two of the dams were breached, sending millions of tons of water crashing down onto vital factories and German military installations. The success came at an enormous cost. Of the 19 Lancasters, eight did not return and 56 airmen, including two Australians were killed. With decorations awarded to 35 of the Dam Busters, this raid became the most decorated in the history of the RAF. It was immortalised in the 1955 movie classic the Dam Busters. Source: http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/b8.htm

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Memorial Reserve, Adelaide Airport * Each number represents a plaque – Key next page

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Plaque No. 1. 459 “Hudson” 2. 31 “Beaufighter” 3. Beauford Squadrons 4. 453 RAAF Squadron 5. 452 - 457 Spitfire Squadrons 6. 454 Squadron 7. Desert Airforce RAAF Fighter Squadron 8. 10 and 461 Squadrons 9. Flying Shovels 10. 86 Squadron RAAF 11. Australian Flying Corp and RAAF 12. 455 Squadron 13. 462 – 466 Halifax Squadrons 14. 460 Squadron 15. 456 Night Fighters Squadron 16. 458 Squadron 17. Pathfinder Club 18. RAAF Squadrons Air Chief Marshall Sir Basil Embry 19. No. 24 Squadron 20. In Memory of Australian Airmen who died serving in the Far East 21. 463 –467 Lancaster Squadron 22. WAAAF 23. Dam Busters Squadron 24. Catalina Squadron 25. 40th Ann of Air Training Corp 26. Kittyhawk Squadron 27. Signals and Radar Units 28. Hudson Squadrons 29. 22nd and 30th Squadrons 30. Liberators 31. Reunion of 18 Squadron 32. 12 Squadron 33. Air Crew Association 34. Nursing Branch RAAF 35. They will fly on wings as Eagles/Australian Flying Corp Association

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Memorial Gelland War Memorial Address Corner of Rowell Crescent and Meill Street, Croydon Background Information The features of the Gelland War Memorial include: A white broken column. A tapered concrete pedestal. A three-tier base. Bronze wreathes affixed to each face with a

white marble plaque beneath. Councillor F. Jessup ESQ. J.P. unveiled the Gelland War Memorial on April 27 1924. It was erected by the Gelland Soldiers Club in the memory of those who lost their lives during The Great War. Those who fell in World War II (1939-1945) and those who served in the Malay Peninsular, (1948-1960 and 1964-65), Korea (1950-1954), Borneo (1962- 1966) and Vietnam (1962 – 1973) have also been subsequently commemorated. Student Activities On Site (1) The Gelland War Memorial features a distinctive broken column on top of

the pedestal. What do you think might be the significance of this choice of feature?

Students might reasonably suggest that many things are broken or destroyed by war. These could include: buildings, families, societies, countries and of course, individual lives. Teachers note: War memorials can contain a variety of symbolic elements. The meanings of some symbols, for example the cross, are readily known. Other older symbols have meanings that have become obscure over time. Many have more than one meaning. The traditional meaning of the broken column is that it symbolises a life cut short. (2) What symbol appears on each face of the memorial? A wreath

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(3) Motifs of war, which can be tragic and unendurably sad and at the same time noble and uplifting – are present in virtually all post-war memorials of the Great War, but each differs in the balance struck between the two motifs.

What features convey tragedy and nobility on the Gelland War Memorial?

Lists of “fallen comrades” and the broken column convey the tragic element of war. The language on the inscriptions that speak of “Heroes of the Great War” suggests the more noble aspects associated with the bravery of soldiers who fought in World War One. (4) Approximately one in five or six soldiers who served overseas during

World War I did not return to Australia. By counting the names, which are inscribed on the memorial, approximately how many soldiers do you think may have enlisted from the Gelland/Croydon area?

29 x 5 = 145 29 x 6 = 172 Answer: Between 145 and 172 (5) Record the names of the two sets of brothers killed during the Great War

for further research when you return to the classroom. Make sure to include their initials.

Davis H.H. and G. McKay W. and T. Classroom (6) Why do you think so many people lost their lives during World War I

which for the most part involved opposing armies engaged in trench warfare?

The loss of life is highlighted by the breakdown of those killed from the major combatants, which appears below: Country Approximate number of lives lost Great Britain and her Empire 1,000,000 France 1,300,000 Russia 1,700,000 Germany and its allies 3,500,000 Losses of life per day of the war exceeded 5,500 These figures above demonstrate the extremely high loss of life of which a major contributing factor were the conditions encountered in trench warfare, which typified the fighting during World War I.

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Students’ answers should mention the causes and consequences of trench warfare in explaining the loss of life. One major cause of this immense loss of life is that the countries involved didn't realise the destructive power of the weapons developed since the last European war almost 50 years earlier. These included: The bolt action 303 Lee Enfield Rifle, which by 1915, had a range of nearly a mile

(approximately 1.6 kms) and could fire 15 rounds a minute. The even more devastating Vickers Machine Gun that fired 600 rounds a minute. The impact of modern artillery such as the howitzer (cannon) which could fire

shells eight miles (approximately 12 kilometres). The toll that would be taken by grenades, flamethrowers and (eventually) gas that

progressively became part of World War I arsenals. It is no surprise that by the end of 1914 both sides had dug into the earth like moles in a desperate attempt to stay alive. The resulting trench system on the Western Front not only covered the equivalent

of 25,000 miles or 40,232 kms (enough to encircle the world) but also stretched non-stop from Belgium to Switzerland.

The effect of the appalling conditions in the trenches resulted in all manner of

diseases and deaths related to poor sanitation, extreme weather conditions and the lack of modern medicines.

Soldiers who did not die by gunfire were sometimes buried in the mud, which was

the result of incessant shellfire, whilst others drowned in water in shell holes whilst seeking cover from enemy fire.

Source: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/trench.htm and for information on the Lee Enfield rifle http://members.optushome.com.au/lee-enfield/gh1.htm (7) Write a paragraph on the history of the wreath? What is its symbolic

significance? Flowers have traditionally been laid on graves and memorials in memory of the dead. Laurel and rosemary have been associated with Anzac Day. Laurel was used as a symbol of honour, woven into a wreath by the ancient Romans to crown victors and the brave. Rosemary is commonly associated with remembrance, but in recent years, the poppy, formerly associated with Remembrance Day (11 November), has become very popular in wreaths used on Anzac Day. Teachers note: Wreaths were originally used as a sign of importance and victory. In ancient Rome wreaths were worn on the heads of leaders, such as Julius Caesar, much like the crown of a king. The Greeks placed wreaths on the heads of victorious athletes in the original Olympic Games. The tradition of hanging a wreath on a wall

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for decoration probably came about when a warrior or athlete decided to save his or her award as a memento of victory. In the dead of winter, the ancient Germanic peoples would set fires and place evergreen boughs in a circle to indicate hope of the coming spring. Both the evergreen and the circular shape symbolized ongoing life. Christians later kept this tradition alive by creating the Advent wreath that is adorned with four candles and placed on a table. The lighting of the candles traditionally takes place on Christmas Eve to represent the light of Christ coming to the world. Their use on a war memorial is meant to represent victory over death through loss of life for just cause and subsequent resurrection. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/wreaths.htm (8) Confirm that the two sets of names you recorded in Question (5) were in

fact brothers. You can find the information by accessing the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au > Biographical Databases > Roll of Honour

Enter their names, select ‘First World War, 1914 –1918’ and then ‘click’ on search. (You may need to page through the list of people with same surname to find the correct soldier). The details you require will appear in the Circular Information, which forms part of the “Roll of Honour” records. Hint: They enlisted in South Australia. Their full names were; George and Harry Herbert Davis and Thomas Symington and William Stewart McKay Davis Brothers The fact that they were brothers is confirmed by their father’s details which appear on the cover sheet of the “Roll of Honour” information which were both completed by Mr H.S. (Henry Sanford) Davis (father). Both brothers lost their lives at Gallipoli in the first weeks that following the initial landing. McKay Brothers On the “Roll of Honour” circular information for Thomas Symington McKay, his father Joseph McKay records in answer to Question (8) that Thomas’s brother was Lieutenant W.S. McKay. (9) What was the average age of these four men when they lost their lives

during World War I? George and Harry Herbert DAVIS (18 and 22) Thomas Symington and William Stewart McKAY (22 and unknown) (18 + 22 + 22) ÷ 3 = approximately 20 and 7 months old.

