Rose Park Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial - Rose Park

Details

Location Corner Prescott Terrace and Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park, South Australia, Australia
Type memorial
Description

The bronze statue by the Australian sculptor Charles Web-Gilbert, to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Burnside district, has arrived, and the work of erecting the granite pedestal to carry it has been begun. The statue is to stand on the site of the captured German Field gun in the Soldiers' Memorial Gardens, Rose Park, near the intersection of Alexandra Avenue and Prescott Terrace. Panels on four sides of the granite base will contain the names of 87 fallen soldiers. The Governor (Sir Tom Bridges) has consented to perform the unveiling ceremony on Sunday afternoon, December 14.
The Register (Adelaide), 15th November 1924.

The bronze figure of a WW1 soldier leaning forward with his left arm extended in the pose of a man about to lift a friend to 'hop the bags' or 'go over the top'. The right arm is extended behind holding out his rifle for balance.

As it happens we can be even more specific - it relates to the Battle of Mont St Quentin, one of the great victories of the AIF, fought between 30th August and 2nd September 1918..

This statue appears to be modelled on a figure in the AWM WW1 diorama of the capture of Mont St Quentin. The designer / sculptor of the diorama and this memorial are one in the same, Mr Charles Web Gilbert, so the likeness is not a coincidence.

This effigy is surmounted on a two-tier granite pedestal, which in turn, is set on a two-tier granite base. The monument is set in brick pavers. Bronze plaques are affixed to each face.

The Memorial is part of an adjacent precinct including the avenues of trees in Alexandra Avenue and Prescott Terrace, at the base of which are brass plates commemorating the 87 men named on this memorial.

An identical sculpture forms part of the Shepparton War Memorial and another Web Gilbert statue is the focus of the Broken Hill Memorial in NSW, entitled "The Bomber" . See the link to this ubiquitous sculptor's works which include the now lost original 2nd Division Memorial at Mont St Quentin, France.

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Built Unveiled 14 December 1924 Manufactured by French metalworker and manufacturer Ferdinand Barbedienne, in France. Sculptor: Charles Web Gilbert (Vic)
Opened 14 December 1924 by HE The Governor of SA Sir Thomas Bridges
Inscription

Face: Top plaque

BURNSIDE DISTRICT
FALLEN SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL
GREAT WAR 1914-18

Condition

Good although the bronze figure is heavily oxidised

MAINTAINED BY: Burnside Council

PECULIARITIES/DAMAGE: Nil

View Tributes of Honour Description

Names

Showing 8 people of interest from memorial

SUHARD, Noel Murray Dalton

Service number 12762
Private
11th to 15th Depot Unit of Supply
AIF WW1
Born 1896

MILLER, Donovan James

Service number 1067
Private
16th Infantry Battalion (WW1)
AIF WW1
Born 9 Mar 1891

PRIME, Philip Edward

Service number 3072
Trooper
3rd Light Horse Regiment
AIF WW1
Born 24 Mar 1890

HUNTER, Albert Charles

Service number 836
Sergeant
10th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1882

NASH, Malcolm Ernest

Service number 5287
Sergeant
Born 15 Apr 1890

POLLE, Joseph Louis

Service number 164
Private
32nd Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1 Mar 1893

FRERICHS, Jack

Service number 2458A
Lance Corporal
50th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 1 Oct 1891

FORDHAM, Roy Ogilvie

Service number 184
Lieutenant
10th Infantry Battalion
AIF WW1
Born 19 Aug 1892