There are multiple plaques at this Memorial, and the first one for "Australia Remembers" has the following text:
AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS
This plaque is dedicated
to
The men and women
of
LAKE MACQUARIE
who paid the supreme sacrifice
in the following wars:
THE BOER WAR 1899 - 1902
THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918
WORLD WAR II 1939 - 1945
THE KOREAN WAR 1950 - 1953
THE VIETNAM WAR 1962 - 1973
LEST WE FORGET
Unveiled on
30th July, 1995
-by-
Hon. Peter Morris M.H.R.
in the presence of
Councillor Allan Shields
City of Lake Macquarie
A second cast bronze plaque, for "Australia Remembers", on another face of the base of the pyramid, reads:
AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS
No. 10 Repair and Salvage Unit
Royal Australia Air Force
Dedicated to the members of 10 R.S.U. 1942-1945
The unit was formed in Amberley and later to serve in
Lowood Charters Towers
Milne Bay Goodenough Island
Kiriwerra Nadzab
Lae Morotai
The function of the unit was to perform major servicing and repair for
various squadrons including:
75 squadron Kittyhawk 6 squadron Hudson
76 squadron Kittyhawk 100 squadron Beaufort
77 squadron Kittyhawk 11 squadron Catalina
452 squadron Spitfire 20 squadron Catalina
30 squadron Beaufighter 22 squadron Boston
For twenty five years 10 R.S.U. has held it annual reunion in Belmont.
Erected by donations from the Commonwealth Government, Lake
Macquarie City Council, Veterans, Veteran's Families
and those who remember
Propeller donated by The Royal Australian Air Force
LEST WE FORGET
Unveiled on
30th July, 1995
-by-
Hon. Peter Morris M.H.R.
in the presence of
Councillor Allan Shields
City of Lake Macquarie
together with
Mr John Peschar and representative of 10 R.S.U.
On another face of the base are two plaques, with one quite small, and specifically for the 24 Squadron of the RAAF in WW2, and the larger one for the Vietnam War, and, the locals who died there. They read:
"AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS"
24 SQUADRON
RAAF
1940 - 1945
With the larger plaque, specifically for the Vietnam War, below it, reading:
VIETNAM WAR
Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley men
who gave their lives
1962-1973
[Map of Vietnam, and Australian and Vietnamese flags]
Pte. W.J. Ashton Cpl. R.J. Jackson
Pte. E.J. Bailey 2Lt. T.E. Langlands
Cpl. T.D. Blackhurst Pte. R.E. Lloyd
WO2 W.A. Blanck Pte. P. Manning
Pte. S.W. Dickson Pte. G.J. Moss
Tpr. D.G. Doyle Sgt. J. Ruddy
Cpl. G.G. Gilbert Pte. P.Z. Trzecinski
SSgt. J. Hall Pte. A.J. Wallis
Lt. P.A. Hines WO2 B. Walsh MM
Pte. J.M. Houston
LEST WE FORGET
Erected by their Newcastle Vietnam Comrades 1997 Tom Yeo
President
On the fourth side of the base of the pyramid is a very wordy plaque, for the exceptional work done by the Catalina base over at Rathmines. That bronze plaque reads:
AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS
[Diagram of a Catalina]
From the waters of Lake Macquarie
Australia's VERY LONG RANGE BOMBING AND MINE LAYING FORCE was trained and nurtured.
This force, raised from 168 Catalina Flying Boats, flown in from the United States between 1941
and 1945, operated throughout the war zones north of Australia. Targets ranged from Soerabaya
in the west, to the Solomons in the east and northwards to the Chinese coastline and within 500
miles of mainland Japan.
Aircraft and crews flying from these waters conducted regular anti-submarine patrols to the
east and south of Australia, were engaged in the Coral Sea battle, and, staging through Darwin
and Jinamoc comprised 25 per cent of the largest Catalina operation of the war, the mining of
Manila harbour in the Philippines, They also flew a multitude of other operations.
Air/sea rescue flights were another essential service provided by these versatile craft. During
training the "mining" of Belmont Bay was a regular exercise.
At the centre of these operations and located directly across the lake, was the R.A.A.F.
Station at Rathmines, established in 1939 and closed in 1960. During its period of operation this
station was the largest air/sea base in the southern hemisphere.
Catalinas carried a 4000 lb load of bombs or mines, (twice that of a Flying Fortress) with a flight
duration in excess of 20 hours. This load/range capability was achieved in part by removal of
bulletproofing from fuel tanks and reducing armaments and armour-plating to the minimum.
Some 200 aircrews were trained here, 320 crewmen were killed during the war. They and the
aircraft were supported in a superb manner by many thousands of highly skilled ground crew
without whose dedication they would never have left the water.
Seventy per cent of all Catalina operations were very long range offensive strikes, most of which
were classified as "most secret", particularly so their mining missions, hence their story remains
practically unknown to this day.
Their Motto: FIRST AND FURTHEST
This plaque was unveiled on
30th July, 1995
-by-
Hon. Peter Morris M.H.R.
in the presence of
Councillor Allan Shields
City of Lake Macquarie
And the representatives of the Catalina Squadrons Nos. 11, 20, 42, 43
Air/Sea Rescue Flight Nos. 111, 112, 113, 114, 115
[RAAF logo]
LEST WE FORGET
There is also a Nautical Flag Pole here, that would be used for the various services, on special occasions, like Armistice, and ANZAC Days.
War Memorials Register website: Belmont Australia Remembers Memorial
Visited: 1020 - 1025, Saturday, 15 July, 2017