Northern Sydney war memorial now back in place

Northern Sydney war memorial now back in place

Published on 11 November 2024

Ku-ring-gai Council has re-built and reinstated an important local war memorial honour roll commemorating World War One veterans, after the original honour roll was stolen.

In late July, there was widespread community outrage when thieves stole the left honour roll from the Turramurra Memorial Park entrance gate. The right honour roll was left untouched.

The pair of honour rolls were first installed in 1928, at a ceremony overseen by then NSW Governor Sir Dudley de Chair and attended by dozens of locals.

Ku-ring-gai Council - with the assistance of sign fabricator Cunneen Signs - has now re-installed a bronze replica of the original left honour roll in time for Remembrance Day.

The replica measures 2.1m tall by 60cm wide, weighs 120kg and contains the names of 67 local First World War soldiers, including seven who died serving their country.

"The theft of the original roll was an appalling and disgraceful act," Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay said.

"Unfortunately, the original honour roll and the criminals who took it have not been found. This left Council with no option but to replace the honour roll.

"This ensures that, once again, visitors to this park will be able to read the names of local war heroes who served, and in some cases died, on the battlegrounds of Europe.

"We have also worked hard to ensure this sign was back in place for Remembrance Day."

The replacement honour roll has been painstakingly crafted, using techniques similar to that used almost 100 years ago, to produce a high-quality memorial that will serve the community well for many years to come.

One challenge encountered in the honour roll re-creation involved replicating the original lettering font. Because this font was so old, there was no equivalent font available in modern graphic design software.

As a result, Cunneen was required to manually record the font on the remaining right honour roll - by pencil-sketching the font on paper laid over the sign - and then re-creating this font in a software program and laser cut moulds.

Separately, a traditional and labour-intensive fabrication process was undertaken to give the new left honour roll a more aged appearance in keeping with the existing right honour roll.

The left honour roll commemorates Lieutenant Norman Dougall, who was awarded a Military Cross after bravely leading a counter attack at Louverval in France.

The original honour roll was installed in the same year that Ku-ring-gai was proclaimed as a municipality, and when the Council chambers at Gordon opened.

Anyone who has information about the theft is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Hornsby Police.

Photo from left to right: Cunneen Signs representative Ben Wilmshurst, Ian and Dorothy Vallentine (relatives of war veterans named on the honour rolls) standing on either side of Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay, and war veterans Mike Askey and John Holford, at the unveiling of the replacement left honour at Turramurra Memorial Park

Media contact: Mark Skelsey [email protected] or 9424 0978

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