MemorialsGuyra District First World War Honour Roll
About
The memorial is a large, oak honour roll for the First World War. At the top of the rectangular board is a Norman-shaped circular feature, which is decorated with a laurel wreath that is painted in gold. The names are divided across five columns, with the third or centre column listing those who died in conflict. Planning for the roll began towards the end of construction of the Guyra Soldiers Memorial Hall, where the roll is housed. In reporting on a Guyra War Memorial Committee meeting held in May 1921, the Armidale Express, 3 June 1921, stated the hall's architect had been asked to provide an estimate of costs for the roll and also source a quote from an Armidale firm. At a further meeting of the committee, held on 18 June, it was moved "the Honor Board be headed Guyra District Honor Roll" (The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, 28 June 1921). Cabinet making company T.F. Mills of Armidale was awarded the tender for construction of the roll, and worked with Armidale artisan Mr Faulconbridge to complete the work. Faulconbridge also created the New England Grammar School First World War Honour Roll. The lettering was a separate contract, which was completed by Messrs Woodcock and Son (Armidale Chronicle, 12 October 1921). On 9 July 1921, Lieutenant Colonel H.F. White, President of Guyra Soldiers' Memorial Hall Committee, and Mr W.A. Roberts, honorary secretary of the Guyra branch of the R.S. and S.I. League, went to Armidale to discuss the memorial. They meet with their counterparts, who were preparing names for an Armidale-based roll. The Armidale committee agreed to eliminate the Guyra veterans from their roll, including only those from within Armidale, Hillgrove, and Dumaresq Shire boundaries. Those who fell under the Guyra Shire boundary would be listed on the Guyra roll (Guyra Argus, 14 July 1921). Initial names were drawn from lists of Guyra enlistees published in the Guyra Argus in 1917. Following the war, an appeal was made for more names to be nominated and the Argus published the proposed list on 18 August 1921. The memorial was complete and installed at the hall by its official opening on 29 October 1921 (Glen Innes Examiner, 31 October 1921). It has been refurbished in more recent times. Access to the memorial is restricted to the opening hours of the hall.