Masterton Combined War Memorial, Queen Elizabeth Park, Dixon Street, Masterton, The Wairarapa, New Zealand. - World War I Memorials and Monuments on Waymarking.com

This war memorial carries the names of all those who died in the First World War 1914-1918, and World War II.

The memorial is large, basically four name panels of white granite mounted on panels of grey granite and mounted between white marble Ionic columns, these mounted upon a square white marble base. Above this is a coved course and a three step rusticated pyramid with rounded edges, a black marble frieze is placed below the coving. At the top is a bronze casting of an infantryman with slung .303 rifle and hat by Frank Lynch called the Untidy Soldier.

The main dedication panel, white marble, faces south-west and is at the base of the main name panel. It reads:-

          They whom this monument commemorates, were numbered among those who, at
          the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness
          faced danger and finally passed out of sight of men, by the path of duty
          and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.
          Let those who come after see to it that their names are not forgotten.

All name panels are headed with the quote "THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR."

The south-west panel carries 112 names from Ahern,J. to Edmonds,A.C.

..the south-east panel 115 names from Ekell,B. to Inndlesmith.

..the north-east panel 115 names from Kelsey,S.W. to Nephee,D.

..and the north-west panel 110 names from Pull,F. to Youngson,W.G. and Thomas,H.S.

Below the WWI names, on the four sides of the base, are attached four white marble panels carrying the names of the fallen from WWII. The south-west panel also carries the dedication inscription:-

                      In memory of
                        The Kiwis
                      who paid the
                    supreme sacrifice
                           in
                    The 2nd World War
                        1939-1945

There are 188 WWII names recorded, from Adderson,A.A. to Dyer, H.D.P; Easthope,M. to Lindsey,J.D.; Loasby,L.D. to Rzosea,S.; and Sale,I.D. to Wyle,C.R. on the four panels going from south-west to north-west.

Although this was basically a WWI memorial other conflicts are remembered as well. The conflicts are inscribed in the black marble frieze above the name panels. The conflicts include SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1899-1902; WORLD WAR II, 1939-1945; KOREA, 1950-1955; MALAYA MALAYSIA, 1948-1966; VIETNAM, 1964-1972; GULF WAR, 1991- .

Date the Monument or Memorial was built or dedicated: 09/16/1923 Private or Public Monument?: Other Name of the Private Organization or Government Entity that built this Monument: Masterton Town Council Geographic Region where the Monument is located: Australia/New Zealand Physical Address of Monument: Queen Elizabeth Park Dixon Street Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand Rate this waymark: Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes Website for this Monument: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/23/2016 waiiti20 visited it