Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On the 24th November 1926 the RAN unveiled their WW1 memorial at Flinders Naval Base aka HMAS Cerberus (links to 1926 articles and photos are at the bottom of page). “the officers and men of the Royal Australian Navy resolved some time ago to place their memorial to those of the service who were killed or died on service during the war of 1914-18 at the Flinders Naval Depot. It is the only memorial in Australia dedicated to the officers and men of the fleet, and the depot was chosen because it is the one place which all ranks visit at some period of their service careers.” - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3822993 

 Unveiled by His Excellency the Governor General, Lord Stonehaven, P.C., G.C.M.G., D.S.O.
Dedicated by His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, The Most Reverend Harrington C. Lees, D.D.

The chapel/memorial was originally part of the old drill hall (no longer in existence). It appears this was only ever a temporary solution as “the whole memorial has been so erected that when the navy has a chapel it will be easy to move the windows and tablets into the new building.” – ibid. Little did they realise at the time a chapel would only come to fruition after another world war. The windows and tablets were eventually re-homed in the HMAS Cerberus, St Mark Anglican Chapel https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/5446 in 1954.

According to 1926 reports the original memorial consisted of:

Five stain glass windows

1.       St. Peter (presented by the officers and men of the Delhi),
2.       Christ stilling the storm (the Navy League),
3.       The Last Supper (officers and men of H.M.A.S. Cerberus),
4.       The shipwreck of St. Paul (the Naval Auxiliary Services and the Royal Australian Naval Reserves), and
5.       St. Paul (Captain and Mrs. Feakes, in memory of CMDR T. W. Biddlecombe, R.A.N., https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/803298 and CMDR W. H. T. Warren, D.S.O., R.A.N. https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/778273 )

Three mosaic tablets

1.       the first tablet has a representation of H.M.V.S. Nelson, flanked by the arms of Britain and Australia at the top and includes the names of sailors who died in the Pacific,

2.       the second tablet is a representation of H.M.A.S. Australia at the top and includes the names of sailors who died while serving in the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Atlantic and North Sea,

3.       the R.A.N. destroyer flotilla of the Parramatta, Warrego, Torrens, Huon and Swan and the 12 sailors lost. This memorial was originally unveiled separately (Oct 1921) https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/5449

The current Memorial Chapel of St. Mark was built by public donations with the foundation stone being laid on 4 April 1950 by the governor General, Sir William McKell. The Chapel was officially opened by His Excellency, the governor of Victoria, General Sir Dallas Brooks, and dedicated by the Archbishop of Melbourne in association with the President General of the Methodist Church and the Moderator General of the Methodist Church on 15 May 1954. The naming of the Chapel on Sunday 21 April 1968 included an exhortation of worship that justly mirrored the vision of those who initiated the concept of such a memorial.

The fittings of the Chapel depict the close association of Jesus Christ and the Sailor with the spread of the Gospel. The carved dolphins which help support the communion rails, represent the sacred fish symbol of Christianity. The dolphin is a symbol of swift and safe progress and the anchor a symbol of security.

At the end of each of the 40 pews is a plaque indicating the name of an Australian Naval Ship that has donated funds to the chapel.

Stained Glass windows throughout the Chapel are dedicated in memory of:
Various Sea Battles
Lives lost during both World Wars
Individual RAN Ships
Classed of RAN Ships
Organisations in the RAN
Joint Battles with the USN and or the RNZN

St. Mark's was extensively renovated towards the end of 1995. This included carpeting, painting and the construction of disabled access.

While not necessarily apparent from ground level observation, the fountain and surrounding garden is shaped as a 'ship's wheel' which provides a connection to the nautical atmosphere of the base and navy traditions.