The World War One monument is a four-sided column faced with grey granite. It is mounted on a slightly tapered base, also faced with grey granite, and sits on the traditional 3 steps (often representing the Trinity); attended by 3 flagstaffs. Topping the column is a square granite slab that overhangs the column, with a squat granite 'orb' on the very top.
The front slab of the base has the following inscription:
On the altar of their Country's good
they laid the incense of their fortunes and their lives.
ERECTED by the Citizens of Abermain
In Memory and in Honor of those
Who Enlisted in The Great War
1914 - 1919
The front granite slab (facing Cessnock Road) has the following list of enlistees, with those 'Asterisked' "*" who gave their lives in service:
ROLL OF HONOR
Sgt. F.G. Adams
Pte J. Allan *
" " S.L. Apthorpe
Sgt L.V. Andrews M.M.
" " H.R. Archard M.M.
Pte Jas. Bailey
Sgt J. Bailey
Pte S. Bailey
" " Jas. Barker *
" " J. Barker
" " J.A. Barker *
Sgt L.M. Barker
Pte T.C. Barker
" " B. Barrett
" " W. Barrett
L.Cpl. R. Batey
Cpl J. Bell *
Pte W. Bell
" " I. Benton
" " B Blackshaw *
Sap. J.E. Blanch *
L.Cpl. P.W. Blanch M.M.
Pte A.A. Bothel
" " A. Bower
Cpl C. Britten
Pte C. Britten
" " J. Britten
" " W.C. Brown
" " W.W. Brown
" " J.W. Burt
" " C. Callian
" " G. Cavell
" " F.J. Chapman
" " O.W. Chapman
" " A.B. Chappell *
" " L.C. Chappell
" " N. Chappell
" " J. Clark *
" " E. Coates
" " J. Connors
" " G. Cornish
" " R. Crook
" " J. Crawley
" " F.G. Dando *
" " E. Davies
Sgt W. Davies
The western side of the Memorial column reads
Pte W.P. Dawson
" " T. Dean
" " H. Devon
CSM J. Devon
Pte E. Difford
" " L. Dixon M.M.
" " J. Dobb
" " C. Dolan *
" " F.H.O. Evans
" " J.J. Farrell
" " M.J. Farrell
" " J. Findley
" " R. Fletcher *
" " S. Foxall *
" " G.T. Gatenby
" " A. Gillies
" " W. Gillingham
" " T. Glenn
" " W.H. Grills *
" " W.J. Hailstones
" " A. Hall
" " H. Hall
" " A. Halpin
" " L.P. Halpin *
" " H. Hammond
" " A.B. Hancock
" " W. Harding
" " G. Harris
" " W.F. Hedley
" " A.R. Hincks *
Dvr H. Hincks
Pte S. Hodder
" " J. Hodge
" " C.T. Hogg
" " J. Hunter
" " J. Hunter
Cpl J. Hunter
Pte F.W. Humphris (sic)
" " R. Humphris "
" " R.H. Humphris " *
" " J. Imlah
Capt C.S. Jeffries V.C. *
Pte J.W. James
" " T. John
" " J.T. Johnson
" " D. Jones
" " J. Joyner
" " A. Kembrey
" " C. Kendrick *
" " T.W. Kinneard *
The eastern side follows on with:
Pte J. Lamb
Sap M.H. Laws
Bomb O.J. Leitch
Sgt A. Logie
" " F. Lott
CSM R. McCormack
Lieut J.G. McDonald *
Pte K.C. McDonald
QMS A. McGrath
Pte H. McGrath
" " J. McInnes *
" " E. McIntosh
" " M. McIntosh
" " A. McIntosh
Cpl W.J. McMullan
Pte C. Malloy
" " M. Malloy *
" " M. Manion
" " T. Malcolm
Sap A. Miller
Gun A.S.L. Miller
Pte A. Miller
" " R. Miller
" " A. Murray
" " J.G. Musgrove
" " J.R. Musgrove *
" " M. Musgrove
" " G. Norman
" " J.F. O'Connell
" " J.W. Outram
" " W.A. Parsons *
Sap A. Pate
L.Cpl R. Paterson *
Pte R. Patterson
" " C.N. Patterson
" " G.H. Paul
Sgt F.E. Phillips *
Pte G.W. Phillips
Sig M.G.H. Poneroy
Pte H.C. Porteus
" " A. Porteus
" " J. Price
" " J. Pride
" " R. Peel
" " A.R. Reckenberg
" " E.F. Reckenberg
" " E.W. Reckenberg
" " J.H. Reckenberg
Sgt W.A. Reckenberg
Pte H.H. Ridley *
Lieut T. Ridley M.C.D.C.M. St George *
On the southern side is the following names:
Pte S.M. Burke
QMS J.H. Haugh
Cpl J. Robbins
Pte D. Russell
Sap W. Sample
Pte A. Scott
" " A. Scott