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(10) How did the recruiting standards, including age requirements for Australian soldiers, change as the First World War progressed and demands for fresh reinforcements increased? Refer to

www.awm.gov.au > encyclopedia > enlistment standards

Information required can be found under ‘Enlistment standards and statistics: – First World War’. During the course of the First World War standards for age, minimum height and minimum chest measurement for enlistment in the AIF were altered. The requirements in August 1914 were 18–35 years, height of 5ft 6in and chest measurement of 34 inches. In June 1915 the age range and minimum height requirements were changed to 18–45 years and 5ft 2in, with the minimum height being lowered again to 5ft in April 1917. During the first year of the war approximately 33 percent of all volunteers were rejected. However, with relaxation of physical standards of age and height, as well as dental and ophthalmic fitness, previously ineligible men were now eligible for enlistment.

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Memorial Anzac Plaza Memorial Address Junction of Colley Terrace and Anzac Highway, Glenelg

Background Information The Anzac Plaza, Glenelg, is

the site of a memorial complex comprising a four-segmented circular polished black granite and stainless steel fenced centrepiece.

On the centrepiece is an

etched wreath with flowing ribbands under the hilt of an inverted crusader's sword.

Below the wreath is the word in script: remember. In an arc around the west of the centrepiece are located six bluestone granite

boulders (stones), each with a title engraved on them. The words engraved on the stones are Silence, Loss, Sacrifice, Respect, Love and

Forgive. The “Chorus of Stones” plays commemorative messages from South Australian returned service personnel for 4 to 8 minutes daily between the hours 10.00 am and 7.00pm.

Lieutenant General Peter Cosgrove, Chief of Army, officially opened the

memorial at its dedication on Sunday March 4 2001. The memorial “commemorates all of the military conflicts that have involved

Australian troops and support services throughout our nation’s history. It is dedicated to the memory of those who have served and the sacrifices they have made”.

Student Activities On Site (1) Sacrifice has been a key theme in the language of remembrance since

memorials were built to honour those who served in the Great War. It is also one of the words on one of the six stones that form a feature of the Anzac Plaza Memorial at Glenelg.

Why is this word so closely associated with war memorials?

The origin of the theme of sacrifice – evident in much of the literature of the Great War - can be found in the inability of families of the bereaved to readily comprehend a political or military justification for the loss of their loved one(s).

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The implicit sacrifice of those who have served in all conflicts in terms of the privations, injury and loss of life are also important in understanding why the theme of sacrifice has continued to be important in the language of remembrance. (2) The inscription on the memorial centre panel reads, “All memorials are

devoted to the idea of memory and the sacred…They all maintain a connection to our past, and to our spiritual and cultural roots”.

How does the recording/s at Anzac Plaza Memorial help achieve these objectives?

The recordings of the returned service personnel are a powerful tool enabling memories and experiences to be shared with those who visit the memorial. As participants in South Australia’s wartime history their stories are part of our cultural heritage. They epitomize a tradition of service, mateship and courage which are virtues closely linked to the idea of the Anzac Spirit. Teachers note: Perhaps the best reflection of the meaning of ANZAC is to be found in Charles Bean’s one-volume history of Australia in the Great War, ANZAC to Amiens. In describing the evacuation of ANZAC area, Bean wrote:

"By dawn on December 20th ANZAC had faded into a dim blue line lost amid other hills on the horizon as the ships took their human freight to Imbros, Lemnos and Egypt. But ANZAC stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat." C.E.W. Bean, ANZAC to Amiens, Canberra, 1946, p.181

(3) Select a spoken story or stories and suggest how it contributes to your

understanding of the significance of the memorial. Student’s own reflections are required on the taped story. Classroom (4) What is the significance of the

Crusaders sword and the wreaths which appear above the word remembrance in the centrepiece of the memorial?

Crusaders Sword Crusaders were knights inspired by Christianity to fight the enemy (infidel). Knights were seen as the protectors of society and as upholders of law and order. In their devotion to duty there are close parallels with the role performed by those in the Armed Forces.

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Wreaths Flowers have traditionally been laid on graves and memorials in memory of the dead. Laurel and rosemary have been associated with Anzac Day. Laurel was used as a symbol of honour, woven into a wreath by the ancient Romans to crown victors and the brave. Rosemary is commonly associated with remembrance, but in recent years, the poppy, formerly associated only with Remembrance Day (11 November), has become very popular in wreaths used on ANZAC Day. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/wreaths.htm (5) What do the six words engraved on the rocks at Anzac Plaza Memorial say

about how its creators would like the experience of war to be remembered? (Silence, Loss, Sacrifice, Respect, Love and Forgive)

Clearly the emphasis of this memorial is on a sombre place of quiet reflection. The inscriptions on the six stones and the recorded stories are intended to be ones of “healing and understanding”. Teachers note: These sentiments contrast starkly with the language of commemoration which appears on many earlier war memorials, particularly of the 1920s and 1930s, which give emphasis to the involvement in war as a noble pursuit and those who lost their lives as heroes fighting for just causes. A good example of these sentiments can be found in the inscription on the Henley and Grange Memorial Hall. It reads, “IN MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM HENLEY & GRANGE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR (1914-1918) FOR GOD, FOR KING & COUNTRY, FOR LOVED ONES, HOME AND EMPIRE, FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE & THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD”.

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Memorial Henley and Grange Memorial Hall Address Corner of Seaview Road and North Street, Henley Beach

Background Information Exterior The Henley and Grange Memorial Hall was dedicated to those who served in the Great War, 1914 –1918, by the residents of the town in grateful recognition of their gallant deeds and noble sacrifice. The Governor of South Australia Lieutenant Colonel Sir W.E.G.A. Weigall, K.C.M.G, unveiled it on October 23 1921. The insignia of the armed services are affixed to the building and are immediately above the dedication plaque, from left to right; Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) and Merchant Navy (MN). Above these is a stain-glassed window depicting a soldier on his knees below an effigy of Christ with a crown in his hands. On either side are ionic columns with two shields and the flags of Australia and Britain. On the top of the window is an arch and at the bottom there is a scroll. The inscription on the Arch reads, “BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH & I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE”. The inscriptions on the shields read, “DUTY NOBLY DONE & THEIR NAME LIVETH”. The inscription on the scroll reads, “IN MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM HENLEY & GRANGE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR (1914-1918) FOR GOD, FOR KING & COUNTRY, FOR LOVED ONES, HOME AND EMPIRE, FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE & THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD.” ERECTED BY THE WOMEN OF THE MUNICIPALITY 1922 On either side of the foundation stone are two more recent plaques. These commemorate those who served in World War II (1939-1945) and those who served on the Malay Peninsula (1948-1960) & (1964 – 1965), Korea (1950-1953), Borneo (1962 –1966), Vietnam (1962 –1973) and the (first) Gulf War (1990 – 1991). Interior Inside the building under the dome is a crypt containing a World War I Honour Roll and photographs of some of the local servicemen who fell during the First World War.

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Student Activities On Site (1) Approximately one in five or six of the soldiers who served overseas during

the First World War did not return to Australia. Surprisingly, this lose of life was spread evenly across Australian communities of the time. By counting the names of those servicemen with crosses next to their names on the Henley and Grange 1914-1918 Service Roll calculate the ratio of servicemen from this area who lost their lives during the Great War.

29 soldiers lost their life and a total of 121 served in the First World War. 29 ÷ 121 = 0.239 or 24% Approximately 24% of those whose names are listed lost their lives. Which is less than one in five. (2) Record the names of the two sets of brothers killed during

the First World War for further research when you return to the classroom. Make sure to include their initials.

