Private Raymond Horace Cicolini Memorial Tablet

About

This white marble memorial tablet sits on a background of black marble. The tablet is topped with a classical pediment and has a simple shelf at the base. A black cross decorates the centre of the pediment between two small black cross pattée. The dedication is inscribed in black.  Raymond Cicolini was born on 1 January 1882 to Emanuele and Mary Jane Cicolini of Upper Lansdowne. He enlisted for service in the First World War on 16 November 1915, aged 24. He embarked from Sydney on 16 March 1916 on board HMAT A57 Malakuta with the 7th Light Horse Regiment. He proceeded to England, and on 16 July 1916 he left for France.  In March 1918 he was transferred to the 4th Motor Transport Company, joining his brothers Jack and Horace who served in the same Company. On 2 April 1918 he was appointed as a driver, and two months later was wounded in the early hours of 31 May 1918 by falling debris due to shelling on the barn in Allonville, north of Amiens, where he was billeted. He died on 3 June 1918, aged 26 years. His brothers buried him in Crouy British Cemetery, west of Amiens. Raymond was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Raymond's brothers returned to Australia one year after his death. The people of the Lansdowne raised funds for a marble tablet to honour his memory. Raymond's brother Horace unveiled the tablet at a ceremony in the Upper Lansdowne Catholic Church on Sunday 25 January 1920. This tablet has since been relocated and is displayed in the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall. Raymond's mother, Mary Cicolini, had the honour of laying the foundation stone for the Hall on 21 February 1925. Access to the memorial is restricted to the opening hours of the hall.