Port Macquarie Methodist Church Great War Roll of Honour

About

This war memorial is a timber honour roll for the First World War, made of polished oak. A carving of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces emblem features prominently at the top of the roll. The names of 16 members of the Port Macquarie Methodist Church who served in the war are printed in gold down the centre of the board.  This was not the first roll for the church. The Port Macquarie News, 7 December 1918, reported the parishoners had "decided to erect a more substantial Roll of Honour to replace the temporary one hanging in the church." No information has been found regarding the temporary roll.  The oak board was designed by Reverend A. E. Putland and completed by Mr T. Hallett. It was unveiled by Mrs W. Dick on 11 April 1919. The News reported on the ceremony the following day, and included the names of the men and their fates. Reverend Putland addressed the assembly and said: They (the Methodists) believed that just as much honour was due to the lads similarly enrolled in the Catholic Church or the other churches in town, only these were the men whom it was the particular duty and delight of the Methodists to honour. While the roll did honour to the men whose names were inscribed there-on, it was also a rebuke to any others, if there were such, who should have been mentioned there but had not earned the right. The roll remains in the church, now known as Port Macquarie Uniting Church. The Australian flag and the Union Jack hang either side of the board and form part of the commemorative presentation. Also on site is the Private Charles Harry Nicholls Memorial Pulpit, dedicated to one of the Nicholls men named on the roll.