MAHONEY J.D & L.E NOBLE A.C. & G.F. (3) Many features of the stained glass window are highly symbolic. The images

and inscriptions combine to tell us much about the beliefs and values of those who erected this memorial to those who served from the Henley and Grange area in The Great War.

List three such elements and comment on their significance.

The combination of the Australian and British flags symbolise Australia’s strong

links with the British Empire. Australian troops as part of (British) Imperial forces during The Great War.

The strong religious beliefs of the time are reflected in the image of Christ holding

the crown, which symbolises the offer of eternal life. The belief that Australians fought “for the sacred cause of justice and the freedom

of the world” which is inscribed on the glass suggests that there was a strong moral belief in the virtue of Australia’s involvement in The Great War.

Teachers note: The women of the area honoured Henley and Grange district fallen soldiers by quickly initiating a memorial in the form of a locally funded stained glass window paid for by donations from the local community.

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Teachers note: Clarkson, the local glass manufacturer, specially designed and erected the larger than standard sized stained glass window tribute. Clarkson Ltd also made Leadlight Honour windows following World War I for individual families to place in their dining room windows “as a permanent reminder of the loyalty of [their] enlisted boy”. These honour windows replaced ordinary glass, or were fixed against existing windows without disturbing them in any way. (4) The inscriptions and images on the windows on

either side of the Henley and Grange RSL building located directly behind and east of the Henley and Grange Town Hall commemorate those who served in a more contemporary manner.

Describe the features of the two windows that appear on either side of the main entrance to the Henley and Grange RSL Hall?

The two windows on the RSL building commemorate the role of men and women in the services. The right window features the effigy of three servicemen with the insignia of the three armed forces, a poppy and a sprig of wattle. The left window features the effigy of three servicewomen with the insignia of the A.I.F, a representation of a truck, ships and aircraft, a red cross and a sprig of wattle. (5) Contrast the images on the windows in the Henley and Grange RSL

building to the image in the Town Hall.

What do you think are some of the major differences in their sentiment and style?

The windows at the RSL were commissioned around 80 years after the one in the town hall. As you would expect they approach commemoration in an entirely different way: Only a male soldier is featured on the Town Hall

stained glass memorial. The inclusion of a woman in one of the RSL windows reflects the more prominent role women played in the armed forces during and post World War II. During the First World War the role of women in the services was limited, with approximately 300 women in South Australia undertaking nursing duties. Significantly, the only reference to women on the Town Hall stained glass window is in respect to those on the committee who raised the funds for it to be erected.

Most of the enlistments and subsequent casualties that occurred during World War

I were soldiers. Although Australians did serve in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) their involvement was numerically

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much smaller. Therefore the only image, which appears on the stained glass window in the Town Hall, the kneeling soldier reflects the dominant role they played during the Great War. During and post World War II the RAAF and RAN played a more prominent role as the nature of warfare was changed by new technologies. This is reflected in the choice of images on the RSL windows.

The choice of inscriptions and style of language reflect the different focus of those

seeking to commemorate those who have served their country during wartime. Whilst the Memorial Hall window is full of religious symbolism this is entirely

absent on the RSL windows. The only strictly symbolic elements on the RSL windows are the poppies and the wattle. The windows in the RSL focus on the arms of the services and specific roles performed by men and women. The contributions of all the arms of the services are acknowledged. There is none of the eulogising associated with the inscriptions and images on the Town Hall window relating to the justice of the cause or glorification of the dead.

Classroom (6) Complete the table below about the soldiers whose details you recorded in

Question (2). You can find the necessary information by accessing the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au > Biographical Databases > Roll of Honour

Enter each soldier’s surname, select ‘First World War, 1914 –1918’ and then‘click’ on search. (You may need to page through the list of people with the same surname to find the correct soldier). The details you require will appear in the Circular Information, which forms part of the “Roll of Honour” records.

How old were they when they lost their lives? What were their occupations or calling? Where did they go to school? What was the location (country) and date of their death? Name Age Occupation School Country and

date of death Joseph David MAHONEY

Lloyd Leonard MAHONEY

Alan Campbell NOBLE

George Franklin NOBLE

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Name Age Occupation School Country and date of death

Joseph David MAHONEY

21 years Gard(e)ner Public School, Fulham

France, April 6 or 8 1917*

Lloyd Leonard MAHONEY

18 years and 11months

Dairyman Fulham France, 28 July 1916

Alan Campbell NOBLE

20 years all but 8 days

Mason State School, Grange

France, 9 May 1917

George Franklin NOBLE

23 years and 5 months

Plasterer State School, Grange

England, 13 November 1918

* Please note there is conflicting information on the AWM website. The database states the 6 April 1917, but the Roll of Honour circular (PDF file) states the 8 April 1917. (7) Why do you think so many people lost their lives during World War I

which for the most part involved opposing armies engaged in trench warfare?

The loss of life is highlighted by the breakdown of those killed from the major combatants, which appears below: Country Approximate number of lives lost Great Britain and her Empire 1,000,000 France 1,300,000 Russia 1,700,000 Germany and its allies 3,500,000 Losses of life per day of the war exceeded 5,500 These figures above demonstrate the extremely high loss of life of which a major contributing factor were the conditions encountered in trench warfare, which typified the fighting during World War I. Students’ answers should mention the causes and consequences of trench warfare in explaining the loss of life. One major cause of this immense loss of life is that the countries involved didn't realise the destructive power of the weapons developed since the last European war almost 50 years earlier. These included: The bolt action 303 Lee Enfield Rifle, which by 1915, had a range of nearly a mile

(approximately 1.6 kms) and could fire 15 rounds a minute. The even more devastating Vickers Machine Gun that fired 600 rounds a minute.

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The impact of modern artillery such as the howitzer (cannon) which could fire shells eight miles (approximately 12 kilometres).

The toll that would be taken by grenades, flamethrowers and (eventually) gas that

progressively became part of World War I arsenals. It is no surprise that by the end of 1914 both sides had dug into the earth like moles in a desperate attempt to stay alive. The resulting trench system on the Western Front not only covered the equivalent

of 25,000 miles or 40,232 kms (enough to encircle the world) but also stretched non-stop from Belgium to Switzerland.

The effect of the appalling conditions in the trenches resulted in all manner of diseases and deaths related to poor sanitation, extreme weather conditions and the lack of modern medicines.

Soldiers who did not die by gunfire were sometimes buried in the mud, which was

the result of incessant shellfire, whilst others drowned in water in shell holes whilst seeking cover from enemy fire.

Source: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/trench.htm and for information on the Lee Enfield rifle http://members.optushome.com.au/lee-enfield/gh1.htm (8) What is the significance of the poppy and sprig of wattle which appear on

the Henley and Grange RSL Hall window? Poppy The Flanders poppy has been a part of the 11 November, Armistice or Remembrance Day rituals, since the early 1920s and is also increasingly being used as part of ANZAC Day observances. In the English literature of the nineteenth century, poppies symbolised sleep or a state of oblivion; this symbolism was carried into the literature of the First World War, when a new, more powerful symbolism was attached to the poppy - that of the sacrifice of shed blood. During the First World War, the red poppies were seen to be among the first living plants that sprouted from the devastation of the battlefields of northern France and Belgium. Soldiers' folklore had it that the poppies were vivid red from having been nurtured in ground drenched with the blood of their comrades. The sight of the poppies on the battlefield at Ypres in 1915 moved Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write the poem In Flanders Fields. Flanders poppies also featured prominently in several other literary responses to the carnage of the Western Front. An American, Moina Michael, read McCrae's poem and was so moved by it that she wrote a reply and decided to wear a red poppy as a way of keeping faith, as McCrae urged in his poem. Michael worked for the American YMCA and at a meeting of YMCA secretaries from other countries, held in November 1918, she discussed the