" " W.D. Scott
Sgt T. Scott
Sap C.K. Smart
" " C. Smith
Pte C. Smith
" " F. Smurtwatte
" " J.R. Stephens
" " R. Stephens
" " T. Stewart
Cpl R. Streathfield
" " C.R. Sullivan
Sgt G.M. Tickle
Pte J. Tither
" " J. Thompson
" " W. Thomson
" " C.C. Tooze
" " C.S. Vial
L.Cpl J. Waddell
" " A.J. Wailes *
Sgt W.H. Webb *
Capt L. St V. Welch
Pte J. Whethers
" " C.W. Whitfield
" " T. Whitfield *
" " G.W. Williams
" " L.P. Williams
" " P.J. Williams *
" " C. Wilson
" " M. Wilson
Sto T. Wilson
Sig R. Wilson *
" " P. Wotherspoon
Gun R.J. York
Sig F. Green *
There are more recently added plaques, for the WW2 50 year Anniversary, the 75th anniversary of the Fallen, and the Unknown Soldiers of WW1 (11/11/1993), and the 100 years of ANZAC - The Spirit Lives.
At the street-side entrance to the Jeffries VC Park there is an information sign explaining the significance of even one soldier., ie, Captain Jeffries, VC (a 'son of Abermain').
Abermain War Memorial (WW1), and Cpt Jeffries VC Park
From the Monuments Australia website, Abermain War Memorial there is an excerpt from the 10 November, 1919 "Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate (NSW), about the unveiling of this monument.
"The Abermain war record is one that might well be envied by the people of many a larger town in Australia. When the call from the Motherland reached this colliery township there was no hesitation about the attitude of the people and the town was well represented in the first transports from Australia. The reinforcements were well kept up, so that over 200 went out into the fight, and of these 39 will never return. Those who remained at home were loyal to their soldier comrades as the records of their Comforts, the Farewell and Reception Committees can testify. All appeals for war purposes met with generous responses, and, on Saturday last, the town's war efforts were crowned by the unveiling of the massive granite monument, on the main road, opposite the school of arts. There was a large gathering presided over by Mr. Richard Howe, who was supported on the platform by Mrs. Joshua Jeffries, mother of Captain Clarence Jeffries, V.C., the Dean of Newcastle and Mrs. Crotty.
"Mrs. Joshua Jeffries, who was called upon by the chairman to unveil the memorial, said: "I would like to express my thanks to the committee for their kind invitation to unveil this monument which forms a permanent recognition of the efforts of those men who volunteered for active service abroad to defend our liberty, and all that we, as Britishers, hold dear. Thanks to the efforts of men like these whose names are inscribed on this roll of honour, Australia remains today a free country. As a result of the recent world tragedy, nearly 60,000 of the flower of Australia lie buried in foreign countries. They made the greatest of all sacrifices, and it is our duty to make ourselves worthy of their sacrifice, to carry on, and play the game, as we know, Australians can. On behalf of the people of Abermain. I now unveil this monument to the everlasting memory of those men who did their duty." [10 November, 1919 "Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate (NSW)]
"As the flag slipped to the base of the monument revealing the four panels bearing the names, the returned soldiers stood to attention, and saluted, and civilians stood with bowed heads."
Visited: 1205, Sunday, 31 January, 2016