MemorialsGunnedah and District Boer War Memorial
About
A brick wall memorial with three plaques attached, located at the entrance to Kitchener Park on Breaker Morant Drive on the southern side of the tennis courts. The plaques include honour rolls of those who served in the Boer War from Gunnedah and district. A sign in the park provides biographical details of the life of Henry Harbord Morant and his enlistment in the South Australian Mounted Rifles, as well as the involvement of the Right Hon. Sir Horatio Herbert Kitchener in the execution of Breaker Morant and Lieutenant P. J. Handcock on 27 February 1902 in South Africa. The original monument commemorated the military life of Major William Lenehan who was the Commanding Officer of the Bushveldt Carbineers during the Boer War. It was unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Hancock and Morant. Following research by local historians, Grace Turner and Geordie Clark, the number of Boer War veterans listed on the memorial was increased from 29 to 66. An approach was made to the Gunnedah Shire Council concerning the new names and action was taken to add them. The names were provided to Council in May 2014 and the original plaque dating from 2002 was rehomed by Paul Lenehan. Articles were published in the Namoi Valley Independent on 15 January 2013 and 13 May 2014, including the new names of those who served.