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poem and her poppies. Madame Guerin, the French YMCA secretary, was similarly inspired and she approached organisations throughout the allied nations to sell poppies to raise money for widows, orphans and needy veterans and their families. The poppy soon became widely accepted throughout the allied nations as the flower of remembrance to be worn on Armistice Day, which is now known as Remembrance Day. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/poppies.htm Wattle The Golden Wattle, Acacia, is our Australian national floral emblem. The story of the wattle brings together many threads in the changing nature of Australian citizenship - women's suffrage, class egalitarianism, the glory of the distinctive indigenous plants, philanthropy and community, the nation's industrial underpinning’s, and the centrality of war in nationhood. Henry Lawson first used the expression 'if blood should stain the wattle' in a poem about class wars in 1891. But the Great War, which united British and Australians of all classes, associated the wattle with different blood. Wattles were eagerly embraced in most states in Australia as a floral emblem as early as 1912, though there were some variations in the choice of species. Wattle represented an egalitarian, classless Australia. Celebration of Wattle Day reached its height during World War I. Wattle Day was used to raise funds for the war effort and many trees were denuded in order to supply the many sprigs of wattle sold on that day. Boxes of wattle were sent to soldiers in hospitals overseas and it became a custom to enclose a sprig of wattle with each letter to remind our soldiers of home. After the war Wattle Day was kept alive in schools. In the 1980s, the metaphor (was) adapted again by Bruce Elder in 'Blood on the Wattle: Massacres & Maltreatment of Australian Aborigines since 1788'. The gold of the wattle and the red of the blood evoked the Aboriginal colours as well as the rediscovered war history of European invasion. The Sari Club in Bali, Indonesia was bombed on 12 October 2002. A month after this Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, planted a silver wattle in the grounds of the United States Embassy in Canberra, a wattle that joined those tourist deaths with a renewed commitment by Australia to United States war objectives. Later the same week, family members mourning a loved one, killed or injured in the attack sat on chairs marked by sprigs of wattle in the Great Hall of Parliament in Canberra. Commentators and politicians wore wattle again, and the old wattle rhetoric of the interwar years was drawn into service of a new sort of war, one without an enemy, the so-called 'war on terror'. Source: http://www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/mum/mum2003/wattle.html and http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/wattle_d.html

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Memorial City of West Torrens Memorial Gardens

Address Brooker Terrace, Hilton

Background Information The central feature of the West Torrens Memorial

Gardens is the white marble Cross of Sacrifice. At the top of the cross is an inverted bronze Crusader’s sword.

A number of paths in the gardens radiate out from

this central feature. On the face of the pedestal are four plaques. To the left is a carved effigy of an angel of mercy, to the right is an effigy of a blacksmith over an anvil. In the centre and at the back of the pedestal there is an effigy of a wreath. On each side of the pedestal are bronze flag supporters.

The memorial features a number of bronze

commemorative plaques. These include one in the memory of the fallen from the two World Wars, Malaya, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War and another commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II.

The West Torrens Memorial Garden was dedicated and the Cross of Sacrifice

unveiled by the Governor Sir Charles W.M. Norrie K.C.M.G, C.B., D.S.O, M.C. on Sunday April 5 1951.

Other monuments in the City of West Torrens Memorial Gardens include: A memorial erected by the Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association of South

Australia, to honour their members who served their country in the armed forces of Greece was unveiled on Greek National Day, 25 March 2002.

A memorial erected by the National Servicemen’s Association to their comrades

which was unveiled on 13 February 1999. A memorial commemorating the centenary of the departure of the first Australian

contingent to the Boer War of 1899 – 1902 which was unveiled on the 31 October 1999. A plaque on Brooker Terrace, which was unveiled on Anzac Day 2000, that

commemorates the formal naming of the area as the City of West Torrens Memorial Gardens.

The gardens are also home to a World War II vintage “25 pounder” artillery piece.

Vintage weapons are frequently found in war memorial parks and gardens.

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Student Activities On Site (1) In what direction is the Cross of

Sacrifice facing? Hint: Think in terms of the direction of the sun as it passes over the monument from the morning and afternoon.

Can you suggest the significance of this positioning?

The Cross of Sacrifice faces East - West. East/West orientation is seen in a number of cultures when burying the dead or positioning of monuments. This choice of positioning relates to the sun rising on the new day from the east and passing of the day as the sun sets in the west. The imagery is alluded to in Binyon’s Ode with the line, “At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them”. Teachers note: In some Christian cemeteries the dead have their feet pointing toward the east and the head of the coffin is placed toward the west, ready to rise up and face the "new day" when according to Christian belief "the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised". At this time it is written that Christ would appear and they would be reborn. (2) Locate the plaque that was unveiled on the 25 March 2002. Why was the

unveiling date selected? Why do you think Ex-Servicemen of Greece are commemorated in these gardens?

The memorial was unveiled on the anniversary of Greek National Day which is celebrated on the 25 March. On 25 March 1821, the War of Independence began, the people of Greece fought for nine years and in 1829 a small part of what is now modern Greece was liberated and declared an independent nation. Australia is a multi-cultural society and there is a large ethnic Greek community in Adelaide’s Western Suburbs. Greek soldiers fought with Australians during the Greek campaign of April-May 1941 during World War II. Source: http://www.explorecrete.com/history/march25.html

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(3) What event does the memorial dedicated on the 31 October 1999 commemorate?

By examining the information contained on the inscription why do you think that a memorial to South Australians who served in a war 100 years ago may be relevant today?

The event commemorated was the centenary of the departure of the first South Australian contingent to The Second Boer War, 1899 –1902. South Australia sent nine contingents in total comprising of 1,534 officers and men and 1,430 horses to the Boer War. The inscription suggests the following in terms of the significance of the 100 year anniversary commemoration; The importance of that campaign in establishing Australia as a strong nation and a

reliable ally. The establishment of Australian’s reputation for courage, determination, bravery

and mateship which was born on the battlefields of the Boer Republic and formed the basis for the achievements and legend of the original Anzacs.

The sacrifice of these original servicemen and women and their families at home cemented the traditions for all men and women who have served Australia.

Teachers note: Activities which relate to the South African (Boer) War Memorial located on the corner of King William Street and North Terrace, in front of Government House, can be found in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Adelaide Memorial Walk. Contact the department on (08) 8290 0502 for a copy. (4) Locate the plaque in the gardens dedicated to those who enlisted and

undertook National Service in the Australian Armed Services.

By examining the design of the emblems on the left hand face of the memorial what armed services did National Servicemen serve with from 1951 to 1972?

TOP: A.I.F Australian Imperial Forces (Army) BOTTOM LEFT: R.A.A.F. (Royal Australian Air Force) BOTTOM RIGHT: R.A.N. (Royal Australian Navy) Classroom (5) What are the origins of the Cross of Sacrifice? The war memorial erected

in the City of West Torrens Memorial Gardens takes the form of a Cross of Sacrifice.

The Cross of Sacrifice was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission with the design reflecting the Christian faith of the majority of those who served in the British and colonial forces.

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They initially appeared in the Commonwealth War Cemeteries of France and Belgium. Permission was obtained to use the design for war memorials in Australia and other countries that served with the British during the Great War. Teachers note: The Cross of Sacrifice - One monument that is common to all Commission cemeteries is the Cross of Sacrifice. It was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, and is usually set upon an octagonal base featuring a bronze sword upon its shaft. Blomfield produced it in four sizes, 14 ft (4.27m), 18 ft (5.49m), 20 ft (6.10m) and 24 ft (7.32m), so that it would not overpower the smaller war cemeteries. When talking about the Cross of Sacrifice Blomfield said, “I took immense pains with the design, working it out on a carefully adjusted system of proportions so that in the four sizes in use, the relative proportions of the design were maintained. The Cross has been set up in all the War Cemeteries throughout the (British) Empire. It has also been adopted in many places in England as the local war memorial; it has undoubtedly pleased the majority of English speaking people. I have had applications for its use (for local war memorial’s) from every part of the Empire”. Source: http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/remembrance/remembrance_cwgc6.htm (6) The members of the National Servicemen’s Association

were conscripted to either the National Service Scheme, which commenced in 1951 and was abolished in 1959, or the more controversial period of conscription between 1964 and 1972.

