National War Dog Memorial
S 26° 40.516 E 153° 06.919
56J E 511474 N 7049525
Situated at The Bluff Alexander Headlands Qlds Aust.
Australia's First War Dog Memorial
Dedicated to those Tracker Dogs who served in South Vietnam 1967-1971
Since being established in 2001 there have been additional plaques added to the memorial
Waymark Code: WMEQTT
Location: Queensland, Australia
Date Posted: 06/28/2012
Views: 15
NATIONAL WAR DOG MEMORIAL
The memorial at The Bluff, Alexandra Headland, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is
the first War Dog memorial in Australia and is classified as the National War Dog
Memorial.
This was an initiative of the Vietnam Veterans Association of the Sunshine Coast. Under
the direction of Vietnam veteran Ian Atkinson, VVAA Sunshine Coast branch was granted
council approval to erect a monument to the 11 tracker dogs that served with the
Australian Army during the Vietnam War.
The memorial is located in a small park overlooking the Pacific Ocean and was dedicated
on 7 April 2001.
The memorial is constructed of a sandstone block approximately 1.4 metres high
featuring a carved profile of a Labrador dog. The carving was created by Vietnam
veteran and stonemason Dick Meisenhelter. At the base of the monument is a drinking
trough where local dog owners can water their animals while walking their dogs.
The inscription reads:
WAR DOG MEMORIAL
DEDICATED TO THE AUSTRALIAN TRACKER DOGS
THAT SERVED IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1967-1971.
THEY DID NOT RETURN FROM THE WAR
CAESAR, CASSIUS*, JANUS, JULIAN, JUNO, JUSTIN,
MARCIAN, MARCUS, MILO, TIBER, TRAJAN
*Died on active service
Down jungle tracks, through shot and shell
Ears pricked high, keen sense of smell
Our tracker dogs with care and poise
Alert to ambush, foreign noise
Never whimper, whine nor bark
Their service honoured with this plaque
No medals pinned to hairy chest
They stayed behind, they were the best.
ALL GAVE SOMETHING, SOME GAVE ALL
THOSE WHO KNEW YOU, WILL NEVER FORGET YOU
Plaques have since been added to the memorial in recognition of active service in
Malaya, Borneo, Singapore, Somalia, Bougainville, East Timor and Solomon Islands.
Other plaques commemorating War Dogs
1-Malaysian Emergency 1955-1969
Borneo 1963-1965
Singapore 1969-1973
DID NOT RETURN HOME FROM WAR
2-Somalia 1993 "Operation Solace"
FIRST DOGS TO BE RETURNED HOME FROM WAR
3-Bougainville 1994 "operation Lagoon"
RETURNED HOME
4-East Timor 1999-2004
Explosive Detection Dogs "Operation Warden "
44 Military Working Dogs Platoon "Operation Tanager and Citadel"
RETURNED HOME
5-Solomon Islands 2003-2004
44 Military Working Dogs Platoon "Operation Anode"
Explosive Detection Dogs "Operation Anode"
RETURNED HOME
Breed: Labrador
Date Built: Unveiled 7th April 2001
|
Visit Instructions:
When logging Waymarks posted to this category, please provide a photo that you have personally taken of the statue with you and your GPS or other type of photo to show you have visited the Waymark.