Allora Boer War Memorial (Digger)

About

The monument comprises an ornate pedestal of Yangan (local) sandstone standing on a rock-faced base and surmounted by a (almost) life-sized sandstone statue of a Light Horseman with head bowed and arms reverse - typifying sorrow. The pedestal is richly ornamented with acanthus leaves, a floral wreath, and a gable with shell and leaf ornament. Marble plates around the pedestal bear the leaded names of the 39 local men who served in the war, including the 4 who died. Their dates and places of death are also recorded. The plates on the front of the pedestal bear the dedicatory and unveiling inscriptions, together with a patriotic verse by J K Cameron, a local poet. Additional Information The Allora Boer War memorial was unveiled on 19 October 1904, by Brevet Lieutenant Harry Chauvel whose Queenslanders had been the first Australian unit to be in action in the Boer War in South Africa on lst January 1900. They wore the now famous emu plumes on their Light Horse slouch hats. The memorial was restored in April 2011. In April 2010 the damaged rifle was removed due to extensive damage. The specialist stone masons, JH Wagner & Sons from Toowoomba utilised the broken pieces to fabricate a replica. The replca rifle was reinstated on the monument prior to ANZAC Day 2011. The broken pieces from the original firearm has been returned to the Allora RSL to be kept as memorabillia.