Research which Australian Government introduced these two programs and find out why they were eventually abolished.

Compulsory military training for the nation’s young men was reintroduced in 1951 by the Menzies Liberal Government. It was the third such scheme to have existed in Australia since Federation in 1901. The scheme was criticised as being irrelevant to modern defence needs, where skill was becoming more important than numbers, and for being a drain on the regular army’s finances and manpower. In 1959 the scheme was abolished. National service was brought back for a fourth time in 1964, by the Menzies Liberal Government, which subsequently introduced new powers in 1965 that enabled it to send national servicemen overseas. At that time, Australian soldiers were involved with the war in Vietnam, and the Menzies Government wished to raise the army’s numbers to 40,000 in order to meet overseas commitments. From 1965 to 1972, 19,450 national servicemen served in the Vietnam War, with 202 killed and 1,279 wounded. The issue of conscription provoked debate within the Australian community, with university students and other members of the community taking part in large anti-conscription and anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. The National Service Scheme was abolished on 5 December 1972 by the newly elected Whitlam Labor Government. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/conscription/vietnam.htm

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City of West Torrens Memorial Gardens

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Memorial South East Asian Forces Memorial Address Port Road, Hindmarsh (100m West of Bus Stop 7)

Background Information The memorial is a diagonal metal arch. Each arch has steel cutouts depicting relevant details of a conflict period. In the centre is a red granite block that has conflicts engraved on the four faces of its base. At the lower corner of each arch there are bronze plaques with the areas of conflict that involved Australians in South East Asia between 1948 and 1973. On one face of the monolith in the centre of the memorial is a plaque which was unveiled by Lt. Gen. Sir Donald Dunstan AC, KBE, CB on the 18 August 1996. Below this is the insignia of the three armed services. Student Activities On Site (1) What are the Vietnam War images that appear on the arch? Three Iroquois helicopters - two gun ships and one used for medical evacuation. An Army Nurse. Paddy fields and hills. Aircraft (Canberra bomber). Soldier (known in Vietnam as “Grunts” because of the noise they made carrying

their kits whilst on patrol). Large soldier at the bottom of the arch with a rifle over the entrance to a Viet

Cong (enemy) tunnel complex. (2) What are the Korean War images that appear on the arch? HMAS Bataan (ship). HMAS Sydney (aircraft carrier). Meteor (aircraft). Australian troops in camouflage gear

(snowsuits). Korea's rugged mountains and trees. Australian troops with a dog (kaka). Large figures at the bottom of the arch are

pilots (RAAF and Navy), a RAAF Nurse, sailor and soldier.

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(3) What are the Malay Emergency – Malay Conflict images which appear on the arch?

RAAF Lincoln bomber (four engine aircraft). RAAF Dakota (two engine aircraft). Airfield construction - Butterworth Airbase, Malaya. Soldier leaping from a helicopter into a jungle

clearing. HMAS Derwent (RAN Ship). Large soldier at the bottom with parachute and

supply bag with medical supplies and food being dropped by a Dakota (aircraft).

(4) What are the Borneo (or Indonesian Confrontation) images which appear

on the arch? An Australian soldier patrolling through jungle and

bamboo. Two Iroquois helicopters. Avon Sabres (aircraft). HMAS Teal (ship/minesweeper). Long house, hills and aboriginal people of Borneo. Bamboo bridge with soldier. Large Australian soldier pushing through the bamboo

with a tracker dog that has picked up a scent during a border patrol. (5) Complete the following from the text on the memorial.

This memorial is dedicated to those Australians who served in Cold War conflicts from 19 to 19 .

1948 - 1973. Classroom (6) What periods were Australian forces involved in fighting in each of the

following Cold War conflicts?

Korean War Malayan Emergency Indonesian Confrontation Vietnam War

Korea (1950 – 1953) Malayan Emergency (1948 – 1960) Indonesian Confrontation (1964 - 1966) Vietnam (1962 - 1972) Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/conflict.htm

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(7) Teachers should refer to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs 2004 Anzac Day Publication, ‘Working the Web – Investigating Australia’s Wartime History’ Investigation 7, which has a range of activities designed for Secondary students using a variety of internet sites. These resources were distributed to all South Australian Schools in March 2004.

The investigation can be printed from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs educational resources are located at

http://www.dva.gov.au/commem/commac/studies/studies.htm Or phone the Commemorations section of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 08 8290 0502 for a photocopy of this Investigation.

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Memorial HMCS Protector Memorials Address North Parade adjacent to North Parade Wharf and Jenkins Street, Port

Adelaide Background Information Port Adelaide has two memorials that commemorate the service of the South Australian colonial warship the HMCS Protector. One memorial is located on North Parade and features a bronze plaque that commemorates the Centenary of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and the embarkation of the HMCS Protector, which sailed for the war in China on the 6 August 1900. The second memorial is located on Jenkins Street and features a six inch Naval Deck Gun. This gun, from the HMCS Protector, was originally located at Semaphore. The memorial was constructed “in memory of those who served in the Royal Australian Navy who gave their lives to the service of their country and community”.

Further investigation/reading After viewing the memorials students should read the following extracts relating to the HMCS Protector and associated extracts and answer the questions that follow. The South Australian Colonial Navy: HMCS Protector The PROTECTOR was the first naval ship ordered by the South Australian Government for the express purpose of defending our shores. Public opinion, and disquiet, at the lack of British interest in the defence of Australia had eventually forced the passing of the Imperial Colonial Defence Act in 1865. This act enabled individual colonies to raise their own naval force, but only Victoria, Queensland and South Australia responded. The lack of money resulted in little action until the threat, by the Royal Navy in 1880, to take back responsibility forced the colonies into action. By 1887 the Australasian Defence Act was passed and an Auxiliary Squadron formed to protect trade. Her Majesty's Colonial Ship Protector had been ordered from the British firm of Sir W.G. Armstrong & Co. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1882, and was delivered on 30th September 1884. She was a small steel-hulled cruiser with an overall length of 185 feet, beam of 30 feet, draught of 12 ft 6 in, and displacement of 920 tons. She carried a relatively heavy armament for her size: one 8-inch gun, five 6-inch, all breechloaders, and four Hotchkiss 3-pounders as well as Gatling (machine) guns. The two engines of 50 nominal horsepower moved her along at 14 knots or 25.9 kilometres per hour.

