Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Coorparoo Methodist Church Roll of Honour

By 1918 when the armistice to end World War 1 was declared, almost every community in Australia had been touched in some way. Over 60,000 young men had been lost across the other side of the world and would not be coming home. What was particularly difficult for Australian families was the fact that their loved ones were buried in a foreign land, in places they had never heard of, with very little prospect of ever having the opportunity to visit those graves. Also a large number of the dead had no known grave at all. In an effort to make sense of this sacrifice, communities resolved to create lasting memorials at home to commemorate the men and women who answered the call and would never return.

It is perhaps in this climate that the Coorparoo Methodist congregation resolved to create its own Roll of Honour. Few documents remain that give any insight into the creation of the Roll of Honour and therefore much of what follows is conjecture.

It is fairly evident that the prominent architect Henry Atkinson had a significant influence on the creation of the Roll of Honour, as both his son, James Atkinson and an employee, Bert Hodge are listed there, although surprisingly his son in law, Reg Verry (Reginald Herbert Verry, Lieutenant 49th Battalion) is absent. It is also possible that John Thomson, father of Lt. Fred Thomson, and a prominent figure in the Coorparoo Shire may have been involved. It is likely that the Roll of Honour was conceived when the Rev Albert Fox was minister at the church, as his son Owen is also listed. John Kidston, a trustee of the Church and son of a former premier of Queensland may also have been on the committee.

There is a possible connection between the Church and the Independent Order of Rechabites, both of which promoted abstinence from alcohol and it is likely that prominent people in the congregation were also members of that Lodge.

The Coorparoo Methodist Roll of Honour has been for some time located in the Church Hall. The plaque dedicates “This kindergarten room…..to the memory of the boys from this church and Sunday school who laid down their lives in the Great War.”

Courtesy of Ian Lang