NEW plaques to acknowledge the service from Gunnedah and district’s soldiers who fought in the Boer War have been added to the memorial at Kitchener Park.
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Local historian Geordie Clark, with the assistance of Grace Turner, is writing a book that pursues Gunnedah’s connection to the Boer War.
Their research has uncovered nearly 100 people associated with the conflict, who are linked with Gunnedah and surrounds, who were not named on the honour roll.
Grace said their research began with the names listed on the memorial and it “snowballed” from there.
“Soon we found that there were 65 veterans with a connection to Gunnedah that needed acknowledgement,” Grace said.
“There is so much more information available now then there was in 2002.
“Back in 2002 it would’ve taken years to find, but now we can find it readily in search tools and newspaper archives.”
A number of names have also came from various other sources, including family members of people who served in the Boer War.
“We then approached council with a list of names missing from the plaque and they suggested we put new ones up – they were very helpful.”
Gunnedah Mayor Owen Hasler congratulated Grace on her work.
“The research that Grace has undertaken has been outstanding with 36 additional names added to the memorial,” Cr Hasler said.
“It is most important that our heritage and history is preserved for future generations.”
The original plaque, which was removed by council last week to make way for the new memorial, was erected on February 27, 2002.
The original honour roll was placed for the 100th anniversary of the execution of Harry Harbord “Breaker” Morant and Peter Handcock.
Cr Hasler said Morant and associate Peter Hancock’s execution was endorsed by the Commander in Chief of the British forces Lord Kitchener. Ironically, legend recalls that Morant rode horses over the jumps at Kitchener Park at the time when he worked at Pullaming Station.
This is believed to be the basis of a scene in Bruce Beresford’s 1980 film Breaker Morant.
He also wrote for the newspaper.
The internal road within the Park was named “Breaker Morant Drive” in the late 1990s.
In another twist of fate, Morant’s commanding officer, Major Robert Lenehan, who was cashiered for being complicit in Morant’s actions but later acquitted, had strong family linkages with the Gunnedah district at Emerald Hill.
The memorial was unveiled by Eric Lenehan of Guyra, grandson of Major Lenehan. Eric Lenehan died late last year.
The Lenehan family continue to have an interest in the Boer War with Eric Lenehan’s grandson Paul Lenehan being part of the drive to establish a national Boer War Memorial in Canberra.
Paul Lenehan said his family was delighted that the Gunnedah Boer War Memorial had been updated and that his family’s association with the Boer War continued to be recognised in Gunnedah.
Grace, a keen historian herself, has also found five unmarked burial plots at the Gunnedah cemetary for soliders of the Boer War.
“There are about 12 known graves in total, with five unmarked – they likely either had no family or their family couldn’t afford a headstone,” Grace said.
“Their ages range from 26 to 83 years old.”
The War Graves Commission has recently supplied the plaques and council has approved their positioning.
Grace is now hoping the Gunnedah RSL Sub-branch will fund their mounting.
“It certainly would be nice to see these veterans acknowledged in bronze and granite.”
For more details on Grace and Geordie’s research visit www.writerightmedia.com.au
If anyone has any information they would like to contribute, contact Geordie on 0427 422 564 or geordie@writerightmedia.com.au, or Grace at grace@writerightmedia.com.au