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The Protector's crew was made up of a core of professional men, augmented by reservists who could be called up on mobilisation. In 1900 Captain C.J. Clare took over the ship as commandant, replacing Captain W.R. Creswell RN who had moved to Queensland as the commander of the Marine Force there. However, Creswell regained command of the vessel upon her departure from Queensland for China during the Boxer engagement. He was later recognised as the father of the modern Australian Navy. The chief gunner was E. Argent and the surgeon Dr Morris, who built Kembla House at 55 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide. He was a great character in the district and a noted pugilist. The Boxer Rebellion One late winter's day in 1900, the Cape Otway signal station reported HMCS Protector heading east on a voyage from Adelaide to Sydney to take part in a combined maritime enterprise at Hong Kong with the British, French, Russians and Japanese. On hearing of the 'strength' of our force, a Frenchman was heard to remark 'A one-ship navy? Then you are in no danger of collisions in your fleet'. This enterprise however was no joke, but the real thing. We were joining forces with the eastern Colonies at the call of the Mother Country, England in a show of force aimed at quelling the Boxer Rebellion. Why marines? At the time the army was fully extended with the Boer War, and it was common practice for the navy of the day to be prepared for duty on shore. The Boxer Rebellion in China was essentially a fierce Chinese backlash against the evangelical Western missionaries and their converts, plus the spread of European railways, which threatened the livelihoods of the peasants. After a century of decay and disintegration, the central Chinese Government and the Ching Dynasty were on the verge of collapse, with the foreign devils (the Europeans) all scrambling for Spheres of Influence, as in Africa. Trade was the great prize. The I He Tuan, or Righteous Harmony Group, became corrupted to the I He Chuan, which translated became the Righteous Harmony Fists. One step further and the North China Daily News coined the phrase 'Boxers' by which they are known to this day. The embassies in Peking were under siege and before the end of hostilities, over 300 Westerners and 30,000 Chinese were dead. Our fledgling force sailed under the command of Captain Creswell, the Articles of War were read, and it had the chance to show just what the Colonials were capable of achieving. Training continued throughout the voyage. The engines were augmented with sail wherever possible, giving a speed of 11 knots or more. The Protector safely weathered a typhoon while travelling between the coaling station in the Philippines and Hong Kong. Once there Creswell was able to have her painted thoroughly and her stores fully replenished. The blue ensign of the Colony of South Australia was lowered and the white ensign of the Royal Navy hoisted, thus she became HMS Protector of the China Station. It had been planned that the ship should capture the fortifications at Shanghai-Kwan, but this objective had already been achieved by HMS Pygmy. Similarly, the Russians had beaten them to another fort. Most of the Protector's remaining time in China was spent moving men and stores between the

Rear Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG

KBE CMG

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two forts, and carrying despatches. Various personnel were engaged in specific jobs such as mine-removal and survey work. The Admiralty eventually decided to dispense with the Protector's services and after essential work was carried out in Hong Kong she was decommissioned and sailed for Australia. In Brisbane, Captain Creswell again relinquished command to Captain Clare. In Sydney, the men took part in the celebrations on 1 January 1901 establishing the Commonwealth of Australia, and then sailed for Port Adelaide. The ship had been absent five months and steamed over 16,000 nautical miles without incident and with impressive behaviour of the crew. The day after her arrival home, a 'welcome back' social was held in the Port Adelaide Town Hall. The following day the ship went to Largs Bay to pay off, with each reserve member being given two weeks pay as a gratuity. The haggling over the amount of money the South Australian Government had spent on the deployment went on for at least another eighteen months. The Protector's subsequent career In 1911 the Protector became a ship of the Royal Australian Navy. Despite her age, she was considered suitable for war service as late as 1914 and performed very useful work during World War I. She had been re-armed and mounted with three 4-inch, two 12-pounder, and four 3-pounder guns. She operated as a parent ship to the submarines AE1 and AE2, which were to become the only Australian ships lost during the war. Later she used her 4-inch guns to good effect as a port guard ship at Rabaul. After the destruction of the German cruiser Emden, the Protector was sent to the Cocos Islands to report on the wreck before assuming tender duties at Westernport in January 1916. She remained on these duties, being renamed Cerberus on 1st April 1921, but in 1924 reverted to her original name and was laid up in June. Eventually the Protector was sold for £677.10 and in 1931 was resold to the Victorian Lighterage Company. She operated as a wool and coal lighter under the name Sidney until requisitioned by the U.S. Army in 1943. During the voyage under tow to New Guinea in the charge of Australian Army water transport personnel, she collided with a tug off Gladstone and broke adrift. In order to avoid her becoming a shipping hazard, the nearly 80-year-old hull was beached on Heron Island for use as a breakwater. Such was the fate of this ship whose name is still so revered by our historians and whose memory is held in great affection by a very large number of South Australians. Source: http://www.picknowl.com.au/homepages/malcolm/shippass.htm#south

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HMCS Protector HMCS Protector was completed in 1884 for the South Australian government. As the Colony's only warship, the Protector was employed to patrol South Australia's coastal waters. It was purchased during the same period the fortifications were also being erected (at Fort Largs). The Protector served for three months in Chinese waters without seeing action. In 1911 the ship passed to the Royal Australian Navy and in 1914 saw active service around New Guinea. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/virtualtour/colonial.htm South Australia’s Colonial Defences South Australia's major colonial defences comprised the forts at Largs and Glanville, both located on the coast facing into Gulf St Vincent (the forts were linked by Military Road from Glenelg to Largs); the Torpedo Station on Port River; and the cruiser Protector, which was in service from 1884. The military installations also played some part in the 1914–18 and 1939–45 wars. Fort Glanville was built between 1878 and 1880 and is the most complete example of a 19th century coastal artillery fort in Australia. In 1880 the Fort was completed and its guns mounted and fired. However by 1900 the fort was being maintained by a lone caretaker. It was used briefly during World War I and in the 1930s when the Boy Scouts used it as a campsite. Most of the metal at the fort was removed for scrap in 1937. The State Government purchased the fort in 1951 and in 1981 it was opened to the public. Restoration is ongoing. The Fort retains its original guns and comprises gun emplacements, magazines, guard room, barracks, gunners mess, officers quarters, stores and more, serving as a reminder of our colonial commitment to Britain. The Fort is staffed by volunteer members of the Fort Glanville Historical Association who provide a unique living history interpretive display of military drill, including cannon and carbine firing on the third Sunday of each month during September to May. Source: http://www.traveldownunder.com.au/South_Australia/Adelaide/Fort_Glanville.asp Did you know? Did you know that before 1901 South Australia had its own Army and Navy? In 1865 the government of South Australia voted a sum of $40,000 (more than a million dollars in today’s money) for the defence of the colony. In 1882 legislation was passed in South Australia for the building of its own war ship. It arrived at Port Adelaide on 30 September 1884 and was called the HMCS Protector. During the 1880s and well into the early 1900s South Australia had its own Torpedo Station with ten torpedoes. The torpedoes remained in their crates and were never used as there was no torpedo boat. Source: http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/defence.htm

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Boxer Uprising: China 1900-1901 During the nineteenth century the major European powers compelled a reluctant Chinese Empire to start trading with them. There was little the Chinese Government wanted from the west at that time, but there was a strong demand for opium among the population. In the Opium Wars of the 1860s the British had forced the Chinese to accept the import of opium in return for Chinese goods, and trading centres were established at major ports. The largest of these was Shanghai, where French, German, British and US merchants demanded large tracts of land in which they asserted "extra-territorial" rights, meaning that they were subject to the laws of their own country, not those of China. It was in Shanghai that the legendary sign appeared in a park near one of these European compounds: "No dogs or Chinamen". The incapacity of the Chinese government to resist these inroads on its sovereignty, and to withstand further demands from the Europeans, such as the right to build railways and other concessions, caused much resentment among large sections of the population and eventually led to the Chinese revolution of 1911, which toppled the imperial dynasty. By the end of the nineteenth century the balance of the lucrative trade between China and merchants from America and Europe, particularly Britain, lay almost entirely in the West's favour. As Western influence increased, anti-European secret societies began to form. Among the most violent and popular of these was the I-ho-ch'uan, which translates as the "Righteous and Harmonious Fists". Dubbed "the Boxers" by western correspondents, they gave the Boxer Rebellion its name. Throughout 1899, the I-ho-ch'uan and other militant societies combined in a campaign against westerners and westernised Chinese. Missionaries and other civilians were killed, western women were raped and European property was destroyed. By March 1900 the uprising had spread beyond the secret societies, and the western powers decided to intervene, partly to protect their nationals, but mainly to counter the threat to their territorial and trade ambitions. By the end of May 1900 Britain, Italy and the United States had warships anchored off the Chinese coast at Taku, the nearest port to Peking, and armed contingents from France, Germany, Austria, Russia and Japan were on their way to China. In June, as a western force marched on Peking, the Dowager Empress, T'zu-hsi, sent imperial troops to support the Boxers against them. As the conflict widened, further western reinforcements were dispatched to China. As the conflict escalated the Australian colonies were keen to offer material support to Britain. With the bulk of their forces engaged in South Africa, they looked to their navies to provide men for the war in China; these provided a pool of professional, full-time crews, as well as reservist-volunteers, including many ex-naval men. The reservists were mustered into naval brigades in which the training was geared towards coastal defence by sailors capable of both ship handling and fighting as soldiers.

