Kincumber War Memorial

About

Large sandstone obelisk with white polished marble plaques and black lettering. This memorial is within the fenced school grounds, however it is visible from Avoca Drive roadway. From Every Mother's Son, Published by Gosford City Council in 1997, by Michael Rokesbuty: Kincumber War Memorial Kincumber Public School, Avoca Drive, Kincumber The monument, erected by the residents of Kincumber in honor of the men who took part in the Great War, was officially unveiled on Saturday, December 20, 1919. The ceremony was performed by Brigadier-General G. M. Macarthur- Onslow, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., O.N. Credit for the realisation of the memorial was generally given to Mr Tom Humphrey who "had worked early and late and used every energy in bringing the project to a successful issue". After being informed of the death of the first local lad (Lance Corporal Lansdowne in April, 1918) the local progress committee decided to call a public meeting to consider the matter of constructing a memorial. The first public meeting regarding this subject was held on June 8, 1918. This was followed by several months of apparent debate and procrastination until a meeting was held nearly a month after the signing of the Armistice (on December 7, 1918) at which it was announced that Trooper Clive Harris Frost has perished at Port Said. This announcement caused the meeting to be adjourned without coming to a decision. Before the next meeting was held of February 8, 1919, according to a local newspaper article regarding the proposed monument...it had been ascertained that the parents of the deceased lads would prefer the proposed monument and, in deference to their wishes and to the fact that a considerable sum had been promised for the erection of a monument, the meeting agreed to the proposal without division. A committee was immediately elected with Mr J. T. Pryce, headmaster of Kincumber Public School, elected chairman and Mr Humphrey honorary treasurer. The committee met on March 15, 1919 to consider designs submitted by four different firms with the designs submitted by T. Andrews and Sons of Lidcombe (who also performed the stonework on the war memorial at Woy Woy) being selected. The memorial was erected on the grounds of Kincumber Public School next to what was then the entrance to the facility (where it remains today, fronting Avoca Drive). It is constructed of Parramatta sandstone in the form of an obelisk, with white marble tablets inset on each of those who enlisted from the Kincumber area, together with outstanding dates and events of the 'Great War'. The dedication ceremony was chaired by Mr Pryce who introduced Brigadier-General Onslow to the gathering. The cost of the monument was 74 Pound 15s 9d while the preparation of the foundations and sub-..., along with the transportation and erection, was done entirely by voluntary labour.  The east face honour roll names (as they appear and are spelt) are: Sgt. E. W. C. Pryce, L/Cpl. S. E. J. Lansdowne, Sig. W. G. Humphrey, Spr. E. H. Dumas, Pte. A. W. Lansdowne, Pte. H. H. Frost, Pte. P. J. Frost, Pte J. J. Waters, Pte. E. Scaysbrook, Lewis Gunner, J. J. Burns, Volunteered W. J. Norman, E. White. The west face honour roll names (as they appear and are spelt) are: "A" Tpr. Lieut T. F. Humphreys, Cpl. J. E. Bowcock, Tpr. W. T. Bowcock, Tpr. C. H/ Frost, Tpr. W. Grey. At the bottom of the tablet, under the European Waters, etc heading are the names: V. K. Humphrey W. T., "H.M.A.S. Sydney", R. N. Jackson Str, "H.M.A.S. Parramatta".