A Boxer gun structure on the wall of the Imperial City during the Boxer Uprising.

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When the first of the Australian contingents, mostly from New South Wales and Victoria, sailed on 8 August 1900, troops from eight other nations were already engaged in China. On arrival, they were quartered in Tientsin and immediately ordered to provide 300 men to join a force sent to capture the Chinese forts at Pei Tang which overlooked the inland rail route. The 300 Australians were a small part of an 8,000-strong force made up of troops from Russia, Germany, Austria, British India and some Chinese troops serving under British officers. The Australians travelled apart from the main body of troops, and by the time they arrived at Pei Tang the battle was already over. The next action in which the Australians (Victorian troops this time) were involved was against the Boxer fortress at Pao-ting Fu, where the Chinese Government was believed to have sought refuge when Peking was taken by western forces. The Victorians joined a force of 7,500 on the ten-day march to the fort, only to find that the town had already surrendered; the closest they came to the enemy was to guard prisoners. The international column then marched back to Tientsin, leaving a trail of looted villages behind them. While the Victorians marched to Pao-ting Fu and back, the NSW contingent was undertaking garrison duties in Peking. They had arrived on 22 October after a 12-day march. They remained in Tientsin and Peking over winter, performing police and guard duties and sometimes working as railwaymen and fire-fighters. Although they took little part in combat, the Australian forces did play a role in the restoration of civil order, and an aspect of this work involved shooting (by firing squad) Chinese caught setting fire to buildings or committing other offences against European property or persons. The officers and men of the Australian contingents were dissatisfied with the nature of the duties they were asked to undertake. They had expected martial adventure and the opportunity to distinguish themselves in battle, but they had arrived in China too late to take part in significant combat. The entire naval brigade left China in March 1901. Six Australians had died of sickness and injury no one was killed as a result of enemy action. While they had been away the colonies from which they sailed only nine months before had become a Federal Commonwealth and Queen Victoria had died in England. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/boxer.htm Student Activities Classroom Having read the articles above students will be able answer the following questions (1) Why is the HMCS Protector so important in the history of the armed

services in South Australia and the Port Adelaide area?

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Students should note in their answers that it was the first and only South Australian Colonial Naval warship and was a part of our original colonial defences based in Port Adelaide in the late 1800s. Its long service and wartime roles and adventures make it a unique vessel and therefore important to the maritime history of the state. (2) In what conflicts did the HMCS Protector serve in some capacity during its

proud history of maritime service? Boxer Rebellion World War I World War II (3) What other important coastal defences were erected in the Port Adelaide

area during the late 1800s? Fort Glanville, Fort Largs and the Port River torpedo station. (4) The officers and men of the Australian contingents, including those on the

HMCS Protector that were sent to the Boxer Rebellion, were dissatisfied with the nature of the duties they were asked to undertake.

Why were they dissatisfied with their roles?

The Australian Naval Contingents sent to China in 1900 arrived too late to perform any important military role and arrived on the scene after Boxer strongholds had fallen. The roles they did play related more to mopping up after the event by guarding prisoners and dealing with restoring civil order. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/boxer.htm Most of the Protector's time in China was spent moving men and stores between the two forts, and carrying despatches. Various personnel were engaged in specific jobs such as mine-removal and survey work. The Admiralty eventually decided to dispense with the Protector's services and after essential work was carried out in Hong Kong she was decommissioned and sailed for Australia. Source: http://www.picknowl.com.au/homepages/malcolm/shippass.htm#south

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Memorial Rosewater War Memorial Address Southwest Corner of Eric Sutton Reserve, corner of Canning Street and

Chad Street, Rosewater Background Information The Rosewater War Memorial is a grey granite rough cut

monument comprising a Cross of Sacrifice mounted on a pedestal.

Bronze plaques are affixed to the base of the cross and the

surbase. The pedestal face is polished and all details are in white.

It was unveiled on April 15 1922 and “erected as a tribute of

pride by the women of Rosewater in honour of the men who died for King and Country in the Great War of 1914 – 1919”.

Student Activities On Site (1) What conflicts are commemorated on the Rosewater War Memorial? The Great War (First World War) 1914 – 1919 World War II 1939 - 1945 Korea 1950 - 1953 Vietnam 1962 - 1973 (2) Approximately one in five or six of the Australian soldiers who served

overseas, during the First World War, did not return home. Based upon the names of those who lost their lives which are recorded on the Rosewater War Memorial calculate how many men are likely to have enlisted from the area?

66 x 5 = 330 66 x 6 = 396 Teachers note: It is likely that between 330 and 396 soldiers enlisted from the Rosewater area, as casualties were spread surprisingly evenly across Australian communities of the time. Teachers may wish to mention that of those that did return, around 50% had a wound or injury of some kind. (3) How many family names appear more than once on the memorial? Seven names appear more than once. They are the Brown, Ellis, Hendry, McNeil, Stone, Weaver and Young families.

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(4) Record the family name and initials of the most frequently occurring name inscribed on the Rosewater War Memorial for further research when you return to the classroom.

Weaver A.C. Weaver C.J. Weaver F.H. Weaver W.A. (5) The language of remembrance provides insights into

community attitudes to the war. These are reflected by the inscriptions chosen by those who are responsible for the erection of war memorials.

Taking this into account, what does the epitaph, “He died the noblest death a man can die fighting for God, truth and loyalty and such a death is immortality”, suggest about the attitudes and values of those who erected the Rosewater War Memorial?

The choice of words on the inscription suggests; That there was a strong belief in the moral basis for Australia’s involvement in the

Great War, a great sense of patriotism and pride in the contribution of local soldiers, and deep religious beliefs were held by those who sought to commemorate the

Rosewater fallen in the Great war. Classroom (6) The type of cross which is located on top of the Rosewater

War Memorial is known as a Cross of Sacrifice.

What are the origins of the Cross of Sacrifice? One monument which is common to all Commonwealth War Grave cemeteries, is the Cross of Sacrifice designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, set usually upon an octagonal base and bearing a bronze sword upon its shaft. Blomfield produced it in four sizes, 14 ft (4.26 metres), 18 ft (5.48 metres), 20 ft (6.09 metres) and 24 ft (7.31 metres), so that it would not overpower the smaller cemeteries. The cross reflected the Christian beliefs of most of the British Empire fallen of World War I. However, individual tombstones included in their design emblems relating to the specific religious beliefs of the soldier. (ie Star of David for Australian soldiers of the Jewish faith.) Teachers note: Blomfield said 'I took immense pains with the design, working it out on a carefully adjusted system of proportions so that in the four sizes in use, the relative proportions of the design were maintained. The Cross of Sacrifice has been set up in all the War Cemeteries throughout the Empire. It has also been adopted in many places in England as the local War Memorial, (and) has pleased the majority of

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English speaking people. I have had applications for its use from every part of the Empire'. Perhaps the highest compliment that could be paid to Blomfield's design is that it found favour with many of the committees responsible for erecting war memorials in Britain and it can be found all over the British Isles. In the UK the names of the fallen are usually engraved on the base. (7) The tragic loss of the four Weaver brothers from Rosewater is believed to

be the largest suffered by any individual family in the state of South Australia during World War I. Complete the table below regarding the Weaver brothers whose initials you recorded in Question (4). You can find the necessary information by accessing the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au > Biographical Databases > Roll of Honour

Enter each soldier’s surname, select ‘First World War, 1914-1918’ and then ‘click’ on search. (You may need to page through the list of people with same surname to find the correct soldiers). The details you require will appear in the Circular Information, which forms part of the “Roll of Honour” records. Christian names Age Cause of Death Place of death Alfred Charles Charles John Frederick Henry William Alfred Unknown Christian names Age Cause of Death Place of death Alfred Charles

23 Died of Wounds Egypt

Charles John

20 Died whilst a POW Germany

Frederick Henry

30 Killed in Action Gallipoli *

William Alfred

Unknown Died of wounds Egypt **

* The mother has incorrectly put place of death as Helliopolious ( Helliopolis / Egypt) but he was killed and buried at Hill 60, at Gallipoli according to the Roll of Honour database. ** The wound that resulted in this soldier’s death was almost certainly sustained at Gallipoli but he died in hospital in Egypt.

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(8) Write a brief newspaper article for the local Messenger newspaper or school newsletter regarding the deaths of the four brothers. You can find information on the campaigns at Gallipoli, France and Egypt and life as an Australian Prisoner of War in Germany during World War I on the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au

and use your imagination! You may wish to include a fictional interview with George and/or Clara Weaver the parents of the four boys talking about their loss. You should include a photo of Australian troops overseas during World War I with your story.

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Memorial Semaphore War Memorial Address Esplanade, Semaphore. Junction of Semaphore Road immediately in

front of the jetty. Background Information The Semaphore War Memorial takes the form of an

ornate clock tower. A white marble winged angel of peace is mounted on

the top of a three tier cap. The cap is supported from the main pillar by four ionic columns.

Contained within the pillars are clock dials on all four faces.

The main tower is of granite block construction. A bronze wreath is affixed to the face of the main pillar.

The lower right corner stone of the main pillar is also engraved.

The clock tower was built ‘in memory of all who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1919’. It was unveiled on the 24 May 1925 by the President of the Semaphore and Port Adelaide sub branch of the R.S.&S.I.L, the forerunner of the RSL (Returned and Services League).

The cornerstone was laid by a Mr Macnuswald, on behalf of the parents of those who fell, on 27 April 1924.

Subsequently a plaque has been added which reads, “in memory of all those who served”;

WORLD WAR II KOREA SOUTH EAST ASIA MALAYA BORNEO VIETNAM UNITED NATIONS OPERATIONS

Student Activities On Site (1) Sketch or photograph the Semaphore Clock Tower. (2) List three features of this unique tribute to those who died in the Great

War. Angel (of Peace) Four Clock Faces Plaques

Four Pillars Cornerstone

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Classroom (3) What do you think might be the symbolic significance of

the Angel of Peace and the clock? The Angel of Peace –symbolises the end of the First World War and the return of life to its normal balance. The Clock - The clock could be symbolic of the fact that as time goes by the memory of those who served will always be remembered. It might also relate to the promise of eternal life offered by Christ to Christians. The idea of soldiers being remembered over time is reflected in the words of Binyon’s Ode. The Ode Reads,

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, time shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,

at the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them”.

This is recited at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services throughout Australia.

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Memorial St Margaret’s Anglican Church, the Church of Saint Margaret of Scotland. (Lych Gate)

Address Corner of Port Road and Woodville Road, Woodville Background Information Inside the Lych Gate which is located at the south east entrance to the church grounds are four stainless steel plaques and at the lower front right is a marble foundation stone. A Lych Gate is a roofed in gateway to a churchyard in which a bier (a stand on which a corpse or coffin is placed) might stand while the initial part of the burial service is read. The word derives from the Middle English language, Lyche = Body; Yate = Gate. Originally, the World War I commemorative plaques were made of brass but owing to deterioration over time they were replaced by stainless steel when the gate was totally restored. These plaques bear the names of those parishioners who served and those who lost their lives during the Great War 1914-1919. The names appear in order of enlistment for those who served and by the year of death for those who lost their lives. Student Activities On Site (1) Record the Latin inscriptions relating to both those who served and those

who lost their lives during the Great War for further research when you return to the classroom.

“PRO DEO ET PATRIA” “REQUIM AETERNAM DONA EIS, DOMINE, ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EIS” (2) Record the name of the Victoria Cross winner who enlisted in 1914. Hint:

The letters V.C. appear after his name. Arthur S. (Seaforth) Blackburn VC (3) Record the names of the Military Medal winners who enlisted in 1915 and

1916. Hint: The letters M.M. appear after their name. Charles Mitchell M.M. Herbert H. Johns M.M.

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(4) Record the name of the Military Medal winner who lost his life in 1917. Leslie W Lindner.M.M. (5) Record the full names of the brothers who died at Gallipoli in

1915. George and Herbert H. Davis Classroom (6) Find out from the internet or other sources the English

translation of the Latin phrases you recorded in Question (1). “PRO DEO ET PATRIA” “For God and Country” “REQUIM AETERNAM DONA EIS, DOMINE, ET LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EIS” “Give them everlasting peace, Lord, and let your eternal light shine on them”. (7) The three soldiers whose names you recorded in Question (3) and (4) were

awarded Military Medals in the First World War. You can find the information by accessing the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au > Biographical Databases > Honours and Awards >

Honours and Awards (Recommendations: First World War) Enter each soldiers surname and christian name, ‘click’ on search. Then ‘click’ on the recommendation to find out why they each won this award. Military Medal Recommendations Private Charles Edward Solly Mitchell - 13th Australian Field Ambulance On the night of the 25 April 1918 in Cachy near Villers Bretonneux, Pte. Mitchell was working with several squads of bearers clearing wounded…. The village at the time was being heavily shelled. Pte. Mitchell re-organised the squads as casualties occurred and by a splendid exhibition of courage and devotion to duty set a fine example of morale to all whom were working with him. Private Herbert Henry Johns – 13th Australian Field Ambulance On 25 April, 1918, in Cachy near Villers Bretonneux Pte. Johns was working with the bearers of the Field Ambulance. While the village was being subjected to an intense bombardment, he saw some men buried by the falling ruins of a house. Pte Johns at once called on his squad who went to the rescue. Regardless of the rain of shells around them, the survivors were dug out and carried in safety to the shelter of a cellar by the squad. Pte Johns was conspicuous throughout the whole 24 hours of heavy bearer work by his courage and cheerful wholehearted work.

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Private (L/Cpl) Leslie William Lindner - At Messines on 10 June 1917 “As No.1 on a Lewis Gun (World War I machine gun) Private Lindner did extremely useful and resourceful work with his gun. …he volunteered for and carried out a very dangerous patrol under heavy M.G. (Machine Gun) fire bringing back valuable information regarding enemy positions. Throughout he set a splendid example to his men.” (8) Complete the table below about the two Davis brothers, whose details you

recorded in Question (5). You can find the information by accessing the Australian War Memorial website at

www.awm.gov.au > Biographical Details > Roll of Honour.

Enter each soldier’s surname, select ‘First World War, 1914 –1918’ and then ‘click’ on search. (You may need to page through the list of people with the same surname to find the correct soldier). The details you require will appear in the Circular Information, which forms part of the “Roll of Honour” records. Hint: They enlisted in South Australia.

Christian Names

Date of Death Place wounded or killed

Calling (Occupation)

School

George

Harry Herbert

Christian Names (full)

Date of Death Place wounded or killed

Calling (Occupation)

School

George

2 May 1915 Gallipoli Farm Labourer Hindmarsh

Harry Herbert

5 June 1915 Gallipoli Farm Hand Hindmarsh

(9) Arthur Seaforth Blackburn was a parishioner at St

Margaret’s Anglican Church and was a famous South Australian soldier and citizen.

Find out what significant feat he achieved on the day of the Gallipoli landing (25 April 1915) and what award he won at Pozieres in France on 23 July 1916.

Blackburn and Private Phil Robin distinguished themselves on 25 April 1915 by penetrating 1800 metres inland from Anzac Cove, reaching a point further than any other Australian was to achieve in the entire campaign.

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On 23 July 1916 Blackburn, was awarded the Victoria Cross for action at Pozieres, France, whilst serving with the 10th Battalion, as a Lieutenant. He was the first South Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross which is the highest honour for gallantry that can be won by a Australian serviceman. Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/units/people_530.asp